Labor Updates (6/6/2007)

Congress is now considering legislation to stop privatization of letter carrier routes, reports Ken Lerch, President of Branch 3825 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. "A bi-partisan group of 168 members have formally co-sponsored H.R. 282, a measure that calls on the Postal Service to stop contracting out delivery," says NALC President Bill Young. "However, H.R. 282 is a non-binding 'Sense of the House' resolution, and is only the first step toward a permanent legislative solution." On May 24, Senator Tom Harkin (D-IA) introduced the Mail Delivery Protection Act of 2007, which forbids the Postal Service from entering into any contract "with any motor carrier or other person for the delivery of mail on any route with 1 or more families per mile." Eight other Senators have joined Senator Harkin as early cosponsors. April letter carriers rally against outsourcing, photo by Chris Garlock