The United States Postal Service provides essential services, but its employees are at active risk during the COVID-19 outbreak, and many of our activities may also put customers at risk. The Postal Service must take immediate action to ensure the safety and rights of its workers, as well as the safety of its customers.

Employees who are at high risk (including those 65 or older, those with chronic long term illnesses, and those with compromised immune systems) or who live with and care for high risk individuals should be given leave with full pay for the duration of the pandemic. (For this purpose and others below, pay should be calculated based on average pay over the last twelve months.)

Emergency sick leave above and beyond normal accrued leave should be granted to all employees (including those, like Rural Carrier Associates, who have no contractual right to leave) in the event that they contract or are suspected to have contracted COVID-19; given the extreme shortage of tests, a doctor's note confirming that the employee displays symptoms and is advised to self-quarantine should suffice as proof.

Employees remaining at work must be granted hazard pay at time and a half the rate they would otherwise be paid.

Emergency protocols must be put in place to ensure the safety of employees and customers alike. Direct delivery should be suspended to nursing homes, assisted living facilities, clinics, and other locations where carriers may come into contact with vulnerable populations or with people who already have the virus.

New procedures must be implemented for all delivery and pick up situations that require employees to come into direct contact with customers or pass, e.g., a scanner or credit card back and forth. Procedures should allow employees and customers alike to avoid all such contact.

Basic supplies like gloves, sanitizer spray, and face masks should be available to employees at all stations and training on best safety practices should be provided at all stations.