After posting the news article Behind the Scenes changes may be coming to post offices PostalReporter.com received the following information:
The relocation of carriers to nearby cities is called “Delivery Unit Optimization” . This will cause affected carriers and some clerks to be excessed. Some clerk and supervisor positions will be abolished. The residual clerk work in the losing office could also be contracted out to a Contract Postal Unit or Community Post Office (see www.usps.com/postalhistory/_pdf/StationsBranches.pdf).
What is the Delivery Unit Optimization Initiative?
Delivery Unit Optimization (DUO) is a cross functional effort to streamline Delivery and Post Office Operations.
By identifying savings opportunities in operations we better position our offices for current success and future change.
Savings Opportunity Areas:
Function 4 Operations
● Complement
Office Level (Postmaster/EAS)
Facilities
● Lease
● Custodial
Transportation
● Trips/Frequency
Candidate Offices:
Grouping of post offices within 10-15 mile radius
Serviced by the same processing facility
Facility Capacities
● Excess workspace in at least 1 office
● Sufficient parking
Current Staffing
● EAS/Craft
“Hub”
● Receives delivery operations
“Post Offices”
● 9 routes or less
● Transfers delivery operations to parent office
● Retains retail window operations
● Retains post office box operations
Participating USPS Districts
Capital, N New England, Alabama, Fort Worth and Central Plains
Mike Gallagher, APWU Eastern Region Coordinator sent out the following information:
…regard to the effort we have been making in regard to our discovery of a management program (Delivery Unit Optimization) that is being implemented without any discussion with our APWU headquarter representatives.
This initiative will not only impact carriers but will have a substantial impact on clerical employees and lead to a rash of 1.6.B. cases in my estimation.
Albany District management met with some of our Locals last week to inform them that they are going to centralize a considerable number of carrier operations into one facility, the clerks will follow the operations (via excessing) and the residual remaining work in the former offices (box mail, window) will be performed by the PM of the office.
John Dirzius, APWU Northeast Region Coordinator sent out the following information:
Delivery Unit Optimization Initiative
Back on July 22, 2010 our APWU Local Leadership in the Albany District alerted NBA Pete Coradi, Eastern Regional Coordinator Mike Gallagher, and myself to a meeting scheduled by the Albany District to discuss the implementation of the Delivery Unit Optimization Initiative. In fact, this District had already completed the process of identify potential delivery units that could be consolidated.
I immediately contacted the Area as no one in the Northeast Region had any information on this newest management initiative to consolidate delivery units. Once again management failed to provide any advance notice or information to the APWU relative to this program. I further requested that there be an immediate meeting at the Regional/Area level prior to any meetings with our locals at the District level.
Brother Gallagher pursued the issue at the national level only to discover that no advance notice or information was provided to our national office as well.
In response to our collective effort President Burrus immediately sent an official inquiry to postal management relative to this initiative. This is another management “experiment” to consolidate operations and eliminate our jobs! As the presentation states…”this is a collective effort to streamline Delivery and Post Office Operations. Saving opportunities areas are Function 4 complement.”
APWU President William Burrus’ letter to John Dockins:
I am in receipt of the Delivery Unit Optimization Program which was presented as a Management Association Briefing. My records do not reflect that APWU has been
informed of the program or provided the power point presentation.
As this program may constitute a new initiative affecting APWU represented employees as referred to in Article 170f the national agreement, the union insists that
we have a voice in the development of the program.
Please respond on this matter to APWU Executive Vice President Cliff Guffey at your earliest convenience.