KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — It's peak season for the United States Postal Service and other mail carriers across the U.S. Around the holidays the volume of mail traveling through postal services dramatically increases, taxing workers.
"Please be, you know, sympathetic to the postal carriers," said Matt Haggerd, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers 419 union.
Those carriers often work far past their scheduled hours, making sure packages and envelopes arrive at their destinations. Most work long hours trying to meet the demands of the increase in the volume of mail.
"This is going to be for the next two or three weeks, that we're working 17 hours a day," said Haggerd.
As the volume of mail going through USPS increases, some concerns about delays have increased as well. Congressman Chuck Fleischmann (R - TN) posted on social media about possible delays. He emphasized that plans were in place to make sure possible delays wouldn't affect the delivery of medicine to veterans.
"We're coming out from 5:30 in the morning until 11:30 at night, so be aware that we might be on your property. Please don't overreact in that situation," said Haggerd. "Those people that are out there after 12 hours or whatever. They're there because they want to be there. They want to deliver the mail, they know this is the time of the year that everybody wants delivery."
Concerns about delays could also stem from staffing shortages that have persisted ever since the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Some leaders said they are still trying to find a solution to those shortages.
"The reality is, ever since the pandemic hit, our staffing issues have been the same for the last four years," said Haggerd. "I don't have the solution. I wish I had the solution for you."
Concerns about post office delays come as the future of the Knoxville Processing and Distribution Center remains in limbo. The postal service wants to hear from the public about the plan through Dec. 15, through its survey.