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Attend USPS meetings on processing plant closures

By Clint Burelson


The United States Postal Service will soon be holding “public input meetings” regarding their proposals to close and/or consolidate mail processing plants all across the country.  The USPS admits that if they are allowed to proceed with consolidating mail processing operations, the first class mail that is currently delivered the next day will instead take two to three days.  The delay in service problems will be even greater for those in rural areas.  This is a dramatic, inappropriate, and unnecessary reduction of service to the American people.

In Washington state, the Postal Service plans to consolidate mail processing operations in the Olympia, Tacoma and Everett plants to the Seattle Plant.  Such changes will reduce service across the state. It is important that citizens, small businesses and all other supporters of quality USPS service, attend these public meetings to express their opposition to the consolidation of mail processing plants, the elimination of overnight first class delivery, and any further dismantling of the United States Postal Service.

Here is the schedule of public meetings:

EVERETT Plant Closure — Thursday, Nov. 10 at 6 p.m. at the PUD Building on 2320 California St., Everett.

TACOMA Plant Closure — Thursday, Nov. 17 at 5:30 p.m. at Tacoma Public Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave. S.

OLYMPIA Plant Closure — Friday, Nov. 18 at 6 p.m. at the Phoenix Inn Suites, 415 Capitol Way North, Olympia

PASCO Plant Closure — Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 6 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 2525 N. 20th Ave., Pasco.

WENATCHEE Plant Closure — Thursday, Dec. 1 at 6 p.m. at the Red Lion Hotel, 1225 N. Wenatchee Ave.

The public can also send written comments now through the end of November to the following address:

Manager, Consumer and Industry Contact
Seattle District
PO Box 90306
Seattle, WA 98109

For those in other cities, please check for the dates, times, and locations of the public meetings and the address for the written comments. For more information about what closing these processing centers is both unnecessary and would make problems worse for the USPS, visit www.saveamericaspostalservice.org.

The need for the mail processing centers and post offices still exist for regular citizens, non-profits, and small businesses who rely on the existing system to conveniently send and receive mail in a timely manner. The USPS acknowledges that closing these facilities means the elimination of overnight delivery for first class mail. There is no need for a first class stamp to receive second class service. Spread the word of the public input meeting in your area to insure a first class stamp receives first class service and living wage jobs are kept in your local community.


Clint Burelson is President of the American Postal Workers Union Local 2354 in Olympia. He can be reached at clintburelson@comcast.net or 360-970-2965.

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