The announcement by the U.S. Postal Service that it will eliminate Saturday mail delivery has met with a wide range of skepticism by Long Island political and business leaders Wednesday.
Many in Congress, including Rep. Peter King, R-Seaford, were caught by surprise by the Post Office announcement. Congressman King made clear he's against their proposal:
“I have consistently supported Saturday delivery and will support legislation to keep Saturday delivery in place," King told Patch.
The plan, proposed to take effect in August, is opposed by many farmers, the letter carriers' union and others, the Huffington Post reported.
The Post Office lost nearly $16 billion last year and is looking for ways to stem the bleeding in the age of the internet and stiff private competition.
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For small businesses, there is more at stake, said Gary Epstein, president of the Plainview-Old Bethpage Chamber of Commerce: "Not having Saturday delivery of mail would not affect my business at all and if it would save on additional postage increases, I am in favor," Epstein said.
Beth Mignone, president of the Farmingdale Chamber of Commerce, largely agreed: "I feel that the government is trying everything possible to cut back to save money," Mignone said. "It's a sign of the times, and honestly, does it matter if your mail comes Monday instead of Saturday?"
But Mignone expressed concerns for postal workers who may end up losing their jobs. So far, the Postal Service said its staff reductions will come in the form of retirements and attrition.
Would you miss having Saturday mail delivery? Let us know in the comments.
The PRC (Postal Regulatory Commission, originally the Postal Rate Commission), a separate commission appointed by the President, sets postage rates. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Board_of_Governors_of_the_United_States_Postal_Service http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Postal_Regulatory_Commission Congress always has a lot to say about the Post Office, but since 1970 they have had little or no say about its actual operations. Sure, they like to say they have "oversight", but that is about the same as the "oversight" provided by Newsday or the NY Times. Saturday mail delivery is critical for Publication mailings (subscription magazines) and for Advertising mailings. Curtailing Saturday delivery will hurt some companies (and jobs), and could negatively impact the economy. Forcing publications and advertising mailers to find alternatives to Saturday mail delivery (which they will do), may hasten the eventual demise of the Postal Service. Presently (and since 1970) there is no federal tax dollar subsidy provided to the USPS for postal operations. Postal operations are funded solely by postage rates (stamps, etc.). Congress has no say over postage rates.
Bills and banking - online Correspondence- On line Catalogs etc. - online Basically when the mailbox is opened how much REAL mail do we get and how often?- The problem is the USPS hasnt addressed or adjusted to the role technology has taken in communicating - No mail on Saturday - no problem- As more people opt for electronic delivery , as more government , municipalities and SD's see and utilize the cost savings in electronic delivery the less frequently we will see actual MAIL in the box. SS checks will soon be EFT, Vet disability checks will soon be EFT, there is a potential for substancial cost savings: the least of which is reduction in paper,printing, and manual labor, as well actual speed of delivery will be noticed. The USPS has started to promote themselves within the past few years as a viable alternative PACKAGE delivery system similiar but on a lesser scale to Fed Ex and UPS to keep themselves sustainable. Perhaps expanding that role could be key in saving the USPS from total demise.
It isn't technology alone that is dooming the USPS. The #1 factor is that Congress REQUIRES them to fully fund their Pension system out to 70 years, meaning they have to fund pensions for people not yet even born, much less in the employ of the USPS yet. If Rep King is so upset about the loss of Sat mail, then let him sponsor a bill that is more realistic, keeping the funding to say a mere 30 years. The employees will still get a pension, something very rare in the US these days which makes retirement so damn hard for a lot of people, but will allow the USPS to start showing profits again. Politics has no place in the mail system, as it is part and parcel of the US infrastructure that keeps commerce running smoothly, as noted in the article. Mr King, if you really want to assist your constituents and the business community on your district, put your words into actions and do something to make an insane process more sane and fair. Otherwise, we risk loosing the USPS and many businesses will suffer greatly - local businesses that make the US economy work.
To look at this as Lorraine suggests, without FCM revenue, the "postage" rates for packages would have to rise to the levels of UPS and FedEx, probably higher. It is doubtful USPS could successfully compete with FedEx or UPS, although they could become partners of some sort. But then what would happen to constitutionally required universal mail service which a huge georgraphical area of the country still depends upon to a very significant degree?
. Long live the Union but bankrupt the Employer and the taxpayer ? Better an unemployed union member than employed in a non union job?
Universal mail service is a mandate upon the U.S. Postal Service. They could not provide universal service if individuals opted-out. Allowing customers to opt out of Saturday delivery would not save the USPS any money, because USPS would still have to staff the carrier routes to deliver the mail to people who did not opt out. Then USPS would incur increased costs associated with pulling and holding and re-sequencing mail for later delivery (on Mondays). You may not realize that all FCM letters and cards are "carrier-walk sequenced" by machine before your carrier gets it to put into his truck and deliver them. The machine is called the delivery-point barcode sorting machine,, and it uses those extra four digits added to your ZIP Code (ZIP+4 Code) to sort each carrier's mail in the exact sequence he walks his route.
USPS pay and benefits, including pensions, are very modest compared to other large employee groups. The USPS was (and may still be) the largest non-military empoyer in the U.S. Many of their employees are non-union, seasonal or provisional.
No union ever once gave themselves a nickel more in pay, or added even one day more sick or vacation time to their contract.. If your gripe is the level and cost of (unionized) employees' pay and benefits, then take aim at the root causes: overly generous politicians and incompetent employers...not at the unions, who are, after all, only doing their job on behalf of their members.
A) walk and distrupt service ie IBEW CWA etc B) slow down - ALL unions C) work under the same contract ad infinitum so we dont truly have anything to lose and therefore DONT really need to negotiate anything - now do we? CSE Teachers etc. So sometimes Chris imho atleast no one is blamless and in some cases some hold more blame then others.
As per usual, Lorraine, you shoot, no ammo. You "SS checks will soon be EFT" ......has been for a decade, which you didn't know, but blamed your age as to not have been able to collect. I ask why do you not know when SS$ are distributed, when it is solely based on age? But of course you make a comment, and excuse yourself. Next "Vet disability checks will soon be EFT" ......already done But you must have known that, or not.. Another beauty ...."actual speed of delivery will be noticed".....please tell everyone how eliminating a day of delivery with the same volume will define your statement. Next....Oh, I just realized it is the Wendt/DeVita show. Thank GOD we will all be smarter after this exchange, Lord knows it must be true!!!
Personally i would miss Saturday mail delivery at Christmas time, especially as it would affect receiving cards.