Palatine postal center could lose jobs to Carol Stream

Following a study begun June 10, the U.S. Postal Service is considering moving some of the operations at the Palatine Processing and Distribution Center to a similar facility in Carol Stream, the post office said in a news release.

The two facilities opened in 1991 and perform similar operations. The Palatine one currently has 1,330 employees and the Carol Stream one has 1,205.

A public meeting will be held 7 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 22, to gather comment. It will be at the Wojcik Conference Center at Harper College, 1200 Algonquin Road, Palatine.

Post office spokesman Tim Ratliff said he couldn't comment now on what operations might move or how many people might be affected, but the postal service said it will post a summary of the proposal and other materials on its Web site, usps.com, before the meeting.

The postal service is running a deficit this year that could reach $7 billion, according to news reports. First-class mail volume has fallen more than 30 percent in the last decade, Ratliff said.

"We have an overcapacity of equipment, staff and facilities to process that volume of mail," he said.

At the meeting, postal service managers will give an overview of the reasons for the proposal and listen to community concerns. No decisions have been made, the news release said.

Comments can be submitted in writing through Oct. 7 to Consumer Affairs Manager, Northern Illinois District, 500 E. Fullerton Ave., Carol Stream, IL 60199-9631.