UPDATE: US Postal Service Considers Closing Facilities

Posted on September 15, 2011 by Cowboy Byte
Print Friendly

The U.S. Postal Service said Thursday it was considering closing more than half of its 487 mail-processing facilities, eliminating 35,000 mail-processing positions and slowing mail delivery service, its latest move in a fight to remain solvent.

“We simply need fewer facilities to process less mail,” Megan Brennan, the chief operating officer of the Postal Service, said at a press conference.

As more people communicate online instead of through paper and pen, the country’s Postal Service has been losing money and says it now has more capacity than needed to process mail. The mail service, which says it lost more than $9 billion last year, has already proposed ending Saturday delivery service–a change that Congress has so far resisted. The Postal Service now wants to close more facilities and slash its work force to make up for ongoing declines in mail volumes.

Earlier this year, the Postal Service said it would study as many as 2,000 post offices for possible closure. Of the 1,200 ultimately selected, as of July, 300 were still being studied, 280 had closed, and 620 were in various stages of closing. In March, the mail service said it would eliminate 7,500 managers and shut seven district offices. Then, in July, the Postal Service said it would consider closing 3,653 post offices, mostly in rural areas.

Continue Reading on online.wsj.com

This entry was posted in Uncategorized and tagged , , . Bookmark the permalink.
Posting Policy:
The 1st Amendment protects the right to freedom of expression from government interference. However, you are currently posting on private web property and your comments are bound by our site's policies. We have a zero-tolerance policy for comments containing violence (threats, suggestions or direct statements permitting violent or threatening acts or sentiments), racism (suggestion that one "race" is superior to others), crassness or profanity (any word or phrase considered by courteous society to be profane), all caps (a violation of internet etiquette), discourteous behavior (calling names, rude or insulting statements directed at another user/post) or violations similar in nature to any of these offenses. Posts violating our policies of posting are subject to removal and the user may face banning. Thank you for partnering with us to maintain a courteous and useful public environment where we can engage in reasonable discourse.
  • http://none Carlos J. Negron

    Congress knows as much about how the Post Office functions as they knew about Hedge funds.

    Their ignorance in controlling the abuse of Hedge funds , in part, led us into our economic problems and now they profess to know how they perceive ending the Postal Service dilemma.

    Having worked all (3) levels of government and the U.S Postal Service itself, I will not let Congress exercise their ignorant outlook in finding a solution to Postal services.

    • Lynn Barker

      Thank you!

  • Paul

    In 2006 congress passed a bill requiring the postal service to pre-paid all future retirement benefits for the next 75 years and to be fully paid for within 10 years. So the postal service is now paying for future employees that have not been hired or even born yet?

    This is why the postal service has over paid between 60-70 Billion dollars and one of the real reasons the postal service is broken today.

    If Congress believes that pre-paying for 75 years ahead in a ten year period is such a good idea. . .why not require ALL Federal Agencies and private sector corporations like GE and Wal-mart to play by the same job killing rules?

    The postal service’s money comes 100% from selling stamps and other services and NOT from the Federal budget, however the postal service is required to pay into the Federal Budget $5.6 Billion dollars a year for future retirement benefits and here is where congress is does not want to give the overpaid money back or let the postal system restructure? Most Americans are willing to pay another 10 cents to mail a letter if it means saving the postal system?

    It would appear Congress is more interested in the dismantling of the postal service that has worked well for ALL Americans rural and urban since Ben Franklin opened the first post office.

    A better solution would be to replace Congress and return their elite retirement system to the same system that ALL Americans look forward too, then and only then would Congress work in every American’s interest instead of only looking out for their own and other special interests.

  • Beeonebob

    As much as I’d love to see all of the post-offices remain, I must admit… There are FOUR separate post offices within a 5 minute drive of my house… They could cut the local post office budget drastically by consolidating those four into one. It appears the postal outlets are still functioning as they were designed back in the horse and buggy days….

  • Billy

    Better be careful and ask the USPS personnel before closing anything…it is called going postal for a reason. The unions ruin another major agency in the name of collective bargaining. A large number of mail carriers will now be out of work. Most of these folks could not cut it with FedEx and UPS…you have job objectives to meet. One of the top guys with the USPS in the 70′s saw this coming before the internet and said the unions would kill the golden goose.

  • Taquoshi

    In the town next to us, they closed the two main facilites and the only thing open is a tiny substation. It will be interesting to see what happens when they close more post offices and the price of gas goes up.

  • donl

    Just take a look at who HAS controlled the senate for the last five years. Dumb-Dems. There’s your answer.

    • Lynn Barker

      Amen to that!

    • Neal

      Don’t kid yourself, both parties are at fault.

  • Lynn Barker

    Great, eliminating 35,000 positions is a wonderful way to “create” jobs and “lower” unemployment! There must be a better solution to this problem… My husband is a Letter Carrier with 25 yrs. of service. His P.O. is probably not in danger of closing, thank GOD. He and any of the other carriers with many years of experience could tell you ways to save millions without putting 35,000 more people out of work…

  • AliveStillKickin

    I have a better idea….
    Fire everyone….Tell the union to go to hell.
    Rehire the former employees at a reasonable wage with private-sector-like benefite.
    Reopen all branches.
    OR:
    Turn the whole thing over to a private company.
    (They may wish to consider The Jehovah’s Witnesses….They knock on everyone’s door)

    • hambone

      So do the Mormons.

      • g.t.

        YAH! NO THEY DON’T

    • THOMAS STEWART

      Right-On Kickin Maybe If We Hire You In Place Of “Socialist Felon Soros” Plus Let Soros Take His Union Goons And His Puppet Obama To Kenya.

    • Susanna Schaenzer

      Hmmm.. Sounds good, since Fed Ex and UPS drivers both make more than USPS letter carriers and they get Saturdays off. I’m all for it!!!!
      Oh, and mail service in other countries is more expensive than here , check it out ! Also they go on strike, like they just did in Canada for months on end!

    • Neal

      I thought you were talking about Congress.

  • Bill Stanley

    USPS needs to increase the price of junk mail. I recently received an envelope that cost the sender less than 3 cents … subsidized by the envelopes I send at 44 cents each. http://www.newsandopinions.net

    • evermyrtle

      I get an average of 10 pieces of this .03-.07 cent postages every day. Figure how money this would be if 50% of the population gets this much mail of that mail each day.
      Let them pay just like we citizens pay for mail and our postal service would be “out of trouble” instead ‘in trouble” financely

    • IGotAComment

      The ‘Bulk Rate’ should go. Saturday delivery should go.

      No more home delivery of mail. I go to the PO to get my mail. Ya, I’ll help my homebound neighbor get their mail. If you live wa-a-ay out, then once every 2 weeks is good.

      And I pay for a private mail box in town separately. There are alternatives.

      80% is junk that I leave at the ’round file’ on the way out at the PO anyway. What I keep is mostly stuff I get, or could get, through my internet (electric, gas, bank, pay the CC companies, etc). Yep, the internet has changed the PO forever. Who is to blame? Well, didn’t Al Gore invent the Internet? I heard that somewhere? So it must be Gore’s fault.

      • Susan

        I am not sure that you really know what you are talking about fully. For one thing, our pay has been going down every year, I personally have lost over $10,000 a year within the last six years due to the postal service cutting our standards and having us do more work for less. Our benefits are not as good as you think they are. We pay into our retirement, we pay into 401 K’s if we choose to participate. As a Rural Carrier I can tell you that OUR UNION is not a bunch of thugs, they are actually quite weak. The only thing that I see they might be good for is saving our job when Managers go NUTTS and fire us for reasons that they MAKE UP. And who do you think brings your mail to the private mailbox center? OH, would that be the USPS. There are a few things that the Postal Service could do to help run more efficiently….get rid of SO many managers that basically do nothing. It is management that receives HIGH pay for a do nothing job (not all of them, but a lot of them). Congress could help the USPS by not making the USPS prefund my health benefits and retirement before I actually use the funds and services. The USPS overpaid by billions of dollars because of a miscalculation. If the Congress would refund the overpayment (oh wait they probably spent it already) the USPS would not be in such a bad economic situation. The USPS wates a lot of money. But, trust me when I say, it’s not the Carriers and Clerks wasting it’s management and stupid regulations. I do, however agree with you on the junk mail prices.

  • John Beach

    As reactionary and out-of-touch with current virtual realities as what I am about to suggest may seem to most Americans and others, it is my honest feeling and belief after acquiring and developing computer literacy and fluency over the past 14 years.
    The PC has put a lot of people out of work. It has afforded the average individual who can afford one the ability to command and control his own personal communications center capable of communicating with anyone equally equipped anywhere in the world almost instantaneously. while affording all of this for a nominal monthly payment to an ISP. We are so much into the instant gratification concept of eye-catching glitz and glitter that it trumps other considerations the impact of which ought to be far greater as a governing factor in our thinking. The very industry which, practically and theoretically, ought to make accountability a near-exact science is, for whatever reasons, some of the cause for the lack of it. This is really unacceptable, especially from the standpoint of national security, a part of which must be considered to be the job security of people.
    Anyone who was born a decade before the advent of Windows had to have, at least, taken the U.S. Postal Service for granted, if not acquired an acquaintance with and appreciation for the people who braved all kinds of weather in all parts of the country to get the mail to its destination. Its downsizing and the assumption of much of its business by private enterprise is a good thing, but having known some of its professional couriers during the course of my life, it is not without a big twinge of nostalgia that I watch its slow demise. The question is whether a lot of friends are being replaced by a dubious enemy over which people would like to have control but never really may. There are times I wish the PC had never been allowed to be proliferated. Does anybody else feel the same way?

    • AliveStillKickin

      Yes…and I miss Elvis and my 1967 Plymouth Sport Fury….but time moves on and with it…technology improves my life as it takes certain joys away from it.
      I try not to worry too much about that which I have no control over….changes in the world being one.
      I CAN choose to drive a used Plymouth and burn candles…..just as I can choose not to buy a computer and go online.

      “… but resist we much … we must … and we will much … about … that … be committed.­”

  • Joyceann

    The post office began with horse riders. Then it moved to automobiles to move the mail. Trucks and airplanes then moved it. Now mail is very little hard copy as the computer takes over for our communication. It is sad, but progress moves forward. The UPS cut into the delivery service also, so it is time to run the post office as a business. Cut out the parts that doesn’t pay, and let it go. What makes you think the government won’t subsidise them with our nickels anyway? They need to go via the way of milkman and iceman. We can’t afford to keep them just to keep someone’s federal job. Retrain the employee’s laid off for something useful for our day and time. As it is, they can collect unemployment for years.

    • Susanna Schaenzer

      Says who? We din’t pay into unemployment so I don’t think we can collect it.

  • Sirwizard

    The saddest thing is Congress. They have two definite Constitutional mandates. Defense and Postal Service. They’ve been so busy creating unconstitutional crap such as the Department of This-and-That they can’t do ANYTHING right. The really bad news is it’s our fault. We elected the dumb twits. We all need to do a better job of voting and NOT just ‘vote for a living’.

    • lazeruslong

      You are right but what is even sadder is that we all agree that we have to do a better job of voting but when it comes to pulling the lever every other “twit” should be voted out except our “twit” because he is ours. That has to stop as well. Example Barney Franks, Nancy Pelosi, Dick Durban, etc.

      • Neal

        I agree. You won’t get change unless you change what you do. It’s as simple as that but a minute detail many people fail to give thought to, especially in politics.

  • msg 1st sgt Retired

    I love my slide rule my mechanical drafting equipment and my ability to use this equipment but guess what. no one uses this equipment anymore. if i was living in the past trying to compete in the engineering world i would be left out just like the postal service. i drive 18 miles into town and pass two post offices, for sure they both need to be closed. why do we need a post office to do business with and must drive to town to buy groceries. my opinion 75 % of these facilities need to be closed, the only reason they are open now is because our tax money pays the bills. sell the service to UPS and lets move on…

  • msg 1st sgt Retired

    Mr “O” put a selected stooge in charge of GM why cant he reorganize the post office with a Manager that can see beyond the unions and bring the system into the present with fewer and meaner facilities . sorry i temporarly lost my mine our Congress needs to demand these changes and no blank checks to a post office that has been broke for many years. sell them is the answer. just do it damn it. lets stop playing union games with our tax dollars.

  • Claudette Holt

    My postoffice is on the chopping block. My community is so small the only time I see people is at the postoffice. I hate to see it closed but time does move on. Mail route !

  • Burt

    Ditto, we dont need clever people from Harvard or Yale just Public SERVANTS who keep the pot holes filled, bridges painted, freedoms defended and the lights turned on, all else is not authorized.. But, alas, too much water has passed under the bridge, too much stupid has been accumulated, history must be repeated and pain afflicted on the ignorant for the education to stick.

  • Miroco

    Yet another group agreement, my guess, any of us could keep the system going and probably improved within it’s budget. They take two steps back for each one forward and every postman /mistress I know has been great, let them attrite. Close Sat or open till noon with no deliveries. Go for the ad business, it is their only volume, it just sounds cheap until one puts all the numbers together. Hard copies will still be required for lots of transactions, electronic transaction are still iffy — witness O’s BC.

  • cheryl jessup

    The internet has taken a big bite out the post office. I haven’t written a letter in 5yrs. I just e-mail. I send pkgs. by UPS OR FED EX. One thing could help; get the gov. out of the post office. The post office pays high wages and bloated benefits. Privatize it and bring dn. the super high wages and benefits programs

    • Susanna Schaenzer

      Sorry, UPS and Fed Ex pay more, and cost more to send parcels with.

    • American Patriot

      I believe Cell phones. Fed X and UPS have taken the most away from the USPS.

  • Gary27

    Hi

    • Gary27

      Still Blocked?

  • lazeruslong

    Shutting down facilities in “RURAL” areas is BS. It would be a lot easier on the people if the post office shut down offices in metropolitan areas because the people there could walk or take public transit to a office while those in rural areas will have to drive many miles more than they already have to do and some people cannot do that even now and must depend upon somebody to drive them.

    I know the reason the “RURAL” areas are being targeted. It’s because they are predominately Independent or Republican and even if they all voted the “metropolitan” areas have more voters.

    The people who create jobs and make a living are being screwed again.

  • THOMAS STEWART

    Being An Old Rairoad Worker I Will Tell You Postal Workers What Happened To The Old Railroad Workers With The “Union Goons” In Charge “Strike” “Strike” Than Loss Of Jobs, Yikkeess, Get Rid Of The Union Goons, Take A Wage Cut, And Keep Your Jobs. God Bless America And The Tea Party Patriots, With Sarah Palin.

  • bob

    the damn unions and big government have just about destroyed this country. STOP big unions and big government and return things to the days that our forefathers had set-up for us.

  • LA Lady

    Yes and when the feds shut down the postal service, someone in the private enterprise sector will take up the task and make money doing so. The government can turn a profit on anything as is evidenced by the spending to get us to the point of our trillions of dollars of national debt.

  • LA Lady

    Correction to previous post……The government CAN’T turn a profit on anything…..

  • LoneStar

    Let the Post Office do what it has to do to survive, but absolutely no tax payer Bailout.

  • KYFAN

    I received two newspapers this morning, one from the very small town I used to live in and one from the rather large city in which I now live. The front pages of both papers had the news that the post offices are closing. The only post office in the small town where older people can walk to the PO and meet with their neighbors and friends. And one of several in the city where I now live. It will not bother me so much as it will the small town people, many of whom are too old to drive to another town to get their mail, stamps, etc.

  • Dave

    Hypocrisy comes in all colors, ages, and sexes … Hypocrisy comes in all religious faiths, or those who have no religious faith at all … Hypocrisy is everywhere, every day, and never goes away . . .

    Jesus Christ is never hypocritical … Jesus Christ died for all colors, ages, and sexes … Jesus Christ is the answer for people of all religions and those who have no religious belief at all . . . Jesus Christ is everywhere, every day, and never goes away.

    God sent His Son, Jesus, to be born and live among humans as one of us, to suffer the things that we all go through, and then allowed us to crucify Him. He died on that Cross, was buried in a stone tomb, and rose from the dead on the third day. He did all of this to provide a way for sinful Man to have a means to be forgiven of Sin and to be worthy, in the eyes of God the Father, to have eternal life and to enter into Heaven.

    Jesus paid the price for your sins and for mine. To claim this gift of salvation, forgiveness, and eternal life, you must willingly and genuinely accept Jesus as your Lord and Savior. This is a decision that only you can make.

    If you believe that you are a sinner, as is everyone, and you want the peace, love, and joy that comes from having a personal relationship with God, please open your heart and earnestly pray this prayer:

    Lord Jesus,

    I am a sinner and know that I deserve an eternity of punishment in Hell for my sins. I believe that You are the Son of God and that You came to Earth to pay the price for my Sins. I ask You to be my personal Lord and Savior and to come into my heart and completely fill me with your Holy Spirit. Forgive me my sins, cleanse me from all unrighteousness, and abide with me forever. Thank You , Lord Jesus for loving me and saving me !

    Amen

    If you sincerely prayed that prayer, you are now a Christian. The next thing you should do is to find a local Bible-believing, church to help you grow in your faith and to learn more about God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. The prayer you prayed above is the start and now you should seek to learn more and grow stronger in your faith.

    Avoid so-called “churches” that try to “sugar-coat” what they tell their members. If the church you find does not talk about Sin and Hell or only talks in non-specific terms about Jesus, find a Bible-Believing church instead.

    Avoid “mega-churches”, as most of them are only in it for the money and tell people what they want to hear and/or preach the “prosperity gospel” to draw people in … Find a small, local church and start attending regularly !

  • http://cowboybyte.com/377/salazar-announces-43-million-for-nevada-conservation-and-recreation-projects/ Doc Freeman

    USPS HOW TO SAVE IT.
    I looked up several counties such as McMinn County, Tennessee population 52,266 and how many Post Office were in it and found 7 Post Offices. Athens, Tennessee is the county seat. The Mileage from Athens the County Seat to all other six Post Offices are as follows:
    Riceville, TN P.O. 8.1 Miles
    Etowah, TN P.O. 10.0 Miles
    Englewood, TN P.O. 6.6 Miles
    Sweetwater, TN P.O. 14.5 Miles
    Calhoun, TN P.O. 14.9 Miles
    Niota, TN P. O. 6.8 Miles
    Actually many counties only need one Post Office. This could save thousands alone in one county in one state.
    I also looked up Lake County, population 7,532 (3) Post Offices they only need one.
    Stewart County population 13,324 (3) Post Offices they only need one.
    Houston County population 8, 4621 (3) Post Offices they only need one.
    Pickett Country population 5,077 (2) Post Offices they only need one the two are .2 miles apart and 3 minutes walking distance from each other.
    Perry County population 7,915 (3) Post Office need only one
    Van Burren County population 5, 548 (3) Post Offices need only one
    In Calhoun, TN the Post office in McMinn County is 1.4 miles from the Charleston, TN Post Office in Bradley County. Back in horse and buggy time this was needed, but this is so out of date it is not even funny. Write your Congress people both at state and federal level and demand they up date the Post Office. Then perhaps we could get lower stamp cost. There would be less salaries, vacation, sick leave, retirements benefits, less building and up keep, equals less cost to consumer and cheaper stamps. Of course this would only work if we could get rid of the unions that have caused these problems in the first place.

  • http://lordofultimastrategy.com lord of ultima strategy

    Somebody necessarily assist to make severely posts I might state. This is the first time I frequented your website page and up to now? I amazed with the analysis you made to create this actual post extraordinary. Excellent job!

  • http://www.thepooltabledimensions.info/contact/?share=digg standard pool table size

    I’ve been browsing online greater than 3 hours nowadays, yet I by no means found any fascinating article like yours. It’s pretty price enough for me. In my view, if all site owners and bloggers made excellent content material as you probably did, the net might be much more helpful than ever before.

  • http://autoinsurance-coverage.com/what-are-normal-auto-insurance-rates/ aaa auto insurance

    Really interesting articles. I enjoyed reading it.