Lawmakers spotlight “larger statewide problem” with postal service in Massachusetts

Letter Text (PDF)

BOSTON – Today, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley (MA-07) joined U.S. Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and their Massachusetts colleagues U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) and Representatives Richard Neal (MA-01), Jim McGovern (MA-02), Lori Trahan (MA-03), Jake Auchincloss (MA-04), Seth Moulton (MA-06), Stephen Lynch (MA-08), and Bill Keating (MA-09) in sending a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing concern over the deterioration of postal service in communities across the Commonwealth, including in communities where postal operations may be consolidated and in rural areas where mail delivery may be slowed. 

The letter highlights a litany of United States Postal Service (USPS) management decisions that have led to diminished access to post office retail fronts, increasingly delayed and lost mail, and, for those employed by USPS, workplace dissatisfaction, including:

• The closure of the Medway Main Street Post Office more than a year ago, which has left the residents of Medway without an adequate Post Office location
• The closure of the Watertown Square Post Office and subsequent lack of Saturday service in Watertown
• Poor service and mail delivery delays at the Roxbury Post Office, where residents have experienced mail delays of two–four weeks, lost mail, misdelivered mail, and mail left outside of mailboxes
• Mail delivery delays and months of lost mail in Somerville, Brookline, and other communities
• USPS’ new proposal to slow mail delivery in rural areas and consolidate processing centers, which would likely impact postal service and USPS jobs in Massachusetts

“All these issues with postal service in the Commonwealth are highly problematic and indicative of a larger statewide problem, which has fostered inequitable access to basic postal functions across urban and rural communities,” wrote the lawmakers. “We are now constrained to request an in-person meeting with MA-RI District Manager Scott Manier at which we can learn how USPS will address our concerns.”

Following USPS management’s lack of response to the Massachusetts delegation’s repeated requests for re-opened facilities and improved service, the lawmakers call for an in-person meeting with MA-RI District Manager Scott Manier in the letter. 

Throughout her time in Congress, Congresswoman Pressley has championed for federal resources to support the United States Postal Service and its employees.

• On December 16, 2022, Rep. Pressley joined Reps. Lynch and Raskin in leading their colleagues on a letter urging the extension of COVID-19 workers’ compensation benefits for postal workers.
• On February 25, 2021, Rep. Pressley called for postal banking to advance racial and economic justice during a House Committee on Oversight hearing.
• On February 19, 2021, Rep. Pressley urged President Biden in a letter to replace Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and appoint a diverse United States Postal Service Board of Governors.
• On August 22, 2020, Rep. Pressley delivered remarks on the House floor slamming Republican attacks on the United States Postal Service and shared constituent stories.
• On August 21, 2020, Rep. Pressley and Rep. Payne lead their colleagues in a letter pushing party leadership to stand firm on postal service funding.
• On August 25, 2020, Rep. Pressley questioned Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and the United States Postal Service Board of Governors Chairman Robert Duncan about the harmful impact policy changes at USPS had on the workforce during a House Committee on Oversight hearing.
• On August 6, 2020, Rep. Pressley, and her colleagues sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy expressing deep concerns about operational changes at the U.S. Postal Service that could have negative impacts on service standards and cause significant delays in mail delivery.
• On May 29, 2020, Rep. Pressley joined progressive Members of Congress in a letter urging House and Senate leadership to include public banking in COVID-19 response.

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