(WASHINGTON, D.C.) - The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) gathered with other Labor Leaders, including National AFL-CIO Secretary-Treasurer Fred Redmond, and Union Members across the Labor Movement in front of the U.S. Capitol to call on Congress to pass the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act.

The bipartisan legislation would provide resources to protect Postal Service Workers and review sentencing guidelines for violence against them in the wake of a rise in robberies and injuries.

According to an analysis of postal statistics, robberies grew sixfold over the past decade and the number of Postal Carriers held at gunpoint increased even more.

 These incidents are terrifying for Letter Carriers, in addition to being a threat to the security of important mail like Election Ballots, official documents and necessary prescriptions recipients that they rely on.

NALC President Brian Renfroe said: “There used to be (a) mindset among the public that those are Federal Employees.  If you mess with them, you’re going to be in big trouble.  That’s what we have to make a reality again.”

Earlier this month, the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act was introduced in the House by U.S. Representatives Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Greg Landsman (D-OH).

The legislation would provide $7 billion in funding for the Postal Service to secure its infrastructure, including the installation of high-security collection boxes and the replacement of items carried by Letter Carriers with more secure electronic versions.

The funding would be appropriated over five years, $1.4 billion annually in Fiscal Years 2025-2029.

When key infrastructure is devalued and more secure, Letter Carriers will be safer on their routes, NALC Officials said.

Additionally, the legislation would increase prosecution rates for these crimes by requiring the Attorney General to appoint an Assistant U.S. Attorney in each Judicial District to prioritize any case involving an assault or crime against a Letter Carrier.

Their principal responsibility in the district would be to coordinate and supervise the investigation and prosecution of these crimes.

The Bill would also strengthen sentencing guidelines for these crimes, ensuring they are treated in the same manner as assaults on Federal Law Enforcement Officers.

Since 2020, there have been more than 2,000 crimes committed against Letter Carriers on the job with any of these attacks involving a gun or another weapon.

Letter Carrier robberies climbed to 643 last year, an increase of nearly 30%, and the number of robberies resulting in injuries doubled, according to the United States Postal Inspection Service (USPIS).

For More On This Labor News Report, Go To: Protect Our Letter Carriers Act introduced in House | National Association of Letter Carriers AFL-CIO (nalc.org)