US postal workers side with communities over collaboration with ICE: "Don't be a snitch"

This episode of Working People dives deep into the struggles and resilience of United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carriers, spotlighting the daily realities of working in a public institution under constant threat of privatization and underfunding. Host Maximilian Alvarez speaks with Connor Mosch, a New York-based letter carrier and shop steward for the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC), who shares firsthand accounts of grueling work conditions, including extended hours, physically demanding routes, outdated vehicles, and the psychological toll of a job that has become increasingly hazardous due to rising violence and surveillance. Despite these challenges, Mosch emphasizes the irreplaceable role of postal workers as community anchors—delivering not just mail but vital human connection, safety checks, and emergency assistance. The conversation also exposes the systemic failures within USPS leadership, including mismanaged contract negotiations, bloated middle management, and the recurring tactic of threatening financial collapse to justify austerity. A powerful moment comes when Mosch recounts the tragic case of Nurul Amin Shah, a partially blind refugee who died after being abandoned by Border Patrol in a freezing, closed Tim Hortons—highlighting the deadly consequences of state overreach and the refusal of postal workers to collaborate with immigration enforcement. The episode concludes with a defiant call to defend the USPS as a cornerstone of democracy and community, arguing that its survival is not just about mail delivery, but about preserving public trust, equity, and human dignity in an increasingly isolated society.