USPS: No More Saturday Delivery
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Drastic changes are coming to your mail delivery. The U.S. Postal Service is eliminating all Saturday mail service.
Kai Jackson explains it's the latest attempt to save the agency from financial ruin but it is not sitting well with some.
While the Postal Service tries to save money, customers are trying to determine how this major news will impact them.
The weather may not keep postal workers from making their appointed rounds, but a $15.9 billion loss apparently will keep them from making Saturday deliveries.
"I'm not surprised," said Sherelle Shelton.
On Wednesday, the Postal Service announced that it will deliver mail only five days a week with no Saturday first class mail service starting in August.
The postmaster general says it's simple math. He says the agency is suffering huge losses.
"We are in a situation where we are obligated to make some tough choices and decisions," said Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe.
Over the past six years, the Postal Service has laid off workers and raised rates but use of the Internet and competition has cut into the agency's bottom line, which posted losses of $40 billion during that time.
But the new plan is being criticized by the rank and file of the Postal Service.
"What I see is that there seems to be an intent to dismantle the Postal Service. That's what I see," said Local 181 APWU President Thomasine Derricks.
Reaction to the Postal Service cutting its Saturday hours appears mixed but it doesn't appear to have caught anyone by surprise.
"It's their own fault. It's the way they managed their money, so it's on them," said Jerome Thompson Sr. "Why make the public pay for their mistakes?"
Package delivery will continue six days a week. The Postal Service says that part of the business continues to be profitable.
