WITH USPS PROPOSING TO TRANSFER MAIL PROCESSING OPERATIONS FROM BUFFALO, SCHUMER DEMANDS ANSWERS FROM USPS ASAP; SAYS ANY PLANS THAT COULD UNDERMINE POSTAL SERVICE FOR BUFFALO AND WESTERN NY COMMUNITIES SHOULD BE STAMPED “RETURN TO SENDER”

Buffalo’s William Street Mail Processing Center Is A Central Hub For Mail Delivery In WNY, But Now USPS Is Considering Transferring Some Operations To Rochester – Leading To Serious Concerns Of Slowed Mail Delivery And Added Obstacles For Local Workers To Do Their Jobs

Schumer Is Now Demanding Answers From The Postmaster General For WNY As The Public and Union Postal Workers Feel In The Dark On Proposed Changes —And Says Community Voices Must Be Heard Throughout This Process

Schumer To Postmaster General: Any USPS Plans That Will Slow Mail Delivery Or Undermine WNY Postal Workforce Must Be Stamped “Return To Sender” 

With United States Postal Service (USPS) announcing its intent to consider transferring some mail processing operations from Buffalo’s William Street Postal Facility to Rochester, U.S. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer today demanded answers from Postmaster General DeJoy on the potential impact of such a move to Buffalo’s mail service, postal workers, businesses, and community. 

USPS announced yesterday it is planning a public meeting on Wednesday, January 31, 3:00PM at the Creekside Banquet Facility, 2669 Union Road, Cheektowaga NY 14227 on the new operations proposal. This represents the first phase in the public process before any proposed changes in mail operations can move forward. Schumer said the lack of clarity on this proposed consolidation for Buffalo has created cause for serious concern amongst local postal workers, seniors, businesses, and community members, especially given how similar consolidations have had negative impacts in other communities. 

“Let me be perfectly clear: any plans to alter operations at Buffalo’s William Street Postal Facility that would undermine local mail service or create undue hardship on our dedicated postal workers should immediately be stamped ‘return to sender.’ We need full transparency from the USPS — ASAP — about any new proposals to alter mail operations so all stakeholders can assess their potential impacts. Western New Yorkers rely on the mail for daily life, whether it be for packages, letters, checks, prescription medications, or communications with loved ones, and the public and our local postal union workers deserve and need full transparency from USPS,” said Senator Schumer. “Given what we have seen in the past as a result of USPS’s proposal to consolidate processing facilities, including previous plans to close this facility in 2011, which I helped stop, there is good reason for serious concern this could negatively impact mail service for Western NY. So, Attn. USPS, because this is addressed to you – community service, community input, and the needs of our workers and the top tier mail service in Western NY need to come first, no excuses.”

Congressman Brian Higgins, who also issued a letter to the Postmaster General, added, “The USPS has issued a public meeting notice but has not yet shared their plan. The lack of transparency is an insult to the people of Western New York and we won’t stand for it. We need honest answers from the Postal Service and we need the community to speak out again, like we did in 2011, to protect services in Western New York.”

USPS is currently conducting what is known as a Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR) with Buffalo on the list for having some of their mail processing operations and work potentially transferred. According to a Notice of Intent and recently published Notice of Public Meeting, USPS intends to “evaluate if efficiency could be increased by transferring some mail processing operations currently performed at the Buffalo P&DC to the Rochester P&DC.”

Schumer said, “This closely held proposal has created much confusion and uncertainty, with the local postal workers unclear as to how this would impact not only their day to day, but also whether the increased transportation distances will lead to mail delays and late delivery times for thousands across Western New York.” 

Now, Schumer is demanding answers and for Postmaster General DeJoy to ensure the Buffalo community, postal and union workers get the answers the need. Schumer said any proposal that would negatively impact mail service to Western New Yorkers is unacceptable and vowed to fight any changes that could hurt postal service. USPS’s potential proposals are especially concerning, given how the MPFR process elsewhere in the country such as in West Virginia and nearby Pennsylvania, which have created significant confusion with little answers or assurances for facilities that are proposed to experience changes. 

Schumer has a long history of fighting to preserve mail service in Western NY. Over a decade ago, Schumer led the charge to help save this same postal facility from closing, lobbying the Postmaster General to keep the processing facility open, in order to preserve overnight mail service in Western New York and the facility’s 700 jobs.

A copy of Schumer’s letter to the Postmaster General appears below:

I write with serious concern regarding a potential transfer of mail processing operations from the Buffalo William Street Postal Facility to Rochester now being considered by the United States Postal Service.  

 I am aware that, as part of its ten-year strategic plan (“Delivering for America”), the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is proposing to transfer some mail processing operations from the Buffalo Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) to Rochester.[1]  Given the vital role prompt and predictable mail delivery has for the Western New York community, any plans for Buffalo’s William Street Postal Facility that would undermine mail service or create undue hardship on our dedicated postal workers is not acceptable and must be revamped. Moreover, the USPS must do more to provide full transparency on the impact of its proposal to the community as well as the data it is based on.

Right now the community has more questions than answers. I have repeatedly heard from stakeholders and our local union leaders of growing frustrations about their inability to get sufficient answers from leadership on the details, justification and impacts of this proposal for the future of the facility. This practice must end. Communication with the public and with those who work for the USPS in Western New York can and should be paramount with any review of this nature. 

It is reasonable for community leaders to fear that a transfer of mail processing operations from Buffalo would negatively impact service and delivery and inflict hardship on the citizens and businesses of Western New York.  While USPS has begun to express its opinion that this transfer will not result in decreased mail services, performance, post office closures, or employee layoffs,^[2] postal workers, key community stakeholders, businesses, and the general public simply do not have any information from USPS to assess new operational proposals to  ensure that these changes will not have a significant impact on the people and businesses in the Buffalo-Niagara region.  Our nation’s postal service once prided itself on its 98 percent on-time performance metric for all mail and shipping products.  Service cannot deteriorate as a result of USPS’s new Delivering for America plan, in Buffalo or elsewhere in New York.

             Historically, a proposal to move or consolidate USPS operations in Buffalo, NY has led to unfavorable potential consequences for the greater Buffalo community.  In 2011, I fought strongly alongside the Western New York community against a proposed closure of the William Street Post Office, and called on the USPS to provide greater transparency to the public and the impacted workers. In that instance, we campaigned for the USPS to drop the proposed closing of the facility – and succeeded. If this proposal moves forward, and the impacts to service are at all similar to what had previously been planned, which would have cause both mail delays and put undue stress on our dedicated Western New York postal workers, the proposal should likewise be dropped.  

I am also hearing from postal workers and constituents concerned about potential delays in mail deliveries, and their concerns with increased transportation distances as a result of facility consolidations.  We are seeing postal workers across the nation – in West Virginia, Michigan, Pennsylvania, and others – call on USPS to prioritize service, provide transparency, and to hold public meetings in a timely manner.  Once again, USPS must do more to reveal and explain any and all proposed operational changes in a timely way that allows for full public review and input. 

The people of Western New York deserve full transparency from the USPS – and I am concerned that the present lack of full transparency is leaving our communities in the dark about the potential impacts of USPS’s proposed plan.  It is the responsibility of USPS to ensure that the public is sufficiently informed of any public meetings, that the public has ample time to prepare for attending such a meeting, and that the public has satisfactory time to review any proposals from the agency.  Any public meeting must be held at a suitable venue size, time of day, and with proper notice, well after making your findings and proposed plan available to the public.

I am, therefore, strongly conveying that the USPS must provide full transparency and inform the public regarding the substance and potential impacts of the MPFR as it pertains to the Buffalo William Street Postal Facility and related Western New York postal operations.  I request that USPS respond to the following questions:

1. What is the justification for USPS’s intent to conduct a MPFR at the Buffalo P&DC?  What was the process and reasoning behind selecting Buffalo P&DC as one of the facilities for review?

2. Please provide and make public details and data regarding the “Business Case” for making changes to the Buffalo P&DC, as referenced in your January 16, 2023 Notice of Public Input Meeting.  What factors did USPS examine in the process of determining the “initial results of the facility review,” and how did USPS come to the conclusion that “the business case supports transferring some mail processing operations”[3]to Rochester?

3. What is the USPS’s timeline, process, and factors for evaluating “if efficiency could be increased by moving some mail processing operations currently performed at the Buffalo P&DC to the Rochester P&DC”?^[4] 

4. There is serious concern in the community that cost saving measures will come at the expense of mail service in Western New York. How will USPS ensure that its goal for “cost savings” and “efficiency” will not negatively impact mail delivery services?

5. How will community input to these decisions be measured and in what formats will the community be provided opportunity to voice their opinions prior to any potential changes?  

6. USPS asserts it has communicated regularly with local union leadership and employees about its plans. It is critical that impacted employees are an active part in discussions of tentative plans, before such plans are final. Please describe that communication thus fur and what role local employees will be able to provide input throughout this review.

7. Please provide and make public details and data regarding the service impacts of a potential transfer of mail processing operations out of Buffalo, and the reasoning for USPS’s conclusion that this will improve efficiency and mail delivery times.

1. USPS states that “the MPFR process is expected to have minimal impact to customer service.”^[5]  Please provide details and data that support this service projection.

2. USPS states that “business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be unaffected throughout this review.”^[6]  Please provide details and data that support this service projection.  Are there any services that USPS expect changes to?
3. USPS states that “improvements to Postal operations will enhance the level of service provided to the public; drive innovation and enable a broader array of postal products and services; enhance organizational competitiveness; improve efficiency and lower the cost to operate; and provide better workplaces and careers for Postal Service employees.”[7]  Please provide details and data that support this statement. 

8. What is the projected employee impact of a potential transfer of mail processing services? Please explain in detail how an employee at the Buffalo P&DC will be impacted, including but not limited to, changes to employment status, working hours, commute times, delivery routes, job responsibilities and expectations, and required training and/or certification.

            Transparency and the ability for the community and our postal workers to make their voices heard is of the utmost importance, and I look forward to your prompt response.  Thank you for your attention to this important matter. 

Sincerely,

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