WASHINGTON - The National Association of Letter Carriers union today mourned the death of Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, D-MA, who had championed many causes critical to letter carriers and all working men and women throughout his career.

The 300,000 members of our union, and indeed all postal employees, have lost a dedicated champion of workers’ rights,” said NALC President Fredric V. Rolando. 

“Throughout his Senate career, Senator Kennedy was at the forefront in working with our union on many of the critical issues important not only to postal employees, but to the U.S. Postal Service itself,” Rolando said.  “These included advancing budgetary legislation that facilitated an efficient, universal postal system to serve all Americans, and also ensuring that postal employees received wages, benefits and a workplace environment that they deserved.” 

Rolando also praised Kennedy’s role in winning Hatch Act reforms that allowed all federal and postal employees a greater role in the nation’s political process.