Ohio postal workers push local proclamations to protect public service

By Farah Siddiqi

As the U.S. Postal Service marks its 250th anniversary, Ohio postal workers are urging cities and counties to pass proclamations recognizing its public mission and opposing efforts to privatize mail delivery. Postal advocates say local governments can help defend one of the nation’s oldest public institutions by formally reaffirming support for its universal service mandate.

Angela Lyshe, a retired postal worker and member of the Ohio State Auxiliary of the American Postal Workers Union, said residents often don’t realize what’s at stake.

"Everybody should care," she contended. "It goes from the customers to the employees, even outside our country, because right now we are regulated — and if it’s privatized, they can pretty much do what they want to do."

The Postal Service operates without taxpayer funding, relying instead on postage and product sales. It supports about 7 million jobs nationwide through the mailing and package industry, according to the union.

Lyshe said she has seen the Postal Service transform since joining in 1989, with automation and staffing cuts shifting the agency toward a business model that could jeopardize service quality.

"I recently retired in April, and I started back in ’89 when things were LSMs and, you know, more manual," she explained. "Then all of a sudden I watched automation come through, our facilities are being taken over by huge, like, machines and robots, and it’s just a matter of time before we don’t have as many employees. It's just going to be all automation."

APWU locals in Columbus and Cleveland have already helped pass city proclamations honoring the Postal Service’s 250th anniversary. Union leaders hope similar actions across Ohio will strengthen public awareness and support for keeping mail service in the hands of the people.