Update-
By: Channel 9 Eyewitness News
news@kcautv.com
The head of the letter carriers union says it's a ``disastrous idea.''
Fredric Rolando is reacting to the announcement that Saturday mail delivery will come to an end in August. Under the plan -- aimed at saving up to $2 billion a year -- mail would go to homes and businesses from Monday through Friday. Packages would still be delivered on Saturday.
Rolando says the move will hurt ``millions of customers'' -- particularly businesses, rural communities, the elderly, the disabled and others who depend on Saturday delivery. He also says it goes against the will of Congress as expressed over the past 30 years.
But the postmaster general, Patrick Donahoe, says research indicates that nearly 7 in 10 Americans support the switch to five-day delivery as a way for the Postal Service to reduce costs.
It's not clear how the service will be able to eliminate Saturday mail without congressional approval. Over the past several years, the Postal Service has advocated shifting to a five-day delivery schedule for mail and packages, and it unsuccessfully appealed to Congress to approve the move. The postal service gets no tax dollars for its day-to-day operations, but it is still subject to congressional control.
By: Jessica Rae
jrae@kcautv.com
According to ABC News, today the postmaster general will announce the USPS will no longer deliver on Saturdays. Due to the loss of more than $16 billion in 2012 alone, the post office is looking for ways to cut annual costs.
The changes should go into effect on August 1st, 2013. The USPS has delivered mail on Saturdays for the past 150 years. According to ABC News this change should save the USPS around $2 billion.
