BEMIDJI — The U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General has released a report on the operations of the Bemidji Post Office, sharing that it found nearly 79,000 pieces of delayed mail during its three-day investigation in December.
The investigation came after the Bemidji Post Office gained national attention in late 2023 following a symbolic strike led by rural mail carriers in November who were protesting 12-hour days after what they described as an influx of Amazon packages that were prioritized over other mail.
In response, the OIG conducted an investigation into the post office’s operations, including three days of direct observations starting on Dec. 12, 2023.
Its report concluded that the office had a significant increase in package volume in November, as well as insufficient staffing, preparation and resources, all of which impacted operations and led to delays in mail.