BAKERSFIELD, Calif. (KGET) — United Postal Workers rallied nationwide Tuesday, including in Bakersfield, for a new contract that will increase their pay and benefits.
Bakersfield’s rally was outside of the Kern County Courthouse.
Motions hearing postponed in Karim Reyad case
“Union proud, say it loud, union proud, say it loud,” were chants led by Brendan Buettner, the president of the local 472 union.
“Every single American in this nation deserves good from the United States postal service,” said Buettner.
Buettner says deliveries have been slowed, “Short staffing, and mismanagement, it starts at the top with mismanagement.”
Postal work is a public service is something that was said multiple times during the rally, “The cost of stamps has risen, the cost of shipping has risen and then shipping has been delayed and it’s not right,” said Elias Hogan, a union postal worker. “I feel like that’s why we are out here today, we want better service for the American people.”
Hogan thinks that USPS is being run as a for-profit company, “The postal service is supposed to provide a quality service to the American people, to maintain its facilities, and to pay it’s employees. Not to generate profit.”