Postal Service proposes major changes
Reporter: Jessica Chapin
TUCSON (KGUN9- TV) - In the age of email, the postal service is struggling. Now, like many businesses, they're considering major cuts. USPS unveiled several proposals to save money including the following:
- Stopping Saturday delivery to save an estimated $3 billion.
- Urging Congress to restructure pre-paid retirement benefits to save $5.5 billion.
- Urging Congress to repay $7 billion in overpaid pensions.
- Closing 250 distribution facilities across the country, saving $3 billion.
One of those facilities would be the Udall Center in Tucson which employs 350 people. USPS is conducting a study to see exactly what plan would be best for their bottom line, but if all aspects are implemented it would take first class delivery in Tucson an extra day. For some people like Shadesh Watkins, a day makes a big difference.
"They need to come up with something better than that because it's not good for the community to have to wait two days for bills and whatnot," she said, "What about disconnection notices, when are you going to get that? After you're disconnected? Not cool."
9 On Your Side's Jessica Chapin called USPS spokesperson Peter Hass with those concerns. He said the changes are still tentative. They expect to be finished with the studies in early 2012.
"The mail is something that the American public already counts on," he said, "And we want that to continue but we have to be responsible as an organization to be more efficient. It's time to make adjustments, that's what any responsible business would do."
The USPS is already looking at a $10 billion deficit for this fiscal year. They say they continue to see decreasing volumes of mail.
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