Postal Service says union spreading misinformation
By Nick Hytrek Journal staff writer | Posted: Thursday, February 16, 2006
Union statements about the possible effects caused by moving outgoing mail processing from Sioux City to Sioux Falls are misinformed "scare tactics," a U.S. Postal Service spokesman said Wednesday.
Statements that Sioux City would lose its postmark, overnight mail delivery and jobs are either untrue or unknown, said Richard Watkins, spokesman for the Postal Service's Des Moines-based Hawkeye District.
A feasibility study of moving outgoing mail processing from Sioux City's processing center to a similar facility in Sioux Falls is under review in Washington, D.C. A final decision could take up to several months, Watkins said.
Regional postal officials don't know what the study found, Watkins said, so it's unreasonable for postal worker union representatives to tell the public that it will lose services.
"How in the world would they know what impact, if any, the study would have?" Watkins said. "We don't know what the impact will be and we're the ones doing the study."
"We think there's been a lot of unnecessary anxiety created by people who know better."
The Postal Service is reviewing services nationwide in order to streamline and economize mail delivery. Changes will not be enacted if they hurt service, Watkins said, ruling out the consolidation with Sioux Falls if the Sioux City area would lose overnight delivery.
"We were saying all along that service would not suffer. If it hurts service, it's not feasible," Watkins said.
In order to keep overnight delivery, some changes would be necessary and costly, said Don Stusse, executive officer with the American Postal Workers Union Local 186. The Postal Service would need to increase transportation and move up collection times in Sioux City. Collection times outside Sioux City's main Post Office were moved up half an hour earlier after outgoing Saturday mail processing was moved from Sioux City to Sioux Falls in December.
"Earlier collection times change the service level," Stusse said. "I don't think it's acceptable to the local community. If collection times are moved up, we lose service."
The Sioux City postmark will always be available, Watkins said. Some type of collection bin would be set up for folks wishing a Sioux City postmark if processing is moved to Sioux Falls.
"If somebody's worried about losing the Sioux City postmark, it isn't going to happen," Watkins said.
At least not right away, Stusse said. Similar arrangements were made in a consolidation in Dubuque, Iowa, he said.
"That type of service deteriorates over time. You'll see that in other types of consolidations," Stusse said.
Stusse and Watkins agreed that workers are not in danger of losing their jobs. If a consolidation takes place, affected Sioux City workers would be offered jobs in other Sioux City facilities or elsewhere.
"No employee should be worried about losing a job," Watkins said.
The union's concern is seeing high-paying jobs leave.
"We've always said we're not afraid of people losing jobs, but Siouxland could lose jobs. That job may end up in Sioux Falls or Omaha," Stusse said.
On Monday, Stusse said, union officials along with metro mayors sent a request to the Postal Service to launch a new feasibility study into the possibility of bringing more mail into Sioux City from northeast Nebraska, Iowa and southeast South Dakota. They have not received a response.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
Statements that Sioux City would lose its postmark, overnight mail delivery and jobs are either untrue or unknown, said Richard Watkins, spokesman for the Postal Service's Des Moines-based Hawkeye District.
A feasibility study of moving outgoing mail processing from Sioux City's processing center to a similar facility in Sioux Falls is under review in Washington, D.C. A final decision could take up to several months, Watkins said.
Regional postal officials don't know what the study found, Watkins said, so it's unreasonable for postal worker union representatives to tell the public that it will lose services.
"How in the world would they know what impact, if any, the study would have?" Watkins said. "We don't know what the impact will be and we're the ones doing the study."
"We think there's been a lot of unnecessary anxiety created by people who know better."
The Postal Service is reviewing services nationwide in order to streamline and economize mail delivery. Changes will not be enacted if they hurt service, Watkins said, ruling out the consolidation with Sioux Falls if the Sioux City area would lose overnight delivery.
"We were saying all along that service would not suffer. If it hurts service, it's not feasible," Watkins said.
In order to keep overnight delivery, some changes would be necessary and costly, said Don Stusse, executive officer with the American Postal Workers Union Local 186. The Postal Service would need to increase transportation and move up collection times in Sioux City. Collection times outside Sioux City's main Post Office were moved up half an hour earlier after outgoing Saturday mail processing was moved from Sioux City to Sioux Falls in December.
"Earlier collection times change the service level," Stusse said. "I don't think it's acceptable to the local community. If collection times are moved up, we lose service."
The Sioux City postmark will always be available, Watkins said. Some type of collection bin would be set up for folks wishing a Sioux City postmark if processing is moved to Sioux Falls.
"If somebody's worried about losing the Sioux City postmark, it isn't going to happen," Watkins said.
At least not right away, Stusse said. Similar arrangements were made in a consolidation in Dubuque, Iowa, he said.
"That type of service deteriorates over time. You'll see that in other types of consolidations," Stusse said.
Stusse and Watkins agreed that workers are not in danger of losing their jobs. If a consolidation takes place, affected Sioux City workers would be offered jobs in other Sioux City facilities or elsewhere.
"No employee should be worried about losing a job," Watkins said.
The union's concern is seeing high-paying jobs leave.
"We've always said we're not afraid of people losing jobs, but Siouxland could lose jobs. That job may end up in Sioux Falls or Omaha," Stusse said.
On Monday, Stusse said, union officials along with metro mayors sent a request to the Postal Service to launch a new feasibility study into the possibility of bringing more mail into Sioux City from northeast Nebraska, Iowa and southeast South Dakota. They have not received a response.
Nick Hytrek can be reached at 712-293-4226 or nickhytrek@siouxcityjournal.com.
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