Mike Causey

Same Uniform: Different Commander in Chief

Postal workers wear the same uniform, but when it comes to picking a President, Senior Correspondent Mike Causey says they are officially split between \"inside...

Federal News Network Staff

April 15, 2008 4:00 am

2 min read

Although they wear the same uniform and have the same mission, the nation’s 600,000-plus postal employees have very different hopes and dreams when it comes to the next occupant of the White House.

In short:

The “inside” workers in the government’s second largest agency are on record as endorsing Sen. Barrack Obama for president.

The “outside” employees of the U.S. Postal Service have pledged their loyalty and votes to Sen. Hillary Clinton. At least according to the union’s that represent the separate crafts in the second largest federal agency. It is also the 64th largest (according to Fortune Magazine) company in the world.

So-called “outside” employees are officially known as city letter carriers. They deliver mail, after it has been sorted, to homes and offices. The 300,000 member National Association of Letter Carriers announced last fall the results of a mail (naturally) survey by members which showed that Sen. Clinton was the clear favorite in a very crowded (at that time) Democratic field.

“Inside” postal workers, officially known as clerks, staff large and small post offices and facilities. They sort the mail and handle front counter duties. Last week the executive board of their union, the American Postal Workers Union, endorsed Sen. Obama for the nomination and the presidency. Union president William Burrus said Obama’s message “is one of hope and change” and he said the giant union “will commit our energy and efforts to help him win the White House.”

The APWU and the NALC are major players within the AFL-CIO.

Unlike the “white collar” civil service, where union membership is low in most agencies, the USPS is probably the most unionized operation in government. Eight of every 10 employees who are eligible to join a union do so. Other unions or groups representing employees include the Mail Handlers, Rural Letter Carriers and Postmasters and the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees.

Anybody Know A Republican?

So far no federal or postal union has endorsed Sen. John McCain of Arizona, the presumed Republican nominee.

In fact when they endorse candidates, federal and postal unions rarely even consider the Republican half of the race. One union (the Professional Air Traffic Controllers Organizaton) endorsed President Ronald Reagan. Many PATCO members lost their jobs when President Reagan later fired them for going out on an illegal strike.

The then presidents of the NALC, and the American Federation of Government Employees endorsed President Nixon for reelection but they did so as individuals.

Nearly Useless Factoid

According to MentalFloss, Elton John wrote the song Philadelphia Freedom as a thank you gift for Billie Jean King. She’d given him a sweat suit. The song was a reference to King’s pro tennis team, The Philadelphia Freedoms. Now that it’s stuck in your head, it’s the gift that keeps on giving.

To reach me: mcausey@federalnewsradio.com