Hundreds to Protest in Boston Wed. Against Staples' Plan to Operate Post Offices

[Omaha Steve]

Media Advisory for Wednesday, August 27, Boston

Hundreds of Postal Workers,

Supporters to

Protest on Steps of City Hall and at Adjacent Staples in Downtown Boston Wednesday



‘Don’t Buy Staples’ Campaign Picks Up Steam In Home Market

of Troubled Retailer





BOSTON – Postal Workers and supporters will protest a sweetheart deal between the U.S. Postal Service and Framingham-based retailer Staples at a rally in downtown Boston on Wednesday, August 27.



Who: Postal workers and supporters

What: Protest against outsourcing of postal services to Staples

When: Wednesday, August 27, at 5 p.m.

Where: Steps of City Hall and Staples at One Washington Mall, Downtown Boston (Southside Steps of City Hall Plaza)



With the back-to-school season in full swing, postal workers are urging parents and teachers not to buy school supplies at Staples. School supplies account for approximately 30 percent of Staples’ revenue.



Since January, APWU members and supporters have staged hundreds of rallies in front of Staples stores around the country to protest a no-bid deal with the U.S. Postal Service that established postal counters in office-supply stores. Last week, protesters rallied in downtown Boston and joined members of the Lynn Teachers Union for a rally at a Staples store in Saugus, Massachusetts.



An internal USPS document makes clear that the goal of the deal is to replace the jobs held by postal employees with low-paying jobs at Staples.



“But this isn’t just about postal jobs,” said John Dirzius, Northeast Region Coordinator for the APWU. “It is about protecting the public Postal Service. Many people are outraged that a cherished public asset is being used to prop up a struggling private company.” The company recently announced another quarter of declining sales, and confirmed plans to close 140 stores in 2014.



“Staples makes business decisions based on the bottom line, not service to the people of the country,” he said.



“A failing private company doesn’t belong in the postal business,” said Bob Dempsey, Vice President of the APWU’s Boston Metro Local. “Postal consumers want reliable service from highly-trained workers who have taken an oath to protect their letters and packages. Staples can’t offer that.”



“The Boston Teachers Union and its 11,000 members strongly support the postal workers who provide an excellent service to the American public,” said BTU President Richard Stutman. “Contracting that service out to a third party will diminish that service and weaken a great American institution. We stand behind our postal workers 100 percent and will urge our members to boycott Staples.”



In the middle of the crucial back-to-school season, Seeking Alpha, a leading investment website, reports that Staples is so “desperate” to win sales that it is offering a 110 percent price-match guarantee on school supplies. “The retailer is admitting that the only way that it can get customers in the door is to practically give some of its products away,” the website reported.


“If Staples wants to give away products, that’s their business,” said Dirzius. “But when the U.S. Postal Service tries to give away a public resource, that’s everybody’s business.”


* * *



The American Postal Workers Union represents 200,000 employees of the United States Postal Service, and is affiliated with the AFL-CIO.

[Atman]

1. Okay, maybe I missed something...I thought Staples already nixed this plan.

Obviously, I could be wrong. But I swear I read, on this very message board, an article stating that Staples had given in to the pressure and 86'd this whole idea.

[Omaha Steve]

4. Smoke and mirrors

http://www.democraticunderground.com/10025443263

This is what you are thinking about: Staples, USPS end program to set up mini-post offices in stores

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-staples-post-office-20140715,0,4869287.story#ixzz3BSAbS7lZ
Follow us: @mcall on Twitter | mcall.lv on Facebook

Snip: In the pilot program, Staples sold only USPS shipping services and products. However, in the approved shipper program, Staples, like other retailers, will offer some postal agency products alongside those of other shippers.

"Staples will continue to explore and test products and services that meet our customers' needs," Carrie McElwee, a Staples spokeswoman said in an email.

In March, Staples said it would close up to 225 stores in the United States and Canada - 12 percent of its North America outlets - as it loses customers to mass market chains and e-retailers.

The Postal Service has also been plagued by financial troubles as more people pay their bills and communicate electronically instead of sending stamped mail, and as it struggles to pay into a health fund for its future retirees, as mandated by a 2006 law.


OS

[Omaha Steve]

22. USPS Continues the Program with Staples to put Mini Post Offices in their stores

http://reportingsandiego.com/2014/08/27/usps-continues-the-program-with-staples-to-put-mini-post-offices-in-their-stores/

BY NADINABBOTT on AUGUST 27, 2014 • ( 0 )


Aug. 27, 2014 (San Diego) The American Postal Workers Union (APWU), though their representative in Washington D.C. has informed Reporting San Diego that the privatization effort continues. According to Sally Davidow, when the American Federation of Teachers joined the “don’t buy Staples” movement, this created fear with both the United States Postal Service Management and Staples.

This is why July 14 they announced the end of the program, replacing it with an approved shipper program, which is similar to what Office Depot has. This was an attempt to end the boycott against the retailer.

What will the program allow? It will allow for Staples employees, making half of what a postal worker makes, to handle your mail. Moreover, Staples workers make half of the salary of the USPS workers, they are not as well trained, and they do not go through a background check like USPS workers do. There is also a very high turnover rate at Staples.

PWU president said, Staples and the USPS are changing the name of the program, without addressing the fundamental concerns of postal workers and postal customers.”

FULL story at link.

[7wo7rees]

2. This is a travesty. The USPS is not broke.

It is not losing money. On the books it only appears to be so because of legislation written and passed by our Congress demanding that the Postal Service pay their pension fund 75 yrs into the future.
A requirement asked of no other business anywhere, ever.

Plain and simple corporate takeover, privatisation.

Truly very sad.

[leftstreet]

5. +1

[nomorenomore08]

7. +2

[woo me with science]

8. +3

[ReRe]

11. +4

[Vincardog]

20. +5

[Scuba]

21. + another

[freshwest]

3. Excellent, OS. K & R!

[sheshe2]

6. Kick!

Thanks Steve.

[Baitball Blogger]

9. Really. Why would you want to hand over a successful business to a company

that's in a free fall?

What kind of business model is that?

[Art_from_Ark]

12. It's the new American business model

The private sector is always better, even when it's not

[Baitball Blogger]

19. Sounds like major payola to me.

Malfeasance of government.

[rurallib]

10. I will be there in spirit

[ReRe]

13. K&R

Here's my message for the privateers:



Hands off the commons, buds.

Now go away.

[Thespian2]

14. Unfortunately

Canada Post has a similar deal with various private companies like Staples. If we wish to have our mail lost, stolen, misplaced, then we simply use one of these CPs within one of these stores. They are able to screw-up any transaction...no problem. Staples will screw the USPS.

[AdHocSolver]

15. Is this another planned public bailout of a failing private corporation?

Who are the clowns at the USPS who came up with this sellout of the postal service?

And, what do they get in return for this sellout?

Another example of the corruptive influence of vampire capitalism.

K and R.

[blkmusclmachine]

16. Our politicos keep trying to kill the Post Office. Maybe it'll succeed this time.

[Samantha]

18. The Post Office has one of the largest, if not the largest, unionized work forces in the US

and that is part of the reason it is being attacked.

It also has 60 billion dollars in that trust fund for health care of its employees, and eyes are on that prize as well.

Sam

[woo me with science]

17. kick

[951-Riverside]

23. Staples loss prevention is notorious for going through packages that are dropped off at stores

A friend of mine who worked at two copy and print centers said the managers and loss prevention would make it a habit of opening people's packages after the customers left, their reasoning was that it was on Staple's property and they had a right to do it.

I'm sure this isnt an isolated incident in fact most staples stores have a little disclaimer up about having the right to "inspect" packages.

There is no way in hell I would trust this company plus I'm very happy with the service the USPS provides.