U.S. Post Office cuts threaten source of black jobs

Reuters ^ | Jan 21, 2013 | Mary Wisniewski

[Lancey Howard]

(Reuters) - While delivering mail on Chicago's North Side, Lakesha Dortch-Hardy spoke about how much she loves her job at the U.S. Postal Service, and how much it would hurt if jobs such as hers were to disappear.

"These jobs are the middle class ..." said Dortch-Hardy, a tall, energetic 38-year-old, who took long strides as she wheeled her cart along a row of two- and three-story brick apartment houses. "Without this job, I don't know where I'd be right now."

The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service has eliminated 168,000 jobs since 2006, and more cuts could result as it struggles to avoid its own "fiscal cliff." As the United States honors Martin Luther King's civil rights legacy on Monday, many African-American workers may be facing new obstacles to achieving and maintaining a middle-class life style.

African-Americans represent 13.1 percent of the U.S. population and 11.6 percent of the labor force, according to a 2012 U.S. Department of Labor report. Nearly one in five African-American workers hold government jobs such as mail clerks, firefighters and teachers, the report said.

"There's a long tradition of the public sector being more friendly, or less hostile, to African-American workers," said Robert Zieger, emeritus professor of history at the University of Florida in Gainesville. "The Post Office is the best example."

[muawiyah]

NOTE: OPM follows this sort of thing closely ~ the average age a federal employee is hired is 35.

That means he's only got 21 years to earn any retirement at all worth having, and no more than 30 years work left anyway, and that's not likely to be in the USPS because those are physically demanding jobs.

That means all those government employees were previously in the private sector for an average of 17 years!

[muawiyah]

I probably ought to sue you for damaging my reputation. I"ve never belonged to a union.

Bet that's not your case though ~ I can see you and your buddies standing in line to pay that union dues and buy a number from the factory wiseguy.

[DH]

Please: NO profanity, NO personal attacks, NO racism or violence in posts.

That’s on the postings box ~ do you think you can forbear from violating the rules for just a day or so.

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No personal attacks?????

Almost every post your have ever responded to becomes a personal attack or some demonstration of your own amazing knowledge of how wonderful you are and how dumb everyone else is.

[muawiyah]

Read your own ‘about’ page someday ~

[muawiyah]

Forgot to note ~ you sound just like a Democrat ~ 'you didn't do that' ~ remember Obama's little meme ~ that's what you're saying.

Of course I know those things, and if you don't, challenge me ~ resorting to an ad hominum attack just because you own an airline (which probably carries mail) is just sooooooo 'bama!

[DH]

Thanks.

I wished everyone would read my page. As a matter of fact the first thing they will see is:

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The only amendment required to return control of our government back to the people.

Amendment XXVIII (28th.)

The government of the people, and by the people, shall not write or allow any law, directive, or regulation that shall cause, or require , any citizen or entity to purchase or utilize the products, methods, or services of any entity or individual.

D.C.H 1998

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That’s freedom!

[muawiyah]

Frankly I’d thought it ought to be ‘you kids, get off my lawn’

[DH]

I’m that kind of guy too.

[1010RD]

GOP: How about some educatinal vouchers for your kids, pro-marriage welfare policies, self-defense permits and free trade zones?
Rats: uhhhhhhhhh?