NORTH PLATTE, NE – In a recent press release, the United States Postal Service (USPS) announced plans to follow through on a move and reshaping of operations involving the North Platte Processing and Distribution Center.
The move, which was first indicated on the USPS website in January for facility review, will transfer outgoing mail processing operations to the Denver Processing and Distribution Center.
The changes, which have received criticism or calls for reconsideration from the public as well as Senator Deb Fischer, Congressman Adrian Smith, and the North Platte Chamber of Commerce, are part of a $40 billion investment strategy the USPS says is to upgrade and improve the Postal processing, transportation, and delivery networks as a part of their 10-year Delivering for America plan. Public comment sections on stories and statements throughout the last few months have had statements mostly expressing opposition.
In a statement Wednesday, Rep. Adrian Smith expressed continued concern.
“This decision—leaving the entire Third District, more land area than the state of North Dakota, without a USPS Mail Processing and Distribution Center—is another in a long line of actions demonstrating USPS’ lack of concern for rural Americans. As American postal customer satisfaction and rates of on-time delivery are decreasing, there is strong evidence moving operations to Denver risks greater delays and inefficiencies. Furthermore, it appears our clearly voiced concerns were simply disregarded by USPS, as they were when processing at facilities in Grand Island and Alliance was consolidated to Omaha in 2013 and 2015. This is unacceptable for Nebraska communities, businesses, and seniors who are particularly reliant on USPS for delivery of prescription medicines,” said Smith.
The release from the USPS stated that the North Platte location will remain open and be modernized as a Local Processing Center (LPC), while also announcing that no career layoffs will occur as a part of the initiative. Reduction in any number of pre-career employees will be made in accordance with respective collective bargaining agreements, the release says.
The final Mail Processing Facility Review, also posted to the USPS site, indicates both a -11 processing staffing impact and a -4 maintenance position impact in North Platte. Ten of the processing jobs would be added in Denver.
The Postal Service states they will be investing up to $4.4 million in the North Platte LPC resulting in “expanded and streamlined package and mail processing and distribution capabilities for the facility”.
The release finishes by saying that business mail entry, Post Office, station, and branch retail services are not expected to change, and delivery services will be enhanced. After the North Platte facility is converted, it is anticipated that it will be able to mail and ship packages, manual letters and flats. The LPC is also anticipated to offer express services and accept bulk and permit mail.
Full press release from the USPS regarding the North Platte facility: MPFRFinalDecision_North Platte NE_2024-04-30 (1)
