Roanoke postal union workers say mail distribution center is closing

9:25 p.m.

When district manager Daryl Myers and inspectors walked into the meeting mail processing clerk Lisa Kirkwood was in, she knew it was bad news.  Kirkwood says they announced the Roanoke mail distribution and processing plant will close.

"I am going to stay here and I am going to fight until they chain the doors,” said Kirkwood.

She will lose her job as, as well as possibly 500 other employees.

"I am devastated.  I am shocked.  It is my job.  It is very hard to digest,” said Kirkwood.

Like many of her colleagues, she is worried about paying bills, supporting their family, and finding another job.

"What am I going to do?  Am I going to have a job in Greensboro (processing center), or just be stuck out on the street trying to find a job in this job market?” questioned Kirkwood.

Carlton Cooper, the president of the post office workers union in Roanoke, siad while union leaders were told the processing center is closing, there are several things they don't know.

"There is still no certainty.  We have not been given a specific date, any time frame, or any number of employees that will be affected.  We don't know anything, so it just makes it worse,” said Cooper.

Workers say they are also concerned how this will impact the customers they have served for years.  Valeria Dale is one of them.

“I am shocked.  I don't know who made this decision, but it is not a good decision,” exclaimed Dale.

She relies on the post office, and is concerned her mail will be delayed.

"Slower mail, and sometimes you need things quicker than when you are getting them.  It is very disconcerting,” said Dale.

The Postal Service itself was silent on the claim made by union members.  A USPS spokeswoman told me Wednesday evening that a final decision had not been made, and that any news would be announced "at an appropriate time."

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6:09 p.m.

From Morgan Donnelly in the field

A Postal Service workers union representative tells WSLS, that union leaders were told in a meeting this evening, that the Postal Service will close the Roanoke mail processing center later this year.

A USPS spokeswoman told WSLS earlier this evening that a final decision had not been made, and that any news would be announced "at an appropriate time."

The closing would impact hundreds of employees, and cause mail delivery delays throughout our area.