SAN ANTONIO – San Antonio postal workers and supporters rallied on Sunday for what they are saying is a elementary human want — water.
Earlier this month, several South Texas lawmakers sent a letter to the postmaster general, asking them to begin giving letter carriers water once more on their routes.
Letter carriers mentioned USPS stopped giving bottled water and returned to water fountains because of the top of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“We’re all concerned about it, and we care,” mentioned Homer Hernandez, Alamo Branch 421′s political director.
Hernandez mentioned he and his fellow mail carriers need aid.
“We work about eight to 10 hours out in the heat,” he mentioned.
Earlier this month, we spoke to Hernandez about how arduous it was once to hydrate.
“Actually, at my station, at Dobie station off of East Houston, we don’t have a water fountain working,” he informed us on Aug. 10.
Since then, Hernandez mentioned his station made some adjustments.
“It took them two years to comply because of you guys, the congressmen, and the mayor speaking out on our behalf,” he informed us. “It took them two days to fix that.”
Now, he and his fellow union individuals are preventing for others.
“I would like to see every letter carrier in the surrounding area — and San Antonio — to get bottled water like yesterday,” mentioned Hernandez.
San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg confirmed his make stronger on the rally.
“They have a voice,” he mentioned. “We listen to them and when we elevate and amplify their voice, we’re gonna do that.”
Bob Comeaux, who’s the president of a instructor’s union, mentioned he’s status with the postal workers on an issue he believes is an easy repair.
“This is a very simple solution,” Comeaux mentioned. “Provide water.”
Hernandez mentioned getting water bottles is the naked minimal.
“It’s hotter than firecrackers down here, so we need them A/C trucks,” he mentioned. “Bags of ice would help us out too — keep our water cool out there.”
reached out to USPS for a response to the rally, they usually issued this commentary past due Sunday, shared under:
“As a point of information, the Postal Service certainly respects the right of unions and employees to participate in off-the-clock rallies or other gatherings on issues of concern to their membership. The positions being presented by the leadership of the NALC local Branch 421 in San Antonio, TX are inaccurate and largely absent of anything based in reality.
The facts are that local management at the Dobie Station, and throughout San Antonio, take seriously the safety and well-being of all employees. Postal leadership in San Antonio has validated that two new water fountains were installed at the Dobie Station and are fully operational. Bottled water was provided until the installation of this upgraded equipment was completed. Carriers and all employees have full access to potable water at all times. Additionally, the air conditioning system at the Dobie Station is fully functioning and all areas of the facility, including the workroom floor, customer lobby, and offices are being cooled and temperatures are being maintained to provide a comfortable working environment for all employees.
Regarding training concerns, the safety of employees is a top priority for the Postal Service. Our national Heat Illness Prevention Program (HIPP) provides mandatory heat-related and other safety training and instruction to all employees and assures they have the resources needed to do their jobs safely. The Postal Service is also committed to ensuring that our future vehicle fleet supports safety. The Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs) will feature air conditioning among other features including improved ergonomics, and some of the most advanced vehicle and safety technology — including 360-degree cameras, advanced braking and traction control, air bags and a front-and-rear-collision avoidance system that includes visual, audio warning and automatic braking. The first NGDVs are expected to be deployed for use on carrier routes in late 2023.
By developing the high-performing operation envisioned by our Delivering for America (DFA) 10-year plan, we will create the safest and healthiest environment possible for our employees. As we move into year three of our DFA plan, we remain focused on improving our employees’ experience and providing a stable and empowered workforce. Our bond with our employees has never been more important than it is today.
For additional details on our progress, please see our Delivering for America Second-Year Progress Report.”
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