Greensboro Postal Union Workers Protest Against Staples Partnership

Union workers at the U.S. Postal Service in Greensboro are protesting in front of the Staples retail store on West Wendover Avenue Thursday.

They are speaking out against a pilot program that provides postal products and services at select Staples counters across the country.  Similar protests are scheduled for Thursday in Charlotte and Raleigh, as well as in 27 states nationwide.

Members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) say they are concerned that the deal with Staples could lead to privatization of the U.S. Postal Service. They say the move could lead to layoffs because the positions would be filled with non-union workers, making lower wages.

“You are really taking the postal work away from postal employees, so we are trying to send a message that if this is something that is going to be done, it needs to be manned by postal employees who have an oath of office that provides the quality, security and reliability of the American People's mail and the way it is handled,” says Delannie McElrath, President of  the American Postal Workers Local 711 in Greensboro.

The U.S. Postal Service says Staples is the first enterprise level chain store to participate in its Retail Partner Expansion Program.  Staples didn't provide details on the pilot program or its agreement with the U.S. Postal Service.

Monica Coachman, spokesperson for USPS offices in North Carolina, says the program is an opportunity “to grow the business” and has never been an earmark to pave a way to privatization.  Last year, The U.S. Postal Service lost $5 billion, as first-class mail volume fell by 2.8 billion pieces.  

Coachman says, "Because the Postal Service doesn't receive tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations, the retail partnership program could be an innovative step towards generating revenue to ensure the long-term viability of the Postal Service."

The union protests in Greensboro will take place Thursday, April 24 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.

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