NORTHWEST LABOR PRESS | August 24, 2018 | PAGE 27
Portland rallies to
save U.S. Post Office
from privatization
Led by postal workers, teach-
ers and veterans’ administra-
tion workers, a few dozen com-
munity members rallied at the
Main Post Office in downtown
Portland July 26 to commemo-
rate the 243rd birthday of the
U.S. Post Office (USPS) and
decry the Trump Administra-
tion’s threats to public services.
On June 21 the White House
issued a proposal “Delivering
Government Solutions in the
21st Century” that calls for the
privatization of the USPS. The
proposal would reduce the
USPS obligation to provide
universal service, deliver fewer
days of the week, eliminate at-
the-door and curbside delivery,
sell and close post offices and
processing plants, as well as
eliminate labor protections and
reduce wages and benefits for
postal workers.
The Republican-controlled
Administration, Congress, and
Supreme Court have taken aim
at public services and public-
sector workers and their unions
in a series of recent assaults.
From moves to privatize the
postal service and veterans’
healthcare, to incentives to
close and privatize schools, to
the removal of union security
for public sector workers in the
Janus vs AFSCME decision,
the public and our services are
under siege.
“Privatization means more
profit for the 1 percent and less
service, higher costs, and lower
wages for the 99 percent. Our
only hope is to unite and fight
back,” said Jamie Partridge, a
retired Letter Carrier and mem-
ber of Portland Communities
and Postal Workers United, a
main sponsor of the rally and
birthday celebration.
Other sponsors included the
American Postal Workers
Union and Portland Jobs with
Justice.
On July 25, Portland Mayor
Ted Wheeler issued a procla-
mation declaring July 26 as
Postal Heritage Day in Port-
land.
“The basic goal of labor will not change. It is – as it has always been, and I am
sure always will be – to better the standards of life for all who work for wages
and to seek decency and justice and dignity for all Americans.”
--- George Meaney