Post Office plant closing topic at Southside meeting

Curtis Walter, president of Local 271 and a 17-year veteran with the United States Post Office (USPS), was the featured speaker at the South Side Business and Resident Association meeting March 15.

Walter expressed his concern for what he termed "a misguided cost-cutting scheme" by the U.S. Postal Service to move mail sorting operations performed at the Flint Post Office to the Michigan Metroplex in Pontiac, 50 miles away.

About 200 people will be relocated from Flint, but only 20 will move to Pontiac, he said.

"The rest of the employees will be transferred to other states," Walter said. "I have no problem if the USPS wants to save money, but closing the Flint plant makes no sense at all."

"Flint has top-of-the-line machinery and this measure won't save money. It will only slow down mail service," he said.

According to Walter, the Pontiac consolidation will have a negative effect on mail service in the Flint area — despite USPS assurances to the contrary. He explained that mail would be collected earlier in the day and arrive later — possibly after dark. Checks will be delayed. Bills may not get paid on time and medication delivered by mail will take longer to arrive.

Walter explained that sending Flint mail to Pontiac for processing will also hurt local businesses and will drain more jobs.

"The Postal Services claims the move will improve efficiency, but it failed to provide any real evidence," Walter added.

Walter was asked what effect e-mail is having on the amount of mail processed. Beginning in 2006, he responded, the post office saw a large reduction in regular mail.

"E-mail has had some effect on our business," Walter said, "but cell phones have greatly reduced the numbers of letters mailed, too. Most people have monthly cell phone contracts so they can just pick up the phone and call — with no long distance charges — instead of writing a letter."

Competitors in package delivery have also affected the USPS.

"We've given up delivery of any package over 75 pounds," he said, "but we've done pretty good with small package delivery. We're very competitive in that area."

Asked about Saturday delivery, Walter said that lobbyists stopped the attempt to end Saturday delivery because businesses want it to continue.

Postal workers will be picketing from 10:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. March 17 and March 22 near the main post office building, 250 East Boulevard Dr.

A public hearing will be held from 7 to 9 p.m. March 23 at the Holiday Inn, 5353 Gateway Center.

In other matters, Blondie Powell, Code Red Committee chairman, reported the system is ready to go. A test will be preformed March 26. The group plans to contact the South Side Task Force and local mail carriers to connect them into the crime reporting system.

The group recognized the prosecutor's office for its help with graffiti removal on the Grand Traverse overpass and the building across from the International Academy of Flint.

The next meeting will be at 11:45 a.m. April 19 at Applegate Chevrolet, 3637 S. Saginaw St.

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