April 27, 2021

This letter is an informational notice that the U.S. Postal Service intends to complete the movement of the limited remaining mail processing operations from the Southern CT Processing and Distribution Center (P&DC) into Wallingford, CT with those performed at the Hartford CT P&DC. This process completes movement and consolidation of mail processing operations that was paused in 2015.

As part of its 10-year plan to achieve financial sustainability and service excellence, the Postal Service will complete the movement of the limited remaining mail processing operations in 18 facilities. These moves will allow the Postal Service to adapt its mail processing equipment to match the changing mix of mail and package volume and better serve the American public and business customers. 

Moving, removing, and repurposing mail processing equipment and operations or “operational mail moves” is an ongoing Postal Service strategy dating back decades that allows for more efficient, timely delivery of mail and packages. Due to the decline in mail volume, we will relocate or remove unnecessary letter and flat sorting equipment as appropriate to make space for much needed package processing. Those select moves will follow USPS’ existing contractual process and be completed by November 2021.

Due to the dramatic decline of mail volume, the Postal Service will relocate or remove unnecessary letter and flat sorting equipment, as appropriate, to make space for much-needed package processing equipment. Despite record election and holiday mail volumes this past year, the Postal Service’s utilization rate of mail sorting machines has fallen below 50 percent. Data-driven analytics will inform the optimal configuration of sorting equipment and adjustments of processing operations. Employee impacts resulting from these operational changes will be handled in accordance with our negotiated contract provisions. These employee impacts will not result in layoffs.

The Postal Service will strategically implement changes at locations where mail processing inefficiencies exist given the decline in mail volume while looking to repurpose that space where possible for package processing, given the increase in package volume.  

We remain fully committed to mail delivery. As part of our recently announced 10-year plan, the Postal Service plans to commit capital towards our mail and package processing network, including facility space upgrades and new processing equipment. To be a viable participant in the highly dynamic package delivery marketplace, we must invest in and realign our outmoded mail processing capabilities to best meet customer demand. We are committed to making the necessary investments and modernizations in our facilities, including package processing equipment, that are long overdue.

Additional information about the USPS 10-year plan can be found at usps.com/deliveringforamerica.