Across the country, postal workers and their allies held two national days of action to demand that the Trump administration and “DOGE” keep their hands off the postal service. The Trump administration’s scheme to privatize the Postal Service is massively unpopular and workers across the country took to the streets to resist their plan — a plan that would net Wall Street $81 billion while leaving customers facing huge price hikes.
“Privatization shifts workers’ dollars from the public good to the corporate sector investor class,” APWU President Mark Dimondstein protested. “It’s not just us, but there’s a fast and furious effort to hollow out the government for enriching billionaires and launching a coup.”
On Thursday, March 20, there were 150 American Postal Worker Union (APWU) led rallies. The following Sunday, on March 23, over 300 actions led by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) also took place. Over ten thousand workers nationally participated in the days of action.
“Every day, our 200,000 letter carriers deliver 376 million pieces of mail to nearly 169 million delivery points, supporting a $1.92 trillion mailing industry. This universal service is vital, particularly in rural areas where USPS ensures the delivery of medications, ballots, and essential packages. The proposed executive order threatens 640,000 postal jobs, including over 73,000 veterans. And it would be illegal and unconstitutional,” the NALC said in a statement.
Communist Party USA clubs and our allies supported the days of action as part of our Resistance 2.0 plan.
Portland, Maine
In the face of billionaire attacks on the USPS and high winds, over 200 people stood with postal workers in Portland, Maine to the sound of constant honks of solidarity and occasional chants of “U.S. Mail — Not for Sale!” led by kids and kids-at-heart. The Maine labor movement and APWU members stood side by side with NALC members and the public—the current owners of the post office.
Baltimore, Maryland
Several dozen workers stood tall and demonstrated today, chanting “U.S. mail — not for sale!” and “When we fight, we win!” plus a chant we haven’t heard for some time, but which needs repeating now more than ever: “Everywhere you go, people want to know who we are, so we tell them, ‘We are the union, the mighty, mighty union.'”
Detroit, Michigan
Hundreds of postal workers in Detroit stood firm against efforts by the Trump administration to privatize and dismantle the USPS.
Despite the frigid cold weather and rain on Thursday, about 45 workers showed up on a Thursday afternoon to demonstrate.
The rally on Sunday drew hundreds of workers and their allies, taking over an entire city block.
“We want to protect our workers and their rights. Privatization will make service worse and slow down mail delivery. We serve the American people better than private corporations ever could,” Dave Couch, Moving Vehicle Services (MVS) Craft Director and APWU Local 0295 member, said.
Chicago, Illinois
Union postal workers gathered at Federal Plaza in Chicago to denounce the Trump administration’s reported plans to strip the U.S. Postal Service of its independent status, as well as to condemn calls from Elon Musk to privatize the agency.
“We need to keep the Postal Service public,” said Keith Richardson, the president of APWU Chicago Area Local 1. “It belongs to the people. It does not belong to corporations. And if billionaires get their hands on the Postal Service, it won’t be around like it is now.”
Toledo, Ohio
The Sam Pollock Club joined NALC branch 100 alongside a large group of fellow union members and progressive Toledoans for the March 23rd day of action against privatization.
Local politicians from City Council to Congress showed up in support of the postal workers and the millions of people who rely on the Post Office every day. In his speech, City Council member Nick Komives pointed out that billionaires and pro-privatization politicians do not rely on the same essential services as working people. “Privatization means less service that costs Ohioans more money,” said Representative Marcy Kaptur in her speech to rally the crowd.
The postal workers received a lot of community support at the Toledo demonstrations. Even the Farm Labor Organizing Committee showed up!
Cleveland, Ohio
CPUSA’s Cleveland club members also showed up for APWU and NALC this week, promoting their calls to action to our allies by email, social media, and the Rosario Morales People’s World paper route.
We proudly carried their signs at their rallies, signed their petitions, and made a new connection with the APWU local president.
Importantly, our club was invited to be a founding member of a Labor–Community Committee soon to be established by the North Shore Labor Council. Hands Off Our Public Postal Service! U.S. MAIL IS NOT FOR SALE!
Oregon
Portland CPUSA members attended the NALC Branch 82 rally, hearing speakers from the NALC, APWU, Jobs with Justice, American Federation of Government Employees, Representative Maxine Dexter, and letters from Senator Ron Wyden and Representative Suzanne Bonamici.
The main theme of the rally was “FIGHT LIKE HELL” and “HELL NO” in response to the attempted privatization of the USPS. Speakers reminded the crowd that the USPS is a service and does not run for profit; they are a vital part of the community!
Comrades from the Salem club also participated with a protest at the post office in Keizer, Oregon.
Denver, Colorado
The NALC demonstration in Denver drew about three hundred workers. Officers and letter carriers from Branch 47 of the National Association of Letter Carriers railed against Wall Street “salivating” over the prospect of postal privatization.
Bryan “O.B.” Sanders, a letter carrier and local union officer centered the attack on the P.O. as just one component of the broader Project 2025 agenda, aimed at undermining both public services and democracy itself. Sanders described how proposed rule changes to the federal civil service could lead to a restoration of the “spoils system” of the 1830s, where dominant political parties would reward their supporters with government posts — and freeze out their opposition from public office.
Sanders also warned that postal privatization in France, the U.K., and Belgium resulted in loss of employee benefits and job security, and that U.S. postal workers face the same threat. “Do you want to see that in your future?” he asked. “Hell no!” roared the crowd in response.
Public officials also joined the rally, including Sen. John Hickenlooper, who said “They [the Republicans] are trying to work you to death.”
Collingswood, New Jersey
Postal workers and allies also gathered outside the Collingswood, N.J. post office on Sunday, March 23 to protest the cuts and privatization.
Collingswood Mayor Jim Maley and a staff member for Rep. Donald Norcross spoke against Trump attacks on the agency. Around 200 mail carriers and supporters from around southern New Jersey attended the NALC-organized rally.
Sayre, Pennsylvania and Waverly, New York
Comrades in Sayre, Pa. and Waverly, N.Y. coordinated with local letter carriers to help organize a rally as part of NALC’s day of action to save USPS. To build engagement and turnout, the comrades held a pre-rally party at a local coffeehouse, where people made signs and wrote to their elected officials.
Party members also knocked on doors to talk to people about USPS in particular and the billionaires’ privatization agenda more broadly. On Sunday, about 100 people turned out at the Sayre Post Office for the rally, which must have set a record for an event of this kind in the rural, heavily conservative area. The show of solidarity with letter carriers and determination to protect the people’s postal service was incredible!
Long Island, New York
Members of the Long Island club participated in the NALC’s “Hell No!” USPS rally in Huntington Station.
At its peak, about 300 workers, families, and allies were present, lining both sides of Jericho Turnpike with placards and signs.
There was also a noticeable turnout from the APWU — and not just from Long Island. Quite a few workers and supporters came from New York City as well to support.
More coverage from People’s World:
Protests demanding no privatization of Post Office sweep the nation
‘Fight like hell!’: Chicago postal workers rally against plans to privatize USPS
Postal privatization: Detroit letter carriers say ‘Hell No!’
Images: CPUSA
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