The Postal Service has announced a five-month moratorium on the closure of post offices and mail processing facilities, in response to a request from 22 senators.

The delay until May 15, 2012, is intended to give Congress more time to adopt legislation that would address the USPS financial crisis without drastic cuts in service.

“This is a victory for the American people and for postal workers,” said APWU President Cliff Guffey. “It is a direct result of the protests by postal employees, small business owners and community leaders,” he said.

“But make no mistake: This is a temporary reprieve. Postal executives have made clear that they intend to proceed with studies and plans to close thousands of post offices and more than half of the nation’s mail processing centers.”

“We will have to remain vigilant,” the union president said. “APWU members must continue to contact their senators and representatives and urge them to pass legislation to correct the underlying cause of the USPS financial difficulties. Several bills are pending in the House and Senate, he noted. “Some would go a long way toward returning the Postal Service to stability and growth, and others would lead to disaster.”

APWU President Cliff Guffey praised the senators’ effort. “We have been very concerned that USPS management would implement irreversible changes before Congress has a chance to act,” he said. The union president encouraged union members to thank the senators that played such an important role in postponing the closures and consolidations. They are (alphabetically by state):