The union representing postal workers endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden’s White House bid Friday as the United States Postal Service (USPS) finds itself in the middle of a national controversy over new changes by its postmaster general.
The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), which consists of nearly 300,000 active and retired postal workers, said Biden and his running mate Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) will be effective allies in the White House. The decision to endorse them was based on input from union members via polling, surveys, responses to its candidate questionnaire and a discussion with Biden.
“Vice President Biden is – was – and will continue to be – a fierce ally and defender of the United States Postal Service (USPS), letter carriers, and our fellow postal brothers and sisters. NALC’s endorsement and our support come down to Joe’s steadfast support of us and his unwavering dedication to improving the lives of all working people throughout this great nation,” the union said.
“Together, Biden and Harris fully exhibit the experience, dedication, thoughtfulness and steady hands that will work to ensure that letter carriers and working families are put first.”
The endorsement comes at a time of heightened scrutiny over USPS and Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The agency has suffered a hefty financial toll in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, and lawmakers are hitting DeJoy over policies he’s implemented that they say might hinder delivery operations.
Congress and the White House are still in a stalemate over funding for the USPS. Democrats have asked for $25 billion in emergency funding as part of the next COVID-19 relief package to boost the USPS’s capabilities, but President Trump has rebuffed them, saying Thursday he was opposed to USPS funding because it would help universal mail-in voting this fall.
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