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Postal Privatization Once Again Rearing Its Ugly Head! [1]

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Date: 2025-03-06 09:20:47-05:00

Q: What is postal privatization?

A: The USPS is owned by the people and exists to serve everyone with universal, affordable service; if privatized, it would exist to make maximum profit to enrich corporations, Wall Street, and billionaires.

Q: If the USPS is sold off to private corporations, what will happen to my job?

A: We would no longer be working for the USPS. The new owners would decide how many employees it wants and who to hire. Fair hiring practices for disabled veterans and people from all walks of life would likely cease.

Q: What would happen to our union contract and its negotiated wages and benefits?

A: Our contract is with the USPS. The APWU and our union contract cannot be automatically carried forward to private companies. Our wage rates, benefits, cost-of- living adjustments (COLAs), and financial and job security will be gone unless and until workers rebuild the union and win them back.

Q: What would happen to my retirement benefits?

A: Our retirement is tied to our status as federal employees. If privatized, we would no longer be government employees. Those vested would have retirement benefits frozen and they would never increase. Not-yet-vested and new workers would likely not be covered by any defined benefit retirement plan.

Q: What about our health insurance?

A: Our health insurance is tied to the Federal Employee Health Bene t (FEHB) system and secured in our union contract. We would be at the mercy of private companies that would determine whether to provide health insurance and they would determine cost.

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[1] Url: https://apwu.org/news/magazine/postal-privatization-once-again-rearing-its-ugly-head

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