The Alliance, a coalition dedicated to preserving the public Postal Service, is intensifying its efforts in response to what it perceives as an increasing threat to the United States Postal Service (USPS). The group recently held a joint briefing with the Save the Post Office coalition on March 19 to highlight these concerns.
The event was attended by approximately 120 individuals from various organizations within the coalition, including MoveOn, Indivisible, the Alliance for Retired Americans, and Public Citizen. Melanie Campbell of the National Council on Black Civic Participation initiated the event. Following her, APWU President Mark Dimondstein outlined potential threats and consequences of postal privatization.
Monique Morrissey from the Economic Policy Institute discussed how selling off parts of USPS could impact communities. Shawn Sebastian from Rural Organizing addressed how rural areas might be affected by such changes. Brittany Price, an APWU member from Cleveland Area Local, shared insights from a postal worker’s perspective.
A significant aspect of APWU’s March 20 Day of Action was local participation; over 300 events were organized nationwide. Groups like the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists and Jobs with Justice took part in these actions aimed at building community support against postal privatization.
In Globe-Miami, Arizona, Indivisible chapter members distributed leaflets supporting their local post office and engaged in discussions about its importance regardless of political affiliation. In Lincoln County, Maine, an organizer emphasized community unity: “The most important thing is that I met a bunch of new friends who care about my rural town like I do.”
APWU locals are encouraged to strengthen ties with local chapters of coalition members through outreach efforts such as phone calls to identify common interests and mutual assistance opportunities.
Amid ongoing challenges posed by administrative actions perceived as hostile towards USPS independence, the Alliance has revised its mission statement. It warns that USPS is “…under extreme assault by the current administration’s illegal hostile takeover…” The statement urges public support for maintaining a strong public Postal Service as both a democratic right and constitutional necessity.
Further details can be found on their website: agrandalliance.org
