Gloucester County, D.C. lawmakers seeking answers over planned closure of USPS regional center

Officials from Woodbury to Washington are demanding one thing from the United States Postal Service regarding the closure of the Philadelphia Logistics and Distribution Center in Logan Township: Answers.

Since it was announced last month, the USPS's position has been the move is one of cost savings in the face of escalating expenditures, declining revenues and mounting debt.

The Postal Service's lease on the building in the Pureland Industrial Complex is up in March.

"If you claim that this move is saving money, in the process of disrupting the lives of hundreds of people, you ought to be able to show it," U.S. Rep. Rob Andrews, D-1st Dist., of Haddon Heights said.

"To date they have given wholly unsatisfactory answers and we are prepared in any forum necessary to present our case to protect these individuals and their families."

Andrews, along with State Sen. Stephen Sweeney, D-3, of West Deptford contend the Postal Service's actions on the matter violate the law and break with the worker's collective bargaining agreement.

The Congressman sent a letter of to Postmaster General John Potter Thursday formally requesting a "written, detailed and well-supported" explanation of the decision to close the Logistics and Distribution Center.

They declared the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act is required by law to release specific information relating to the possible cost savings by closing the facility in Logan.

Secondly, they claim the National Collective Bargaining Agreement for postal workers is in breach of contract by falling to conduct a study that would show the effects of the facility being shuttered.

"It's clear the Postal Service is in violation of this law," Andrews said of the PAEA. "All they have given us thus far are very summary explanations of how it would save money. They haven't really accounted for anything that would really support their conclusion."

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