Over the past month, changes at the Cullman Post Office have begun to show. Packages and letters are moving again, thanks in large part to the tireless work of local carriers.
These men and women are working 12-hour days to keep the system afloat.
They deserve our gratitude. When you see your carrier, thank them. They are doing everything in their power to make sure your prescriptions, bills and newspapers arrive.
But gratitude alone won’t fix the larger problem. Management has made adjustments, but not enough.
Rural routes remain understaffed, and asking carriers to drive hundreds of miles with personal vehicles without proper support is unacceptable.
The Postal Service must offer a maintenance stipend for tires, oil and basic upkeep the same way it keeps up its fleet of postal trucks.
There is no reason for the public to shoulder higher postage rates. Instead, leadership should take a pay cut until every route is properly staffed.
We applaud the progress made so far, but the fight is not finished. Keep pressure on management, and keep calling your representatives.
The carriers have held up their end of the bargain. It’s time leadership did the same.
