Postal workers and customers hold power in their hands to protect the public Postal Service from corporate interests. The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) member and customer, Debby Szeredy, sheds light on the critical role individuals can play in safeguarding this essential service.
In the face of ongoing attacks on public government services by corporate billionaires, the importance of maintaining prompt, reliable, secure, efficient, and affordable government services cannot be overstated. The degradation of these services is often used as a pretext for privatization, where private-sector companies may not uphold the same standards of service.
As a proponent of Vote-by-Mail, Szeredy emphasizes the impact of service consolidations and the erosion of public mail services on communities and USPS employees. These attacks not only jeopardize essential services but also threaten living-wage jobs within the USPS.
From connecting families across distances to supporting small businesses and ensuring timely delivery of medical prescriptions and mail-in ballots, the USPS plays a crucial role in the lives of Americans. The ripple effects of service disruptions extend to political campaigns, legal communications, passport applications, money orders, and emergency express services.
Highlighting the USPS’s role in serving marginalized communities, Szeredy underscores the necessity of public services for individuals with minimum wage jobs, rural residents, and those on reservations. The USPS serves as a vital link for families separated by borders or military service, emphasizing the urgency of preserving these services.
Postal revenues are a collective effort, supported by communities and workers nationwide. Szeredy urges all communities to advocate for prompt, affordable, and secure postal services that benefit everyone.
Empowering Change
Individuals are encouraged to leverage their influence by engaging with elected officials. Szeredy calls for proactive measures to halt the USPS’s consolidation plans, automation removal, and plant transformations. By voicing concerns to senators and House representatives, constituents can push for a moratorium on disruptive USPS initiatives that compromise service quality and job security.
Key actions include preventing plant consolidations that delay mail delivery, preserving automation for efficient services, and safeguarding small post office jobs. Additionally, efforts to oppose mail delays and optimize USPS operations are crucial in ensuring timely and reliable postal services for all.
As the USPS faces challenges that threaten its integrity and accessibility, Szeredy’s advocacy serves as a reminder of the collective power wielded by postal workers and customers. By uniting to protect public services, individuals can safeguard a vital institution that serves communities across the nation.
