W.Va. Post Offices Trim Hours to Save Money

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W.Va. Post Offices Trim Hours to Save Money

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Posted: 10:40 PM Oct 9, 2008
Last Updated: 10:40 PM Oct 9, 2008
Reporter: Associated Press
Email Address: news@wsaz.com

11 comments

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CHARLESTON, W.Va. (AP) - The United States Postal Service has reduced operating hours at more than a fourth of West Virginia post offices and more cutbacks are expected.

Postal service spokesman David Walton says 124 post offices across the state are closing or opening 30 minutes later; another 55 are closing for lunch or closer later in the day for lunch.

Walton cited high fuel prices and declining mail volumes for the changes.

He says every post office in West Virginia is being examined to determine whether more changes are needed.

With 220,000 vehicles, Walton says a one-cent increase in a gallon of gas costs the postal service $8 million a year.

During the third quarters of the past two fiscal years, post offices also processed 5.5 billion fewer pieces of mail.

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Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.

Posted by: Jerry on Oct 10, 2008 at 05:20 PM
It seems that whenever a story about the financial problems of the USPS are told its always about lower mail volume,higher gas prices and employee wages.The fact that the USPS has to pre-pay retiree health benifits under the new law to a tune of 5 BILLION dollars a year is not told.The USPS is the ONLY government agency required to make this payment,without this payment the USPS would have posted profits during the last few years since the new Postal Accountability Act was enacted into law.Please tell the whole story about the USPS financial situation.Anything less is a dis-service to the USPS and its employees.

Posted by: RoaneCo. on Oct 10, 2008 at 01:11 PM
I bet this won't be the last time we read about the Postal Service. Next up layoffs and closures. Bush and his pals have broken a lot a records in the last eight years haven't they! The sad part of it is there is people out there that want McBush in office to do more of the same.

Posted by: mary on Oct 10, 2008 at 12:35 PM
It doesn't matter to me if they cut their hours. What does matter is that every post office I have been to between Huntington and Charleston has removed their postage machines. For people who cannot get there during business hours, what are we supposed to do?

Posted by: Postal patron on Oct 10, 2008 at 11:34 AM
So, the recent 70 cent decrease in gas has saved the postal service $560 million?

Posted by: Kathy on Oct 10, 2008 at 09:04 AM
Hmmm, maybe if the postal service hadn't received all those "HIKES" in rates every time we've turned around for YEARS, they would have the money now to stay open normal hours AND to provide better service! Just a thought!

Posted by: Pablo on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:42 AM
Post Offices cutting back? Is there nothing in our lives that hasn't been affected by Bush/Cheney? How can these two, along with their sidekicks such as Shelley Moore Capito cause so much damage from the economic happy days of a few short years ago? Getting Bush/Cheney out of office isn't enough. We must send Capito packing. Retire Capito. Put her to pasture and lets get our state and country on the right track. Anne Barth is the best choice or congress.

Posted by: SALLY on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:19 AM
I CAN AGREE THAT BUDGETS NEED TO BE CUT, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE WORKING PEOPLE WHO ARE AT WORK FROM 8-5 EVERY DAY. COULD SOME PROVISIONS NOT BE MADE TO ACCOMODATE THE NEEDS OF THE WORKING CLASS ALSO? PERHAPS STAYING OPEN UNTIL 5:30 ON WEDNESDAYS OR SOME OTHER WAY OF ALTERNATING HOURS?

Posted by: Joe on Oct 10, 2008 at 08:04 AM
Are they cutting the hours of the employees? Are they laying off employees? This story is kind of Vague.

Posted by: cob on Oct 10, 2008 at 03:34 AM
Well great. What's the new hours? 8am to 11am?

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