But some workers say the machines … “They are not needed.”. “In 2018, for instance, the agency decommissioned about 3 percent of its Delivery Bar Code Sorters, or 125 machines,” the Post reported. “In some instances, we may be able to shift or remove equipment as appropriate,” the letter said. President Trump has admitted that he is refusing to fund the USPS because he doesn’t want mail voting to be expanded. The Postal Service has been streamlining its sorting equipment since the 2000s, when mail volume began to decline. While most of these delays center on second- and third-class, or bulk, mail, union members have told Combs this has, at times, included first-class mail. Combs said four machines have been removed in his area, and the remaining machines need to be reprogrammed to run more routes, which also increases the … Post was not sent - check your email addresses! The machine cuts often coincide with facility consolidations. “Will you be bringing back any mail sorting machines that have been removed?” Sen. Gary Peters (D-Mich.) asked DeJoy during a hearing of the Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee. At least 19 sorting machines, which can process 35,000 pieces of mail per hour, have been dismantled and removed in recent weeks, postal workers told Motherboard. All Rights Reserved. ), While some of the removals have been described as routine, many more machines have been removed this year compared to years past. More … The Postal Service said in a statement that it “routinely moves equipment around its network as necessary to match changing mail and package volumes. Postal workers say the removal of these machines has contributed to major mail delays that could affect whether mail ballots are counted in the 2020 election. We're a nonprofit (so it's tax-deductible), and reader support makes up about two-thirds of our budget. Still, Paul Hogrogian, national president for the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, said he does not expect the dismantling of processing equipment to have a widespread impact on mail delivery time across the country, including in election season. Postal workers in various locations said machines have been dismantled and that it wasn’t immediately clear what the agency was doing with the parts. They estimate it would take about 30 employees over their entire shifts — they have to have scheme training to do the work — to do that amount of work by hand. “Every piece of mail must go.”, Get Morning Report and other email newsletters. The 671 machines slated for removal were scattered across 49 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico. More than 90 percent of the machines have already been removed—and won’t be replaced. Gov. Maybe they are not,” he said. Package volume is up, but mail volume continues to decline. “There is no intention to do that,” DeJoy testified. Combs said four machines have been removed in his area, and the remaining machines need to be reprogrammed to run more routes, which also increases the … Democratic lawmakers last week called on the Postal Service inspector general to investigate operational changes at the agency. Postal Service has been dismantling letter sorting machines, and some say the lost capacity could hamper mail-in voting. Inexpensive, too! Combs said four machines have been removed in his area, and the remaining machines need to be reprogrammed to run more routes, which also increases the … The US Postal Service plans to remove hundreds of high-volume mail-processing machines from facilities across the country, leading some postal workers to fear they may have less capacity to process mail during election season. Read … Key Iranian nuclear scientist ambushed and killed By signing up, you agree to our privacy policy and terms of use, and to receive messages from Mother Jones and our partners. While Postmaster General Louis DeJoy, a Trump loyalist, began his job in June, Hogrogian said he understands that plans to reduce equipment were in place before DeJoy started. Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email. Last Thursday, the Postal Service told Democratic senators in a letter that the service is working to maximize the efficiency of processing and sorting equipment. But the Postal Service’s own document calls the move a “reduction” of equipment. It came in response to questions raised during a meeting of DeJoy, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer. VICE and CNN report that sorting machines have already been removed or are slated to be removed in cities across the country. USPS plants were ordered to remove 671 mail sorting machines that can efficiently process thousands of pieces of mail by the end of September. Updated 9:40 AM ET, Fri August 21, 2020 (CNN) Photos obtained by CNN are beginning to show where some of the 671 mail sorting machines the … US appeals court rejects Trump’s Pennsylvania challenge But he will not reverse steps that he has already taken. Documents obtained by CNN indicate 671 machines used to organize letters or other pieces of mail are slated for “reduction” in dozens of cities this year. The postal service has been undergoing sweeping changes under new Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. The 671 on this year’s list amounted to about 13 percent.”. Sorted mail was 10 minutes late to the mail trucks, according to Adams, and was left because of new Postal Service protocols to not hold trucks for late mail. Nineteen sorting machines from five processing facilities across the country have been removed or are scheduled to be removed shortly, Motherboard reported via VICE.

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