Machines that sort the letters. LSMs are dinosaurs and no longer in use.

LSM: Letter Sorting Machine?

The reason it isn't until Aug 5 is that they need time to re-schedule mail sorting operations, re-schedule carriers, reschedule clerks who sort the mail, and, maintenance employees who work on the mail sorting machines - and they still have to deal with each of those positions' craft unions. There's more behind the scene than the average joe could imagine. AND - for the Last Time - the USPS receives NO Tax dollars to operate - but yet the gov't tells them how to run their business.

We have the best postal system in the world, and you still find things to complain about. One of the least expensive and most efficient in the world. I was a Letter Carrier for 4 1/2 years in the late 70's. Dont know if things have changed that much; but there was a swing man for every 5 routes. And you have subs; that's what I did the first 2 years. Needed for when someone called in sick, or took vacation time. Butch is right; some of you spout off about things you know absolutely nothing about. As for mail, all my bills come in the mail, as do many others. Not everyone is tech savvy like some of us, and don't do everything online. Our Letter Carriers do a great job. You've no idea the crap they have to put up with. Your dogs, the weather, and every route has the "complainer" on it. "You don't come at the same time every day, where's my such and such from so and so". Some days the carrier will get a couple of trays, some days they'll get 4 or 5. Cut 'em some slack, they deserve it.

I guess we are going to beat this irrelevant dog until August. Some big news. Yeah, I am with bat102...why wait. I used to work for the state and it always amazes me, still does, that something MUST CHANGE, but hey it will take us a year to do it....DUH

Why wait till August start this comming Satuardy,I think the delivery people will like now that will weekends off,I know some will work the other days bit that is where you are on the toten pole.

the government needs to get it's mitts off the USPS and let it run itself, set it's own hours, wages, prices, etc - let it sink or swim on it's own. TOO much of a tax burden. I'd be ok with once-a-week delivery. I only send maybe a handful of letters out-bound in a year. All usually get is junkmail and spam.

ey need to cut out Wednesday delivery. That way full time carriers would be off one day during the week and one on weekends. They can get their errands run on Wednesday at government offices and eliminate the need for so many part time carriers.

Not a bad idea at all