Union looks at impact of Youngstown mail center closing

Staff report

YOUNGSTOWN

An economic-impact study released by the American Postal Workers Union shows 261 direct and indirect jobs lost in the city from the consolidation of the Youngstown mail-processing and distribution center.

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

“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 Youngstown American Postal Workers Local 443 that represents 225 members.

Local 443 will have a meeting at noon Friday to discuss the study in the community room at the Covelli Centre on Front Street downtown.

A total of 82 facilities will be consolidated in 2015.

USPS consolidated 141 mail-processing facilities in 2012 and 2013. The postal service expects those moves to generate an additional $750 million in annual savings.

The Youngstown post office downtown at 99 S. Walnut St. will not close, and retail services will continue to be provided there.

The bulk of the mail processing in Youngstown has been consolidated into the processing plant in Cleveland.

The Youngstown operation, where 126 people are employed, is expected to close in July, but this is fluid and subject to change. Not all of the 126 positions will be affected by the closure, said David Van Allen of the postal service’s corporate communications.

“The postal service is committed to helping people to find what we call ‘the landing spot,’” Van Allen said. Those employees are given the option to transfer to other postal facilities with job openings, he added.

The impact study reports that a total of 261 jobs will be lost as a result of the consolidation in the Youngstown area, with the total labor income associated with the jobs at $15.9 million.

Local governments will experience a loss of nearly $290,000 in property and sales tax because of the movement of work from the Youngstown facility.

Youngstown Mayor John A. McNally did not know the exact monetary amount of impact on the consolidation.

“We certainly continue to not be happy about the closing of that facility, but I think there are folks who have started to study what that building could be used for,” he added.