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Provided below are sample letters to Congresspersons and Senators. You may use "as is" or you may tailor these to say what it is you wish to say. You may even write your own letter, entirely. What is important is that you write. Hard copy letters still, today, have greater impact than e-mails. Should you wish to e-mail, you may do so through the APWU Congressional Information Center. If you "cut & paste" these letters, you may wish to save them, first, as "text only" using the pull-down "properties" menu on your computer's clipboard. DEAR POSTAL CUSTOMER (from the Austin Texas Local) Senior Citizen Supporter of USPS Postal Worker--Long version of the Short Letter Plant Closing/Consolidation Letter to the Editor Plant Closing/Consolidation Letter to the Editor (variation) Plant Closing/Consolidation Letter to the Editor (USPS supporter) Plant Closing/Consolidation Letter to Legislators
As a postal worker and a citizen, I am writing to express my
concerns about several potentially drastic changes that the President's
Commission on the Postal Service has recommended in their final report, which
was completed on July 31, 2003. The report endorses a drastic overhaul of the
nation's mail system. The recommendations intend only to serve the needs of big
advertising mailers at the expense of the American people. Sincerely,
Sample Letter #1 --Postal Worker (long letter)
The Honorable I am writing about the President's Commission on the U.S. Postal
Service, which has recommended major changes for the nation's mail
system. These recommendations, if enacted into law, could
result in increased postage costs and reduced services. Thank you.
Sample Letter #4--Senior Citizen support
Sample Letter #5--Letter to the Editor
To the Editor: Recently, some members of a virtually unnoticed Presidential commission reviewing the U.S. Postal Service said in a public hearing that they wanted to make a "big bang" with their recommendations. That "bang," under the guise of solving the Postal Service's short-term financial problems, could result in profound changes in when, where, and how Americans get mail--as well as how much we pay for it. The commission has recommended easing the Postal Service's universal service mandate, which could mean reducing the number of days per week mail gets delivered, closing less profitable post offices in rural and inner-city communities, charging substantially higher rates for postal services, and scaling back post offices' hours. The U.S. Postal Service has a rich history of providing a public service that has connected people, communities, and businesses with one another for nearly 230 years. For millions of Americans who do not have on-line access to information--especially the elderly, the poor, and those who live in remote areas--the Postal Service is an absolute necessity. Replacing its public service obligation with a profit-seeking mandate that suits business and advertising mailers at the expense of the general public is bad public policy. We need to vigorously oppose any efforts to "reform" the Postal Service by rewarding corporate mailers at the expenses of ordinary citizens and small businesses. Sincerely, (Provide Name, Address and Phone Number)
Sample Letter #6--Postal Worker (long version of the short letter)
The Honorable I am writing you about a matter of serious concern to all
Americans. Changes recommended by the commission could have a negative effect on service for residents of our state. These include closing "unprofitable" post offices in rural areas and in inner-city communities and discontinuing "unprofitable" post offices in rural areas and in inner-city communities. Additionally, while not directly calling for an end to universal service, the final report seems to suggest that, in the commission's view, universal service should not continue if it is not profitable. The cost of postage could skyrocket, just as telephone rates and cable TV fees have since those industries were deregulated. Consumers could be forced to pay different amounts, depending on where they live and where they send their mail, and complicated payment plans could replace uniform rates. Large businesses and advertisers could be granted preferential rates at the expense of small businesses and ordinary citizens. The changes recommended by the commission could jeopardize the future of the institution that has served our country for 227 years. They could endanger the vast network that unites our nation, and serves individuals and commerce without regard to their economic status or location. I am also concerned that, if the commission's report is enacted into law, the privacy of all Americans may be compromised, as the commission has strongly recommended a tracking system which would eliminate the ability of citizens to correspond with anonymity. More than 700,000 postal employees could lose the right to
collective bargaining. We could suffer a loss of wages, a
reduction in health and retirement benefits, and a loss of job
security.
Letter to the Editor: As part of an ill-advised cost-cutting scheme, the U.S. Postal Service is planning to close its Mail Processing and Distribution Center in______________. If the ______________ plant is closed, mail for the ____(region)___ will likely be trucked to __________________ to be processed and sorted, then transported back to ___________________ for distribution. The Postal Service pleads poverty, even though it reported a $1 billion profit in the first quarter of its 2003 fiscal year. But it still intends to close mail processing plants, and it is contemplating other severe cutbacks in the service it provides to the American people. The root causes of the Postal Service's recent financial difficulties are twofold: the economic slump, which caused a temporary decrease in mail volume, and a flawed postage rate structure that grants large business mailers and advertisers below-cost discounts. The Postal Service should stop giving money away to big business and keep the ____________ Mail Processing facility where it is. That way it would be able to continue to provide quality service to the small businesses and ordinary citizens that rely on it.
Sincerely, (Provide Name, Address and Phone Number)
Letter to the Editor: As part of an ill-advised cost-cutting scheme, the U.S. Postal Service is planning to close its Mail Processing and Distribution Center in______________. If the ______________ plant is closed, mail for the ____(region)___ will likely be trucked to __________________ to be processed and sorted, then transported back to ___________________ for distribution. The Postal Service pleads poverty, even though it reported a $1 billion profit in the first quarter of its 2003 fiscal year. But it still intends to close mail processing plants, and it is contemplating other severe cutbacks in the service it provides to the American people. In this time of high gas and energy prices, I fail to see how the Postal Service will save money by needlessly transporting the mail to kingdom come and back. And I'm sure this plan can not result in faster mail delivery or improved service. The root causes of the Postal Service's recent financial difficulties are twofold: the economic slump, which caused a temporary decrease in mail volume, and a flawed postage rate structure that grants large business mailers and advertisers below-cost discounts. The Postal Service should stop giving money away to big business and keep the ____________ Mail Processing facility where it is. That way it would be able to continue to provide quality service to the small businesses and ordinary citizens that rely on it.
Sincerely, (Provide Name, Address and Phone Number)
Letter to the Editor: As part of an ill-advised cost-cutting scheme, the U.S. Postal Service is planning to close its Mail Processing and Distribution Center in______________. If the ______________ plant is closed, mail for the ____(region)___ will likely be trucked to __________________ to be processed and sorted, then transported back to ___________________ for distribution. As a (resident/local businessman or woman) of this community, I worry about the effect such a move will have on the local economy. Undoubtedly, many of the employees of the plant, valuable members of this community themselves , will be forced to move. Local businesses will likely see an immediate drop in revenue. Property values could even suffer if a large portion of our community's middle-class families relocate. The Postal Service pleads poverty, even though it reported a $1 billion profit in the first quarter of its 2003 fiscal year. But it still intends to close mail processing plants, and it is contemplating other severe cutbacks in the service it provides to the American people. The root causes of the Postal Service's recent financial difficulties are twofold: the economic slump, which caused a temporary decrease in mail volume, and a flawed postage rate structure that grants large business mailers and advertisers below-cost discounts. The Postal Service should stop giving money away to big business and keep the ____________ Mail Processing facility where it is. That way it would be able to continue to provide quality service to the small businesses and ordinary citizens that rely on it.
Sincerely, (Provide Name, Address and Phone Number)
Sample Letter #10--Plant Closing/Consolidation Letter to Legislators The Honorable As you may know, the U.S. Postal Service is planning to close its ________________Mail Processing and Distribution Center in __________________. Closing this plant will have a dramatic effect on service in the area, including substantial delays in mail delivery. In addition, closing a mail processing plant could have a serious effect on the local economy as stable, middle-class jobs disappear. For many people in our district--especially senior citizens--the U.S. Postal Service provides the only inexpensive and reliable means for communicating with friends and family and conducting business. For those on the wrong side of the "digital divide," delayed or curtailed postal services could have a negative social and economic impact. The Postal Service reported a $1 billion profit in the first quarter of its 2003 fiscal year, but it still intends to close mail processing plants as part of an ill-advised cost-cutting scheme. It is also contemplating other severe cutbacks in the services it provides to the American people. The root causes of the Postal Service's recent financial difficulties are twofold: the economic slump, which caused a temporary decrease in mail volume, and a flawed postage rate structure that grants below-cost discounts to large business mailers and advertisers. I urge you to review the impact any proposed plant consolidations or other "reforms" would have on postal customers in the _____________ area, and to share these concerns with the Postal Service. Your voice must be heard. Thank you for your interest and consideration.
Sincerely, (Provide Name and Address)
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