APWU, Mail Handlers Plan August Actions to Push Postal Reform

The APWU and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union have announced plans to conduct a nationwide joint lobbying effort over the congressional recess from Aug. 5 to Sept. 6 to urge senators and representatives to co-sponsor the Postal Service Protection Act (H.R. 630 in the House / S. 316 in the Senate) and the Protect Overnight Delivery Act (H.R. 2459).

This effort is intended to build support for the unions’ demand that Congress take action now to save the Postal Service and protect postal jobs. There are 28 co-sponsors for S. 316, 165 co-sponsors for H.R. 630, and 72 co-sponsors for H.R. 2459, but many more are needed. (Check the list of co-sponsors to see if your members of Congress have signed on.)

In a letter to state and local presidents dated July 12, President Guffey wrote, “We must bring attention to the drastic cuts in service that management has made and will continue to make if Congress doesn’t act now. We must demand that Congress take action to prevent and reverse the dismantling of the mail processing network and stop the further degradation of service to the American people.”

Guffey urged locals to contact their congressional representatives’ and senators’ state offices to schedule an appointment as soon as possible, to explain the urgency of the House and Senate taking up postal reform before the end of USPS fiscal year on Sept. 30, 2013.

“We must also urge legislators to oppose any bill, such as the ‘discussion draft’ being circulated by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, which would reduce service to the American people,” Guffey said.

The July 12 mailing includes talking points, a summary of the union’s position for distribution to Congress, and a flyer for distribution to the public.

“The Postal Service’s plans threaten the jobs of every postal worker,” Guffey said. “Dismantling the network and cutting service will not fix the Postal Service’s finances. It will lead to the demise of the Postal Service by making its services less timely and therefore less valuable.”

“Locals are doing a fantastic job getting our message out at rallies, public input meetings, and in the media,” said APWU Legislative Director Gary Kloepfer. “We need to keep up the pressure on Congress to act now,” he said.

Please join us in lobbying for postal reform during Congress’s August recess. If you require any assistance, contact APWU Legislative Director Gary Kloepfer at 202-842-4211 or the Vice President’s office at 202-842-4250.