As a retiree from the U.S. Postal Service, from 1965 to 1992, I saw the number of employees in my office drop from about 63 to about 43. Since my early retirement (offered with incentives), the number has continued to drop. So, what does that do to our economy, and how can the USPS right the ship? All else has failed. Blame it on whatever you want, but one thing for sure is we need the Postal Service so let’s all put our heads together on how to fix it.
I think one solution would be to join the electronic age. People aren’t using the mail anywhere as much as in history due to electronic bill paying options like email and texting. Many institutions are even allowing electronic bill paying over the phone. If the USPS offered faxing and other electronic services, it just might get them out of the red. They could offer electronic bill paying even for people without a checking account by selling electronic money orders.
To compete, the USPS needs to modernize the delivery of mail. They need to install cluster boxes in all neighborhoods instead of delivery to the houses. In one area where I once delivered, the mail was delivered to boxes in the alley. I thought that was very efficient because it served two streets with fewer steps. Wherever possible, cluster boxes should be installed. To receive your mail at the house, you would pay a premium. Many people don’t like the idea of going out of their house for the mail, but something needs to be done to save our Postal Service.
— Carl F. Rollberg, Calumet Park
