Decreased staff, longer lines at post office concerning College Station residents

Steve HutkinsNews

COLLEGE STATION, Texas (KBTX) – Residents in College Station have been waiting in longer lines than usual when they head to the post office.

Some have even noticed only one attendant working behind the counter during times of the day when most customers are in the building.

Ivan Butts, President of the National Association of Postal Supervisors says that the retention of postal employees has been declining for the last few years.

“We’ve had a lot of issues with employee retention. Our workforce is made up of non-career employees mostly coming in now.”

Butts also mentions that a factor hindering retention in College Station is also mail carriers having to drive to Bryan to deliver mail to College Station neighborhoods.

Extra drive time could cause fatigue in employees which could make them want to look for another job.

“Not only are you traveling to the local town but you’re also traveling on the highway,” said Butts. “Those kinds of variables raised concerns and I think we are hearing that from local communities too.”

USPS sent a statement to KBTX about staffing issues in College Station and say the move to the Bryan facility is not the reason for low staffing numbers.

“The Postal Service appreciates its customers and always strives to provide the best possible service. We apologize for any inconvenience that may have been experienced by customers living in the College Station, TX, area. There is no connection between staffing issues and the new Bryan facility. However, local management will continue to work with customers to ensure every effort is being made to meet or exceed their expectations.”

Watch the news video.

STAGES IN DISCONTINUANCE PROCESS
1   Request/approval to study for discontinuance               
2   Notice (if appropriate) to Headquarters of suspension Organizations Notify               
3   Notice (if appropriate) to customers/district personnel of suspension               
4   Highway map with community highlighted               
5   Inspection Service/local law enforcement vandalism reports               
6   Form 4920, Post Office Fact Sheet            
7  NEPA Worksheet               
8  Financial Workbook                
9  Recommendation and Service Replacement Type          
10  PM Letter Instructions Cover letter, questionnaire, and enclosures                
11   Community meeting roster               
12   Community meeting letter (Need to set before questionnaire if not held before)             
13   Proposal checklist             
14   District notification to Government Affairs             
15   Instructions to postmaster/OIC to post proposal              
16   Invitation for comments exhibit              
17   Proposal exhibit                
18   Comment form exhibit           
19   Instructions for postmaster/OIC to remove proposal             
20  Postal Service response letters to returned customer questionnaires              
21   Analysis of questionnaires              
22   Community meeting analysis            
23   Round-date stamped proposals and invitations for comments from affected offices         
24  Notification of taking proposal and comments under internal consideration        
25  Postal Service response letters to returned Proposal comments            
26   Proposal Analysis of comments          
27   Petition and Postal Service response letter (if appropriate)            
28   Congressional inquiry and Postal Service response letter (if appropriate)         
29   Log of Post Office discontinuance actions           
30   Final determination from HEADQUARTERS (Review the Final Determination prior to sending for Hq approval)    
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STAGES IN DISCONTINUANCE PROCESS
1   Request/approval to study for discontinuance               
2   Notice (if appropriate) to Headquarters of suspension Organizations Notify               
3   Notice (if appropriate) to customers/district personnel of suspension               
4   Highway map with community highlighted               
5   Inspection Service/local law enforcement vandalism reports               
6   Form 4920, Post Office Fact Sheet            
7  NEPA Worksheet               
8  Financial Workbook                
9  Recommendation and Service Replacement Type          
10  PM Letter Instructions Cover letter, questionnaire, and enclosures                
11   Community meeting roster               
12   Community meeting letter (Need to set before questionnaire if not held before)             
13   Proposal checklist             
14   District notification to Government Affairs             
15   Instructions to postmaster/OIC to post proposal              
16   Invitation for comments exhibit              
17   Proposal exhibit                
18   Comment form exhibit           
19   Instructions for postmaster/OIC to remove proposal             
20  Postal Service response letters to returned customer questionnaires              
21   Analysis of questionnaires              
22   Community meeting analysis            
23   Round-date stamped proposals and invitations for comments from affected offices         
24  Notification of taking proposal and comments under internal consideration        
25  Postal Service response letters to returned Proposal comments            
26   Proposal Analysis of comments          
27   Petition and Postal Service response letter (if appropriate)            
28   Congressional inquiry and Postal Service response letter (if appropriate)         
29   Log of Post Office discontinuance actions           
30   Final determination from HEADQUARTERS (Review the Final Determination prior to sending for Hq approval)    
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