By MARK MARONEY (mmaroney@sungazette.com) , Williamsport Sun-Gazette
Barring an act of Congress, the Reach Road facility that processes mail will move to Harrisburg before May 15, according to the U.S. Postal Service.
The decision impacts between 54 and 66 employees.
"That number may go up or down a bit," said Raymond Daiutolo Sr., a Postal Service spokesman based in Bellmawr, N.J.
The Postal Service has experienced a 25 percent decline in first-class mail volume since 2006 and receives no tax dollars for its operations, relying instead on the sale of postage and postal products and services, he added.
It's unknown whether the closing of the city processing center will impact letter carriers in the area, according to Paul Nyman, a representative of Branch 50 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents 180 letter carriers.
"The main impact is on postal workers in the union losing their jobs," Nyman said. "They are the ones with the jobs that process the mail and those jobs will be eliminated."
Any re-assignments will be handled according to collective bargaining agreements.
"Each plant has its own agreement," Daiutolo said.
Nyman worries about the local impact on mail delivery.
"I believe those in the 17701 zip code and 16900 zip code from northern Lycoming County to the New York border, including Wellsboro, Elkland and communities in between, will be impacted because Williamsport's facility processes their mail," Nyman said. "That mail will now have to be sent 150 miles to be processed.
"A sadder part of this decision is the Williamsport mail efficiency rate is at 90 percent while the efficiency in Harrisburg is much lower than that - near the 60 percentile," Nyman said.
He based his assessment on documentation provided at a public forum held in December at the Genetti Hotel.
Nyman said the trickle-down effect will be noticed.
"People who do bulk mailings who can expect the rate to go up in the area because Williamsport was a local drop area for bulk mail and now the only way to get the discount will be to take the mail to Harrisburg," he said.
The decision to transfer operations to Harrisburg won't impact the Williamsport post office retail area on Reach Road.
"Customers will still go there to buy stamps," Daiutolo said. "This decision involves the mail processing operations that take place in the back.
Changes are pending on overnight deliveries, however.
The Postal Service estimates moving the mail processing operation to Harrisburg will save it $3.1 million a year.
"The decision to consolidate mail processing facilities recognizes the urgent need to reduce the size of the national mail processing network to eliminate costly underutilized infrastructure," said Postal Service Chief Operating Officer Megan Brennan. "Consolidating operations is necessary if the Postal Service is to remain viable to provide mail service to the nation."
A commitment had been assured by Congress that the Postal Service won't implement any decisions to close or consolidate mail processing facilities prior to May 15.
That gives Congress and the administration the opportunity to enact an alternative plan, Daiutolo said.
The delay also allows Congress time to enact comprehensive postal legislation.
In the meantime, the Postal Service continued all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities, including public notifications, public input meetings and consideration of public comments.
Wednesday, February 29, 2012
Providing Protections for In-Home Care Workers
In-home care service is a high growth industry, and it’s projected to grow by 50 percent between 2008 and 2018. In-home caregivers are an essential component of the health care system and will only become more important, as an increased number of patients turn to them for more affordable assistance with medical care as well as everyday tasks and household chores.
Many homecare providers earn less than the minimum wage and no overtime for these vital services. In 2007, then-Senator Obama spent a day with professional homecare worker Pauline Beck, assisting with her daily tasks and observing firsthand the unique challenges of in-home care (watch the video). He was impressed by Pauline’s dedication, and determined to assist her and others in her profession.
Today, Pauline joined me and President Obama as he announced a proposal from the U.S. Department of Labor to revise the Fair Labor Standards Act rules that would ensure fair pay for approximately 1.8 million workers who provide in-home care services for the elderly and infirm. This new rule would ensure that these hardworking professionals who provide valuable services to American families would receive the protections of minimum wage and overtime pay that nearly every employee in the United States already receives under the FLSA.
Many of these workers are the primary breadwinners for their families. Of the roughly 2 million workers who will be affected by this rule, more than 92 percent are women, nearly 50 percent are minorities, and nearly 40 percent rely on public benefits such as Medicaid and food stamps. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, home health care aides earn about $21,000 a year and many lack health insurance. That is unacceptable.
The proposed regulation would also ensure that employers who have been treating these workers fairly are no longer at a competitive disadvantage. Leveling the playing field for both workers and employers is a fundamental principle of the FLSA.
My department is committed to fighting for good jobs for everyone, jobs that enable workers to earn a living wage, afford health insurance and save for retirement. The services provided by in-home health care providers aren’t just professional; they’re personal. And for millions of American families, they’re indispensible. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that they receive the same job protections available to the majority of working Americans
Once published, we encourage you to provide comments on this important proposal by visiting the federal rulemaking website at www.regulations.gov. More information, including the proposed rule and fact sheet, is available here.
Hilda Solis is Secretary of the Department of Labor
Original White Post
Many homecare providers earn less than the minimum wage and no overtime for these vital services. In 2007, then-Senator Obama spent a day with professional homecare worker Pauline Beck, assisting with her daily tasks and observing firsthand the unique challenges of in-home care (watch the video). He was impressed by Pauline’s dedication, and determined to assist her and others in her profession.
Today, Pauline joined me and President Obama as he announced a proposal from the U.S. Department of Labor to revise the Fair Labor Standards Act rules that would ensure fair pay for approximately 1.8 million workers who provide in-home care services for the elderly and infirm. This new rule would ensure that these hardworking professionals who provide valuable services to American families would receive the protections of minimum wage and overtime pay that nearly every employee in the United States already receives under the FLSA.
Many of these workers are the primary breadwinners for their families. Of the roughly 2 million workers who will be affected by this rule, more than 92 percent are women, nearly 50 percent are minorities, and nearly 40 percent rely on public benefits such as Medicaid and food stamps. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, home health care aides earn about $21,000 a year and many lack health insurance. That is unacceptable.
The proposed regulation would also ensure that employers who have been treating these workers fairly are no longer at a competitive disadvantage. Leveling the playing field for both workers and employers is a fundamental principle of the FLSA.
My department is committed to fighting for good jobs for everyone, jobs that enable workers to earn a living wage, afford health insurance and save for retirement. The services provided by in-home health care providers aren’t just professional; they’re personal. And for millions of American families, they’re indispensible. That’s why it’s so important to ensure that they receive the same job protections available to the majority of working Americans
Once published, we encourage you to provide comments on this important proposal by visiting the federal rulemaking website at www.regulations.gov. More information, including the proposed rule and fact sheet, is available here.
Hilda Solis is Secretary of the Department of Labor
Original White Post
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