Postal workers: Efforts to sabotage mail ongoing
Tractor-trailer loads of mail rerouted to Scranton
Tractor-trailer loads of undelivered letters and parcels were rerouted from the Lehigh Valley’s central post office to a facility in Scranton, postal workers concerned about ongoing efforts to delay the mail told U.S. Sen. Bob Casey.
Casey in a statement Tuesday called on Postmaster General Louis DeJoy for answers after he pledged in August to reverse policy changes that caused mail to go undelivered. Casey cited photos provided by postal workers showing dozens of containers loaded with priority mail dating to at least Sept. 17 that were rerouted from the Lehigh Valley to Scranton.
At least five tractor-trailer loads of mail had been rerouted from the Lehigh Valley distribution center as of Monday, Casey said.
“Postmaster General DeJoy promised to reverse changes that were slowing the mail, but the evidence is clear that his only policy is delay and deny,” Casey said. “The continued delays in mail are unacceptable and the evidence compiled in these photos demand answers now.”
A spokesperson said the Postal Service is aware of delays in the Scranton facility.
“The priority mail packages referenced are being cleared out and we anticipate by tomorrow that all backlogs will be resolved. The management team is closely monitoring conditions and providing resources necessary to avoid any future backlog,” spokesperson Desai Abdul-Razzaaq said.
DeJoy, a former logistics industry executive, donor to President Donald Trump and chairperson of the Republican National Convention, became postmaster general this year and implemented changes to the U.S. Postal Service this summer that emphasized efficiency over reliability.
DeJoy’s changes to the Postal Service’s reporting structure and requiring trucks
to run on a schedule stoked concern that the Trump White House is working to undermine the agency ahead of the election, when Americans are expected to use mail-in ballots in record numbers. The post office has warned Pennsylvania and most other states that it may not be able to deliver ballots on time.
Postal workers said the requirement that trucks leave mail-sorting facilities on schedule resulted in mail that wasn’t processed being left behind. Abdul-Razzaaq said other actions including the removal of blue collection boxes and mechanical sorting equipment were wrongly attributed to DeJoy and have long been part of post office policy.
DeJoy said Aug. 18 he would put on hold changes he believes are needed to ensure the service’s success and long-term sustainability. Other initiatives that predate his arrival at the Postal Service that sparked concern will also be halted, he said.
“To avoid even the appearance of any impact on election mail, I am suspending these initiatives until after the election is concluded,” DeJoy said.
Casey said in his letter to DeJoy the pictures from postal workers were alarming, demanded explanations for the delays and asked whether mail is being held up across the state or nation. He also said he continues to hear concerns from Pennsylvania residents suffering negative consequences of delayed mail delivery.
“As postmaster general, you have a responsibility to ensure your actions are in the best interests of the Postal Service and those it serves. If it was not clear before, it should be clear now: your untested service and delivery changes are not working and should be rescinded,” Casey said.