Consolidation of Mail Processing Operations From Hazelton, Pennsylvania, to Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania

An audit was requested of the U.S. Postal Service's (USPS) plan to consolidate the mail processing operations of the Hazelton, Pennsylvania, Post Office and 37 other associate post offices. The proposed move includes consolidation of operations to process both ongoing and incoming mail. The economic justification for the consolidation was reviewed and its impact on mail service and affected USPS employees were also examined.

Although the actual cost savings cannot be determined until sometime after consolidation, it is estimated that annual savings are about $253,000. In addition, it appears that the consolidation will have no adverse impact on the mail service, that Wilkes-Barre has the capability of processing the consolidated mail volumes, and that all the affected employees have been treated fairly although most of them will be initially reassigned to another location. USPS plans to achieve its estimated savings by eliminating 19 full-time positions at Hazelton and reducing the work hours of part-time flexible employees at Hazelton and associate offices. The impact of the planned consolidation on affected full-time employees was discussed with employee union representatives. The affected employees have been treated fairly, and employees not assigned to specific positions are concerned about their eventual location and positions.