USPS Plans to Implement Consolidations As Soon As Moratorium Ends

In a meeting with the APWU on Feb. 13, postal officials notified the APWU that they plan to begin consolidating mail processing facilities as soon as the moratorium on consolidations ends. The moratorium is set to expire on May 15.

Top-level postal managers were unable – or unwilling – to specify which mail processing centers would be closed immediately. Decisions will be made at the end of February, they said.

At the conclusion of the process, approximately 200 of the 461 mail processing centers will remain, the postal officials reported.

Not Waiting for PRC, Congress
The notification to the union is significant because it indicates the Postal Service does not intend to await an advisory opinion by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on the effect of changes in service standards necessitated by the massive elimination of mail processing centers. When the USPS intends to implement changes that will have a “substantially nationwide impact on service” it must seek an advisory opinion from the PRC. The PRC is expected to render its opinion in August.

Nor does the USPS intend to await action by Congress to address the Postal Service’s financial crisis. The Postal Service agreed to a six-month moratorium on consolidations in December, in response to a request from 22 senators. The senators sought the delay in an effort to avert drastic reductions in service to the American people while Congress considers postal reform legislation.

The USPS is required to notify the union at the national level at least 90 days in advance when “a major relocation of employees is planned in major metropolitan areas or due to the implementation of national postal mail networks.” In accordance with Article 12.4.B of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, the Postal Service must meet with the APWU to “fully advise the Union how it intends to implement the plan.”

Destruction of Network, Jobs
APWU President Cliff Guffey condemned the USPS decision. “We are outraged that the Postal Service intends to forge ahead with the destruction of the mail processing network,” he said. “The USPS is breaking faith with members of Congress, postal unions, mailers and the American people.

At the meeting, USPS officials said network realignment would continue through 2015, but that information was not included in written material they provided to the APWU.

Postal officials said that as a result of the consolidations, approximately 35,000 jobs will be eliminated in the crafts represented by the APWU, including more than 13,800 Clerks, close to 7,000 Maintenance Craft employees, and more than 1,100 Motor Vehicle Craft employees.

Workers, Customers, Legislators
The USPS announced on Sept. 14, 2011, that it would consider consolidating 252 mail processing centers. One week later, the USPS filed a notice in the Federal Register announcing that as a result of the planned consolidations, it would have to degrade delivery standards. At the meeting, postal officials said they would publish the “final rule” changing delivery standards in mid-April.

In the months that followed the USPS consolidation announcement, APWU members, businesspeople and community residents packed public meetings and voiced stiff opposition to the closure of mail processing facilities.

“This announcement makes it all the more important that APWU members reach out to their senators to let them know that S. 1789 should be amended,” said Guffey.

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28 thoughts on “USPS Plans to Implement Consolidations As Soon As Moratorium Ends

  1. More jobless Americans making your day weeny?

    Patrick Donahoe and Evercore and Issa/Ross and the rest of you Tea Partier weenys could be Big stars on America Greed, Scams scoundrels and scandels.

    Degrade delivery standards. Guess it fits in with Americas degrade living standards.

  2. it is all about the dollar in the pocket of pmg and repubs like issa and thier backers.
    donaho said he would not do the job with out the bonus, so heshould not have the job, he makes 400k a year plus bennifit and a 400k bonus. issa will line his pockets and the pockets of his backers ath the expense of the american public.
    the government has used us as a cash cow for years and spent the money or put it in thier back pockets, now we need to fire them all, we need to get politicaly active and replace the people like issa , that means community envolvement all accross the nation by not onluy us but our families and friends

  3. Okay Congress, what are you going to do about the latest Postal Service Idiotic Postmasters general Donahoe statement and decision to immediately close 200 facilities after May 15, 2012! Are you’ll and the President of the United State just going to sit back and let this one crazy man make a stupid decison to dismantle the mail delivery service to all americans? Secondly, does he have the authority to make this decison without first getting the okay from the PRC committee? If not, something needs to be done by congress to stop it. Sen. B. Sanders, Susan Collins, Barney Frank, John Lynch, DeFazzio, Pres. Obama, we need you now, to help save this country from losing its very important mail service. This move will be detrimemtal to this country! Stop it now! Hundreds of thousands of jobs would be ruined also!

  4. Yeah, thats the way to go, USPS!!!!
    Let’s show who is in control not those in the SENATE or the UNIONS!!!!….Being a Tea Partier, I am happy to see that Patrick Donahoe and Evercore have finally decided to continue to close these facilities immediately after the moratorium!!!

  5. Democrats are really screwing over the Postal Workers who elect them. Obama will sign on with Don-a-Ho to bring home the Hope and Change at the USPS.

  6. The way I read the bill a csrs employee can only add 1 year to his service time not 3.2. Please correct me I’m wrong.

  7. Common cents should be used by usps staph managers that other than plant closings many areas have small community post officies within a 10 mile radius of large offices. These small offices served a purpose needed 50 years ago but is no longer necessary as the farm communities are now
    suburban areas of larger towns,
    These offices are not i office in a small town but surrounding offices of a larger county seat city. Face reality the need for so many small offices in growth surban areas is a past has been and no longer serves any purpose other than to create a cost for a has been expired need. Postmasters groups oppose any elimination of costly waste as eliminating waste would cost their group membership dues used for agenda to maintain dues to oppose what is best for American mailing public.

  8. In Massachusetts consolidations coming. Town meetings held
    after decisions already made. Playing public for suckers.
    Donahoe & mgmt. touting layoffs, reduction in workforcee,
    but PSE job ads in paper(s) all the time!! All positions except
    supervisory!?
    Are they talking job reduction or pay reduction?? Still don’t
    understand why unions will allow 204b’s to revert to craft if their
    job is cut. They usually are employees who did not or could not
    cut the mustard. Made their choice, at the least they should re-start
    as subs.

  9. RIF is the best thing there is.Waaaaaaay better than any early out.With RIF there is no penalty for age or years, AND you get severance pay of about 1 year’s salary.

  10. USPS Plans to Implement Consolidations As Soon As Moratorium Ends
    Top-level postal managers were unable – or unwilling – to specify which mail processing centers would be closed immediately. Decisions will be made at the end of February, they said.
    Postal officials said that as a result of the consolidations, approximately 83,000 jobs will be eliminated in the crafts represented by the APWU, including more than 63,800 Clerks, close to 9,000 Maintenance Craft employees, and more than 1,800 Motor Vehicle Craft employees.
    GOOGLE……….U.S. SENATE………Choose your “SENATOR HOME” State. Look for the area in which to write and send your comment.  
    I wrote ” I work for the U.S.P.S. and I do not oppose S1789 in it’s current form”. This bill offers three types of incentives not to be combined.  
    1. 25,000 cash.  
    2. 3 years added on to your FERS retirement  
    3. 2 years added on to your CSRS retirement.  
    “This announcement makes it all the more important that APWU members reach out to their senators to let them know that S. 1789 as amended,” must be passed now said Guffey.
    Call Your Senators:
    202-224-3121
    (Capitol Switchboard)
    [Click here for direct #s]
    Tell them you Support 
    S. 1789
    The U.S. Senate soon will likely debate the 21st Century Postal Reform Act (S. 1789), bill designed to ‘save” the U.S. Postal Service by offering Early Retirement Incentives.
    As president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, I understand the budgetary and market challenges facing the USPS. However, these issues don’t result from an outdated organization.
    S. 1789 should not be dramatically restructured, it will save America’s postal network. It will assure the survival of a venerable institution based on the Constitution, Instead of enacting shortsighted, destructive policies, Congress should approve this bill ,S.1789.
    Fredric V. Rolando is the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers
    NAPUS will continue to work with Senate allies to pass S. 1789, and ensure that the measure will garner the requisite votes for passage.

  11. I can’t believe this guy. Donahue sounds desperate. Typical postal mgnt tactic . Test how far you can push people . Sounds like the postal bunker mentality to me. Pat Hitler Donahue. I can’t have it my way so I’ll destroy the service. What an ignorant fool.

  12. The true reason behind these absurd changes in the postal service is PRIVATIZATION . I have worked in the PO for 30 years and they have been trying to dothis for almost 20. It starts with the consolidation of routes and it will end with an all part-time no union no benefits workforce that will ultimately lead to a postal service that will fail under the guise of profit hungry carpetbaggers who sell off to wannabee millionaires who will ultimately fail and require a government takeover. Because we all know guys like Darrel Issa and PMG Donahoe are only in it for the almighty dollar.I urge all postal employees and federal employees for that matter call your congressman and senators to oppose any legislation that will destroy an American institution YOUR POST OFFICE !!!!

  13. The younger generation just don’t use the post office. People under the age of 40 do everything on-line. That’s my observation. I work at the post office and hate that we could lose a great job. But, we can’t force the younger generation to all of sudden start using the post ofice. That’s just my opinion.

  14. HIRE ME! I’LL sub out my dirty work to Vito Grisgiolio de second.
    For starters, DonAwhore will find a horse head in his bed.
    Then, me and my sisters will have him lick stamps all day till he changes his mind.

    THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH ACT

    SETTLE DOWN DONNY, YOU MOVE TOO FAST. WHAT MOTIVATES YOU?
    WHY ARE YOU SO WORRIED ABOUT PLEASING THOSE FAT CATS?
    IF YOU WERE NOT SO FAR AWAY, I’D kick you in the nuts myself, wake up!

  15. Wonder what the 261 hatchet jobs have been doing all this time . No doubt the problem is that these experts don’t know either , but won’t be long finding out when mail is backlogged and stacked here there and YONDER !

  16. Donowhore has the full support of the Republican leadership. He will continue to dismantle the USPS, modify delivery standards to the detriment of the American Public, the business community and the USPS itself in addition to RIFing thousands of Postal Emplyees with his BOGUS CONSOLIDATION EFFORTS.

    All that on top of THE LATEST RAPE OF FEDERAL WORKERS….the passage of the “Secure Annuity Act” which does nothing of the kind except screw you for more money for a lower pension.

    Poor Joe Watutsi….he’ll now be paying more for less of a benefit when he gets RIFed….the positive outcome will be that when you are RIFed, you get the severance package of up to 25K when the door hits you in the fanny on the way out.
    UNLESS the Issa/Ross Bill is passed untouched….
    And then the PMG can do whatever he wants because Congress gives him the power to cancel union contracts, ignore OPM rules and the rest of list of “tools” the PMG requested.

  17. Patrick Donahoe is invincible, he is as a God, for no one can stop him, the CIA, FBI, National Security Agency, the President, Congress, even Issa and Ross, PMG is God, he can do what he pleases.

  18. Call Your Senators:
    202-224-3121
    (Capitol Switchboard)
    [Click here for direct #s]
    Tell them you Support 
    S. 1789
    The U.S. Senate soon will likely debate the 21st Century Postal Reform Act (S. 1789), bill designed to ‘save” the U.S. Postal Service by offering Early Retirement Incentives.
    As president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, I understand the budgetary and market challenges facing the USPS. However, these issues don’t result from an outdated organization. Despite the economic problems our country has confronted for the last several years, the Postal Service has done quite well. In fiscal years 2007-10, it had an operational profit of $611 million delivering the mail, and customer satisfaction and on-time delivery are at record highs.
    S. 1789 should not be dramatically restructured, it will save America’s postal network. Rather, it will assure the survival of a venerable institution based on the Constitution, and not upset the livelihoods of the people, communities and businesses throughout Missouri and the United States that depend on a strong, reliable service. Instead of enacting shortsighted, destructive policies, Congress should approve this bill ,S.1789.
    Fredric V. Rolando is the president of the National Association of Letter Carriers

  19. donahoe’s arrogant and ignorant dissing of the
    PRC may actually turn into a positive for the apwu and
    postal workers. i believe this attitude from donahoe
    will force congress to act sooner rather than later. i believe donahoe’s
    attempt to “rush” through his suicide plan before the congress or the public
    actually has any time to investigate it will come back to bite him in the ass.
    if donahoe’s plan to consolidate is implemented there is no doubt
    that the u s postal service’s losses will INCREASE AT AN ALARMING RATE AS DONAHOE’S SERVICE CUTTING STUPIDITY DRIVES AWAY CUSTOMERS IN DROVES. if congress dosen’t act to stop donahoe’s “transformation fiasco” the usps is doomed to oblivion.

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