House Committee Approves Study On Ending Saturday Mail Delivery
Washington, Jun 25 - The House Appropriations Committee today approved an amendment offered by Congressman Jack Kingston (R/GA-1) that would require the United States Postal Service to study the cost-effectiveness and fuel consumption of a five-day delivery system and consumer demand of Saturday postal delivery.
“I’ve been trying to get the postal service to end Saturday delivery for years,” Congressman Kingston said. “It’s a perfect example of government waste that is driving up the price at the pump. I can’t think of the last time I got anything but a bill in the mail and, frankly, those can wait until Monday. Now my kids get all of their bills by email. What other way can the government immediately save 20.8 million gallons of gas thereby reducing consumption and gas prices?”
According to the United States Postal Service’s (USPS) website, the service uses 121 million gallons of gas each year. At approximately 400,000 gallons per day, the service would conserve 20.8 million gallons with an estimated cost savings of $84.7 million.
“This is just one way to bring down the cost of fuel,” said Congressman Kingston. “While some oppose this idea, this study will at least give us hard numbers on which we can make an informed decision.”
The study was approved unanimously by the committee and must now be taken up in the House and Senate before being signed into law by the President.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:01 pm
It’s not going to bring down the cost of fuel.
June 26th, 2008 at 4:53 pm
No, but it will reduce the number of gallons used per year.
June 26th, 2008 at 7:33 pm
Great idea! I’m sick of working Saturday’s while all of the EAS and Management employees are off.
June 26th, 2008 at 9:04 pm
The Postal Service is old technology.
5 day delivery is the way to go. 6 days delivery is no longer needed by most Americans.
June 27th, 2008 at 12:41 am
The existing processing plants/equipment were put in place around a 24hr work clock. Less run time per week = more machines and operators required to work the mail in less time. Not going to happen. You may not get mail delivered on a Saturday, but nothing much else will likely change (working Sat and/or Sun).
June 27th, 2008 at 5:48 am
Go to(4) 10 hour days for delivery (Mon - Thurs) and SAVE! even more! Keep the offices and Mail centers open to keep the mail in motion.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:26 am
It sounds like a good idea. back in the 50’s mail delivery was twice a day. In the early 60’s it was cut to once a day and it’s working.
June 27th, 2008 at 8:35 am
When carriers are on the street delivering mail for seven hours a day they’ll need two days off in a row for rest otherwise there will be a lot of injuries
June 27th, 2008 at 9:53 am
I’ll take a 4 day 10 hour a day work week! I’ll get 8 hours of penalty every week! I’ll be rolling in dough!
June 27th, 2008 at 11:22 am
Interesting… The USPS is government today.
Let’s cut all the government waste throughout the government. Put our elected officials under Social Security, doing away with their retirement plan and perks also get rid of their EXTRAORDINARY free health care.
June 27th, 2008 at 1:07 pm
SO NO SATURDAY DELIVERY= ONE LESS DAY OF REVENUE,HOW ABOUT WEEKS WITH HOLIDAY NO DELIVERY FOR 3 DAYS IN A ROW IMAGINE HOW BAD TUESDAY WOULD BE?
June 27th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Tuesday won’t be bad at all. Haven’t you heard? VOLUME IS DOWN!!
June 27th, 2008 at 4:25 pm
in my office dois is posted before we come in.how do they know how much the clerks sort at the flats and letters, that are not up by 9:30. dois “DOESNT OFFER INFORMATION SUFFICIENTLY”
June 27th, 2008 at 4:34 pm
Hey Kingston how about getting back the raises congress allowed the board of governors to approve for the 12 top officers in the postal service. A 39% raise for the postmaster general but our 2% was turned down at the bargaining table. What a joke! They already took away off-day overtime what’s next our 10 minute break.
June 27th, 2008 at 4:59 pm
The Only way to save the PO because mail volume is down 20 to 30 percent from last year.
June 27th, 2008 at 5:31 pm
duh………what has taken so long for the rest of our revered leaders to decide to finally do away with sat.delivery? i for one would love to live a normal life after 30 years of working sat. and missing my childrens activities, maybe i could catch my grandsons ballgame or at least watch him grow up.
June 28th, 2008 at 9:15 am
I always thought it to be a great ideal. It seems to a waste to work Saturdays. In most metro areas your large corporations are closed and volume on saturday is extremely low. carriers tend to run in and out quickly on that day , so be it stop delivery. I want to have a normal family life and spend time with my family when they are off of work and out of school for the weekend. The few down falls may be the T-6’s and sick calls , since a lot of business offices are closed on weekends.
June 28th, 2008 at 9:59 am
obama will save us all
June 28th, 2008 at 9:06 pm
With all the carriers off for sat. what do you think they will do? Probably use their cars and drive to different places to enjoy the day off. Where is the gas savings if they all do that?
June 29th, 2008 at 4:58 am
This makes sense! If I do get mail in my box on Saturdays, it’s only fliers & other advertisements. Furthermore, I don’t even check my mailbox until Monday PM!
June 29th, 2008 at 5:07 am
No Saturday delivery will reduce sick call call-ins. A massive number of carriers would like to celebrate Sabbath worship with their families on Saturdays. Not working Saturdays will make the weekend long and restful; a pleasant respite from the working environment. Also, this 5-day week in the postal service is successful in other countries.
June 29th, 2008 at 12:40 pm
Does everyone realize how many work hours (jobs)will be eliminated if Saturday delivery is terminated. That won’t be a good thing for the Craft employees, no matter how good it sounds for more employees to off on Saturday!!!!
June 29th, 2008 at 2:00 pm
Sure it would be nice to have Saturdays off, however, what happens to the T-6s and PTFs, if no routes are available for them to bid on? I’d love Saturdays off, however, not at the expense of those men and women I work with and have come to respect. Why don’t they just offer early outs and see how many takers they have?
June 29th, 2008 at 6:03 pm
IF they want to save gas STOP making carriers take DPS and Flyers to the road when they spend time idleing at each box. If you look at Rural carriers who use their own vehicle they will show you how to save gas
June 29th, 2008 at 6:05 pm
Won’t work if P&DC’s still run mail 24/7. Shut down EVERYTHING/EVERYWHERE at the end of Tour 3 Friday night and restart EVERYTHING/EVERYWHERE at start of Tour 1 Sunday night. Most everyone at the plant will have Sat/Sun off. That way there won’t be three days of mail to deliver on Monday. The public will just add the two “dead” non-delivery days to their expected travel time for delivery.
June 30th, 2008 at 6:39 am
Hey there Grasping…. they took away our 10 minute break two years ago… small station… lazy steward… yup.
June 30th, 2008 at 10:38 am
Since when do taxpayers pay for the PO. I understood that postage pays our salaries. Do taxpayers really pay for other aspects of our company? I didn’t think we received any money from the government.
June 30th, 2008 at 1:44 pm
I’m a carrier tech also… I’d be more than happy to give up T6 for Saturday off. Lets cut the jobs for better quality of life. Oh yeah! (Rodriquez, Gonzalez, Ramirez) The Heav
July 1st, 2008 at 7:43 am
The only ones against this is the union mucks and the idiots that buy into their loss of jobs BS. They mean lo$$ of member$ and trips to Vegas! It’s a great idea(always been a great idea)whos time has come.
July 1st, 2008 at 3:30 pm
Going to a 5 day delivery won’t effect gas prices at all but it will affect the recently hired. i.e. your T.E.’s, your PTF’s and eventually your T-6’s
July 2nd, 2008 at 8:01 am
I would love to have Saturdays off. We get too many sick calls on Saturday. Everyone has something to do, places to go, family events to attend, on Saturdays. I wouldn’t mind working longer hours during the week, to ensure Saturdays off. I think a 4/40 would be perfect. We would still keep our rotating schedule, with a 3 day weekend every four weeks, working 4-10 hour days, per week.
July 2nd, 2008 at 10:03 am
Bring on the early outs…..if the price is right I’m outta here….
July 2nd, 2008 at 11:13 am
T-6 carriers would be fine you buffoons. If they lose their T-6 position, all junior routes go up for bid and jr carriers get excessed or whatever, it all goes by seniority. They will have to offer early outs, too many carriers protected by the no layoff clause.
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:00 pm
I would like to thank congress for doing what I have said all along. 15 years here of hearing the Post Ofiice wont be around… just do this and give us all a life! We need it to survive the next 20 years or we won’t make it to retirement without collapsing! Go bother someone else if you cant afford the overtime slash. Its your own fault. I have survived a divorce without spending more than I make through careful and smart planning. Even better is the 4 ten hour days! Give us back a life you took away ….you silly old Post Office!
July 2nd, 2008 at 5:10 pm
I been working at the USPS for 21 years. I missed various family activities such as Weddings, Birthday Parties and more due to working Saturdays. My kids also play sports and my wife and I have to find leagues so I can get to see them play. Most games are played on Saturdays let alone being able to coach for them as well. A 5 day work week will be great but then there is the problem with the floaters. I say offer an out to avoid layoffs from any down sizing, have the regulars work 4 days with the 5th as a rotated day off to keep floater jobs. Pay a flat salary at the present annual salary and allow us to go home when we are finished with no bull from our supervisors with the route being cleaned up (NO DOWN TIME also I hate sitting around. If you are need for the 5th day, need to double up a down route or a Saturday for parcels pay us the standard days overtime for helping. This will save tons of fuel and energy and not just the job but our lives as well. Maybe we can finally have happy workers without going POSTAL.
July 3rd, 2008 at 9:49 am
Gee while you all are protecting or doing away with jobs, the intent was to save FUEL! So we have no Saturday Delivery, but leave the retail operation open, like every other retail business. You want mail on Saturday? Use Priority or Express, and bring in the PTF or “T-6″ to deliver Priority. OR= have the customer rent a P.O. Box!
Stop whining about how you’ve been mistreated and go find your dream job. I would never stand for being mistreated for as many years as some of you claim to be. What’s wrong with you?
July 3rd, 2008 at 1:40 pm
I`ll shovel shit against the tide if we can have Saturdays off!!
July 4th, 2008 at 6:08 am
Having Saturday’s off sounds wonderful! I can’t believe the comment above about having DOWN TIME and “hate sitting around”. We are told we have “Down Time” and are shoved more work that is taken away from one of the PTF’s. If we go to 4 ten hour days… sure hope my body parts don’t fall off before I get the chance to retire!!
July 4th, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Not true about T7s they become unassigned regulars and are at the mercy of management! Another dumb idea is to shut retail windows down day after the fourth I thought they bring in the revenue.
July 6th, 2008 at 9:14 am
I don’t feel if it goes into effect it will be
Saturday and Sunday off. They won’t let us have
2 days in a row off. Then sometimes 3 because of
a holiday.
July 6th, 2008 at 11:28 am
by working 10hr work days you guys are saying you want your rts to be added to.
if we wk 5 days, t-6’s will lose there jobs. if we wk 4 days than rts will have to be adjusted and rts will be abolished. either way jobs will be lost.
July 6th, 2008 at 2:21 pm
Why not have carriers case all their mail (DPS) and spend less time sorting that mail at each stop. (2 hours delivery time instead of 5 hours idling time). Oh wait…that’s not possible since taking DPS to the street is more cost efficient!
July 6th, 2008 at 3:01 pm
I agree with Max. Don’t think the postal brain trust had the price of gas penciled in at 4 dollars a gallon or more when they thought of DPS. What will the post office do when DPS flats begin and carriers are on the street delivering for 7 hours?!! Pay us to case every thing.We will use less gas, and cause less air pollution.
July 6th, 2008 at 4:14 pm
Hey lets put all the mail in wagons or grocery carts and push or pull the mail on the streets to save gas
July 7th, 2008 at 6:50 am
I realize there could be pros and cons to a non delivery day of Saturday. I think it is worth looking into. I would also bet the majority of the comments above opposing the idea already have Saturdays off. Maybe it could give some people something to look up to. I already see lots of cuts on making regulars in some offices. I had a family member that worked just over 30 years before they got Saturdays off. I seem to see no near sight of getting them myself as I approach the 15 year mark. They are really starting to make many of the regular spots go away. I just think after so long the employees should have that to work up to or a least get a regular schedule and day off. Taking a day like Saturday may help more people achieve this and save energy.
July 7th, 2008 at 7:11 am
Most other government workers are off on Saturday why not the mailmen. We don’t worry about getting the mail on Saturday. This is 2008 and we no longer need the Pony Express!!!!!
July 7th, 2008 at 3:11 pm
The post office is the only self sufficiant branch of the government. They attempted to deplete saturdays in 2001 and were defeated by the Union. I personally think the public would adjust quite nicely as long as the public assistance co-operates by having checks come in on Friday. Working in a rural post office, we are seeing an increase of volume, due to increased boxes and customers but, less standard as it becomes increasingly ineffective. The Plant 24/7 will still happen because it is run by less people on sat/sun and gives the post office a fighting chance to catch up on all in house mail. Most of your big rigs bring in the pallets on sunday, advo’s, magazines, catalogs come in and are housed waiting for excess time in which to run. Most career employees will probably benefit from a no saturday but, the loss is, in general huge to the work force as we know it. There are many, many ptf’s scraping for 10 hours as it is. What do we do when those folks don’t want to sub in for a four hour work week? Considerations are many.
July 8th, 2008 at 6:10 pm
If the plants are still processing mail throughout the weekend exactly how are we supposed to catch up? Mail trucks would probably start extra runs from the plants during the week if Saturday delivery stopped.
July 8th, 2008 at 8:28 pm
i know its a wonderful ideal saturday deliveries has always been a waste of money the usps can save $ on sick calls alone most people prefer to spend the weekend with their loved ones. the usps need to catch up in time instead of that old mind set before there be no more usps look around .
July 9th, 2008 at 6:56 pm
From all of the comments here, I do not believe any of them are from a RCA, so here I am. I do not believe that the post office will allow no mail on Sat. I believe that the regular days off will most likely be Wed and Sun. As for me, well it is time to start looking in the want ads, I believe this bill will pass and alot of people will be out of a job. Granted the regulars that are already in place and the RCA’s that become regular IF they offer early outs, will actually have a family life. This is VERY important, but will all of the unemployment in this country already, where will all the PTF’s and RCA’s go??? The government might save $$ in gas consumption, but they will more than make up for it in unemployment. My only guaranteed day to work is Sat. If they cut it down to the 5 day work week, there will be no need for relief workers. The few that will be kept will only get MAYBE 8 hours a week. Try living off that. In short, great for gas and family life. Bad for unemployment and the families of the unemployed.
July 10th, 2008 at 12:04 pm
I heard the bill passed and is just waiting on presidential signature? Anyone else heard this or can tell me where to find the info. Thanx
July 11th, 2008 at 9:20 am
I think that it is something to look at. We all do not want jobs lost like the T6 positions, but we do not want the postal service folding over, and possible privatizing. If this is the only way to go then I am all for it. Yes it would be nice to be home with my kids on weekends and doing weekend activities with family, but we need to look at the whole picture. If this will keep the postal service running then lets do it. I have 20 yrs left and I would like to retire from this job and not looking for another one.
July 11th, 2008 at 8:25 pm
I got out of the union it saves me over $250 a year.I WOULD LOVE TO BE HOME WITH MY FAMILY ON SATURDAYS! MOST MANGMT. IS HOME ON SATURDAYS. COME ON USPS DO SOMETHING YOUR EMPLOYEES WANT.WE HAVE A RT THAT ONLY HAS ABOUT 2 HOURS OF STREET WORK ON SAT. BECAUSE IT IS A BUSINESS RT. SOMEHOW HE GETS AN 8 HOUR DAY EVERY SAT.IMAGINE THAT! SATURDAY WORK AT THE PO SHOULD BE LOOKED AT
July 12th, 2008 at 12:57 pm
Congress should deliver the mail a couple of weekends. They would finally see how hard the postal people on these routes are over worked and under appreciated. Do they think people really want to be at work on Saturday? Some of the people at the counter should be sped up at the same time, instead of waiting for someone to pick the dead lice off them. At 5 pm, the blood circulates back when they slam he window in your face. Close the place down on Saturday, and make everyone faster Monday - Friday.
July 15th, 2008 at 4:07 pm
Hey snickers, I myself have one of those business routes that has a lot of closed businesses on Saturday. Yes i have a better oppurtunity for aneight hour day on Saturday,I am forced to carry most of the route for the slow poke who had the misfortune of being low on the seniority list. I also have to case routes that repeatedly call in sick on Saturday. Maybe you should check your facts before you criticize the carrier with the business route.
July 20th, 2008 at 5:35 am
I believe if it is already decided that our workforce must shrink that the suspension of Saturday delivery is definitely the way to go. If the street portion of the letter carriers day continues to increase ,and believe me it will, a carrier will absolutely require two days off in a row to recover physically from such a rigorous week. Also ,it will allow the carrier and the carriers family to capture the priceless time together on the weekends that they have long done without.
July 20th, 2008 at 11:30 am
my wife is an RCA. does she lose her job because of the downsizing of the USPS. how many people will be put out of work. let congressman kingston do without his staff and the houses that the people pay for him to stay in in washington. the pay he recieves is much more than he’s worth or what he has done in washington. let him run a route and see if it’s easy or not. he’s probably one of the congressman wanting to raise your fuel taxes slso.
July 22nd, 2008 at 9:39 am
I have almost 35 years with the Postal Service and I can’t believe how many people are so short sighted that they are in favor of this. Do you people think that your salary increases and benefits were just handed to you? Five day delivery means less employees, less employess means less clout in collective bargaining. Will you be happy with your Saturdays off when they reduce your pay and benefits? Just another example of the me-first mentality.
July 22nd, 2008 at 10:26 am
i think a 5day work week will work, but a 4day-10hr work week will be even better. the postal regulators in Washington could pass the bill to require rural boxes for every home, reducing the dog bits, saving fuel, time on the street.
July 24th, 2008 at 3:49 pm
I’ve got over 35yrs with USPS, carried the same rt. for the last 20yrs. I think 5 day delivery is going to happen, but with Wed/Sun off. One way or another, something will be done, and we’re not going to have any say about it. For the record, I’m in favor of a change in “business as usual.”
July 25th, 2008 at 7:13 pm
If you are talking about being put out of work because of a five day work week,watch out it’s going to happen any way with six days, don’t be a fool.Management is doing it’s best to save their jobs.
July 27th, 2008 at 6:38 am
Lets be honest, How many people check the mail on Sat?
July 30th, 2008 at 2:43 pm
I am a Tour 1 employee who runs DBCS machines. On Mondays, when there is 2 days of mail to dispatch to the carriers the mail is always late to them. When there is a holiday which is 3 days of mail, it is even later. How can we every week give the customers a good product and the mail on time when we are trying to dispatch 3 days of mail????
August 5th, 2008 at 2:56 am
Has anyone heard more on this?
August 5th, 2008 at 3:14 pm
What about all of the Saturday carriers that will lose thuer jobs? Will they be offered ither positions, or just be fired?
August 10th, 2008 at 5:03 pm
Truly spending more time in the office and taking a one bundle system to the street saves in so many ways…less repetitive motion injuries (from reaching for a third bundles),fewer knee replacements, heat illnesses are reduced…a swift delivery with less fuel..makes too much sense…
August 18th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
I read somewhere that if 5-day delivery goes into play, it won’t mean that Carriers will definitely have SATURDAY off, or even TWO DAYS OFF IN A ROW. It may even be a day through the week off and Sunday, not necessarily Saturday. This may NOT be as good a thing as you think. Also the substitute Carriers wouldn’t be needed any longer, so what happens to their jobs if they were hired after the no-layoff clause ended?
August 19th, 2008 at 6:28 am
there are too many dumb pro management people out there. cutting off Saturday delivery means also cutting Management jogs not just craft jobs. Management just want to save money by cutting down the craft employees. less revenue should equal to less managers also. if you want to save money stop creating frivolous job titles for managers. How about ACS? (attendance control supervisor)Noli Nothis Permittere Te Terere
August 23rd, 2008 at 7:18 am
Kingston is a prime example of the person who goes into politics and looses touch with the realities of those he or she is to serve
August 25th, 2008 at 6:33 pm
Has anyone heard more on this. Please responde if you know how I can learn more on this. Thank You
August 27th, 2008 at 4:27 pm
Four tens with RCA, TE and PTF’s picking up the weekday off day for the regulars. even after a holiday I can get my route done in 8 hours.
September 3rd, 2008 at 5:40 pm
I wish they would stop Saturday mailbecause then maybe, just maybe I could have a simi-normal life. I have worked Saturdays for 12= years and it isn’t going to end without this. We are under staffed so the R.C.A.s have to double up so this leads to dangerous driving and “shotty” service. Besides the only people that I know that want mail on Saturday are those on welfare, I guess if I laid on my “6″ all day I would need something to do like walk to the mail box. Also the main organization fighting to defend Saturday mail is those comunist in the Rural Letter Carriers Association, they can’t defend the workers for defending this. They fear losing a few members. As for me they are going to lose me as soon as the open season comes aroud to get out.
September 4th, 2008 at 7:44 am
I hope “postal marine” gives back all the contract raises and COLAs that he got because of the “communist” RLCA. Does he really think that if we eliminate Saturday delivery, we will have an abundance of help? How is it possible that he has worked for this organization for 12 years and hasn’t figured that out? Wake up! Maybe it would be better if he quit, had his Saturdays off and opened up a job for someone on welfare. On second thought, he sounds like management material to me.
September 8th, 2008 at 6:55 am
Hey Debbie I know you have several days of mail that you say is getting to the carriers later,Why not come in earlier?These mail trucks need to move earlier in my town they don’t arrive at the PO till after 5AM.Come on now!Postal Empolyee’s have been babyed too long.There is WAY too much Mangement that needs to be cut first.You go into some offices and just see clerks standing around.I know mail volume is way down,but you still have the same amount of people working.Let those regular carriers earn their money for once.Do away with Sat.mail delivery.The Postal Service is a BIG Gov waste maybe I will contact Gov Palin she HATES Gov waste-You go Gov.Palin.
September 10th, 2008 at 5:09 pm
A five day work week is an excellent idea. But it shouldn’t be just for carriers. The window hasn’t always been open on Saturday’s and people managed just fine. If they had to, they could just extend the business hours from 8:00 to 6:00 instead of 9:00 to 5:00. Most offices that offer Saturday window service have at least 2 window clerks, anyway. All the P. O. would have to do is have half come in one hour earler and half come in one hour later. Closing the Post Office completlely down on weekends would save energy. Less on lighting. The thermostats could be set where less energy was used when no one was there. If mail volume is down, then they shouldn’t need to run the machines 24/7. If they aren’t running the machines on weekends,the carriers won’t get dumped on on Monday’s and Tuesday’s after Monday holidays. They wouldn’t need to pay the trucking companies for the 2 extra day’s of hauling mail. I know this would mean less jobs, but it is better than the alternative. Which is if the Post Office doesn’t get down it’s costs, it could be shutting the doors or privatizing. Then where would the ptf’s and T6’s be. (and everyone else as well. The union leaders are only opposed to it because it would mean less union dues , which means less for them to get their hands on.
September 12th, 2008 at 7:58 pm
The postal service is not going to go out of business either way, it’s ultimatly backed by “the full faith and credit if the US govt, as in the case with Fannie. It’s just a fear tactic. Even if they do away with Sat. delivery, it will be very slow in coming. Some of these rules nowdays seem to waste fuel and money. I don’t understand why they send a carrier back for say 12 miles to deliver some late-arriving junk even be it first class presort or whatever, cost far exceeding revenue. It wasn’t done like that back in ‘95 and gas was 99 cents.
September 13th, 2008 at 3:08 pm
I heard that the union wants Wed. off day instead of Sat. Why? who knows. Anyone else heard of this?
September 14th, 2008 at 3:43 am
I fully support going the USPS going to a five day delivery system.
It’s the point. Efficiency is the motto of the times. For me its the consumption of gas that needs to be lowered.
With electronic bill pay and online banking. It is time to stream line.
September 26th, 2008 at 7:21 am
I have been a sub for ten years and I need to work every saturday, my husband is a regular carrier do you people even understand how much money the employees will lose? my husband lost $7000 last count any more salary cuts and we are not gonna make it, we have to think about our paychecks here with the price of everthing else going up how can we afford another pay cut close the post office on saturdays and we lose a ton of money again
September 28th, 2008 at 7:23 pm
Why not go to seven day delivery?
October 3rd, 2008 at 10:59 am
I dunno wat part of da country u dudes werk at…..but u dat aint gonna happen in ny….u must be out ur mind….and besides all dis government crap….we don’t receive a dime from da government so wat are they crying about…..