Some guidelines for city letter carriers
participating in petition drives

As American citizens and employees of the United States Postal Service, city letter carriers are protected by the First Amendment and the National Labor Relations Act. Accordingly, they may speak out on public policy issues affecting the Postal Service and may engage in concerted activity with their union to protect their jobs and working conditions. For example, when off the clock and out of uniform, letter carriers may collect petitions urging Congress to maintain six-day mail delivery.

In exercising these fundamental rights, letter carriers should be careful to avoid any impression that they are speaking on behalf of the Postal Service itself. While on their routes, letter carriers may answer questions by expressing their personal views, or the views of the NALC, on such issues as five-day delivery, so long as doing so does not interfere with the performance of their duties. Letter carriers are also within their rights to express their views or the views of the NALC to the media so long as they avoid creating an impression that they are speaking on behalf of the Postal Service, or otherwise acting in an official capacity.   

Any inquiries with regard to internal Postal Service matters should be referred to appropriate postal officials.