PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — Postal workers in Northeast Philadelphia celebrated the United States Postal Service's 251st anniversary by sending a message: “The U.S. Mail is not for sale.”
Postal workers and allies gathered just outside of the Sgt. Christopher David Fitzgerald Post Office on Bustleton Avenue on Tuesday, to celebrate the service just slightly older than the country itself.
Vince Tarducci of the American Postal Workers Union spoke bluntly as he rallied to protect workers against political attacks and efforts to privatize the post office.
“In 1775, when our founding fathers made a decision to create a public post office, it was for the people,” he said.
“We just turned 251 on July 26 and we want to let them know, public postal service is needed in this country — and if big billionaires had their say they would privatize us one day at a time.”
Philadelphia City Commissioner Lisa Deeley spoke to supporters, saying voting by mail was being attacked to disenfranchise voters with false claims of voter fraud.
“This is the United States of America, where we vote freely and fairly. I encourage everyone to make sure now more than ever that they are registered to vote and apply for their mail-in ballot early, and make sure they have their voice heard,” she said.
“It's a trust that our postal workers can do the job of vote by mail,” added Tarducci. “The bottom line is it’s safe and secure.”
According to state officials, mail ballot fraud is very rare. “There is no evidence to support claims of systemic voter fraud and those claims have been consistently rejected by judges, government agencies, and election experts across the political spectrum,” said Pennsylvania election fact-checkers.
In a statement to KYW Newsradio, USPS management said, “We respect our employees’ rights to express their opinions and participate in informational picketing while off the clock.”
