Fight Back Against Closures, Consolidations

(This article first appeared in the May-June 2015 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

APWU members across the country are fighting efforts by USPS management to close or consolidate 82 mail processing facilities this year.

Locals have been holding actions to spread the word about how the cuts would cause hardships for the public and small businesses, eliminate jobs, and destroy our public Postal Service.

Reaching Out

In California, the Redwood Empire Area Local has been fighting hard to prevent the closure of the North Bay processing plant. There have been newspaper articles, mass mailings, and two town hall meetings with Rep. Jared Huffman (R-CA). Another town hall meeting is planned for June. Multiple city councils have passed resolutions requesting that the plant remain open.

Members of Area Local 960 in Redding have set up tables at various events, including a farmer’s market, Civil War Days exhibition, and a home and garden show, where they gathered 22,000 signatures on a petition to stop the closure of the Churn Creek Road Main Branch. Several reports have aired on television news shows, newspaper editorials and articles have been published, and multiple rallies have been held.

Radio and TV ads – or “Redding Processing Center News Updates” – have aired, featuring customers wondering where their mail is. The ads urge listeners to send emails to the Postmaster General, asking the USPS to stop the closure of the plant. The ads were paid for by the local APWU, Mail Handlers Union and Five County Central Labor Council.

The City of Industry has a teleconference every Wednesday with locals throughout the state to share strategies for fighting consolidation. They had a town hall meeting in March and another is set for May.

Marching and More

The Roanoke (VA) Local has been working to keep its processing plant open as well. Union members visit their U.S. representatives and senators frequently, and members marched in the St. Patrick’s Day Parade. The local placed two full-page newspaper ads protesting plans to close the plant.

The Norfolk Local has asked Sen. Mark Warner (D-VA) for support and held a town hall meeting.

In Idaho, the mayors of Pocatello and Chubbuck have requested that the state’s congressional representatives act quickly to stop the closure of the Pocatello processing plant, which was slated for April 18. In response to pressure from APWU locals, mayors have been hosting town hall meetings and members have been holding protest actions.

Inquiring Minds

The Rock Springs (WY) Local has asked for a congressional inquiry and an audit by the Office of Inspector General on Area Mail Processing (AMP) procedures, the effect of the planned consolidation on the community, and whether predicted savings would be realized.

Michiganders are advocating for A Grand Alliance to Save Our Public Postal Service and have started a campaign to distribute complaint cards to customers, which they will send to Sen. Debbie Stabenow (D-MI). They have asked for the senator to request a congressional inquiry into the Lansing AMP, and are working to get an executive order to stop the consolidations. They have met with many community groups to win support.

Members of the Cape Girardeau Area Local have held rallies to stop the closure of the local processing center. Residents in the area have already reported severe mail delays. The local has generated lots of media coverage.

Joining Forces

In an effort to stop the shuttering of four mail processing facilities in Ohio, APWU members in the Buckeye State have joined forces. They have organized a media campaign, ran radio and TV ads, and launched a website, MyMailOhio.com, which provides updates for customers in Dayton, Akron, Youngstown and Toledo. The site gets 400 to 500 hits per day. APWU members have received support from Sen. Sherrod Brown (D) and continue to work for support from Sen. Rob Portman (R). National Business Agents in the state have pitched in too, participating in joint strategy sessions and meetings with lawmakers. The State AFL-CIO helped to win community support with automated phone calls that patch people through to legislators.

APWU members in Indiana have formed the Kokomo Consolidation Coalition, held community meetings, and participated in panel discussions with the Workers’ Voice Radio Show at Indiana University. Sen. Joe Donnelly (D) has written to the Postmaster General, urging her to stop the consolidation.

In New Orleans, APWU members have distributed flyers to postal customers and at strip malls, and reached out to small businesses.

The Mid-Hudson (NY) Area Local has worked with the state AFL-CIO to get resolutions of support signed by town boards in Orange, Ulster and Dutchess. They have held meetings with their congressional delegation and Rep. Chris Gibson (R) and Rep. Sean Maloney (D) have asked to speak with the Postmaster General to request a moratorium on consolidation of the mail processing center. The Orange County Chamber of Commerce and the Working Families Party have sent resolutions to be signed by their members.