Champaign Co. community opposing proposed post office changes
CHAMPAIGN COUNTY, Ill. (WCIA) — Champaign County post office workers, community members, and officials are demanding their local mail stays local.
The United States Postal Service is proposing to change the purpose of the Mattis facility, while also moving some of the responsibility to a Chicago distribution center. Management promises no jobs will be lost but employees say the impact would be worse than that.
They say despite what presenters say, employees believe mail delays are bound to happen with making Chicago the new distribution center.
And management’s claim it won’t cost any jobs does not include the uprooting it will take for employees to keep those jobs if they move.
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Champaign post office employees say their fight goes beyond keeping jobs.
It’s rural communities and local businesses. It’s the people who not only rely on the service the post office provides, but also on the location.
The Champaign Mattis location would no longer be a processing and distribution center. Instead, it’ll service only a local processing center.
“Illinois District 2 already has one of the lowest time delivery rates in the state. Moving and processing distribution functions to Chicago made no sense,” said Diane Marlin, mayor of Urbana.
This means the mail that used to be distributed here — will go to South Suburban and Chicago South facilities.
“The mail collected locally will travel across. The wider USPS transportation processing network over significant distances to reach their final destination in a more efficient manner,” said a USPS presenter.
It’s part of a 40-billion-dollar plan to improve postal processing, transportation, and delivery; But employees and their supporters don’t see how that’ll happen. And they’re not alone.
Congresswoman Nikki Budzinski sent in a statement:
“These decisions will have a serious impact on the financial security of families across the Champaign region. It is my belief that the employees of the facility must be given answers before any plan can move forward.”
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United States Postal Service officials say the plans are not set yet. They say the public input would be considered before the final decision.
The Champaign County community has until March 27th to submit written comments to be considered.
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