Press Release – 11/7/05
Postal Service Should Stop Plans to Transfer Mail Cancellation Operations From Olympia to Tacoma
For Immediate Release 11/7/5 Contact Clint Burelson, President 360-970-2965
Statement by Clint Burelson, President
The Olympia Local of the American Postal Workers Union is calling for the Postal Service to stop plans to transfer mail cancellation operations from Olympia to Tacoma. The main reasons to stop the proposal are: the loss of the Olympia Postmark, the reduction in service to the public, the lack of significant savings (if any), and the negative impact on employees.
The movement of the mail to Tacoma should also be stopped based on the Postal Service’s handling of the proposal, which is in conflict with existing regulations and policies. The failure of the Postal Service to be forthcoming in their intentions, the failure to gather local input, the failure to respond to requests for information and the failure to follow other existing rules has undermined the public’s confidence in the Postal Service’s Olympia proposal.
The lack of proper procedure by the Postal Service has contributed to a flawed study. The study by the Postal Service states that there will be no reduction in service to the community. However, immediately after announcing the completion of the study and their intentions to move the Olympia mail to Tacoma, Postal Service representatives are admitting that service to the Olympia community will be reduced. There are also indications that the cost savings claimed by the Postal Service are inaccurate.
A General Accounting Office (GAO) report in April of this year strongly criticized the Postal Service as whole for its lack of clarity, criteria and accountability in handling consolidations. These criticisms are valid for the Olympia case as well.
The Postal Service should be required to cease all proposed consolidations until such time they have demonstrated that they have a process in place to insure that Postal Service proposals that affect the community are fair, open, and beneficial to the community.
Contact: Clint Burelson - or 360-970-2965
See also the attached background information for this press release.
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Background Information in Support of Press Release
· Past Attempts to Move Olympia Mail to Tacoma
· Postal Service Did Not Fully Disclose Intentions with Study
· Postal Service’s Failure to Respond to Union Requests for Information
· PO 408, Area Mail Processing (AMP) Guidelines and “Appendix N”
· Local Management Officials Did Not Initiate Proposal, Which is a Violation of Existing Rules and Policy
· Postal Service Did Not Perform Review Prior to Decision to Conduct Study
· The Postal Service Failed to Take Local Input
· Postal Service Study
· Reduced Service and Increased Cost to the Olympia Community
· The Olympia Plant and Distribution Center
· Advanced Facer Canceller System (AFCS) machine
· The GAO Has Previously Criticized the Postal Service for Lack of Clarity, Criteria and Accountability
· Final Words
· List of Documents
Past Attempts to Move Olympia Mail to Tacoma
The attempt to move outgoing Olympia mail to Tacoma has happened before. The most serious attempt was in 1987 when mail was processed at the Olympia Main Office in downtown Olympia.
In 1987, the Postal Service’s proposal admitted that moving the Olympia outgoing mail to Tacoma would reduce service to Olympia. The Postal Service also later admitted that the move would result in only a minimal amount of savings. The savings was so small that the figures used in the study itself did not need to be challenged.
Community opposition to the proposed move was strong based on the loss of the postmark and reduced service to the community. The Washington State Senate, House of Representatives, and the Olympia City Council all passed resolutions in support of preserving the Olympia Postmark.
Former Congresswoman Jolene Unsoeld played a major role in the discussions with the Postal Service. Through the efforts of the community, the Olympia mail remained in Olympia.
Postal Service Did Not Fully Disclose Intentions with Study
We received a letter, dated 9/2/05, from District Manager Dale Zinser that stated,
This letter is an informational notice of the intent of the US Postal Service to conduct an Area Mail Processing (AMP) survey of the total mail processing at the Olympia P&DC. The reason for this study is to address the continuing decline of mail volume and the need to eliminate excess capacity while improving efficiency.
This letter is solely intended to provide you with information that we plan to conduct the study. The study results will be analyzed and a decision will then be made. This letter is not intended as notice of future changes in mail processing, and is not a notice of impact to employees. I will provide you with the appropriate notice, if any is required, when a decision is made on the study results.
If you have any questions concerning this AMP study please contact the Manager, Human Resources.”
Sincerely,
Dale R. Zinser
District Manager
Presumably, certain other parties received a similar letter. The letter makes no mention that the proposal is to move Olympia mail to Tacoma. The letter also refers to total mail processing and not specifically outgoing mail processing, which would have been more of a clue for the Olympia community.
The union requested clarifying information from the Manager of Human resources in letters dated 9/19/05 and again on 10/8/05. The Postal Service failed to respond, which is further evidence of the Postal Service’s failure to fully disclose its intentions.
A GAO report released in April of this year noted that,
The Service has stated that it is reluctant to publicly disclose information on its realignment strategy because it believes that it will meet with resistance from employees, communities, and government representatives if it tells them what it is planning on doing too far in advance.
Despite GAO recommendations that the Postal Service become more open in their communication with the community, the Postal Service continues to hide their intentions and therefore lose credibility in the eyes of the community.
Postal Service’s Failure to Respond to Union Requests for Information
After receiving notice of the planned study and hearing a rumor that study was intended to justify moving the mail to Tacoma, the union sent a letter and requested information pertaining to these factors by certified mail to the Postal Service (Katherine Nash, Manager of Human Resources for the Seattle District) on 9/19/05. The letter stated in part,
“Previous studies showed that local and state government and community members were firmly against losing the Olympia postmark, losing the service that was expected in a move to Tacoma, and losing local jobs. Previous studies also revealed little, if any, savings in transferring the mail to Tacoma.
It is therefore disconcerting for employees and the larger community to receive notice that another study is going to be performed. It would seem that a preliminary review would show that the situation in Olympia does not qualify for a study.
Mr. Zinser informed us that if we have any questions regarding the AMP study to contact you, the Manager of Human Resources. Attached are questions/requests for information pertaining to the AMP study of the Olympia P&DC.
Thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter. A prompt reply with the requested information would greatly assist in dispelling rumors and would provide the transparency that is needed for everyone to understand the situation accurately.
Sincerely,
Clint Burelson, President
Olympia Local
American Postal Workers Union
The union request for information stated the following:
“Per Article 17 and 31 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the attached letter, the union requests the following information:
1. Who made the initial decision to consider an AMP consolidation involving the Olympia P&DC? Is there documentation of that initial decision to consider? If so, please provide a copy of the documentation.
2. What criteria are used to evaluate whether a facility should receive an AMP study? Please provide a copy of the criteria and any/all information relied upon to support your response.
3. Who analyzed the criteria and determined whether the Olympia P&DC met the criteria to receive an AMP study? Please provide a copy of the documents showing how the Olympia P&DC met the criteria and any/all information relied upon to support your response.
4. Who approved the AMP study of the Olympia P&DC? Is there documentation of that approval? If so, please provide a copy of the approval.
5. What criteria are used to determine if a facility should be consolidated? Please provide a copy of the criteria and any/all information relied upon to support your response.
6. Has the Postal Service considered the history of opposition by local, state and congressional government representatives, local mailers and the community to the moving of the Olympia postmark, reduction in service and loss of jobs in Olympia? If so, what is the rationale for proceeding with a study in spite of that consideration?
7. Has the Postal Service considered the impact on service? If so, what is the estimated impact on service? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
8. Has the Postal Service identified possible service commitment changes? If so, what are the possible service commitment changes? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
9. Has the Postal Service estimated employee impacts? If so, what are the estimated employee impacts? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
10. Has the Postal Service identified transportation concerns? If so, what are the transportation concerns? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
11. Has the Postal Service identified operating plan changes? If so, what are the estimated operating plan changes? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
12. Has the Postal Service considered the impact on new and existing facilities? If so, what is the estimated impact on new and existing facilities? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
13. Has the Postal Service quantified productivity impacts and other costs? If so, what are the estimated productivity impacts and other costs? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
14. Has the Postal Service sent notice of the AMP study in Olympia to members of the community, media, government officials, etc.” If so, who are the specific individuals and organizations that received the letter regarding the survey of the Olympia P&DC? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
15. Has the Postal Service sent out notices or have plans to send out notices of an AMP study to any other facilities in the Seattle District? If so, which facilities? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
16. Has the Postal Service sent out notices or have plans to send out notices of an AMP study to any other facilities in the Western Area? If so, which facilities? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
17. Has the Postal Service decided who will be conducting the study? If so, who will be conducting the study? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
18. Has the Postal Service decided when the study will be conducted? If so, when will the study be conducted and how long is it expected to take? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
19. Once the study is completed, how long will it be before we know whether there will be any changes to mail operations in Olympia? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
20. Once the study is completed, how long will it be before changes to mail operations, if any, will take place? Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
21. The rumor is that Olympia mail would be sent to Tacoma, but we have nothing in writing on that. What is the proposal at this time in terms of consolidation? Please send the information to the Olympia Local APWU via the Olympia Plant. Please provide a copy of any/all information relied upon to support your response.
22. Please send us a copy of all any/all other correspondence and/or documentation regarding the study and/or consolidation of mail in Olympia.
23. Please provide a copy of any other information that would be useful for employees and members of the community to understand the AMP study and/or consolidation of mail in the Olympia P&DC.
Final Note: Please send the information to the Olympia Local APWU via the Olympia Plant. Please do not wait for all the information before providing us with the information that you do have. If you need clarification on our requests, please do not hesitate to contact me.
Again, thank you in advance for your assistance in this matter. A prompt reply with the requested information would greatly assist in dispelling rumors and would provide the transparency that is needed for everyone to understand the situation accurately.