Postal workers hold rallies across U.S. to #SaveThePostOffice

Postal workers and supporters from Mount Dora in Florida to Mount Vernon in Washington state hosted rallies across the country Tuesday to demand more funding and fewer cutbacks to restore timely delivery of the U.S. mail, especially in the midst of elections.

In Florida, scores gathered at rallies sponsored by the American Postal Workers Union and AFL-CIO in Miami, Jacksonville, Tampa, Mount Dora and elsewhere, said Florida AFL-CIO spokesman Michael Newberger. The union said they believe their effectiveness is being deliberately undermined by President Donald Trump and his newly appointed postmaster general.

The union said it hosted more than 100 rallies across the country, dubbed #SaveThePostOffice Day of Action, to deliver two key messages: add $25 billion in funding as approved by the U.S. House of Representatives to bolster the ailing U.S. Postal Service during the pandemic, and stop presidentially appointed Postmaster General Louis DeJoy from disrupting postal operations.

DeJoy has been under fire in Congress since reports emerged showing he was well aware of mail-delivery slowdowns attributed to policies he instituted when Trump placed him at the head of the national service on June 15. Those include cutting overtime pay, sending workers home before all mail was delivered, and removing equipment.

Trump famously has condemned vote-by-mail balloting and has shown little interest in the long-term survival of the U.S. Postal Service. Late delivery of mailed-in ballots could disenfranchise voters and distort the outcome of elections.