US Postmaster General outlines Postal Service's new reality

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In his annual state of the Postal Service address to the mailing industry and on the occasion of the 50th anniversary of the Postal Customer Council (PCC), US Postmaster General and CEO Patrick Donahoe addressed a viewing audience of 8,000 on 21 September, describing the Postal Service’s new reality.

“We have reduced our annual costs by more than US$12 billion and our workforce has been reduced by 110,000 career employees over the past four years, but we must do significantly more to return to profitability,” said Donahoe. “We must reduce our annual costs by US$20 billion by 2015 to be profitable, and we do not currently have the flexibility in our business model to achieve these cost reductions.”

Donahoe praised postal employees for their hard work to bring about incredible cost savings while achieving record levels of service. He stated that the Postal Service’s financial losses are due entirely to an overly restrictive business model and should not be interpreted as an indictment of the value of mail.

The Postal Service has advanced a comprehensive package of proposals that will allow it to operate more like a business, and without several large financial mandates. They include giving the Postal Service the authority to transition to a national five-day per week delivery schedule, and resolving the retiree health benefit prepayment requirement.

“Short-term solutions will not help the Postal Service or this industry,” said Donahoe. “We need long-term, comprehensive legislation and our expectation is that Congress will pass comprehensive legislation by the end of this calendar year.”

The Postal Service continues to make progress with reforms it can pursue without the help of Congress, including plans to:
• Study 252 mail-processing facilities for potential consolidation;
• Review 3,600 low-activity post offices for potential closure, consolidation or contracting;
• Enhance and expand alternate access sites, including Village Post Offices and usps.com;
• Modify delivery routes and service standards;
• Make it easier to do business with the Postal Service with new, innovative products.