New York – Postal workers are protesting the opening of postal counters in Staples stores that are staffed with retail employees.
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Thursday’s protests are planned at 50 locations in 27 states, including rallies in New York, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
In Washington, more than 200 people gathered at a Staples, drumming on buckets and holding signs that read: “Stop Staples. The US Mail is Not for Sale.”
Last year, Framingham, Mass.-based Staples Inc. began offering postal services under a pilot program that now includes some 80 stores. The American Postal Workers Union objects, because they say well-paid union workers have been replaced by low-wage nonunion workers.
The union says that could lead to layoffs and post office closings.
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe says the program is a response to customer demands for convenience.
For an agency that is bleeding billions every year, they have a lot of chutzpah to protest against Staples. It should have been privatized years ago instead of allowing this bloated organization of lazy illiterates to exist this long.
Maybe postal workers should treat customers with a little respect …then , maybe the Postal Service wouldn’t be in so much trouble ,& Staples wouldn’t have the opportunity to open such a service !
I would do anything to avoid the 40 minute lines at the Coney Island Ave Post Office.
I used the staples to mail a package back. It took me 2 minutes. I was in & out. Service was couteous no hassles and this was 7:30 am!!
Postal customers don’t have to put up with long, slow moving lines and sometimes rude postal clerks, who enjoy union protection and balk at any hint of competition which would benefit customers. Shape up the post offices and we may be more inclined to walk in to the post office – otherwise, we’ll save our time and energy and go to Staples.
this is the best news, the post office is poorly run, with obnoxious people working behind the windows there is no reason for that…the post office islike a third world operation…..this is only for the post office per say…the carrier guys are great.
Customer service at any business run by any branch of the USA government sucks! Have you ever stood on line at a UPS or Fedex store then being told that you need to fill out this and this card attached to so and so envelope? I don’t think so! This is daily routine in any US post office. Rude obnoxious clerks treating you like dirt… Since they’re run by bureaucrats that couldn’t give a darn about customer satisfaction.
How many times have you received a little card in your mailbox stating that you must pickup your package at your local post office (and wait hours on line) because no one was home to sign on the package (like 11:40am… sure I’m so the type to stay home a few days from work for a little package I’m expecting!) as opposed to rival UPS for example, will neatly leave the package at your door. Or if a signature is required they’ll leave an info notice and give it 3 delivery attempts…. That’s because UPS is run by businessmen and without customer satisfaction they can close shop.
You want to go on and talk about the DMV or other operations run by the government?! Um I’m getting lightheaded just thinking about the horrible experiences there..