News & information

POSTAL FACTS: Sept. 18, 2015

What reporters and commentators are writing and saying about the Postal Service, and how NALC members and leaders are making their voices heard.


Misinformation abounds about USPS (The Hill)

The Hill ran a commentary piece by NALC President Fredric Rolando, It rebuts a commentary the paper ran by a conservative writer (“Congress should not expand responsibilities of postal service,” Sept. 14) who blasted the Postal Service for venturing into what he referred to as “side businesses” at a time when it “is swimming in red ink again” and its core mission of speedy mail delivery isn't going well. Rolando set the record straight by explaining the source of the red ink—pre-funding, not package delivery or other ventures—and much more, including the rising operational profitability of USPS and the value of letter carriers and other postal employees.

Click here to read the piece.


President Rolando was quoted in a number of news stories about Sen. Tom Carper’s (D-DE) postal bill.

Senate Dem seeks new momentum for postal reform (The Hill)

In a story in The Hill story, Rolando is the only person quoted other than Sens. Carper and Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND):

Fredric Rolando, president of the NALC, praised Carper’s “tireless efforts” on postal matters, even as he pointed to “several provisions we cannot support” and “a number of serious concerns.”

“We believe it is a good place to begin the conversation about how to preserve and strengthen the Postal Service for the American people, while protecting the legitimate interests of all the key stakeholders,” Rolando said.

Click here to read the story.

Postal Service reform bill looking for final stamp of approval (Federal News Radio)

The president was the only person quoted in the Federal News Radio story besides Carper:

Fredric Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, in a statement called the bill a “good place to begin the conversation” on how to both strengthen the Postal Service and protect stakeholder interests.

He also stated the bill “contains several provisions we cannot support and raises a number of serious concerns for letter carriers and the larger federal employee community.”

Click here to read the story.

Bill would allow USPS to deliver alcohol, reshapes finances (Federal Times)

Rolando also is quoted in a Federal Times story, one of only two people quoted besides Carper:

NALC president Fredric Rolando also expressed concern, but said, in a statement, that the bill was a good starting point for reform.

“While Sen. Carper’s new bill contains several provisions we cannot support and raises a number of serious concerns for letter carriers and the larger federal employee community, we believe it is a good place to begin the conversation about how to preserve and strengthen the Postal Service for the American people, while protecting the legitimate interests of all the key stakeholders.”

Click here to read the story.


Letter: Postal delays (Idaho Statesman)

Idaho State Association President John Paige’s letter to the editor of the Idaho Statesman ran on Sept. 14.

Click here to read the letter.

Letter, 9/13: Push for postal reform (Lincoln Journal Star)

Sioux City, IA Branch 69 President Eddie Lofland’s letter to the editor of the Nebraska’s Lincoln Journal Star ran on Sept. 12.

Click here to read the letter.

More than ever, postal reform is needed (The Norfolk Daily News)

An editorial blog post that ran on the website of Norfolk, NE’s Daily News, in support of positive postal reform, quoted a recent letter to that paper’s editor from Kearney, NE Branch 312 President Ken Nickerson.

Click here to read the piece.