JUNE 1, 2007

e-Activist Message

 

It's time for the Senate to help us fight Contracting Out

 

NALC needs your help to fight the USPS Board of Governor’s reckless attempt to gradually privatize the Postal Service though the radical and unprecedented expansion of Contract Delivery Service (CDS). Because of the thousands of calls and emails to members of the House of Representatives from letter carriers, I am thrilled to report that a bi-partisan group of 168 members have formally co-sponsored H.R. 282, a measure that calls on the Postal Service to stop contracting out delivery. However, as you know, H.R. 282 is a non-binding "Sense of the House" resolution, and is only the first step toward a permanent legislative solution.

 

On Thursday, May 24, 2007, that solution took shape when Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the Mail Delivery Protection Act of 2007. The bill, S. 1457, forbids the Postal Service from entering into any contract "with any motor carrier or other person for the delivery of mail on any route with 1 or more families per mile."

 

Eight other Senators have joined Senator Harkin as early cosponsors: Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Sen. John Tester (D-MT), Sen. Max Baucus (D-MT), Sen. John Kerry (D-MA), Sen. Bob Casey (D-PA), Sen. Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Sen. Patty Murray (D-WA) and Sen. Patrick Leahy (D-VT).

 

I have listened to a growing chorus of letter carriers calling for action on this issue. They have told me they want to protect their jobs, their benefits, their customers and the nation’s postal service. Brothers and sisters, I agree with them. Now is the time for action! Now is the time for letter carriers to explain to their senators the importance of protecting reliable mail delivery service by trusted career letter carriers.

 

If your senator is one of the co-sponsors listed above, please follow the "take action" link and send a thank you note on behalf of the NALC. If your senators are not co-sponsors, please check the list below for their phone numbers here in Washington, DC, and call on them to stand with letter carriers nationwide by co-sponsoring S. 1457.

 

Thank you for your continued support and activism on behalf of all letter carriers. With your continued efforts, I have no doubt that we will prevail.

 

In Solidarity,

 

William H. Young
President