Battles of the bulk: The conflict between management, unions, and workers of the United States Postal Service Bulk Mailing Center, Jersey City, New Jersey (1973--1980)

The Bulk Mailing Center in Jersey City, the largest mail facility in the world, was the site of some of the sharpest labor struggles in recent times. This study examines the events and participants in the rank-and file movement there from 1973-1980 and demonstrates that there was a significant resurgence in rank and file union militancy during the 1970's in the post office and in a number of other industries that marked the confluence of many social, political, and economic forces, including radical politics, deindustrialization and the structure of the American labor movement. The availability and value of both secondary literature and primary source research materials relating to the postal workers and other rank-and file movements in the 1970's are assessed. Future research questions are raised and initial speculative theories on the postal and other worker insurgencies of the 1970's are offered based the primary and secondary sources uncovered.