Postal Workers Union Leader Warns the USPS Could Be Dead in Three Months

[Galraedia]

Among the most prominent victims of the coronavirus financial crisis is the United States Postal Service, which could quite literally run out of money to operate if the federal government does not approve a rescue package for it soon. The Trump administration—which, like much of the GOP, has long advocated for cutbacks and privatization of the postal service—actively prevented the USPS from being bailed out in the CARES Act, even as Donald Trump has made a show of publicly thanking Fedex and UPS for their work. Not very subtle.

Fifty years ago last month, U.S. postal workers staged an unprecedented and historic eight-day strike, backing down the Nixon administration and winning the right to collective bargaining. A half century later, Mark Dimondstein, the leader of the 200,000-strong American Postal Workers Union, says that the Trump administration is using today’s crisis as an opportunity to destroy the postal service as a public entity once and for all. In These Times spoke to Dimondstein about the existential peril facing postal workers, and what they plan to do about it.

Hamilton Nolan: What specifically are you asking for from Congress right now?

Mark Dimondstein: The pandemic is having a huge economic impact on mail. The Post Office is not taxpayer funded, so it normally runs on revenue from postage and services. And if 40 to 50% of that dries up in this pandemic—which is what looks like it’s happening, in a very quick and precipitous way—then that money has to be made up. So the Postal Board of Governors is asking for $25 billion for relief, and another $25 billion for modernization, which gives them money to modernize the fleet. This is a relief for every single person in the country. It’s not a relief for a private entity.

Ream more: https://truthout.org/articles/postal-workers-union-leader-warns-the-usps-could-be-dead-in-three-months/

[jimfields33]

1. Congress is passing another 350 billion dollar bill

Maybe they put some money in it for them. Nancy would be the one to support them.

[elleng]

4. and trump refuses to sign it.

[jimfields33]

5. Let's get the bill passed first which will be this week

[elleng]

6. Yes, and let him refuse, and we'll take it to the People.

[jimfields33]

7. So do nothing?

[SamBob]

21. all trump wants to do

is keep making nancy look bad by misleading people int thinking she wants stupid things added to these bills.
She's actually trying to help those IN NEED out right away, and not in just some different stimulus relief package (takes longer to approve it unless you take action NOW) and trump doesn't seem to feel that way at all, which just goes to show just how much he cares about the american people... with little money. or not enough money.

[Blue Owl]

2. Keep buying stamps

[lastlib]

12. bought mine Saturday---

$55 for a 100-roll. That should last me well into next year at current rate; I already had most of a roll on hand.

[yellowdogintexas]

15. I bought a roll of forever stamps and 2 sheets of postcard stamps

I write a lot of GOTV postcards for candidates through Postcards To Voters
https://postcardstovoters.org/ My last round was for the Democratic winner in the State Supreme Court contest in Wisconsin

I have decided to send snail mail to congress/Senate etc. instead of phone calls or emails.

[lastlib]

22. your effort and contributions are greatly appreciated!

[ProudMNDemocrat]

3. Better get my Commissions done and mailed out by July.

I have one 5 blocks from my house so support.

[yellowdogintexas]

16. Campaigns (especially local ones) always need stamps

so you can donate some if you don't think you will use them.

[Baked Potato]

8. Let Republicans run with this, they will lose. USPS polls very high.

According to polls and surveys Americans love their Post Office. Trump will look even more ghoulish if he doesn’t support helping the Post Office.

https://link.usps.com/2020/04/15/

A year ago, but relevant:

https://news.gallup.com/poll/257510/postal-service-americans-favorite-federal-agency.aspx

[Galraedia]

9. +1

[Ahpook]

11. That is correct

Thank you

[captain queeg]

10. The rethugs have been after the USPS for a long time

They can’t stand it that somethings are best accomplished by the government and the USPS is a prime example. As I remember it the crux of the issue is they demanded the service fully fund its pension obligations. Not a bad idea, but something the rethugs don’t support themselves or require corporations to do. Many pension funds both public and private are underfunded. And laws nowadays allow corporations to steal those funds.

[lastlib]

14. Trouble is, the GOPhers, in an attempt to run USPS out of business....

...so they could privatize it, required USPS to fund pension obligations for 75 years out--including for workers who are not even BORN yet! NO agency, and NO business has a comparable obligation! And NOBODY needs to. It is ridiculous.

[captain queeg]

17. Didn't know about the 75 year thing but that sounds like them

Run them out of business and privatize. Hmm, wonder how mail in voting would work then?

[Galraedia]

18. The money also doesn't go to USPS, it goes into the U.S Treasury.

The 2006 Post Office Accountability Act requires the United States Postal Service to put 5 billion dollars a year into the U.S. Treasury. Let that sink in. The United States Postal Service, which is actually in the U.S. Constitution, has to pay the government 5 billion dollars a year. The reason for doing this was not only to bankrupt USPS, but to also make up for the loss of money in the U.S. Treasury from the reckless spending during the Bush administration.

[Hermit-The-Prog]

19. GOPers hate unions, too.

[lame54]

13. Just in time for the election

[Cha]

20. SAVE OUR POST OFFICE.. Put it in the Bill and let everyone know

that the FUBARED CLUSTERFUCK REFUSED TO SIGN IT.

I would think amazon and Everyone who uses the US Post Office would Be All OVER THIS!

[lastlib]

23. Amazon would likely LOVE a private delivery......

(...in fact, they HAVE one!) They could make a sweetheart deal with a private delivery co., save themselves a truckload of benjamins, and screw the rest of the public.