Tis the season for lots of mail, and Missouri’s Postal Workers Union is warning that proposed USPS cuts could disrupt service and erode trust. In fiscal year 2024, USPS reported a $9.5 billion loss – a $3 billion increase from the previous year. In response, the Postal Service has cut transportation costs and consolidated operations, which could result in significant mail delays.
Sharon Curtis president of the the Missouri Postal Workers Union, said her biggest concern is for residents in rural areas.
“Rural America is going to be harmed the most – and they’re the ones who depend on the mail the most. They don’t have Fed-Ex or UPS in those small areas, because those companies take it to the post office to be delivered because it’s not profitable for them,” she explained.
According to the Missouri Census Data Center, about 37% of Missouri’s population, which is roughly 2.3 million people, live in rural areas