{"id":4375,"date":"2012-05-10T22:33:58","date_gmt":"2012-05-11T03:33:58","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=4375"},"modified":"2012-05-10T22:33:58","modified_gmt":"2012-05-11T03:33:58","slug":"apwu-says-address-postal-reform-now-start-with-senate-bill","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2012\/05\/10\/apwu-says-address-postal-reform-now-start-with-senate-bill\/","title":{"rendered":"APWU Says Address Postal Reform Now, Start With Senate Bill"},"content":{"rendered":"

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As the May 15 expiration of a moratorium on the closure of post offices and mail processing facilities approaches, the APWU is urging the House of Representatives to address postal reform immediately, and to use the Senate bill as a starting point. The USPS\u2019 May 9 announcement about keeping rural offices open isn\u2019t binding and won\u2019t solve the USPS financial crisis, so we must keep fighting, the union says.<\/p>\n

The attention of lawmakers, postal workers and customers shifted to the House after the Senate passed a bi-partisan postal bill (S. 1789) on April 25, but, so far, House leaders have displayed no sense of urgency in addressing the issue. As CNN Money reported on April 27, \u201cAides say Republican leaders don\u2019t feel pressured to take up the House bill right away, because they\u2019re not worried about postal closures.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the union, postal customers and many legislators see things differently. \u201cWe cannot allow legislative inaction to force the USPS to implement drastic cuts that will destroy the nation\u2019s mail system, damage service, and jeopardize tens of thousands of jobs,\u201d said APWU President Cliff Guffey.<\/p>\n

\u201cI encourage all union members to contact their representatives and urge them to consider postal reform legislation immediately. Be sure to ask them to use the Senate bill as a starting point,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

The Senate Bill<\/strong><\/p>\n

\u201cThe Senate bill is flawed,\u201d Guffey said, \u201cbut it is much better than an earlier version \u2014 and it is infinitely better than the bill that was approved by a House Committee last year.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe improvements to the Senate bill are the result of the efforts of postal workers, customers, and legislators who recognize the importance of the USPS to American life \u2014 and have fought to protect it,\u201d he said. \u201cWe now must apply the same determination to the House.\u201d<\/p>\n

The APWU is seeking several improvements to the Senate bill:<\/p>\n