Congressman Upton vows to fight to keep postal jobs in Oshtemo
OSHTEMO, Mich. (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – The prospect of hundreds of jobs being lost in his district didn't sit well with Congressman Fred Upton.
That was the prospect facing Upton and many others when they learned that a postal processing center in Oshtemo could be shut down and then consolidated to another facility in Grand Rapids.
Rep. Upton said he'd fight for the jobs, but his fight has led him to make some pretty dramatic declarations.
Newschannel 3 spoke with Upton on Friday after he toured the postal facility in Oshtemo.
Congressman Upton said that a recent study suggesting consolidation was unauthorized and non-sanctioned, and he said that it should not impact families and their work.
Even after the congressman toured the facility and talked to the people there, it's unclear whether Upton will have any real impact.
The 9th Street distribution center in Oshtemo employs 350 people according to the Postal Workers Union. Union officials also question whether sending all of Kalamazoo's mail up to Grand Rapids and then bringing it back down will save the postal service any money.
Upton says the postal service's review that recommended closure is unauthorized, but the postal service says it is allowed to do an internal review to see if an official study is needed.
"It's just a preliminary review to see if a study is indeed necessary," said Michigan Postal Service spokesperson Sabrina Todd. "We're trying to make better use of our space, of our postal facilities all across the country, we have more space at our facilities than is need right now because there's no mail."
