Web News Article #: 138-14
July 13, 2014 –  American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten and thousands of AFT convention delegates joined members of the American Postal Workers Union and other community members in a rally July 12, telling the United States Postal Service and the Staples corporation that the âU.S. Mail Is Not for Sale.â They demanded an end to the United States Postal Serviceâs plan to let Staples employees operate postal counters inside Staples stores, ultimately putting thousands of Postal Service jobs in jeopardy.
This action is a continuation of the AFTâs effort to reclaim the promise of an America where consumers are safe, workers are valued and well-trained, and middle-class jobs are protected, the AFT said..
âPostal workers are the most amazing public servants,â said Weingarten. âWho does Staples really want and need to come into its stores every single day? Teachers. The best way we can help is if we say to Staples: âYou do this to the postal workers, and we arenât buying supplies in your stores.ââ
APWU President Mark Dimondstein addressed the importance of Americaâs working class standing together against the effort to privatize and demonize U.S. postal workers. He said, âWe too are in the public sector, we too are meeting the needs of people. Weâre facing some of the same problems you areâI call it divert, defund, demoralize, demonize and dismantle.â
The AFT has also passed a resolution in support of APWUâs boycott against Staples Inc. It resolves âthat members of the AFT, along with friends, colleagues and family members, are urged to no longer shop at Staples stores until further notice.â
Click Here to read the resolution
via AFT Delegates Adopt ‘Don’t Buy Staples’ Resolution, Rally in Support of U.S. Postal Workers | APWU.