By Bruce Rolfe
Network modernization plans remain a central part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s plan to cut $5 billion of costs and inefficient processes over the next two years, keep the agency from running out of cash and meet its long-term financial goals. It’s also a key part of his larger 10-year Delivering for America (DFA) reform plan. The S&DC sorting facility on 9th Street in Oshtemo is part of the plan.
Kevin Trayer, Michiana area vice president of the National Association of Postal Supervisors serving in Michigan and Indiana, said beginning June 1 rural route carriers from the Kalamazoo Westwood branch on Drake Road, the Schoolcraft Post Office and Portage Post Office branch on Milham Road began driving to the 9th Street Oshtemo S&DC facility to get their sorted mail at a reporting station. All impacted carriers will then load their vehicles or a USPS vehicle, return to their local areas to deliver the mail then return to the Oshtemo facility to get their own vehicles, which Trayer feels will add more routes for city and rural carriers.
While the 9th Street S&DC facility is not completed yet, an open house was held May 30 for employees, staff, and their families. The moving in process took place May 31 and the new arrangement for the impacted post office carriers began June 1.
Trayer said in March, Scotts, which is attached to Climax, Galesburg, Kalamazoo-Parchment, the Kalamazoo main post office, Lawrence, Lawton, Mattawan, Otsego, Paw Paw, Plainwell, which is attached to Martin, Richland, and Vicksburg were removed from the S&DC list for the time being.
However recent developments lead Trayer to believe Postmaster General Louis DeJoy could be stepping up plans to move forward with the changes to its processing and delivery network
— Delivering for America plan.
Trayer said starting May 16 and 17, Reduction In Force (RIF) notices were “going out all over the country.” Trayer said the only way postal employees impacted by the move could keep a job is to accept what the USPS offers, which could be in another area or another state. He said if the job is not accepted, employment will be terminated within 30 days.
“So RIF notices were going out as if everything was still under way,” adds Trayer.
Trayer is concerned local post offices like Climax, Scotts, Galesburg, and Vicksburg could be impacted sooner then he anticipated because he feels DeJoy could accelerate the plan sooner.
“Once they build out Kalamazoo and have it up and running and all the bugs worked out, there’s room to put more in there,” said the Michiana area vice president of the National Association of Postal Supervisors.
“I would alert all of those communities, including your own, not to take him (DeJoy) for his word. As soon as that building is built, I’m afraid they will continue to do whatever they want to do,” adds Trayer, who said the Oshtemo Post Office name on the building has been removed and changed to Kalamazoo S&DC.
A letter sent by Ivan Butts, national president of the National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS), to USPS headquarters notes per Postal Reorganization Act 39, the Postal Service is in violation of failing to consult with NAPS in the planning and development of programs that affects any of NAPS’s members.
NAPS headquarters has requested documentation from the USPS regarding facilities that have implemented or will be implementing RIF.
A letter drafted by U. S. Sen. Peters (D-Michigan) and signed by a bipartisan group of senators on May 8, led by 22 Senate colleagues, calls on the USPS to halt any further changes to its processing and delivery network — Delivering for America — until a time that said changes can be examined by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) and addressed by the Postal Service.
Trayer said he also had meetings with Peters’ field representative, and Legislative Director Annika Christensen of the Senate Homeland Security and a Governmental Affairs Committee, hoping to get the move stopped. Trayer has also had teleconferences with Congressman Bergman of the Iron Mountain district, and Representative Elissa Slotkin from the Lansing Area, which are both impacted areas, along with a legislative representative from congressman Huizenga’s office multiple times recently about getting the plan stopped.
The Climax Crescent reached out to a USPS media relations representative to respond but did not receive a response back before deadline.
Climax is the location recognized as having the first rural free delivery in Michigan and the location of the first rural free delivery carrier monument.
Trayer encourages local residents to contact Congressmen Huizenga and Walberg along with Sen. Peters to stop the plan. Their contact information is:
Congressman Bill Huizenga
170 College Ave. Suite 160
Holland, MI 49423
Phone:(202)225-4401
Congressman Tim Walberg
Jackson District Office 401 W. Michigan Ave.
Jackson. MI 49201
Phone:(517)780-9075
Senator Peters
124 West Allegan Street
Suite 1400
Lansing, MI 48933
Phone: (517) 377-1508
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