SPOKANE VALLEY, Wash. — Postal workers rallied against privatizing the U.S. Postal Service on Thursday afternoon.
Since he has taken office, President Trump has suggested bringing the Postal Service under White House control.
Members of the American Postal Workers Union say, however, that privatization would affect mail delivery.
The American Postal Workers Union Local 338 represents hundreds of workers in eastern Washington and North Idaho.
Their jobs could be in jeopardy if the Trump Administration takes control of USPS.
“It would affect people’s jobs, it would affect the rural communities, farming communities. Big cities, they might be okay, but the distant places, they’re going to suffer,” said Dan Harter, APWU President.
The Union said the White House taking control of the Postal Service would be an “illegal and hostile takeover.”
“We’re here, we’re here to fight. We’re here to let them know that we’re not trying to let people lose their jobs. We’re not trying to let the privatization happen. We’re here to speak up for everybody,” said Sara Vazquez, APWU representative.
The Union said a local transportation optimization program is set to start on April 1. The program would limit deliveries and drop-offs more than 50 miles from a processing facility to once per day.
APWU said the program will disproportionately impact rural areas.
“I don’t know that there’s any magic bullet fix, but the accountability in our government and across the Post Office is lacking,” said Sheri Butler, custodian at Coeur d’Alene Post Office.
House Resolution 70 is currently being debated in Congress and, if passed, would urge the House to make sure the Post Office stays an independent establishment.
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