Saturday mail delivery will continue – for now

Saturday mail delivery will not end in August, but will continue through at least September 30.  In a press release from the U.S. Postal Service, officials said Congress is not allowing the planned August 5th change in procedures.  In that plan, only packages would be delivered on Saturday.

The Board of Governors of the Postal Service expressed  disappointment. “The Board will follow the law and has directed the Postal Service to delay implementation of its new delivery schedule until legislation is passed that provides the Postal Service with the authority to implement a financially appropriate and responsible delivery schedule. The Board believes that Congress has left it with no choice but to delay this implementation at this time. The Board also wants to ensure that customers of the Postal Service are not unduly burdened by ongoing uncertainties and are able to adjust their business plans accordingly.”

The Postal Service Board is supportive of the new national delivery schedule and the savings it would involve.  Estimates are that such a transition will generate approximately $2 billion in annual cost savings.

Numerous polls indicate that a Monday-Friday mail delivery schedule is widely supported by the American public. The Postal Service Board says it is also supported by the Administration and some members of Congress.

Negotiations will continue with the postal unions and consultations with management associations to lower total workforce costs, and to take administrative actions necessary to reduce costs. Additional rate increases are also being discussed.