As all NPMHU members are aware, the Postal Service is a vital resource to every American household and this is especially seen now during the COVID-19 pandemic. The pandemic, however, has created significant finanical stress to the USPS as well as health risks for its employees.
To ensure the problems the Postal Service faces remains in the public eye, NPMHU President Hogrogian and NoVA P&DC Branch President/Local 305 Recording Secretary Dwight Burnside, along with leadership from the AFL-CIO and other postal unions leaders, spoke to reporters on how congressional action is necessary for the Postal Service's sustainablity through the end of the fiscal year and what is currenlty being done to protect postal employees on the job.
In a resulting article from Gov Exec, it was noted while members of the House of Representatives have shown past support for the Postal Service in stimulus legislation, the Trump Administration has disapproved of any assistance for the most popular federal agency. “While past administrations have been indifferent to the Postal Service,” said [NPMHU President] Hogrogian, “this administration has been outright hostile.”
Roll Call reported on President Hogrogian's comments on the existance of the Postal Service hinges upon receiveing finanical relief in the next round of stimulus. USPS is not only facing operational jeopardy, but leadership has also had to react to the health risks COVID-19 has created for employees. To this point, Branch President Burnside commented, "management is making genuine efforts to provide safe working conditions."
People's World quoted Branch President Burnside, "Most of the people on the floor feel the current administration doesn’t understand what we’re doing and how it important our work is to the country." As the Senate has yet to take up legislation that provides finanical relief to the USPS, Mail Handlers need to keep pressure on their elected officials to ensure this viable service can continue to deliver to every American.
Pressure for USPS Funding Ramps Up as Budget Outlook Worsens, Gov Exec
'Out of Money by Early Fall': Postal Unions Press for Pandemic Relief, Roll Call
Unions: $500 Billion Went to Corporations, Postal Service Got Nothing, People's World