PO gives employees update on closing

BUFFALO, N.Y. (WIVB) - The U.S. Postal Service is delivering an update to employees on the fate of Buffalo's main post office on William Street Wednesday night.

For five months, the 700 employees at the main post office plant have been waiting for news, worried their jobs could be shifted to Rochester, the distribution center officials have proposed merging the Buffalo plant with. Employees were called to a series of meetings taking place Wednesday night and Thursday for an update. The news isn't really good or bad: their jobs could still be shifted to Rochester, but their best hope lies on the actions of Congress.

Rep. Brian Higgins said, "Comprehensive postal reform, which has over 240 co-sponsors, both Democrat and Republican, which deals with the pension obligation and the payment of those obligations to the pension system, which would resolve this problem significantly. The other is not allowing the postal service to discontinue next day delivery. If Congress succeeds in that regard, this facility has to remain open."

Rep. Higgins continued, "And just appealing to the efficiency, as described by the United States Postal Service, of this facility. They were awarded the gold standard, for efficiency and cost effectiveness. This facility shouldn't be closed; it should be held up as a national model. And the other facilities should try to emulate what's going on here."

"These bills have to be brought to the floor for a vote. We have legislation that would resolve this problem with over 240 members, bi-partisan support, for a bill. We should move on that bill as quickly as possible. I'll be urging the Speaker to do that. And I'll be meeting with the Postmaster General in Washington on Monday to get him to reconsider this decision," added Rep. Higgins.