What a postmaster from the Midwest has to say.

[Nevilledog]

Link to tweet

Unrolled thread here:

https://threadreaderapp.com/thread/1293190487705231361.html



Nick Knudsen 🇺🇸

I’ve been communicating with a postmaster from the Midwest.

A week ago, he had no concerns about USPS’ ability to handle #VoteByMail volume this fall.

After the Trump/DeJoy sabotage at the agency, he’s not so sure anymore.

Here is what he said verbatim today:
THREAD #DemCast

“Sadly, I am growing concerned. Our plant here in [City A] has fallen behind by about 3 days. I am told [City B] plant is doing better, but is also behind. I spent 5 years in [City B], delays NEVER happened there. [Two other cities] are behind as well.

”We are not given that information, but based on tracking parcels for our customers, we can see when parcels arrive at the plant. The only time we aren’t surprised to see that is the second week of December, when all facilities are overwhelmed.

“If parcels are being delayed, flats and letters are being delayed. This is highly unusual. The end units are functioning as usual, but we are seeing what appears to be delaying of all mail.

“As an aside: there are a good many Trump supporters in upper management. I expect those who were separated were not. If you’re going to perpetrate nefarious activities, you will want like minded people on your side.

“My gut feeling is the goal is twofold.

A. Undermine faith in USPS in an effort to discourage vote by mail.

B. Set up an environment where people begin to care less about privatization.
“Since the naming of the new Postmaster General, there are a small group of Postmasters that I know well, we are watching and communicating regularly.

“The sanctity of the mail, our commitment to our customers, the integrity of our process, and keeping our employees safe has always been the top priority for most of us. I have personally driven baby chicks to another state in order to ensure they made it alive and well.

“Needless to say, this change is distressing. Until this week, I wouldn’t have questioned our ability to fully handle election/political mail. Our standards at delivery units have not changed. All of our reports, certifications and audits are the same.

“Our concern has become delays in mail arriving to our facilities. BUT rest assured, there are some of us who will not be quiet about what we see. Some will not, as the USPS has a reputation for retaliation against whistleblowers.”

[bucolic_frolic]

1. I paid more than $30 for a heavy, large package going 300 miles

In Transit, Arriving Late

[Doremus]

4. My business is dependent on USPS

We have seen the cost of shipping double and triple since the end of last year. In many cases the postage cost to ship a package exceeds the cost of the item. A 3 lb 14" box to the west coast is $50 and more for us.

We can weather it until Biden gets in but I certainly hope USPS is at the top of his to-do list or we're sunk.
And I'm sure I'm only one of many thousands of others in our same predicament.

[bucolic_frolic]

6. Right?

It was all due to fuel charges! And health care for 75 years.

Well now gas is $2.10 a gallon and 75 years still ain't until 2095.

[Rebl2]

14. If you

haven’t already done so, please contact your Congressman and Senators to let them know how they are hurting mail order businesses by slowing the mail down.
I myself am still waiting for an order placed on July 23rd. It has been mailed, but it has not been delivered yet. All it says is it’s delayed.

[BarbD]

2. Neither snow, nor rain, nor sleet, nor gloom of night........

Or however the saying goes ..... will stop the post office from delivering mail.

That is until Trump and his Republican enablers are attempting to destroy it.

[aggiesal]

15. Words matter ...

Instead of Privatizing, I call it Profitizing.

Pendejo45 and the Republican enablers are trying to PROFITIZE the USPS.

[Tommymac]

3. The Constitution is at stake...BLOW THE FUCKING WHISTLES!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! n/t

[llashram]

5. Democrats in our Party

sitting in Congress can do something about this, right? +++ for that Postmaster.

[padah513]

7. Do what and how?

We only have the House, the McConnell Senate won't lift a finger, the DOJ is under Barr's corrupt leadership, and he takes orders from Trump.

[llashram]

9. yeah

one can hope there is some arcane but still relevant tool that can be used to enforce our Constitution and the USPS. Surely a Constitutional historian can show somewhere that one House of our Congress can cite and enforce leaving the USPS alone. The USPS has been used by the Republicans for years as a pawn to show the failure of a semi-government institution that has been around since Pony Express days. When and if let alone it functions very well. 2nd and 3 class mail, even with competitors have usually been in the black. And on-time delivery rates in mid-high 90% range

[dalton99a]

8. There should be House hearings ASAP on this sabotage and criminal conspiracy

[nuxvomica]

10. I've noticed no delays here in Northern New York

Speaking to the issue of electoral targeting as opposed to just undermining faith in the USPS, if there were some way to gather data from around the country, we might see more delays in swing states than solid Blue or Red states. Of course, I am in a fairly solid Red district in a solid Blue state but for the granularity of targeting to be that high more people would have to know about it.

[demigoddess]

11. Amazon put USPS in the money and now the republican 'businessmen' want in on all that money.Ruin it

and then sell it. that is what I think.

[Kaiserguy]

12. I have had two packages

recently that have taken over 3 weeks to get to me. One came from Georgia to PA the other from the midwest which I still haven't received. It has been in NY state for the last 8 days just sitting. I have never had these problem in the past and I do a lot of business by mail. I would think that this will hurt Trump far more than it will help him especially if we get the word out as to who is to blame and why.

[usaf-vet]

13. With privatization how do any of us know what mail service will be like?

It will be like buying a pig in a poke.

For those that don't know this phrase:

The English colloquialisms such as turn out to be a pig in a poke or buy a pig in a poke mean that something is sold or bought without the buyer knowing its true nature or value, especially when buying without inspecting the item beforehand.

With privatization how do any of us know what mail service will be like?

Will it be all mail we get now?
Will there be Saturday mail?
Will my local Post Office still be open?
Will my medicine still be delivered by mail?
What will it cost to mail a package?
Will there be small communities that do not get service?
How many employees will lose their jobs?
Will bills and legal documents arrive as scheduled?
Will, there be competing services and will you have to make a choice and live with it? Think insurance home and car.
Will there be rural delivery 25 miles+ from a post office?
What happens if your private provider declares bankruptcy and closed down?

AND THE LIST GOES ON and ON and ON.

The current service is the best OPTION. Lets' make it better not tear it down. The time was you could support a family working for the post office.

Do we want a system like the old privatized fire departments? If you join and are a member in good standing and have a fire they will try and put out the fire. If not your property will burn to the ground.

[aggiesal]

16. Privitzation? I call it Profitization ...

With Profitization, how do any of us know what mail service will be like?

This administration are trying to kill USPS so someone can make PROFIT on mail delivery.

[usaf-vet]

17. EXACTLY!

[Cha]

18. Rt.. TY Nevilledog!

Link to tweet

[Nevilledog]

19. ...

[Cha]

20. So freaking sad & maddening.. I've been experiencing a lot of

this with all these Birthdays in August!❤️