Postal Service fails to justify changes

The people need to understand how a move in mail processing to Syracuse will have a negative effect on service. The Postal Service has claimed $1.15 million per year in savings in doing so. However, they have not shared these "facts" with anyone and have denied the union's multiple formal requests to share the information.

They do not want the truth to be told. They claim nine positions will be decreased. We have already lost the jobs this year through attrition and have not replaced any. Local management has told the employees no one will be leaving the Watertown post office. This reduction in staffing has left us with an unsafe void, and people are being placed in dangerous ergonomic conditions. The mail processing jobs require proper rotation to avoid cumulative trauma injuries.

So where are the savings coming from? No one really knows. They refuse to share this information. We actually process more mail in Watertown than we did in 2002. The Postal Service is correct that first-class mail volume is down, however, the window of opportunity to cancel the mail and return it on time is minute.

Locally we struggle to process it. Sending raw mail to Syracuse, no matter how little the volume, is a detriment to service. They cannot return the mail on time for Watertown to process it and send it north. Logistics simply won't allow it. This attack on service is real. The Postal Service has no plans in preserving service. Everything has a price tag, and they cannot prove the savings exist.

Another problem I see: Watertown mail processing is always toward the top of the Northeast area for efficient operation. The week of May 6, the Watertown facility was the top performer on the Northeast area automation report card. Why mess with something so efficient?

The real loser in this scenario is the north country. The people and businesses that rely on quality mail service that they have come to know. We chose to live in rural areas to raise our families and make a living. Why should we have to suffer or compromise service because of where we live? In April 2007, the Postal Service canceled the Area Mail Processing study for Watertown because logistics for transportation and the "savings" were not present. This is the sixth study since 1983. None have shown an improvement in service and a feasible cost savings. This one does not either.

Please show your support for your mail service at an informational meeting from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the State Office Building.

Chris Hyde

Alexandria Bay