Postal union rep.: Mail center to close June 1

A local postal worker union representative confirmed June 1 is the expected day the East Texas Mail Processing Center in Owentown will close but added, “It’s not over til it’s over.”

On Monday, after emails circulated among employees regarding the expected shuttering of the center, McKinney Boyd, U.S. Postal Service spokesman, said he could not confirm the date and the service was “preparing a statement.” He said the same thing Tuesday and no response was given Wednesday.

Paul Shuptrine, president of the American Postal Workers Union in Tyler, said the center shutdown would mean job transfers for most of the employees, those with six years experience or more, who would have the choice to relocate, retire or resign. About 40 employees would “be standing on the unemployment line.” Shuptrine said he is holding out hope there is still room to negotiate.

Employees and family members of postal workers said they were informed the plant would close June 1 via email this week. They spoke on the condition of anonymity because they feared speaking would affect their employment options.

via Postal union rep.: Mail center to close June 1 – Tylerpaper.com