Postmaster General Begins National Dialogue

Future of the Postal Service to Reflect a Changing America

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service of the future will remain relevant, meet the changing needs of the people it serves and reflect the demands of the marketplace, Postmaster General John Potter said in a speech at The National Press Club today.

“I want to establish a public dialogue about the future of the Postal Service, not as it existed yesterday, nor as it exists today, but as it evolves and changes for tomorrow,” said Potter. The Postmaster General said he is looking at the long-term future, “seven, 10, and 15 years from now.”

Potter underscored that the public policy dialogue he is proposing is not about the needs or preferences of postal management.

“This is about determining the role for the Postal Service so that is has a relevant and viable place in the fabric of our nation, decades into the future,” he said.

Acknowledging that the Postal Service has seen steep mail volume declines in the past two years because of the recession, electronic diversion by the internet, and changing customer needs, Potter asked the multi-billion dollar mailing industry to join him and come to the table without preconceptions, except one - “the Postal Service has to offer affordable, universal service for the nation.”

He noted, “If we don’t take advantage of the opportunity in front of us today, we will do America a disservice. The status quo simply won’t do.”

During his remarks, Potter stressed that delivery performance on First-Class letter mail remains at near record levels. He also noted that operations management “reacted aggressively and intelligently” to 2009’s mail volume decline. All management actions in the fiscal year that ended September 30 reduced expenses by $6 billion, he said.

Career employees were reduced by 40,000 positions in 2009. Since 2001, the number of career employees has declined by 20 per cent, Potter said.

A career employee who has served as Postmaster General since 2001, Potter said the Postal Service has faced challenges throughout its history and has adapted and evolved to meet customer and marketplace needs.

“The Post Office has been reinventing itself for nearly its entire existence,” said Potter, who has the longest tenure of any postmaster general in modern times. “The challenges have been many. In each case a public policy dialogue led to progressive changes that carried this organization forward.”

Although postal finances for 2009 are still being audited, Potter said recent legislation passed and signed by the President provides USPS with much needed 2009 financial assistance and is much appreciated. While Congressional action will be needed again in 2010, Potter said that, ultimately, a long-term solution is needed and that as Postmaster General he will balance the needs of the future with the needs of the people he serves.

The partnership with the legislative branch and all stakeholders needs to continue, he said, as delivery frequency, the types of products available in retail lobbies, and other changes to the Postal Service’s infrastructure are considered.

“I want to do what’s right for America,” Potter said. “That is my sole motivation.”

Potter’s prepared remarks can be downloaded from the Postal Service online newsroom at www.usps.com/news.