To the editor:

On March 21, a letter from local National Association of Letter Carriers President Andy Tuttle was published in opposition to the six-day package/five-day mail delivery announcement by Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe. I’d like to respond to some of the claims made.

As consumers replace letters and cards with online bill-paying, tax-filing, and socializing, first-class mail volumes continue to decline exponentially. Taking no action or maintaining the status quo is not a viable solution.

The Postal Service developed the new delivery schedule (six days for packages, five days for mail) by working with customers to understand their delivery needs and by identifying creative ways to generate significant cost savings. This new delivery schedule reflects the strong growth of our package business and responds to the financial realities resulting from America’s changing mailing habits.

Prescription medications will still be delivered six days a week, post offices will continue to be open on Saturday, and mail will still be delivered six days a week to post office boxes.

News surveys around the nation as well as those conducted by the Postal Service consistently show 70 to 80 percent of Americans – including those living in rural areas – support the new delivery schedule.

The Postal Service is simply taking a responsible and reasonable step toward returning the organization to financial stability. The American public values the mail it receives but as survey research clearly illustrates, they are willing to adjust to a new delivery schedule to help strengthen the financial footing of the Postal Service.