Rural post offices won't close, but hours will be cut

[Roland99]

Source: CNN

The U.S. Postal Service is backing off a previous plan to close thousands of post offices, and will instead cut hours at 13,000 rural facilities in an effort to save $500 million a year.

In response to a backlash against massive closures, the Postal Service said Wednesday it will cut hours at the targeted post offices, which would remain open between two hours and six hours a day.

In addition, the agency plans to force thousands of employees to shift to part-time hours from their current full-time positions.

...

The Post Office plans to allow rural communities to choose whether their local post office will remain open with shorter hours, become a "village post office" that's operated through a private company, or close altogether.

Read more: http://money.cnn.com/2012/05/09/news/economy/postal_service/index.htm

[jwirr]

1. I am glad the offices will stay open and I can get along without Saturday deliveries. I usually

forget to look in the mail box anyhow on Saturdays.

[Lasher]

2. Bullshit.

There were four post offices in my rural area. Two of them have been shut down already and a third one will close soon.

We had a token meeting with a post office representative before the first one closed, but he admitted that the decision had already been made - and nothing we could say or do would make any difference. We were not given any of the choices mentioned in the article.

But lookee here, the neoliberals never quit. Now we're going to get privatized post offices.

[They_Live]

3. This is going to nagatively impact

businesses everywhere. And if Saturday is eliminated, it will be even worse.

oops- reply was to OP not Lasher.

[meti57b]

4. How do we "backlash against massive closures"?? I would like to join the backlash.

I suppose it takes both Senate and House to get rid of that "pre-funding" of retirement benefits.

[Tx4obama]

5. Kick. n/t

[LiberalFighter]

6. Reducing hours is a much more reasonable action then closing.

During the major holidays the hours should be increased.

[Marthe48]

7. I'm glad to hear this news

maybe a beginning to reversing the bias toward the almighty bottom line