On June 30, 2014, the National Office of the NPMHU was notified by USPS Headquarters that the Postal Service plans to reinstitute its “Network Rationalization Plan” starting next year, in January 2015.  Mail Handlers will recall that many of the plant closings and consolidations were put on hold earlier this year, in February 2014, when the Postal Service announced in the Federal Register that it was suspending any further implementation of its changes to service standards.  Now the Postal Service is reversing course, once again, to pressure Congress into action and to continue its sinister plans to cut more facilities and more employees from one of the Postal Service’s greatest assets, its nationwide network.

This news is very disturbing, and continues a pattern of foolhardy actions by the USPS in a misguided “cut to survive” strategy that will ultimately lead to the demise of the Postal Service.  It also represents the Service’s latest attempt to threaten Members of Congress with adverse consequences in their home districts if the Postmaster General does not get the legislation he is supporting.

President Hegarty had nothing kind to say about the USPS announcement.  “In a year in which the Postal Service is operating at a substantial surplus, it is simply counter-productive, and perhaps even irrational, for the Postmaster General to insist on reductions in mail service for the American public.  The changes in service standards and the closing or consolidations of additional mail processing facilities only makes sense if you want to see the gradual demise of this great institution.  The PMG was hired to operate the Postal Service, not to dismantle it.”

Mail handlers will recall that, during prior rounds of closings and consolidations, the National Office disseminated guidance to the Local Unions and all union representatives on how best to react to the various situations that may arise as a result of a particular closing and/or consolidation.  The NPMHU is working to update those materials, and will distribute them again during the coming weeks.

The National Office plans to work closely with all of our Local Unions to develop the best strategy to combat this ill-advised action by the PMG.  In addition, we will be reaching out to our brothers and sisters in the other postal unions to develop a joint strategy at the National level.

Rest assured that we will insist on full compliance with the National Agreement, and that all contractual provisions will be enforced against the Postal Service should it proceed down this road.

The entire list of facilities targeted for closing or consolidation has been distributed to the Local Unions and is posted on the NPMHU website.  Please contact your union representatives if you want or need additional information.