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Arkansas Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO <br /> February 17, 2006 <br /> Mayor Joe Biard <br /> Municipal Building <br /> 500 East Main Street <br /> Batesville, AR 72501 <br /> Dear Mayor Biard: <br /> The U.S. Postal Service has announced plans to consolidate mail process operations <br /> performed at its Batesville Mail Processing and Distribution Center here in <br /> Batesville, as part of an ill-advised cost-cutting scheme. <br /> This consolidation could have a dramatic effect on postal service in the area, <br /> including substantial delays in mail delivery. In addition, it could have a serious <br /> effect on the local economy as stable, middle-class jobs are eliminated. <br /> For many people in our district - especially senior citizens - the U.S. ,Postal Service <br /> provides the only inexpensive and reliable means for communicating with friends <br /> and family and conducting business. For those on the wrong side of the "digital <br /> divide", delayed or curtailed postal services could have a negative social and <br /> economic impact. <br /> The root cause of the Postal Service's financial difficulty is a flawed postal rate <br /> structure that grants below-cost discounts to large business mailers and advertisers. <br /> Other contributing factors include the requirement that the USPS 'pay for the military <br /> retirement costs of its employees - unlike all other federal agencies - and the <br /> requirement that it place in escrow overpayments to the Civil Service Retirement <br /> Fund. <br /> 1 hope we can count on your support in our efforts to stop the plans to curtail <br /> operations at Batesville. I will be happy to provide further information and to <br /> discuss these issues with you at your convenience. <br /> ZO 39dd aIVNd3_103�nj L0IE99ZOLB OZ:CT 90OZ/LZ/Z0 <br />