Opposition continues to mount against a proposal by the U.S. Postal Service to move the operations of a Charleston facility to other locations.
The Charleston Processing and Distribution Center at Southridge Center, with its 800 employees, is currently under evaluation by the USPS. The assessment includes exploring the potential relocation of certain mail processing activities from the Charleston facility to two centers in Pennsylvania.
In the event that the review identifies operational efficiencies substantial enough to warrant the move, the Postal Service Processing and Distribution centers in Pittsburgh and Warrendale, Pennsylvania, may assume some of the responsibilities currently handled by the Charleston center. This information is detailed in a notice of intent to conduct the review dated November 22.
The American Postal Workers Union is planning an informational picket from 10 a.m. to noon Saturday on Jefferson Road near the South Charleston Rec Center, 601 Jefferson Road in South Charleston.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., this week joined a chorus of other local, state and federal politicians putting pressure on the Postal Service to reconsider the plan. She sent a letter, dated Wednesday, to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, asking for clarity and transparency regarding the review.
Capito joined Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., Gov. Jim Justice, Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin and others who have already written letters or contacted the USPS to oppose the plan.
In her letter, Capito 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. According to Capito’s office, earlier this week, the senator spoke with 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,” Capito wrote in her letter.
In a statement released Saturday, Manchin referenced a similar conversation in which, he said, DeJoy assured him there would be no layoffs. Manchin also said he was told the USPS was planning “major investments” at the facility but he did not elaborate further.
In her letter, Capito also called for transparency from the USPS. Earlier this week, Tim Holstein, president of APWU Local 133, said little actual information has been provided about the proposal, leaving employees and all West Virginians in the dark as to the specific future impact on jobs at the facility or the effect of a potential move on local services.
“USPS should be transparent and forthright as the review is conducted. Confusion and lack of information should not have a place in this process,” Capito wrote.
Capito wrote that several key issues need to be addressed.
First, while DeJoy has apparently said there will be no layoffs, there could be transfers, and Capito wanted to know if any of those could potentially be out-of-state.
Additionally, Capito wrote, 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?
Finally, Capito requested to know how the USPS defines operational efficiency, and whether it purely as a means to save on costs without significant service changes.
“If so, how are significant service changes defined,” Capito asked in her letter.
“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,” Capito wrote.