US postal union APWU is trying to delay the US Postal Service’s controversial closure of 229sorting facilities which is due to start on July 1 and be completed by 2014.
Under cost-saving network consolidation plans, USPS wants to close nearly half of its 461mail processing facilities across the country over the next three years. From July 1 onwards itwould consolidate 48 mail processing facilities and reduce overnight mail delivery, followed by 92more plants in early 2013. A further 89 facilities would be consolidated by the end of 2014.
But APWU officials told a hearing of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on June 7 that itwill file a complaint to stop the Postal Service from consolidating mail processing facilities andreducing service until after the PRC issues an advisory opinion on the plan.
Federal law requires the USPS to seek an advisory opinion from the PRC when it plans to makenationwide changes in service. According to the union, the commission expects to issue a formalopinion on the USPS modified plan by Labour Day, which is on Monday September 3 this year.
The APWU criticised the USPS’ evidence and information justifying the closures and theestimated cost savings. “Given the complete lack of analysis and evidence, there appears to be nojustification for management’s claims of an estimated $1.2 billion in savings from Phase I of theplan,” APWU counsel told the panel.
In May, in response to stiff opposition to a plan the USPS presented in October 2011, thePostal Service announced it would implement the consolidations over a two-year period. The USPSprojects savings of $1.2 billion per year during phase 1 and $2.1 billion after Phase 2, but thePostal Service cannot support the projected savings, the union noted at the hearing.
The APWU also insisted that the planned service cuts are unnecessary, and said the PostalService is underestimating the loss of revenue the change in service will cause.
“The Postal Service is attempting to make an end-run around the requirement to seek anopinion from the PRC before implementing a nationwide change in service,” APWU President CliffGuffey said. “This is a disservice to the American people, who rely on the USPS to deliver mail,medicine and packages in a timely manner.”
The commission is currently considering four separate USPS proposals to cut service,including its proposal to downgrade service standards and a proposal to reduce the hours atapproximately half of the nation’s retail offices.
