Understanding Postal Privatization: Myths vs. Facts from Restore Muscle and Joint & Restore Muscle and Joint (Kansas City & St. Louis)

At Restore Muscle and Joint in Kansas City and St. Louis, we treat a lot of postal workers. So we get a lot of questions about USPS privatization. Here is what is true and what is not.

MYTH: USPS loses billions of taxpayer dollars every year.

FACT: USPS pays for itself. It earns money through postage, products, and services. It does not run on tax dollars.

MYTH: USPS is outdated because letter mail is dropping.

FACT: Letter volume is down. But package volume is way up because of online shopping. USPS has changed with the times for 250 years. The Postal Reform Act of 2022 even opened the door to new services like postal banking.

MYTH: USPS should run like a private business.

FACT: USPS is a public service. It must deliver to every address in the U.S., including small towns. Even FedEx and UPS use USPS for last-mile delivery in places that are not profitable for them.

What Privatization Could Mean for Workers

This is the part that worries us most. Today, federal postal workers are covered by FECA and OWCP. That gives you:

• Zero out-of-pocket medical costs for accepted claims
• Continuation of Pay (COP) for up to 45 days after a sudden injury
• Wage-loss pay if you cannot return to full duty
• Vocational rehab for permanent injuries

If USPS goes private, you might be moved to a state workers' comp program. State plans usually pay less. They take longer. And they deny more claims.

What We Recommend

Whether or not privatization happens, every postal worker should:

1. Report injuries right away with a CA-1 or CA-2.
2. Pick an OWCP doctor who knows the federal forms.
3. Keep records of your duties, injuries, and visits.
4. Know your rights. Under FECA, you choose your own doctor.

We are here to help. Call 816-452-4488.