HOUSTON — "Never in my postal career has it been this bad."
That's coming from a longtime United States Postal Service employee who said he's fed up with excuses and wants the public to know what's really causing the mail delays at two Houston-area processing centers.
The 30-plus year postal worker said the problem is with a key piece of equipment -- a new parcel sorting machine that was set to be installed during peak season, just before the holidays.
"Supposed to be a massive machine," the employee said.
So big, he said they had to remove two other machines, but the big issue was that the new machine didn't fit inside the facility.
The employee said without any large sorting machines, mail is piling up everywhere.
"It's a whole mess," the employee said. "Every open space, aside from the hallways, has mail or trash sitting there."
He said the mess is so bad, that it's making it hard for contractors to try to fix the situation.
"The mail backlog in the building has slowed contractors down," the employee said. "Can't do their job with the congestion of the mail.
Congressman Al Green said extra employees have been brought in to help with the mail delays, but the USPS worker said they can only help so much. He said the large sorting machines are needed before things can get back to normal.
He believes that could take months.
"Midsummer, a little later. I would be surprised if they have it cleaned up before April," he said. "I think that is generous."
He said somebody needs to pay for what's happened with these mail delays.
We've reached out to USPS on this worker's claims. As of Wednesday, we've not gotten back a response.
KHOU 11 was the first to tell you about the delays and has been reporting on it now for more than a month.
USPS blames the "temporary" delays on a modernization of its mail and package processing network. The postal service said it's working to process packages as quickly as possible.
Tracking the mail: Our stories on the postal delays
- Dec. 13, 2023: 'Processed as they are received' | In statement, USPS addresses issues at Houston-area post office
- Dec. 15, 2023: Man's medication stuck at Missouri City USPS sorting facility for a week and counting
- Dec. 16, 2023: New Hampshire woman joins list of people frustrated about packages stuck at Missouri City USPS sorting facility
- Dec. 19, 2023: 'Free my mail!' | Congressman looks into Missouri City postal facility with reported package delays
- Jan. 10, 2024: Congressman Al Green to tour Missouri City USPS facility with hopes of resolving mail delay issues
- Jan. 10, 2024: Here's why the post office says your mail is stuck
- Jan. 18, 2024: Package with $1,000 item stuck at Missouri City USPS processing center, customer says
- Jan. 19, 2024: 'We need to step it up and figure this out' | In one day, hundreds of people contacted KHOU 11 about mail delays
- Jan. 19, 2024: Congressman Al Green receives report from USPS Office of Inspector General on mail delay issues
- Jan. 19, 2024: Bride-to-be still waiting on wedding dress just days before big day
- Jan. 20, 2024: Candle shop owner worried about reputation after customers' orders stuck at USPS processing centers in Houston
- Jan. 21, 2024: 'It's not just Missouri City' | Houston’s mail delays extend to USPS northside facility, customers say
- Jan. 22, 2024: Houston congressman demands answers, calls for transparency from USPS on mail delay issues
- Jan. 23, 2024: USPS bringing in extra workers to help with mail delays at Houston-area processing centers, congressman says