Local postal workers union president says Kansas could lose only mail processing facility in state.
Tuesday was a busy day for many postal workers in various cities as they marched in demand for improved staffing and mail services.
In Wichita, members of the American Postal Workers Union are concerned that postal system modifications proposed by the United States Postal Service may result in relocating the state’s only mail processing center.
This is because the postal workers’ activity comes after a FactFinder 12 Investigation in September which also examined the proposal and concerns regarding the slowness of mail delivery particularly to rural areas. The United States Postal Service is currently seeking ways of improving its financial situation that has seen it implement cost cutting measures of up to 3 billion dollars every year. Part of this mission, relative importation of regional centers is emphasized by USPS.
Christine Pruitt, the local American Postal Workers Union President said that if those changes are implemented as proposed, the processing center located in Wichita may be moved to another state. At the moment, the processing center located in Wichita is the only one found within the state of Kansas.
“Actually all the rest are gone. It’s just here in Wichita that they process, us.” remarked Pruitt. “They’d rather transfer our processing mail to Kansas City, Missouri. I mean, how long is it going to take to get your mail if they put all of it in a truck to be sent to Kansas City for processing?”
According to a CBS report, if the proposed modifications are implemented, changes in delivery timing would shrink to two to five days for the proposed mail service, but a half or full day for some other rural areas served.
Moreover, Pruitt maintained that the five-day delivery period will only commence once the mail gets to Kansas City. She further noted that as a result, the residents in those areas especially remote ones could be placed at risk of extended delays in mail delivery beyond five days.
“The timetable is based on the fact that the consignment will arrive back in Wichita for redistribution in five days,” explained Pruitt. “Unfortunately, when we discuss rural delivery, the rate of the service resumes could be between 10 to 12 days, from the moment they send it from Wellington until it crosses the street within the town. That’s not alright.”
In connection with the November 5 election, the APWU and the local mail carriers union stated that there is already a strategy to guarantee that there will be personnel on duty every day in the handling of mail-in ballots.
