The president of the Postal Workers Union #2063 at the Bradford
Post Office believes that mail processing and delivery standards
will suffer with the loss of the five people the post office
intends to do without come January.

Mike Schweinberg explained Friday that at this time, the post
office operates with 13 regular staff. Losing five positions would
result in more overtime hours, which the Erie District would like
to see reduced, and more use of part-time workers to cover for the
loss of those full-time workers.

If that should happen, Schweinberg said he would hope they could
justify bringing back at least a few of the eliminated
positions.

“The Postmaster (Dana Klein) won’t accept input or suggestions
from the union,” said Schweinberg.

“There may be a low volume of first class mail, but bulk is
increasing and that means running the machines (which the five
workers would do). Rural areas are more dependent on bulk mail,
such as catalogs, and even using Amazon.com, that stuff is mailed
…” added Schweinberg, explaining there is still a lot of mail to be
handled daily at the Bradford Post office.

Schweinberg described the 13-member staff as already working
overtime when it becomes necessary and said he doesn’t see where
the projected numbers will decline from 57 hours to 33 hours with
fewer workers. This information is revealed on a report he was
given by the postmaster.

In fact, he said the reason he was not available for comment on
Monday to The Era – when the story about the post office
eliminating the jobs was first revealed – is because he had already
completed a 10-hour day and had gone home.

The report shows that worker hours would be reduced from 553
hours with 13 people down to 331 hours with eight people.

Schweinberg said he feels the reports he was given showing the
new work schedules doesn’t really reflect the volume of work they
actually see on a daily basis. He even admits that it could be an
error on the part of the documentation conducted by some of the
current workers, but adds that even if that were the case, there
will be noticeable need for more workers.

He said the study that was conducted by the Erie office contains
similar numbers from the last year when they had been thinking of
eliminating eight positions. He said he still does not agree with
them, as he believes it doesn’t reflect the entire work load
needs.

Schweinberg said the positions where there are usually two
people unloading trucks and breaking down flats will be eliminated,
which will stir the use of the part-timers in the first place, who
will also most likely be needed in other areas throughout the
day.

He said if the District office intends to save on the budget,
reduce overtime and keep up the same pace, he doesn’t believe
eliminating five positions is the way to do it.

The five workers who are being eliminated received their letters
Oct. 20. They now have until Jan. 6 before their positions at the
Bradford Post office will be eliminated.

Schweinberg did say that there are full-time positions available
for all five, including one in Port Allegany, Smethport and three
in Erie. He said if three people decide to take the positions in
Erie, the company pays their moving expenses. He added that the
five can also reduce their hours to part-time if they prefer to
stay in Bradford.

Two of those workers have more than 18 years in at the Bradford
Post office already.

One good thing Schweinberg said would occur with the proposed
schedule is that the window service would improve.