Thread by @MaritsaNBCMT

I'm following up on MANY USPS-related questions after our story on collection box removals Friday. We were told it's common to remove or replace boxes with low density numbers. Today, I have reports from union leaders who raise questions about those density tests. #mtnews #USPS

Look at this letter leaked to me by a source who wants to stay anonymous. The writer says they were told not to count all mail in a density test done in the last year. They say they were only told to count mail with a tracking number, and to just give a best guess. #mtnews #USPS

Another union leader told me they heard the same thing happened in Billings. The letter writer attached another sheet of the boxes on their route, where they counted all mail Friday. I've marked the ones on the list to be removed with a yellow dot. #mtnews #USPS

I sent an email to two USPS reps who responded to me Friday with the questions in the screen grab below. I haven't heard back yet. #mtnews #USPS

Another union leader sent me a screen grab of a message with a clerk who collects mail from boxes in front of a main MT post office. They said they usually empty them 3x on a Monday. One of the boxes was on the list to be removed. They never heard of a density test. #mtnews #USPS

The same leader sent me the protocols for density tests, and highlighted sections of interest. For instance, "Density volume tests should be conducted at least once per year on all collection points." It also requires ACTUAL count, not best guesses. #mtnews #USPS

Further, it says boxes that generate less than 25 pieces of mail each day should be reviewed. If you look back at earlier photo, 4/5 highlighted of boxes on list had more than 25 on that given day. #mtnews #USPS

Previous screen grab says boxes near senior citizen housing, municipal and judicial facilities are examples of boxes that can remain, even if fewer than 25 pieces. Remember the list? At least four should be exempt from removal according to this document. #mtnews #USPS

On the sorting machine front, my source says Missoula is losing an AFCS1000 machine. They don't use it often, but a definition I found online says it can cull, face and cancel letter mail and process 30k pieces of mail per hour. #mtnews #USPS

My source says as of now, Missoula is keeping all 4 letter sorting machines, but they were lost in Great Falls and Billings. Note what they say about the machine removal: #mtnews #USPS

This morning, @SenatorTester issued a new press release about a letter the Senate Democratic Caucus signed on to pushing for Postmaster General Louis DeJoy to testify before Congress. #mtnews #USPS #mtpol

I asked for comment from the office of @SteveDaines, and they told me he's committed to fight to get more funding for the USPS in a bipartisan way. #mtnews #USPS #mtpol

A spox for @GregForMontana said, "Greg will return to Washington when the House reconvenes and hopes Nancy Pelosi will work with Republicans on a bipartisan solution to avoid delays in mail service — not just a liberal, partisan wish list." #mtnews #USPS #mtpol