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Youngstown USPS consolidation postponed
By Kalea Hall
YOUNGSTOWN
The U.S. Postal Service’s downtown Youngstown mail-processing center operations will not end in July.
USPS has postponed the closure temporarily until a new date can be determined.
But the plan to consolidate the Youngstown operation into Cleveland’s has not changed. It will happen, a USPS official says.
“The postal service is assessing the mail moves to make the transition as seamless as possible for our customers and ensure service is maintained,” said David Van Allen of USPS corporate communications. “The ultimate plan remains the same. A full consolidation will happen, but the postal service is taking a measured and deliberate approach to transitioning operations to result in a successful outcome.”
The second phase of consolidation of the Youngstown operation tentatively was slated for completion by late July. This phase involves moving the incoming-mail-processing operation into the Cleveland processing and distribution center.
In the first phase completed in 2013, outgoing-mail processing was consolidated into Cleveland’s.
The Youngstown consolidation is one of 82 to be completed this year. Also on the list are Akron and Toledo. Akron’s consolidation was completed April 18. The Toledo-to-Detroit consolidation, like Youngstown-to-Cleveland, also was postponed.
U.S. Rep Tim Ryan of Howland, D-13th, said he would like to see the Youngstown mail-processing and distribution center stay open.
“I think [USPS] recognizes how important it is as a cog in the machine of the United States postal service,” Ryan said of the Youngstown facility. “It is really hard to open something back up, so I think they are recognizing its value and, hopefully, we can keep it open for much longer.”
The consolidation of 82 facilities is not the first time USPS decided to consolidate. In 2012 and 2013, the postal service consolidated 141 mail-processing centers and saved about $900 million annually.
USPS expects to save $2.1 billion when the consolidations are complete this year.
But Jim Varner, president of American Postal Workers Local 443, would like to see another study done to show how much the postal service would save by consolidating the Youngstown operation.
“They are just having a tough time with the plant consolidations,” Varner said. “They are carving into the bone [of USPS] at this point.”
Varner said the postponement sent some relief through the plant, where USPS said 125 are employed.
USPS said affected employees will be placed in new positions, which are generally within a 50-mile radius.
“They haven’t identified those jobs yet,” Varner said.
Mayor John A. McNally was happy to hear news of the postponement because of the jobs and revenue to the city.
“We would like to see it stay open,” McNally said. “But we are aware of the state of USPS.”