WASHINGTON -- Employees at mail processing facilities in New Orleans and Lafayette, which were slated to close as part of a major Postal Service reorganization plan, received a reprieve, though it may be temporary. Last year, the two facilities were on a list of 222 facilities slated for closing as the Postal Service sought to reduce a multi-billion dollar...
WASHINGTON -- Employees at mail processing facilities in New Orleans and Lafayette, which were slated to close as part of a major Postal Service reorganization plan, received a reprieve, though it may be temporary. Last year, the two facilities were on a list of 222 facilities slated for closing as the Postal Service sought to reduce a multi-billion dollar deficit.
But the facilities aren't on a revised list of about 50 facilities the Postal Service hopes to close later this year, according to John Friess, a Postal Service spokesman.
"We have no facilities slated for closure in (Louisiana)," Friess said Tuesday. But he added that "2014 is still being evaluated."
The original plan was to close the New Orleans and Lafayette mail processing facilities, and transfer the work to the Baton Rouge facility. New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, supported by members of the Louisiana congressional delegation, fought the plan, which would have cost New Orleans an 880-job facility.
Many of the workers would have had the option to transfer to other mail facilities, though the new jobs wouldn't necessarily be in New Orleans.
Giovanny Alvarez, seen delivering mail in Washington D.C. last year after a major storm, may not be out on Saturday, if Postal Service officials have their way.
The Postal Service is continuing with plans to eliminate Saturday mail service, except for packages and prescription drugs, despite passage last month by Congress of a 2013 spending bill that requires six-day-a-week service.
The Saturday delivery issue may end up being settled in the courts. Some Postal Service officials said they believe they can act because Congress doesn't directly appropriate tax dollars to the Postal Service, and therefore shouldn't be able to dictate service decisions. That's disputed by some members of Congress who argue that Congress has long set Postal Service policy.
The current plans calls for Saturday delivery to stop on Aug. 5. If it goes through, 20,000-25,000 letter carriers, clerks and mail sorter positions nationally would be eliminated, but most of the job losses are expected to be achieved though attrition, new job assignments, buyouts and reduced overtime.