Postal Service needs to make painful changes

The following editorial appeared in the (Bloomington) Pantagraph on Jan. 11:

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(MCT) — The U.S. Postal Service has to streamline its operations to function effectively, efficiently and economically in a changing communications environment.

Unfortunately, that is going to mean consolidating and closing facilities, including eight rural post offices in The Pantagraph area and hundreds of mail processing facilities nationwide. The expected closing of the Bloomington processing and distribution facility will be a blow to the community. The Postal Service estimates there will be a net decrease of about 72 positions by moving mail processing operations from Bloomington to Champaign and Peoria — but it’s likely 147 jobs will leave Bloomington.

However, it would be hypocritical — and counterproductive — to call for changes, then say, “Not in my backyard.”

Ideally, Bloomington could take over the functions of Champaign and/or Peoria, but officials say that would require equipment upgrades for which money is not available.

According to a draft feasibility study, more than $2.3 million in annual savings will result from closing the Bloomington facility.

But there will be “costs,” too, in addition to lost jobs. There may be changes in pick-up times at local mailboxes and a move to 2- or 3-day service, rather than next-day delivery.

That could contribute to a vicious circle in which diminished service leads more people to opt for alternatives, such as email, that results in more revenue loss that results in more service cutbacks.

The Post Service’s competitors in overnight and package delivery areas, such as FedEx, maintain a focus on customer service and making things as easy as possible for their customers — especially businesses. The Postal Service needs to put increased attention on customer service — including intangibles that don’t cost money, such as greeting people with a helpful attitude. Of course, the quasi-governmental Postal Service faces challenges private delivery companies don’t — such as universal delivery of first-class mail to sparsely populated areas across the country at the same price as mail sent within more urban areas.

One of the matters contributing to immediate economic problems is a requirement enacted by Congress in 2006 that the Postal Service pay $5.5 billion annually for the next 10 years to cover future retiree health benefits.