General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsPostal Workers Union Leader Warns the USPS Could Be Dead in Three Months
Among the most prominent victims of the coronavirus financial crisis is the United States Postal Service, which could quite literally run out of money to operate if the federal government does not approve a rescue package for it soon. The Trump administrationwhich, like much of the GOP, has long advocated for cutbacks and privatization of the postal serviceactively prevented the USPS from being bailed out in the CARES Act, even as Donald Trump has made a show of publicly thanking Fedex and UPS for their work. Not very subtle.
Fifty years ago last month, U.S. postal workers staged an unprecedented and historic eight-day strike, backing down the Nixon administration and winning the right to collective bargaining. A half century later, Mark Dimondstein, the leader of the 200,000-strong American Postal Workers Union, says that the Trump administration is using todays crisis as an opportunity to destroy the postal service as a public entity once and for all. In These Times spoke to Dimondstein about the existential peril facing postal workers, and what they plan to do about it.
Hamilton Nolan: What specifically are you asking for from Congress right now?
Mark Dimondstein: The pandemic is having a huge economic impact on mail. The Post Office is not taxpayer funded, so it normally runs on revenue from postage and services. And if 40 to 50% of that dries up in this pandemicwhich is what looks like its happening, in a very quick and precipitous waythen that money has to be made up. So the Postal Board of Governors is asking for $25 billion for relief, and another $25 billion for modernization, which gives them money to modernize the fleet. This is a relief for every single person in the country. Its not a relief for a private entity.
Ream more: https://truthout.org/articles/postal-workers-union-leader-warns-the-usps-could-be-dead-in-three-months/
jimfields33
(16,257 posts)Maybe they put some money in it for them. Nancy would be the one to support them.
elleng
(131,601 posts)jimfields33
(16,257 posts)elleng
(131,601 posts)jimfields33
(16,257 posts)SamBob
(61 posts)is keep making nancy look bad by misleading people int thinking she wants stupid things added to these bills.
She's actually trying to help those IN NEED out right away, and not in just some different stimulus relief package (takes longer to approve it unless you take action NOW) and trump doesn't seem to feel that way at all, which just goes to show just how much he cares about the american people... with little money. or not enough money.
Blue Owl
(50,663 posts)lastlib
(23,429 posts)$55 for a 100-roll. That should last me well into next year at current rate; I already had most of a roll on hand.
yellowdogintexas
(22,300 posts)I write a lot of GOTV postcards for candidates through Postcards To Voters
https://postcardstovoters.org/ My last round was for the Democratic winner in the State Supreme Court contest in Wisconsin
I have decided to send snail mail to congress/Senate etc. instead of phone calls or emails.
lastlib
(23,429 posts)ProudMNDemocrat
(16,967 posts)I have one 5 blocks from my house so support.
yellowdogintexas
(22,300 posts)so you can donate some if you don't think you will use them.
Baked Potato
(7,733 posts)According to polls and surveys Americans love their Post Office. Trump will look even more ghoulish if he doesnt support helping the Post Office.
https://link.usps.com/2020/04/15/
A year ago, but relevant:
https://news.gallup.com/poll/257510/postal-service-americans-favorite-federal-agency.aspx
Ahpook
(2,752 posts)Thank you
captain queeg
(10,373 posts)They cant stand it that somethings are best accomplished by the government and the USPS is a prime example. As I remember it the crux of the issue is they demanded the service fully fund its pension obligations. Not a bad idea, but something the rethugs dont support themselves or require corporations to do. Many pension funds both public and private are underfunded. And laws nowadays allow corporations to steal those funds.
lastlib
(23,429 posts)...so they could privatize it, required USPS to fund pension obligations for 75 years out--including for workers who are not even BORN yet! NO agency, and NO business has a comparable obligation! And NOBODY needs to. It is ridiculous.
captain queeg
(10,373 posts)Run them out of business and privatize. Hmm, wonder how mail in voting would work then?
Galraedia
(5,031 posts)The 2006 Post Office Accountability Act requires the United States Postal Service to put 5 billion dollars a year into the U.S. Treasury. Let that sink in. The United States Postal Service, which is actually in the U.S. Constitution, has to pay the government 5 billion dollars a year. The reason for doing this was not only to bankrupt USPS, but to also make up for the loss of money in the U.S. Treasury from the reckless spending during the Bush administration.
Hermit-The-Prog
(33,629 posts)lame54
(35,394 posts)Cha
(298,313 posts)that the FUBARED CLUSTERFUCK REFUSED TO SIGN IT.
I would think amazon and Everyone who uses the US Post Office would Be All OVER THIS!
lastlib
(23,429 posts)(...in fact, they HAVE one!) They could make a sweetheart deal with a private delivery co., save themselves a truckload of benjamins, and screw the rest of the public.
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