Summary: The U.S. Postal Service is a vital institution. It is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation. Given how important the post office is to our economy and to our lives, why is it constantly in need of "saving"? We get a lesson from Mack Julion, a 20+ year letter carrier and postal union representative on the structure and restrictions of the postal service and Senator Kirsten Gillibrand joins us to discuss the proposal to return postal banking services.<br> <br> Our Guests<br> <br> Mack I. Julion began his career as a letter carrier in Chicago, IL, in 1997 and joined Chicago Branch 11. He served his branch as steward, sergeant-at-arms and branch auditor. In 2008, then-NALC President William H. Young appointed Julion to the post of regional administrative assistant (RAA) for Region 3. The next year, Branch 11 elected Julion as branch president. He was re-elected branch president by the members in 2012, 2015 and by acclamation in 2018. Julion is also an arbitration advocate and intervention specialist. NALC President Fredric Rolando appointed Julion as trustee in May 2018 to fill a vacancy before he was elected to the position later that year.<br> <br> Julion also is a member of the Chicago Federation of Labor’s Executive Board and delegate to the National Executive Board of the Coalition of Black Trade Unionists. In addition, Julion serves on Chicago Amalgamated Bank labor council, University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) Labor Advisory Board and the Chicago local advisory board for United Way Emergency Food and Shelter Programs.<br> <br> Senator Kirsten Gillibrand has been a leader in some of the toughest fights in Washington. She led the effort to repeal the “Don't Ask Don't Tell” policy that banned gays from serving openly in the military; she wrote the STOCK Act, which made it illegal for members of Congress to financially benefit from inside information; and she won the long fight to provide permanent health care and compensation to the 9/11 first responders and community survivors who are sick with diseases caused by the toxins at Ground Zero. Senator Gillibrand brought Democrats and Republicans together to win these legislative victories.<br> <br> Senator Gillibrand believes that accountability and transparency are essential to open and honest government. She was the first member of Congress ever to post her official daily meetings, earmarks, and personal financial disclosures online. She has introduced and sponsored S.2755 - Postal Banking Act.<br> <br> <br> <br> Reading List<br> <br> Coronavirus Is Threatening One of Government’s Steadiest Services: The Mail - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/09/us/politics/coronavirus-is-threatening-one-of-governments-steadiest-services-the-mail.html">link</a><br> <br> Trump Called the Postal Service a ‘Joke.’ I’m Trying to Save It. - <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/26/opinion/kirsten-gillibrand-usps-coronavirus.html">link</a><br> <br> Facts about the U.S. Postal Service - <a href="https://agrandalliance.org/the-facts/">link</a><br> <br> Postal Banking Act - <a href="https://www.congress.gov/bill/115th-congress/senate-bill/2755">link</a><br> <br> Delivering on Promises: How Advocates for Postal Banking Can Overcome Political Barriers - <a href="https://www.law.georgetown.edu/poverty-journal/blog/delivering-on-promises-how-advocates-for-postal-banking-can-overcome-political-barriers/">link</a><br> <br> Why the next big bank shouldn’t be the USPS - <a href="https://www.brookings.edu/research/why-the-next-big-bank-shouldnt-be-the-usps/">link</a>
