West Michigan postal workers hold a vigil to support funding the U.S. Postal Service

KALAMAZOO, Mich. — Revenue for the U.S. Postal Service dropped significantly during the COVID-19 pandemic largely due to the low mail volume because of businesses closing.

Dave Staiger said if the Postal Service does not receive funding, they would likely run out of money by fall of 2020. So to show the Postal Service was still needed, Staiger, a letter carrier in Kalamazoo, got together with 30 supporters outside of the Arcadia Post Office on Tuesday, June 23, for a United Postal Workers Union, save the Post Office day of action vigil.

"Everybody talks about the Post Office being an essential service. I feel like behind healthcare workers, grocery store workers, postal workers and delivery workers are up there. So it’s important to support them back, and this is the time to do that," Staiger said.

Cars drove by and honked in support, while many supporters held various handmade signs. All urging their local senators to vote on the next stimulus package, which has proposed $25 billion for the Postal Service.

The House already voted on the package, so Staiger urged everyone to contact their Sen. Debbie Stabenow, Sen. Gary Peters and the White House to ask that they support the package.

Staiger said the Postal Service needs support more than ever. Especially when many cannot leave their house to get many needed things such as medicine and absentee ballots.

Staiger said he carries an added stress because of the lower funding

"Postal workers really try to do an excellent job. It’s challenging when you’re going to deliver a package and you have to worry about community spread of this virus. So we are trying to be as safe as we can," he said.

Americans still consider the Postal Service a reliable federal agency, according to a March 2020, Pew Research poll.

Staiger said its important that funding is given, especially when the Postal Service might be the only service that gets people their mail.

"They might be miles away from town or even their post office and we are there to serve them. We are there to serve the last mile. A lot of times private carriers like UPS, FedEx, Amazon won’t go that last mile because it isn’t worth it. Sometimes that last mile is 5-10 miles, and we will do that. We service every address in the country," he said.

To support the Postal Service head to the unions website, or the US mail not for sale website.

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