Wednesday, April 11, 2012

Open Letter to Postal Workers

Dear Postal Workers,

We are writing to speak directly to postal workers everywhere in the United States. We hope you will take this letter and pass it around, copy it, and get it in the hands of co-workers in your own workplace… and also in other towns, cities and states across the country.

We are writing to tell you that you are not alone.

Your jobs have been put on the chopping block by a U.S. Congress that is determined to destroy one of the most valued public services in our country. They have put a fake – and impossible – demand on the USPS to fund the pension fund for 75 years into the future, costing $5.5 billion each year out of operating revenues. Their goal has been to close hundreds of post offices and distribution plants, lay-off thousands of postal workers, and allow the private companies to keep snatching up your work.

Millions of Americans oppose this.

We know that the founding principles of the USPS were to guarantee democracy by promoting communication and connection among citizens. The security of our correspondence is the cornerstone of freedom of expression… and that is the job of the USPS. No one has voted to give that up. It’s being slowly weakened and stolen… but it’s not gone yet.

We want you to know that members of the undersigned organizations are committed to standing by your side, and working with your unions, to protect the work you do and the service you provide.

We, members of the undersigned organizations, know that America becomes weaker every year as decent, well-paying, secure union jobs are eliminated by Congress. We know that our only hope as a nation is to maintain jobs during periods of economic recession. We know that unions are the main organizations that fight for equalizing wealth, so that workers can earn a fair share of the economic benefit they create.

We join you in your fight to protect your jobs, protect our post offices, and keep safe the public service we all need.

Signed,
Vermont State Labor Council, AFL-CIO
United Academics: AFT-AAUP
Vermont-National Education Association Executive board
VSEA Board of Trustees
UE Local 255
UE Local 267
UE Local 203
Vermont Workers Center
General Assembly of Occupy the Upper Valley
General Assembly of Occupy Dartmouth
Labor Solidarity working Group of Burlington Occupy
General Assembly of Occupy Montpelier

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