Jim Tysk, Don Bentz, Vernon Seals and about 100 others have a very simple message for U.S. Postal Service representatives: Keep Wheeling's mail processing operations in the Friendly City.
A large contingent of concerned residents, postal workers and city officials showed up at Wheeling Park High School on Wednesday to express their displeasure with the postal service's plan to move Wheeling's mail processing operations to Pittsburgh.
Western Pennsylvania District Manager Charles P. McCreadie said the postal service's Area Mail Processing study shows the struggling organization can save $527,000 by making the move, noting six employee positions will be affected by the possible move. McCreadie, however, did not find a very receptive audience in Wheeling.
Tysk, vice president of the Wheeling Area Local of the American Postal Workers Union, suggested that Wheeling's postal operations should be expanded, rather than reduced.
He also wondered how the postal service could save the $527,000 by making the move because service officials said they will not be cutting employees.
"It looks to me like we have great people in the right places in Wheeling, W.Va. ... Wheeling is more efficient than Pittsburgh," he said referring to productivity levels in the Wheeling office. "We do not understand how removing six people from Wheeling will save $527,000."
Tysk's comments drew a standing round of applause from most meeting attendees.
Seals, a Wheeling city councilman, also said expanding Friendly City operations seems prudent. He also wants to make sure that mail sent from Wheeling is postmarked as such.
"The Wheeling postmark should not have to be requested - it should be automatic," he said in reference to postal officials' assurances that residents will be able to specifically request such a mark at the retail counter.
Bentz, president of the Wheeling Area Local of American Postal Workers Union, believes the postal service has already decided to take the processing jobs out of Wheeling.
"This is already a done deal. You are going to come back in a few months to take all of the mail out of Wheeling," he said.
McCreadie, however, stressed that no final decision has been made regarding the mail jobs.
Wheeling resident Brian Wiethe wondered how the post office could save money by transporting the city's mail 64 miles to Pittsburgh for processing before bringing it back to the Friendly City.
"There is no additional transportation," McCreadie said, noting service times should remain the same if operations are consolidated.
Postal service spokesman Tad Kelley said postal officials will now evaluate the comments before making a decision on moving the operations. He could not, however, provide a time frame for such action.
Consumers can mail additional comments until Jan. 28 to: Consumer Affairs Manager, Western PA District, 1001 California Ave., Pittsburgh, PA 15290-1007.