FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. — USPS (United States Postal Service) has announced its decision to keep the Fayetteville distribution center after a proposed strategy that would save billions.
The strategy promises to increase efficiency, improve service quality, and save USPS an additional $3 billion per year nationwide, according to a press release.
USPS originally wanted to relocate Northwest Arkansas' processing center, along with dozens of other processing facilities nationwide, into one Oklahoma center. In May, American Postal Workers Union 667 out of Fayetteville protested against the relocation after they predicted their jobs would be endangered and mail would consistently be delayed.
The proposed strategy has now halted this move, and Fayetteville's postal facility will no longer be moved, securing the workers' jobs, USPS said.
President Royce Mills with the Union says, "It's always good news when the people I represent is going to keep their jobs and not worry about having to move families."
"The significant savings generated by this proposed operational strategy would enable the Postal Service to absorb the cost of continuing to provide local cancellation service in Fayetteville," said USPS. "As a result, the Postal Service would now not need to relocate local originating mail processing operations outside of the NW Arkansas facility."
The release states the Northwest Arkansas facility will also see changes that are designed to boost its services thanks to a $3.3 million investment from USPS.
According to the release these changes include expanded and streamlined package and mail processing and distribution capabilities for the facility, new lighting, new bathrooms and new breakrooms.
U.S. Rep. Steve Womack, who was concerned about the potential closure and move to Oklahoma, said the new strategy is "a shift in the right direction."
Womack provided the following statement:
"USPS' proposed new strategy is a shift in the right direction and certainly better than the initial proposal to move all originating mail processing to Oklahoma City. Now, regional mail distribution will remain in the region. I’m also encouraged to hear that there are no anticipated career layoffs or impacts on employees and that USPS appears to be responding to the concerns I shared with Postmaster General DeJoy. I will continue to monitor the situation and advocate for the best outcome for Third District Arkansans."
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