Postal Workers to Launch National Campaign Against Outsourcing USPS Services to Staples

[Omaha Steve]

NO link. Email

M E D I A A D V I S O R Y

For Immediate Release -- January 27, 2014

Contact: Jamie Horwitz 202/549-4921(cell), [e-mail]

Sally Davidow 202/ 842-4250, [e-mail]

Postal Workers to Launch National Campaign Against Outsourcing USPS Services to Staples
Protests Begin in San Francisco and
San Jose Tues., Jan. 28

Message to Staples: When it comes to mail – no sale
USPS workers must staff postal counters


SAN FRANCISCO -- Members of the American Postal Workers Union, joined by community activists, will launch protests against a deal between the U.S. Postal Service and Staples to move mail services into Staples stores. The first protests in the nation will begin in San Francisco Tuesday morning and later move to San Jose in the afternoon.

In October, USPS announced a no-bid agreement to open postal counters with limited service in more than 80 Staples stores. The Staples-operated and staffed postal counters will open on a trial basis in four markets across the United States: Northern California, Atlanta, GA, Pittsburgh, PA and Central Massachusetts. After the trial period, the Postmaster General has said the plan is to expand to 1,500 stores.


WHO: Members of the American Postal Workers Union, community activists, individuals who regularly use postal services

WHAT: Protests outside Northern California Staples stores

WHEN/WHERE: 10 a.m., Jan. 28th, Staples, 1700 Van Ness, San Francisco
4 p.m., Jan. 28th, Staples, 121 Bernal Road, San Jose


“All Americans should have access to a full-service post office,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “Although first-class mail is declining, package delivery is growing, largely due to e-commerce. This is when we should be expanding the post office to offer longer hours and more options, such as public notary and basic banking. Instead, we are giving customers fewer postal services as a result of this no-bid sweetheart deal with Staples. If we’re going to have mini-Post Offices located in Staples stores, they should still be operated by USPS workers.”

Staples has been struggling recently, shutting 40 stores in the last quarter. The publicly-traded company runs a low-wage operation, with high employee turnover, designed to deliver bulk commodities to customers.

Although the USPS handles 160 billion pieces of mail each year – 40 percent of the world’s total – mail is not a bulk commodity. Each package is individually addressed, and requires individual handling.

During this time of rampant identity theft, privacy and security are of concern to millions of postal customers. Uniformed USPS employees are required to take an oath and pass a background check before they can handle mail and make credit card transactions. Retailers, such as Staples, cannot offer the same assurances.

“Without public debate and despite claims to the contrary, the USPS is moving to shutter the reliable neighborhood post office and move work to Staples and other for-profit businesses,” said Dimondstein “Our union wants to shed a light on this bad deal. We’re confident that when the public learns what’s going on they will say, ‘Staples, when it comes to mail without USPS workers – no sale.”


For more information, see this recent story from the Associated Press:

http://www.usatoday.com/story/money/business/2014/01/19/postal-service-union-
wrangle-over-staples-outlets/4647199/

The American Postal Workers Union represents 200,000 employees of the United States Postal Service. The union is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

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[madokie]

1. I like my post office thank you

just the way it is too.
Could be I was a Navy postal clerk back 40 some odd years ago

[Major Nikon]

2. They opened up a post office booth at my local hardware store

I thought it was strange the post office was offerring service there so I decided to try it out one day by asking the clerk how to mail a letter certified return receipt. Nobody staffs the booth continuously so you have to ring a little bell, then wait for one of the regular hardware store employees to get done with whatever they were doing and come to help you. They obviously had no training because the person didn't even know what a certified letter was and had absolutely no idea what paperwork was involved. After going through two other clerks they finally came up with an answer.

[madokie]

3. It takes dedication to be a good postal clerk

I'm surprised that the USPS would put a booth in a hardware store like that
But then again I've been surprised before

[freshwest]

4. This is so wrong. No need for it. No one wants it but RMoney. n/t

[Paka]

5. So Sad!

Just another sick ploy along the road to privatization. I've lived all over the world and the USPS is one of the best.

[Samantha]

7. Well, well, well - what a coincidence

by David Welsh
Postal Workers United
Thought we’d share with you something very interesting one of our organizers for CPWU and Postal Activist David Welsh found through research: Staples interlocking directors with Bain & Co. and CBRE My internet research reveals the following: 1. Bain Capital (of Mitt Romney fame) was founded in 1984 by partners of Bain & Co, a consultant firm. Today a partner of Bain & Co. , Vijay Vishwanath,… sits on the board of directors of Staples, Inc. and owns stock in Staples. One of Bain Capital’s earliest venture capital investments was in Staples, in 1986. Bain Capital eventually reaped a nearly 7-fold return on its investment, and Mitt Romney sat on the Staples board of directors for over a decade. Staples, from modest beginning, grew to be the largest retail office supply chain. 2. CBRE president and chief executive officer Robert Sulentic, also sits on the board of directors of Staples. (CBRE belongs to Sen. Dianne Feinstein’s husband Richard Blum). David Welsh

at http://saveourpostoffice.us/wp/2014/01/02/staples-bain-capital-and-cbre-the-link/

I am going to be boycotting Staples.

Sam

[Dark n Stormy Knight]

8. MoveOn petition: Staples is not a post office.

Petition by Jerry Stidman
To be delivered to The United States House of Representatives, The United States Senate, and President Barack Obama

Staples should not be allowed to replace bricks and mortar post offices. The post office does not offer copy services. Staples should not offer postal services.

http://petitions.moveon.org/sign/staples-is-not-a-post

[Wilms]

9. ^