USPS to move some mail operations from Knoxville to Nashville: What to know
The United States Postal Service has announced that some mail operations from a Knoxville distribution facility will be moved to Nashville.
The original plan proposed moving operations to Louisville, Ky., but according to a post office report, it was determined during the review process that the regional processing center would be in Nashville. The change will move originating letter mail, flat mail and parcels to Nashville and the Weisgarber Road distribution center in Knoxville will remain open and be modernized as a local processing center. The Knoxville center will mail and ship local packages, letters and flats.
The change is part of the post office's Delivering for America plan, which aims to achieve financial sustainability within a decade. The post office estimates that total first year savings from moving operations from Knoxville to Nashville will amount between $3.1 million and $4.1 million. Included in the total savings amount are mail processing work hour savings, management work hour savings, transportation savings, and maintenance savings.
Here's what else to know.
Will there be USPS layoffs?
According to a post office report, there will be no layoffs.
"The Postal Service is a responsible employer and will be working closely with the unions and management associations to work through this initiative," said the USPS. "The Postal Service will follow requirements of the collective bargaining agreements where they apply and all applicable postal policies."
However, some are doubtful.
In January, Steve Hutkins, the founder of the Save the Post Office worker advocacy group, told the Knoxville News Sentinel the claim is only a "technicality."
Upon consolidation, employees at Knoxville's processing and distribution center could face the choice to move to Nashville, commute the almost 3 hours there, transfer to another city or quit the post office altogether.
"That's what (USPS) is counting on," Hutkins said. "(Employees) will just have to leave and (USPS) will be able to say 'We didn't lay anybody off, but unfortunately people decided they didn't want the job.'"
What is the USPS 'Delivering for America' plan?
The "Delivering for America" plan was announced in March of 2021. The plan is focused toward making the USPS more efficient and regaining the company's losses which were exacerbated during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"The plan's strategic initiatives are designed to reverse a projected $160 billion in losses over 10 years by achieving break-even operating performance while improving the reliability and predictability of service," said the post office.
According to a USPS news release, the postal service has recorded $87 billion in financial losses over the last 14 years and has failed to meet service standards. The plan aims to streamline operations by optimizing surface and air transportation, creating a stable and empowered workforce, offering a modern and transformed network of post offices and more.
Reporter Allie Feinberg with Knox News contributed to this report.
Diana Leyva covers trending news and service for The Tennessean. Contact her at Dleyva@gannett.com or follow her on X, the platform formerly known as Twitter at @_leyvadiana
This article originally appeared on Nashville Tennessean: Why USPS is moving regional operations from Knoxville to Nashville
