Spending Bill Includes Rider That Blocks 7 Consolidations

A provision attached to the appropriations bill awaiting President Bush’s signature would indefinitely postpone most of the Postal Service consolidation plans still awaiting implementation. 

The initial adjustment to the legislation came at the instigation of Rep. Jose Serrano (D-Bronx), who chairs the House Appropriations Subcommittee on Financial Services and General Government. Serrano pushed through a rider in the House version of the federal appropriations bill that prevents the Postal Service from consolidating three Bronx mail-distribution centers into the Manhattan-based Morgan P&DC until the Government Accounting Office has thoroughly reviewed the proposal and found that it is merited.

The final version of the bill called for similar language regarding consolidations in California (Pasadena), Iowa (Sioux City), Michigan (Flint, Detroit), Ohio (Canton), and South Dakota (Aberdeen). The reconciled House/Senate measure includes the provision that “The Postal Service is directed not to implement the above-referenced [Area Mail Processing] consolidations until after the GAO has reported to the [appropriations] Committees and the Committees have had an opportunity to review the GAO findings.” [Funding Bill's Explantory Statement] 

“I felt strongly that the consolidation and shuttering of the Bronx postal distribution facilities was the wrong idea,” Serrano said in a Dec. 17 news release. “From my post on the subcommittee that oversees the Postal Service’s budget, I was able to block the Postal Service from moving forward on this misguided plan. I felt that the plan’s savings were minimal and the cost to postal workers in my district was too high. I feel strongly that we should put people ahead of profits.”

Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) said that he was pleased that the USPS would have to further review its decision to close Sioux City's mail-processing center and consolidate it into the Sioux Falls, SD, P&DC, approximately 80 miles away.

A recent GAO report showed that USPS consolidation decisions are not based on consistent information, that site-specific data is not used and that the delivery impacts of consolidation are not measured, Harkin said in a Dec. 19 news release.

“Consolidation of the Sioux City mail processing facility should not proceed until the USPS implements a fair, accurate and transparent method for making these decisions," Harkin said. “The USPS must be forthcoming with communities targeted for consolidation about how their postal service will be affected and what costs it will impose on the community.” 

APWU campaigns have played a large role in derailing many “network realignment” proposals nationwide. In 2006 and 2007, 37 consolidation initiatives were terminated, placed on hold, or reversed.