Durbin, Kirk, Manzullo Concerned About New Postal Consolidation Study; Plan to Ask for Meeting with Postmaster General
Rockford facility has continually been ranked as a leader in productivity and efficiency
[WASHINGTON, D.C.] – U.S. Senators Dick Durbin (D-IL) and Mark Kirk (R-IL) and U.S. Congressman Don Manzullo (R-IL) today plan to ask for a meeting with the U.S. Postmaster General to discuss the Postal Service’s plan to conduct a study examining the possibility of moving operations performed at the Rockford Processing and Distribution Facility to an out-of-state facility in Madison, Wisconsin. This study is the second the Postal Service has conducted on the Rockford facility – which has continually been ranked as a leader in productivity and efficiency – this year.
“I am concerned that, for the second time this year, the Rockford Processing and Distribution Center is part of a consolidation study that proposes to take good-paying jobs out of the area,” said Durbin. “I will join Senator Kirk and Representative Manzullo in a meeting with the Postmaster General as soon as possible for an explanation. Members of the Rockford community who rely on these jobs and the quick service the facility provides should contact the Postal Service to have their opinions heard.”
"In light of the Rockford Processing Center's record of being a leader in productivity and efficiency, I look forward to meeting with the Postmaster General to learn more about why the Postal Service would even consider stripping Rockford of this operation, which would cost the region many jobs," said Kirk.
“I join Senators Durbin and Kirk today in expressing disappointment that Rockford mail processing operations are again being targeted for consolidation and seeking a meeting with the Postmaster General to determine why the Postal Service thinks one of the most efficient processing facilities in the nation should be closed,” Manzullo said. “We will continue to fight this possible closure and continue to work to convince the Postal Service that northern Illinois deserves to keep its overnight mail delivery and that the fine postal workers in Rockford deserve to keep their jobs.”
In March 2011, Durbin, Kirk and Manzullo wrote to the Postmaster General, expressing their concern about the United States Postal Service’s plan to conduct a study examining the possibility of moving operations performed at the Rockford Processing and Distribution Facility to the Postal Service’s Carol Stream facility.
In 2006, Congressman Manzullo met with Postmaster General John Potter and convinced the Postal Service to delay and eventually abandon its plans to shutter Rockford’s mail processing operations and move them to Palatine. The consolidation would have meant eight counties in northwest Illinois would have lost overnight mail delivery and Rockford would have lost 100 jobs. Nearly 6,000 residents and business owners signed petitions, dozens of local governments passed resolutions of support, and more than 500 showed up for a public forum in 2006 to keep mail operations in Rockford.
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