Finding “no signs of economic recovery in sight,” the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) jumped on the national morass-mobile on March 20 by announcing plans to lay off more than 1,400 employees at 400 facilities. Targeted employees will include mail processing supervisors and managers.
Along with the 1,400 layoffs, another 150,000 USPS employees nationwide will be offered the “opportunity” to take early retirement.
In addition, six of 80 USPS district offices will be closed. Shut down will be administrative district offices in Lake Mary, FL; North Reading, MA; Manchester, NH; Edison, NJ; Erie, PA, and Spokane, WA.
USPS expects the layoffs, retirements and closures will save more than $100 million annually.
Other cost-cutting measures taken by the USPS over recent months include, cutting 50 million workhours; stopping construction of new postal facilities; and, reducing Post Office hours to better reflect actual customer use.
“The Postal Service is streamlining operations and improving efficiencies across the board in order to protect its ability to provide affordable, universal mail service,” stated the USPS in its press release. “By modifying networks, consolidating functions and restructuring administrative and processing operations, the Postal Service is adapting to meet the evolving needs, demands and activities of its customers.”
The Postal Service, which reported making a profit as late as the first quarter of 2008, will increase the cost of First-class postage by another 2-cents, from 42- to 44-cents on May 11.
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Also See:
Postal Service: Business or Agency?
Postal Service Turns a Profit in Q1 2008
Postage Increase Coming on May 11
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