CHICAGO, IL (WBBM Newsradio) – Inside the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 11 in Bronzeville, U.S. Senator Dick Durbin joined Chicago’s letter carriers in calling for more money and more safety protections as they deliver 376 million pieces of mail and packages to nearly 169 million delivery points every day across the country, adding that he has drummed up support from numerous other elected leaders at the national level.
“We’ve done some things that help, but not enough, we need to do more,’ said Durbin, “You should never have to worry about going to work during the course of the day whether you’re going to go home to your family at the end of the day”.
The letter carriers union says that every year, their work becomes more challenging and physically demanding, lifting and delivering heavy packages as well as dealing with unsafe working conditions like the threat of gun violence on the job. Working longer hours in all elements and conditions, including blizzards, heat waves and global pandemics, they continue to get the job done.
Throughout the US, letter carriers help keep rural, urban and suburban communities connected. Their deliveries are crucial to small businesses and have a vital economic impact. Retaining dedicated letter carriers is important for the consistent, quality and reliable service that Americans count on. Letter carriers and allies deliver a message: First-class service deserves first-class pay.
Contract negotiations between the letter carriers and USPS are set to begin on Wednesday in Washington D.C.