* WARNING: THIS IS AN UNOFFICIAL, INTRODUCTORY COPY OF THE BILL.
THE OFFICIAL COPY CONSIDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL IS THE FIRST READER COPY.
INTRODUCTORY*
CITY OF BALTIMORE
COUNCIL BILL R
(Resolution)
Introduced by: Councilmember Curran
A RESOLUTION ENTITLED
A COUNCIL RESOLUTION concerning
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Opposing Postal Service Privatization
FOR the purpose of supporting the American Postal Workers Union in its efforts to protect living wage jobs and its insistence on the highest possible standards of customer services, opposing efforts to privatize postal operations, and calling upon all residents of Baltimore to consider this issue when deciding whether to patronize Staples.
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Recitals
The United States Postal Service (USPS) has entered into a no-bid deal with Staples to operate postal counters in 82 Staples stores and to provide nearly all the services the USPS provides. The USPS and Staples plan to expand the program to Staples� 1,500 U.S. stores. �
However, the USPS and Staples have been unwilling to staff Staples� postal units with unionized USPS employees who have the training and experience to properly handle U.S. mail, have sworn an oath to uphold the highest standards of public service, and are accountable to the American people.
If this policy is not changed, low-wage, non-union �postal� jobs at Staples could ultimately replace the living-wage, union jobs of USPS employees, with Staples stores completely replacing US Post Offices. Using non-union employees to process mail at privately owned facilities would amount to a virtual, and unauthorized, privatization of the USPS. Which, in turn, risks jeopardizing the sanctity and security of the mail.
Postal workers have been resisting this plan to privatize the USPS, replace their living-wage jobs with low-wage jobs, and potentially degrade service. Protecting high-quality public services, protecting living-wage jobs, and maintaining universal, affordable mail service for the American people should be a priority for not just postal workers, but all Americans. It is therefore important to stand with the postal workers in resisting this ill-considered scheme.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF BALTIMORE, That the Council supports the American Postal Workers Union in its efforts to protect living-wage jobs and its insistence on the highest possible standards of customer services, opposes efforts to privatize postal operations, and calls upon all residents of Baltimore to consider this issue when deciding whether to patronize Staples.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be sent to the Mayor, the USPS Postmaster General and Board of Governors, the CEO and Board of Directors of the Staples Corporation, and the Mayor�s legislative liaison to the City Council.
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