The United States Postal Service is facing another loss of $7 Billion. It would appear that even more drastic measures are going to be taken to stem the bleeding of money from the post office.
Without drastic action the agency could face a cumulative loss of $238 billion over ten 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 advance of Tuesday’s announcement. But, he added, "all is not lost … we can right this ship." […]
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.
Potter said he would like to see mail delivery cut to five days a week starting next year.
Later this month, he said, the Postal Service will ask the independent Postal Regulatory Commission to review its plans for the service reduction.
Under the law, the agency is not supposed to raise rates more than the amount of inflation, but there is a loophole allowing for higher increases in extraordinary situations such as the current recession and drop in mail volume.
"We intend to use that tool," Potter said. […]
Another possibility would be to ask Congress for a subsidy, but noting the current financial conditions Potter said "we do not plan to pursue that." The post office has not received taxpayer subsidies for its operations since the early 1980s.
Potter said the agency is looking to new types of mail services to offer but will not seek to get into other types of business, such as banking, which are offered by many foreign postal services.
The agency has cut its work force from a peak of 800,000 career employees to currently about 600,000, and Potter said it wants to use more part-time people in the future. […] (ABC NEWS)
More part time workers in the country. Just what we need, more jobs that don’t pay enough for an employee to care for his or her family. It is true that the postal service has been hurt by both the recession and the advent of electronic communications. But trying to keep an old ship afloat for the sake of tradition may be more harmful in the end then to just accept the reality here and now.
That reality is that more post offices will likely be forced to close, and along with it more postal employees are likely to lose their jobs in the future. And then what’s left will be run by more part time workers because, if I understand the post office guidelines, the part timers don’t receive health benefits (depending on how many hours they are offered).
At this point I think the postal service should get cracking on a transporter. You know, like in Star Trek. That way your letter or package will absolutely get there overnight. However, it arriving in the same form as when it was sent is a whole different matter. LOL
The Postal Service has issued a list of 677 offices around the United States that are being considered for possible closure and/or consolidation.
U.S. lawmakers will consider the list provided by the postal service and make their decisions when the House Subcommittee that oversees the post office arrives at a final decision.
The entire list of offices being considered for closure or consolidation can be viewed below (offices are in order of regional districts, not alphabetical)
Post Offices identified by the US Postal Service for possible closure or consolidation Capital Metro Region District Baltimore Baltimore Baltimore Baltimore Baltimore Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital Capital GSC GSC GSC GSC GSC GSC Mid Carolinas Mid Carolinas Mid Carolinas Station/Branch Name Eastpoint Mall Fells Point Station Franklin Station Mt. Washington Station Towson Towne Center Columbia Heights Finance Derwood Fort Davis Friendship Heights Landover Hills Ledroit Park Naval Research Laboratory Navy Annex Northeast Petworth Randle Silver Spring Center Woodridge Capital Edgewood Federal Station (Fin) Greenville Harbison Pinehaven Pinewood (Fin) ASH-Oteen Finance Station CLT-30th St CLT-Arrowood City/State Baltimore MD Baltimore MD Baltimore MD Baltimore MD Baltimore MD Washington DC ROCKVILLE, MD Washington DC BETHESDA MD HYATTSVILLE, MD Washington DC Washington DC Washington DC Washington DC Washington DC Washington DC SILVER SPRING, MD Washington DC COLUMBIA SC COLUMBIA SC GREENVILLE SC COLUMBIA SC CHARLESTON SC SPARTANBURG SC ASHEVILLE NC CHARLOTTE NC CHARLOTTE NC Mid Carolinas Mid Carolinas Mid Carolinas Mid Carolinas Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond Richmond CLT-Derita CLT-Eastway Finance CLT-Freedom Fayetteville Haymont Bellevue Buckroe Finance Unit Forest Hill Station Fort Monroe (Mil Base) Hampton Fort Story (Mil Base) Va Beach Fredericksburg Main Office Newport News Denigh Norfolk Business Center Portlock – Cons Ridge Branch Saunders Southside Station West End – Cons Witchduck Station CHARLOTTE NC CHARLOTTE NC CHARLOTTE NC FAYETTEVILLE NC RICHMOND, VA HAMPTON VA RICHMOND, VA HAMPTON VA VIRGINIA BEACH VA FREDERICKSBURG NEWPORT NEWS, VA NORFOLK VA CHESAPEAKE VA RICHMOND, VA RICHMOND, VA RICHMOND, VA RICHMOND, VA VIRGINIA BEACH VA Eastern Region District Appalachian Appalachian Appalachian Appalachian Appalachian Appalachian Appalachian Appalachian Appalachian Appalachian Central PA Station/Branch Name Capitol Station – Charleston Downtown Roanoke Grandin Road Station – Roanoke Hollins College Roanoke Marmet Station Melrose Station – Roanoke Spring Hill Station Station C – Charleston Stonewall Williamson Road – Roanoke Hbg – Steelton Br City/State CHARLESTON WVA ROANOKE, VA ROANOKE, VA ROANOKE, VA CHARLESTON WVA ROANOKE, VA CHARLESTON WVA CHARLESTON WVA CHARLESTON WVA ROANOKE, VA HARRISBURG PA Central PA Central PA Central PA Central PA Central PA Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Cincinnati Columbus Columbus Columbus Kentuckiana Kentuckiana Kentuckiana Kentuckiana Kentuckiana Kentuckiana NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH Reading – West Lawn Br Scranton – Dickson City Wilkes-Barre – Ashley York – Hellam Br York – Jacobus Air Way Finance Burnet Woods Station (Finance) Centerville Finance Cumminsville East End Lindenwald Ludlow Madisonville Station Mid City Finance Midtown Sta Toledo Newtown Branch Point Place Reed Hartman Finance Saylor Park Station B Stock Yards Vet Adm Finance Busch Finance Station Linden Finance Olde Town Finance Evansville North Park Finance Evansville River City Station Louisville Beechmont Finance Louisville Buechel Finance Louisville Plainview Finance Louisville Valley Station Akron Chapel Hill Akron Downtown Station Akron East Akron Akron Maple Valley Canton Deuber Canton East Canton Canton North Industry READING PA SCRANTON PA WILKES-BARRE PA YORK PA YORK PA DAYTON OH CINCINNATI OH DAYTON OH CINCINNATI OH CINCINNATI OH HAMILTON, OH COVINGTON OH CINCINNATI OH DAYTON OH TOLEDO OH CINCINNATI OH TOLEDO OH CINCINNATI OH CINCINNATI OH DAYTON OH CINCINNATI OH DAYTON OH COLUMBUS, OH COLUMBUS, OH COLUMBUS, OH EVANSVILLE OH EVANSVILLE OH LOUISVILLE KEN LOUISVILLE KEN LOUISVILLE KEN LOUISVILLE KEN AKRON OH AKRON OH AKRON OH AKRON OH CANTON OH CANTON OH CANTON OH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH NOH Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Cleveland AMC Finance Unit Cleveland Beachland Cleveland Brookpark Cleveland Cranwood Cleveland Edgewater Cleveland Erieview Finance Cleveland Euclid Cleveland Huntington Finance Cleveland Independence Cleveland Jesse Owens Finance Cleveland Kamms Cleveland Maple Heights Cleveland North Royalton Cleveland Shaker Finance Cleveland Shore Finance Cleveland Willow Mansfield Lexington Mansfield Lincoln Retail Youngstown Northside Station Youngstown Southside Station Youngstown Westside Station BRIDGEPORT BRANCH Norristown PHI-30th Street trai – MOD PHI-ADAMS AVENUE POS Frankford PHI-BOULEVARD STA PHI-CASTLE FSTA Southwark PHI-CASTOR AVE. FINA BLVD PHI-FRANKLIN MILLS Torresdale PHI-GIRARD AVE – Spring Garden PHI-JOHN WANAMAKER F WPA PHI-MANAYUNK STA PHI-MAYFAIR PSTL STO Holmesburg CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH CLEVELAND OH MANSFIELD OH MANSFIELD OH YOUNGSTOWN, OH YOUNGSTOWN, OH YOUNGSTOWN, OH NORRISTOWN PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia Philadelphia South Jersey South Jersey South Jersey Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA Western PA PHI-NICETOWN FSTA PHI-OLNEY STA PHI-SOMERTON – Bustleton PHI-WADSWORTH AVE FS Market Sq PHI-WISSINOMING STAT Tacony S.Camden (F) Trenton Chambersburg (F) Trenton-Yardville(F) Allegheny Station Arsenal Branch Brookline Station Corliss Branch Etna Branch Homewood Branch Millvale Station Mt. Lebanon Neville Island Branch South Erie Br Uptown Branch Veteran’s Hospital Branch Wesleyville West Mifflin Branch Wilkinsburg Carrier Facility PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA PHILADELPHIA PA CAMDEN NJ TRENTON TRENTON PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA ERIE PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA ERIE PA PITTSBURGH PA PITTSBURGH PA Great Lakes Region District CENTRAL IL CENTRAL IL CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO Station/Branch Name NAPERVILLE-WASHINGTON STREET STATIONFIN STA SPRINGFIELD-CAPITOL STA-FIN STA CHICAGO-AMOCO POSTAL STORE-FIN STA CHICAGO-CHICAGO LAWN-FIN STA CHICAGO-CHINATOWN-FIN STA CHICAGO-EDGEBROOK POSTAL STORE-FIN STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION E-FIN STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION H-FIN STA City/State NAPERVILLE IL SPRINGFIELD IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO CHICAGO DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT DETROIT GATEWAY GATEWAY GATEWAY CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION K-FND STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION L-FIN STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION M-FIN STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION N-FND STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION Q-FIN STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION T-FIN STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION U-FND STA CHICAGO-FINANCE STATION W-FIN STA CHICAGO-GRAND CROSSING POSTAL STORE-FIN STA (JAMES E WORSHAM) CHICAGO-HAYMARKET-FIN STA CHICAGO-JEFFERSON PARK POSTAL STORE-FIN STA CHICAGO-JOHN HANCOCK POSTAL STORE-FND STA CHICAGO-LAKE PARK POSTAL STORE-FIN STA CHICAGO-LINCOLN PARK POSTAL STORE-FIN STA CHICAGO-LOOP – JEWELERS ROW-FND STA CHICAGO-OHARE FINANCE STATION (AMC)-FIN STA CHICAGO-ONTARIO STREET-FIN STA CHICAGO-ROGERS PK/CLARK FINANCE-FIN STA (FIN STA F) CHICAGO-WACKER DR POSTAL STORE-FIN STA ANN ARBOR-SOUTH UNIVERSITY STA-FIN STA DEARBORN-MAPLE-FIN STA DEARBORN-TELEFORD STA-STA DETROIT-FISHER BLDG FINANCE-FIN STA DETROIT-HAMTRAMCK-FIN BR DETROIT-HARPER-STA DETROIT-LINWOOD STA-FIN STA DETROIT-OLD REDFORD-FIN STA DETROIT-PENOBSCOT POSTAL STORE-FIN STA WAYNE-WESTLAND-WESTLAND MALL-FIN STA WAYNE-WESTLAND-WESTLAND-BR SAINT LOUIS-AFFTON-BR SAINT LOUIS-BADEN-FIN STA SAINT LOUIS-BENTON PARK-STA CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL CHICAGO IL ANN ARBOR MI DEARBORN MI DEARBORN MI DETROIT MI DETROIT MI DETROIT MI DETROIT MI DETROIT MI DETROIT MI WAYNE MI WAYNE MI ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO GATEWAY GATEWAY GATEWAY GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-BERKELEY-BR SAINT LOUIS-CHARLES J COYLE-BR SAINT LOUIS-CHOUTEAU-STA SAINT LOUIS-CLAYTON-BR SAINT LOUIS-CRESTWOOD PLAZA POSTAL GATEWAY STORE-FIN BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-CREVE COEUR-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-DES PERES-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-FERGUSON-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-FREDERICK N WEATHERS-STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-GALLERIA POSTAL STORE-FIN BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-GRAVOIS-STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-GWEN B GILES-STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-HENRY W WHEELER-STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-JEFFERSON MEMORIAL-FIN STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-JENNINGS-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-JORDAN W CHAMBERS-FIN STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-KIRKWOOD POSTAL STORE-FIN BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-MACKENZIE POINTE-BR SAINT LOUIS-MAIN OFFICE FIN POSTAL STOREGATEWAY STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-MAPLEWOOD-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-MARIAN OLDHAM-STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-MARYVILLE GARDENS-STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-NORMANDY-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-NORTH COUNTY-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-OLIVETTE-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-RICHMOND HEIGHTS-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-SAPPINGTON-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-SOULARD-FIN STA SAINT LOUIS-SOUTH COUNTY POSTAL STOREGATEWAY FIN BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-SOUTH COUNTY-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-SOUTHWEST-STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-TIMOTHY M GAFFNEY-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-TOWER GROVE-FIN STA GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-UNIVERSITY CITY-BR GATEWAY SAINT LOUIS-WEST COUNTY-BR GREATER IN BLOOMINGTON-WOODBRIDGE-BR ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO ST LOUIS MO INDIANAPOLIS IN GREATER IN GREATER IN GREATER IN GREATER IN GREATER IN GREATER IN GREATER IN GREATER IN FORT WAYNE-DIPLOMAT PLAZA-STA FORT WAYNE-WAYNEDALE-FIN STA GARY-BRUNSWICK-STA GARY-DOWNTOWN FINANCE-FIN STA GARY-LAKE STATION-BR GARY-MILLER-STA INDIANAPOLIS-BRIDGEPORT-FIN BR INDIANAPOLIS-CIRCLE CITY-STA INDIANAPOLIS-WEST INDIANAPOLIS FIN-FIN GREATER IN STA GREATER IN SOUTH BEND-OLIVE STREET-STA GREATER MI GRAND RAPIDS-KENTWOOD-BR GREATER MI GRAND RAPIDS-WYOMING-ROGERS PLAZA POSTAL STORE-FIN STA FORT WAYNE IN FORT WAYNE IN GARY IN GARY IN GARY IN GARY IN INDIANAPOLIS IN INDIANAPOLIS IN INDIANAPOLIS IN SOUTH BEND IN GRAND RAPIDS MI GRAND RAPIDS MI GRAND RAPIDS MI KALAMAZOO MI LANSING MI LANSING MI MUSKEGON MI MUSKEGON MI SAGINAW MI GREEN BAY WI RACINE WI FLINT MI FLINT MI FLINT MI FLINT MI MOUNT CLEMENS MI PONTIAC MI ROYAL OAK MI GREATER MI GRAND RAPIDS-WYOMING-WYOMING-BR GREATER MI GREATER MI GREATER MI GREATER MI GREATER MI GREATER MI LAKELAND LAKELAND SOUTHEAST MI SOUTHEAST MI SOUTHEAST MI SOUTHEAST MI SOUTHEAST MI SOUTHEAST MI SOUTHEAST MI KALAMAZOO-ARCADIA CREEK-FIN STA LANSING-DELTA POSTAL STORE-FIN STA LANSING-MERRILL STREET STATION-FND STA MUSKEGON-MUSKEGON HEIGHTS-BR MUSKEGON-NORTH MUSKEGON-BR SAGINAW-WHEELER STATION-STA GREEN BAY-STA A-FIN STA RACINE-FOUR MILE STATION-STA FLINT-CODY-STA FLINT-DOWNTOWN FLINT-FIN STA FLINT-MOTT PARK-FIN STA FLINT-NORTHSIDE-STA MOUNT CLEMENS-SELFRIDGE ANGB-FIN BR PONTIAC-PHOENIX-FIN STA ROYAL OAK-BERKLEY-BERKLEY-FIN BR New York Metro Region District Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean Caribbean New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York Station/Branch Name Airport Atocha Barrio Obrero Carolina Pueblo Minillas Center Puerto De Tierra UPR Rio Piedras 26 Federal Plaza Appraisers Store Battery Park Retail Botanical Cherokee Chinatown Clason Point College Columbus Circle Crotona Park Dag Hammarskjold Empire State Greeley Square City/State SAN JUAN PR Ponce PR SAN JUAN PR CAROLINA PR SAN JUAN PR SAN JUAN PR SAN JUAN PR New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY BRONX NY New York City NY New York City NY BRONX NY New York City NY New York City NY BRONX NY New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York New York Northern NJ Northern NJ Northern NJ Hamilton Grange Hillside Hub Inwood London Terrace Melcourt Midtown Oak Point Patchin Peck Slip Pitt Port Authority Port Authority Conv. Tompkins Square Tudor City United Nations Van Nest Wall Street Retail West Village Yorkville Hillcrest Hillside Industrial River Street New York City NY BRONX NY BRONX NY New York City NY New York City NY BRONX NY New York City NY BRONX NY New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY BRONX NY New York City NY New York City NY New York City NY PATERSON NJ ELIZABETH CITY NJ PATERSON NJ Northern NJ Northern NJ Northern NJ Triboro Riverfront South Washington Park Astoria PP Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Broadway PP Cypress Hills East Elmshurst Eltingville Farragut Fresh Meadows Retail Fresh Pond Halsey Highlawn Horace Harding LaGuardia LIC PP Annex Linden Hill New Lots Newkirk NEWARK NJ NEWARK NJ NEWARK NJ LONG ISLAND CITY NY LONG ISLAND CITY NY BROOKLYN NY FLUSHING NY STATEN ISLAND NY BROOKLYN NY FLUSHING NY FLUSHING NY BROOKLYN NY BROOKLYN NY FLUSHING NY FLUSHING NY LONG ISLAND CITY NY FLUSHING NY BROOKLYN NY BROOKLYN NY Triboro Triboro Triboro Triboro Rosebank Station B Sunset Whitestone STATEN ISLAND NY JAMAICA NY BROOKLYN NY FLUSHING NY Northeast Region District Albany Albany Albany Albany Albany Albany Albany Albany Albany CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley CT Valley Greater Boston Greater Boston Greater Boston Greater Boston Greater Boston Station/Branch Name ALB-ACADAMY ALB-DELAWARE ALB-FORT ORANGE ALB-PATROON ALB-PINE SCH-ROTTERDAM SQ SCH-SCOTIA SYR-ELMWOOD SYR-NORTH SYRACUSE Bridgeport-Barnum Bridgeport-Noble Hartford-Blue Hills HFD-Old State House New Haven-Baybrook New Haven-Kilby New Haven-Trolley Square New Haven-Westville Springfield-Brightwood Springfield-Colonial Stamford-Glenbrook Stamford-West Ave Babson Park Boston Coll. Boston Univ. Cambridge-M.I.T. Fanueil Hall City/State ALBANY NY ALBANY NY ALBANY NY ALBANY NY ALBANY NY SCHENECTADY NY SCHENECTADY NY SYRACUSE NY SYRACUSE NY BRIDGEPORT CT BRIDGEPORT CT HARTFORD CT HARTFORD CT NEW HAVEN CT NEW HAVEN CT NEW HAVEN CT NEW HAVEN CT SPRINGFIELD MA SPRINGFIELD MA STAMFORD CT STAMFORD CT BOSTON MA BOSTON MA BOSTON MA CAMBRIDGE MA BOSTON MA Greater Boston Greater Boston Greater Boston NNE SENE SENE WNY WNY WNY WNY WNY WNY WNY Logan Airport Soldiers Field Tufts Univ. PORTLAND STATION A NEW BEDFORD MT PLEASANT STATION, 748 MT PLEASANT ST PAWTUCKET VALLEY FALS BRANCH, 197 BORADWAY Buffalo – Broadway Fillmore Station Buffalo -Kenmore Branch Buffalo -Lackawanna Branch Buffalo -MidCity Station Rochester – Federal Station Rochester – Midtown Station Rochester-Dewey St BOSTON MA BOSTON MA BOSTON MA PORTLAND ME NEW BEDFORD MA PAWTUCKET RI BUFFALO NY BUFFALO NY BUFFALO NY BUFFALO NY ROCHESTER NY ROCHESTER NY ROCHESTER NY Pacific Region District Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Station/Branch Name AMERICAN CANYON BR SITE BRADFORD CASA CORREO COLONNADE DIMOND KAISER CENTER LANDSCAPE MILLS COLLEGE MIRA VISTA STATION MISSION SAN JOSE MOUNT EDEN NILES OAKLAND STATION B OAKLAND STATION E OAKRIDGE MALL PARK STATION City/State VALLEJO CA HAYWARD CA CONCORD CA SAN JOSE CA OAKLAND CA OAKLAND CA BERKELEY CA OAKLAND CA RICHMOND CA FREMONT CA HAYWARD CA FREMONT CA OAKLAND CA OAKLAND CA SAN JOSE CA BERKELEY CA Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Bay Valley Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Honolulu Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Los Angeles Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento Sacramento San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego San Diego POINT RICHMOND STATION RICHMOND STATION A SAN PABLO BRANCH SOUTH BERKELEY TODOS SANTOS Aina Haina Finance Station Ft. Shafter Finance Station Kaimuki Finance Station Kapalama Station Makiki Station Moiliili Finance Station MOU 1 Finance Station MOU 3 Finance Station Tripler Army Medical Finance Station Waialae-Kahala Station CRENSHAW-IMPERIAL PRT ING-MAIN OFFICE LENNOX BRANCH MORNINGSIDE PK STA NORTH REDONDO STATION Fresno Barton Fresno Cedar Modesto Main Modesto Paradise Stockton Main Office Riv–La Sierra College Grove Postal Store Escondido Postal Store First Street George Washington Moreno Station Naval Amphibius Base North Park Retail Point Loma Retail Rancho Del Rey San Bernardino Finance RICHMOND CA RICHMOND CA RICHMOND CA BERKELEY CA CONCORD CA HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI HONOLULU HI INGLEWOOD CA INGLEWOOD CA INGLEWOOD CA INGLEWOOD CA REDONDO BEACH CA FRESNO CA FRESNO CA MODESTO CA MODESTO CA STOCKTON CA RIVERSIDE CA SAN DIEGO CA ESCONDIDO CA OCEANSIDE CA SAN DIEGO CA MORENO VALLEY CA SAN DIEGO CA SAN DIEGO CA SAN DIEGO CA CHULA VISTA CA SAN BERNARDINO CA San Diego San Diego San Diego San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco San Francisco Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana San Bernardino Westside San Luis Rey University City Retail Bernal Civic Center Box Federal McLaren San Mateo 25th Ave ANA-BROOKHURST ANA-CANYONSTA ANA-FEDERAL STA ANA-STADIUM STA FUL-COMMONWEALTH HBC-BEACHCENTER IRV-EAST IRVINE STA LBC-BELMONTSHO LBC-NOLONGBEAC LBC-TRADECENTER NBC-BALBOA ISLAND NBC-BALBOA STATION NBC-BAYSTA NBC-BAYSTA STAMP STORE ORANGE – OLIVE STA ORANGE-EL MODENA STA POMONA- YORBA STA RC – ETIWANDA RC- ALTA LOMA SJC – PLAZA STA SNA-DIAMOND STA SNA-FOUNTAINVAL SNA-INDUSTRIAL STA SNA-P&DC RETAIL SAN BERADINO CA OCEANSIDE CA SAN DIEGO CA SAN FRANCISCO CA SAN FRANCISCO CA SAN FRANCISCO CA SAN FRANCISCO CA SAN MATEO CA ANAHEIM CA ANAHEIM CA ANAHEIM CA ANAHEIM CA FULLERTON CA HUNTINGTON BEACH CA IRVINE CA LONG BEACH CA LONG BEACH CA LONG BEACH CA NEWPORT BEACH CA NEWPORT BEACH CA NEWPORT BEACH CA NEWPORT BEACH CA ORANGE CA ORANGE CA POMONA CA RANCHO CUCAMONGA CA RANCHO CUCAMONGA CA SAN JUAN CPISTRANO CA SANTA ANA CA SANTA ANA CA SANTA ANA CA SANTA ANA CA Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana Santa Ana SNA-SPURGEONST TORRANCE- MARCELINA STA TORRANCE- WALTERIA STA WHI-BAILEYSTA LA PUENTE-BASSETT BR LA PUENTE-CITY OF INDUSTRY LAG-SOUTHLAGUNA STA LBC-Station B WHITTIER- SANTA FE PLAZA SANTA ANA CA TORRANCE CA TORRANCE CA WHITTIER CA LA PUENTE CA LA PUENTE CA LAGUNA BEACH CA LONG BEACH CA WHITTIER CA Southeast Region District ALABAMA PFC ALABAMA PFC ALABAMA PFC ALABAMA PFC ATLANTA PFC ATLANTA PFC ATLANTA PFC MISSISSIPPI PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC NORTH FLORIDA PFC SOUTH FLORIDA PFC SOUTH FLORIDA PFC SOUTH FLORIDA PFC SOUTH FLORIDA PFC SOUTH FLORIDA PFC SOUTH FLORIDA PFC Station/Branch Name HSV-WYNN DRIVE STA MGY-BOYLSTON FIN MGY-CAPITOL HEIGHTS STA TCL-EASTSIDE STA Atlanta – CNN Postal Store Atlanta – Gate City Station Atlanta – Hartsfield PS JCK-CANDLESTICK STA JAX-AIRPORT STA JAX-ARLINGTON STA JAX-BALDWIN STA JAX-CECIL FIELD FSTA JAX-EDDIE MAE STEWARD FSTA JAX-LAKE SHORE STA PFN-EASTSIDE STA PNS-DOWNTOWN STA TLH-WESTSIDE STA BOC-BLUE LAKE BR BOC-DOWNTOWN STA FTL-WESTSIDE BR HIA-MAIN OFFICE STA HOL-FLAMINGO BR HOL-HILLCREST FINANCE City/State HUNTSVILLE AL MONTGOMERY AL MONTGOMERY AL TUSCALOOSA AL ATLANTA GA ATLANTA GA ATLANTA GA JACKSON MS JACKSONVILLE JACKSONVILLE FL JACKSONVILLE FL JACKSONVILLE FL JACKSONVILLE FL JACKSONVILLE FL PANAMA CITY FL PANAMA CITY FL TALLAHASSEE FL BOCA RATON FL BOCA RATON FL FORT LAUDERDALE FL HIALEAH FL HOLLYWOOD FL HOLLYWOOD FL SOUTH FLORIDA PFC SOUTH FLORIDA PFC 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Faced with wide losses and a long slide in mail volume, the agency is considering eliminating Saturday deliveries and closing more post offices. The challenge will be getting consumers, unions and lawmakers, who have fought even small changes in mail delivery, to go along with the plan.[...]
The volume of first-class mail, the Postal Service’s most-lucrative business, has been eroded by the migration of bill payments and individual correspondence to the Internet. The economic downturn has exacerbated the financial woes by hitting catalogs and other direct-marketing mailings.
The Postal Service reported a nearly $2 billion loss for the second quarter ended March 31, with mail volume down nearly 15% from the year before. Postal officials predict it will handle about 180 billion pieces of mail this fiscal year, down by 32 billion pieces two years earlier.
Continued automation, attrition and early retirements have helped pare the number of full-time employees to 636,000 from more than 800,000 in 2000. Mr. Potter said the Postal Service has reduced excess capacity but said it must become still “leaner and more efficient,” and cut “tens of thousands” more jobs.
The agency is reviewing 3,100 post offices and retail outlets — out of 36,700 — for possible closure or consolidation, and it expects decisions by Oct. 1. Since 2000, the agency has shut 1,337 post offices and outlets, and since 2005 it has closed two of 380 mail-processing centers and consolidated nine. Dozens of other proposed closures or mergers were rejected, many following local resistance.[...]
[...]some postal officials are pushing for a fundamental change: five-day delivery. Mr. Potter said general delivery could be stopped on Saturdays, when mail volume is lightest, but post offices would likely remain open and certain types of mail could be delivered, perhaps at a premium.[...]Â Source: WSJ
WASHINGTON (AP) — The post office will run out of money this year unless it gets help, Postmaster General John Potter told Congress on Wednesday as he sought permission to cut delivery to five days a week.
“We are facing losses of historic proportion. Our situation is critical,” Potter told a House panel.
The agency lost $2.8 billion last year and is looking at much larger losses this year. Reducing mail delivery from six days to five days a week could save $3.5 billion annually, Potter said.
Potter also urged changes in how the post office pre-pays for retiree health care to cut its annual costs by $2 billion.
If the Postal Service does run out of money, the lingering question, Potter told the House Oversight post office subcommittee, is which bills will be paid and which will not. Ensuring the payment of workers’ salaries comes first, he said, but other bills may have to wait.
Potter first raised the possibility of delivery cutbacks in January, but the idea has not been warmly received in Congress.
“With the Postal Service facing budget shortfalls, the subcommittee will consider a number of options to restore financial stability and examine ways for the Postal Service to continue to operate without cutting services,” subcommittee chairman Stephen F. Lynch, D-Mass., said.
Lynch said the financial stability of the Postal Service is “critical to the American expectation of affordable six-day mail delivery.”
Even if the agency succeeds in reaching its planned cost cuts of $5.9 billion, there could still be a $6 billion deficit in 2010, Potter said.
“Without a change we will exhaust our cash resources,” he said. “We can no longer afford business as usual.”
Asked if layoffs would occur, Potter said it is possible but he hopes avoidable.
Last week, the post office said it planned to offer early retirement to 150,000 workers and is eliminating 1,400 management positions and closing six of its 80 district offices in cost-cutting efforts. Potter said he expects 10,000 to 15,000 workers to accept the early retirement offer.
Dan Blair, head of the independent Postal Regulatory Commission, suggested that other savings are possible through closing small and rural post offices — something Congress has resisted in the past. He added that it may be necessary to increase the limit on the amount of debt the post office can carry.
The post office had a $384 million loss in the first quarter of the fiscal year — October through December — which is usually the busiest period because of the holidays.
Officials said the recession has contributed to a mail volume drop of 5.2 billion pieces compared to the same period last year. If there is no economic recovery, the USPS projects volume for the year will be down by 12 billion to 15 billion pieces of mail.
Over the past year the post office says it has cut 50 million work hours, stopped construction of new facilities, frozen salaries for executives, began selling unused facilities and has cut post office hours.
Last year’s high fuel prices also sapped funds from the post office, which operates more than 200,000 vehicles. Every 1-cent increase in the price of fuel costs the post office $8 million.
Blair also noted that Congress could consider appropriating money to help the post office. The agency does not receive a taxpayer subsidy for its operations, although Congress does subsidize overseas voting and free mail for the blind.
William Young, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, stressed in his testimony that the agency is not seeking a taxpayer bailout, “but we are here to ask the Congress for help.”
“At this moment, the survival of the Postal Service — a venerable institution that is literally older than our country — hangs in the balance,” Young added.
Lawmakers also raised questions regarding recent news reports that Potter is paid as much as $800,000 a year. That is not correct, Potter said. He said his salary, set by Congress, is $263,575. He said the news reports were counting his retirement fund, the cost of his security detail and a $135,000 bonus that would be paid over 10 years after he retires.
The bonus is based on improved delivery rates and customer satisfaction, he said. Under the current financial conditions, Potter said, he would not be eligible for a bonus this year.
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