Some Yakima postal operations may move to Pasco

YAKIMA, Wash. -- Facing one of its most difficult financial challenges ever, the U.S. Postal Service is again looking at sending some of its Yakima operations to Pasco -- a move that could end the Yakima postmark.

The Postal Service has seen a 20 percent decline in mail volume since 2007, some of it caused by Internet diversions resulting in historic deficits, according to a U.S. Postal Service news release Friday.

"As a result of the volume loss, we have more facilities, equipment and people than we need to process a declining volume of mail," Seattle District Manager Katherine Nash said in the release. "We have to reduce the size of our network because we are no longer receiving enough revenue to sustain its cost."

If the study supports consolidating services, a public hearing would be held and comments would be considered in any final decision, the release said.

The move would only involve mail processing, and Yakima offices would remain open with the same hours and the same drop-off locations, Swanson said.

The Postal Service looked at a similar move four years ago to transfer back-office processing operations at its Washington Avenue location to Pasco. But after considerable opposition from postal workers in Yakima, the plan was dropped.

It's not clear yet whether Yakima would lose its postmark or how many jobs might be lost, said Postal Service spokesman Ernie Swanson in Seattle.

"At this point, we don't really know," he said.

About 22 people work on the outgoing mail-processing
shift at the post office at Washington and Third avenues. Total employment at the facility is 73 positions.

But first-class mail could be shifted to the Pasco office, Swanson said. Workers impacted by the move most likely would have the option of transferring to other offices.

"It just depends on where we had opportunities," he said.

The loss of a postmark wouldn't really impact customers -- the mail they send would simply be postmarked Pasco, he said.

"Some people may have a sentimental value to that, but I think the general public doesn't pay attention anyway," he said.