"Trump's Postal Power Grab: A Threat to Our National Treasure"

The Washington Post has reported that the Trump Administration is planning to issue an Executive Order that would fire the Postal Board of Governors and place the United States Postal Service under the control of the Commerce Department. If true, this would be an outrageous, unlawful attack on a storied national treasure, enshrined in the Constitution and created by Congress to serve every American home and business equally.

The Postal Service is more than just a mail carrier; it's a vital public service that supports over 7 million jobs and a $1.2 trillion mail and shipping industry. Any attempt to privatize, strip its independence, or alter its public service mission would be detrimental to the American people, driving up postage rates and leading to reduced service, especially in rural America.

Postal workers struck in 1970 to win collective bargaining rights and rid the Post Office Department of political patronage. The Postal Reorganization Act, which created the modern Postal Service, begins by stating that the USPS shall be operated as a basic and fundamental service provided to the people by the Government of the United States. The law created the Postal Service as an independent agency, dedicated to serving the American public and free from political interference.

The Trump Administration's attempt to remove the Board of Governors or fire postal executives is clearly illegal. The Board of Governors intends to fight this hostile takeover, and the APWU supports their efforts to defend our national treasure. The Postal Service is owned by the people, for the benefit of the people, and postal workers are dedicated to our mission, no matter who sits in the White House or in Congress.

Postal workers and our unions will join with the public to fight for the vibrant, independent, and public Postal Service we all deserve. We must stand together to protect this vital institution and ensure that it continues to serve the needs of all Americans.