Threat Looms as USPS Considers Processing Change
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There could be a change in how West Tennessee mail is delivered. The United States Postal Service is once again proposing the closure of the Jackson Mail Processing Center and moving that operation to Memphis; which would mean the loss of several jobs, and slower service. Since 2006, mail volume in the U.S. has massively declined, and the Postal Service is trying to find solutions to keep “snail mail” alive. “If this consolidation were to happen to take place, we would save $3.1 million a year to consolidate these operations,” said David Walton, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service. This would cost 23 Jackson postal service employees their jobs, but Walton said these employees will not be left empty-handed. “There is a clause in our union contracts that says we can’t lay off folks. So, what we would try to do is place these individuals in jobs that have never been filled, so we’ll do our best to abide contracts,” said Walton. Walton said job placements could very well be in Jackson, or they could be up to 50 miles away, according to employee contracts. “Likely customers will no longer receive the day after it’s mailed, so if you drop a letter in the mail, chances are you wouldn’t see it the next day, it would probably get there in two days,” continues Walton. Walton said he believes most customers will not even notice that extra day. A public meeting will be held to discuss the possibility of Jackson mail operations moving to Memphis. The meeting will be held Thursday at South Side High School auditorium from 7-9 p.m., and is open to the public.
