Palatine, IL – As a result of a study begun in June 10, 2009, the Postal Service has made the decision to move originating mail processing operations from the Palatine Processing and Distribution Center to the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center in Carol Stream, IL. Local mail service will not be affected by the move.

“Given the drastic decline in mail volume the Postal Service has experienced, with a decline of 26 billion pieces this past year, we must take action to reduce the size of our mail processing network,” said Northern IL District Manager Bob Hart. “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,” Hart added, “but the consolidation makes sense given the fiscal realities. The Carol Stream Processing and Distribution Center has the capacity to handle the additional workload and we can realize significant savings by shifting operations there.”

The transition will begin April, 2010 and be completed by July, 2010. Some employees may be reassigned to the Carol Stream Processing and Distribution or to other vacant positions as a result of the move.

“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,” said Hart.

Palatine P&DC Business Mail Entry Unit will remain open for business mailers; however the critical entry time may be shifted earlier.

Drop shipments for 600 and 602 ZIP Codes will continue to be received at the Palatine P&DC as per the current processing plan.

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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. With 36,000 retail locations and the most frequently visited website in the federal government, the Postal Service relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses. Named the Most Trusted Government Agency five consecutive years and the sixth Most Trusted Business in the nation by the Ponemon Institute, the Postal Service has annual revenue of more than $68 billion and delivers nearly half the world’s mail. If it were a private sector company, the U.S. Postal Service would rank 26th in the 2008 Fortune 500.