American Postal Worker Union (APWU) President Jonathan Smith picketed with union members outside the Providence Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) on Corliss Street on Tuesday. Similar demonstrations took place outside post offices across the country as part of a National Call to Protect Our Public Postal Service. Here’s video from the protest:
The union writes, “…the Postal Service is facing threats… from financial challenges created by outdated laws to attacks on Vote-by-Mail and the possibility that postal leadership will prioritize corporate interests over the public good, we must act to defend one of America’s most trusted institutions — our public Postal Service.”
President Smith spoke to reporters:
“If I had to define what we’re doing today, we’re setting the record straight about the United States Postal Service, as opposed to the lies out there that we’re a failing business, when in fact we are a thriving service, “ said President Smith. “We are a not-for-profit service, meaning ... we were [constitutionally] designed to make sure that everybody had a right to information, no matter where they lived.
“We would not be required to go out to these [rural areas, under our] universal obligation, these places that we know will not be profitable, because it’s not about profit, it’s about service. It’s about you, no matter where you live, having the right to pay the same price for information as anybody else.
“One of the biggest problems there is that we’ve got people leading the Postal Service who don’t have the postal interest at heart. Every time they pick a new Postmaster General, they’re getting endorsements from our competition. Louis DeJoy was endorsed by FedEx and UPS. This new guy, David Steiner, is from waste management, and they come in here with a business model that doesn’t understand the service to the American people.
“When you go up on Capitol Hill, they claim that we get paid too much. You know who got the greatest benefit package in the world? Those that sit in Congress, those that sit in the Senate, but then they want to complain [about us]. We are citizens of the United States who are proud to pay our taxes, yet they are passing laws that exempt the richest among us from paying taxes while we, everyday workers, do. So we want to set the record straight.
“When Hurricane Sandy was around, the Postal Service was important. When Anthrax was around, the Postal Service was important. When COVID was around, when everybody else was locked up in their house - Guess what? - the Postal Service was important.
“We were essential then, and we are essential now, because when America has been in the worst pain, the postal worker has always shown up. We deliver. Rain, snow, or gloom of day, the postal worker is always there for you. In fact, we have conducted a survey, and Americans support the Postal Service by almost 70 percent.”
“The Postal Service is a cornerstone of every community in Rhode Island,” said RI AFL-CIO President Patrick Crowley. “We need to make sure that the workers who do the important work of keeping our communities connected are protected from the ravages of the Trump Administration. What they’re doing to the Postal Service is what they’re doing to the government across the nation. They’re trying to shrink it so that it will not work effectively. The members of the American Postal Workers Union are a cornerstone of their communities. People know them and respect them.
“It’s time we stood up and made sure the Postal Service treats its workforce with respect... We need to make sure that there’s a Postal Service for every person in Rhode Island, that they have access to it, that it’s affordable, and that the workers they rely on are treated with decency and respect.”
“We’re here today because our public service is facing a serious challenge, and this is our opportunity to show that the Postal Service belongs to the people, not to private interests,” said Postal Worker Vinny Crespo. “It must remain a strong public institution committed to universal service for generations to come. I encourage everyone to join us and make your voices heard together so we can protect our future. We are here to protect vote-by-mail. Vote-by-mail is very important for our communities.
“We’ve been doing this service for so long. Last year, we processed millions of pieces of mail at this plant, and 99% were delivered. Everything was perfectly on time... We want people to support us and trust us: This is your postal service. We’re here to provide a service. Trust in us. We’re going to deliver every piece of mail, and we’re going to deliver every ballot.”
“We’re here to set the record straight,” said President Smith. “The Postal Service is needed. They want to spread lies about vote-by-mail. They say, “Vote-by-mail is not safe. Where’s your evidence? They’ve lost over 60 court cases about vote-by-mail. Some states are 100% vote-by-mail. Wouldn’t that be easier?
“They talk about how many people didn't vote in the last presidential election. You know what I want to talk about? I want to talk about the 90 million people that might have voted if they had had an easier way. What about those at home with three children? Do you have time to get them dressed and come to a poll? If you have vote-by-mail, it would be easier for you to vote, right? What about that elderly person? Is it fair to have them come out with an oxygen tank and a walker to stand in a specific time of day just to vote? No. Why don't we make voting easier? Why do we try to make it harder?
“That's not the country that we should have. That's not what America should look like. Vote-by-mail has been working. And my greatest point: Guess who votes by mail? The very person that wants to stop it. Trump casts his ballot by mail every time that he votes. He is sure that we will get his ballot to where it's supposed to go. It sounds hypocritical to me, and we are going to set the record straight and tell the American people the truth: We are hardworking Americans who take pride in what we do. This is not about saving our jobs. This is about protecting America's Postal Service. We don't want you to miss it after it's gone...”
Trump wants to destroy the postal service because he wants to destroy everything that helps the American people.