Mail processing facilities are no longer considered for closure; Hundreds of jobs saved
Washington, DC - Today, after multiple conversations with the United States Postal Service (USPS), Representative Bruce Braley (IA-01) confirmed that both the Waterloo and Cedar Rapids mail processing facilities are no longer being considered for closure. Braley has been fighting to save these facilities for months.
"Rain, snow and sleet don't stop our postal workers, and I'm proud to say that Washington bureaucrats won't either," Braley said. "After months of fighting to keep these Iowa facilities open, I'm glad to see that the US Postal Service has finally gotten the message that now is the wrong time to lay off hundreds of workers. We still have a lot of work to do to save more post offices around the state, but this is good news today for Iowa workers."
The USPS confirmed with Braley's office earlier this morning that the mail processing facilities in Waterloo and Cedar Rapids will remain open. Braley is a member of the Oversight and Government Reform Committee, which has legislative authority over the USPS.
In September 2011, Rep. Braley sent a letter to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe urging him not to close these facilities. A copy of the letter is copied below and a link is available here: http://go.usa.gov/U4t
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September 15, 2011
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe
475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
Room 10022
Washington, DC 20260-0010
Postmaster General Donahoe:
I'm writing regarding the recent announcement by the United States Postal Service (USPS) that you are considering closing the Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Carroll and Creston facilities. I'm extremely disappointed by this announcement, given that this could lead to jobs lost in these communities.
I would like answers to the following questions:
Has the USPS determined how many jobs will be lost as a result of closing the Waterloo, Cedar Rapids, Carroll and Creston facilities?
If so, please provide me with that analysis, with breakdowns for each individual facility.
In addition, I would like to know how many of the employees who will lose their jobs are part time and how many are full time.
If you do not have an analysis, why not, and when does the USPS intend to determine this?
Has the USPS determined what the net job loss will be in Iowa, if these closures move forward?
If so, what has the USPS determined?
If you do not have this analysis, why not, and when does the USPS intend to determine this?
I urge you to delay any closures until full analyses of job losses are complete, Iowans are given an opportunity to provide public comment, and only if you can justify why layoffs are acceptable during these tough economic times. I'm strongly opposed to any plan that puts Iowans out of work.
Please reply to my request within 10 business days. Feel free to contact me if I can provide further assistance.
Sincerely,
Bruce L. Braley
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