Kucinich Report, The United States Postal Service

Congressman Dennis Kucinich (D-OH) today released this statement in support of the workers at the United States Postal Service:

"Reform of the Postal Service is vital to protecting universal service mandate. I agree Congress has a responsibility to work with USPS on this reform. But forcing workers and Postal Service union employees to break their labor agreements and to cut 6-day service is wrong.

"When you look at what is happening the Cleveland area, it is really concerning. First we saw the neighborhood post boxes disappear, and that was a staple for many communities. Instead of driving to the Post Office, anyone could just walk to the box and drop in the mail. Then we saw entire branches disappear and that presented some real hardship for people. And then you start to see private, competitive mail facilities being put right on the same properties as the Postal Service.

"It seems as though there has been a concerted effort inside the Postal Service towards a privatization model. I will fight that effort and any effort to weaken the Postal Service.

"There is something else going on that I find deeply disturbing and that is to make the employees second class citizens. The big battle happening all across the country and in Ohio is over what kind of rights workers have if they happen to work for the public. The issue in Ohio is over Senate Bill 5 and Issue 2, which I am urging be defeated.

"Why are we doing this to the people who serve the public? Why are we making those who work for the postal service second class citizens? We are moving towards a privatized model and we are treating the workers already like they have already been privatized.

"I am committed to ensuring the viability of the USPS and to the unique, irreplaceable services it provides to Americans. The Postal Service employs the greatest number of veterans outside of the Department of Defense. It provides a living wage and decent benefits for the middle-class. For communities that do not have access to the internet or to public transportation, fighting the closing of a local post office branch often means fighting for their right to interact with the outside world. That is why I am committed to ensuring that our local post offices will still be there when the economy recovers. There are ways to generate revenue without cutting jobs, privatizing essential services and closing vital post office branches in communities that rely on them."

Category:

News & Politics

Tags:

• Congressman Dennis Kucinich
• United States Postal Service
• SB5

[yak6ex]

It's going bankrupt because it sucks. Get a life you "Lord of the Rings" character.

Your wife's hot though.

[ThePrimeSpotcom]

Instead of cutting the PO, expand it! Yes, Uncle Zippy should OWN all of the zip code dot COMS. Let's start with 10012 10013 11568 11976 11962 90210 94010 07620 93108 94027 oh and throw in 90809 DOT COM in there. Then SELL and "at90809dotCom" address to the businesses there. See where I'm going?

[daveusaz1218]

D. Kucinich for president.

I like the way corrupt politicians make a law so the post office needs to put up front the benefits for 75 years in the future.

The reality of this law has the effect of making the post office a target for privatizing and like normal, if it becomes private, the benefits will magically evaporate into the pockets of the corporate board members. Nice job lawmakers.

[cedcampbell]

Get Bill Cunningham @700WLW on board with you on this Dennis. He's with you on issue 2, but I can't convince him this is the same battle on a much larger scale.

[santasxgirlfriend]

dennis you are a good guy!

[honeyroyellis]

As a disabled mailman, I thank you Dennis. You are the only

one in Wash. with with your head on straight.

[forty911]

keep on keeping on Dennis.

[CP91311]

@tanyalass Thank You

[VoVaKissCam]

As a 3rd or 4th class citizen, I support Mr. Kucinich.

[tanyalass]

@CP91311 He voted no on H.R. 1424.