|
News Postal
problems
Saturday, October 28, 2006 3:41 PM
CDT
Concerns raised about possible consolidation with
Tyler post office
By AARON
BRAND
Texarkana Gazette
The local American Postal Workers Union president,
Booker Moss, is raising concerns about the potential for
some of the Texarkana Post Office’s work to be
consolidated into the Tyler, Texas, office.
Moss is concerned that consolidating the mail
processing work could lead to mail delivery delays,
particularly with mail sent from Texarkana to Texarkana
addresses.
“Our concerns are that the post office gave the
postal commission approximately 140 offices they want
consolidated and Texarkana is on the proposed list,”
Moss said about intentions of U.S. Postal Service
officials.
Moss provided the Gazette with a list of locations
that were noted as among the “Area Mail Processing
consolidation opportunities,” and Texarkana was
included.
He said if Texarkana was approved for consolidation,
the mail processing part of local post office operations
would be shipped to Tyler, where mail would be processed
and sorted and then shipped back to Texarkana for
delivery.
He said that could mean an extra day of delivery
time—perhaps longer if there are complications such as
automotive or mechanical failure.
“All of these are possibilities,” said Moss, who
helped stage an informational picket Friday morning at
both the Oaklawn and Downtown post offices.
However, a statement shared by local Postmaster Linda
Jones from McKinney Boyd, a U.S. Postal Service
spokesman for the Dallas District, disputes those
concerns.
“Members of the American Postal Workers Union have
the right to conduct informational pickets as long as
they’re done off the clock ... presently there are no
plans to consolidate any postal facilities in Texarkana,
Texas. In several locations in the United States, a
review is under way to consolidate postal operations,”
the statement reads. “No one will lose their job as a
result of a facility consolidation. This move is part of
our Transformation Plan, which requires us to become
more efficient.”
“Members of the American Postal Workers Union have
the right to conduct informational pickets as long as
they’re done off the clock ... presently there are no
plans to consolidate any postal facilities in Texarkana,
Texas. In several locations in the United States, a
review is under way to consolidate postal operations,”
the statement reads. “No one will lose their job as a
result of a facility consolidation. This move is part of
our Transformation Plan, which requires us to become
more efficient.”
According to the statement, a presidential commission
studied U.S. Postal Service operations and in keeping
with that commission’s recommendations, the
consolidation initiative is meant to provide more
efficient service to customers.
“As postal employees, we have a right to give our
customers the best service we can at the most affordable
rate. Finally, if and when these consolidations occur,
it will be a seamless transition,” the statements reads.
“There will be no disruption in service and customers
will be able to come to the post office and conduct
business as usual.”
Boyd, in a telephone interview, reiterated that
senior management has not been notified of Texarkana
being placed on a consolidation list. He said large
distribution centers are being reviewed for
consolidation.
An informational flier was handed out Friday at the
picket and encourages people to raise concerns with
local, state and national representatives in
government.
| 
