Some Lufkin Facilities Moving to Tyler

LUFKIN � As a result of a study that began in September 2010, the Postal Service has made the decision to move some mail processing operations from the Lufkin Processing and Distribution Facility to the Tyler Processing and Distribution Center. That�s according to a U.S. Postal Service press release. Local mail service will not be affected by the move, the release stated. And, contrary to earlier reports, the Lufkin facility will not close.

Still, officials are acknowledging the impact the move will have. �Given the drastic decline in mail volume the Postal Service has experienced, with a decline of 26 billion pieces this past year, we must take action to reduce the size of our mail processing network,� Dallas District Manager Victor Benavides stated in the release. �Consolidating operations and placing our people where we need them is necessary if the Postal Service is to remain viable to provide mail service to the nation. I understand our employees� concern over this move, but the consolidation makes sense given the fiscal realities. The Tyler Processing and Distribution Center has the capacity to handle the additional workload and we can realize significant savings by shifting operations there.�

According to the release, the transition is now underway and will be completed by July 2011. Some employees may be reassigned to the Tyler plant or to other vacant positions as a result of the move, the release stated.