Dear Editor,

The U. S. Postal Service is changing. Much like every other corporation in America, we’ve been hit hard by the current economic recession, which has cut mail volume and revenue as never before.

As a government agency that does not receive tax subsidies and is not on the list for a bailout, the Postal Service has responded by cutting $6 billion from its operating budget during fiscal year 2009.

This has been accomplished by cutting more than 100 million work hours, closing six district administrative offices, adjusting carrier routes to reflect mail volume, instituting a nationwide hiring freeze, and selling unused and under-utilized postal facilities, while improving independently measured customer approval and service performance scores to their highest levels ever.

Unlike most companies, and alone among all federal agencies, the Postal Service faces unique financial obligations — strains and constraints that would have a devastating and insurmountable impact if the Postal Service hadn’t begun taking costs out of the system and embracing technology 10 years ago.

Below are some current facts that show how we’re changing to become a more efficient organization than ever:

• 797,795 Number of employees in 1999

• 636,211 Number of employees in 2009

• 38,169 Number of Post Offices in 1999

• 36,723 Number of Post Offices in 2009

• 446 Number of mail processing and delivery plants in 1999

• 355 Number of mail processing and delivery plants in 2009

• 70 Number of employees it took to manually process 35,000 letters in one hour in 1999

• 2 Number of employees it takes to process 35,000 letters in one hour using full automation in 2009

• 202 Mail volume in billions in 1999

• 175 Mail volume in billions in 2009 — projected figure

• 134 million Number of delivery points in 1999

• 150 million Number of delivery points in 2009 — projected figure

• 5.4 billion In dollars, the amount the Postal Service pays annually to prefund retiree health benefits

• 0 In dollars, the amount, collectively, all other federal agencies are required to pay to prefund retiree health benefits

USPS is successfully adapting to the needs of the nation it serves, and is determined to stay fiscally viable and customer oriented for the future.

Sincerely,

John R. Lee

Postmaster

Prosperity