In ‘Dire Financial Condition,’ USPS Speeds Up Stamford Plant Closure

The U.S. Postal Service’s processing plants on Research Parkway in Wallingford and West Avenue in Stamford were already scheduled to close in February 2014 as the mail carrier continuously deals with a decline in business.

But, in a news release issued Wednesday, USPS said its “dire financial condition” was what bumped that closure from February of next year to the summer of 2013. The Wallingford facility is one of only two postal plants to close in Connecticut, the other being Stamford.

The postal service is looking at the move as a consolidation, as the USPS is moving most of its mail operation from Wallingford to Hartford, and the Stamford operation to Westchester, NY, said Christine Dugas, USPS spokesman.

"We are losing $25 million a day so with that we have no choice but to act quickly," Dugas said. "(The consolidation) supposed to happen no later than the end of summer. So we don’t have a specific exact date yet but I’m sure we will as it comes forward."

"As First-Class Mail declines, we must continue to improve operational efficiencies and reduce costs by making better use of space, staffing, equipment and transportation in processing the nation’s mail," the USPS said in a statement.

When asked if this was a surprise, Wallingford Mayor William Dickinson said he recalled there was some discussion last year about the potential closure but he only became aware of it recently. He called the news an unfortunate loss of employment and ultimately a loss of convenience with regard to mail delivery.

"The major issue is still there, the postal service is losing money so how to correct it," Dickinson said. "It’s not good news. It’s not good news for Wallingford and it’s obviously not good news for the postal service."

Representatives in Connecticut's congressional delegation issued a statement saying they were "outraged" by the decision.

“We are outraged at the Postal Service’s decision to close the Wallingford and Stamford processing facilities an entire year earlier than the original deadline," the representatives said in a joint statement. "Closing these facilities will impact nearly 1,200 jobs, reneging on a promise to the employees and communities that these facilities would remain open during this year to allow enough time to reform the Postal Service and assess if these closures are fiscally prudent."

Dugas said there will be no career employees laid off due to the consolidation, as they are typically reassigned to other jobs in the area. But, some temporary employees hired during the summer or the holiday season, or those hired to fill a temporary job when a career employee is out, may be let go. 

She said there could be some effect on the mail delivery — like some people getting their mail a day later than usual — although for the most part it would not be noticible. Plant consolidations have been done before in other areas, like in Springfield, and Dugas said customers did not really notice a difference.

The Connecticut delegation said the closure would be contested.

"We remain committed both to reversing this decision, preventing further closures, and to ensuring that Connecticut residents do not experience delays in mail delivery."