Postal service future: Never on Saturday?

March 3, 2010 at 12:00a.m.

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

The post office is renewing its drive to drop Saturday delivery — and plans a rate increase — in an effort to fend off a projected $7 billion loss this year.

Without drastic action, the agency could face a cumulative loss of $238 billion over 10 years, Postmaster General John Potter said in releasing a series of consultant reports on agency operations and its outlook.

“The projections going forward are not bright,” Potter told reporters in a briefing. But, he added, “all is not lost ... we can right this ship.”

Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., chairman of the Senate subcommittee with oversight authority over the Postal Service, called on Congress to give the post office the flexibility to deal with its future needs.

“In light of the serious financial challenges facing the Postal Service, postal management must be allowed to make the business decisions they need to stay competitive and viable in the years to come. As we have seen, it is not productive for Congress to act like a 535-member board of directors and constantly second-guess these necessary changes,” Carper said in a statement.

Frederic V. Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, also urged Congress to provide the post office with “financial breathing room,” but he opposed eliminating one day of delivery.

“I do not believe that weakening our commitment of six-day service to the public will enhance the long-term position of the Postal Service as a critical element in our nation’s economic infrastructure,” Rolando said.”

As Americans turn more and more from paper to electronic communications, the number of items handled by the post office fell from 213 billion in 2006 to 177 billion last year. Volume is expected to shrink to 150 billion by 2020.

At the same time, the type of material sent is shifting from first-class mail to the less lucrative standard mail, such as advertising.

And as people set up new homes and businesses, the number of places mail must be delivered is increasing.

The agency has asked Congress for permission to reduce delivery days and has previously discussed the need for other changes such as closing some offices.

Cutting back Saturday home delivery, however, does not mean post offices would close that day.

There seemed to be concern on the part of Congress that officials had not looked at all possible options.

, Potter said, adding that was part of the reason for the three consultant studies.

FAST FACTS

The post office moves mail on planes, trains, trucks, cars, boats, ferries, helicopters, subways, hovercraft, street cars, bicycles, feet and even mules.

Oldest post office in the same building: Hinsdale, N.H., 1816.

Smallest post office, Ochopee, Fla., 8-feet-4-inches by 7-feet-3-inches.

Number of mail pieces handled daily in 2009, 584 million.

Payroll every two weeks, salary and benefits, $2.1 billion.

Vehicles operated: 218,684.

Address changes processed last year: 43.8 million

Source: U.S. Postal Service