AFL-CIO
Udall, Bennet Secure a 5-Month Stay on Post Office Closures

Moratorium Would Keep Post Offices Running While Congress Works on Postal
Reform

Today, U.S. Senators Mark Udall and Michael Bennet announced that the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) has agreed
to a five-month moratorium on closing postal facilities, protecting rural Colorado jobs while Congress works on
comprehensive postal reform.  During the moratorium, scheduled to end on May 15, 2012, the USPS will continue
to study the impact of proposed closures on service and costs, and to hold public input meetings in communities.
The USPS decision comes after Udall and Bennet, along with 20 other senators, sent a letter last week calling on
Senate leadership to mandate a six-month moratorium in the next appropriations bill.  In an effort to reduce costs
and up revenue, the USPS has been considering closing or consolidating about 70 post offices and four mail
processing centers across Colorado.  The senators have been working with postal service officials and community
members to mitigate the effects of closing post offices, especially in rural parts of the state that depend on them for
small-business needs, a means of voting, and getting everyday living necessities.  The moratorium gives Congress
a chance to enact reforms that shore up the long-term viability of the USPS while protecting communities across the
country."I'm glad the Postal Service is giving Congress some time to reach a viable long-term solution to deal with
the USPS’s budget shortfall in a way that softens the impact on rural communities in Colorado and across the
country,” Udall said.  “Post offices anchor the daily activities and local economies in so many of America’s small
towns.  Now that we have a five-month reprieve, I’ll keep working to find creative ways to maintain quality access to
post office services for Colorado’s small towns and small businesses." "This moratorium will give Congress time to
find a long-term solution to place the Postal Service on a more secure financial trajectory," said Bennet.  "Post
offices play a vital role in rural communities and small towns across Colorado.  I am happy that we have an
opportunity to reexamine the current proposal and hopefully reduce the burden facing so many rural communities."
Last month, Udall and Bennet wrote a letter to Senate committee leaders urging them to consider Western states
and rural communities when exploring potential reforms to the USPS.  In the letter, the senators outlined priorities
for reform that encourage innovation, take creative approaches to existing assets and maintain the competitive
edge.  In June, they sent a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General expressing concern over USPS location closures
and consolidations that could make it more difficult for Coloradans to send letters and mail packages.  In
September, they sent a letter to Ruth Goldway, chairwoman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, urging the Postal
Regulatory Commission to carefully consider the effects of possible postal service closures on rural areas and
small towns in Colorado and across the country.
BACKGROUND ON THE U.S. POSTAL SERVICE
• The Postal Service is an independent establishment of the U.S. government that is specifically
authorized by the Constitution of the United States. It was established as the Post Office
Department (P.O.D.) in 1775 and was a cabinet department until 1970, when it was reorganized
as an independent agency and renamed the U.S. Postal Service. As such it is one of the oldest
institutions in America.

• The USPS employs 560,000 career employees, making the Postal Service the nation’s second
largest employer next to Wal‐Mart. Its annual sales of $67 billion would place it at number 34th
on the Fortune 500 list of largest American companies if it were a private company.

• The Postal Service delivers 40% of the world’s mail.

• The USPS is financially self‐sufficient. It pays for its operations through the sale of postage and
has not received any taxpayer subsidy since 1982. In 1971, before postal reorganization took
effect, Treasury appropriations covered nearly 25% of the P.O.D.’s budget. In today’s dollars,
that would cost taxpayers approximately $16.25 billion. So postal reorganization has saved
taxpayers tens of billions of dollars since 1970.

• Postage rates in America are among the lowest in the industrialized world and, relative to
wages, stamp prices are among the most affordable anywhere.
The Colorado AFL-CIO is the strongest, most effective and united organization of working
families.  We are at the forefront of a movement to expand workers' power in the workplace
and the community through education, politics, legislation and activism.  We fight for
economic, social, and workplace justice for all Coloradans.  We are democratic, dynamic and
accountable to our members.  We lead the broad community of workers, elected officials and
business leaders to build a Colorado that provides the highest standard of living and quality
of life for its citizens.

"All workers deserve decent wages, healthcare, and a pension no one can take away."
Currently Branch 47, 642, 204, 1571 and 5996 are affiliated with the Colorado AFL-CIO.  
Please contact Cindy Kirby flyrod9999@msn.com for information on how to affiliate today.  
The biannual COPE convention will be held in Pueblo April 20-21, 2012.  Delegates will vote
to endorse candidates at the State and Federal level.
See www.coaflcio.org for more information
The Colorado AFL-CIO is the strongest, most effective and united organization of working
families.  We are at the forefront of a movement to expand workers' power in the workplace
and the community through education, politics, legislation and activism.  We fight for
economic, social, and workplace justice for all Coloradans.  We are democratic, dynamic and
accountable to our members.  We lead the broad community of workers, elected officials and
business leaders to build a Colorado that provides the highest standard of living and quality
of life for its citizens.

"All workers deserve decent wages, healthcare, and a pension no one can take away."
Currently Branch 47, 642, 204, 1571 and 5996 are affiliated with the Colorado AFL-CIO.  
Please contact Cindy Kirby flyrod9999@msn.com for information on how to affiliate today.  
The biannual COPE convention will be held in Pueblo April 20-21, 2012.  Delegates will vote
to endorse candidates at the State and Federal level.
See www.coaflcio.org for more information
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