(COSBY, Mo.) A year ago, many were up in arms about plans from the Postal Service, but now things are much more quiet.
At the moment, rural post offices are safe, but USPS is still working for profitability.
It says now, it will take an act of congress to continue.
Postal workers stay busy these days, but it could be a lot better.
"The reality is there are far fewer people using our services," says Richard Watkins, spokesperson for the USPS.
The USPS has seen a a nearly 10% increase in package shipments.
However, with increasing uses of social media and email, it's most profitable product, First-Class Mail, is declining.
In a system set up for more than 200 billion pieces of mail a year, it's dealing with less than 170 billion.
It's losing money.
"We simply want to match our workforce, and our facilities, with that declining workload," Watkins says.
Initially, the Postal Service talked about closing some rural post offices.
The town of Cosby, with just 124 residents saw its office on the chopping block, but wouldn't have it.
"This is kind of a focal point where people meet and talk, and I think it's important," says Cosby resident Steve Kurz.
Many other rural towns refused as well.
So the USPS sent out surveys asking for feedback on ideas.
The most popular response was shortening hours of operation.
USPS started last fall.
"So between now and September of 2014, we will have reduced hours at about 13,000 post offices nationwide," says Watkins.
The Postal Service has asked which hours of operation will work best in each community.
In Cosby, the office has begun closing at 4:30 p.m., with mixed reviews.
"I think most people would be thrilled rather than cutting us completely off," Kurz says.
"The majority of these people work in St. Joe or Kansas City, and by the time they get home, this thing is closed," says Patrick Shuman, another Cosby resident.
Reduced hours are helping, but USPS says it's not enough.
After the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act that went into affect in 2007, the USPS has had to make payments for 75 years worth of future employee health benefits within 10 years.
"It's not that we don't want to make those payments, we don't want them to be as large, we want something more reasonable in a longer term that would make more sense, especially given the Postal Service's current finances," Watkins says.
The Postal Service also believes switching to a five day delivery week can save more than $2.7 million dollars a year.
However, not everyone likes that idea either, including Senator Claire McCaskill.
She believes those savings may not be accurate, and has requested additional information from the Postmaster General.
"We don't even know if the move to five-day delivery will save the post office any real money. Many families, businesses, and seniors, especially in rural Missouri, depend on current delivery standards and want to see it preserved," McCaskill says.
The Postal Service hopes legislation can help it find flexibility in the changing world of communication.
At the moment, rural post offices are safe, but USPS is still working for profitability.
It says now, it will take an act of congress to continue.
Postal workers stay busy these days, but it could be a lot better.
"The reality is there are far fewer people using our services," says Richard Watkins, spokesperson for the USPS.
The USPS has seen a a nearly 10% increase in package shipments.
However, with increasing uses of social media and email, it's most profitable product, First-Class Mail, is declining.
In a system set up for more than 200 billion pieces of mail a year, it's dealing with less than 170 billion.
It's losing money.
"We simply want to match our workforce, and our facilities, with that declining workload," Watkins says.
Initially, the Postal Service talked about closing some rural post offices.
The town of Cosby, with just 124 residents saw its office on the chopping block, but wouldn't have it.
"This is kind of a focal point where people meet and talk, and I think it's important," says Cosby resident Steve Kurz.
Many other rural towns refused as well.
So the USPS sent out surveys asking for feedback on ideas.
The most popular response was shortening hours of operation.
USPS started last fall.
"So between now and September of 2014, we will have reduced hours at about 13,000 post offices nationwide," says Watkins.
The Postal Service has asked which hours of operation will work best in each community.
In Cosby, the office has begun closing at 4:30 p.m., with mixed reviews.
"I think most people would be thrilled rather than cutting us completely off," Kurz says.
"The majority of these people work in St. Joe or Kansas City, and by the time they get home, this thing is closed," says Patrick Shuman, another Cosby resident.
Reduced hours are helping, but USPS says it's not enough.
After the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act that went into affect in 2007, the USPS has had to make payments for 75 years worth of future employee health benefits within 10 years.
"It's not that we don't want to make those payments, we don't want them to be as large, we want something more reasonable in a longer term that would make more sense, especially given the Postal Service's current finances," Watkins says.
The Postal Service also believes switching to a five day delivery week can save more than $2.7 million dollars a year.
However, not everyone likes that idea either, including Senator Claire McCaskill.
She believes those savings may not be accurate, and has requested additional information from the Postmaster General.
"We don't even know if the move to five-day delivery will save the post office any real money. Many families, businesses, and seniors, especially in rural Missouri, depend on current delivery standards and want to see it preserved," McCaskill says.
The Postal Service hopes legislation can help it find flexibility in the changing world of communication.
