Union Launches Petition Drive To Save America’s Postal Service
October 28, 2011
President Guffey is asking APWU members to collect signatures on a petition to Congress urging senators and representatives to oppose plans to close post offices, shutter mail processing facilities, and drastically degrade service to the American people.
In a letter to state and local presidents dated Oct. 26, 2011, President Guffey wrote, “It is urgent that we bring as much political pressure as possible to bear against the Postal Service’s plans to dismantle its network of processing, distribution and retail facilities.” 
In addition to the petition, the letter includes a flyer with the message, “ Closing Post Offices & Mail Processing Centers and Cutting Service is Wrong.”
“No company can grow or even maintain its business by cutting its service. But that’s exactly what the Postal Service is proposing to do,” the flyer says.
In July, the USPS announced plans to close 3,700 post offices; in September, management announced plans to close 252 of approximately 460 mail processing centers.
In early October, the Postal Service posted a notice in the Federal Register announcing its intent to revise service commitments, eliminate overnight delivery of first-class mail and change two-day delivery to three days.
The proposed change in service standards acknowledges what the Postal Service has repeatedly denied: Slashing the mail processing network will result in drastic cuts in service to the American people.
“Reducing the scope and quality of service will not restore the Postal Service to health. It would likely drive mailers away and therefore worsen the Postal Service’s financial problems,” Guffey said.
“If every APWU member filled up one petition, we would have nearly two million signatures,” the letter notes.
The APWU is requesting that locals act at once to make this petition drive a success. Completed petitions should be sent by Nov. 14 to:
Save America’s Postal Service
American Postal Workers Union
1300 L Street NW
Washington DC 20005.
The national union will make sure that House and Senate members receive petitions collected in their districts or states.