Postal workers in Des Moines are protesting what they say is a reduction in the number of people working in the clerical division, which processes mail. American Postal Workers Union Local 44 says 36 clerical workers at the main Des Moines post office have been moved out of those positions this year.
“That is cutting jobs out of the clerk craft, who process the mail, and we’re seeing a problem with that with the mail service,” says local President Mike Bates.
He says mail processing has been slowed by the moves, and lines inside post offices have gotten longer at times.
“We think the customer deserves first class service 24-hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days, that’s what we do behind the scenes,” he says. “Nobody really sees that. They see the delivery part of the Postal Service.”
Bates says he expects more clerical workers to be moved out of those positions.
The Postal Service says it’s changing some workers schedules or job titles in line with the union contract, to operate more efficiently within the organization’s budget.
