Yesterday we were notified of a true miracle. Now we are hoping for three more to happen in the next few months.
The Toledo Mail Processing Center will not be consolidated. APWU President Arnie Cowell announced that the plant is staying open and they will only lose one SBPS. They will keep all 11 of their DBCS machines and both of their flat sorters. Eleven junior clerk craft employees are being impacted but all will find jobs at the associate offices of the Toledo Local. This means that the local will not lose any members and no one will have to switch over to the letter carrier craft.
The hard work in fighting to stop this probable consolidation had to be a factor in the decision to keep the plant open. President Cowell, his officers and members deserve a great deal of credit for their dedication to "fighting the good fight". It worked.
Thank you's also go to our national union who provided the funding for our My Mail Ohio campaign; the Ohio AFL-CIO who provided over 40,000 robo calls to the public about the disasterous affect of consolidation; and the OPWU locals who made calls, signed petitions, and marched in protest.
We still have three plants facing consolidation in the next few months. Akron is scheduled to close on April 18 with Youngstown and Dayton scheduled for July. We will continue our fight to keep these facilities open.
Terry Grant, President OPWU AFL-CIO
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