Dayton’s processing operations are moving to Columbus, and so are those in Athens, Chillicothe, Ironton and Toledo. Akron, Canton and Youngstown operations are relocating to Cleveland, and Toledo’s are being divided between Columbus and Michigan.
Jeanette Carlton, president of the American Postal Workers Union Dayton Area Local, said she has no clue what will happen to the plants more than 400 employees, especially because most cannot be laid off or relocated beyond 50 miles under contract.
The other cities impacted include:
- Akron Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) to the Cleveland P&DC.
- Athens Customer Service Mail Processing Center (CSMPC) to the Columbus P&DC.
- Canton Processing and Distribution Facility (P&DF) to the Cleveland P&DC.
- Chillicothe CSMPC to the Columbus P&DC.
- Dayton P&DF to the Columbus P&DC.
- Ironton CSMPC to the Columbus P&DC.
- Steubenville CSMPC to the Pittsburgh P&DC.
- Toledo P&DF to the Detroit P&DC, the Michigan Metroplex P&DC and the Columbus P&DC.
- Youngstown P&DF to the Cleveland P&DC.
It also has been determined as a result of the study of the Cincinnati Processing and Distribution Center that there was no significant opportunity to improve efficiency or service through consolidation of mail processing operations, and no changes will be made at this time.
Specific dates have not been set for the transition. Until a specific date has been announced, residential and business mailers will continue to be served through the current facilities.
Once transfers are completed, the mail processing operation of the above facilities will cease.
“The decision to consolidate mail processing facilities recognizes the urgent need to reduce the size of the national mail processing network to eliminate costly underutilized infrastructure,” said Chief Operating Officer Megan Brennan. “Consolidating operations is necessary if the Postal Service is to remain viable to provide mail service to the nation.”
The Postal Service has experienced a 25 percent decline in First-Class Mail volume since 2006, and receives no tax dollars for its operations, relying instead on the sale of postage, and postal products and services.
Brown seeks a stop relocation
Hours before the USPS announcement, U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown (D-Ohio) is calling on the United States Postal Service to stop the relocation and consolidation of the Dayton Mail and Processing Center to Columbus.
The USPS has announced plans to relocate 14 workers from the Dayton site to the Columbus center. The announcement came despite a moratorium aimed at preventing consolidation until Congress passes postal reform legislation, according to Brown.
The Senate-USPS agreement places a moratorium on office closures until May 15.
In its announcement today, the USPS said it agreed in December 2011 to impose the moratorium either to closing or consolidate post offices and mail processing facilities prior to May 15, to give Congress and the Administration the opportunity to enact an alternative plan.
Stakeholders have said the Dayton region’s ability to attract new business will be adversely affected if a USPS recommendation to move the city’s mail processing operation to Columbus moves forward.
About 50 people attended a public meeting at Sinclair Community College in December where Postal Service managers discussed the proposal and heard questions and feedback from citizens, union representatives and elected officials.
“What you’re doing is taking away our business advantage,” said Dayton City Commissioner Nan Whaley in December. A representative from the Dayton Area Chamber of Commerce said the postal service’s feasibility study does not take into account the adverse affect changes in mail service will have on the business community, which relies heavily on quick mail communication with customers.
The study says that moving the employee processing operation currently located on East Fifth Street with about 400 employees to Columbus will save USPS $14.1 million per year. That number includes $6.6 million in employee savings, $2.53 million in management savings, $5.1 million in maintenance savings and takes into account a $142,228 annual increase in transportation costs. The employee savings are the result of a net decrease of 175 positions.
American Postal Workers Union employees have a no-layoff stipulation in their contract. A letter to local employees, Nov. 3 informed them that the proposed move could result in 398 involuntary reassignments to other locations.
Postal Service spokesman David Van Allen said in December that USPS would work with labor unions to find positions in Columbus or elsewhere for the Dayton employees.
Staff Writer Katie Wedell contributed to this report.
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