Sen. Bernie Sanders sent a letter to Postmaster General Megan Brennan after reading news reports about postal employees being urged to continue working while showing symptoms of COVID-19 illness. Workers also reported having to work without appropriate personal protective equipment such as hand sanitizer.
“It is not an exaggeration to say that our men and women in the Postal Service, who were already performing one of the most important jobs in America, are now literally putting their own lives on the line to deliver the food, medicine, and essential supplies,” Sanders said. “The Postal Service leadership must do everything in its power to protect these heroes by immediately distributing protective gear, implementing strong workplace safety policies, and making sick leave easily available.”
An investigation by the Nation published last week found that at least 85 postal workers were suspected of having the virus. Sanders’ letter urges responses by April 7 regarding concrete steps the United States Postal Service is taking to protect both its employees and customers from the spread of COVID-19.
— Sarah Asch
