The Postal Service has postponed indefinitely a decision to close the bulk-mail department at the downtown St. Paul post office.
Postmaster Tony Williams announced the change of plans March 6, the day before Congresswoman Betty McCollum held a public forum in which businesses, unions, churches, community groups, city officials and even state legislators had their first chance to comment on the shutdown.
The Postal Service had announced in February that it would close the department ? formally known as the Business Mail Entry Unit ? and combine it with a similar department in Minneapolis. Williams blamed security problems in the St. Paul location and lack of space for new mail-sorting equipment known as MERLINS.
?It?s welcome news,? said Pat McCann, president of the St. Paul Area Local of the American Postal Workers Union, which has been organizing opposition to the decision.
The shutdown, which had been scheduled for April 19, would have forced the transfer of 30 employees, he said.
Customers cite extra costs
Customers at the March 7 forum breathed a sigh of relief when Williams announced the delay. Closing the department would add cost and inconvenience to businesses and organizations in the east metro, speakers said, and harm efforts to attract new development downtown.
Organizations don?t have time to drive to Minneapolis to drop off mail and can?t afford to hire someone to do it for them, said one speaker from the staff of the Landmark Center.
Constantly driving an additional 18 miles round trip ?can be a pretty significant financial cost to any small business or church,? said Larry Knoll, of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce.
Williams said additional forums would be scheduled in the east metro to hear additional customer comments, but McCann said he has yet to see a schedule of dates or locations.
In the meantime, McCann said, ?apparently the hold will be on for some time as they re-evaluate their decision.?
Postal officials have been measuring to figure out whether the MERLINS units could fit in St. Paul, and looking into adding badge access doors to minimize security risks, McCann said. ?It looks like they?re moving in the direction of keeping the bulk mail unit here.?
Written The Union Advocate newspaper, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Used by permission.
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The Postal Service has postponed indefinitely a decision to close the bulk-mail department at the downtown St. Paul post office.
Postmaster Tony Williams announced the change of plans March 6, the day before Congresswoman Betty McCollum held a public forum in which businesses, unions, churches, community groups, city officials and even state legislators had their first chance to comment on the shutdown.
The Postal Service had announced in February that it would close the department ? formally known as the Business Mail Entry Unit ? and combine it with a similar department in Minneapolis. Williams blamed security problems in the St. Paul location and lack of space for new mail-sorting equipment known as MERLINS.
?It?s welcome news,? said Pat McCann, president of the St. Paul Area Local of the American Postal Workers Union, which has been organizing opposition to the decision.
The shutdown, which had been scheduled for April 19, would have forced the transfer of 30 employees, he said.
Customers cite extra costs
Customers at the March 7 forum breathed a sigh of relief when Williams announced the delay. Closing the department would add cost and inconvenience to businesses and organizations in the east metro, speakers said, and harm efforts to attract new development downtown.
Organizations don?t have time to drive to Minneapolis to drop off mail and can?t afford to hire someone to do it for them, said one speaker from the staff of the Landmark Center.
Constantly driving an additional 18 miles round trip ?can be a pretty significant financial cost to any small business or church,? said Larry Knoll, of the St. Paul Area Chamber of Commerce.
Williams said additional forums would be scheduled in the east metro to hear additional customer comments, but McCann said he has yet to see a schedule of dates or locations.
In the meantime, McCann said, ?apparently the hold will be on for some time as they re-evaluate their decision.?
Postal officials have been measuring to figure out whether the MERLINS units could fit in St. Paul, and looking into adding badge access doors to minimize security risks, McCann said. ?It looks like they?re moving in the direction of keeping the bulk mail unit here.?
Written The Union Advocate newspaper, the official publication of the St. Paul Trades and Labor Assembly. Used by permission.