October 1 Rally

Thousands of dedicated postal workers took to the streets for our “October 1 National Day of Action” to let the public know just how well we can move the mail when given the proper tools.

Rallying in over 90 cities from the East Coast to the West - and beyond – thousands of postal workers from hundreds of APWU locals and states, with the support of community allies, came out in full force on Oct. 1 to promote Vote-by-Mail, advocate for a strong new contract with language to guarantee better staffing, and demand that postal management treat all mail, all year long, with the same care and attention that election mail and ballots receive during election season. This means increasing staffing at post offices and providing better service, which the public deserves! The APWU also demands that the public have a voice in how the Postal Service runs by allowing public comments and making them available and accessible in the face of the network changes that affect us all.

Postal workers know just how well the public postal service can work. In 2020, postal workers delivered 97.9 percent of ballots to election officials within three days. In 2022, postal workers delivered 99 percent of ballots to election officials within five days. With signs that read “VOTE BY MAIL, WE WON’T FAIL,” our message rang loud and clear.

“Postal workers and the Postal Service are prepared to do an excellent job to ensure that ballots and election-related mail are delivered in a timely manner. But efficient and timely service also should apply all year to the delivery of prescription drugs, Social Security checks, financial documents, personal correspondence, and other mail and packages,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “With the chaotic implementation of ‘network modernization’ combined with new management plans to slow down more mail, particularly as it relates to rural America, mail service is heading in the wrong direction. This must be reversed and fixed. Postal workers know what it takes to get back on track, and I hope management heard us loud and clear today!”

“We are proud to be able to show up for the people in every community to deliver their vital and sometimes life-saving mail,” said APWU Secretary- Treasurer Elizabeth “Liz” Powell. “By rallying on the streets of over 90 cities, we showed that we are ready to take care of election mail and ballots this fall, and to do what it takes to provide high-quality, dependable mail service to every household in America, while ensuring the public’s right to comment.”

Hundreds of local news stations and newspapers covered the rally, and social media was flooded with photos and videos coming from workers in the streets at actions, ultimately reaching millions of everyday voters and postal customers. Those who could not get off work to participate sent in selfies wearing stickers and buttons to show solidarity. At the end of the day, we sent the message to the public about the trustworthiness of election mail, and a message to management about the need to provide that same great service year-round with improved staffing and a good contract for APWU members.