The Postal Service has announced that it plans to end Saturday mail delivery starting August 5th in a bid to save about $2 billion a year once the plan is fully implemented. USPS said the move is partly in response to a Postal Board of Governors directive to restructure operations more quickly in light of ongoing losses, and that the new delivery schedule will likely entail both employee reassignment and attrition.
Since 2006 the Postal Service has reduced its career workforce by 193,000 and consolidated over 200 mail processing locations but those savings were insufficient to head off the long-debated change.
Saturday delivery for both packages and mail addressed to PO boxes will continue, and post offices currently open on Saturdays will remain open.
USPS said in a statement that it was advancing a new delivery approach reflecting strong growth in its package business and a down economy with dwindling mail volume. "As consumers increasingly use and rely on delivery services, especially due to the rise of e-commerce we can play an increasingly vital role as a delivery provider of choice, and as a driver of growth opportunities for America’s businesses," said postmaster general Patrick Donahoe.