Postal Service prepares for papal tour

Posted on by 21cpw


pope_crowdUSPS will keep the mail moving when Pope Francis embarks on a six-day U.S. tour Sept. 22, although some customers might experience service interruptions in the cities he visits.

“The Postal Service is taking measures to continue moving the mail,” said Chief Operating Officer David Williams. “Extra security measures when moving, delivering and picking up the mail are being taken to safeguard our employees, customers and the mail.”

The first two stops on the pope’s tour — Washington, DC, and New York City — will be limited and only minimal disruption to deliveries and collections in the immediate area of events are expected, Williams said.

The papal visit will conclude in Philadelphia from Sept. 26-27. This stop has been declared a national security event and will restrict the Postal Service’s ability to conduct deliveries and retail operations in the immediate area.

Philadelphia Metropolitan District and the World Family organization have joined together to deliver an Every Door Direct Mail piece to alert more than 97,000 customers who will be affected by this event.

Updates are posted to the USPS Service Alerts site.

Source: VIP visit | USPS News Link

Related: USPS: Papal Visit Service Disruption Alert for NYC, DC and Philly

Update From APWU Philadelphia Local On Leave Requests:
papal_visit_philly_update

2 thoughts on “Postal Service prepares for papal tour”

  1. Union and NAME of Local/Branch
    APWU - Philadelphia, PA Area Local #89
    Office held, if any
    Retired Maintenance Craft Electronics Technician / Retiree Activist Member

    Yeah, probably not Don. But…. “security” basically has the city cordoned off for the entire Papal Visit weekend. Many major roads are closed or detoured around the city. I think 50 to 75 USPS blue collection boxes are also being removed as a security measure. The President of the United States doesn’t get this much security when he visits Philadelphia. Seems the potential for Civil Disorder is at a very high level. It also seems to me, and most likely an arbitrator, that an employee requesting Administrative Leave is taking a common sense proactive approach that is quite warranted. In today’s world terrorism exists. Its a sad fact of life. Really, when was the last time collection boxes were removed?

    On the other hand, an argument could also be made, especially by Catholics, for requesting Administrative Leave due to an Act of God. It’s my understanding from research and talking to Priests that the Pope is looked at as the spokesman for God on Earth. In other words, it is predicted that God’s “spokesman” will create major traffic and accessibility disruptions by his visit to Philadelphia – hence, an “Act of God.”

  2. Union and NAME of Local/Branch
    APWU - Auburn WA Local
    Office held, if any
    Retired President

    18 U.S. Code § 232: The term “civil disorder” means any public disturbance involving acts of violence by assemblages of three or more persons, which causes an immediate danger of or results in damage or injury to the property or person of any other individual. I doubt the papal visit would involve acts of violence by three or more persons.

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