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 Philadelphians to consider this issue when deciding whether to patronize Staples.

WHEREAS, 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; and

WHEREAS, The USPS and Staples plan to expand the program to Staples' 1,500 U.S. stores; and

WHEREAS, 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, who have sworn an oath to uphold the highest standards of public service, and who are accountable to the American people; and

WHEREAS, 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; and

WHEREAS, Privatizing the handling of U.S. Mail risks jeopardizing the sanctity and security of the mail; and

WHEREAS, Postal workers have been resisting this plan to privatize the USPS, replace their living-wage jobs with low-wage jobs, and potentially degrade service; and

WHEREAS, The Council of the City of Philadelphia cares about protecting high-quality public services, protecting living-wage jobs, and maintaining universal, affordable mail service for the American people; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, THAT THE CITY COUNCIL OF PHILADELPHIA, 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 Philadelphians to consider this issue when deciding whether to patronize Staples.

FURTHER RESOLVED, That an Engrossed copy of this resolution be presented to the USPS Postmaster General and Board of Governors, and to the CEO and Board of Directors of the Staples corporation.

End