Guest interview is Jamie Partridge, retired letter carrier from Portland. Jamie speaks at length about the "crisis" at the Postal Service, setting straight the many phoney reasons given for the demise of this institution.
"The corporate media is continuing to put out the disinformation that it's the internet that is killing the Postal Service, that its competition from the private sector, it's a bloated, overpaid union workforce, when actually it's Congress itself that created the problem in 2006 by mandating that the Postal service prefund retiring health benefits 75 years in advance within 10 years so that 10% of the Postal budget" goes into this fund."
This means prefunding retiring health benefits, not only for people who as yet do not work for the Postal Service, but for some who haven't as yet been born.
"It's basically a poison pill that used to bleed the postal service......At the time it was highly profitable...without that prefunding requirement, the Postal Service would be in the black."
Jamie continues, discussing the importance of the Postal Service to the community and develops many creative ideas whereby the USPS service could be expanded to provide important community services.
About 10 minutes into the program a video clip is played of the speakers at the rally, moderated by Lateya Dailey of Occupy St. Johns. Speakers include Jessica of the Rural Organizing Project; Patty of the American Postal Workers Union; and Marco Mejia of Portland Jobs with Justice. Video is about 13 minutes in length.
Back in the studio, and after more discussion, another clip is played. This 8 minute clip is of the march and occupation of the University Post Office. At closing time, ten people refused to leave until the local postmaster contacted the Postmaster General, Patrick R. Donahoe, in Washington D.C. to demand that the proposed closures be rescinded. This did not happen and they eventually were arrested and hauled off to jail.
According to rally speakers, the Postmaster General is one of the main architects of the severe cuts being planned for the Postal Service. This crisis was orchestrated by the American Legislative Exchange Council, which has long been pushing for privatization of the USPS, using the services of various right wing Think Tanks towards this agenda.
Jamie gives a clear and concise picture of what is going on and what the Postal Service could be in the future. But only if people get educated and support the efforts of those who are standing up against this privatizing scheme.
A local union is providing a speakers bureau for anyone interested in bringing this information before their organization.
503-493-5903 Excellent background article on the effort to Privatize the Postal Service.
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