KNOXVILLE, Tenn. — The U.S. Postal Service said it may soon move some mail operations from a Knoxville distribution facility to Nashville. While the USPS said there will be no career layoffs as it works to modernize the postal service, some employees are still worried about losing their jobs.
Documents detailing the possible change said the Knoxville facility is not closing. However, union documents said the possible changes may impact a total of 71 positions in East Tennessee — eight management positions and 63 worker jobs.
USPS said the change is expected to save the postal services up to $1.3 million in mail processing costs, and $1.1 million in maintenance costs.
"Everybody kind of feels a sense that they're, they're disposable," said Julie Towe, who said she comes from a family of postal workers and works with USPS. "My dad started with the post office the day I was born."
She said she moved two hours away from home for a position in the Knoxville Processing and Distribution Center.
"I have come back to the post office in Knoxville two and a half years ago to start that career over again," she said. "Moving any mail processing away from communities, there's no way it will not cause a delay."
She said promises that possible changes will not come with career layoffs have come with a sense of uncertainty and false hope. A union leader with USPS workers said people with less than two years of service are usually the first to be impacted.
"They're playing word games, because yes, they're not going to lay off these employees. But, they'll be forced to make a decision to move to wherever they tell them to or quit," said Mark Ducharme, a USPS employee and union leader. "We're really being left in the dark, from top to bottom here."
Towe said she is worried because she only has two and a half years of service with USPS.
"At the plant, there's about 370 processing career employees, and I fall at about 350. So, I'm pretty low to the bottom," she said.
Rep. Tim Burchett (R - TN) said he is in contact with the Postmaster General and shared concerns about the possible relocation. Employees also said moving operations to Nashville could delay mail delivery by around a day.
WBIR reached out to USPS for this story, but the postal service declined a request for an interview.