ROCHESTER, N.Y. – Local postal workers are speaking out against potential changes to the U.S. Postal Service during the Trump administration. Many workers are concerned about job security and delivery rate increases. Postal workers rallied across the country on Thursday, including in the Rochester area.

Postal workers pounded the pavement with their message: “Hands off the postal service”. The postal union says efforts to transform USPS will jeopardize the jobs of 7.9 million workers and result in customers paying even higher rates.

Michelle Pokucecki, a postal worker, says the Trump administration is trying to eliminate the union, which she believes is the first step towards privatization.

“It is frustrating because, as they are going through different departments of the federal government, we are a separate entity. Like I said, it is a service for the people and the people need to stand up,” Pokucecki said.

In 2018, Trump’s USPS Taskforce evaluated the operations and finances of the postal service and recommended reforms. The postal service’s fiscal report from last year shows they lost $1.8 billion. While that was less than the prior year, they are predicting a loss of $6.9 billion this year.

Workers argue privatizing the postal service could limit access to the more than 51 million households across the country. Kelly Battoglia, a nurse practitioner whose son has been a letter carrier for nearly 7 years, joined the rally. She has concerns about what this rehab plan will mean for her family.

“And if you live in the middle of nowhere there’s a good chance you are going to have to go get your deliveries and mail because small businesses and big businesses do not deliver to the rural areas. So medicines, medical supplies, letters, bills, etc.,” Battoglia said.

Postmaster General Louis DeJoy plans to cut 10,000 workers and billions from the USPS budget to work with Congress on reform.

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