Postal Service Continues Plans to Close AMCs
March 23, 2007
As part of an ongoing effort to outsource postal work, the USPS recently outlined management’s continuing plans to eliminate Air Mail Centers across the country. Two letters to the APWU provide additional details about plans management announced over the summer.
In a letter dated March 14, 2007, the USPS notified the APWU that management will continue to consider outsourcing operations at 14 of 43 facilities management identified in July 2006. “This decision continues a disturbing trend of replacing good-paying union jobs with low-wage non-union workers,” APWU President William Burrus said.
A previous notice, dated Jan. 26, reported that — as a result of union input — work at the other facilities would not be outsourced; however the centers will close nonetheless.
The Postal Service also notified the union that it plans to “terminate the tender and receipt of air mail operations” at 16 additional AMCs. They are:
Albany, NY (ALB)
Rochester, NY (ROC)
Austin, TX (AUS)
Syracuse, NY (SYR)
Buffalo, NY (BUF)
San Jose, CA (SJC)
El Paso, TX (ELP)
Santa Ana, CA (SNA)
Fort Myers, FL (RSW)
Sacramento, CA (SMF)
Jackson, MS (JAN)
Spokane, WA (GEG)
Little Rock, AR (LIT)
Tucson, AZ (TUS)
Pensacola, FL (PNS)
West Palm Beach, (FL) (PBI)
In July 2006, APWU President William Burrus denounced Postal Service plans to subcontract work currently performed by bargaining unit employees. [APWU News Bulletin #7-06] “This ill-advised adventure would privatize an important and sensitive sector of the United States Postal Service, slashing the postal workforce and jeopardizing security and service to ordinary citizens,” he said.
Since then the APWU has met with management representatives and provided input regarding the plans to outsource and close the facilities. Meetings are continuing regarding both the potential outsourcing and the closing of facilities. The union will provide updated information as it becomes available.
Article 12 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement requires management to provide advance notice to the APWU of facility closings at the national, regional and local level. Advance notice to affected employees is also required. The Postal Service letter states that the required Article 12 impact information is still being developed and when it is available it will be shared with the APWU.
The union is also contesting management’s decision in August 2005 to subcontract work at the Boston AMC as well as its November 2005 plans to subcontract work at six other AMCs: Grand Rapids, MI; Kansas City, MO; Phoenix; Pittsburgh; St. Louis; and Miami.
The majority of workers affected by the closing of AMCs will be Mail Handlers, but some Clerks also will be reassigned.
As additional information and decisions about the fate of various AMCs becomes available, APWU will provide updates.
There are 79 Air Mail Centers in the USPS network of 672 facilities.