The Los Angeles Times reports on the announcement yesterday by the US Postal Service (USPS) that it will implement “a plan to save $2.1 billion a year and fend off possible bankruptcy would effectively put an end to almost all overnight delivery of first-class letters and postcards. Delivery would take at least two to three business days.
“The postal service's decision to relax delivery standards for first-class mail follows its determination in September to close 252 mail processing plants, about half its total. Altogether, about 28,000 employees would lose their jobs.”
A spokesman for the USPS said that it had no choice if it is to survive.
The changes will not affect Express Mail and Priority Mail services, which cost more for guaranteed expedited delivery. Elimination of Saturday delivery remains on the table.
According to the story, “Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Senate committee that oversees the postal service, also denounced the move,” and called it one way for the USPS to “accelerate its death spiral.”
“The postal service's decision to relax delivery standards for first-class mail follows its determination in September to close 252 mail processing plants, about half its total. Altogether, about 28,000 employees would lose their jobs.”
A spokesman for the USPS said that it had no choice if it is to survive.
The changes will not affect Express Mail and Priority Mail services, which cost more for guaranteed expedited delivery. Elimination of Saturday delivery remains on the table.
According to the story, “Maine Sen. Susan Collins, the top Republican on the Senate committee that oversees the postal service, also denounced the move,” and called it one way for the USPS to “accelerate its death spiral.”
- KC's View:
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My favorite email yesterday came from MNB user Andy Casey, who read our coverage of the expected USPS cutbacks and wrote:
Only a government agency would think that in the internet age slowing service down would be a way to compete.
Wish I’d said that.
