The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) has denied the APWU’s request [PDF] for an emergency order to stop the Postal Service from implementing its latest plan to consolidate the mail processing network and reduce service standards until after the commission rules on the union’s underlying June 12 complaint.

“The decision demonstrates the need to strengthen the commission’s authority and to enhance public input into USPS plans that would affect service on a nationwide basis,” said APWU President Cliff Guffey.

PRC Press Release

Press Release

June 29, 2012

PRC Denies APWU Request for Emergency Relief

Washington, DC – The Postal Regulatory Commission (Commission) today denied a Motion from the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) requesting an Emergency Order preventing the Postal Service from implementing changes in service standards until after the Commission has issued a final ruling on an APWU Complaint filed on June 12, 2012.

The underlying APWU Complaint is still before the Commission, and the Postal Service response to the Complaint is due by July 2, 2012.

In its Motion, APWU asked that the Commission issue its ruling on or before June 30, 2012. The Commission weighed the merits of APWU’s arguments and is issuing its decision on the Motion promptly, before that date.

The Commission Order states that “APWU has failed to demonstrate that it has a substantial likelihood of prevailing on the merits, that it will suffer irreparable harm, or that the balance of the equities in this matter weighs in its favor.” The Commission Order concludes that “the potential harm to the Postal Service from a preliminary injunction outweighs the potential harm to mailers from not issuing a preliminary injunction.”

A copy of today’s decision (Order No. 1387), the request for emergency relief, and the Complaint can be found at www.prc.gov under Docket No. C2012-2.