Aurora postal facility on chopping block

The proposed closure of an Aurora mail distribution center could save about $18 million — one part of a nationwide consolidation of sorting facilities by the cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service.

But it also could cost 227 people their jobs.

The Fox Valley Processing and Distribution Center at 3900 Gabrielle Lane on the city's east side is one of about 230 facilities targeted for closure.

Postal Service officials will discuss the proposal at 7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 29, at the Copley Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., during which the public will be allowed to comment.

The Postal Service has suggested reducing the number of processing facilities from 487 to 252 in an effort to cut costs on facilities, equipment, transportation and employees. It's one way the agency is trying to make up for a loss of mail volume and decreased revenue.

Closure of the facilities likely would mean longer delivery times for first-class mail. It's now one to three business days, but is proposed to increase to two to three business days.

Mail processing now handled by the Aurora facility would be transferred to the Postal Service's South Suburban facility in Bedford Park.

In Aurora, 227 positions could be cut, six of which are managerial.

Spokeswoman Beverly Howard said it's unclear if any jobs would be permanently lost, since positions can remain unfilled with retirements and attrition. She said officials will let employees know of vacancies at other facilities and reassignments will be made according to existing collective bargaining agreements.

Mark Blough, Fox Valley branch president of National Postal Mailhandlers Union Local 306, said it's possible employees could be offered positions at other facilities — but that could mean anywhere in the country.

“This is a nationwide thing,” Blough said. “With some 200 facilities to close down, where are all these people going to go? There's no way to salvage these positions.”

Local 306 represents about 150 workers at the Aurora facility. Another 250 people there are represented by the American Postal Workers Union, Blough said.

He said he's skeptical of some of the cost-saving numbers presented by the Postal Service and will be looking for answers at Thursday's meeting.

The Postal Service is also looking at closing nine other processing and distribution centers in Illinois, including the Irving Park Road facility in Chicago near O'Hare Airport. Operations there could be consolidated into the Postal Service's facilities in Elk Grove Village, Palatine or Forest Park.

In March, seven district offices were closed across the country — including the one in Carol Stream, where 134 positions were eliminated. That didn't affect mail processing operations there, which are expected to continue, officials said.

The distribution center in Palatine also is not being considered for closure.

Earlier this month, the Postal Service agreed to delay any closings until May 15 in response to a request by senators, who are discussing legislation to assist the postal agency.

Until then, Howard said officials will continue with Thursday's public hearing and then present final plans for the local facility closures to the agency headquarters in Washington, D.C., where a final decision will be made.

If you go

What: Public meeting on proposed closure of postal service's Fox Valley Processing and Distribution Center in Aurora

When: 7 p.m., Thursday

Where: Copley Theatre, 23 E. Galena Blvd., Aurora

Info: http://about.usps.com/streamlining-operations/area-mail-processing.htm