Rolf Boone

By Rolf Boone

THE OLYMPIAN

OLYMPIA - Problems with the U.S. Postal Service's consolidation plan for South Sound mail were raised by postal workers Thursday during a one-day informational picket.

The picket was part of a nationwide effort organized by the American Postal Workers Union, including the Olympia local.

As a result of the consolidation plan here, letters and postcards that start with a ZIP code of 985 are sent from Tumwater to Tacoma to be postmarked before returning to South Sound for delivery.

But because the Tacoma mail plant can't handle the additional mail capacity, mail will be postmarked in Tumwater for three weeks starting in November.

"It shows that Tacoma can't handle it," said retired postal worker Fred Porter, who took part in the one-day informational picket in front of the Olympia post office Thursday.

Porter, a past president of the local, was joined at the picket by Mike Arnett, the current vice president of the local.

Though as many as 25 people were expected for the picket, only the two of them were there for most of Thursday, Porter said.

Tacoma mail plant

Both said that first-class stamped mail will b e postmarked in Tumwater from Nov. 6 to Nov. 28.

"Tacoma is not able to handle all the canceled mail and as much as 50 percent is going to Seattle," Arnett said.

Postal Service spokesman Ernie Swanson confirmed that mail will be postmarked in Tumwater in November until the Tacoma mail plant upgrades its mail capacity.

He added, though, that changes to the Tacoma mail plant were planned before the Tumwater to Tacoma mail consolidation began.

Swanson also said that when there is an equipment problem or when mail volumes spike, mail has been sent to Seattle to be processed.

He also confirmed that the postal union had scheduled a nationwide picket.

"They have to be off the clock to participate, but as long as it is orderly and they don't bother post office customers, they are free to do that," he said.

Post office customer Dave Warren of Boston Harbor said it was sad to see the state capital lose its postmark, though he added he has seen no change in his mail service.

"Good planning," Warren said derisively after he heard that mail would be processed here in November.

Last November, the Postal Service announced plans to consolidate mail to Tacoma to respond to declining mail volumes and a need to cut costs.

The state capital also lost its own postmark to a joint "Tacoma-Olympia" postmark.