Coming off a fiscal year in which they reported a $5.1 billion loss, the United States Postal Service (USPS) has come up with a confusing approach for improving their 2012 bottom line: cutting services without lowering costs. Their seemingly backwards strategy includes the closing of 20 Contract Postal Units (CPUs) nationwide, including Better Letter on Roebling Street.
CPUs are post office substations that operate in existing retail operations, and offer alternate postal service access to the public. Providing the same services as the post office (except PO boxes and money orders), these substations benefit communities by decreasing lines at local post offices and increasing hours of available service. They also provide a personal level of service due to their knowledge of the local customer base and their ability to address language barrier issues. More than 4,000 CPUs are in operation throughout the US, including two in North Brooklyn, Better Letter and Murawski Pharmacy at 94-98 Nassau Avenue.
Better Letter is owned by Esther and Israel Wurzberger, a local couple fluent in English, Yiddish and Spanish, the main languages spoken in South Williamsburg. Each day, the Wurzbergers’ CPU serves around 250 – 300 customers, processes 100 to 200 packages and sells around 2500 stamps, for which they are paid exclusively on a commission basis. Their familiarity with the community enhances their efficiency. “I have so many relationships in Williamsburg’s business community, the owners know they can drop off their packages with me and go back to work and I’ll bill them later, so they don’t have to take up any time doing the actual shipping,” said Israel.
However, on January 23rd, the Wurzbergers received notice from the USPS that they had 120 days to cease operations with no process for appeal. The Wurzbergers and their customers were understandably shocked.
The 20 CPUs are getting chopped as part of a recent collective bargaining agreement between the USPS and the postal union. No reasons have been given for choosing these particular substations. “Let me emphasize that this agreement has nothing to do with the performance of the CPUs listed around the country,” said USPS spokesperson Connie Chirichello. “It has everything to do with the terms and conditions during the negotiations.”
The Wurzbergers are fighting the closing. “I’m circulating petitions and asking customers to please sign,” said Israel. “They all say ‘Oh no, you are not closing. If they want they can close [South 4th Street].’ I have a very good relationship with the [South 4th] Manager Lopez and with most of the drivers, and no one can understand why they would [close us down].” Local postal officials confirm this, saying the Wurzbergers are “wonderful people” and that Better Letter’s business practices have never been at issue.
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3 Responses
just e few words
unions
unions
unions
unions.
the culture in this country that businesses exist to give union members their paychecks. maybe if better letter would promise to unionize and pay their workers (obviously not including the “evil” owners, they are nasty capitalists), more than makes any sense, plus generous benefits, to the point where the business was losing money like the rest of the postal system, they would be allowed to stay open. (i have no idea why , in that case , they would want to , but hey this is the post office they are dealing with, logic need not apply.)
I hear everyone in here somplaining about the size of government
Put now are upset when the post office is closing your branch. Typical dumb republicans
HELLO WILLIAMSBURG, this is happening all over the city.. Are you aware? Budget deficients and government cut backs have caused inconvenience and hardships to the entire city.
This is not an Anti-Semitic act against the Wurzbergers.