Union asks for safety review after deaths of 4 metro Atlanta postal workers
The American Postal Workers Union wants an investigation of the emergency preparedness of a metro Atlanta distribution center since four workers have died on the job after it opened in 2024.
The workers all died after having medical emergencies at the Atlanta Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Palmetto. The union says the facility did not have trained emergency staff or a defibrillator.
“I’m sick of the excuses and if death is not enough to make you do right, then what is?” APWU President Jonathan Smith said during a news conference on Thursday. “These four lives will not die in vain. These four lives will be used to save other lives.”
The union says Sharon Barnes, Demarcus Little Sr., Russell Scruggs Jr. and Eric Smith all died while on the job. Records from the Fulton County Coroner’s office show Little, Scruggs and Smith all died from cardiovascular disease. Barnes did not have an autopsy report on file.
Little’s death in June prompted Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Ossoff to write a letter to Postmaster General David Steiner, raising concerns about cellphone service and poor working conditions. The union said it took emergency workers 18 minutes to arrive after security made the call. The union did not know how long it took security to learn of Little’s emergency.
The union has complained about poor cellphone service inside the facility, making it difficult for workers to make calls. Palmetto Mayor Teresa Thomas-Smith said emergency workers typically respond within five minutes of receiving a call.
“But if we don’t get the call, we can’t show up,” she said. “And if (employees) can’t get the signal, they can’t make the call.”
In a news release, the Postal Service said the health and safety of its 640,000 workers “is of paramount importance.” The agency said it has installed 27 emergency telephones at the facility that are programed to automatically dial 911 when picked up.
The agency also said 31 employees have received CPR training, while custodians are trained to handle spills and leaking packages. The agency also has updated evacuation routes and posted them throughout the facility.
“The four employee deaths at the RPDC have been determined to be from natural causes and not from workplace incidents,” the agency said in a news release. “Any occurrence of an employee’s passing is saddening to the Postal Service and we provide resources for employees.”
The distribution center was part of a massive reorganization at the Postal Service that was aimed at saving money while being more efficient. But the rollout has been plagued with problems, resulting in Georgia having some of the worst mail delivery times in the nation last year.
The APWU said it wants an independent safety investigation and improved emergency communications in the facility. They also want the Postal Service to purchase and install automated external defibrillators and make sure trained emergency workers are available on each shift.
The Postal Service denied the request for an investigation in a letter to the union, noting “these unfortunate employee deaths did not result from workplace safety issues.”
“The Postal Service takes safety seriously and has thoroughly reviewed these incidents,” Vice President of USPS Labor Relations Michael Elston wrote, adding that he would meet with the union in person to discuss its concerns.
