Here is the USPS list of the first 48 plants that may be consolidated by this coming Summer:

List of first 48 plants to be consolidated, Summer 2012

The Postal Service’s announcement that there are no immediate plans to offer incentives or VERA to EAS employees will be received by some as a mixed message. We know that some EAS employees who have been waiting to take advantage of these incentives for some time. On the other hand, there are other EAS employees who need to have a job, a job where they now work, close to their homes and families.

NAPS has been a leader the in the fight to keep processing facilities and post offices open to serve the American public. In this fight, we have been successful. As a result there will not be massive job losses in our ranks. NAPS believes that what we have accomplished is good for our members and good for our country.

Now that the Postal Service has determined there is no need to keep “landing spots” for impacted EAS employees, NAPS will emphasize the immediate need to fill vacant positions that exist throughout the country.

We can no longer function with the number of vacancies we have in operations and these positions need to be filled now.

While we will be working to get vacant positions filled, and our members point to the postmasters who can take advantage of incentives and VERA’s, all must be mindful that there are large numbers of postmasters that may not be able to take advantage of the incentives and will have to make the hard decisions on where they will be able to work after their restructuring.

Had the Postal Service implemented their plans to close half of the processing facilities in the country, there would have been hundreds if not thousands of EAS employees faced with the decision of moving great distances to keep a job. If the Postal Service’s plans were initiated, our veterans would have been RIF’d because of the current rules on closure of competitive areas.

NAPS will continue our efforts to minimize the impact of the Postal Service’s consolidation plans on our members now and in the future. We will continue to do everything in our power to protect the interests of our members.

Earlier today the USPS announced that it was going ahead with plant consolidations, aiming to close up to 140 plants by next February. The first 48 plants could close as early as this summer. Here is the list:

NetworkOpt_May17

From USPS News Link:

USPS is moving ahead with a modified, phased plan to consolidate its network of 461 mail processing locations.

The first phase of activities will result in up to 140 consolidations through February of 2013. Unless the Postal Service’s circumstances change, a second and final phase of 89 consolidations currently is scheduled to begin in February 2014.

“We revised our network consolidation timeline to provide a longer planning schedule for our customers, employees and other stakeholders, and to enable a more methodical and measured implementation,” said PMG Pat Donahoe.

Donahoe said the Postal Service must match its network with its anticipated workload to return to long-term financial stability. “We simply do not have the mail volumes to justify the size and capacity of our current mail processing network,” he said. “This modified plan meets our cost reduction goals, ensures seamless and excellent service performance throughout the implementation period and provides adequate time for our customers to adapt to our network changes.” Read the rest of this entry »

TALLAHASSEE, FLORIDA – Former postal employee, Jacquelyn V. Myers, 55, of Tallahassee, Florida, was found guilty by a federal jury yesterday of healthcare fraud and making false statements to obtain workers’ compensation benefits.

Evidence presented at the two-day jury trial established that, while claiming she was physically unable to fulfill her responsibilities as a rural letter carrier with the Postal Service, Myers competed in more than 80 athletic events in Florida and Georgia. Although she claimed that she could only handle “light duty” in her government job, Myers was competing in 5K races, 10K races, triathlons, and marathons, including the Boston Marathon, which she ran in April 2010.

In May 2009, Myers reported that she had suffered a lower back injury during the annual letter carriers’ food drive. As a result, she was relieved of the letter carrying duties for which she had been hired, and placed on “light duty.” Between June and December of 2009, Myers told her treating physicians and physical therapists that her back injury had not improved, and that she was unable to twist and bend at the waist – activities associated with the delivery of mail. Photographs and videotapes taken during the same period show Myers running barefoot on gravel in a cross-country event, and swimming, cycling, and running in a triathlon. Evidence at trial demonstrated that Myers’ race times actually improved over those recorded prior to her reported date of injury.

The defendant faces maximum sentences of five years in prison for false statements and ten years in prison for healthcare fraud. Sentencing has been scheduled for July 25, 2012, at 11:00 a.m., before United States District Judge Robert L. Hinkle.

Pamela C. Marsh, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Florida, praised the work of the United States Postal Service, Office of Inspector General, whose investigation led to the convictions.

The case was prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Coody.