The President of the Tucson local Post office workers union (APWU) (Michael Moriconi) confirms recent changes in USPS equipment and rules in Southern Arizona in an interview:
- 4 high speed letter sorters (DBCS) were removed from the Tucson plant.
- 1 is gone, 1 has been restored,
- 2 more are not back in service.
- These machines were in daily use before this.
- Turnover is at the highest in the last two years.
- New hires are paid only the minimum wage.
- A rule was recently changed preventing trucks from waiting even 15-30 mins for mail to be available before leaving - This can slow delivery of mail if it misses the truck.
Also overtime for mail carriers was stopped, but that order has recently been walked back
These actions are causing slow-down of some first class mail in Southern AZ, though postal workers prioritize ballots the best that they can.
Postal employees are essential workers and have continued to work despite being exposed to Covid-19… Some have died (Phoenix letter carrier died recently)
And machines have been disabled in Phoenix also.
Actions to support postal workers are going on across the country. You can contact your local postal worker union offices to find out what is going on in your area — if you want to organize a local action to support your local USPS workers and to stop mail slowdowns.
Google “APWU (your town or county)” or “NALC (your town)” for local phone numbers.
Or go to US Mail Not For Sale — For information on protecting the post office and preventing privatization. Also this article from the New Republic discusses chronic staffing shortages, and underfunding: “Death by 1000 cuts.”
Plan to mail back your ballot as soon as you can, or drop it at early voting locations. The AZ secretary of state website gives links to early voting/ballot drop off information for all counties.
In the interview he recommends that we
- Contact Senators, local officials, the local postmaster — Tucson postmaster is john.k.lafreniere@usps.gov and local businesses
- Support US House bill 257-150, that reverses recent changes at USPS and gives $25 billion to sustain service levels through the pandemic - This bill passed the house with bipartisan support and (hopefully) will go before the Senate.
For more information on USPS issues go to "US Mail Not For SALE", or follow #SaveThePostOffice #SavetheUSPS
Arizonans around the state are rallying around the USPS!
Rally today in Tucson covered by kvoa news
www.facebook.com/...
USPS rally in Oro Valley (North of Tucson) Saturday — had 100 people
Typically a red to purple area ! This is a non-partIsan issue
Sedona On Friday
Rally In Tucson, AZ on Saturday had 100 attending
