A Grand Alliance Goes to Congress

(This article first appeared in the September/October 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine) 

A delegation of representatives from A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service took their concerns about postal issues to Capitol Hill in June.

The delegation met with the staff of Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), the ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the Postal Service. The delegation consisted of Jennifer Tucker of the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation, John Hatton of National Active and Retired Federal Employees Association, Eva Dominguez of Alliance for Retired Americans, Steven D. Martin of the National Council of Churches, and Katherine Isaac from APWU.

The staff gave the Alliance delegation a run-down of what the senator’s version of upcoming postal “reform” legislation might look like – and promised to treat the Alliance as a “stakeholder” on postal issues. Legislators have historically consulted with other stakeholders – including the Postal Service, major mailers and postal unions – when drafting postal bills, but “the people” have rarely had the opportunity to weigh in. With the Alliance as a stakeholder, the people will now be heard.

Each member of the delegation expressed a commitment to a strong public Postal Service, and let the senator’s staff know that the Alliance would be educating its members and the public on postal issues, including by holding field hearings with elected officials around the country.

House Resolutions on Postal Issues

Postal issues are heating up in Congress.

The House Appropriations Committee recently advanced a measure to restore mail service standards to the July 1, 2012, level. As Congress begins considering postal reform legislation, it is crucial that as many House members as possible go on record in support of our public Postal Service.

Toward that end, the Alliance is circulating a letter urging House members to co-sponsor House Resolution 54, which calls on the USPS to restore mail service standards, and House Resolution 12, which calls on the Postal Service to maintain six-day delivery.

These non-binding resolutions need 218 co-sponsors to claim majority support in the House, and both are nearing that goal.  Visit http://agrandalliance.org/take-action/ for more information.

A delegation from A Grand Alliance was also scheduled to meet with Postmaster General Megan Brennan to discuss issues affecting the future of the Postal Service. The group hopes such meetings will become a regular occurrence.

Field Hearings

Next up, A Grand Alliance is planning to bring postal issues to communities around the country.

In a series of field hearings, the Alliance will address severe delays in mail delivery caused by changes to USPS service standard, the economic impact of plant closings on local communities, threats to six-day delivery, and ideas for expanded services, such as longer hours and postal banking.

Public officials, representatives from Grand Alliance organizations and, of course, the public will be invited to speak.

To stay informed, sign up for email updates at www.agrandalliance.org and follow A Grand Alliance on Facebook at www.facebook.com/agrandalliance and Twitter @AGrandAlliance.

Trade Deals and the Postal Service

In June, People Demanding Action organized a conference call where the Alliance gave a presentation to approximately 150 activists about how pending trade agreements could threaten the Postal Service. 

Build the Alliance Near You!

State and local organizations across the country are joining the Grand Alliance.

Thanks to the diligent work of APWU retiree Susan Hammer, on June 8, 2015, delegates to the Alameda (CA) Labor Council passed a resolution to “demonstrate its support of the APWU and the other postal unions by joining A Grand Alliance.”

APWU members can build support by inviting local and state labor councils, churches, and civic organizations to join. A sample resolution is available on the Grand Alliance website under “Take Action” at http://agrandalliance.org/take-action/.