Mark Dimondstein, President of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), joined the America's Work Force Union Podcast to discuss the recent ratification of a new contract for postal workers, the appointment of a new Postmaster General with ties to FedEx and the ongoing threats of privatization facing the U.S. Postal Service.
Dimondstein started by discussing the approval of the new APWU contract, with 95 percent of voting members ratifying the agreement. The contract, which covers nearly 200,000 postal workers, includes cost-of-living adjustments, wage increases and strong job security provisions. Dimondstein emphasized the importance of union representation in securing these benefits, contrasting it with non-union workplaces where employees have little say in their working conditions.
The appointment of Paul Steiner as the new Postmaster General raised significant concerns for Dimondstein and the APWU. He claimed Steiner's background as a FedEx board member and his substantial FedEx stock holdings present potential conflicts of interest, particularly as the Postal Service competes with private carriers in the parcel delivery market. Dimondstein warned that this appointment could signal a push towards privatization, potentially leading to higher prices, reduced services and negative impacts on postal workers.
Dimondstein also addressed the ongoing threats of privatization, citing a recent Wells Fargo report calling for the privatization of USPS parcel services. He framed the issue as a struggle between Wall Street interests and the needs of “main street,” emphasizing that privatization would primarily benefit wealthy investors at the expense of affordable, universal postal services. To counter these threats, the APWU is planning protests and public awareness campaigns, including a rally in New York City and launching a website, usmailnotforsale.org, to mobilize public support for preserving the Postal Service as a public institution.
For more insights on the U.S. Postal Service's challenges and the APWU's efforts to protect it, listen to the full episode with Mark Dimondstein on America's Work Force Union Podcast.
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