IL Local Says ‘No’ to New CPU

Approximately 70 APWU members and supporters lined the streets in Belleville, IL on March 7 to ask passersby not to patronize a newly opened postal retail operation at Ben Franklin's Crafts & Floral store. The store began offering postal services as a Contract Postal Unit (CPU) in February. 

Union members say the new CPU will undermine the viability of the town’s post office, which is just three blocks away. The private postal unit “will pull business away from the Belleville Post Office and lead to reduced hours and reduced business,” Local Vice President Edward Eversman told the Belleville News-Democrat.

The new contract “jeopardizes the safety and security of the mail. Only USPS Employees have taken an oath to protect the sanctity of the mail and are well trained to identify hazardous material and preventing them from entering the mail stream,” a union flyer said.

Active members and retirees from the Southwestern Illinois Area Local 407, which represents APWU members in Belleville, participated in the protest, along with members of the National Association of Letter Carriers Local 155, the Southwestern IL Central Labor Council AFL-CIO, and officers from various APWU locals and state organizations who were in nearby St. Louis attending training sessions.

The local plans to continue to protest at the store and is starting a letter writing campaign to the store.