Brown Calls on USPS to Rethink Reported Proposal to Close Cleveland Mail Center
Brown: "If Reports are True, Revisit this Ill-Considered Move"
July 17, 2008
WASHINGTON—U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown today called on the Postmaster General of the United States Postal Service (USPS) to rethink a reported proposal to close the Cleveland Airport Mail Center. Brown requested that USPS meet with workers, labor leaders, and public officials before making a final decision. He asked that USPS consider the economic environment, the effects of centralization, and workforce issues when making a final decision.
“It has come to my attention that USPS may have plans to close the Cleveland Airport Mail Center,” Brown wrote. “If the reports are true, I request that you revisit this ill-considered move. USPS must not ignore the economic environment when making decisions that affect its workers and its customer base. A loyal workforce is essential to your future success and disaffected customers are incompatible with it.”
Brown’s letter comes after USPS officials refused to confirm the proposed closing, or meet with workers, labor leaders, and public officials. Nearly 150 individuals are employed at the mail center. If the center is closed, priority mail would likely be flown to Pittsburgh, sorted, and then sent to Cleveland instead of being sent directly to the Cleveland facility.
“I am concerned that USPS may be over-relying on centralization as an expedient, but not necessarily effective, business strategy,” continued Brown in his letter. “It is disruptive and ultimately counterproductive to centralize functions at the expense of targeted production, a dedicated and efficient local workforce, and reliable, timely customer service.”
The proposal to close the facility is part of a USPS initiative to streamline operations and cut costs. The initiative resulted in the closing of 54 other airport mail centers across the nation since 2006.
A full copy of Senator Brown’s letter is below:
Mr. John E. Potter
Postmaster General
United States Postal Service
475 L'Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, District of Columbia 20260
Dear Mr. Potter:
It has come to my attention that USPS may have plans to close the Cleveland Airport Mail Center.
If the reports are true, I request that you revisit this ill-considered move. USPS must not ignore the economic environment when making decisions that affect its workers and its customer base. A loyal workforce is essential to your future success and disaffected customers are incompatible with it.
I am concerned that USPS may be over-relying on centralization as an expedient, but not necessarily effective, business strategy. It is disruptive and ultimately counterproductive to centralize functions at the expense of targeted production, a dedicated and efficient local workforce, and reliable, timely customer service.
I look forward to your immediate response to my inquiry and please consider having your regional office meet with my State Directors, John Ryan and Elizabeth Thames, who would welcome the opportunity to discuss the matters with you as well as any interested stakeholders. Your response should be directed to John Patterson in my Cleveland Office, who will coordinate any necessary follow-up. My office is located at 1301 E. 9th Street, Suite 1710, Cleveland, Ohio 44114 (Phone: 216-522-7272; Fax: 216-522-2239). I will be providing a copy of this letter to the Northeast Ohio Acting District Manager
Thank you for your attention to this request.
Sincerely,
Sherrod Brown
United States Senator
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(202) 224-3978

