Apwu133
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“Today, members of the public and the media were able to witness what Postal Service workers across America face every day. A lack of respect for its employees, and now YOU, the public! Local union officials have persistently reached out to the Postal Service in efforts to obtain information they were to release on January 23, 2024, to no avail. Numerous grievances have been filed throughout this MPFR process due to the Postal Services inability to abide by their handbooks and manuals that govern such movement. We will continue to work with our elected officials, the AFL-CIO and affiliate unions in the state to fight the Postal Service plans on moving your mail to Pittsburgh to be processed. The public survey is still available to take, and we encourage everyone to do so.”Tim HolsteinVice PresidentAPWU Local 133Charleston, WV
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The rally scheduled for Monday the 29th will be cancelled. Rescheduling once the new public meeting is announced.
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Stand-Up Talk
January 26, 2024Mail Processing Facility Review
Postponement of Public Meeting to be held re: Charleston WV P&DCOn January 12, 2024, we announced that a Public Input Meeting for the Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR) of Charleston P&DC was scheduled for January 30, 2024, to share the initial results of the study and to allow members of the local community to provide their feedback and perspectives on the Initial Findings of the MPFR.
We are postponing the posting of our initial findings as further time is needed to finalize any specific improvements, we may undertake at the Charleston P&DC. This will result in the rescheduling of the Public Input Meeting within the next several weeks.
Once the Public Input Meeting has been rescheduled, a subsequent announcement will be made.
Comments on the proposal from employees and the public will be considered before any decision is made. Comments may continue to be submitted at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-charleston-wv.
Thank you for your attention. We will keep you updated as we move through the facility review process and additional initiatives to modernize our postal network.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
408 PUBLIC MEETING POSTPONEMENT
1/26/24Q: Why are you postponing this public meeting?
We are postponing the posting of our initial findings as further time is needed to finalize any specific improvements, we may undertake at Charleston WV P&DC. This will result in the rescheduling of the Public Input Meeting.
Q: When will the public meeting be rescheduled?
The Public Input Meeting will be rescheduled within the next several weeks. Once the Public Input Meeting has been rescheduled, a subsequent announcement of date, time and location will be made.
Q: What additional information are you including in your review process?
We are finalizing proposed investments and improvements for the specific site.
Q: Are you postponing this meeting due to negative feedback/pressure from the local community?
No. We are postponing the posting of our initial findings as further time is needed to finalize any specific improvements, we may undertake at Charleston WV P&DC. Public feedback is considered throughout the review process.
Q: You’ve held public meetings and issued initial findings in a number of local communities. Will you be revisiting those findings as well based on the new criteria you are evaluating here?
This announcement is relevant only to this site.
Q: How do you pick the times and locations for these public meetings?
We look for publicly accessible locations within the local community.
Q: If people can’t attend the public meeting, how can they submit their feedback? Members of the local community may continue to submit comments at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-charleston-wv.
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APWU 133 members,As you are aware, the public meeting is set for January 30 at 2:30PM in Charleston WV re: the Processing and Distribution facility. The time of 2:30 in the afternoon was picked on purpose to limit the publics opposition to the proposed changes here, since most are at their respective place of employment. Other facilities have been successful in moving the time, in opposition of the one presented by the Postal Service with the help of their elected officials and the public.We have reached out to Senator's Manchin and Capito, Congresswoman Carol Miller, Gov Justice, Charleston Mayor Goodwin, South Charleston Mayor Mullins and the Kanawha Co Commision requesting they support our opposition of the time and request it to be changed.We have reached out to the Charleston Civic Center to ensure that the same meeting place the Postal Service has reserved for 2:30 is available at 6:00 that evening, and it is. Changing this time will allow resident's the opportunity to voice their opinion on the matter, thus giving the Postal Service adequate information to make the appropriate decision, as they have stated since day one.Please email: sean.p.hargadon@usps.gov and request that the meeting time be changed to allow the public the opportunity to attend.With our members, the public and our elected officials, we can change the future of this facility.Thank you,Tim HolsteinVice PresidentAPWU Local 133Charleston, WV
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"APWU Local 133 was notified today of the current MPFR Public Meeting time and place, as well as the Postal Services plans for the future of the facility. The union does not agree with the Postal Services initial plan to reduce the P&DC to an LPC and we encourage all members to attend this public meeting. The fight is not over! We will continue to update you with information as soon as we get it."
Mail Processing Facility Review Notice of Public Input Meeting
Charleston P&DC in South Charleston WV to Pittsburgh P&DC in Pittsburgh, PA, and
Pennwood Place P&DC in Warrendale, PA
January 12, 2024
As part of a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve the Postal processing, transportation, and delivery networks, the U.S. Postal Service announced that it is conducting an evaluation of current operations and potential future uses of its Charleston Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) facility in South Charleston, WV.
The USPS ten-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan includes initiatives to improve organizational and operational processes and actively make the Postal Service an efficient, high-performing, world class logistics and delivery provider. 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.
This specific facility review will inform the best allocation of resources and strategies to improve customer service and to achieve significant cost savings through operational precision and efficiency. Business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be unaffected throughout this review. The evaluation is a first step in the Postal Service review and investment process in this facility and will not result in this facility’s closure or career employee layoffs.
Public input will be considered as part of the review. A public meeting will be held to share the initial results of the study and to allow members of the local community to provide their additional feedback and perspectives on the Initial Findings of the MPFR. The meeting will be held on Tuesday, January 30, 2:30 PM at the Charleston Coliseum & Convention Center, 200 Civic Center Dr, Charleston WV 25301. A summary of the MPFR will be posted on about.usps.com at least one week prior to the public input meeting.
Members of the local community may submit comments at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfrcharleston-wv.
Below are some preliminary highlights from the study:
Business Case
The Postal Service is investing heavily in operations as it moves to modernize in nation’s postal network, improve customer service and achieve the organization’s goal of 95% on-time delivery across all mail products.
The initial results of the facility review support the business case for keeping the Charleston WV P&DC open and modernizing the facility as a Local Processing Center (LPC) with simplified processes and standardized layouts. The Charleston WV LPC will be a critical node to the unified movement of mail and packages across the regional processing and transportation ecosystem. The facility will offer expanded and streamlined package processing capabilities in the local market and new workplace amenities for USPS employees. Additionally, the business case supports transferring some mail processing operations to the Pittsburgh P&DC and Pennwood Place P&DC.
Future of Facility
The Charleston P&DC will remain open and will be modernized. It will be repositioned as a Local
Processing Center for destinating mail processing. It is expected that this facility will be a critical node to
the unified movement of mail and packages across the regional processing and transportation ecosystem.
Local Customers
§ Retail and other services currently available at the Charleston P&DC will not change. § Business mail acceptance will remain the same.
§ A local postmark will continue to be available at retail post offices.
§ Delivery times of mail to residence and businesses should not change throughout this review.
Commercial Mailers
§ Mailers who presort mail will continue to receive appropriate postage discounts.
§ Mailers who drop ship to Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) can expect no changes if the MPFR is approved.
Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-charleston-wv to submit written comments. All written comments must be received by February 14, 2024.
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Contact your legislators to oppose the proposed changes at the USPS Charleston P&DC
The Honorable Jim Justice, Governor
Office of the Governor
State Capitol State Building One
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, WV 25305
(304) 558-2000
https://appengine.egov.com/apps/wv/governor/contactus
The Honorable Joe Manchin, Senator
900 Pennsylvania Avenue, Ste. 629
Charleston, WV 25302(304) 342-5855
(202) 202-224-3954
https://www.manchin.senate.gov/contact-joe/email-joe
The Honorable Shelley Moore Capito, Senator
500 Virginia Street East, Suite 950
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 347-5372
(202) 224-6472
https://www.capito.senate.gov/contact/contact-my-office
The Honorable Carol Miller, Congresswoman
33 Tennessee Avenue
Charleston, WV 25302
(681) 945-6556
(202) 225-3452
https://millerforms.house.gov/contact/
Amy Shuler Goodwin, Mayor Charleston
501 Virginia Street East
Charleston, WV 25301
(304) 348-8174
mayorsoffice@cityofcharleston.org
Frank Mullens, Mayor South Charleston
401 D Street
South Charleston, WV 25303
(304) 744-5301
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Help Save Jobs!!
Help our APWU 133 brothers and sisters who work for the U.S. Postal Service in West Virginia! Follow this link to oppose the proposed changes at the USPS Charleston P&DC mail processing facility, which could cost our area hundreds of jobs.
This survey is only for a limited time!!
We will provide updates ASAP.
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The following email was sent to the WV AFL-CIO President Joshua Sword by state and local Legislative Director Bob Redman. President Sword later responded that the AFL-CIO are with us 100%Good Evening, President Sword,On Wednesday, November 22, the day before Thanksgiving, employees of the Charleston WV, USPS Processing and Distribution Center were given a stand-up talk by their supervisors. Management indicated that two facilities in the Pennsylvania area may be processing mail, otherwise dedicated to Charleston. This will affect over 500 union AFL-CIO members, and more than likely delay the delivery of mail.Currently, a study is being conducted by the USPS in conjunction with Postmaster General Louis Dejoy’s Delivering for America ten-year plan. The plan is to eliminate Processing and Distribution Centers and merge into Regional Sorting Processing Centers, with Pittsburgh as one of the new centers. The Charleston facility will be downgraded to a Logistics and Distribution Center (LDC). LDCs provide mail processing and distribution to local Post Offices as well as other smaller distribution facilities and are equipped with fixed mechanization for mail processing. However, many mail processing machines will be removed, including several already taken out of the Charleston P&DC in the past six months.United States Senator Gary Peters, D-Mich., who chairs the Senate committee with oversight of the Postal Service, said in a statement he was "concerned that several of the initiatives in this plan will harm service for folks across the country who rely on the Postal Service for prescription drugs, financial documents, running their small businesses, and more.""Cuts to service standards for first-class mail, limiting hours at local post offices, and making it more difficult for people to access postal products would adversely impact USPS customers across the nation, including in rural and underserved communities." Peters added.The P&DC started processing mail from its Charleston location in September 1993. Charleston started assumed mail from Huntington, Beckley, Parkersburg, Clarksburg, Lewisburg, and Princeton, West Virginia in addition to Ashland and Pikeville Kentucky within the past decade after their closures. This potential job loss will not only affect union employees and their families, but also generate a possible economic decline in the local economy.Brother Sword, we need your help. Please stand in solidarity with the members of APWU Local 133 and pledge your support. I will keep you updated with our fight as well as any local events to combat this.Bob RedmanLegislative DirectorAPWU 133Charleston WV
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Documents
Study Name Status Supporting Documentation Augusta, GA Decision to Proceed Final MPFR (Redacted) PDF
Public Comment Summary RTF
Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 7/12/23 RTFBismarck, ND Public Input Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 11/8/23 RTFBuffalo, NY Notice of Intent Notice of Intent 11/22/23 RTF Cheyenne, WY Public Input Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 11/8/23 RTFCharleston, WV Notice of Intent Notice of Intent 11/22/23 RTF Chattanooga, TN Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/25/23 RTFColumbia, MO Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/18/23 RTFDakota Central, SD Public Input Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 11/8/23 RTFEastern Maine, ME Notice of Intent Notice of Intent 11/22/23 RTF El Paso, TX Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/25/23 RTFEugene, OR Decision to Proceed Final MPFR (Redacted) PDF
Public Comment Summary RTF
Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 7/12/23 RTFFort Myers, FL Notice of Intent Notice of Intent 11/22/23 RTF Fort Wayne, IN Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/25/23 RTFGrand Forks, ND Public Input Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 11/8/23 RTFGreenville, SC In Review Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 9/27/23 RTFKnoxville, TN Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/25/23 RTFLehigh Valley, PA Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/18/23 RTFLubbock, TX Notice of Intent Notice of Intent 11/22/23 RTF Macon, GA Decision to Proceed Final MPFR (Redacted) PDF
Public Comment Summary RTF
Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 7/12/23 RTFMedford, OR Decision to Proceed Final MPFR (Redacted) PDF
Public Comment Summary RTF
Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 7/12/23 RTFMinneapolis, MN In Review Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 9/27/23 RTFNW Arkansas, AR Public Input Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 11/8/23 RTFProvo, UT In Review Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 9/27/23 RTFSouth Suburban, IL In Review Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 9/27/23 RTFTacoma, WA Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/25/23 RTFTallahassee, FL Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/18/23 RTFTrenton, NJ In Review Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 9/27/23 RTFWenatchee, WA Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/25/23 RTFWilmington, DE Public Input Initial Findings RTF
Notice of Public Meeting RTF
Notice of Intent 10/18/23 RTF -
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 5995) was reintroduced on October 19 by Representatives Derek Kilmer (D-WA-06), Don Bacon (R-NE-02), Gerry Connolly (D-VA-11), and David Valadao (R-CA-22).
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act (FRFA) would allow eligible employees who converted from temporary to career positions to “buy back” time towards their retirement.
Prior to 1989, postal workers who began as non-career employees were able to make additional contributions to their retirement benefits to make up for time lost when they were not eligible for these benefits. This allowed eligible employees to retire on time and with full benefits. This also created parity between temporary and career employees, ensuring they had equal access to retirement benefits. Unfortunately, this authority expired and was never reinstituted.
“The APWU is in strong support of the Federal Retirement Fairness Act and applauds the bipartisan leadership on this critical issue,” said Mark Dimondstein, President, APWU. “This legislation would allow more than 100,000 postal workers who converted from temporary to career positions to retire on time with their full benefits. Regardless of an employee’s initial hiring status, all postal and federal employees should have access to the benefits they have earned for their dedicated work.”
LINK HERE TO THE STATUS OF THE BILL
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Members, please take a moment to share and fill out the survey below pertaining to the proposed changes at the USPS Charleston P&DC mail processing facility.These proposed changes will negatively affect the state of West Virginia.Send the link to as many family members and friends as you can, so that the public's voice may be heard as well.This survey is only for a limited time, so don't delay. -
RELEASE Notice of Intent - Charleston WV_2023-11-22.docx
Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR)
Notice of Intent to Conduct Mail Processing Facility Review
Charleston P&DC in South Charleston WV to Pittsburgh P&DC in Pittsburgh PA and Pennwood Place P&DC in Warrendale PA
11/22/2023
As part of its 10-year strategic Delivering for America plan to modernize the nation’s aging postal network, the U.S. Postal Service is conducting a Mail Processing Facility Review (MPFR) of its processing operations at the Charleston Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC) in South Charleston WV.
The MPFR will assess how this facility can best support the Postal Service’s service and operational goals and provide a platform to launch new products and competitive services for mailing and shipping customers in the future. The Postal Service will also evaluate if efficiency could be increased by transferring some mail processing operations currently performed at the Charleston P&DC to the Pittsburgh P&DC and the Pennwood Place P&DC.
The MPFR process is expected to have minimal impact to customer service. Business mail entry, Post Office, station and branch retail services, and delivery services are expected to remain unchanged in most cases.
Public input will be considered as part of the review process. Members of the local community may submit comments at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-charleston-wv.
If the facility review supports the business case for change to the facility’s processing operations, Postal Service representatives will hold a public meeting to allow members of the local community to provide additional feedback.
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In accordance with Article 8, Sections 4 and 5 of the APWU Collective Bargaining Agreement, penalty overtime rules are not applicable for a consecutive four-week period each year during December.
The "Penalty Overtime Exclusion" period for calendar year 2023 will begin Pay Period 26-2023, Week 1 (December 2, 2023) and end Pay Period 01-2024, Week 2 (December 29, 2023).
Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period
December 2 - 29, 2023 -
NEW 2024 NETWORK!
Choose between two smart medical plans that feature a nationwide UnitedHealthcare network of 1.7+ million providers; 7,000 hospitals and healthcare facilities; and no referrals are needed.
Premiums for Tribal employees are shown under the monthly premium rate column. The amount shown is the maximum you will pay. Your Tribal employer may choose to contribute a higher portion of your premium. Please contact your Tribal Benefits Officer for exact rates.
High Option With low copays and low deductibles, the High Option is a premier plan in the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.
100% Coverage for in-network services
- Preventative care and screenings
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- Tobacco cessation program
- Accidental injury outpatient services within 72 hours
- Generic oral diabetes medications
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- No primary care provider (PCP) requirement
- Freedom to use network and out-of-network providers
Consumer Driven Option The Consumer Driven Option is a proactive alternative to conventional healthcare that can save you money.
100% Coverage for in-network services
- Your own Personal Care Account (PCA) helps pay for medical expenses
- Preventative care and screenings
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- No primary care provider (PCP) requirement
- Freedom to use network and out-of-network providers
HEALTH AND WELLNESS PROGRAMS One Pass Gym Discount Maven United Hearing One Pass Select is a fitness and well-being subscription-based network that provides access to over 16,000 gyms and studios Maven provides free, 24/7 virtual support for pregnancy, postpartum and returning to work after parental leave. United Hearing members can access over 2,000 name-brand models and styles of hearing aids at significant savings through UnitedHealthcare Hearing. 2024 HIGH OPTION PREMIUM RATES
Low copays: $10 for 24/7 virtual visits; $25 for office visits, including specialists; $30 for urgent care; $10 for retail non-specialty tier 1 drugs.
Self Onlyenrollment code 471Bi-weekly
$124.52
Monthly
$269.79
Self Plus Oneenrollment code 473Bi-weekly
$244.95
Monthly
$530.73
Self & Familyenrollment code 472Bi-weekly
$304.05
Monthly
$658.77
2024 CONSUMER DRIVEN OPTION - PREMIUM RATES
Your own Personal Care Account (PCA) helps pay for medical expenses. In January, the Health Plan funds a PCA members can use for covered medical services. Members are covered 100% until the PCA is exhausted. The Plan funds the PCA at $1,200 for Self Only and $2,400 for Self Plus One and Self & Family.
Self Onlyenrollment code 474Bi-weekly
$76.78
Monthly
$166.36
Self Plus Oneenrollment code 476Bi-weekly
$166.88
Monthly
$361.58
Self & Familyenrollment code 475Bi-weekly
$182.05
Monthly
$394.45
APWU SPECIAL RATES BI-WEEKLY
Special rates (charged bi-weekly) apply to APWU Career Bargaining Unit Employees for the Consumer Driven Option.
Self Only enrollment code 474APWU career less than 1 year in FEHB
$76.78
PSE
$76.78
APWU career more then 1 year in FEHB
$15.36
Self Plus One enrollment code 476APWU career less than 1 year in FEHB
$166.88
PSE
$166.88
APWU career more then 1 year in FEHB
$33.38
Self & Family enrollment code 475APWU career less than 1 year in FEHB
$182.05
PSE
$182.05
APWU career more then 1 year in FEHB
$36.41
OPEN SEASON HOTLINE:
1-(800) PIC-APWU or 1-(800) 742-2798
(hotline opens November 13)email: virtualopenseason@apwuhp.com
(response within 48 hours)for more information, visit: www.apwuhp.com
Disclaimer: This is a summary of benefits and features offered by the APWU Health Plan. All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions set forth in the Plan's Brochure (RI 71-004).
USPS Initial Findings Report - Charleston WV
in Local News and Information
Posted
Initial Findings Document
Mail Processing Facility Review
Charleston P&DC in South Charleston, WV
1/30/2024
As part of a $40 billion investment strategy to upgrade and improve the Postal processing, transportation, and delivery networks, the U.S. Postal Service announced that it is conducting an evaluation of current operations and potential future uses of its Charleston Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) facility in South Charleston, WV.
The USPS ten-year Delivering for America (DFA) plan includes initiatives to improve organizational and operational processes and actively make the Postal Service an efficient, high-performing, world class logistics and delivery provider. 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.
This specific facility review will inform the best allocation of resources and strategies to improve customer service and to achieve significant cost savings through operational precision and efficiency. Business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be unaffected throughout this review. The evaluation is a first step in the Postal Service review and investment process in this facility and will not result in this facility’s closure or career employee layoffs.
This ongoing review was initiated to evaluate what role the facility will take in the redesigned postal network and to assess potentially moving some of the mail processing operations from the Charleston P&DC to the Pittsburgh P&DC in Pittsburgh, PA and Pennwood Place P&DC in Warrendale, PA.
Below are initial findings from the study:
Facility Future
The initial results of the facility review support the business case for keeping the Charleston P&DC open and modernizing the facility as a Local Processing Center (LPC) with simplified processes and standardized layouts. The South Charleston LPC will be a critical node to the unified movement of mail and packages across the regional processing and transportation ecosystem in a logically sequenced manner and will benefit from the expanding services the Postal Service plans to deploy to increase its revenue and enhance its role in this community. The facility will offer expanded and streamlined package processing and distribution capabilities in the local market and new workplace amenities for USPS employees.
It is anticipated that the facility will maintain the following destinating operations once converted to the LPC:
· Destinating Packages
· Destinating Letters and Flats
· Manual Letters and Flats
· Express
· Business Mail Entry Unit (BMEU)
The LPC will also be fitted with state-of-the-art sorting equipment that will improve delivery services. We plan to operate the following sorting equipment in this facility:
· 10 Delivery Bar Code Sorter (DBCS)
· 2 DBCS Input Output Subsystem (DIOSS)
· 1 Automated Flat Sorting Machine 100 (AFSM 100)
· 1 High Speed Tray Sorter (HSTS)
· 1 Low-Cost Reject Encoding Machine (LCREM)
· 1 Single Induction Package Sorter (SIPS)
· 1 Flex Rover Sorter (FRS)
The improvements for this facility will result in up to $11 million in investments for modernization efforts and deferred maintenance investments.
On the workroom floor, lighting will be upgraded with LEDs, flooring will be repaired and refinished, impediments to open process flow will be removed, and dock areas will be generally rehabilitated. Employee amenities will be refreshed with renovation to restrooms, lockers, and break areas. Parking lots will be repaired and renovated in preparation of both Next Generation Delivery Vehicles (NGDVs), as well as Battery Electric Vehicles (BEVs). Where BEVs will be deployed, we will be upgrading and developing the electrical infrastructure necessary to power the rollout of BEVs into our delivery fleet.
New mail and processing equipment investments totaling $7M:
· 1 Flex Rover Sorter (FRS)
· 1 High Speed Tray Sorter (HSTS)
· 1 Single Induction Package Sorter (SIPS)
Additionally, the business case supports transferring mail processing outgoing operations to the Pittsburgh P&DC and Pennwood Place P&DC. Currently, a majority of mail and packages are destined outside of the Charleston area to the rest of the world.
Finally, the consolidation of plant operations will allow the South Charleston LPC to be collocated with a Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC). These new facilities are comprised of repurposed facilities and will provide faster and more reliable mail and package delivery over a greater geographic area.
S&DCs will be fitted with new package sorting equipment and enable customer service and local commerce opportunities for Same Day or Next Day delivery. They will also have renovated bathrooms and breakrooms for Postal Service employees.
In addition, S&DCs will have the infrastructure needed to support the deployment of the Postal Service’s new electric delivery trucks and the charging stations needed to power them. Replacing the Postal Service’s more than thirty-year-old vehicles will allow the organization to significantly reduce carbon emissions, increase safety and reliability, and provide more comfortable delivery vehicles to letter carriers. The S&DC that will be collocated with the South Charleston LPC will have 138 delivery routes that are eligible to be serviced by BEVs. Based on the average deployment numbers at S&DCs, new vehicle investment in BEVs and infrastructure is approximately $5M per site.
The Postal Service plans to invest between $20M and $30M into the South Charleston LPC as we prepare the facility to serve as an important contributor to operations in today’s economy and far into the future.
Postal Employees
NOTE: There will be no career employee layoffs as part of this initiative. The numbers presented here reflect data available as of October 6, 2023, and are subject to change until the completion of the facility review. Our ongoing analysis will include quantifying the time it will take to refurbish the facility and prepare it for the services and functions as an LPC and quantifying the appropriate workforce necessary to efficiently staff the LPC. We expect that the increase in these services and functions may require additional employment positions which could mitigate some of the reductions identified below.
Due to the transfer of outgoing operations, an estimated net decrease of 24 craft and 1 management positions are projected once the initiative is completed. All bargaining employee reassignments will be made in accordance with the respective collective bargaining agreements.
The Postal Service has made a commitment to ensuring there is a clear path for our pre career employees to obtain fulltime positions, as evidenced by our newly negotiated contract provisions and making automatic conversions to stabilize our workforce. This has culminated in 165,798 pre career employees being converted to career over the past three years. Our pre career workforce is a valuable employee category that provides us necessary operational flexibility leading to efficiencies. Like all employers who have a flexible employee category, there is a higher turnover rate with these employees, providing us the opportunity to both capture savings by rightsizing our workforce when making long overdue operational changes and avoiding any career layoffs.
Estimated Cost Savings
Proposed savings in the draft MPFR analysis are ultimately projected to be $6.5M - $8.9M annually once the initiative is completed. Below is a breakdown of this savings estimate:
· Annual Transportation Savings $4.9M - $6.6M
· Annual Maintenance Savings $1.0M - $1.4M
· Annual Mail Processing Savings $590K - $790K
· Annual Management Savings $90K - $120K
Local Customer Considerations
· Retail and other services currently available will not change
· Business mail acceptance will remain the same
· A local postmark will continue to be available at retail post offices
· Delivery times of mail to residences and businesses should not change because of the review
Commercial Mailers
· Mailers who presort mail will continue to receive appropriate postage discounts
· Mailers who drop ship to a Destination Sectional Center Facility (DSCF) can expect no changes, if the MPFR is approved
Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/mpfr-charleston-wv to submit written comments. All written comments must be received by February 29, 2024.