APWU

PRESS RELEASE: Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Privatizing the U.S. Postal Service, Finds New Survey from Democratic and Republican Polling firms

Posted in: APWU

May 8, 2025WASHINGTON – New polling shows that postal customers strongly believe that proposals to privatize the United States Postal Service should be marked “Return to Sender.” In a national survey of 1,402 registered voters, those surveyed oppose postal service privatization by an overwhelming 34 points.
U.S. Mail is Not for Sale!WASHINGTON – New polling shows that postal customers strongly believe that proposals to privatize the United States Postal Service should be marked “Return to Sender.” In a national survey of 1,402 registered voters, those surveyed oppose postal service privatization by an overwhelming 34 points.

Americans Overwhelmingly Oppose Privatizing the U.S. Postal Service, Finds New Survey from Democratic and Republican Polling firms

Posted in: APWU

Thursday, May 8, 2025Jamie Horwitz
202-549-4921jhdcpr@starpower.net

WASHINGTON – New polling shows that postal customers strongly believe that proposals to privatize the United States Postal Service should be marked “Return to Sender.” In a national survey of 1,402 registered voters, those surveyed oppose postal service privatization by an overwhelming 34 points.
According to a polling memo prepared by prominent opinion research firms Hart Research Associates and North Star Opinion Research, when respondents were informed that the Trump administration wants to privatize postal services, “they oppose the idea by greater than two to one: just 26% favor privatization while 60% are opposed.” Privatized mail service means that mail delivery would be provided by private companies rather than a public postal service.
Opposition to privatization is both wide and deep across the country, crossing both partisan and demographic lines, especially in rural communities, the poll showed. “Rural voters mirror the country overall, in that they oppose privatization by 34 points (58% to 24%), which is surprising given their Republican partisan lean (Donald Trump beat Kamala Harris by 23 points among these voters), and likely reflects the extent to which rural voters rely on USPS services.”
Every age cohort also expressed opposition to privatization, the poll showed, with younger voters (under 35) voicing the strongest opposition (65 percent opposed, 20 percent in favor).
Fully 56 percent of Americans surveyed believe that privatization would result in higher prices for mailing letters and packages, while just 17 percent say that prices would improve. By a margin of 44 percent to 17 percent, those surveyed also anticipate a negative impact on the cost of online shopping.
“Postal customers should trust their gut when it comes to schemes to sell off or transfer the USPS,” said American Postal Workers Union (APWU) President Mark Dimondstein. The APWU commissioned the poll.
“Plans to privatize the Post Office are about enriching Wall Street and not serving Main Street,” he said. “Evidence shows that selling off the USPS would lead to higher prices for postal services as well as higher prices for shipping packages at FedEx and UPS.”
In March, the brokerage firm Wells Fargo Advisors told Wall Street investors that privatization of the postal service “would be positive for FedEx & UPS. In order to stand alone and earn a reasonable return we estimate USPS would need to raise price by 30-140 %.”
The Wells Fargo guidance also predicted that privatization would lead to closing, or as they term it, “harvesting,” neighborhood post offices. In the poll conducted by Hart Research Associates and North Star Opinion Research, those surveyed did not favor the closing of local post offices. In fact, 72 percent are opposed, according to the survey.
Speaking at a media and technology conference sponsored by J.P. Morgan earlier this spring, Trump advisor Elon Musk said that he was looking into selling off the USPS. The DOGE head went on to say that the USPS and Amtrak were his top targets for privatization. But, in the Hart/North Star poll postal customers saw little need for selling off the postal service because they like the USPS and the services it offers. Fully 82 percent believe that USPS is doing an “excellent” (35 percent) or “good” (47 percent) job today. They also view postal workers favorably (81 percent favorable, 5 percent unfavorable.) Nearly all (96 percent) report that mail service is “important” for their family, including 68 percent who said “very important.” And while most have other ways to receive packages and email has replaced some letter mail, 92 percent use USPS to receive packages; 90 percent use USPS to send letters or postcards; and 86 percent report that they rely on the USPS to receive bills.
These high marks are similar to the Pew Research Center study from August 2024, which found that the USPS was second only to the National Park Service when it came to favorability scores tied to any service or agency associated with the federal government.
The USPS, which is funded primarily through the sale of stamps and services – not taxes, has other means of raising revenue that are not tied to raising prices, going private, or cutting services. Respondents to the Hart/North Star poll embraced a number of alternative, non-privatization policies that would strengthen USPS’s finances. As a means of boosting revenue, 77 percent favor making office supplies available for purchase in post offices (15 percent opposed). Other options: 72 percent favor making hunting and fishing licenses available for purchase in post offices (15 percent opposed) and 60 percent favor making magazines and newspapers available for purchase sale in post offices (25 percent opposed).
APWU President Dimondstein listed myriad more ways the USPS could increase revenue, such as being allowed to ship wine and beer. Also, the USPS could expand its financial services from just processing money orders to also handling check-cashing and wire transfers for customers. This measure would both raise revenues and help those without bank options, he said. Local post office parking lots could be used for public EV charging stations. Broadband services could be made available in communities that lack it.
“There is so much more the USPS could do for our customers,” said Dimondstein. “This is the people’s postal service, emphasis on ‘service.’ It shouldn’t be sold off or diminished. The U.S. Mail is not for sale.”
North Star Opinion Research is a Republican polling firm based in Arlington, VA. They specialize in polling for center-right political candidates at all levels, as well as corporations, associations, and non-profits. In addition to helping to elect dozens of Republican candidates to the U.S. House and Senate since the firm’s founding in 1991, they have conducted opinion research for clients as wide-ranging as the U.S Chamber of Commerce, America’s Health Insurance Plans, and The Nature Conservancy. For more information, visit https://www.northstaropinion.com
Hart Research Associates was founded in 1971 and is one of the leading research firms in the United States. During that time, the firm has conducted well over 8,000 public opinion surveys including interviews among more than four million individuals, as well as undertaken more than 7,500 focus group sessions. Hart’s political division has been involved in hundreds of Democratic campaigns throughout all 50 states, Washington, DC, and Puerto Rico. The firm has represented more than 40 U.S. senators, dozens of U.S. representatives, and over 30 governors. For more information, visit https://hartresearch.com/
The American Postal Workers Union (APWU) represents 200,000 employees of the United States Postal Service and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO. For more information, visit www.apwu.org
Note on Survey Methodology: Interviews were conducted online from February 26 to March 2, 2025, among a sample of 1,402 registered voters matched to the voter file. This includes interviews with 645 voters in rural areas. The survey has a confidence interval of ±3.1 percentage points.
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Postal customers have a very positive view of the USPS and believe that it meets their needs. They fear privatization will lead to higher prices at a time when inflation concerns remain elevated.0

Recent Polling Shows Registered Voters Overwhelmingly Favor Public Postal Service, Expanding Services

Posted in: APWU

May 8, 2025In February, the APWU commissioned a national survey to better understand the public’s sentiment on the public Postal Service and attempts at privatization. Here are the key takeaways

In February, the APWU commissioned a national survey to better understand the public’s sentiment on the public Postal Service and attempts at privatization. To maintain an unbiased survey, the union commissioned the help of two firms from opposite ends of the political spectrum, the liberal Hart Research company and conservative North Star Research. Hart Research and North Star worked with the APWU to conduct a survey of registered voters to provide a deep exploration of their attitudes on the Postal Service and the question of postal privatization. To see how attitudes have moved or changed, the survey also included questions from a survey conducted on privatization in 2018.
Key Findings
1. American voters oppose Postal Service privatization by an overwhelming 34-point margin.
60% of voters oppose privatization.

Embracing privatization is also likely to be a political liability for candidates.

2. Opposition to privatization is broad, crossing partisan and demographic lines, and is notably strong in rural communities.

Opposition substantially exceeds support in every region of the country.

65% of voters under 35 voice the strongest opposition to privatization.

58% of rural voters oppose privatization, which is surprising given the 23 point Republican lean in the 2024 Elections.

94% use USPS to receive online purchases, 91% for sending and receiving letters, 88% to receive bills, and 70% for catalog purchases.

3. Voters worry that privatization will lead to higher prices at a time when inflation concerns remain elevated.

56% of voters believe that privatization would result in higher prices

Voters predict that privatization also would have a negative rather than positive effect on the quality of postal services in their community (40% worse, 25% better).

72% of voters are very unfavorable to the idea of closing many local Post Offices (a likely consequence of privatization).

4. Voters have a very positive view of the U.S. Postal Service, and they believe that it does a good job or meets their needs, so privatization does not speak to an appetite for change or address a perceived problem.

74% of voters have a positive view of the Postal Service and 81% have a favorable view of postal workers.

96% of voters say that mail service is important for their family, including 68% who say it is very important.

86% rely on USPS to receive bills

5. Voters embrace several alternative non-privatization policies that would strengthen USPS finances.

77% of voters favor making office supplies available for purchase in Post Offices.

72% favor making hunting and fishing licenses available for purchase.

60% favor making magazines and newspapers available for purchase.

The survey results indicate that the outlook is good in our ongoing fight against privatizers trying to sell off our public Postal Service for profit. We should remain steady in our message – the U.S. Mail Is Not for Sale!
The public is overwhelmingly on our side across partisan, demographic, and geographic lines. Additionally, 84% of voters indicate that the messenger who they want to hear from about fighting privatization is postal workers who know the ins-and-outs of our treasured public institution. So, we encourage you to make your voice heard at town halls, rallies, and with op-eds in your local newspapers. Even speaking with your friends, family, and neighbors can go a long way in educating our communities about the dangers of privatization. Together we will protect and preserve our public Postal Service.
Click here to read more about the Voters’ Views on Privatization of the Postal Service survey or download the PDF below.

Voters’ Views on Privatization of the Postal Service

Recent Polling Shows Registered Voters Overwhelmingly Favor Public Postal Service, Expanding Services0

Help Stamp Out Hunger – Saturday, May 10, 2025

Posted in: APWU

May 7, 2025We encourage your participation in the annual NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive taking place on Saturday, May 10.

We encourage your participation in the annual NALC Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive taking place on Saturday, May 10. Each year on the second Saturday in May, Postal workers come together to collect and donate millions of pounds of food for local food banks from doorsteps across the country.
Postal customers in over 10,000 cities and towns, states and U.S. territories are asked to put non-perishable food donations in a sturdy bag and place the bag near their mailbox prior to their regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 10.
To determine if a NALC Branch covers your area, please use the search tool here: https://www.nalc.org/community-service/food-drive/branch-lookup

Help Stamp Out Hunger – Saturday, May 10, 20250

Voters’ Views on Privatization of the Postal Service

Posted in: APWU

https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/me-14968_postal_privatization.pdfHart Research and North Star Research have conducted a national survey of 1,402 registered voters that provides a deep exploration of voter attitudes on the question of postal service privatization and related issues. This memo reviews the survey’s key findings.

RSC N2 – IT/AS Rates – Effective May 03-2025

Posted in: APWU

https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/rsc_n2_-_it-as_rates_-_effective_may_03-_2025.pdfRSC N2 – IT/AS Rates – Effective May 03-2025

RSC N – IT/AS Rates – Effective May 03-2025

Posted in: APWU

https://d1ocufyfjsc14h.cloudfront.net/sites/default/files/rsc_n_-_it-as_rates_-_effective_may_03-_2025.pdfRSC N – IT/AS Rates – Effective May 03-2025

APWU Leadership Institute Class Three Applications Open Until June 13, 2025!

Posted in: APWU

May 2, 2025Applications for the APWU Leadership Institute – Class Three are now open through June 13, 2025.
apwu leadership instituteAPWU Leadership Institute

The Leadership Institute is an intensive three-week educational program, held one week at a time over a three-month period. The program will focus on topics ranging from organizing, bargaining, and representation, to legislation, community alliances, and building the APWU and union movements. It will help strengthen and enhance the leadership skills of local and state leaders, and union activists across the country. The Institute will be organized and overseen by the national president’s office and will include the participation of many national officers. The national APWU will cover all the costs, including lost compensation, of the participants.
The Institute is open to all full dues-paying APWU members in good standing with demonstrated involvement in the union. Each three-week session will consist of a diverse group of APWU members from all five regions and all crafts. Participants will be chosen via an impartial selection process. Although enrollment in the Institute’s Class Three is limited, there will be opportunities to participate in future Leadership Institutes.
Apply today!
Find application forms, frequently asked questions, and learn more at apwu.org/institute. ■
Course Schedule

Week One
September 8-12, 2025
Week Two
October 15-19, 2025
Week Three
December 8-12, 2025

Applications for the APWU
Leadership Institute Class Three
Open Until September 13, 20240

Congress Moves to Gut Postal and Federal Pensions — APWU Calls for Immediate Action!

Posted in: APWU

May 1, 2025On April 30, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved a number of significant cuts to the retirement benefits of postal and federal workers. Passed by a slim margin of 22-21, this measure will now be included in the full reconciliation package which Republican leadership is aiming to hold a full House vote on sometime this month. The retirement cuts would have devastating implications for APWU members, including:

On April 30, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved a number of significant cuts to the retirement benefits of postal and federal workers. Passed by a slim margin of 22-21, this measure will now be included in the full reconciliation package which Republican leadership is aiming to hold a full House vote on sometime this month. The retirement cuts would have devastating implications for APWU members, including:
Eliminating the FERS annuity Social Security supplement, which allows workers who have earned their retirement the ability to retire before their Social Security benefits begin;
Increasing the FERS annuity contribution rates for all active employees to 4.4%;
Replacing the High-3 FERS annuity calculation with a High-5 calculation, resulting in a reduction in annuity payments.
Also included in the passed were egregious attacks on federal employees, such as:
Charging a filing fee for Merit Systems Protection Board Claims and Appeals, and
Forcing new hires in the federal workforce to choose between at-will employment or paying an increased FERS contribution rate of 9.4%. While this specific proposal does not currently apply to postal workers, it is a dangerous change to eliminate job security and protections from government service.
“Make no mistake, Congress’ outrageous proposal intends to finance tax-cuts for the oligarchy with money from postal and federal workers’ paychecks,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “We must act quickly and with the full force of the labor movement and our union membership to protect our pensions.”
With a slim majority in the House of Representatives, and united Democratic opposition, we need only a handful of pro-labor Republicans to stand up and fight back against these attacks on the pensions of postal and federal workers. We were greatly encouraged by Representative Mike Turner (R-OH-03) who voted against this package because “making changes to pension retirement benefits in the middle of someone’s employment is wrong.” APWU looks forward to working with Representative Turner, and other labor allies on both sides of the aisle, to defeat these attacks.
“The time to act is now to save our pensions,” said APWU Legislative and Political Director Judy Beard. “We are actively engaging with lawmakers on this fight, but need each and every APWU member to pick up the phone and call your member of Congress. Tell them to keep their hands off our pensions!”

How to Receive One-Time Retirement Incentive Checks

Posted in: APWU

April 29, 2025The incentive checks will be sent to the employee’s office of last appointment. From there, the retiree can pick it up from the office or it will be mailed from the office to the address indicated on the PS 3077 -Request to Forward Salary Check form.

PLEASE NOTE: The incentive checks will be sent to the employee’s office of last appointment. From there, the retiree can pick it up from the office or it will be mailed from the office to the address indicated on the PS 3077-Request to Forward Salary Check form.
Full-time career postal employees who chose optional retirement or retirement pursuant to a Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) as a result of the mutually agreed APWU-USPS One-Time Retirement Incentive Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) dated Jan. 13, 2025, will be paid as follows:
$10,000 to be paid on August 15, 2025.
$5,000 to be paid on August 28, 2026.
Part-time employees were also eligible for the incentive and will receive a prorated amount as outlined in the MOU.
The incentive checks will be sent to the employee’s office of last appointment. From there, the retiree can pick it up from the office or it will be mailed from the office to the address indicated on the PS 3077-Request to Forward Salary Check form.
Employees taking advantage of the incentive should complete the form, which provides the address where they would like the check sent (usually their final check/terminal leave) and give it to their manager/supervisor.
Then, when the check arrives at the postal unit, the manager will mail the check to the address provided by the employee.

The MOU states:
Any employee who is eligible for these incentive payments will complete PS Form 3077, Request to Forward Salary Check, and submit to their employing office. The incentive payments will be distributed to the address provided by the employee.

Documents Regarding 2025 One-Time Retirement Incentive Checks

2025-01-13 MOU Re: One-Time Retirement Incentive
PS Form 3077 Request to Forward Salary Check

The incentive checks will be sent to the employee’s office of last appointment. From there, the retiree can pick it up from the office or it will be mailed from the office to the address indicated on the PS 3077 -Request to Forward Salary Check form. The incentive checks will be sent to the employee’s office of last appointment. From there, the retiree can pick it up from the office or it will be mailed from the office to the address indicated on the PS 3077 -Request to Forward Salary Check form. 0