--- title: AFL-CIO discusses USPS issues and when workers will see COVID relief description: AFL-CIO Director of Government Affairs Bill Samuel discussed COVID-19 relief for workers, the USPS and more on America's Work Force Union Podcast. image: https://awf.labortools.com/hubfs/AWF-blog-image-template_aflcio_red.jpg --- 1 min read Season 1, Episode 105 # AFL-CIO discusses USPS issues and when workers will see COVID relief [ awfblog ](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/author/awfblog) September 24, 2020 [America's Work Force Union Podcast](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/americas-work-force-union-podcast) [AFL-CIO](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/afl-cio) [Government Affairs and Policy](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/government-affairs-and-policy) [Economic Impact](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/tag/economic-impact) ![AFL-CIO-Logo_400x400](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/AFL-CIO-Logo_400x400.jpeg?width=400&name=AFL-CIO-Logo_400x400.jpeg)   Guest Name: --- Bill Samuel Guest Website: --- [aflcio.org](https://aflcio.org/) Guest Social Media: --- [ Facebook](https://www.facebook.com/aflcio) [ Twitter](https://twitter.com/AFLCIO) [ YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-vTWiQTFAG6Cvwsg6lk2iQ) [ LinkedIn](https://www.linkedin.com/company/afl-cio) Supportive Documents: --- AFL-CIO Director of Government Affairs Bill Samuel discussed how the United States Postal Service will operate as the election nears, where we are on COVID-19 relief legislation and more on the Sept. 24 episode of America’s Work Force Union Podcast. Hypocrisy from Senate Republicans Samuel started by pointing out the hypocrisy being put on display by Republican senators. He recalled their words in 2016 when they held a seat open for nearly a year, insisting the people should decide who fills the seat with the 2016 election. Samuel said these very senators have pulled a complete flip-flop on this issue. He then discussed the payroll tax, how it is funded and who stands to lose the most from its repeal. Samuel said President Trump is losing ground in key swing-states where the elderly population is high. Without the payroll tax, these voters know that social security will evaporate. USPS working through the issues After taking heat from every direction, Samuel said Postmaster General DeJoy sat down and talked with the various postal workers unions. After this meeting, there was a sense of relief in knowing that election mail will be given priority and that all ballots sent through the mail will be counted. Samuel still advised listeners to vote as early as possible in order to ensure your vote is counted. COVID-19 relief for workers Samuel said thousands of airline workers will soon be furloughed, as the airline industry has been one of the biggest losers to the COVID-19 pandemic. There is not much in sight in terms of help for these workers or the millions of others who remain out of work. He said airline unions and executives were recently in the capitol asking for a payroll support program. Congressional Democrats worry passing this could permanently shelve any aid to all of the other working class people who have been furloughed or let go from work. Republicans are under a microscope on this issue according to Samuel. With some airlines having major hubs in states controlled by Republicans they are politically obligated to show they are doing something to help. --- America’s Work Force is the only daily labor podcast in the US and has been on the air since 1993, supplying listeners with useful, relevant input into their daily lives through fact-finding features, in-depth interviews, informative news segments and practical consumer reports. America’s Work Force is committed to providing an accessible venue in which America's workers and their families can hear discussion on important, relevant topics such as employment, healthcare, legislative action, labor-management relations, corporate practices, finances, local and national politics, consumer reports and labor issues. America’s Work Force Union Podcast is brought to you in part by our sponsors: AFL-CIO, American Federation of Government Employees, American Federation of Musicians Local 4, Alliance for American Manufacturing, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield, Brotherhood of Maintenance of Way Employes-IBT, Boyd Watterson, Columbus/Central Ohio Building and Construction Trades Council, Communication Workers of America, Mechanical Insulators Labor Management Cooperative Trust, International Association of Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 50, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers, International Union of Bricklayers and Allied Crafts, International Union of Painters and Allied Trades District Council 6, Ironworkers Great Lakes District Council, Melwood, The Labor Citizen newspaper, Laborers International Union of North America, The National Labor Office of Blue Cross and Blue Shield, North Coast Area Labor Federation, Ohio Federation of Teachers, United Labor Agency, United Steelworkers. - [Tweet](https://twitter.com/share) ##### SUBSCRIBE ON: --- [![Group 342](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png?width=171&name=Apple%20Podcasts%20Button-Dark.png)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/id1511224946) [![Group 341](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AmericasWorkForce/podcast%20logos/Spotify%20Button-Dark.png?width=100&name=Spotify%20Button-Dark.png)](https://open.spotify.com/show/0GzkHxFSBxiXvuX0lZpQBn) [![Group 343](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20343.png?width=135&name=Group%20343.png)](https://www.iheart.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast-62567752/) [![Group 339](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20339.png?width=110&name=Group%20339.png)](https://www.pandora.com/podcast/americas-work-force-union-podcast/PC:47979) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Group%20397.png?width=125&name=Group%20397.png)](https://americasworkforceradiopodcast.podbean.com/) [![Group 397](https://awf.labortools.com/hs-fs/hubfs/YouTube_button.png?width=125&name=YouTube_button.png)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCuQo1PAtRAel1_tS7-PQOkA)   #### [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat](https://awf.labortools.com/listen/brotherhood-of-railroad-signalmen-on-the-union-pacific-merger-threat) : July 6, 2026 # Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen on the Union Pacific Merger Threat Brandon Elvey, Secretary-Treasurer of the [Brotherhood of Railroad Signalmen](https://www.brs.org/),... 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