The National Association of Letter Carriers orchestrated a significant event on Sunday with a rally located on Chicago’s South Side, drawing attention to pressing issues faced by postal workers.

With contract discussions looming with the United States Postal Service in Washington, D.C., union representatives are advocating for a contract that truly reflects the needs and contributions of their members.

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In a coordinated effort across the nation, letter carriers in Chicago participated in a day dedicated to raising awareness and garnering support for their cause.

Elise Foster, who leads the National Association of Letter Carriers, expressed dissatisfaction with the outcome of previous negotiations, stating, “We overwhelmingly rejected our last contract, but an arbitrator imposed it on us. That situation was unfair, and we are determined not to let it repeat in the upcoming negotiations.”

On Sunday morning, before the negotiations kick off, postal workers, along with political figures, gathered at the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 11 in Bronzeville to rally for their cause.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker emphasized the broader implications of this struggle, noting, “This fight is about ensuring fairness and dignity for working families. You play a crucial role in delivering vital services, from social security checks and prescriptions to ballots and personal letters. Your work keeps our nation connected, and we simply cannot do without you.”

“COVID, we learned a lesson that there are a few people in tough, tough times that we can count on day in and day out and one of those persons is your letter carrier,” Illinois U.S. Senator Dick Durbin said.

Union leaders say they are demanding higher pay and better working conditions. This also comes as the Trump administration has suggested privatizing USPS.

“With my 32 years in the Postal Service it has always been talks about it, but that’s something we don’t want,” Foster said. “This is a service for the American people. It is in the Constitution, and we want to keep it that way.”