March 24, 2011: The National Association of Letter Carriers is gratified by the Postal Regulatory Commission’s decision not to recommend a shift to five-day-a-week mail delivery. Such a drastic move would inconvenience millions of Americans, including many who count on being able to get prescription medicines on Saturday; it would damage small businesses for which Saturday is an important workday; and it would have an inordinate impact on rural areas.
“We need to strengthen our only truly national communications network, not dismantle it,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. He noted that the PRC’s advisory findings carry weight with Congress.
Reducing 17 percent of postal service to save 2 or 3 percent in expenses has never been a good idea. It would reduce services to the public, while hurting future USPS revenue as others fill the vacuum. That’s reinforced by the PRC finding that the Postal Service’s estimate of $3.1 billion in savings was inflated by 45 percent, with the proper figure being $1.4 billion. Meanwhile, the commission said, the USPS would lose $600 million in annual revenue, a loss that would only grow over time.
Eliminating Saturday delivery also would delay the mail substantially, the PRC found. And the USPS failed to consider the impact of its proposal on rural customers, commissioners said. Urging care in changing postal delivery, Commission Chairman Ruth Goldway said, “The Postal Service remains a vital, beloved and important institution facilitating economic growth, aiding small businesses, enhancing communications and unifying the nation.”
“I commend the commission for its thoughtful deliberations and urge lawmakers to look carefully at the findings,” Rolando said. “This is an impartial board that takes into account the interests of the public and businesses as well as of the government.”
source: NALC
but this joint opinion expressed no ultimate view on whether Saturday delivery should be eliminated. FROM NALC WEBSITE…
The only way the Postal Service is going to survive is to reduce labor costs and they can do that by changing their pay system to a monthly salary instead of the hourly salary. This will eliminate the need for anyone to hang around on the clock to get overtime. This will increase productivity and reduce labor costs. Also, this will eliminate the need for Article 8 in the current contract and we all know how abused that Article is….Don’t get me wrong, this monthly salary should be in line with the current pay scale with 15% added to it, along with COLA’s….
“frank”: Fortunately, for America’s sake, there is very little support outside of the Republibagger Party for “PRIVATIZING”THE USPS.
And think about HOW MUCH IT WOULD COST to have your “urgent” or “overnight” parcels and envelopes delivered by “THE FEDEX POSTAL SERVICE”…better grow a few more “ARMS AND LEGS” if that is truly what you want.
America likes the Postal Service and there is no other Company or Agency that can accomplish what the USPS is tasked to do for such little money.
It ran fine until Bush turned it into a for-profit instead of break-even and ruined the economy.
I agree. The unions have put so many idiotic rules in force, there is no way the postal service can be run efficiently
USPS is a bloated inefficient dinosaur that should be abolished and privatized asap.
it was a big waste of time and money it’s was a split decision 2 for and 2 against. Goldway has been against since the start of study no surprise on her opinion Rolando what’s up with your take on this??? Why applaud???
Follow the money, that is where all decisons are made.
NOW WHERE IN THE OPINION DOES IT SAY THEY DON’T SUPPORT 5 DAY DELIVERY, What the hell ! Rolando is spinning.