Postal union plans meeting on impact study of closings

YOUNGSTOWN

The Youngstown American Postal Workers Local 443 will have a meeting at noon Friday to discuss the impact on the area with the closing of the mail-processing and distribution center on South Walnut Street.

The national American Postal Workers Union released an economic impact study on five areas impacted by the closings of postal centers throughout the nation and Youngstown was selected to be a part of the study.

“One of the reasons was they felt the economic impact might be greater [here] because we are not fully recovered from the recession,” said Jim Varner, president of the Local 443 that represents 225 members.

The meeting will take place in the community room at the Covelli Centre.

The postal service informed customers in late June about the consolidation of 82 facilities starting in January.

USPS consolidated 141 mail-processing facilities in 2012 and 2013. USPS expects the completion of network rationalization to generate an additional $750 million in annual savings.

The Youngstown post office downtown will not close and retail services will continue to be provided there.