Pensacola Independent News

INDAILY | Vol. 11, No. 30, August 13, 2009
(America's White-Collar Junkies)
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News: Post Office Not Going Down Without Fight

by Sean Boone

Despite the threat of tropical storm weather on Monday, U.S. Postal Service union members lined Palafox Street to picket the scheduled closing of the downtown Pensacola branch office.

At 9 a.m. roughly 10 union members were outside the building holding signs and handing out pamphlets to those walking by.

"We mostly want to make the public aware of what is going on," says American Post Workers Union Vice President Tony Turcotte. "Some people are aware (of the closing), but a lot are not aware."

The U.S. Postal Service is planning on closing 630 leased facilities across the country to cut its budget. The leased downtown office--at 101 Palafox Pl.--would consolidate with the post office at 1400 W. Jordan Street.

Members of the APWU say closing the office would not only leave a void in downtown and go against public opinion, but would actually cost more to relocate.

"There is really no glaringly big savings by doing this, says Ken Baker, director of industrial relations for the APWU. "They must invest a lot of money in the new facility when they close this one (to add the mailboxes)."

The local chapter of APWU will hold a town hall meeting at First Baptist Church, 500 North Palafox St., Tuesday Aug. 18 at 6 p.m. The meeting is designed to hear community input on the closure. The U.S. Postal Service is required to give the community 20 days to give input on the proposed closing before executing its plan.

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News: Post Office Not Going Down Without Fight