Who Will Make the Hard Decisions about Retail Station and Branch Closings?

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picture of Post Office with closed and staying open signs

As the Postal Service examines its business model and contemplates changes meant to increase its efficiency, Congress’s role in postal operations has captured public attention. A prime example is the Postal Service’s recent efforts to trim its retail operations.

As a cost cutting initiative, on July 2, 2009, the Postal Service filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission a list of Post Office stations and branches it was considering closing. After the filing, many entities questioned the Postal Service’s authority to close these facilities. An article published on the U.S. News & World Report website states, “Call your local congressman if you don’t want your local Post Office retail station or branch to be closed.” In addition, the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) announced on its website “the APWU continues to lead community-based drives to keep retail units open.”

Who should bear the primary responsibility for determining which postal facilities should be closed as the Postal Service implements its new business model?

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Clearly, identifying the exact number and location of closings supercharges emotions. Add very real issues like social customs and potential job losses and relocations to the mix, and there are even more negative feelings associated with Post Office closures. It is not clear yet the number of retail stations and branches that will be closed, but what started out as list of 3,200 candidates has now declined to fewer than 170.

In the action plan the Postmaster General announced in March, he cited a number of issues that will require legislative approval, including the retail network. The question is whether Congress, given constituent and political pressure, can provide the Postal Service the level of autonomy necessary to address this issue.

How do you think Congressional oversight affects Postal Service operations?

This topic is hosted by the OIG’s Office of Audit Network Optimization team.

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Permalink | Comments (14) | Mar 22, 2010

 

 

14 Responses to “Who Will Make the Hard Decisions about Retail Station and Branch Closings?”

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  1. 14
    Network Ops host Says:
    April 28th, 2010 at 2:01 pm

    licopa1 – Thanks for your comment. Could you advise the location you referenced with six offices?

  2. 13
    licopa1 Says:
    April 28th, 2010 at 1:15 pm

    A review of local small Post Offices is needed, we live in PA with our daughter liveing 7 miles away. We can stop at ’6 ‘ yes ’6 ‘ Post Offices in that short distance, look at 18901 and 18902, what a waste. Three are within a ’1 ‘ mile section of the same road.

  3. 12
    Bonnie Says:
    April 26th, 2010 at 7:47 pm

    Good Samaritan P.O. 34746 Kissimmee FL serves many elderly who are essentially homebound and disabled. Closing their P.O. removes their ability to RETURN Recorded Books and Books By mail. This has a huge detrimental impact on their lives. If they cannot return these resources, they will have to stop receiving them. I am sure this is repeated in many P.O.s across the country. How can this be prevented?

  4. 11
    MailmanMike Says:
    April 10th, 2010 at 3:56 am

    A national problem that needs local and area oversight in each consolidation or streamlining of services.

    In my office for instance… five miles away another town with a new modern office. Consolidating the two offices would satisfy an entire valley. Adding stations or upgrading cooperative vendors, we can cut a lot of operation expenses and provide better service.

    One set of office management staff times 200 to 1000 … smaller bureaucracy equals big savings.

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