Postal Privatization
“There must be some word today
From my boyfriend who’s so far away
Please, Mr. Postman, look and see
Is there a letter, a letter for me?
I’ve been standing here waiting, Mr. Postman (Wait, wait for you)
So-o, so patiently (Wait, wait for you)
For just a card or just a letter (Wait, wait for you)
Saying he’s returning home to me”
Several years ago, the National Association of Letter Carriers (“NALC”) staged a rally and march on a Saturday morning designed to raise awareness about violent acts perpetrated against letter carriers. I recall both a well-organized and spirited event that culminated in Chicago’s Millennium Park.
Today, the NALC held a late-morning rally in Chicago’s Federal Plaza. It was one of over 200 similar rallies held around the country during the last several days.
This time the focus was on another existential threat to postal workers—the privatization of the Postal Service, with tens of thousands of USPS employees facing loss of their jobs. At the least what we know is that In March, Trump told those gathered for Howard Lutnick’s swearing in ceremony as Commerce Secretary that he was thinking about placing the Postal Service under the control of the Commerce Department. Trump used the word “merger,” which carries more ominous connotations.
Earlier this month, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy sent Congress a letter discussing his efforts to reform the Postal Service, telling Congress that he planned to work with Elon Musk’s Department of Governmental Efficiency (“DOGE”) to further streamline operations, including the elimination of “10,000 people in the next 30 days through a Voluntary Early Retirement program.” [Postscript: DeJoy resigned one day later]
Republicans have long dreamed of eliminating the Postal Service. The question is whether either the Executive Branch (Trump) or the Legislative Branch (Congress) can eliminate the Post Office given Article I, Section 8, Clause 7 of the U.S. Constitution, which provides:
The Congress shall have Power . . . To establish Post Offices and post Roads.
Undoubtedly the NALC will take the position that the Postal Service is constitutionally mandated, but the language does not necessarily support that conclusion. While Congress has the power to establish routes, that does not necessarily preclude Congress from delegating the delivery or other functions to a private concern once Congress has established the routes—I am not taking a position one way or the other because I am unfamiliar with prior case law interpreting the provision. Nevertheless, I did see several signs and heard comments from speakers at today’s rally suggesting the constitution bars privatization. Whether Trump will try to streamline the Postal Service, or privatize it is unclear, but Elon Musk and DOGE will undoubtedly look for opportunities to eliminate jobs.
When I first arrived at Federal Plaza, I was met with a sea of red shirts and signs. The union did an excellent job of creating a unified look, which must have caught the attention of those who were watching the 10:00 PM news tonight. During the rally, i sat and crawled on the cement in front of the CBS 2, NBC 5, ABC 7, and WGN cameras. With the exception of one station, all the stories ran more than two minutes. Most demonstrations go uncovered or only receive 20 to 30 seconds of airtime. Today’s rally proved to be the exception, with both the Sun-Times and Chicago Tribune also covering the event, quickly posting articles. To a certain extent, this is a human-interest story: Everyone has waited in anticipation of the mailman at some point in their lives.
In addition to the red, I noticed the music blaring from the PA system as I walked to the makeshift stage (a granite bench). I didn’t know the tune, but it dated to the R&B sounds of the Seventies. Despite facing job loss, many in attendance were having a grand time, dancing and singing along, with the music. I said to one woman in the front row, “I cover a lot of demonstrations, but you guys have the best music.” She flashed a big smile, while continuing to dance in her seat.
All the happy faces could be attributable to a sugar-induced buzz. I saw multiple Krispy Kreme boxes, many empty. Next time, please save me a doughnut.
As for the speaker line-up, it was heavy on labor leaders and politicians. To their credit, all of the speakers kept their remarks short. Early on, one of the speakers caught my attention when he declared today’s weather as “Mailman Weather.” Noting that postal carriers deliver the mail when it is pouring rain or the snow drifts are high, he said today was ideal “mailman” weather. No rain, nor snow. A little cloud cover and cool, but not too cold. I guess there is a natural affinity between postal carriers and the Three Bears. The photographers, who were expecting rain, were pleasantly surprised by blue sky and sunshine for two-thirds of the rally, or in the parlance of the day, “Photographer Weather.”
For the most part, the speakers remained on point. For example, Lake County Treasurer Holly Kims recalled the important role that the Postal Service played in her parent’s business. According to Kim, “My parents could send tons of invoices that I hand-stuffed to customers through the USPS. Parts for service, checks that paid the staff that were delivered daily.” State Representative Theresa Mah called the Postal Service the backbone of the “our democracy.”
Several speakers referred to the Postal Service’s important role in mail-in voting. NALC National Business Agent Mike Caref pointed to the delivery of vital medicines, as did others. One speaker cast postal workers as good neighbors, checking on the well-being of people on their routes.
The demonstrators were particularly animated when they realized Mayor Brandon Johnson was in the house, which is a bit surprising given his dismal 14% approval rating. One photographer saw his limousine pull up. He later commented to me that elected office has gone to Johnson’s head—all those trappings of power. When I first encountered him before he took the stage, he was wearing an ill-fitting pair of blue jeans that were just inappropriate—apparently Johnson wants to affect appearance of the common man, at least as he perceives it. Unlike other speakers, Johnson did not stay on point. Instead, he rattled off a list of issues unrelated to the Postal Service, stating,
Whether it's the mail. Whether it's education. Whether it's justice. Whether it's the environment. We are fighting for the working people of this country.
The rally also brought out Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea, whose passion makes him the perfect spokesperson for organized labor. He told the crowd that he wanted to make sure that Trump and those in Washington heard them.
Senator Dick Durbin also climbed the small stepladder to the elevated surface, where he asked the crowd whether privatization was a good or bad idea. No votes for “good” as rally goers roared, “Bad” in unison.
Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez was the last speaker that I heard before leaving—the rally was wrapping up. Ever the firebrand, Sighco-Lopez delivered fiery remarks that would have done Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez proud. Credit where credit is due: the Alderman is a fabulous speaker.
During the program, one speaker pointed out that the USPS serves 51.5 million households in rural districts—in other words, voters who leaned heavily toward Trump. At that point, I viewed myself at cross-purposes with all the postal workers. While I don’t want to see people lose their jobs to Elon Musk’s chainsaw, I must admit, I would take great pleasure if MAGA suddenly found itself isolated from civilization. No more delivery of Sears or Montgomery Ward catalogs, or the Farmer’s Almanac. Alternatively, those voters would pay the substantially higher unsubsidized cost for delivery of those and other items. Until each member of MAGA discovers that Trump is no friend of the little guy, those folks will continue to vote for Trump’s progeny, assuming Trump does not declare himself king.
Representative Sean Casten deserves a shout out for showing up today. Last Wednesday night, Casten hosted a very contentious townhall, coming under verbal assault from one highly agitated pro-Palestinian advocate, as well as other constituents. CNN showed video clips from the meeting throughout the day. Casten spoke unimpeded to an appreciative audience.
Overall, the NLCA did an excellent job, turning out several hundred people, at least that was the count offered by the local media outlets.
As for Federal Plaza: This was my third rally in that space this week. It is a lousy place for a demonstration unless the organizers contract for a stage. Even when people stand on one of the granite benches, they are not visible from the back of the crowd. Moreover, none of the organizers this week cordoned off an area for the media, with easy access points. Daley Plaza proves to be a far better location.
[Click on an Image to Enlarge It. The Images Are Not Necessarily in Exact Chronological Order]
Holding the Lead Banner Under Alexander Calder's Flamingo
Postal Workers Having a Great Time as the Music Plays
An Enthusiastic Postal Worker Raising Her Fist
Proudly Holding Her Sign
NBC News 5 on the Scene, Together with Three Other Local Stations
Members of the American Federation of State, County, and Municipal Workers Standing with Their Post Office Brethern
Illinois AFL-CIO President Tim Drea's Enthusiasm Could Not Be Captured in a Single Frame
Looking Out for His Momma’s Job
Lake County Treasurer Holly Kims Remembering How Important Letter Carriers Were in Her Parent's Success as Small Business People
A Sign Referenced by Several Speakers Who All Refrained from Uttering the First Word
Fighting for $30-Per-Hour Starting Wage
Illinois Representative Theresa Mah Declaring that the Post Office is "the Backbone of Our Democracy"
Pretty Philosophical on a Sunday Morning
Letting Everyone Know What Privatization Would Mean
Representative Sean Casten Showed Up Despite His Contentious Town Hall Meeting Just Five Days Earlier
Taking the Words Right Out of Donald Trump's Mouth
Illinois State Senator Robert Peters, Chair of the Senate's Labor Committee, Speaking Out on Behalf of the Postal Workers
She Is Giving Elon Her Stamp of Disapproval
'Aw-Shucks" with a Smile
The Scene
Delivering a Rousing Speech
Confirming the Postal Service's Status as a Non-Profit Entity
The Mayor Arrives
A CTA Worker Offering His Support
Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson Making His Point
Organized Labor Was Out in Force
She Says "Hell No"
Another Dedicated Postal Service Employee
The Scene
An Animated Senator Richard Durbin
Several Postal Workers Who are Charged Up
Chicago's Controversial Alderman Byron Sigcho-Lopez, Firing Up the Crowd
Copyright 2025, Jack B. Siegel (except the first two images in the post, which are copyrighted 2024). All Rights Reserved. Do Not Alter, Copy, Display, Distribute, Download, Duplicate, or Reproduce Without the Prior Written Consent of the Copyright Holder.
