Bill’s Author Can’t Change the Facts: Postal ‘Reform’ Created the USPS’ Financial Plight

APWU President Bill Burrus takes aim at the author of the Postal Accountability Enhancement Act (PAEA), Republican Senator Susan Collins (ME), for her most recent masterpiece; a letter to the editor of the Washington Post defending the 2006 legislation.



Bill’s Author Can’t Change the Facts: Postal ‘Reform’ Created the USPS’ Financial Plight

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Senator Sherrod Brown Calls For OIG Investigative Review of Lima AMP Study

WASHINGTON, Feb. 18 — The office of Sen. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio, has issued the following news release:
U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown called for an investigation on the effects of a proposed consolidation of U.S. Postal Service facilities in Lima, Ohio.  In a letter sent this week to David C. Williams, the Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS), Brown requested more information on the Area Mail Processing (AMP) Study that is being conducted in the Lima area.

“I remain concerned that USPS simply cannot maintain an adequate level of service if the consolidations occur, which would only serve to reduce the use of USPS in Ohio,” Brown wrote in a letter to Williams.  “In addition to a degraded level of service, this consolidation could displace many workers and their families. Not only could many Postal Workers be forced to move great distances to preserve their jobs, but they would leave a social and economic void in the communities from which they have been uprooted.”

AMP studies investigate the potential to streamline USPS services by consolidating service locations.  Brown previously requested data on the effect of an AMP decision.  He wrote to the Inspector General to formally request that data, and express concern over the effect of an AMP decision on Lima families.

Full text of the letter appears below:
February 16, 2010

Inspector General David C. Williams
United States Postal Service
1735 N. Lynn St.
Arlington, VA 22209-2020

Dear Inspector General Williams:

I am writing in regard to the ongoing Area Mail Processing (AMP) Study in Lima, Ohio.

Over the past four months, I have raised a number of issues with the United States Postal Service (USPS) in Ohio about the proposed consolidation of USPS facilities in Lima. I remain concerned that USPS simply cannot maintain an adequate level of service if the consolidations occur, which would only serve to reduce the use of USPS in Ohio. In addition to a degraded level of service, this consolidation could displace many workers and their families. Not only could many Postal Workers be forced to move great distances to preserve their jobs, but they would leave a social and economic void in the communities from which they have been uprooted.

I have asked the Ohio USPS for data and analysis that would shed light on the impact of the consolidations, and have received neither. I am therefore formally requesting the United States Postal Service Office of the Inspector General conduct an audit of the AMP study in Lima, Ohio.


Please review this request and provide me with your comments. If you wish to discuss this request, please contact me or Patrick Jackson from my staff at (202) 224-2315.

Thank you for your attention to this request.

Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator

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Union Veterans Information Day

On April 14, 2010 the Ohio AFL-CIO and the Union Veterans Council will hold a "Union Veterans Information Day" at the Plumbers & Pipefitters Hall in Columbus. All active and retired union military veterans are encouraged to attend.
The event kicks off the State Federation's efforts to have an active union veterans program and will provide information on benefits and services that may be available to military veterans and their families.
The OPWU is involved with establishing the union veterans program within the Ohio AFL-CIO. It is important that locals send someone to this event so you can learn what is available for your local union veterans.
If you know a union veteran, please provide them with this information.
The Plumbers & Pipefitters Union Hall is located at 1250 Kinnear Road, Columbus, Ohio 43212. Lunch will be provided. The event runs from 10:00-3:00 PM.
If you have any questions, please contact Jeanette Mauk, Field Director, Ohio AFL-CIO at 614-224-8271, ext. 7144.

A Letter Of Rebuttal from OPWU President Terry Grant

Ohio Postal Workers Union President Terry Grant issued this letter to members shortly after PMG Potter's message to Postal Employees was posted on The USPS website. A link to Potter's message is provided below.

Dear Sister/Brother:

Today PMG Potter delivered a message to postal employees and the public envisioning America's future postal service. His message can be viewed on the USPS/news/link. Every postal employee should watch this message. Mr. Potter talks about how much he appreciates the work of postal employees and how much that work means to our customers. But then he outlines the "plan for the future" and it contains:

1. Asking Congress to restructure payments required for retiree health care benefits and changing the law to keep from overpaying into Postal Service Civil Service Retirement
2. Change the delivery frequency to five days
3. Want more flexibility to managing our traditional retail network so that they can expand access and help customers to more business through existing and new channels & retail partners
4. New pricing flexibility
5. Increased employee flexibility
6. Assure that legal and regulatory processes enable these changes

So, what does all this mean? Well, we certainly support changing the required amount of payment for retiree health care benefits and the lowering of payment for Civil Service Retirement . But, five day delivery means changes in work hours, jobs, and days off. Flexibility in managing the retail network means more contracting out and less window service work. Increased employee flexibility means more part-time less full-time and more lower wage workers (like casuals). We cannot agree with those things.We have never negotiated for a new contract under such postal service & economic frailty. This will be the most difficult bargaining situation ever faced.

Terry Grant, President OPWU

PMG Potter's message to Postal Employees