University of Virginia Library

Competition Cures Complacency

Commentary

Underemployment was on everyone's
minds, despite Mr. Del Grosso's assurances
that it was not a problem. Cutting back on
employees has led to reduced service and has
placed more of a burden on those employees
that remain.

There are two ways of looking at the
Postal Service's dilemma. On the one hand, it
is vital to save money; on the other, nothing
should block efforts to provide better service.

Mr. Del Grosso's defense of the Postal
Service is unsatisfactory. Incidents like the
one in West Virginia of employees throwing
mail away and losing whole mailbags are not
"unexplainable," as he claimed: Regardless of
whether the fault lies with the local officials
or with the Washington bureaucrats, the
Postal Service is responsible. Even if this is an
isolated incident, such instances are piling up
and can only lead to one thing: a massive loss
of confidence in the Postal Service.

People are skeptical of Postal Service plans
and promises simply because of such past
failures. Too often, plans and promises have
not been kept. Now the burden of proof in
the system's effectiveness rests on the Postal
Service. With their past record, they should
no longer be able to rely on being a
government monopoly.

Incentive is needed to streamline the
methods used to circulate mail, and its source
may lie in competition. Until now, there has
only been serious competition in the area of
parcel post, and that threat alone has forced
the Postal Service to carry out plans for a
separate bulk mail network. Hopefully, this
network will speed delivery of second and
third class mail.

Competition in all other areas of mail
delivery would also be beneficial. It would
force the Postal Service to become more
efficient, because people will quickly turn
to any organization offering the best service
at the lowest price. With open competition,
cost-reducing methods would have to be
found, conceivably leading to better service,
or the Postal Service would fade into a
deserved oblivion.

As Charlottesville mail teller W. C. Broyles
said, there appears to be a lack of desire on
the part of employees. They must once again
be proud of their work in order to rebuild an
effective Postal Service. Good service would
carry a byproduct of employee pride and
morale.

However, today there is only one
comprehensive mail delivery service in the
United States. The Postal Service may be
suffering from an extreme case of
complacency, but each day brings more
complaints over their performance.

Mr. Del Grosso is only one of many Postal
Service executives who are setting specific
service standards, plans and promises on the
table. They pledge better service. Time will
tell whether or not they can be
believed.