The University will ring in the new year without an EMU post office.
Because of the lack of revenue on a national scale, as well as increased competition from e-mail, the U.S. Postal Service has been working to consolidate its services in several Oregon cities, including Eugene.
Though not officially released to customers at this time, the Postal Service plans to close the EMU office’s doors for good on Dec. 31, which has left many University students and groups frustrated with the prospect of having to travel multiple blocks to send parcels.
University junior and economics major Eric Ludwigsen mails his monthly rent at the campus office, and feels that the University should step in to maintain the service’s viability.
“I don’t even know where I would go if (the EMU office) closes,” Ludwigsen said. “I think the University should subsidize the post office because it is such a valuable resource.”
Postal Service boxes at the University location will be moved to Eugene’s Southside Station. Customers affected by the relocation will be able to access those boxes at Southside Station beginning Monday, Jan. 3, 2011 and will be allowed to keep using the same mailing address and ZIP code.
By federal law (title 39, section 404 of U.S. Code), the procedures for closing post offices include “provid(ing) adequate notice of its intention to close or consolidate … at least 60 days prior to the proposed date … to persons served by such post office to ensure that (they) will have an opportunity to present their views.”
However, the office’s fate seems to have already been sealed before those 60 days were set to begin. A sign informing the public of the decision for closure is scheduled to be posted in the office lobby on Nov. 1.
Ronald Anderson, the Portland-based customer relations coordinator for the Postal Service, said the public comment period for arguments against the closure already took place last year, and that the postal service is resolute in its closure efforts.
“The comment period took place towards the end of last year … during (which) we received a number of letters, and it wasn’t as big a concern for many people,” Anderson said. “The final decision has already been made.”
Reduction in mail volume was a major factor in the decision, the coordinator said, because the Postal Service is always “looking for ways to consolidate services by the most cost-effective means.” Since the Postal Service does not utilize tax dollars to pay for operations, it must manage its finances like a private sector business.
“The U.S. Postal Service is a self-supporting entity, and (it) funds itself based on the products and services (that it) sells,” Anderson said.
The Postal Service has lost nearly $12 billion in the past three fiscal years, with last year’s losses alone accounting for $3.8 billion, according to a 2009 press release.
Ken Rosemarin, the EMU post office’s lead sales and services associate, has overseen postal operations in the EMU for the past two years. Rosemarin serves as the union representative for the Eugene branch of the American Postal Workers Union and feels the post office’s closure decision utilized little customer input or financial consideration.
“I dare the USPS to say they evaluated the effects in the University community; I dare them to show that they have followed the law on this,” Rosemarin said. “I have seen no effort to save this post office, only efforts to get rid of it.”
Despite national trends, Rosemarin believes the EMU office is still lucrative and handles more express and priority mail than the majority of other Eugene offices.
“We have the highest percentage of express mailings than any other Eugene post office,” Rosemarin said. “We sell a tremendous amount of money orders, and we have the highest percentage of priority mail.”
EMU Business Manager Steven Linster has not received any official statement regarding the closure, and noted that the EMU’s lease agreement for the office runs through April 17, which means the U.S. Postal Service will be paying for the office’s space for nearly five months after its closure.
“We have a signed Lease Amendment/Lease Extension Agreement with the USPS through April 17, 2011,” Anderson said, “and (we) have not received any official notification from the USPS that the University station will be closing.”
Rosemarin is curious as to why the office plans to close its doors long before its lease expires, especially considering the profitability of the upcoming holiday season.
“Whatever lease they have, they still have to pay it through April,” Rosemarin said. “What’s really nuts is that January is our busiest, most profitable month.”
The two University post office employees, including Rosemarin, will be given chances to work in other postal facilities. Despite the job security, Rosemarin is disappointed that he must leave the University community.
“I would never find as fun a postal job as this one,” Rosemarin said. “I really feel that I am fulfilling a need here.”
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