On Monday, mail carriers in Chicago rallied to demand increased wages, better treatment, and safety protections in response to a surge in violence against postal workers.
Elise Foster, president of Branch 11 of the National Association of Letter Carriers NALC, emphasized the dangers letter carriers face, noting that only 10% of the over 2,000 attacks on them since 2020 have been prosecuted.
The rally coincided with ongoing contract negotiations, which have exceeded 500 days, and highlighted concerns over potential delays in mail delivery, including mail-in ballots for the upcoming general election on November 5, 2024.
The proposed Protect Our Letter Carriers Act aims to enhance protections for postal workers by funding more postal inspectors and implementing a new keyless entry system.
Mike Caref, a national business agent for the NALC, criticized the current working conditions, stating that the job no longer attracts the same interest due to harassment and inadequate pay.
Both USPS and the Chicago Board of Elections have yet to comment on the mail carriers’ claims regarding potential delays in ballot processing.