Huntsville AL – As a result of a study begun on November 5, 2010, the Postal Service has made the decision to move some mail processing operations from the Huntsville AL Processing and Distribution Center to the Birmingham AL Processing and Distribution Center.

Alabama District Manager William J. Mitchell said, “Given the drastic 20 percent decline in mail volume the Postal Service has experienced since 2007, we must take action to reduce the size of our mail processing network. Consolidating operations and placing our people where we need them is necessary if the Postal Service is to remain viable to provide mail service to the nation.”

“I understand our employees’ concern over this move,” Mitchell added, “but the consolidation makes sense given the fiscal realities. The Birmingham AL Processing and Distribution Center has the capacity to handle the additional workload and we can realize significant savings by shifting operations there.”

The transition is expected to be completed by January 1, 2012. Some employees may be reassigned to the Birmingham AL Processing and Distribution Center or to other vacant positions as a result of the move.

“This move will not cause any changes in local mail delivery,” said Mitchell. “Letters mailed to local addresses will be delivered the next day, the same as before. I am confident the transition will be smooth and transparent to our customers and they will continue to receive the same excellent service they always have.”

Full retail services will still be available at Huntsville AL Processing and Distribution Center.

As a result of the consolidation, service to Tuscaloosa 354 and Anniston 362 will improve from 2-day to overnight. There are no 2-day or 3-day service changes. Priority Mail ZIPs that will change from 2-day to 3-day represent only one percent of originating Huntsville volume.

• The Huntsville AL’s Business Mail Entry Unit will remain open for deposit of discounted or permit imprint mail. You will not be required to move or open up new permits at the Birmingham AL Processing and Distribution Center.
• There will be no change in the “SCF entry rate” for discounted mail.
• Single-piece First-Class Mail stamped and metered mail will still be able to be deposited in collection boxes or at the retail counter at the Huntsville AL Processing and Distribution Center.
• While stamped items now will indicate Birmingham AL Processing and Distribution Center, instead of Huntsville AL Processing and Distribution Center in the cancellation, you may continue to use your existing meter. No changes will be required.

“The significant cost savings and productivity gains expected from this consolidation were deciding factors in making this very difficult decision,” said Mitchell. .

We’re everywhere so you can be anywhere: www.uspseverywhere.com

# # #

A self-supporting government enterprise, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that reaches every address in the nation, 150 million residences, businesses and Post Office Boxes. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses, and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. We’re everywhere so you can be anywhere: www.uspseverywhere.com. With 32,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, usps.com, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $67 billion and delivers nearly 40 percent of the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 29th in the 2010 Fortune 500. Black Enterprise and Hispanic Business magazines ranked the Postal Service as a leader in workforce diversity. The Postal Service has been named the Most Trusted Government Agency six consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute.