BOISE -- The U.S. Postal Service is considering consolidating some of its mail processing in Twin Falls with the processing center in Boise. It's a move some postal workers said would result in jobs lost and slower deliveries.
The mail processing center in Boise on Cole Road already processes flat mail, like magazines, for south-central Idaho. The Postal Service would like to see it process even more. They propose moving all automated mail processing in Twin Falls to Boise.
"We're looking at sending that to Boise for them to process and then return for delivery in the same time frame that we're actually experiencing now," said Twin Falls Postmaster Bill Reese.
All mail from zip codes beginning with 833 in eight counties would be processed in Boise. Only mail that machines can't sort would still be processed in Twin Falls. It's a move the Postal Service says would save money, but local union members disagree.
"They're claiming it's going to save money. And I personally haven't been able to figure it out because if they transfer the people from Twin Falls to Boise, they still got to pay the same wages," said Robert Johnson with American Postal Workers Union Local 179
Reese said there would likely be a net decrease of six jobs in Twin Falls. He said some jobs would be created in Boise. The plan could also include moving some employees in Twin Falls to Boise, but details are still being worked out.
"The post office does do every effort they can to keep people in positions that are in close proximity to where they are now. That doesn't always happen depending on the area," said Reese.
The American Postal Workers Union Local 179 in Twin Falls says their information indicates about 20 to 30 jobs would be lost. They said a consolidation would delay deliveries and pick ups.
"Because it'll leave from Twin Falls, go to Boise processing plant, which is 125 miles, drive right back past Twin Falls, that's another 125 miles. That's 250 miles before it would even leave Twin Falls," said Johnson.
The Postal Service says they don't anticipate any delays.
"That is not what we expect because of the drop of mail volume. We've experienced a 20 percent drop in mail volume, which nationally is about 43 billion pieces over the last five years. With the drop in mail volume, the study is hoping, and we are pretty sure, we'll be able to send the mail to Boise in the evening and then the next day it would return for delivery just like we are getting now," said Reese.
The USPS is holding a meeting at 6 p.m. Tuesday at College of Southern Idaho's Fine Arts Building for public input.
If the consolidation is finalized, it would likely begin in September.
