First-class mail delivery to slow as USPS cuts costs

The decline of first-class mail is partially to blame for the United States Postal Services’ financial woes and leaders recently announced that—for the first time in 40 years—first-class mail likely won't arrive the next day.

USPS leaders are looking at a variety of cost-savings measures, the most recent of which is the move to eliminate the next-day delivery option.

USPS spokesman David Walton said that information about the changes is available online and he would keep Nooga.com up-to-date about additional announcements, which the Associated Press reported were scheduled to come Monday.

According to the USPS website, the 236-year-old institution is facing “unprecedented” mail volume declines and a projected shortfall of $238 billion during the next decade.

"The mail processing network itself was constructed to process and deliver first-class mail within a 1-3 day window depending on where the mail is sent and delivered," according to the USPS website. "With the proposed change, the new service standard would become 2-3 days, meaning that on average, customers would no longer receive mail the day after it was mailed."

According to CNN, the new delivery schedule is comparable to the speed of delivery as when the USPS was founded in 1775.

The Associated Press reported Monday that the new time table could slow everything from Netflix orders and magazines to mail-order prescription drugs.

After ending 2011 with a $5.1 billion loss, slower first-class mail delivery isn’t the only change leaders are looking at making.

USPS officials also recently announced they are hoping for Congressional approval to move to a five-day delivery schedule, which could save $3 billion a year, Walton said recently.

Although some local residents said that they are not bothered by a five-day delivery schedule or slower delivery, others said they hate to see the services slowed.

Chattanooga resident Carneisha Harris and her husband Michael Harris both said they prefer the six-day schedule.

“It may sound a little silly, but I prefer the USPS to commercial services,” Carneisha said. “It makes me feel more patriotic.”

She appreciates being able to send and receive mail on Saturdays and said she knows some people who depend on being able to get mail on the weekend, when they are not working.

She has contacted legislators to express her worry, she also said.

“I’m in no hurry to get bills, but it’s nice to get a friendly letter from my pen pal, to slow down life a bit, especially on a beautiful Saturday afternoon,” she said.

Leaders are also considering studying about 250 facilities for possible consolidation or closure.

In September, USPS leaders began a study at the Chattanooga processing and distribution center to determine the feasibility of consolidating redundant operations.

On Nov. 30, there was a public meeting to to discuss this consolidation and USPS leaders will accept feedback in writing through Dec. 15, according to a news release.

Postal service leaders had been looking to close some post offices and Tennessee had 60 locations eyed for closure, including three in Chattanooga—East Lake, Highland Park and South Chattanooga.

But Walton said that studies and closures were “temporarily suspended” beginning Nov. 19 and will resume after the holidays on Jan. 2.

Other cost-savings measures that leaders are considering include “adjusting the workforce size by as many as 35,000 positions,” also according to the USPS website.

Since 2006, officials have closed 186 facilities, removed more than 1,500 pieces of mail processing equipment and decreased staff through attrition, according to Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.

Rep. Chuck Fleischmann said Monday that Congress has been working on the situation and hope that leaders and lawmakers can find the best outcome.

“The entire system is going to be going through some reforms,” he said. “But hopefully, as you’re going through reforms, you don’t cut into the bone and you look very carefully before you make those decisions.”

Michael Harris said he understands moving to five days is a cost-savings effort, but he prefers a six-day delivery schedule.

“This is a situation where the private sector needs to find a way to compete with the private sector,” he said.