Protests across U.S.: Save six-day mail service!
By Betsey Piette
March 28, 2013
Neither rain, snow nor sleet kept postal workers from protesting to demand
“Save six day mail.”
From a spirited community march and union rally in New York’s
Manhattan to a militant march through the Hollywood section of Los Angeles,
postal workers and their supporters came out from coast to coast on March 24 to
save six-day mail delivery. Wintery weather throughout most of the country did
not dampen their enthusiasm.
The National Association of Letter Carriers called for the national day of
action to prevent cutting mail service to five days a week. The American Postal
Workers Union and the Rural Letter Carriers Union both endorsed. Hundreds of
protests took place around the U.S., with at least one in every state. A common
chant in all the rallies was “Five day, no way!”
In New York City, the group Community-Labor United for
Postal Jobs and Service began with a community street meeting in front of the
Port Authority Post Office, which is slated for closing. After an hour or so of
connecting with the community — including the Fulton Houses across the
street — CLUPJS and its allies marched to the Main Post Office at 31st
Street and 8th Avenue to join a rally of 1,500 postal workers.
On the march with CLUPJS were Mary Pannell and high school student Victoria
Pannell, who was a leader of the 2011 National Rally to Save Postal Jobs and
Services, and letter carrier Charlie Twist, a NALC member.
CLUPJS believes the best way to fight to save postal jobs is to unite the
fight of the workers and their unions with that of the communities to save
necessary services. CLUPJS member and housing leader Rosa Maria de la Torre was
invited to speak to the mass rally, along with leaders of the postal
unions.
De la Torre made a strong case for building solidarity with communities that
need postal service: “… [I]t is only through unity that battles
affecting the poor and the working class can be won. CLUPJS urges all postal
unions to work together. We in the community are committed to saving our post
offices. We are petitioning against the closing of the Port Authority [Post
Office] and against the sale of Old Chelsea Station … and for saving
Saturday delivery.”
In Los Angeles, nearly 4,000 postal workers marching
through crowded Hollywood streets received widespread encouragement from people
yelling support and drivers honking their horns. This strong working-class
action and the outpouring of support stood in stark contrast to the glitz and
glamour of Hollywood and gave tourists a real struggle to observe.
More than 300 postal workers and supporters gathered in
Philadelphia outside the Ben Franklin Post Office, named after
the first U.S. Postmaster General. The protest drew letter carriers from around
the tri-state area, who lined both sides of Market Street as drivers passing by
honked in support. Teachers, state and city workers, carpenters and other
unionists joined the protest.
Around 200 turned out at the Lower Paxton Post Office in Harrisburg,
Pa. Workers from Reading, Pa.,also participated. In
Pittsburgh seniors, veterans, religious groups, community
associations and other labor organizations turned out to support postal
workers.
A highly visible Western New York rally at a Buffalo post
office near a huge shopping mall turned out some 400 postal workers and
supporters. Union members welcomed the International Action Center’s
signs declaring community support and opposition to closings, cuts and
layoffs.
‘They want to privatize all public
services’
Despite miserable rain and cold weather, over 100 letter carriers and
supporters rallied at the General Assembly building in Raleigh,
N.C. A union rally like this is extremely rare in the largely
non-union state of North Carolina. The impressive mobilization showed the
potential strength of an organized working class there.
Eddie Davidson, president of statewide NALC Local 382, chaired the rally,
along with Craig Schadewald, Local 382 vice president. MaryBe McMillan,
secretary treasurer of the N.C. AFL-CIO, led the chant, “They say cut
back, we say fight back!” that roared through the crowd.
Ajamu Dillahunt, former president of the Raleigh APWU and a leader in Black
Workers for Justice, and Zaina Alsous, from NC Student Power Union, also spoke.
“It is not just about postal workers, it is about all workers, municipal
workers, mental health workers, we must all stand together, ” stated
Dillahunt. “They want to privatize all public services.”
Cold, wet weather in Atlanta didn’t stop several
hundred postal workers, their families and other union members from rallying
outside the Crown Road Post Office for three hours. The large crowd filled the
area around the sprawling complex and across the street. Again community
support was expressed by passing motorists. Occasionally train engineers honked
and waved. Hundreds of leaflets were distributed detailing the real story about
Congress’ role behind the postal service’s budget shortfall.
Freezing weather on top of a snow storm in Wichita, Kan.,
couldn’t keep letter carriers and other postal workers from rallying
outside the main post office. They were joined there by members of the
Communication Workers, the American Federation of Teachers and community
members. Members of the German union ver.di added international solidarity to
the action. They were in Wichita protesting T- Mobile’s cutting union
jobs, alongside CWA.
At a rally sponsored by the Wisconsin State NALC in front of the
West Milwaukee Post Office, over 250 postal
workers, their families and allies from many unions and community groups
protested for two hours in blowing snow. The crowd chanted, “Ho, ho, hey,
hey, we want our mail on Saturday!”
Before the rally ended, participants gathered to commemorate the work done
everyday by postal workers for more than 200 years. That announcement drew many
hoots and hollers of support. Other rallies took place in
Madison and Green Bay, Wis.
Hundreds of postal workers converged at the huge central post office
building in downtown San Diego. Cheered on by honks of passing
drivers, the workers surrounded the building with a picket line and were
clearly unified in their demands that Congress stop dismantling the U.S. Postal
Service and not reduce Saturday services.
In Seattle,labor and community leaders from Washington,
Oregon, Alaska, California, Colorado and New Mexico — in town for the
AFL-CIO Western Regional Conference — joined local postal workers and
community activists for a downtown rally.
Dante Strobino, Ellie Dorritie, Bob McCubbin, Audrey Hoak, Scott Scheffer,
Johnnie Stevens and Dianne Mathiowetz contributed to this article.
Photos: New York/Brenda Ryan; Los Angeles/Scott Scheffer;
Springfield, Ill./Tony Hutson; Buffalo, N.Y./Bev Hiestand
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