Congress is going on Easter recess and will most probably address the Title 39 CFR wording change upon their return. Now is the time to contact your representative at their local office. Below is a series of excellent talking points to use in your email or fax to your representative. Let me be very blunt here, if the Title 39 CFR change is successful, it will mean the loss of many Post Offices, many Postmasters, and possibly your OWN job.
•The US Postal Service is trying to skirt the law in order to close post offices in small towns throughout rural America.
•On March 31, the USPS printed in the Federal Register proposed regulations – 39 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) Part 241 – that violate Title 39 of the United States Code.
•These proposed regulations would enable the Postal Service to unilaterally “convert” post offices to subordinate facilities, known as “stations and branches,” which are not protected under the law the way post offices are.
•Current law entitles communities to due process rights, including appellate review by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC), whenever the USPS plans to close or consolidate their post office.
•The USPS aims -- through “regulatory sleight of hand” -- to nullify a community’s due process rights.
•The USPS also seeks to unlawfully undercut the role of postmaster, the person legally responsible as “manager-in-charge of a post office,” according to Title 39 of the U.S. Code.
•Proposed regulations would allow post offices to be run by any employee.
•Postmasters are specially trained and qualified to manage post offices and are accountable to the communities they serve.
•Eliminating the postmaster as manager-in-charge of the post office would render the facility less accountable to the community, and make it easier for post offices to be closed.
•Postmasters and post offices are a visible and respected federal presence at the very heart of thousands of American towns and communities, especially rural ones.
•According to the Postal Regulatory Commission, closing all small and rural post offices would save only seven-tenths of one percent of the Postal Service’s operating budget.
•According to a Gallup pole, 86% of Americans oppose closing post offices.
•Please file official comments with the USPS stating your opposition to their proposed regulations to illegally close post offices and illegally redefine the role of postmaster.
•Comments must be received prior to May 2, 2011, at the following address:
Manager, Customer Service Standardization
Attn: Retail Discontinuance
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Room 6816
Washington, DC 20260-6816
In addition, Members of Congress should send a copy of their comments to:
Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260-2600
•Thank you.
Terry Housley
Postmaster
Mt Pleasant, SC 29464
