In recent weeks, President Donald Trump and Elon Musk have floated the idea of privatizing U.S. mail services.
But letter carriers say that would be detrimental to rural areas like northern Michigan.
Talk of privatization came up after the head of the U.S. Postal Service, Louis DeJoy, resigned last month after nearly five years in the position.
Trump said he’s considering putting USPS under the control of the Commerce Department, which he says will help fix declining profits at USPS. The agency has been independent and mostly self-funded since 1970.
The idea has caused mass protests by postal workers and letter carriers across the country last month. A national “day of action” took place in more than 150 cities on March 20.
In a statement after the demonstrations, Mark Dimondstein, president of the American Postal Workers Union said, “If this administration succeeds in taking over the USPS, it will lead to higher prices and reduced service, especially in rural areas.”
