BMC Network Redesign

On February 26, 2009 National President John Hegarty conducted a teleconference regarding the status of the BMCs. All Local Presidents from around the country were part of this conference, as well as all of the members of the BMC Task Force. Local 300 was represented by Local President Paul Hogrogian and NJI/BMC Branch President Thomas Mullahey.

President Hegarty provided updated details regarding the proposal for subcontracting out of the parcels from the BMCs and the future plans for the BMCs across the country. In 2007, the Postal Service had issued a Request For Information (RFI) for a Time Definite Surface Network to subcontract work performed at the BMCs nationwide. Then on July 1, 2008 the Postal Service issued a “Draft Request For Proposals” to subcontract out the parcels at BMCs. Now national Postal Service headquarters has notified the NPMHU that the Request For Proposals is now “ON HOLD & OFF THE TABLE.” To reiterate, there are no immediate plans to subcontract out Mail Handler work from the BMCs.

Future plans for the BMC network are as follows, however remember these plans are as of right now and are SUBJECT TO CHANGE:

• BMCs are to be known as NDCs (Network Distribution Centers). This network is to also encompass the STCs (Surface Transfer Centers). Local 300 has two STCs NJSTC in Carteret & NYSTC in the Bronx.
  • STCs involvement will be supplemental. For example, if the NJSTC has a trailer of mail for Philadelphia that is only half full, that trailer will be sent to the NJ NDC (aka NJI/BMC). At NJ NDC, the trailer will be filled to capacity then sent to Philadelphia.
• Network Distribution Centers (NDCs) will have three different types of designation. There will be three types of ‘Tiers’ assigned to each NDC.
  • Tier 1 NDCs - will sort only destinating mail (parcels, standard mail, trays, etc.) & ship all their originating mail to either a Tier 2 or Tier 3 NDC.
  • Tier 2 NDCs - will work the originating mail received from Tier 1 NDCs & their own destinating & originating mail.
  • Tier 3 NDCs - will be centralized geographically across the country. These will be the main hubs of the NDC network that will receive and consolidate mail from other Tier 1 & Tier 2 NDCs. The planned sites for Tier 3 NDCs are:
    • Desmoins, Iowa
    • Pittsburg, PA
    • Denver, CO
    • Memphis, TN
• Phase One of this new plan is to begin with testing in the Northeast Area. This testing phase is scheduled to start in April of 2009 with New Jersey (NJI/BMC)as the “Tier 2 NDC”, and “Tier 1 NDCs” of Springfield, MA & Philadelphia, PA.  
• Operational changes are to be put in place at the NDCs
  • Mail will be “Bricklayed/Bedloaded” using all available space in each trailer (floor to ceiling).
  • Mail will be transported throughout the NDC network in Double-Tandem Trailers and in states the permit, Triple-Tandem Trailers.
  • On these trailers, classes of mail will be co-mingled. Standard Mail, Priority Mail, and First Class Mail will all be mixed together.
  • Additional mechanized equipment will be used at the NDCs including Universal Sorters, Tray Sorters, Parcel Sorters, APPS, etc.

Bear in mind that all of this information is subject to change.

FSS UPDATE

The FSS installed in Dulles, TX has failed its’ First Article Testing. There are issues with the mechanized processing of mail in the sorter. This might or, might not delay the deployment of the FSS. Several locations throughout the country have had their deployment scaled back. NJI/BMC is still scheduled to receive FOUR FSS machines in 2009. Management has listed the deployment dates for many FSS sites as “To Be Determined.” Due to the declining mail volume, the processing of flats on the FSS might expand even further to more zip codes. We shall keep you updated as information develops.

One final note. The subcontracting of the parcels from the BMCs was put ON HOLD due to several factors; thankfully many of you wrote letters to your representatives on Capitol Hill to save the BMCs, John Hegarty has testified several times on Capitol Hill to stop the subcontracting of Mail Handler work., the degrading economy & mail volume shows that there is simply not enough work for the current career workforce. Both the National & Local 300 are committed to provide the membership with full information as it develops. We will keep you informed during these ever changing times.

For the complete presentation of the USPS BMC Network Plan, click here.