WASHINGTON, D.C.—U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-OH) and U.S. Representative Marcy Kaptur (OH-9) are asking U.S. Postmaster General Patrick Donohoe to give further review to a study of the Toledo Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC). Brown and Kaptur, in a letter to Donohoe sent last week, expressed concern over the lack of transparency in the study, as well as a lack of communication with constituents in Northwest Ohio, and requested more detailed information on how service quality and USPS jobs would be affected.

“The USPS must work with the Toledo community as it further studies the effect consolidations would have on the Toledo Processing & Distribution Center. To date, it appears that key guidelines have not been followed, and I urge the USPS to work with the residents of Northwest Ohio as it moves forward on the study,” Brown said. “The USPS is our nation’s 2nd-largest employer. Any proposal to streamline the USPS must be carefully considered to protect our still-recovering economy and to minimize job losses and service degradation across our state.”

“Our workers in Toledo have met every benchmark and consistently provided quality service to residential and business customers,” Kaptur said. “Senator Brown and I will continue fighting for the Toledo center and fighting for Toledo jobs. Postal workers weave the thread that binds our communities together. They have my complete support.”

“While we understand the difficult financial situation that USPS is facing, we are concerned that realignments or consolidations will result in significant job losses and will negatively impact the level of service provided to Ohioans,” Brown and Kaptur wrote. “It has been brought to our attention that the study has been expedited and that community members have not been consulted.”

“Before any decision is made regarding the future of the Toledo Processing Plant, we urge that USPS: (1) conclusively establish that consolidation would not provide a disruption in service quality; (2) consult with interested stakeholders in accordance with USPS guidelines; (3) detail the net cost savings of any potential consolidation; and (4) work with USPS employees in Toledo throughout this process,” Brown and Kaptur added.

The Honorable Patrick R. Donahoe

Postmaster General

United States Postal Service

475 L’Enfant Plaza S.W.

Washington, District of Columbia 20260-0010

Dear Postmaster General Donahoe:

We are writing to express our concerns about the haste with which the United States Postal Service (USPS) is conducting a consolidation study of the Toledo Mail Processing Plant.

While we understand the difficult financial situation that USPS is facing, we are concerned that realignments or consolidations will result in significant job losses and will negatively impact the level of service provided to Ohioans. Furthermore, to prevent the upheaval caused to impacted workers and communities, USPS has clear guidelines and processes – including the opportunity for community consultations – for how area mail processing (AMP) studies are conducted.

Regrettably, neither the process nor clear guidelines seem to be in place for the evaluation of the Toledo Mail Processing Plant. It has been brought to our attention that the study has been expedited and that community members have not been consulted. We ask that the USPS clarify its process for studying consolidation in Toledo. Much of our state relies on the Toledo Mail Processing Plant; eliminating the Toledo facility and its productive workforce jeopardizes the availability of the essential services that it provides.

USPS has reduced its Ohio workforce by over 3000 jobs since March 2010. We are concerned that that further reductions, at a time when Ohio’s unemployment rate is at 9 percent, are counterproductive and will undermine USPS efficiency.

Before any decision is made regarding the future of the Toledo Processing Plant, we urge that USPS: (1) conclusively establish that consolidation would not provide a disruption in service quality; (2) consult with interested stakeholders in accordance with USPS guidelines; (3) detail the net cost savings of any potential consolidation; and (4) work with USPS employees in Toledo throughout this process.

Thank you for your attention to this important matter. We look forward to your response.