Postal Service responds to consolidation report inquiries

A report justifying moving mail processing operations from Fort Smith to Fayetteville was not allowed to be reviewed by the public prior to the eventual decision to move the operations to Fayetteville because such review could have resulted in “competitive harm” to the U.S. Postal Service.

Arkansas USPS District Manager David Camp announced April 28 the decision to consolidate mail processing operations in Fayetteville. The Fort Smith processing operation employs about 80.

During a lengthy public hearing held Feb. 24 in Fort Smith, Camp said moving the operations to Fayetteville would save about $1.7 million a year and cause the relocation of 35 jobs. In press releases and at the hearing, Camp and other USPS officials said mail service in the Fort Smith region would not suffer as a result of consolidation. Officials also said area residents would not lose their Fort Smith postmark.

Camp asserts in his report calling for the consolidation that the first year of consolidation will save the USPS $1.478 million, and $1.936 million each year thereafter.

Thomas Henry, a former Postal Service union official, challenged many of the findings in Camp’s report, alleging that Camp and others “tried to minimize the negative in that report so they could minimize the negative outcry from the public.”

Questions about the report were sent May 6 to Little Rock. On May 11, The City Wire was notified that answers would be available May 23. However, Stephen Seewoester, a communications program specialist, in the USPS Dallas office responded May 17 with answers. Following is the Q&A between The City Wire and Seewoester.

USPS Q&A
TCW: The public was told the Fort Smith postmark would remain on mail gathered in the area. However, the report suggests that mail will have a Northwest Arkansas stamp. The report also notes that a local postmark is available “in accordance with applicable policies in the Postal Operations Manual.” Will a Fort Smith postmark be automatic, or will it have to be requested? And what is the process to request a Fort Smith postmark?

Seewoester: Customers will need to bring their mail to a local Post Office or Postal Station to request the local postmark. All mail collected from residence, businesses, blue boxes, etc. will receive the Northwest Arkansas postmark. We use a regional postmarks in many of our processing centers including Central Arkansas (Little Rock) and Northeast Arkansas (Jonesboro).

TCW: Camp said in the hearings and in press releases that job losses would be around 35 jobs. However, the report indicates 79 FTE positions will be lost. Apparently, the 35 jobs lost reflects the gains in Northwest Arkansas subtracted from the 79 losses in Fort Smith. Why would Camp and other USPS officials attempt to leave the impression that only 35 jobs would be lost in the Fort Smith area?

Seewoester: The Postal Service prides itself on finding other positions for employees whose jobs have been eliminated. These job opportunities may or may not be in the community where the employee had been working. We are focused on the employees’ jobs regardless of what location that they reside.

TCW: Camp and other USPS officials also said no changes in service would happen. However, the report clearly indicates several changes that limit service in the area, with the overall upgrades and downgrades weighing out in favor of the downgrades. Why would Camp and other USPS officials tell the public something that is different from the report?

Seewoester: The Postal Service said there would be no change in local Fort Smith to Fort Smith service. However, we indicated at the public meeting that there would be some upgrades and downgrades in destinations around Fort Smith and surrounding communities.

TCW: What contingency plans are in place for winter weather road closures in Northwest Arkansas?

Seewoester: The Postal Service has contingency plans for all types of emergencies not just winter weather. Most unseen emergencies (fires, tornadoes, floods, winter weather, etc.) are assessed based on the specifics of the situation.

TCW: What does the USPS plan to do with the structure (apart from the attached mail station) at 74th St.?

Seewoester: The Postal Service continually assesses its facilities and looks for opportunities to reduce costs through sales or lease of buildings to maximize its operational budget. Once the Area Mail Processing plan is complete, our Facilities office will then research our options.

TCW: Also, please explain again why Camp’s report was not made available for public review prior to the final USPS decision?

Seewoester: Both draft and final AMP worksheets can contain commercially sensitive information, the public disclosure of which would cause competitive harm to the Postal Service. This information includes operations, volume and service performance date, or other information from which such data may be derived. Accordingly, neither draft nor final copies of AMP worksheets should be publicly disclosed before those worksheets have been reviewed and sensitive data redacted from copies intended for disclosure in accordance with guidance from our Headquarters organization.