Hey, The President Gets It

Postal Management - Uh, Not So Much

In the recently released federal budget for 2011, the Obama Administration expresses strong support for the Postal Service.  On page 1313, under federal funds for the Postal Service it is stated:...That 6-day delivery and rural delivery of mail shall continue at not less than the 1983 level.  Then, on page 1314 it says:...the Postal Service faces a serious financial crisis due to unprecedented reductions in mail volume.  These reductions, in turn, reflect greater reliance on the Internet (a.k.a., "electronic diversion") and the effects of the business cycle, including cost-cutting by businesses and consumers during the recession.  The Administration will work with the Postal Service, its employee unions, the Congress, and other stakeholders to make sure the Postal Service has the tools and authorities it needs to remain viable as a pillar of the American economy and a vital public resource through the current crisis and over the long haul....

On February 1st, during an interview posted on YouTube, President Obama said that privatization of the USPS would be a "bad idea".  Regarding the Postal Service, he said, "everybody would love to have that high-end part of the business", such as business-to-business delivery.  but private companies would not want responsibility for the other services that the Postal Service provides, such as delivering a postcard to a remote area.  The USPS provides universal service, the president said, while private companies would not.

Sounds to us like President Obama "gets it" about providing universal service to all Americans.

Now, we look at postal management, who despite having one EAS level person for every eight craft employees, is now soliciting on-line applications for entry level supervisors.  Even after the employee complement has been reduced by almost 150,000 in the last two years, they think more management is needed! 

They continue to campaign for five-day delivery, mail processing consolidation, and the closing of hundreds of station/branches.  They understaff retail sales associate positions so that long lines develop in customer service.  They do nothing to improve service, which is our most important product.

That proves to us that they certainly don't get it.  Does anyone think there will ever be an investigation into HOW the Postal Service is run?

10,000+ VISITS!

The OPWU Web Site reached a milestone today when we went over 10,000 visits.  This was done in just a little more than one year and we are very proud of this accomplishment.  THANK-YOU for using this site and the resources offered.  We will continue to upgrade it and try to provide the most important & reliable informantion on postal/union issues.  If you have any ideas on resources that should be added, please contact us through this site.

BOYCOTT!!!

Wendy's/Arby's

The Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc. is trying to break the union that represents bakers at the New Bakery in Zanesville, Ohio.  They have decided to implement changes in wages, benefits and working conditions without reaching a contract agreement with Local 57.  The union has filed unfair labor practice charges with the National Labor Relations Board.

Local 57 has charged the plant manager with imtimidating workers through surveillance of union activity and trying to bargain directly with individual employees, bypassing the union.

The Ohio AFL-CIO is requesting that all 700,000+ union members boycott Wendy's and Arby's until Local 57  reports that the company has satisfied the issues and concerns of the union.

The OPWU has sent a formal letter of protest to Roland C. Smith, President & CEO of Wendy's/Arby's Group Inc., 1155 Perimeter Center West, Atlanta, GA 30338.

New OIG Study Reveals

USPS Overcharged $75 Billion

A study released this week by the USPS Office of Inspector General shows that the current system of funding the Postal Service's Civil Service Retirement System pension responsibility is INEQUITABLE and has resulted in the Postal Service OVERPAYING $75 Billion to the pension fund.  Further, the OIG estimates that if the overcharge was used to prepay the Postal Service's health benefits fund, it would FULLY meet all of the USPS's accrued retiree health care liabilities and ELIMINATE the need for the required annual payments of more than $5 billion.  Also, the health benefits fund could immediately start meeting its intended purpose - paying the annual payment for current retirees, which was $2 billion in 2009.

This is the 3rd time the Postal Service has been overcharged!  In 2002 it was determined the USPS would overfund CSRS by $78 billion.  Legislation in 2003 corrected this overfunding.  Then, it was determined the Postal Service was overcharged $27 billion for CSRS military service credits.  In 2006 these funds were returned to the Postal Service by Congress, and the surplus was used to fund retiree health care liabilities.

Someone help us here - just who is in charge of determining how much the USPS is supposed to contribute to the retirement system?  Certainly they don't know what they are doing.  With the USPS near bankruptcy you would think Congress would demand a proper financial accounting of everything involving the Postal Service.  HOW MUCH BETTER WOULD FINANCES LOOK IF THIS OVERCHARGE HAD NOT HAPPENED? 

Other OIG News

The Office of Inspector General is currently running a survey on their web site to determine what area (if improved) would have the biggest impact on improving the Postal Service's workplace environment.  The areas included are: 1. career opportunities  2. communication  3. compensation & benefits  4. employee morale, recognition, and feedback  5. senior leadership  6. work/life balance  7. fairness and respect  8. none of the above.

Guess which two areas currently lead in the survey?

7. Fairness and respect - 39%

4. Employee morale, recognition, and feedback - 25%

None of the others are even close.  Funny huh - the two most management abused areas are the ones that employees say would  the have the biggest impact on improving the USPS's workplace environment. 

Geez, who would have thought that?

Lima Fighting

Mail Processing Consolidation

The Area Mail Processing plan currently being considered by the USPS includes moving Lima's mail to Toledo to be processed.  On January 6, 2010 a community meeting was held at Lima Senior High School in order to provide public comment on the proposed consolidation.

The school's auditorium was filled to standing-room only.  Hundreds of people came out to voice their opposition to the Postal Service's plan.  Elected officials, Chamber of Commerce, Lima City Council, union representatives and postal patrons all wanted the opportunity to tell Cincinnati District Manager, Chu Falling Star, why consolidation is a very bad idea.

Ms. Falling Star emphasized two points during her  presentation:

1.  This proposal would result in a savings of $1.4 million.

2.  On January 4, 2010 the Lima plant processed ONLY 116,000 pieces of mail leaving the electronic processing machines with 22 1/2 hours of down time.

There are serious problems with her positions.  First, how can they know what they will save if they don't have any idea about extra transportation costs?  To process the mail in Toledo would require 160 miles a day extra in transportation - a significant expense wouldn't you say?

Next, the processing machines were never designed to operate 24/7.  They require hours a day for cleaning and other preventive maintenance.  Also, the first day after a holiday is a traditionally low volume mail day.  Why not use the average daily mail volume to validate your position?

The employees, citizens, and elected officials are all trying to stop this consolidation.  13,000 signatures have been collected on petitions and news coverage has been very favorable. 

For more information on the proposed consolidation please visit www.458postaltaskforce.com.