As Michiganders mail their Christmas cards and gifts, postal union members warn proposed changes could slow mail delivery.
The plan to cut costs in the Postal Service includes ending evening pickups in remote regions, holding some mail overnight before processing, and reducing transportation frequency, potentially causing widespread delays – especially in rural communities.
Michael Mize leads the Michigan Postal Service Union. He argues that there is a shift taking place within the Postal Service that’s not in the best interest of the people it serves.
“The problem is, in my opinion, we’re trying to make this a business where we can show a profit,” Mize said. “That is not what the Postal Service has ever been about. It’s about service to the American people.”
The Postal Service reported a net loss of $9.5 billion for the end of fiscal year 2024 in September. That was $3 billion more than the previous year.
To address financial challenges, the Postal Service also consolidated operations as part of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s 2021 “Delivering for America” plan, which aims to stabilize the finances.
