Postal Workers, Supporters Ramp Up Stop Staples Campaign

Carrying signs and chanting, “The U.S. Mail Is Not for Sale,” members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and supporters rallied at the Staples store in Foster City April 29 to call attention to a deal between the U.S. Postal Service and Staples that threatens local post office jobs. The office supply retailer now displays a USPS logo on its façade and a knock-off post office inside staffed by low paid workers at many of its stores nationwide. The pilot program could expand, undermining the wages and benefits of the unionized USPS workforce and threatening jobs.

Judy Lynn, Maria Boban, Jose Carlos, Susan Charles, Rayna Lehman, and Maryann Medina protested privatization of postal worker jobs at the Staples store in Foster City April 29.

“If the deal goes through, it could be the end of the Postal Service as we know it,” said APWU member Alan Menjivar. “It could lead to privatization. Hundreds of thousands of people could be laid off who make a livable wage. That will have an impact on local economies. The oldest government icon should not be privatized.” Menjivar pointed out that the security and sanctity of the US Mail is protected by federal law. While APWU members are uniformed, trained, sworn to protect the sanctity of the U.S. Mail, and pass Civil Service exams, the clerks at Staples do not receive the same level of training as the federal workers.

The deal between USPS and Staples enables low-wage, part-time private sector workers to perform the tasks of the unionized workforce, Menjivar said. “The post office has been a public icon for two hundred years. It’s not funded by the government; it’s self-sufficient.”

Retired postal worker Maryann Medina said if the Postmaster’s plan succeeds, “Good paying postal jobs will become low wage jobs.” She said California has 84 Staple stores that would have postal services inside under the privatizing scheme. She said APWU, other postal unions, and allies in the labor movement are working to build awareness of the threats to union jobs. “If we can’t stop it here in California, it will be harder to stop it in other places around the U.S.,” she said. Staples has around 1,000 stores nationwide, with 28 sites in the SF Bay Area that have postal units.

APWU member Jose Carlos also pointed out that in some areas, post offices could be closed if customers patronize Staples to buy stamps and mail packages. If Staples then closes stores, as it and other office supply retailers have done in the recent past, many people would have to travel long distances for postal services. The USPS is also selling off some of its buildings. “People in small towns are very concerned,” Carlos said. “The USPS is already cutting staffing and services like vending machines for stamps,” which causes longer lines in post offices. “It’s not the employees’ fault,” Carlos said.

Menjivar noted that the Congressional mandate that calls for the USPS to fund pensions 75 years into the future is also hurting the postal service. He said the USPS needs to enhance services and staff post offices properly and bring back self-service stamp machines. “We are also demanding to be working behind the counters here [at Staples] and have our trucks pick up the mail,” Menjivar said.

The postal workers unions are asking other unions to boycott Staples and buy office supplies elsewhere. The 120,000 member California Federation of Teachers (CFT) voted to boycott Staples, and plans to introduce a Boycott Staples resolution at the national convention of the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) in mid-July. The APWU noted that, “Roughly one-third of Staples’ revenue come from the sale of school supplies—which makes teachers a key ally in the campaign to stop shopping at Staples.”

Members of Congress have also joined the fight. Thirty members of the U.S. House of Representatives from California called on Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe to reject the Staples program. Thirty-one of the 82 “pilot” sites for the program are in the state. Rep. Alan Lowenthal of Long Beach wrote on April 29 in a letter co-signed by 29 other House members: “We believe the pilot program is a clear and unmistakable attempt at union-busting, as well as the privatization of critical public services,” Rep. Jared Huffman and Rep. Carol Shea-Porter (D-NH) wrote separate letters.

“Stop Staples” protests were held at 56 stores in 27 states on April 24, and many in the Bay Area April 29. Members of the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) also rallied with the APWU.
Addressing 200 protesters outside a Staples store in Washington, DC, April 24, APWU President Mark Dimondstein said, “This is a fight against the Wall Street privatizers. We’re for enhanced services to the people of this country. We’re for expanded hours. We’re for weekend hours.”

“Solidarity is really fantastic among the four postal unions,” said NALC Vice President Timothy O’Malley. “Earlier this year we signed a Postal Union Alliance. We came together because we realized there are people who are trying to privatize the Postal Service,” he said.

“We’re not going to shop at Staples,” said NPMHU President John Hegarty. “The unions are all going to stick together around the country and it’s going to hurt their business tremendously,” he said.

The APWU is also asking individuals to sign on to an online petition to protect our mail from privatization at http://stopstaples.com.

For more information and updates, check www.apwu.org.

APWU Local 73 member Robert Laney handed out information to Staples customers about the privatization of postal worker jobs at the Staples store in Foster City April 29.