The APWU filed an amended complaint [PDF] with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on Dec.13, alleging that the USPS is failing to comply with service standards on first-class mail and periodicals. The APWU alleged that significant delays in mail delivery are being caused by the closure of processing facilities around the country.
Fast forward : USPS is set to announce it is postponing Phase II of the Network Rationalization, and the corresponding service standard. The changes were scheduled to become effective on February 1, 2014. The current service standards currently in effect will continue until further notice. The service standard changes associated with Phase I of Network Rationalization became effective on July 1, 2012. The proposal to revise service standards applied to First-Class Mail, Periodicals, and Standard Mail.
This document announces the postponement of the implementation date for the revised service standards for market-dominant mail products that were scheduled to take effect on February 1, 2014, as part of the Network Rationalization initiative. The new implementation date will be announced by the Postal Service in the Federal Register at least 90 days before it takes effect.
On September 21, 2011, the Postal Service published an advance notice of proposed rulemaking (the Advance Notice) in the Federal Register to solicit public comment on a conceptual proposal to revise service standards for market-dominant products. [1] After considering comments received in response to the Advance Notice, the Postal Service determined to develop the concept into a concrete proposal, termed Network Rationalization. The basic logic of Network Rationalization is that falling mail volumes and the resultant excess capacity in the Postal Service’s mail processing network necessitate a major consolidation of the network, and this task in turn is contingent on revisions to service standards, particularly the overnight standard for First-Class Mail.
On December 5, 2011, the Postal Service submitted a request to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) for an advisory opinion on the service changes associated with Network Rationalization, in accordance with 39 U.S.C. 3661(b). [2] On December 15, 2011, the Postal Service published proposed revisions to its market-dominant service standards in the Federal Register and sought public comment (the Proposed Rulemaking). [3] The comment period for the Proposed Rulemaking closed on February 13, 2012. The final rule was published on May 25, 2012. [4]
Having considered public input and the results of its market research, the Postal Service decided to implement Network Rationalization in a phased manner. The service standard changes associated with the first phase of Network Rationalization became effective on July 1, 2012. [5] This document announces the Postal Service’s decision to postpone the second phase of Network Rationalization, and the corresponding service standard changes.
The Postal Service’s market-dominant service standards are contained in 39 CFR part 121. This document revises the service standards by announcing the postponement of the implementation date for the service standards scheduled to become effective on February 1, 2014, and establishing the continuation of service standards currently in effect. This revision is applied by replacing “February 1, 2014” with “the effective date identified by the Postal Service in a future Federal Register document” each place where “February 1, 2014” appears in the current version of 39 CFR part 121, and in Appendix A to that part.
via Federal Register
Very well said Omni. The PMG was not going to be in his position forever, and everyone knows he is constructing a privatization. I’m relieved to hear this good news for the employees and the public, and of course wishing the USPS prosperity.
(Con’t) representatives fight FOR the dismantle of the postal service, and it seems the sooner, the better (no pun intended). Don’t think Obama would have allowed this to happen – but we know who would, huh?
Hey D Eff! Has Obama joined the party? What’s happened to the USPS is the fault of the USPS upper ‘crust’ AND our elected representatives. Being from OK, we’ve had our REPUBLICAN
What better way to drive away business than to cheapen the value of the service that you used to provide your customers? This will only hasten the loss of revenue, and the death spiral of USPS as an ongoing enterprise.
The classic case study of this phenomena was a restaurant that was famous for it’s rich, thick clam chowder, full of clams. The owner, in order to increase his profit margin, started watering down the chowder; putting in less ingredients. Soon all his customers left, and did not come back.
Same thing will happen to USPS. Water down/diminish the value of your service/brand and you will accelerate customers switching to alternatives.
The logic here is if you have a cut on your arm, the only alternative is to amputate your arm. No one is disputing that volume is going away, or the need to streamline. But you don’t need to destroy the one thing your customer’s relied on and trusted you for, in the process. Pretty stupid.
Maybe Donahoe is a privatizer in sheep’s clothing. His actions certainly seem to support that. Why can’t you maintain excellence while restructuring? Lots of companies have done it. IBM is a perfect example.
Any fool, (Donahoe anyone?) could see that processing the mail farther and farther from it’s final destination would delay the delivery of the mail…I’m sure in their models, they saw no delays, but I am also sure the models had perfect weather, perfect attendance, and no breakdowns of any machines, either trucks or processing machines…
Last I heard, professionals do not suffer fools, but here we are suffering with Donahoe…Just Sayin’…
This goes back to the Senate hearings of 9/19 and 9/26. Donahoe took a good deal of heat from Senators Tester and Heitkamp regarding changing standards. He made some promises regarding implementation of plant closures that could easily be interpreted as backing off the original schedule – he indicated there would not be additional closures although it was unclear whether he meant beyond Phase II implementation or whether he meant an abeyance on closures beyond what had already been completed.
It’s likely this is only a breather. Phase I has had some problems and there’s been significant political push back. At the moment it seems there is more focus on the exigent issue. Donahoe has support in Congress for wider discretion with rates so that’s where they are putting their effort as indicated by the lawsuit to make the exigent increase permanent.
Thanks a lot Obama! Glad you could FINALLY make it to the party. Now that my plant, Clarksburg, WV was “fast tracked” for closure last Sepember instead of this February, as was the original “AMP study plan.” Now that my job commute is 100 miles longer! How is it that the lowest ranking peon in the USPS knew this was not going to work but the all seeing, all knowing “Big Brothers” (pun intended) let the USPS implode?!? Nice business model!! I hope Congress adopts the same business philosophies as PMG Dumbo. We’ll all be FREE again in no time! See ya at the unemployment office, Issa!
The omnibus bill just passed by congress and the president requires the P.O. maintains 1983 delivery standards, 1 to 3 day for 1st class mail? We will have to see how that plays out. Many areas of the country have already lost the ability to get 1st class mail delivered quickly. The bill also preserves Saturday delivery.
Has the USPS finally come to its senses??