U.S. mail will not be sold.
U.S. mail will not be sold.

- U.S. mail will not be sold.
- U.S. mail will not be sold.

Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow can keep the
Neither rain, nor sleet, nor snow can keep the

Postal Service from its work, but politics sure can.
Postal Service from its work, but politics sure can.

The beleaguered agency, which receives no taxpayer funding,
The beleaguered agency, which receives no taxpayer funding,

projects a $13 billion revenue shortfall this year,
projects a $13 billion revenue shortfall this year,

and it says it faces possible bankruptcy,
and it says it faces possible bankruptcy,

if it doesn’t receive an infusion of government aid.
if it doesn’t receive an infusion of government aid.

- We are very essential, and we are part of America's heartbeat.
- We are very essential, and we are part of America's heartbeat.

And I think, a lot of times, we're overlooked.
And I think, a lot of times, we're overlooked.

What we’re watching is part of a decades-long
What we’re watching is part of a decades-long

play for privatization,
play for privatization,

which may have found an ally in this man.
which may have found an ally in this man.

The Postal Service is a joke.
The Postal Service is a joke.

What’s not funny is how the financial troubles of
What’s not funny is how the financial troubles of

the country’s most popular agency are really the
the country’s most popular agency are really the

result of a government-manufactured crisis
result of a government-manufactured crisis

with very serious national consequences.
with very serious national consequences.

There are the things that the Postal Service could do
There are the things that the Postal Service could do

that, we're realizing now, would be not only really useful,
that, we're realizing now, would be not only really useful,

but could even help save our democracy.
but could even help save our democracy.

This is about more than the cost of letters and packages.
This is about more than the cost of letters and packages.

It’s about the price of eliminating an agency that helped build the U.S.,
It’s about the price of eliminating an agency that helped build the U.S.,

one that’s a lifeline for rural residents
one that’s a lifeline for rural residents

and is tied to the fate of more than a half million essential employees.
and is tied to the fate of more than a half million essential employees.

Their intention is to recommend privatization of the Postal Service,
Their intention is to recommend privatization of the Postal Service,

and what that means is selling off the Postal Service to the highest bidder.
and what that means is selling off the Postal Service to the highest bidder.

Hey fam, I’m Imaeyen.
Hey fam, I’m Imaeyen.

Today I’m working from home and examining how the COVID-19 pandemic
Today I’m working from home and examining how the COVID-19 pandemic

exposed the U.S. Postal Service’s underlying health condition
exposed the U.S. Postal Service’s underlying health condition

and what that means for us.
and what that means for us.

Hint: think prescription drugs and voter accessibility.
Hint: think prescription drugs and voter accessibility.

We live in uncertain times. However, there’s one thing you can be certain of:
We live in uncertain times. However, there’s one thing you can be certain of:

the men and women of the United States Postal Service.
the men and women of the United States Postal Service.

The story of the Postal Service is really the story of the U.S.
The story of the Postal Service is really the story of the U.S.

The Constitution empowers Congress to create postal roads and offices,
The Constitution empowers Congress to create postal roads and offices,

and the agency handling 48% of the world’s mail volume
and the agency handling 48% of the world’s mail volume

has empowered generations of employees,
has empowered generations of employees,

like Tanzania Chopin, to solidify their place in the middle class.
like Tanzania Chopin, to solidify their place in the middle class.

I've always grew up, the post office was a good job.
I've always grew up, the post office was a good job.

You get on with the post office. It's good pay, good health benefits.
You get on with the post office. It's good pay, good health benefits.

You can retire, good retirement when you get to that point.
You can retire, good retirement when you get to that point.

The letter carrier calls herself a “postal baby.”
The letter carrier calls herself a “postal baby.”

Her mother is a retired postal worker who began her career
Her mother is a retired postal worker who began her career

at the agency when Tanzania was just an infant.
at the agency when Tanzania was just an infant.

I grew up in the Postal Service.
I grew up in the Postal Service.

I was like, “Oh, one day I'm gonna work in that building.”
I was like, “Oh, one day I'm gonna work in that building.”

I’m like, “Oh, Imma go behind those doors.”
I’m like, “Oh, Imma go behind those doors.”

Tanzania loves the Postal Service and so does the
Tanzania loves the Postal Service and so does the

majority of the U.S., regardless of political affiliation.
majority of the U.S., regardless of political affiliation.

About 75% of the nation says the
About 75% of the nation says the

Postal Service does an excellent job.
Postal Service does an excellent job.

When we break it down by party,
When we break it down by party,

we see Republicans and Democrats
we see Republicans and Democrats

echo that enthusiasm.
echo that enthusiasm.

- Whose post office?
- Whose post office?

- The people’s post office!
- The people’s post office!

So how did this popular agency, which has more than 630,000 employees
So how did this popular agency, which has more than 630,000 employees

and is the focal point of a $1.6 trillion mailing industry,
and is the focal point of a $1.6 trillion mailing industry,

become the centerpiece of a political fight?
become the centerpiece of a political fight?

Well, it’s not because a man who used
Well, it’s not because a man who used

an old post office to house a hotel ...
an old post office to house a hotel ...

- This is a great iconic building.
- This is a great iconic building.

... is now president
... is now president

and beefing with a man whose company has a deal with the Postal Service.
and beefing with a man whose company has a deal with the Postal Service.

Let me show you something.
Let me show you something.

What's happening right now to them is that they are
What's happening right now to them is that they are

being starved to death. They're not going bankrupt.
being starved to death. They're not going bankrupt.

That’s author and former postal worker Phil Rubio,
That’s author and former postal worker Phil Rubio,

and he knows a lot about the Postal Service
and he knows a lot about the Postal Service

because he spent 20 years working there and has written two books about it.
because he spent 20 years working there and has written two books about it.

So the shallow roots are the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act.
So the shallow roots are the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act.

It became a terrible solution to what was really a non-problem.
It became a terrible solution to what was really a non-problem.

They broke something that was already fixed.
They broke something that was already fixed.

So the same year the Postal Service unveiled a stamp commemorating
So the same year the Postal Service unveiled a stamp commemorating

the first person of color to win an Oscar,
the first person of color to win an Oscar,

a lame-duck Congress financially hobbled
a lame-duck Congress financially hobbled

the agency by requiring it to fully fund retirement for employees,
the agency by requiring it to fully fund retirement for employees,

including those who haven’t even been born yet.
including those who haven’t even been born yet.

Phil says the agency, which has been self-supporting since 1982,
Phil says the agency, which has been self-supporting since 1982,

immediately felt the effects of the bipartisan legislation.
immediately felt the effects of the bipartisan legislation.

It was running in the black every year.
It was running in the black every year.

That's what it was running right up until 2006.
That's what it was running right up until 2006.

So what this does, is it creates a narrative that they are mismanaged,
So what this does, is it creates a narrative that they are mismanaged,

that they are financially no longer viable, and it becomes
that they are financially no longer viable, and it becomes

a self-fulfilling prophecy for forces that
a self-fulfilling prophecy for forces that

want the Postal Service to be privatized.
want the Postal Service to be privatized.

You heard Phil say that was the shallow root of the crisis.
You heard Phil say that was the shallow root of the crisis.

He says the deep roots go back to the 1970 wildcat postal strike.
He says the deep roots go back to the 1970 wildcat postal strike.

Technically it was illegal for postal employees to strike,
Technically it was illegal for postal employees to strike,

and the union didn’t approve it, but workers did it
and the union didn’t approve it, but workers did it

anyway in order to fight for better wages.
anyway in order to fight for better wages.

Things got real, real fast, when more than 200,000 postal employees
Things got real, real fast, when more than 200,000 postal employees

walked off the job. It was the largest walkout ever of federal employees.
walked off the job. It was the largest walkout ever of federal employees.

I have just now directed the activation of the men of the various
I have just now directed the activation of the men of the various

military organizations to begin in New York City
military organizations to begin in New York City

the restoration of essential mail services.
the restoration of essential mail services.

The resolution increased pay, made the Postal Service an independent
The resolution increased pay, made the Postal Service an independent

government agency instead of part of the cabinet
government agency instead of part of the cabinet

and it also paved the way for those supporting privatization.
and it also paved the way for those supporting privatization.

What makes the Postal Service vulnerable now is that it's self-supporting.
What makes the Postal Service vulnerable now is that it's self-supporting.

It is reponsible for doing the same thing it did before
It is reponsible for doing the same thing it did before

to deliver mail at reasonable and equitable rates,
to deliver mail at reasonable and equitable rates,

to be self-supporting.
to be self-supporting.

The post office does what others don’t do.
The post office does what others don’t do.

It has to service every address in the nation,
It has to service every address in the nation,

even the most rural.
even the most rural.

Even FedEx and UPS use it for last-mile service.
Even FedEx and UPS use it for last-mile service.

Every day, all across America, we deliver for you and we always will.
Every day, all across America, we deliver for you and we always will.

This is really important because a change in the Postal Service means
This is really important because a change in the Postal Service means

a change in voter accessibility to those voting by mail
a change in voter accessibility to those voting by mail

– something competitors can’t do –
– something competitors can’t do –

and it impacts those receiving prescription medications at home.
and it impacts those receiving prescription medications at home.

Another thing having an adverse impact on Postal Service revenue
Another thing having an adverse impact on Postal Service revenue

is the steady decline of
is the steady decline of

first-class mail volume,
first-class mail volume,

which began at the dawn of this century.
which began at the dawn of this century.

As the majority of its revenue,
As the majority of its revenue,

first-class mail is what helped cement the Postal Service’s monopoly.
first-class mail is what helped cement the Postal Service’s monopoly.

Its cash flow decreased, but the agency’s costs essentially have remained the same.
Its cash flow decreased, but the agency’s costs essentially have remained the same.

If the Postal Service were in the
If the Postal Service were in the

private sector, it would rank 44th
private sector, it would rank 44th

in the Fortune 500.
in the Fortune 500.

But the same bureaucracy that provided
But the same bureaucracy that provided

bailouts for other companies on that list
bailouts for other companies on that list

– to save the banking, airline and auto industries –
– to save the banking, airline and auto industries –

isn't eager to save the Postal Service.
isn't eager to save the Postal Service.

The Trump administration denied the USPS a lifeline in April.
The Trump administration denied the USPS a lifeline in April.

Meanwhile, online retailers, including Amazon,
Meanwhile, online retailers, including Amazon,

are spending more than $2 million on ads to support a Postal Service bailout.
are spending more than $2 million on ads to support a Postal Service bailout.

Trump also tapped a Republican fundraiser with no postal experience
Trump also tapped a Republican fundraiser with no postal experience

to be the new postmaster general. It gives him new influence
to be the new postmaster general. It gives him new influence

over the agency. And then there’s this:
over the agency. And then there’s this:

The post office, if they raise the price of a package by approximately four times,
The post office, if they raise the price of a package by approximately four times,

it’ll be a whole new ballgame.
it’ll be a whole new ballgame.

Phil says that wouldn’t fix the problem,
Phil says that wouldn’t fix the problem,

because it would cause all competitors to increase rates,
because it would cause all competitors to increase rates,

and those would be passed on to consumers.
and those would be passed on to consumers.

We serve everybody, all communities, from the upper class, of course,
We serve everybody, all communities, from the upper class, of course,

what is considered to be “the hood.”
what is considered to be “the hood.”

It's a service that we give.
It's a service that we give.

We give the same five-star service to everybody.
We give the same five-star service to everybody.

This battle over the Postal Service is about whether you see it as part
This battle over the Postal Service is about whether you see it as part

the nation’s basic communication infrastructure
the nation’s basic communication infrastructure

– part of the public good –
– part of the public good –

like other countries view their versions of it. Or, if you believe the agency
like other countries view their versions of it. Or, if you believe the agency

should be a for-profit business that would limit its accessibility
should be a for-profit business that would limit its accessibility

and alter workers’ terms of employment.
and alter workers’ terms of employment.

You could see a growing conservative trend that sees problems with postal workers,
You could see a growing conservative trend that sees problems with postal workers,

mostly unions. Now earning somehow too much
mostly unions. Now earning somehow too much

and also the Postal Service competing too much with FedEx and UPS.
and also the Postal Service competing too much with FedEx and UPS.

So there's a drive to handcuff the Postal Service.
So there's a drive to handcuff the Postal Service.

Phil told me he can’t envision the nation without the Postal Service
Phil told me he can’t envision the nation without the Postal Service

and thinks it’s very unlikely.
and thinks it’s very unlikely.

But Tanzania and her colleagues are already considering this.
But Tanzania and her colleagues are already considering this.

To them, this financial crunch feels very different than those from the past.
To them, this financial crunch feels very different than those from the past.

It's kind of scary because what, we know about, what,
It's kind of scary because what, we know about, what,

I've always known that the post office was like a guarantee,
I've always known that the post office was like a guarantee,

for-sure, 30-year job. It's kind of shaky right now.
for-sure, 30-year job. It's kind of shaky right now.

These are jobs that helped build the middle class,
These are jobs that helped build the middle class,

including offering African Americans entry when they were being
including offering African Americans entry when they were being

denied employment opportunities elsewhere.
denied employment opportunities elsewhere.

Today, people of color comprise
Today, people of color comprise

40% of postal employees.
40% of postal employees.

Employees like Tanzania Chopin.
Employees like Tanzania Chopin.

I'll probably put in maybe another 15 years or so,
I'll probably put in maybe another 15 years or so,

hopefully, if the Postal Service is still around at that time.
hopefully, if the Postal Service is still around at that time.

Hey fam. Thanks so much for watching.
Hey fam. Thanks so much for watching.

Don't forget to like, share and subscribe.
Don't forget to like, share and subscribe.

I would love to know your thoughts on the
I would love to know your thoughts on the

struggle with the Postal Service.
struggle with the Postal Service.

Please put them in the comments section.
Please put them in the comments section.

Let me know what you would like
Let me know what you would like

to see me do next and I will
to see me do next and I will

see you next time.
see you next time.

Thank you so much for watching
Thank you so much for watching

and stay safe.
and stay safe.