POSTAL PREDICAMENT

This graphic was originally published online on Sept. 25, 2020

With United States Postal Service’s ongoing turmoil, see details of its history, new changes

RILEY TERBUSH GRAPHIC NPR, UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE, WALL STREET JOURNALSOURCES

THE USPS

The United States Postal Service is the default mail service in the US that exclusively delivers stamped mail. Currently, the postal service is in financial decline, and it is facing big changes under new leadership right as an influx of mail-in ballots is on the way.

HISTORY OF THE USPS

See evolution of the United States Postal Service from a federal agency into a business-like entity

The logo seen on postal trucks comes from the postal service’s eagle logo, which was adopted in 1970. The USPS is overwhelmed with mail and, as federal employees, workers are unable to strike in protest of low wages. 1960s Despite federal employment policy, USPS workers go on strike.

1970

NEW TERMS

Must deliver mail to every address in the country Needs permission to change prices, offer new services or close a post office Must deliver mail six days a week In response to the postal workers’ protests, President Nixon passes the Postal Reorganization Act, giving the workers raises and the right to collective bargaining, making the post office a business-like entity.

1970

REORGANIZATION

Learn about new operating units DeJoy created

NEW OPERATING UNITS

RETAIL AND DELIVERY Goal: to accept and deliver packages Led by Kristin Seaver

LOGISTICS AND PROCESSING Goal: to process mail and packages and take them to the delivery units With new head David Williams

COMMERCE AND BUSINESS Goal: Leverage infrastructure to enable growth Led by Jacqueline Krage Strako, former executive vice president and chief customer and marketing officer

NEW TERMS

Can determine own packaging rates Rate increases for first-class mail cannot exceed inflation Must prepay employees’ retirement health benefits

Congress passes more postal reforms with a requirement to prepay health benefits shared by no other government agency. This policy would cost the already financially unstable postal service $5 billion a year. 2006 The rise of e-mail steals business from the postal service, and first-class mail reaches 103 billion deliveries before setting on a steady downhill trend. The U.S. Government Accountability Office labels the USPS as high-risk. The post office lost $1.7 billion this year.

BY THE NUMBERS 125 sorting machines dismantled in 2018

186

machines dismantled in 2019

671

dismantled in 2020

WALL STREET JOURNALSOURCE

NEW CHANGES

See how DeJoy’s new policy changes are impacting the postal service, how they might impact mail-in voting

DeJoy’s main goal with the postal service is to pull it into financial recovery by moving resources away

from letters and toward packages.

DeJoy has fired and rearranged many executives in the postal service hierarchy. DeJoy ordered that hundreds of mail sorting machines be dismantled, far more than the usual yearly trend, a measure that has since been halted*.

DeJoy cut back overtime*, meaning postal workers cannot work extra hours to deliver mail, and therefore delays are more common.

*Judge Victor Marrero ruled that the Postal Service must prioritize all election mail as first-class, and focus on on-time delivery measures for the election. The ruling also demanded the USPS reverse new changes that slow delivery.

The postal service stops paying the workers’ health benefit advance. Owing $161 billion dollars in liabilities, they cannot declare bankruptcy, as they are

not considered a company in that regard. 2011

2001

President Trump appoints

Louis DeJoyas the Postmaster

General following the retirement of Megan J. Brennan, the 74th

Postmaster General.