TAMPA, Fla.– As a result of a study to examine the consolidation of some mail processing operations at the Manasota Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC), 850 Tallevast Road in Sarasota, the decision has been made to move mail processing operations to the Fort Myers P&DC, 14080 Jetport Loop in Fort Myers.  The move is expected to be completed by February 2014.  There are no changes to retail services or to the Business Mail Entry Unit.

The consolidation will provide cost savings while maintaining high levels of service and will be seamless to customers.

The U.S. Postal Service ended the 2012 fiscal year (Oct. 1, 2011 – Sept. 30, 2012) with a record net loss of $15.9 billion, compared to a net loss of $5.1 billion for the same period last year.  The loss included expenses of $11.1 billion related to two payments to prefund retiree health benefits.  The Postal Service, which is uniquely required by law to prefund these obligations, was forced to default on these payments.

First-Class Mail revenue, which peaked in 2007, dropped $1,163 million or 3.9 percent while Standard Mail decreased $747 million or 4.3 percent compared to last year. 

The Postal Service has reduced the size of its workforce by 244,000 career employees since 2000 without resorting to layoffs.  Employees impacted by the Manasota P&DC move will be offered other positions within the Postal Service, in keeping with collective bargaining agreements.

The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.