Postal Privatization Once Again Rearing Its Ugly Head!
Mark Dimondstein
March 10, 2025
In 2018, then-President Trump openly called for completely breaking up the public Postal Service and selling it to private corporations. A massive fightback led by the APWU, in unity with the people of the country, temporarily derailed those dangerous plans. Not surprisingly, Trump is once again calling for postal privatization. Many conservative politicians and rightwing media pundits are jumping on the bandwagon, including The Washington Post, which is owned by Amazon founder and billionaire Jeff Bezos.
Despite Trump’s past record, a significant portion of our members voted for him.
Few, if any, workers would willingly vote to destroy their own jobs, union, rights, and benefits. It appears too many underestimate the dangers of privatization and believe we would keep our union and negotiated union contracts if the Postal Service is sold off to private corporations. Consider the following:
What is Postal Privatization?
Q: What is postal privatization?
A: The USPS is owned by the people and exists to serve everyone with universal, affordable service; if privatized, it would exist to make maximum profit to enrich corporations, Wall Street, and billionaires.
Q: If the USPS is sold off to private corporations, what will happen to my job?
A: We would no longer be working for the USPS. The new owners would decide how many employees it wants and who to hire. Fair hiring practices for disabled veterans and people from all walks of life would likely cease.
Q: What would happen to our union contract and its negotiated wages and benefits?
A: Our contract is with the USPS. The APWU and our union contract cannot be automatically carried forward to private companies. Our wage rates, benefits, cost-of- living adjustments (COLAs), and financial and job security will be gone unless and until workers rebuild the union and win them back.
Q: What would happen to my retirement benefits?
A: Our retirement is tied to our status as federal employees. If privatized, we would no longer be government employees. Those vested would have retirement benefits frozen and they would never increase. Not-yet-vested and new workers would likely not be covered by any defined benefit retirement plan.
Q: What about our health insurance?
A: Our health insurance is tied to the Federal Employee Health Bene t (FEHB) system and secured in our union contract. We would be at the mercy of private companies that would determine whether to provide health insurance and they would determine cost.
Q: Would I still have no-layoff protections?
A: No. There are no private-sector workers, union or not, who have full protection from layoffs.
Q: Would I still have “just cause” protections against unjust discipline, including termination?
A: No. This tremendous job security right would be eliminated.
Q: Would postal workers still maintain our strong leave and holiday benefits?
A: No. Sick, vacation, and holiday leave would be at the whim of non-union companies.
Q: Would I still have the right to le grievances to resolve problems?
A: Not unless it is a unionized private company with such negotiated provisions.
Q: Would I still maintain seniority for bidding jobs and other rights?
A: No. Postal seniority and the benefits that come with it would be lost.
Q: What would happen to postal services for the people of the country?
A: No private company could be compelled to deliver everywhere, no matter who we are or where we live. Postal services would be based on profit and would likely cease for vast parts of the country. Our national treasure would be destroyed.
Privatization is bad for workers, bad for unions, and bad for the people. Prices go up and service goes down, while the bosses and billionaires like Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos laugh all the way to the bank. Let’s be clear-eyed and ready for battle and declare “The U.S. Mail Is Not for Sale!” Onward! ■