City Council takes a stand for USPS workers

Despite decades of financial hardship, United States Postal Service (USPS) workers have provided critical services while being on the frontline of a major health crisis, such as the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. This week, the Council took a stand for all Postal Workers and members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), who have been essential workers during this crisis.



According to the Washington Post, the Postal Service estimates that it will lose $2 billion each month during the current recession. Almost 500 postal workers have tested positive for COVID-19, 462 others are presumptive positives and 19 have died.



The USPS will play a critical role in protecting citizens from the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic by allowing voters to submit their ballots by mail in the upcoming 2020 local and federal elections.



President Trump has taken actions that threaten funding for the USPS throughout the pandemic and continues to do so as we approach the November Election. The Trump-appointed USPS Postmaster General recently ordered that many high-volume mail-processing machines be removed from facilities, reducing the USPS capacity to process mail and mail-in ballots.



“As a nation we have a constitutional obligation to provide for free postal service. The USPS has been a critical way we have furthered democracy and the incomplete project that is the United States,” said Councilor Essaibi-George.



The Council adopted a resolution calling on Congress to act swiftly to meet the critical needs of the USPS to ensure the longevity of this essential public institution.