American Postal Workers Union President Mark Dimondstein says he hopes the end of the postal service privatization effort at Staples stores means better postal services for the public going forward. 
"We hope they've learned a lesson that these misguided schemes of doing postal services through private schemes where the issue is whether somebody can make a quick buck rather than providing service - that the post office will be much more open to work with the union and to work with the people of this country to bring them the kind of postal services they need.

We always want - the union wants - more access for the postal customer, new and improved and enhanced services.

That was never the issue with us. The issue is who's gonna deliver those services. And we insist that the public deserves those services to be delivered by postal employees."

That's because unless those services are available nationwide, including rural area where it's hard to turn a profit, the public won't get the service it deserves.

Dimondstein says strong solidarity around a Staples boycott was the key to the forcing an end to the Staples postal privatization deal.

"The 12 million member AF of L CIO had the solidarity. Staples was on the official boycott list.

Both huge teachers unions, the AFT and the NEA endorsed the boycott.

At the AFT convention a couple of years ago we had a rally and a demonstration where the president of the AFT - Randi Weingarten - spoke. They urged their members to stay away from Staples stores. Well when you're talking about teachers and office supplies that is huge."