Gaylord Post Office Hires 20, No Longer Slated for Closure

Twenty new career employees will be hired at the Gaylord post office, an indication that the U.S. Postal Service no longer intends to close the facility. The Gaylord post office processes all mail from the 497 zip codes, between Grayling and Sault Ste. Marie, Alpena, and Charlevoix.

Last year, following an internal study, the Postal Service considered removing mail processing from the Gaylord facility, leading the postal union to protest. Had the Gaylord post office closed, mail would have been rerouted to Traverse City or farther down state, which could delay mail delivery for two or three days, said John Marcotte, American Postal Worker Union Local 4881 president.

Mr. Marcotte has now reached an agreement with the Postal Service to hire 20 new career employees at Gaylord, the first time, he said, a career employee has been hired at Gaylord since 2001.

"The addition of 20 career employees at the Gaylord post office will all but assure the end of the [internal] study and its recommendation to remove mail processing from the Gaylord facility," said Mr. Marcotte.

The Gaylord post office has been a leader in productivity and efficiency in the Great Lakes area, even while using outdated equipment, Mr. Marcotte contends in an April 30 press release.