On Aug. 17, nearly 3,000 postal workers surrounded what used to be the Philadelphia Processing and Distribution Center, now mostly empty after the Postal Service moved operations to a new facility near the airport and eliminated more than 700 jobs.
"The service clearly has deteriorated here," said Harmon Elliott, president of the Philadelphia Area Local. He noted that it is not unusual for mail to take 7 to 10 days to travel from one destination to another within the city. "The reason they gave us for excessing our jobs was because we didn\'t have any work," he added. "Then, when service falls apart, they add insult to injury by bringing in casuals."
The problems caused by consolidation go well beyond Philadelphia, Postal Worker leaders said. Timely and reliable mail delivery is important to every American – and critical to maintaining democracy, they said.
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Postal Workers rallied in Philadelphia against Postal Service plans to consolidate operations and reduce service. Photo courtesy of the American Postal Workers Union |
"Certainly our primary objective is the jobs of our members, but jobs follow service," APWU President William Burrus said. "It\'s a disgrace what they\'re doing behind closed doors. For the past four years, there\'s been nothing but collusion between the large mailers and postal management on how they can reduce service to the people and increase and improve service to large mailers."
The power of the large mailers "does not give them a license to control the U.S. Postal Service," Burrus said. "This service is for the people!"
Some 139 facilities around the country are targeted for consolidation, the union said. For many communities, consolidating operations means that mail will be transported outside the community for sorting before being returned for local delivery. If the plan is put into effect, the union predicts:
- Week-long delays in the delivery of mail;
- Mail deliveries taking place later in the day — sometimes even in the evening;
- Mail collection taking place earlier in the day;
- Loss of local postmarks.
The APWU is planning many activities to call attention to the problems posted by consolidation, including the airing of special TV and radio commercials that urge the public to contact members of Congress.
Congressman Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., told participants at the rally that they have the support of many elected officials in their efforts to maintain quality postal service.
"We have to give voice to working people in this country right now to speak up on behalf of the jobs that help maintain a middle class in our country and a working class," he said. "I stand with you."
Large mailers who presort advertising and other materials are driving the move to consolidate, the union said.
"That trend where the large mailer gets what they want is going to have repercussions for democracy," said Cliff Burelson, president of the Postal Workers local in Olympia, Wash., one of the first communities hit by consolidation. As postal costs rise for nonprofits, Main Street businesses and other small mailers, "alternative voices won\'t get out -- and that\'s not going to be good for working class people."
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On Aug. 17, nearly 3,000 postal workers surrounded what used to be the Philadelphia Processing and Distribution Center, now mostly empty after the Postal Service moved operations to a new facility near the airport and eliminated more than 700 jobs.
"The service clearly has deteriorated here," said Harmon Elliott, president of the Philadelphia Area Local. He noted that it is not unusual for mail to take 7 to 10 days to travel from one destination to another within the city. "The reason they gave us for excessing our jobs was because we didn\’t have any work," he added. "Then, when service falls apart, they add insult to injury by bringing in casuals."
The problems caused by consolidation go well beyond Philadelphia, Postal Worker leaders said. Timely and reliable mail delivery is important to every American – and critical to maintaining democracy, they said.
|
|
Postal Workers rallied in Philadelphia against Postal Service plans to consolidate operations and reduce service. Photo courtesy of the American Postal Workers Union |
"Certainly our primary objective is the jobs of our members, but jobs follow service," APWU President William Burrus said. "It\’s a disgrace what they\’re doing behind closed doors. For the past four years, there\’s been nothing but collusion between the large mailers and postal management on how they can reduce service to the people and increase and improve service to large mailers."
The power of the large mailers "does not give them a license to control the U.S. Postal Service," Burrus said. "This service is for the people!"
Some 139 facilities around the country are targeted for consolidation, the union said. For many communities, consolidating operations means that mail will be transported outside the community for sorting before being returned for local delivery. If the plan is put into effect, the union predicts:
– Week-long delays in the delivery of mail;
– Mail deliveries taking place later in the day — sometimes even in the evening;
– Mail collection taking place earlier in the day;
– Loss of local postmarks.
The APWU is planning many activities to call attention to the problems posted by consolidation, including the airing of special TV and radio commercials that urge the public to contact members of Congress.
Congressman Chaka Fattah, D-Pa., told participants at the rally that they have the support of many elected officials in their efforts to maintain quality postal service.
"We have to give voice to working people in this country right now to speak up on behalf of the jobs that help maintain a middle class in our country and a working class," he said. "I stand with you."
Large mailers who presort advertising and other materials are driving the move to consolidate, the union said.
"That trend where the large mailer gets what they want is going to have repercussions for democracy," said Cliff Burelson, president of the Postal Workers local in Olympia, Wash., one of the first communities hit by consolidation. As postal costs rise for nonprofits, Main Street businesses and other small mailers, "alternative voices won\’t get out — and that\’s not going to be good for working class people."