Senators Want USPS To Explain Why So Many West Virginia Post Offices Targeted For Closure
Filed under: post office closings, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
West Virginia Senators Jay Rockefeller (D-W.Va.) and Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) react to USPS announcement of post office closings
WASHINGTON, D.C. – Senator Jay Rockefeller today released the following statement after the U.S. Postal Service announced it is studying the possibility of closing 150 post offices in West Virginia as part of a cost-cutting initiative.
“I am concerned about the impact these potential closings will have on post office customers, especially in rural communities. I want to be absolutely certain that rural states haven’t been unfairly targeted. If that’s the case, I’ll be pressing post office officials to look more closely at their criteria to make sure the process is fair. For example, West Virginia stands to lose more post offices than California. That’s a red flag for me. Rural communities must continue to have access to postal services.” Read more
Senator Snowe Urges USPS to Examine Impact of PO Closures on Rural Communities
Filed under: post office closings, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
WASHINGTON, D.C. (July 29, 2011) – U.S. Senator Olympia J. Snowe (R-Maine) is urging the United States Postal Service (USPS) to examine the potentially harmful effect possible post office consolidations and closures could have on rural communities. In a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahue following the release of a report by the USPS identifying 34 possible post office closures in Maine, Senator Snowe has requested the Postal Service examine potentially harmful consequences for rural communities at risk of losing their post offices and report back on their findings.
Senator Snowe said:
“There is no question that tumultuous economic times have forced families and businesses alike to make tough choices when it comes to their finances. However, the current financial challenges faced by the USPS should not preclude the preservation of universal postal service and convenient community access, which together constitute the bedrock of towns large and small across the nation. It is critical we carefully assess the potential impact of these proposed closures, especially as it relates to service in rural communities.”
In her letter to the Postmaster General today, Senator Snowe asserted, “While I understand the imperative to reduce costs, it is absolutely critical that your actions not tear at the fabric of island communities and rural towns and villages by denying them the reliable, affordable and convenient postal service currently provided.” A copy of the Senator’s letter to the Postmaster General is attached.
BACKGROUND: In an attempt to cut costs after reporting a $2.6 billion third quarter loss, the USPS believes it can save $200 million by closing 3,700 of its 32,000 post offices nationwide. According to the USPS, over 3,000 of the offices identified reported less than $27,500 in annual revenue.
Senator Casey Pushes for Transparency in Pennsylvania Post Office Closure Process
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
WASHINGTON, DC – (July 27, 2011) U.S. Senator Bob Casey (D-PA) today sent a letter to Patrick Donahoe, Postmaster General of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), pushing for more transparency in the process of considering post offices in Pennsylvania for closure. Earlier this week, the USPS announced it was considering closing 203 post offices in Pennsylvania.
“Unfortunately, many of my constituents feel as if the USPS has repeatedly dismissed public opinion associated with these closures,” wrote Senator Casey. “While I understand that the USPS needs to restructure, when citizens of Pennsylvania ask reasonable questions regarding this process, it is imperative that the USPS respond to these inquiries in a thorough manner.”
Senator Casey requested that the USPS submit a plan to ensure that public input is given the weight it deserves as facilities are considered for closure.
Senator Casey also expressed his commitment to working with the USPS to overcome the agency’s fiscal challenges while preserving the jobs and services on which Pennsylvanians depend.
The full text of Senator Casey’s letter is below.
Dear Mr. Donahoe:
I am writing today regarding the recent announcement that the United States Postal Service (USPS) is considering closing 203 post offices across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. I am well aware of the financial challenges facing the USPS and am committed to working with you to overcome these challenges while preserving jobs and services on which Pennsylvanians depend. However, I am concerned about the level of community engagement in this process.
As I have written in previous letters, I am not seeking to challenge the logic behind any particular proposed closure but rather to stress the importance of involving communities in these decisions. Unfortunately, many of my constituents feel as if the USPS has repeatedly dismissed public opinion associated with these closures. My office has been informed that communities have often asked the USPS to provide data to support assertions made regarding closures. It is my understanding that the USPS generally considers this information proprietary and has refused to release it publicly. This secrecy has caused a significant amount of frustration in affected communities. While I understand that the USPS needs to restructure, when citizens of Pennsylvania ask reasonable questions regarding this process, it is imperative that the USPS respond to these inquiries in a thorough manner.
As the USPS considers which facilities to close, I ask that you please take into consideration the viewpoints of your customers. I also request that you submit to my office your plan to ensure that public input is given the weight it deserves.
Thank you for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Robert P. Casey, Jr.
United States Senator
Senator Tester Questions Why Postmaster General Gets $800,000 Salary
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
From the Office of Senator Jon Tester (D-Montana)
(U.S. SENATE) – U.S. Senator Jon Tester is demanding to know why the head of the U.S. Postal Service made $800,000 in total compensation while eliminating local Montana positions as the organization is dealing with a multi-billion-dollar shortfall.
Tester, during a Senate hearing on the nominations of Mark Acton and Robert Taub to the Postal Regulatory Commission, said that the salaries of top executives should be at the top of the list when cutting costs. Read more
APWU Vows to Fight to Keep Post Offices, Stations, and Branches Open
“The American Postal Workers Union will stand with our neighbors in demanding that post offices, stations, and branches remain open – and expand the services they offer – wherever they are needed,” APWU President Cliff Guffey said. The USPS announced July 26 that it plans to study 3,700 post offices, stations and branches for possible closure.
“Closing post offices and slashing service to the American people is not the answer to the Postal Service’s financial crisis,” Guffey said. “The USPS is well aware of the cause of its financial difficulties,” he added. “They cannot cut their way to fiscal health.”
“Congress created the crisis when it slapped the USPS with a $5.5 billion obligation that no other government agency or private company is forced to bear,” he said, referring to the requirement that the USPS pre-fund a 75-year retiree healthcare liability over a 10-year period.
“And Congress has refused – so far – to allow the USPS to apply billions of dollars in overpayments to its pension funds to the pre-funding requirement.”
“The federal government is forcing the Postal Service into bankruptcy by holding billions of dollars of USPS money,” Guffey added.
“Unfortunately, the USPS response is misguided. Closing post offices, stations, and branches will not save the Postal Service.”
The USPS plans to replace some of the offices with “Village Post Offices” – convenience stores that will sell stamps and flat-rate packaging – misses the mark, he said.
“In most cases, Village Post Offices will not be able to provide the American people with the service they expect and deserve,” Guffey said. “The so-called ‘Village Post Offices’ are just a warm and fuzzy name for privatizing the USPS.
PRC to Review USPS Plan For Closings Post Offices
The Commission is now considering a request from the Postal Service to prepare an Advisory Opinion on its plan to systematically review 3,653 postal offices for possible closure or consolidation. This is an important filing that may result in significant changes for the mailing public.
My fellow Commissioners and I will analyze the materials the Postal Service has presented in support of its request as soon as possible. We would also like to hear from the public, customers and stakeholders as we follow the due process procedures required by law.
I encourage everyone to review the information posted in Docket N2011-1, to follow the proceedings, and to contact us with their thoughts and comments.
The Postal Service must seek an Advisory Opinion whenever it contemplates a change in the nature of postal service. While Commission Advisory Opinions are not binding, to the extent that the potential changes are debated in public, the recommendations we make are often incorporated into the Postal Service’s final plans.
Please let us hear from you.
Ruth Y. Goldway
Chairman Read more
USPS Identifies First 100 Sites To Utilize Non-Traditional Assignments
From the American Postal Workers Union:
The Postal Service has provided the APWU with a list of the first 100 mail processing sites that will utilize Non-Traditional Full-Time (NTFT) duty assignments [PDF], as well as computer models showing proposed schedules for three of the sites: the Boston Processing and Distribution Center, the Central Mass P&DC, and the Delaware P&DC. Read more
Senator Susan Collins: Rural Post Offices not the cause of USPS financial crisis
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, usps
UPS Store In California Using Direct Mail Promotion To Capitalize On USPS Post Office Closure
USPS held a public meeting for Walnut Creek residents on April 18, 2011 to discuss its proposal to discontinue services at the downtown Station A. Now 3 1/2 months later USPS has announced that Station A is on the review list for possible closure under the Non Retail Access Optimization Initiative.
A newly opened UPS Store in downtown Walnut Creek, California is taking advantage of the possible post office closure of USPS downtown station. UPS sent out a flyer to Walnut Creek residents in an effort to capture customers for Post Office Boxes, shipping and other services from the possible closing of USPS station. The UPS store also passed out donuts as part of its reaching out to downtown businesses.
USPS Files Request for PRC Advisory Opinion on Post Office Closings
From National Association of Postmasters
This afternoon, the U.S. Postal Service formally requested the Postal Regulatory Commission to issue an advisory opinion on whether its Retail Access Optimization Initiative conforms with current law. The USPS request is referenced as PRC Docket Number N2011-1. You may view the actual USPS filing and supporting documents here.
In its request, the USPS advises the PRC that it is reviewing whether to continue to provide retail postal services at 3652 postal operated facilities, including 2825 Post Offices, 384 stations and branches, and 178 retail annexes. In addition, the USPS folded into the request 265 retail facilities that are already undergoing review. In its filing, the USPS states that “it is premature at this time to estimate” the number of facilities that it will propose to close as a result of its initiative.
The request for an Advisory Opinion is being made because implementation of the Post Office closing initiative could have a nationwide impact. As referenced in last week’s eNAPUS Legislative and Political Bulletin, the PRC will conduct hearings and issue an advisory opinion. The Bulletin also mentioned the timelines for a decision. Although the PRC opinion is advisory, the USPS may follow their regulator’s advice. NAPUS plans to be a full and active participant in the PRC’s proceedings on the Post Office closing initiative.
Presently, the specific facilities to be discontinued and, thus, the actual scope of the potential service changes cannot be estimated. No facility closure or service change resulting from this Initiative will be implemented before late December, 2011.3 Until definitive information to the contrary emerges, the Postal Service concedes the possibility that the scope of the changes in service resulting from this Initiative could be at least “substantially nationwide,” within the meaning of 39 U.S.C. § 3661(b). Accordingly, for the reasons explained here and in the accompanying testimony, the Postal Service requests that the Commission consider whether it has jurisdiction to review this matter under section 3661(c). Should that determination be in the affirmative, the Postal Service also requests that the Commission opine whether the nature of the service changes expected to result from the Retail Access Optimization Initiative would conform to applicable policies of Title 39, United States Code.