Local Unions Fight to Save Post Offices

(This article first appeared in the May/June 2010 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine.)

Several south Florida communities are continuing the struggle to keep their neighborhood post offices open. In February, when the USPS released itsmost recent list of targeted stations, one office in Fort Myers, two in Naples, and two locations in Miami remained under consideration, down from eight in October.

One of the Miami stations is the Edison Post Office in Liberty City, in one of the poorest sections of the city. If the USPS follows through with its closure plans, residents would have to travel to locations either 22 blocks west, or 30 blocks southeast to get to the nearest post office. This is extremely challenging for residents in the area, many of whom do not have cars. More than 450 people visit this post office daily.

“All the affluent neighborhoods got to keep their post office, so why is this one still on the list?” Carol Sutton, vice president of the Miami Area Local APWU, said to the Miami Herald . “Even though it may not make as much money as the other ones, it is still important to this community.”

State Rep. James Bush (D-FL), whose district includes the area, has offered his support, saying that closing this location is unfair to the population that will be affected. Many would not have access to the other offices. 

Closings in Cleveland

In Cleveland, local postal workers picketed in March to inform residents of their opposition to the Postal Service’s plans to close the Maple Heights post office. The consolidation plans would move mail services from this location to offices in Bedford, Garfield, or Newburgh, which would inconvenience customers and employees who are used to having a post office in the neighborhood.

Danny Pride, president of the Cleveland Area Local APWU, said the closing of the post office would be “devastating,” and moving the office to a different location would delay mail delivery and pickups.

APWU members on hand at the March 9 picket provided residents with information about the closure plans and how the community can assist in efforts to keep the Maple Heights branch open.