The U.S. Postal Service has brought in a team of expert managers it hopes will improve relations between workers and management in the Spokane Postal District and end recent complaints about service problems, says Al DeSarro, a Denver-based spokesman for the agency.


DeSarro says the district, which serves much of Eastern Washington and parts of North Idaho, has problems with communication between labor and management. He blames that conflict for complaints that have surfaced about problems with service, such as mail not being delivered in a timely manner. He contends those complaints have come mostly from the union and its members.


The postal district experienced some mail delivery problems after part of its operations, including a Priority Mail center and divisions that process catalogs, advertising, and some parcels, moved this August to a leased building on Grove Road on the West Plains, DeSarro says. The move and the installation of new equipment for sorting mail resulted in many changes that required an adjustment period, but the transition now is complete and the problems have been eliminated, he says.


The Postal Service now hopes to relieve the tensions between workers and managers. Problems between employees and management range from valid criticisms of processes to personality conflicts, DeSarro says.


Were taking managers who have good successes at their own operations and bringing them to Spokane temporarily, DeSarro says. He claims the move is a normal, internal attempt to improve working conditions.


The team expects to be in Spokane for several months.