SPRINGFIELD — On Oct. 1, postal workers and supporters across the country gathered to voice their concerns regarding the state of mail delivery, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s continued attempts to consolidate distribution centers, and staffing shortages. Springfield was among the 90 cities participating in nationwide Day of Action events.
The American Postal Workers Union Eugene-Springfield chapter was assembled outside the USPS on Gateway, accompanied by community members and Senators Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley. Additionally, Terrence Graves, the president of Branch 916 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, spoke at the event.
“The United States Postal Service is not just a business. It is a crucial public service that operates for the benefit of the American people. It should be run at the discretion of the people, not at the whims of distant policymakers or private interests,” Cory Benitez-Egerton, local APWU president, said.
Now, mail shipped out of Eugene travels roughly 100 miles to Portland to be processed before being sent back to Eugene. As Sen. Merkley stated, this poses a significant problem when delivering medications, invitations to special events, and small business products.
“My retirees rely so much on the mail. A lot of them are shut-in at home. For the mail to take five to seven days longer because it goes to Portland … that is detrimental to them,” Pat Riggs-Henson, Oregon AFSCME Retirees president, said. “A lot of them have memory loss and are in their 80s, so they don’t plan and say, ‘I have to put this in 10-12 days sooner than I normally do because it won’t come in the mail in time otherwise.’”
USPS implemented the 10-year Delivering for America plan to prevent significant financial losses and revamp current USPS systems that need improvement, such as workforce turnover rates and air and surface transportation network difficulties. However, according to a recent report by the Federal News Network, this initiative has also raised apprehension about closing local facilities in the name of pivoting to Local Processing Centers in centralized locations.
“The Postal Service is the only agency mentioned in the US Constitution. It has been the heart of the delivery system in America since this nation was born. We have had the best postal service in the world, and DeJoy is trying to destroy that,” Sen. Merkley said. “Mail has to go hundreds of miles to a processing center just to be reorganized and sent back to your next-door neighbor.”
In May, DeJoy committed to halting further operational changes and closures until at least Jan. 2025.
With mail-in voting and holiday shopping on the horizon, worries continue to mount about the timeliness of mail delivery and the treatment of USPS employees.
But despite the current challenges, staff and supporters are committed to speaking up on behalf of such an integral part of daily life.
“Every letter, every package represents a story, a moment of joy, or a lifeline to a loved one. The postal workers, often in rain, sleet or snow, embody perseverance and commitment, ensuring our messages reach our destinations,” Graves said. “They are the silent warriors of our communities, delivering not just mail, but hope, connection and opportunity.”