700 USPS jobs in Queens jeopardized

The USPS says the workers will be reassigned, but the postal workers’ union, which blasted the plan in an email sent to the Queens Chronicle on Tuesday, says many of the 662 workers and 40 managers and supervisors will be forced to quit or relocate due to a dearth of positions in the city. Many are Queens residents who patronize area businesses, according to the union.

The Postal Service notes that the facility, located at 140-02 20 Ave., on the southwestern corner of its junction with the Whitestone Expressway service road, has no retail mail service. It did not explicitly say it would be shutting the facility, but $14.2 million of the expected savings would come from reduced maintenance costs, with the rest coming from employee costs.

The agency says that while business mail acceptance will be moved to another office and area collection box pickup times may change, delivery times to residences and businesses will remain the same.

The union says that claim is false, asserting that customers and the economy itself will be affected across the borough.

“Contrary to what the Postal Service would have you believe, you will experience a change in collection pickup and delivery times,” the union said in a prepared statement. “Checks and medications may not reach their destination when needed. Your credit rating will suffer because of late mortgage and bill payments. Even birthday and holiday cards will arrive late. Do you think the Postal Service cares? Well, they don’t!”

According to a USPS announcement directed toward postal customers, “the proposed consolidation will support a 2 to 3 day service standard for first-class mail.”

Friday’s meeting will be held at 7:30 p.m. at Bayside High School, located at 32-24 Corporal Kennedy St. The Postal Service will present the initial results of a study that supports its case for consolidation, take questions and allow for public feedback. Written comments postmarked by Dec. 19 should be sent to Manager, Consumer and Industry, Triboro District, 1050 Forbell St., Brooklyn NY 11256-9621.

Anyone with questions is asked to call Roxanne Hosein, the USPS marketing manager for the Triboro District, at (718) 348-3770, or Thomas Murphy, the consumer and industry contact, at (718) 348-3628.

The Postal Service also recently announced plans to close five mail stations in Queens. It changed its mind about two of those facilities, in Astoria and Arverne, after a public outcry ensued, but has not yet revealed the fate of the other three, located in Holliswood, Rosedale and Rockaway Beach.