Valley postal workers race to keep up with major spike in demand for Amazon deliveries
At the post office on Corporate Centre Drive in La Quinta, it was flurry of activity once again Monday morning as postal workers sorted and loaded up mail and packages for delivery.
Most of the packages came from Amazon.
“These trucks are 30 years old. They weren’t equipped to handle so much packages,” said mail carrier Rafael Fernandez.
It was an extremely busy scene Easter Sunday at the post office as Supervisor Christina Martinez worked to rally the troops as they handled 10 thousand packages, which is twice the amount they process on a single day during the holiday season.
“You know they try to come with a good attitude but sometimes it can be a little stressful coming here all day when they would rather be home with their families,” said Post Master Claudia Robledo.
Managers and the mail carrier we spoke with say handling such big loads right now while also trying to protect themselves and their customers during the pandemic is difficult and stressful.
Those we spoke with say they’re doing the best they can.
The supervisor says with so many places around the valley closed, the postal workers are having a hard time finding places to take bathroom breaks while making their deliveries.
We’re told no one at this facility has tested positive for coronavirus, and the supervisor says masks and gloves are being provided to employees, who in many cases are working 10 to 12 hour days.
They’re also being directed to stay home if they are sick or if they have a family member who is ill.
Customers we spoke with appreciate their efforts.
“They’re just doing a fantastic job, I don’t know what else to say,” said La Quinta resident Karin Feskens.
Other measures to protect employees and customers include washing trucks and public counter areas with water and bleach.
Trucks are treated each morning.
The counters are treated every 15 minutes.
Plastic partitions are also in place at the main counter.
“Snow, rain, heat, virus, we just keep going,” said Fernandez.
U.S. Postal Service District spokesman John Hyatt would not confirm whether any employee at any Coachella Valley area post office has tested positive for coronavirus, citing privacy concerns.
“We are strongly encouraging all of our employees to follow CDC’s recommendations. We also are continuing to provide face masks if employees request them, and allowing employees to use their own personal cloth face coverings while on duty if they prefer.
We also are encouraging our employees to adhere to social distancing guidelines (6 feet) whenever possible while on delivery routes, at retail counters, and within the postal workplace: in plants, on docks, and in lunch and break rooms,” said Hyatt.
Hyatt also tells News Channel 3 the U.S Postal Service is hiring.
Current job openings are listed on the U.S.P.S. website, and a link is provided below.
News Channel 3 was not able to find openings for mail carriers and customer service representatives at post offices in the Coachella Valley, but open jobs are listed in Moreno Valley, Riverside and San Bernardino.
