Petitions Sent to Postal Authorities Opposing Collinwood Branch Closing

Congresswoman Fudge greets postal workers who rallied outside her office opposing efforts to break their labor agreements
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I want to thank the residents and businesses of Collinwood who took the time to voice their strong opposition to the proposed closing of the Collinwood Post Office Branch. In the past week, I received nearly one thousand letters and signatures asking me to stand with the community and urge the United States Postal Service (USPS) to reconsider. Rest assured, I agree. Those letters make a powerful statement about the devastating impact closing this branch would have. I forwarded all of your petitions, along with my own letter of objection, to the USPS Regional Director and I will follow up with the Director to ensure it is received and reviewed.

The Collinwood branch is one of nearly 3,700 postal facilities nationwide proposed for closing or consolidation (including 9 others in my district, which I am also fighting to save). The Postal Service says it needs to take this step to deal with a staggering budget deficit of nearly $10 billion. USPS is responsible for prefunding its future health care benefit payments to retirees for the next 75 years- and they did so in a ten-year time span, a measure that is not required by any other business or government agency. This requirement is the single greatest contributor to the Postal Service’s current deficit, which is why, this year, Congress pushed back the mandatory $5.5 billion prepayment for retiree health care benefits.     

The truth is even if the USPS closed each and every one of those facilities it would save at most $200 million dollars or 2% of the shortfall. In the case of the Collinwood Branch, the USPS owns the building outright further eroding any potential savings. So why would the Postal Service want to cause so much economic disruption and hardship for Collinwood and other communities for so little gain? 

It’s not worth it and there are actually far more efficient and just means to address the deficit. In her letter to me, Yolanda Anderson, Executive Director of Collinwood & Nottingham Villages Development Corporation wrote, “Some services can’t be measured on a calculator”.  Yolanda, you are so right. A post office is a vital neighborhood anchor. Many residents, especially seniors and the disabled rely on having a branch within walking distance. They make use of postal money orders and many other services. Neighborhood businesses also benefit from convenient access to those services. 

I have introduced or co-sponsored 4 bills in the House this year to protect our access to mail service, save our neighborhood post offices, address the Postal Services’ financial straits and ensure collective bargaining rights of postal employees. One of my bills would require the Postal Service to consider the impact of closing facilities on vulnerable populations. Another measure I support would ensure 6-day mail delivery. I vigorously oppose efforts to break labor agreements that would open the door to laying off thousands of postal workers. Finally, I stand behind a bill that would allow USPS to use its own surplus funds to pay for future retiree health benefits, alleviating the burden of prepaying decades of benefits for retirees. 

The Postal Service has declared a temporary moratorium and will not take any further action to review facilities for closing until after the holidays, on January 2nd , 2012. But then the clock starts ticking again so it’s important that you remain engaged on this issue.  Thank you again Collinwood for your show of support. Let’s continue to stand strong and keep our post offices in the neighborhoods, where they belong.