In response to the financial crisis facing the Postal Service due to the severe national recession and the impact of electronic substitution, postal management has launched an internal study on the feasibility of eliminating Saturday delivery across the United States

NALC received a letter dated June 11 from the Postal Service requesting the union’s input on this study, with a request that such input be provided by June 19, 2009. In view of the profound impact such a change would have on the Postal Service and on letter carriers across the country, NALC rejected the timeline suggested by the USPS and requested a full briefing on the subject before responding to the June 11 letter. That briefing has not yet been provided, though we expect it to take place shortly.

"The NALC's position on this issue should be crystal clear: We oppose the elimination of six-day delivery," said NALC President Bill Young. "Downsizing the Postal Service to meet the needs of a severely depressed economy is short-sighted and self-defeating—it will cost us tens of thousands of jobs and open the way to competitors to provide service on the sixth day," he added.

NALC is committed to working with Congress and the administration to find better ways to help the Postal Service remain viable. "Rather than contemplate a radical change like the elimination of Saturday delivery, we should pursue more sensible solutions," said Executive Vice President Fred Rolando.

"First and foremost, Congress should re-examine all the retirement financing decisions made by the Bush administration that have so burdened the Postal Service in this time of economic crisis. Eliminating the FERS military benefit cost to postal ratepayers, granting the Postal Service eligibility for Medicare Part D subsidies, as intended by law, and fundamentally reforming the scheme for pre-funding retiree health benefits are essential first steps," he added.

“Expanding services and making full use of the Postal Service’s invaluable last-mile network is the key to the future," Rolando said.