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"

Letter

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.

a.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.

b.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?
c.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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