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CLEVELAND – U.S. Sen. Sherrod Brown will announce an agreement today that sets in place a moratorium on post office and processing center closures in Ohio, and around the country, until May 15.

“This moratorium is a win for Ohio consumers, Ohio business, and Ohio workers. Though the Postal Service faces serious challenges, this will provide time to reach a solution that will strengthen the USPS, instead of crippling it. It is vital that all Ohio residents and businesses receive the same level of service and access to their mail,” Brown said.

Targeted for closure were 120 post offices and 10 mail processing facilities in Ohio. The Postal Service said the cuts were in response to a steady drop in the amount of mail it handles.

The list released earlier this year of processing centers to be closed includes:

  • Akron Processing and Distribution Center
  • Athens Customer Service Mail Processing Center
  • Canton Processing and Distribution Facility
  • Chillicothe Customer Service Mail Processing Center
  • Cincinnati Processing and Distribution Center
  • Dayton Processing and Distribution Facility
  • Ironton Customer Service Mail Processing Center
  • Steubenville Customer Service Mail Processing Center
  • Toledo Processing and Distribution Facility
  • Youngstown Processing and Distribution Facility

A union leader said processing offices in Cleveland and Columbus would be the only ones left in Ohio.

But now the temporary halt on the closures will allow Congress more time to enact reform.

“The Postal Service will continue all necessary steps required for the review of these facilities during the interim period, including public input meetings. The Postal Service hopes this period will help facilitate the enactment of comprehensive postal legislation. Given the Postal Service’s financial situation and the loss of mail volume, the Postal Service must continue to take all steps necessary to reduce costs and increase revenue,” said USPS officials in a news release.

The Postal Service is currently considering the elimination of overnight delivery and studying the possibility of closing 3,700 mostly rural post offices and 252 mail processing facilities across the country, at a cost of 28,000-30,000 jobs.

Read more: http://www.newsnet5.com/dpp/news/local_news/akron_canton_news/agreement-to-temporarily-delay-closings-of-post-offices-processing-centers-in-ohio#ixzz1gSIGvpWE

Article Courtesy of WEWS NewsChannel 5