KINGSFORD, Mich. (WZMQ) – A scheduled public meeting, set for this Thursday to address recent alterations affecting mail services in the Upper Peninsula, is still set to take place. New changes could include a potential closure of the distribution center in Kingsford, with a transfer of operations to Green Bay, Wisconsin. In the aftermath of USPS Collection Optimization Plan tweaks, considerable criticism of the plan comes from the local American Postal Workers 1189 President, who urges the public to voice their opinions and concerns at the upcoming public meeting.
On January 8th, the USPS Collection Optimization Plan eliminated nighttime pick-up runs, leading to significant delays in mail delivery across the 498-499 areas. Michelle Yuhasey, President of Skiff 498-499 for the American Postal Worker Union 1189, voices sharp criticism regarding the lack of public notification surrounding these modifications, emphasizing their detrimental impact on local residents and businesses.
“The decisions were made and implemented without notification to the Union at the local level,” Yuhasey informed, highlighting the unilateral nature of the changes.
Yuhasey highlights the tangible repercussions faced by businesses, citing instances like a water-testing service, White Water Associates near Iron River, which relies on a 24-hour turnaround time for its testing samples. Large-scale retailers such as Stormy Kromer are also grappling with the fallout of these alterations, she adds.
“Nobody but the Postal Service benefits from the changes. They’re actually hurting the public. They’re killing our service. The clerks are upset, we’re upset, managers are upset. There’s White Water Associates where they do water testing and their samples have to be in within 24 hours, and she can’t get them here in 24 hours,” commented Yuhasey.
Representative Jack Bergman of Michigan’s 1st District pledges bipartisan efforts to address the concerns raised, particularly regarding the potential relocation of distribution operations to Green Bay.
“They’re talking about closing it, and moving it to Green Bay,” Bergman reveals, expressing his commitment to defending the interests of constituents reliant on the distribution center remaining in Kingsford.
“If you know anything about the geography of the U.P., it puts reduced service, – that’s the key – reduced service capabilities, and we have people and businesses who rely on that distribution center to get their mail, their packages, all those things in a timely manner. And I’m going to fight the bureaucracy here in every way, shape, or form, to hopefully get them to reverse that decision. Because the one thing we have to deal with in the Upper Peninsula is the distance, and the tyranny of distance. The tyranny, in some cases, of weather. Moving it out of Kingsford just delays the delivery of goods and services. The Postal Service can do better. And again, I’m going to fight for that Kingsford facility to stay open,” remarked Representative Bergman, adding his pledge to bipartisan efforts to keep the distribution center in Kingsford.
“What you do here in Washington,” Bergman explained, “is that largely through my staff, we work with the different agencies, in this case the Postal Service and where I work personally is with finding other colleagues. Democrats, Republicans, it doesn’t make any difference, who could potentially be next on the hit list. And we kind of bond and band together to say no, stop. This doesn’t make sense. It may be a good idea in some D.C. bureaucrats eyes, but it’s not the best for our citizens. So I’m going to fight for my constituents in the U.P.,” pledged Representative Bergman.
Yuhasey expresses apprehension regarding the security of postal workers’ jobs following recent correspondence from the national USPS headquarters, dated February 1st. While initial assurances stated no local jobs would be affected, subsequent communication in the very same letter hinted at the contrary, raising concerns over the community impact to families and children in the local school systems.
“That letter, right there, clarifies that they’re taking it from us with or without our opinions. With or without, how we feel about it.” Yuhasey laments, underscoring the urgency of the situation. “Postal workers’ jobs could be in jeopardy. Their families are here. Their kids go to school here. They pay taxes here. They buy locally,” she added.
The local postal union, in collaboration with Senator McBroom, is actively responding to these changes, seeking avenues for redress. Yuhasey remains resolute, vowing to keep the community informed on further developments regarding the future of mail distribution in the Upper Peninsula.
“We have fought this off successfully twice before during my 30 years with the Postal Service. We fought it off in 2010-2011, and before that there was talk when Sawyer closed that we would go to K.I. Sawyer, and they would take that facility up there because it was more centrally located for the U.P., but because of the snowbelt, they decided against it, and kept Iron Mountain Kingsford here.”
The local Union President plans to be present at the Kingsford Armory at 2 p.m. CST this Thursday to allow the public a chance to voice their concerns. WZMQ will continue to follow this story as it progresses.
