>> Dennis: HI EVERYONE, THANKS FOR WATCHING TONIGHT.
>>> SOME SHOCKING FINDINGS IN AN AUDIT AND COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
FROM THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE INSPECTOR GENERAL ON
MAIL DELIVERY ISSUES IN NORTHERN MINNESOTA.
THE AUDIT AND REPORT SHOWS THAT NEARLY 79,000 MAIL PIECES WERE
DELAYED DURING THE INVESTIGATION FROM DECEMBER 12TH THROUGH
DECEMBER 14TH OF LAST YEAR. LAST NOVEMBER, UNITED STATES
POSTAL SERVICE RURAL CARRIERS HELD A PICKET AND SYMBOLIC
STRIKE OUTSIDE OF THE BEMIDJI POST OFFICE TO RAISE AWARENESS
ABOUT THEIR WORK ENVIRONMENT AND CONCERNS ABOUT DELIVERING MAIL
TO THE COMMUNITY. RURAL MAIL CARRIERS SAID THEY
WERE SHORT-STAFFED AND UNABLE TO PERFORM THEIR JOBS.
THEY SAID THEY WERE BEING FORCED TO WORK 12-HOUR SHIFTS WHILE
ALSO DELIVERING PACKAGES FOR AMAZON.
THE REPORT FROM THE INSPECTOR GENERAL SHOWS THAT USPS
HEADQUARTERS MANAGEMENT FAILED TO ADEQUATELY PLAN FOR, STAFF,
RESOURCE, AND EVEN INFORM THE FACILITY ABOUT THE SUDDEN
INCREASE IN PACKAGE VOLUME. THE I.G. REPORT STATES THAT
HEADQUARTERS MANAGEMENT DID NOT HAVE A PROGRAM IN PLACE TO
PROVIDE BEMIDJI POST OFFICE MANAGEMENT WITH TRAINING ON MAIL
PROCESSING OPERATIONS. THE INSPECTOR GENERAL ALSO FOUND
THAT FACILITY MANAGEMENT FAILED TO ACCURATELY REPORT THE DELAYED
MAIL. MINNESOTA DEMOCRATIC SENATORS
TINA SMITH AND AMY KLOBUCHAR REQUESTED THE AUDIT.
A PRESS RELEASE FROM THE TWO SAYS THE I.G. FINDINGS DIRECTLY
CONTRADICT THE POSTAL SERVICE'S RESPONSE TO THEIR CONCERNS WHEN
THE POSTAL SERVICE STATED THAT IT “HAS WELL-ESTABLISHED
PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE TO HELP EVERY FACILITY IN THE COUNTRY
PREPARE FOR THE BUSIEST TIME OF YEAR.”
THE SENATORS SAY THAT IT IS CLEAR FROM THE I.G.'S FINDINGS
THAT THOSE PROCEDURES AND GUIDANCE FAILED TO ADEQUATELY
ADDRESS THE SITUATION IN BEMIDJI.
SENATOR SMITH SAYS THIS ISN'T THE END OF THIS STORY AND THAT
SHE IS LOOKING FORWARD TO THE INSPECTOR GENERAL'S
DISTRICT-WIDE REPORT THAT WILL BE RELEASED SOON, SO SHE CAN GET
A FULL PICTURE SO THEY CAN HOLD THE POSTAL SERVICE ACCOUNTABLE
FOR REAL SOLUTIONS.