DUR Information
Hello Everyone,
As you know, two weeks ago I attended a meeting with National President Dale Goff at the GLA office with VP JoAnn Fiendt. The purpose was to discuss the implementation of the DUR process, and share discussion of issues which have arisen during the process. Many questions were answered, and many items were clarified, including the explanation of the difference between the "relocation process" versus "consolidation". The DUR process is not considered as consolidation of an office, because the office still remains within the community with a Postmaster, retail service, and box service (with a consolidation the entire office is eliminated). With the DUR process, delivery services are transferred to another location, along with the affected personnel from the office (clerks, city carriers, and rural carriers).
The primary incentive for initiating the DUR process in an office is to utilize the available clerk craft in the most efficient and effective manner, and thus reduce the clerk complement. Factors which must be reviewed when an office is under consideration for DUR include space, parking, reasonable mileage for affected employees, and the net savings for the change. Let me stress that no management association (including NAPUS) can stop the process from taking place, but we can improve the transition with communication and involvement with the decision of which offices will be effected. These points were addressed by President Dale with both Ms. Fiendt and District Manager Bob Hart, who were receptive to his input.
The DUR process has not been mandated by the Area office, but it was suggested to the District Managers for review. Each district identified possible DUR sites, and in NID three offices were changed once they were vacated last June. After that, another 16 sites were identified as possible DUR offices, with 12 of those sites approved last week. The four sites which were removed from consideration had provided a valid business case to the management team, which changed the decision to implement the DUR process. I am aware that other offices also submitted valid business plans, but the review committee felt that additional savings could still be obtained from those offices, so the DUR process was approved for implementation.
Bob Hart did inform me that district management was not looking to expand the DUR process to other POOM areas, nor would additional offices be affected in northwestern Illinois.
I know that many of you are very disappointed with the actions of the USPS, and felt that NAPUS should stop any and all activity with the DUR process. Unfortunately, as I stated earlier, we do not have any legal power to prevent the USPS from taking this action. I, like you, have learned much about this process by dealing with it as it comes down the track. The best option we have available as an organization is to develop a plan for any future activities, so that more offices can present an effective business case if they are placed under consideration. Plus, just communicating the concerns from your offices made Mr. Hart much more aware of the effects of the process, which I believe played a factor in the decision to hold off future actions.
I am sorry that it took me so long to present this information to you, and those who know me well are aware that this is not normal for me. Since the meeting, we have held an open house at our home (got a contract!) and held a baby shower for 50 ladies for my daughter. There was much preparation involved for both events (including painting, cleaning, etc.), and I had an obligation to keep Mama happy. I do try to keep my NAPUS family abreast of all issues, but I failed this time. Please accept my apology, and I would appreciate it if you could share this information with Tom Lanigan, Ray Tesmer, and Johnny O'Shea, since I do not have their email addresses, and they were very instrumental in providing me with information and updates.
We may not have been able to stop the train this time, but I believe we did change the lay of the track for future journeys. I appreciate all of your time and input; please continue to keep me aprised of any future actions.
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