ALLEN PARK, Mich. – Fewer than 90 days before 36-year-old Nicholas John Acker was found dead in a mail-sorting machine at the USPS Detroit Network Distribution Center in Allen Park, a formal grievance had been filed warning that the very same machine was unsafe, Local 4 has learned.
Acker, an Air Force veteran and maintenance mechanic from Trenton, was discovered dead and trapped inside one of the facility’s mail-processing machines on Nov. 8. His body had reportedly been there for 6-8 hours before first responders arrived.
‘Just sick:’ Coworker, friend says safety issues long ignored
Postal maintenance mechanic Matthew Stiffler, a friend and coworker of Acker’s and American Postal Workers Union maintenance craft steward, said he helped remove Acker’s body from the machine.
“I just lost it,” Stiffler said when he found out. “I actually threw up immediately and finished getting ready and went right to work.”
He said he later became physically ill again when he learned how long Acker’s body had gone unnoticed — and when he recalled the repeated warnings that had gone unaddressed.
“They don’t wanna shut down the machines for anything,” he said.
Stiffler described a facility where safety protocols “are not followed,” where machines from the 1970s struggle with modern packaging, and a place where new management “pressures workers” to push production at the expense of safety.
“The general culture at work is the mail must move at all costs,” he said. “It feels like our mail has increased. We’ve lost staffing pretty significantly.”
Stiffler said he and others have felt unsafe for months.
“I shouldn’t have to be scared to go to work and make a living for my family,” he said.
He believes Acker’s death “absolutely” could have been prevented.
Machine had prior safety grievance
Rep. Debbie Dingell (D-MI 6th District), who told Local 4 she has monitored the facility “for years,” said she immediately suspected something was wrong when she learned of Acker’s death. She told Local 4 that the machine involved had been the subject of a safety grievance fewer than 90 days earlier.
“My initial gut — when I first heard this story — was something’s not right,” Dingell said. “And the union informed me that they had filed a grievance on this exact machine and safety procedures less than 90 days ago.”
Dingell and Rep. Rashida Tlaib sent a letter last week to the Postmaster General demanding answers. She said OSHA is now handling the investigation.
“Why was the machine not stopped? Why was someone not looking for him? He did not sign out. Why was his card signed out?” Dingell said. “There are very serious issues that people need to be held accountable for. We need to get the facts,” Dingell said.
Sen. Gary Peters also released a statement that read in part:
“I’m saddened to learn about the tragic passing of Nicholas Acker… as Ranking Member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, which oversees the Postal Service, I will continue to stay in touch with local law enforcement and USPS officials as the investigation proceeds, and I’m going to push for more information on what happened. I will always fight to ensure that every worker has safe working conditions."
Se. Gary Peters
‘Toxic,’ ‘unsafe’ workplace
Stiffler also described a “toxic” environment in which management allegedly discourages shutting down machines even for lockout procedures during repairs.
“We have protocols set into place and most of those protocols are not followed,” Stiffler said. “I think safety takes the backseat and it has for quite some time.”
Stiffler also said management has been threatening workers with discipline for attending Acker’s funeral.
“People took time off to deal with this, and he’s, like, threatening discipline and saying that we were AWOL,” he said. “It’s a problem.”
He said the plant manager ordered mail processing to continue in another part of the building even while Acker’s body was still there, and after informing coworkers of their rights, Stiffler said he was kicked out of the plant.
“I don’t trust the man that’s running our establishment,” he said. “He didn’t want the mail to stop at all.”
Acker’s fiancée criticized an initial statement from USPS, calling it ‘gross.’ The statement read in part: “Our thoughts and prayers are with his family. The NDC is fully operational at this time.”
“‘The mail’s still moving’? Gross,” Stephanie Jaszcz said. “‘Sorry about the loss, but the mail’s still moving.’… A man gone. A veteran. A husband. A human being. And all you can think of is mail keeps moving? Inhumane. It’s gross.”
Jaszcz said she and Acker’s family are still trying to learn how Acker got into the machine, how long he was there, why, and when, among other questions.
USPS provided this statement to Local 4 on Monday, Nov. 17, 2025:
“The Postal Service is deeply saddened by the loss of life suffered recently involving our postal employee. Our thoughts are with his family, friends and colleagues at this time. This incident remains under investigation by OSHA, and the Postal Service is fully cooperating. We do not have any further comment at this time.”
USPS Statement
‘His death cannot be in vain’
Stiffler said he knows speaking publicly could put him at risk professionally, but said he won’t — he “can’t” stay silent.
“Nick was a good man,” Stiffler said. “He deserves something good to happen and his death not to be in vain.”
OSHA told Local 4 its investigation is ongoing.
“OSHA has six months to complete this investigation. During that time, no additional information will be provided.”
The Investigators on Local 4 will continue to press for answers.