Regon 5 NBA Report
By David Teegarden
Since the Region 5 Rap Session ended, we find ourselves in a potentially difficult spot politically. With the new administration came a new department, DOGE. The Department of Government Efficiency-headed up by Elon Musk who recently stated that he believed the Postal Service should be privatized. DOGE is supposed to root out and eliminate government inefficiency. I think most Americans would agree that the government can be rather inefficient and wasteful at times, think of the $312 claw hammer or the $527 toilet seat, but wholesale cuts to the detriment of the public or consumer is not what most have in mind.
My initial thought when I began to write the NBA report was that I would discuss questions that I have gotten from Region 5 members and explain some of the possibilities that could happen if the USPS were privatized but there are more unanswered questions right now than answered ones. Instead, I ask this question, Is there any reason why we all can’t get behind the idea of saving the USPS?
I told my staff when we received word that the new administration was going to move the Postal Service under the control of the Commerce Dept., that we owe it to our members to give them honest answers on what we know when we know it. Members were looking to regional and local leadership for answers to their fears or frustrations. There will be no fear mongering or decisions made on half-truths, gossip or outright lies. We owe it to our members to provide a steady keel instead of surrendering to the weight of the moment and giving up the fight before it started. The fact is we do not know what will happen if we are moved to Commerce or privatized. But neither should we set back and ignore what certainly has the strong possibility of changing our careers drastically.
There are some that have accused those in leadership positions of fear mongering on the issue of privatization. Those same people claim it will never happen. To them I say ask the TSA agents who used to have collective bargaining. It did happen. It may be that TSA will win the war but at what cost and for how long?
This issue must be front and center for the NALC, letter carriers, all postal employees and their families. We simply cannot afford to be wrong and have done nothing. Many times, in the past we have rallied those in Congress to our cause and helped keep this great institution alive. We must do so again. I understand that there are other issues that we must also simultaneously deal with, like our contract, but our central focus must be on retaining the Postal Service as we know it. Without a job there can be no contract. Being a leader, at any level of the NALC is not relegated to contractual issues. By necessity it includes political issues that threaten your members and their jobs as well. We must take them seriously.
We cannot dismiss legitimate concerns about the future of the Postal Service by labeling it as fear mongering. It is impractical and careless not to take this threat seriously. Likewise, we should not be preaching doom and gloom. So far nothing has happened, but we need to be prepared. The leadership in Region 5 has always risen to the occasion no matter what issue presents itself and this issue is no exception.
The NALC National Rally is March 23 rd and at last count there are over 30 branches across Region 5 participating. Thank you to the branch officers and members of these branches for stepping up and taking this threat seriously.
What you can do as a letter carrier is be engaged in the political arena, sign up for LCPF, attend rallies, step up when called upon to protect your livelihood. Let’s not look back on this and think I wish I would have….
Is there any reason we can’t get behind the idea of saving the Post Office? If you can’t think of a good reason not to fight, or to save the Post Office, join us, whether you are a retiree, active employee, family member or customer and let’s protect the Postal Service from unnecessary privatization.
Until next time stay safe out there,
David A. Teegarden
National Business Agent
NALC Region 5