Hi folks,
Some info regarding the Postal Service, since everyone is concerned about the
rate increase, and blaming employees because they get a decent wage.
You may not realize it yet, but new growth in cities is being handled by the
USPS contracting out delivery to bidders, who must hire their own employees to
cover if they need a day off. The NALC and USPS could not reach a contract
agreement because USPS would not agree not to contract out routes currently
delivered by Career employees.
Also, if you go into any smaller Post Office, especially in a rural area, you
are taken care of by a PMR {Postmaster Replacement}. These employees start at a
very low wage, have no benefits of any kind, no union representation, have no
sure hours except a few on Saturday, but must be available at all times in case
they are needed. The push now is to keep cutting back hours in small offices
until they can say keeping a carrer clerk is not justified and they can force
the clerk out {called excessing} and get a PMR. It took over 8 months for our
local Post Office to hire a PMR. They kept starting the hiring process, only to
discover that the applicants had lied on their applications about felony
convictions. Finally they hired one who stayed a few months. Then they had to
start all over again.
So, those complaining about the wages and benefits of Postal employees are
getting your wish.
Whereas for years your Mail has been handled by employees dedicated to a
lifelong career which enabled them to earn a decent living for their families,
pay for needed medical treatment, and look forward to someday being able to
retire {if they don't die young from the stress!}, it will now be handled by
employees earning a very low wage, with no benefits whatsoever, and no hope of
every having any type of retirement, and so have nothing to lose.
You are getting your way, I'm sure as a consumer you will benefit tremendously!
Here is some more info on the current rate change for any interested:
Q. Why are prices going up?P
A. The cost for the Postal Service to operate, like any other business,
continues to rise. The Postal Service receives no tax dollars for operations
and relies soley on the sale of its products and services to cover all
operating costs. This is the first increase to cover operational expenses since
2002.P
Q. Didn't the prices go up last year?P
A. The January 2006 increase was implemented soley to fund a $3.1 billion
escrow account created by a 2003 federal law. Under a new Postal Law, this
escrow account has been transformed into a new fund called the Postal Service
Retiree health Benefits Trust Fund, to be used to fund retiree health
benefits.P
Q. What are some of these increasing operational costs that made this price
increase necessary?P
A. As one of the nation's largest transportation and delivery organizations,
the Postal Service is extremely sensitive to rising energy costs. It operates a
fleet of more than 260,000 delivery vehicles, supported by air transportation
contracts, more than 17,000 long-haul surface transportation contracts and a
network of more than 37,000 fascilities. Also, like other businesses, the
Postal Service has experienced significant growth in health benefit payments
for its nearly 700,000 career employees.P
Q. How does the history of stamp prices compare to the rate of inflation?P
A. Since the Postal Service became an independent federal agency in the early
1970's, the price of a First-Class stamp has risen at or slightly below the
rate of inflation. This year's increase will only cost the average household $4
a year {or 33 cents a month}. This is a small price to pay to have a carrier
visit every home and business in America six days a week.P
The Postal Service does not set its own prices. The Postal Reorganization Act
of 1970 shifted ratemaking authority from congress to two Presidentially
appointed bodies: the Postal Service Governors {nine Governors appointed bu the
President with advice and consent of the US Senate} and the Postal rate
Commission, now the Postal Regulatory Commission.P
From the time USPS files a rate case, the PRC has 10 months to conduct
in-depth heatring before it makes a recommended decision to its Governors, who
act on the recommendations. The Governors may order new prices into effect as
recommended, or in some cases modify the recommendation, if necessary, to
reflect appropriate revenue requirements. Typically, the entire process of
changing prices takes about a year and a half.
73, Duane, WV2B
The reward of a thing well done is to have done it.-
Ralph Waldo Emerson
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