Despite opposition from the state’s congressional delegation and the local postal union, the United States Postal Service has approved modifications to the Manchester mail processing facility.
USPS announced on Tuesday that it will partially consolidate, moving some letter sorting machines to a facility in Boston, and described the move as an effort to “improve mail operations.” More room will then be available for sorting incoming packages at Manchester’s facility. USPS is anticipated to save $1.2 to 1.5 million a year overall as a result of the reorganization.
The local postal union and the state’s congressional delegation, who are all Democrats, opposed the plan when it was first announced in January and warned that it might cause delivery delays. As some mail sent by New Hampshire residents to other New Hampshire residents will now be redirected out of state, residents expressed their concerns about potential delivery delays during a public hearing in February.
According to the delegation, the announcement on Wednesday will have a substantial impact on Granite Staters’ mail delivery and may lead to the loss of well-paying jobs if mail processing is moved out of the Manchester facility. “It was evident that Granite Staters and postal workers were outraged and provided overwhelming feedback.”
At the Manchester facility, which presently employs about 400 people, USPS stated that career staff will not be let go. It is possible for certain employees to be reassigned, but for as many as ten part-time employees to lose their jobs.
The USPS is undertaking a nationwide reorganization in Manchester as part of an attempt to reduce expenses and increase efficiency.