How to Talk About Postal Privatization Threats

• The Postal Service is enshrined in the Constitution, created by Congress and supported by the people. Public postal services are a democratic right of the people. The universal service mandate requires delivery to 169 million addresses at least six days a week. Private companies base their services on private profit and would never provide such a universal service. The Postal Service belongs to the people, not to any one individual or the billionaires.
  
• The USPS is the low-cost anchor of the $1.2 trillion mail and package industry consisting of over 7 million jobs.
  
• By law, the U.S. Postal Service runs on its own revenue, not tax dollars. USPS revenue challenges come from declining letters in the internet age. The transition to more package volume combined with new and expanded services is the best solution.
  
• Privatization means turning over public postal services to private companies and investors for maximum profit, not the well-being and rights of the people. Selling off a part or all of the public Postal Service will lead to higher prices and reduced services - especially to rural America.

• Privatization would eliminate decent living-wage union jobs for workers from all walks of life, including more than 70,000 military veterans. Good jobs build stronger communities. The USPS was created by Congress to be free of political interference. The effort to take over the USPS would be an illegal, hostile takeover. The law is clear: The Board of Governors is appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. Only the Board of Governors can hire or fire the Postmaster General. Only Congress can change the structure of the Postal Service.
  
• The public should take recent threats seriously. In 2018, during President Trump's first term, an OMB budget report proposed outright privatization of the USPS - selling it off to private corporations for private profit. The president has confirmed new efforts to do so.
  
• We stand with the people to defend the Postal Service, as well as other important government services under assault, from VA medical care to Medicaid benefits. Our message is the "US Mail is Not For Sale" - Hands off Our Public Postal Service!
  
• The Post Office will celebrate its 250th anniversary in July. Let's work together to bring another 250 years of strong, public postal services!

Urge your members of Congress to co-sponsor H.Res.70 and S.Res.142 in the House and Senate, to ensure that the public postal service remains an independent agency not subject to privatization.

For more information, visit our Action page.

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• 2025 USPS Under Threat - APWU Key Talking Points (color)
• 2025 USPS Under Threat - APWU Key Talking Points (B&W)