The United States Postal Service has nixed its plans to move part of the operations of a South Charleston mail plant to Pennsylvania, and will also move forward with plans to invest $22.8 million in upgrades at the facility. (Getty Images)
The United States Postal Service has nixed its plans to move part of the operations of a South Charleston mail plant to Pennsylvania, a move that would have affected dozens of jobs, officials announced Thursday morning. The agency will also move forward with plans to invest $22.8 million in upgrades at the facility.
The postal service had planned to shrink the Charleston Processing and Distribution Center as part of its 10-year plan to make the agency efficient. The change would have meant the loss of 23 positions and one managerial role and the transfer of 41 career positions and additional non-career positions. An estimated 180 people attended a public meeting about the proposed changes on Valentine’s Day. Several union leaders and postal employees spoke against the plans.
The plans were put on hold until at least Jan. 1, 2025, the postal service announced in May.
In a statement Thursday, Sen. Joe Manchin, I-W.Va., took credit for the postal service dropping those plans, saying he had “saved” the facility from downgrades as a result of “months of hard negotiating.”
“It never made economic sense to send our mail from Charleston to Pennsylvania and then back to West Virginia, and I commend the union for fighting for their members and all West Virginians throughout this process,” Manchin said.
Sen. Shelley Moore Capito, R-W.Va., said in a statement she is pleased with the news and called it a win for the state, but said she still has “concerns that need to be addressed.”
“Not only do many West Virginians work at this facility, but others depend on it for reliable and timely mail delivery, which is why it is important that the facility is maintained with its current operations or with enhanced services,” Capito said. “ As I have conveyed directly to Postmaster DeJoy throughout this entire process, I am hopeful that USPS will continue to reevaluate its future plans to better serve West Virginians.”
In a statement Thursday, the United States Postal Service said it plans to invest $22.8 million on “expanded and streamlined package and mail processing and distribution capabilities” at the facility, including $10.8 in deferred maintenance and modernization, including new workplace amenities for employees.
Union leaders and local officials applauded the news that the facility would continue to operate at full capacity and thanked the senators and others for their efforts.
In a statement, Tim Holstein, vice president of the American Postal Workers Union 133, said the postal service heard the requests of residents, politicians and union members throughout the state. He thanked “everyone who has spent countless hours helping us in this fight.”
“This decision could not have come at a more critical time, right before the holiday season. Although there will be slight changes, the members of APWU 133 are pleased and bargaining in good faith on Postmaster Dejoy’s word,” Holstein said. “We are happy to have this cloud of uncertainty lifted from above our facility, allowing us to concentrate on getting mail processed and ready for delivery.”
The Kanawha County Commission said in a statement it is “relieved and grateful” to learn the facility will continue to operate at full capacity.
Charleston Mayor Amy Shuler Goodwin called the change of plans “tremendous news.”
“We are fortunate in West Virginia to have two United States Senators who will fight for every West Virginia job and to ensure folks in state have the same services and opportunities as those throughout the country,” Goodwin said in a statement. “Also, a big thank you to the American Postal Workers Union Local 133. They never gave up fighting to keep jobs and services locally and we all benefit from their efforts.”
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