Postal Workers (APWU 458) to Rally to Improve Mail Service on Tues, Oct 1st in Lewiston

PHOTO: Postal Workers at a rally to protect mail delivery in Maine with Sen. Mike Tipping (D-Penobscot)

Postal workers will hold a rally to call on the US Postal Service to improve staffing and mail service as part of a national day of action on Tuesday, October 1 from 10am - 2pm at the post office on 49 Ash St. in Lewiston. In a statement, the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) stated its members are demanding “dignity, respect, and adequate staffing” so they can do their jobs well.

“For years, postal workers have been pulling off miracles to keep the mail moving. We deserve a job where we can show up, safely do our work, and clock out knowing that we’ve contributed to the postal mission. But a vicious cycle of short staffing and a toxic work culture is hurting postal workers and the communities we serve. This is reaching a crisis-point and enough is enough - that’s why we are taking action,” stated the union, which represents 200,000 USPS employees and retirees, including postal clerks,” the union wrote.

APWU is currently in negotiations for its national contract. Its current contract ends on September 20. Scott Adams, President APWU 458, said short staffing has been a chronic problem, but particularly serious at the Lewiston post office where they are currently short four clerks. He said APWU members are also fighting Trump-appointed Postmaster Louis DeJoy’s efforts to slow mail delivery in rural areas to cut costs. In addition, he said the Postal Board of Governors are limiting public input at their meetings, which is frustrating both postal workers and members of the public who wish to speak on DeJoy’s dramatic cuts to rural mail delivery.

“They’re like, ‘we’re going to do our own thing, we’re going to make our own changes and we don’t care what the public thinks,” said Adams.