Local postal workers gather to advocate against privatization of USPS

SIOUX FALLS, S.D. (Dakota News Now) - Local members of the American Postal Workers Union gathered outside a Postal Service facility on Thursday to speak out against the Trump administration’s potential privatization plans.

The group gathered in front of the Meadows Post Office at 2501 S. Louise Avenue. The demonstration was one of several planned around the nation to sound the alarm against the sale or transfer of the U.S. Postal Service.

President Donald Trump has signaled that he wants to see changes at the USPS, as well as an oversight role for Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick. This has caused pushback as the USPS is an independent agency that is overseen by a board of governors, not a cabinet secretary.

Opponents say privatizing the USPS would increase prices and benefit services like FedEx and UPS.

“We are really concerned. There are 600,000 employees. If they don’t have a job, if they could potentially lose their job because they sell off part of the operations group or sell off part of the delivery section, it is a concern for everyone,” said Danielle Jones, Clerk Craft Director, APWU Local 718.

APWU demonstrations were also held in 150 cities around the nation on Thursday, including Minneapolis, Omaha, Duluth, Des Moines, Watertown and more.

The National Association of Letter Carriers has plans to hold a rally of its own this weekend at Fawick Park in downtown Sioux Falls. The group says the rally is to “oppose reported efforts to take away the independence of the U.S. Postal Service.” The rally will begin at 1 p.m. on March 23.

Much like the Department of Education, only congress has the authority to change the structure of the Postal Service.

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