Bluefield Daily Telegraph, Bluefield, WV

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Discussion

February 12, 2011

Questions surround postal distribution center’s closure

By CHARLES OWENS Bluefield Daily Telegraph

BLUEFIELD — The proposed consolidation of Bluefield’s Processing and Distribution Facility with existing postal centers in Charleston and Tennessee has not only prompted community concern, but also a number of questions from area officials and postal employees.

Specifically, many are asking just how many jobs could be lost in Bluefield, and if rural mail delivery service could be impacted by the proposed closure. A letter hand-delivered Friday to the Daily Telegraph from several postal service employees suggested the number of employees who would lose their job as part of the proposed consolidation would be higher than what postal officials are saying, and that overnight delivery to rural communities would suffer if the Bluefield processing and distribution site is closed.

When asked to clarify how many employees work in the processing and distribution center as opposed to the actual post office on Cumberland Road, Cathy Yarosky, a communications program specialist for the United States Postal Service, said the facility has 96 employees, four of which work in the retail (or post office) unit.

“Right now we do not have any idea how many career employees will be impacted if the decision to implement this AMP (Area Mail Processing study) is made,” Yarosky said. “Our managers are working through all of this now, so it is too soon to guess at a number. If we get to the point in the study where we need to have a public meeting, we will have a summary brief available to the public (and media) which would have specific information as to the number of impacted career employees as well as other data.”

Yarosky said mail delivery, including rural delivery, would not be impacted if the Bluefield processing and distribution facility is consolidated with existing facilities in Charleston and Johnson City.

When asked to clarify earlier comments by postal officials regarding a “consolidation” versus a “closure,” Yaroksy said, “If the decision to implement this AMP goes through, it would mean closing the processing portion of this building, but not the retail (what you call the ‘regular post office’) portion” of the existing postal facilities on Cumberland Road.

Yaroksy said the postal service has already implemented  35 AMPs nationwide last year at a savings of about $99 million.  

“We have a process in place for AMPs that we have been using for decades,” she said. “This process has been reviewed and validated by the Office of the Inspector General and the General Accounting Office. Part of this process includes a public meeting, so the public will have an opportunity to ask questions and voice their concerns if we get to that point.”

In the meantime, Yarosky said customers may submit any questions or concerns they have regarding the proposed study to: USPS Appalachian District  Consumer Affairs Manager, P.O. Box 59631, Charleston, WV  5350-9631.

U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-W.V., is also questioning the proposed consolidation and closure of the Bluefield facility. Rahall said he has asked the Postal Regulatory Commission to review the consolidation process and to ensure that the postal service is complying with applicable law.  

“If the postal service approves this consolidation, it would be the third postal consolidation in southern West Virginia in six months,” Rahall said earlier this month. “It raises a disturbing scenario, in which distribution and processing facilities around the state are consolidated into Charleston, and then moved out of state, entirely. The disruption and delay of mail service in rural communities cannot be allowed to continue. Smaller towns deserve the same level of mail and delivery service as big cities.”

Both the Bluefield City Board and the Mercer County Commission are drafting letters of opposition to the proposed consolidation.

— Contact Charles Owens at cowens@bdtonline.com

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