Save Our Service!
A joint effort between the Concerned Letter Carriers and From A to Arbitration, our goal is to educate and inform about the strengths of the postal service today, and show how privatization or restructuring would be detrimental to postal workers, the government, the American public, and our delivery infrastructure as we know it today.
DAY OF ACTION WEDNESDAY FEB 26TH
At your lunch time on Wednesday or at 12pm your local time, the Concerned Letter Carriers and From A to Arbitration ask that you call your representatives and urge them to stand against any executive order or restructuring efforts the White House may attempt to enforce against the US Postal Service.
Use the button below to find your local representation – you can find an example phone script and email on this page, as well as resources and links to learn more and get involved.
The United States Postal Service Is Important: Here's Why
Universal Mail Delivery – We deliver bills, taxes, checks, medication, passports, drivers licenses, legal documents, license plates, newspapers, and more – regardless of geography, income, or accessibility. The nation’s post office will celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2025. USPS is a self-sustaining and independent establishment of the federal government, does not receive taxpayer funding, and relies on revenue derived from the sale of postal services and products (Source: nalc.org). Every day, 6 days a week, USPS delivers 376 million pieces of mail and packages to nearly 169 million delivery points nationwide. USPS is central to a $1.92 trillion mailing industry. U.S. letter carriers deliver 44% of the world’s mail (Source: nalc.org).
Pricing – Our shipping rates force private corporations like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx to keep their prices low and competitive. Additionally, 51.5 million households and businesses in rural communities would have no guaranteed delivery of their essential mail and packages without USPS (Source: nalc.org). Dismantling or privatizing the Postal Service would result in higher costs for consumers, and potential lack of access to delivery for millions of Americans nationwide.
Rural Delivery Concerns – USPS’s universal service obligation ensures mail reaches every U.S. address, critical for rural communities. A Commerce-led focus on profitability could lead to reduced service—fewer delivery days, closed post offices, or slower mail times—disproportionately hitting remote areas reliant on USPS for medicine, ballots, and communication.
Small Business – The US Postal Service is a huge proponent in the support of small businesses – through the LEADing together program, postal employees in any sector of the postal service can engage customers and advocate for the use of numerous postal products and services (Source: news.usps.com), such as Click-N-Ship and Business Rate shipping, USPS Connect Solutions, Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) Services, and numerous other postal products and services, small businesses grow and thrive through partnership with the Postal Service (Source: usps.com)
Political Mail – USPS and its letter carriers play a crucial role in handling political mail and ballots, ensuring a fair and secure election process. As an independent agency, we must remain free from political influence to uphold the integrity of our democratic system and fulfill our sacred duty of delivering ballots with accuracy and reliability.
Disaster & Crisis Response – In emergencies such as hurricanes, wildfires, and pandemics, USPS remains a lifeline for communities, delivering essentials when others cannot. When COVID-19 had the entire world in lockdown, USPS kept its doors open, ensuring the public continued to have access to the essential services it provides – postal workers put themselves in harms way as essential workers, in order to ensure the mail always runs. USPS had the perfect infrastructure in place during COVID to deliver COVID tests, masks, medicine, and essential needs to every American in every community – and the Postal Service would provide this once more for another pandemic or global shutdown of similar nature.
Veterans – As of 2024, the Postal Service employs nearly 73,000 military veterans, making it one of the largest employers of veterans in the country.
Community Connection – The connections letter carriers make to customers are invaluable: sometimes carriers are the only person in contact with an elderly or disabled American. Letter carriers are the eyes and ears of communities – in many cases, carriers are able to save lives and respond to and/or report emergencies quicker than other first responders. Numerous lives have been saved by heroic letter carriers coming upon those in need while making their appointed rounds. Additionally, USPS has programs that deliver free reading material to the blind, and free books for kids programs. The Postal Service is one of the most popular government entities in the United States, consistently ranked as one of the most trusted federal agencies by the American people.
Postal Record Heroic Carriers: Feb25 | Dec24 | Nov24 | Aug24 | Jun24 | Apr24 | Mar24 | Feb24 | Jan24
Postal Record Community Service: Dec24
Postal Record Hero of the Year Awards: May24
(Find more postal records here)
Impacts of Privatization Internationally – “International postal privatization and profit maximization efforts have resulted in disinvestment, lower service quality, and higher prices (despite more competition), as well as drastic cuts to both employment and wages across the entire delivery industry. Privately owned post offices only operate in areas deemed lucrative, resulting in large sections of unserved rural, sub-urban, and even low-income urban areas. For example, the privatization of the Italian, Danish, Norwegian, and Finnish postal systems has led to slower delivery times, reductions in the frequency of delivery to as few as three days a week, and, in some cases, the discontinuation of delivery to rural residents. These service reductions would be foolish when more and more people rely on delivery for purchased goods and the frequency of delivery is increasing in the United States.
Stamp prices have increased significantly in countries with privatized postal systems. For example, since 2010, stamp prices have more than doubled in Italy and more than tripled in the UK, while the price of a stamp has only increased 66% in the United States. In fact, according to an analysis by the USPS OIG, USPS stamp prices are the most affordable in the world, when compared to 30 other countries with postal systems relatively comparable to the USPS.” (Source: nalc.org)
The USPS is a critical institution that serves as the backbone of American communication and commerce. The “A Sustainable Path Forward” report outlines several key reasons why preserving and strengthening the Postal Service is essential:
- USPS Ensures Universal Service & Accessibility
• The USPS delivers mail and packages to every address in the country, including remote and rural areas that private carriers often neglect or surcharge.
• It maintains a nationwide network of post offices, ensuring that all communities have access to postal services regardless of profitability.
• Over 43 million Americans in rural areas depend on USPS for essential mail and package delivery. - USPS Powers the Economy & Supports Local Businesses
• The USPS handles 146 billion pieces of mail annually and facilitates commerce for small businesses and major corporations alike.
• USPS delivery services help local businesses compete with large e-commerce companies by providing affordable shipping options.
• The mailing industry supports 7.3 million jobs and $1.58 trillion in economic activity. - USPS is Essential for Public Safety & Government Services
• The Postal Service delivers prescription medications to veterans and seniors who rely on timely shipments.
• It plays a vital role in delivering Social Security checks, passports, and IRS documents, ensuring millions of Americans receive critical government services.
• USPS is the primary carrier of election ballots, safeguarding the democratic process by enabling vote-by-mail for millions. - USPS is a Major Employer & Supports Middle-Class Jobs
• With over 600,000 employees, USPS is one of the largest employers in the country, providing stable, middle-class jobs with fair wages and benefits.
• The Postal Service employs over 100,000 veterans, making it one of the largest veteran employers in the U.S. - USPS Operates Without Taxpayer Funding
• The Postal Service is self-funded through the sale of postage and services, not taxpayer dollars. - USPS is More Reliable and Affordable than Private Carriers
• Private carriers like UPS and FedEx rely on USPS for last-mile delivery in rural areas.
• USPS rates are significantly lower for consumers, keeping delivery costs affordable for all Americans.
• Unlike private companies, USPS does not discriminate based on geography or income level.
Phone Script
Dial: Call your U.S. Senators and Representatives through the U.S. Capitol switchboard: (202) 224-3121, or via direct line through the "Click Here to Find Your Representatives!" button on the top of this page.
When connected, say: “Hello, my name is [Your Name], and I am a constituent from [Your City, State]. I am calling to urge [Senator/Representative’s Name] to support and protect the United States Postal Service.”
“The USPS is a vital public service that delivers to every address in the country, ensures affordable mail service for all Americans in urban and rural areas alike, and supports over 600,000 jobs, including 100,000 veterans. It is essential for businesses, seniors, and rural communities, as well as government entities, by delivering political mail during election season, and ensuring the safe handling of mail-in ballots. USPS in it's current state ensures that private corporations are forced to keep their prices low and competitive. Should the White House decide to take action to alter the postal service, USPS services could be cut, delivery times could worsen, and costs could increase for Americans like me. As a [job title] within your jurisdiction, a change to the postal service could be immeasurably detrimental to my current way of life.”
“I urge [Senator/Representative’s Name] to call and take a stance toward protecting the US Postal Service in its current state and opposing privatization efforts. Will [he/she/they] commit to standing with the Postal Service and its workers?”
[Wait for a response, take notes if needed, or if voicemail, continue]
“Thank you for your time. I hope to see [Senator/Representative’s Name] take action to support the USPS.”
Email Template
[Subject:] Urgent: Protect the U.S. Postal Service - A Vital National Asset
Dear [Senator/Representative’s Name],
I am writing as a concerned constituent from [Your City, State] to ask you to support and protect the United States Postal Service and to urge you to take action to protect this essential institution. As we approach the 250th anniversary of the USPS in 2025, it is important to recognize the critical role it plays in our society. The USPS ensures the delivery of important items such as taxes, medication, passports, driver's licenses, legal documents, and more, regardless of geography, income, or accessibility. Every day, USPS delivers 376 million pieces of mail and packages to nearly 169 million delivery points nationwide, comprising 44% of the world's mail. The Postal Service is an essential public institution that provides reliable, affordable mail service to every American—urban and rural—without relying on taxpayer funding. Additionally, the US Postal Service's pricing forces private corporations like Amazon, UPS, and FedEx to keep their prices low and competitive.
The USPS plays a crucial role in handling political mail and ballots, ensuring a fair and secure election process, free from political influence. In emergencies such as hurricanes, wildfires, and pandemics, the USPS remains a lifeline for communities, delivering essentials when others cannot. During the COVID-19 pandemic, USPS ensured the public continued to have access to essential services. The USPS employs nearly 73,000 military veterans, making it one of the largest employers of veterans in the country. Letter carriers often serve as the only point of contact for elderly or disabled Americans, acting as the eyes and ears of the community. Numerous lives have been saved by heroic letter carriers.
Without the USPS, 51.5 million households and businesses in rural communities would have no guaranteed delivery of their essential mail and packages. USPS’s universal service obligation ensures mail reaches every U.S. address, which is critical for rural communities. Privatization or a focus on profitability could lead to reduced service, disproportionately impacting remote areas that rely on USPS for essential needs. International postal privatization efforts have resulted in lower service quality, higher prices, and reduced access to delivery services, particularly in rural and low-income areas.
I strongly urge you to oppose privatization efforts that would reduce service and increase costs for Americans, including any potential executive order that would displace the Postal Service from it's current constitutionally mandated service obligation, and echo your support for the US Postal Service, as 600,000 American citizens have found a lifelong career ensuring the movement and delivery of America's mail.
Please stand with the American people and the dedicated postal workers who keep our country connected.
For further reading, I encourage you to visit https://fromatoarbitration.com/call-to-action/ the website of city letter carrier Corey Walton with the From A to Arbitration podcast, which has collected information regarding this matter.
I look forward to hearing how you plan to support USPS in upcoming legislation.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
[Your Address]
[Your Email]
Additional Reading and Resources
NALC Fact Sheet - About us: NALC and our members
NALC Statement
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe released the following statement regarding reports from The Washington Post that President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order firing the members of the Postal Board of Governors and placing the agency under the control of the Commerce Department:
The 280,000 active and retired members of the National Association of Letter Carriers have a message to deliver to the White House: Hands off the Postal Service.
Every day, 200,000 active city letter carriers uphold the Postal Service’s constitutionally mandated universal service obligation, delivering 376 million pieces of mail and packages to nearly 169 million delivery points nationwide. USPS is central to a $1.92 trillion mailing industry. U.S. letter carriers deliver 44 percent of the world’s mail.
No private shipper guarantees or offers this unmatched universal service. Without our work, 51.5 million households and businesses in rural communities would have no guaranteed deliveries of medications, checks, ballots, and other essential mail and packages.
The reported executive order jeopardizes the jobs of 640,000 postal employees, more than 73,000 of whom are veterans, and would affect the 7.9 million people employed in the mailing industry. While the potential consequences are deeply alarming, these proposals are also unconstitutional and illegal.
The Postal Service is older than our country and is enshrined in the Constitution. It is a service for the public good funded by postage and stamp sales, not taxpayer dollars.
The Constitution, carefully crafted by our nation’s founders, gives Congress, not the president, a key role in setting postal policy. In fact, the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 removed the Post Office Department from the president’s Cabinet and created USPS as the independent agency that exists today.
Americans should see this reported executive order for what it is: a direct attack on USPS employees, our universal service, and every citizen who relies on the Postal Service.
The public consistently ranks the Postal Service as one of the most trusted government agencies. That’s because Americans can count on their letter carrier in every community nationwide.
We are fighting like hell against any privatization efforts or reorganizational mandates. We will do everything in our power to ensure we continue upholding our universal service obligation that Americans depend on through a strong and public Postal Service.
Source: nalc.org
H.Res.70 - Oppose postal privatization
(Source: nalc.org)
Congress.gov: H.Res.70 – Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization.
December 2018 Task Force on the United States Postal System Report (via Executive Order 13829)
Message from Postmaster General Louis DeJoy
Build A Fighting NALC's Statement
NALC Needs To Prepare To Fight Privatization
Before he was elected, President Donald Trump made clear his intentions to privatize USPS. In the last few days, he has stated he intends to sign an executive order (EO) which would dissolve the Board of Governors and bring USPS directly under the control of the Executive Branch, likely under the Commerce Department. This would take USPS from being an independent entity, to being under the direct control of the President.
Brothers and Sisters we must make no mistake about it: If successful, this act would mark the beginning of the end of the Post Office as we know it, and would mean a direct attack on the wages, working conditions, and livelihoods of over 600,000 postal employees. Our Collective Bargaining Agreement could be terminated, and along with it the negotiating status of our Union, the NALC. Tens of thousands of our coworkers could be fired. As a part of his broader DOGE initiative, the President intends to privatize USPS, and likely sell whatever’s left to the highest bidder.
Meanwhile the NALC Executive Council has put forward a half-hearted fight, encouraging people to call their Senators. While this can be a good first step, it is clear this will not be enough to fight attacks on our jobs and potential privatization. They have also agreed to send our contract into “expedited arbitration”. What this means is that all the “non-economic” factors of the tentative agreement, which was overwhelmingly voted down by the membership, will be accepted. The hope is that by groveling, by accepting all of management’s speed ups and other new rules, we may somehow avoid the worst fate.
This attitude has to come to an end. Build a Fighting NALC has advocated winning the right to strike since our inception. The importance of the strike weapon has never been more clear. After years of protests and reasonable appeal, President Nixon forced our hand in 1970. Now, President Trump is poised to do so as well.
In order to beat back this threat we must unite our cause with all those who have been targeted by Trump and DOGE. We must link up with the other postal unions, and all federal workers who are being hounded out of their jobs, and appeal directly to the broader public who wants to fight back. Our struggle is united. We are not the reason the country is trillions of dollars in debt. We’ve never run the country! It’s the billionaires who’ve been in charge for decades now, and it’s clear they want to make us –ordinary working class people –pay for their mess.
We must, at all levels of our union, begin to take preparatory measures to defend a public postal service. BFN had already called for rallies nationwide for Sunday, March 23rd to put pressure on the arbitration process. These rallies will now be directed towards this end. In order to have the maximum impact, they must become rallies of the labor movement as a whole and all those opposed to DOGE’s attacks on federal jobs. BFN members have already passed resolutions in their branches calling for rallies in Boston, Seattle, Naples, and several other cities.
BFN is also calling for the union to organize discussions to come to an agreement on the best forms of collective action to defend our jobs. Branch Presidents should amend agendas at the next general membership meeting to allocate space for this discussion. If a local e-board refuses, many branches of NALC have by-laws that allow for the calling of a special membership meeting, usually after gathering a requisite number of signatures. Whatever the form they take, meetings must be organized immediately and in every branch to discuss plans for escalatory actions to defend our jobs.
We must make it clear to the President and the broader public that we will not simply sit back and wait for the courts or politicians to come to our rescue. We will not roll over and watch the USPS die without a fight!
–Build a Fighting NALC Co-Ordinating Committee
(Source: fightingnalc.com)