West Virginia Press Association
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Dec. 6, U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) sent a letter to United States Postal Service (USPS) Postmaster General Louis DeJoy asking for clarity regarding USPS’s Mail Processing Facility Review of the Charleston Processing and Distribution Center. Senator Capito also stressed the importance of the center to West Virginia and its 800 employees, and advocated that no jobs be lost or moved out-of-state. Earlier this week, Senator Capito spoke with Postmaster General DeJoy on the matter and conveyed concerns from local leaders and employees at the center.
“While I understand the need for the United States Postal Service (USPS) to review its operations and to improve upon them, I believe that this facility is essential not only for all 800 employees at the center, but also for the West Virginians that depend on it for all their postal needs,” Senator Capito wrote.
“USPS should be transparent and forthright as the review is conducted. Confusion and lack of information should not have a place in this process,” Senator Capito continued.
Full text of the letter is available here and below:
Dear Postmaster General DeJoy:
I appreciate your call earlier this week and hope you will remain available as this process continues. As I mentioned, since the announcement of the Mail Processing Facility Review of the Charleston Processing and Distribution Center (“center”) I have heard from West Virginians that work at and those that depend on this facility.
While I understand the need for the United States Postal Service (USPS) to review its operations and to improve upon them, I believe that this facility is essential not only for all 800 employees at the center, but also for the West Virginians that depend on it for all their postal needs.
Recognizing that the review of the center is a study and no course of action has been decided, I encourage USPS to conduct this review without any preconceived notions as to specific outcomes such as those noted in the announcement. Specifically, USPS should not predetermine that moving some processes such as package service to out-of-state centers is the solution.
USPS should be transparent and forthright as the review is conducted. Confusion and lack of information should not have a place in this process. In that theme, I respectfully submit the following questions. Please return answers by December 14. While some of the questions are dependent on the review I ask that you provide information based off similar reviews that have been conducted in the past and the resulting actions taken from them.
1. While you stated that there will not be any layoffs, there could be transfers to other centers. Could these potential transfers be out of state?
2. If some functions are removed from the center could those employees’ roles be downgraded, could they have lateral position options, or could they have other options aside from transferring if their function is moved from the center?
3. How is operational efficiency defined? Is it purely as a means to save on costs without significant service changes? If so, how are significant service changes defined?
USPS has been tasked with becoming more efficient and I support that goal as long as efficiencies are viewed in their total effect; including the impact they may have on the communities they serve.
I urge consideration be given to these employees and those that depend on this center for their postal needs. I am committed to ensuring the success of this facility and all postal workers across West Virginia.