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The schedule change, announced Wednesday, is expected to save about $2 billion each year, according to a release on the U.S. Postal Service website. While mail will be delivered Monday through Friday, packages will still be delivered Monday through Saturday. Post offices that are now open on Saturdays will remain open after the change takes effect.
“They work five days a week, then take off two days, that makes sense,” Guarno said. “You can then cut the manpower and save money.”
Since 2006, the Postal Service has reduced its workforce by 28 percent and consolidated more than 200 mail processing locations. It has reduced its operational costs by $15 billion. The elimination of Saturday mail delivery will further cut costs through employee attrition.
No tax dollars go toward Postal Service operating costs. It relies on the sale of postage, products and services.
However, Garvey Ashurst said eliminating Saturday mail delivery could pose an issue for people who have important documents like paychecks delivered late in the week. The Bronx resident said he used to work at Anne Taylor in The Westchester mall, and would receive his checks on Fridays. However, if there was an issue, he would get it on Saturday.
“If there is no Saturday delivery, it could mess up your whole weekend,” he said.
“The Postal Service is advancing an important new approach to delivery that reflects the strong growth of our package business and responds to the financial realities resulting from America’s changing mailing habits,” Patrick Donahoe, U.S. postmaster general and CEO, said in the release.
Package deliveries by the Postal Service have increased 14 percent since 2010, according to its website.
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