United States Government Publishing Office publisher pbl distributor dst United States Government Accountability Office General Government Division author aut Government Organization text government publication eng GAOREPORTS Legislative Agency Publications gao legislative 2010-08-12 U.S. Government Printing Office 1997-04-24 monographic deposited born digital 16 p. GA 1.13:T-GGD-97-88 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-97-88 P0b002ee1803a44d1 f:gg97088t DGPO 2010-08-12 2011-03-24 GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-97-88 machine generated eng fdlp REPORT GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-97-88 T-GGD-97-88 Mail delivery problems Privatization Profits Competition Internal controls Customer service Postal rates Labor-management relations Mail transportation operations Postal service USPS Express Mail Corporate Account USPS Express Mail Program USPS National Bulk Mail System USPS National Change of Address Program USPS Capital Investment Plan Testimony GGD GAO discussed: (1) the performance of the Postal Service (USPS) and the need for improving internal controls and protecting revenue in an organization that takes in and spends billions of dollars each year; (2) key reform and oversight issues that continue to challenge USPS and Congress as they consider how U.S. mail service will be provided in the future; and (3) its ongoing work relating to labor-management relations at USPS and other issues.<p/>GAO noted that: (1) USPS reported that fiscal year (FY) 1996 represented the second year in a row that its financial performance was profitable and operational performance improved; (2) USPS's 1996 net income was $1.6 billion and it delivered 91 percent of overnight mail on time; (3) additionally, for FY 1996, USPS's volume exceeded 182 billion pieces of mail and generated more than $56 billion in revenue; (4) while these results are encouraging, other performance data suggest that some areas warrant closer scrutiny; (5) last year's delivery of 2-day and 3-day mail, at 80 and 83 percent respectively, did not score as high as overnight delivery; (6) the concern among customers is that USPS's emphasis on overnight delivery is at the expense of 2-day and 3-day mail; (7) additionally, although its mail volume continues to grow, USPS is concerned that customers increasingly are turning to its competitors or alternative communications methods; (8) in 1996, mail volume increased by about one-half of USPS's anticipated increase in volume; (9) containing costs is another key challenge that GAO has reported on previously; (10) GAO has also found several weaknesses in USPS's internal controls that contributed to increased costs; (11) USPS's continued success in both financial and operational performance will depend heavily on controlling operating costs, strengthening internal controls, and ensuring the integrity of its services; (12) the prospect that pending postal legislation may place USPS in a more competitive arena with its private sector counterparts has prompted congressional consideration of some key reform issues; (13) these issues include how proposed changes to the Private Express statutes may affect universal mail service, postal revenues, and rates; (14) another reform issue is the future role of USPS in an increasingly competitive, constantly changing communications market; (15) congressional oversight remains a key tool for improving the organizational performance of USPS; (16) one of the most important areas for oversight is labor-management relations, (17) despite the initiatives that have been established to address them, the long-standing labor-management relations problems GAO identified in 1994 remain unresolved; (18) the Government Performance and Results Act provides an important avenue for stakeholders in reaching a consensus for addressing such problems; and (19) also, USPS's automation efforts * https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-97-88/html/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-97-88.htm https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-97-88/pdf/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-97-88.pdf GAO/T-GGD-97-88 https://www.govinfo.gov/app/details/GAOREPORTS-T-GGD-97-88 Testimony GAO/T-GGD-97-88; U.S. Postal Service: Continued Challenges to Maintaining Improved Performance; Mail delivery problems Privatization Profits Competition Internal controls Customer service Postal rates Labor-management relations Mail transportation operations Postal service USPS Express Mail Corporate Account USPS Express Mail Program USPS National Bulk Mail System USPS National Change of Address Program USPS Capital Investment Plan