The battle over postal reform legislation now moves to the House of Representatives after the Senate yesterday passed (62-37) a bill (S. 1789) that postal union leaders called flawed. They vow to fight the House version (H.R. 2309) that is even more damaging to postal workers and the communities they serve.

More than 100,000 postal workers and their supporters called on their lawmakers to “Save America’s Postal Service” in demonstrations Thursday in more than 200 cities. Many actions took place outside the home offices of U.S. senators who are expected to vote next week on a bill (S. 1789) that could push tens of thousands of workers out of their jobs.

Earlier this year, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) announced it would shut more than half its mail processing plants and about 3,600 post offices, costing as many as 100,000 jobs. It also is proposing to end Saturday mail delivery. As the postal unions work to persuade Congress to act, the Postal Workers (APWU) union also is reaching out to the public to build support.

Judy Parkins, AFL-CIO director of Community Services, sends us this report.

Members of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 124 in New Orleans and volunteers from the Prince of Wales Social Aid and Pleasure Club pitched in with Rebuild Together New Orleans in October.

The nation’s postal unions and allies are fighting back against proposals to close post offices and mail processing centers, and change USPS regulations to eliminate overnight delivery of first class mail, and change two-day delivery to three days.  You can join by signing a petition to your senators and representatives to preserve the nation’s mail service. Click here or here to sign the petition.

The nation’s postal unions and allies are fighting back against proposals to eliminate Saturday mail deliveries—and you can join by signing a petition to your senators and representatives to preserve six-day mail service. Click here to sign the petition.

Thousands of postal workers and their supporters held rallies in 492 locations across the country yesterday to protect the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and save 120,000 jobs.

In every state across the country, members of the postal unions and community supporters will rally tomorrow, Sept. 27, in a national day of action to protect the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and save 120,000 jobs. Most rallies will take place from 4–5:30 p.m. local time.

Mike Peters, AFL-CIO community services liaison for the Northwest Iowa Labor Council, reports on the Siouxland Food Bank.

This past Labor Day, the Northwest Iowa Central Labor Council presented a check for $6,000 to the Food Bank of Siouxland in Sioux City, Iowa. The donation comes as the need for food bank programs are growing. The donation will help the food bank’s Back Pack program, which provides  nourishing snacks for children who qualify for free or reduced lunches in our school system to take home on the weekends. In some cases, this may be the only thing the kids have to eat over a weekend.

AFL-CIO Community Services Director Will Fischer sends this news on George Meany Award recipients.  

United Steelworkers (USW) member Donald Comer of Decatur, Ill., and Letter Carriers (NALC) member Rick Di Silvio of Clarksville, Tenn., were recently awarded the AFL-CIO George Meany Award which recognizes union members who contributed time in service to various Boy Scout programs.