Impact of USPS center consolidation

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WWLP) - More than 100 postal service jobs from Springfield are moving out of the area.

It's no secret that the Postal Service is facing a difficult challenge and increasing debt. Mail volume has steadily declined over the past decade after the introduction of e-mail. Volume was down more than 9 billion pieces just last year.

Now Springfield is the latest Processing and Distribution center that’s being forced to consolidate.

A public hearing was held in November to hear what people had to say about the possible consolidation and just a month later they made the announcement that they will be closing the Processing and Distribution branch in Springfield.

According to a study done by the Postal Service back in October, they expected a decrease of around 169 jobs.

For businesses in the area, like O'Brien's Corner, postal workers are a vital part of the community and their business. “We don't understand why it's leaving the Springfield area to go to what would appear to be more expensive areas to operate, they don't understand it, we don't understand it,” said Brian O’Brien partner of O’Brien’s Corner.

Operations from the Springfield branch will now be moved to Shrewsbury and Hartford, Connecticut. It’s not only businesses that say they will feel the impact.

“I think it'd affect this neighborhood big because a lot of people, we depend on them they're like a main source so I think it will affect us,” said Alia Murrell who lives near the distribution center.

Margaret Pilon of Springfield said, “The people in this area are also concerned about the Postal system in general and the fact that we might lose our Indian Orchard post office which would be a big loss to this area so I'd hate to have a loss of anything from the post office because we need our post office and we need our postal workers.”

The Postal Service says local mail delivery will not be affected by the move.