PRC Ruling: One More Week To Prove USPS is Violating Service Standards

In a ruling responding to a complaint filed by the APWU, the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) issued an order on Nov. 27 giving the APWU two weeks to submit additional evidence that the Postal Service is regularly violating its own mandatory service standards. (Order No. 182, Case No. C2013-10)

The APWU complaint alleges that the Postal Service’s failure to comply with its overnight delivery standards for first-class mail and periodicals is denying the APWU and its locals — as customers — as well as other mailers, the level of service required by USPS regulations.

The PRC Order requires the APWU to describe the violations and the evidence it intends to demand from the Postal Service to prove those violations “with greater specificity.”

APWU Executive Vice President Debby Szeredy called on locals to provide evidence of management’s failure to meet service standards. “Please send information as quickly as possible,” she said, “so that we can demonstrate the disastrous effect consolidation is having on mail service.”

In two other aspects of the case, the PRC Order dismissed for lack of evidence APWU claims that the Postal Service has implemented a new network plan without seeking PRC review and that the USPS is denying rural areas service that is being provided to more urban areas.