Posted on 08/11/2011 3:05:42 PM PDT by Berlin_Freeper
In an attempt to stem its financial hemorrhaging, the U.S. Postal Service is seeking to reduce its workforce by 20 percent, including through layoffs now prohibited by union contracts. USPS also wants to withdraw its employees from the health and retirement plans that cover federal staffers and create its own benefit programs for postal employees.
This major restructuring of the Postal Service’s relationship with its workforce would need congressional approval and would face fierce opposition from postal unions. But if approved, eliminating contract provisions that prevent layoffs and quitting the federal employee health and retirement programs could have ramifications for workers across the government and throughout the national’s labor movement.
(Excerpt) Read more at washingtonpost.com ...
Now is the time!
There are a lot of post office branches that could be closed and returned to the tax rolls. Would business really be hurt if postal service was reduced to 3 days a week? I doubt it. The private sector could pick up any priority mail.
If USPS runs into too much resistance, I’d like to remind them there is 9.2% (as if that were the real figure) of our workforce out of work today. I’m not convinced they’d demand what the unions are.
Steady work at a decent wage, with moderate benefits would be fine. And they would agree to set up their own retirement plans too.
The list, ping
Let me know if you would like to be on or off the ping list
I’m sure the unemployment rate will go down to 8.3% after this happens.
When they abandon them, and the leases run out, the value of the buildings will be dramatically reduced and the property tax rates will be adjusted appropriately.
So much for "returning them to the tax rolls".
BTW, my number "28,000" is much better than the USPS number of "3,500" because it was done with an eye only to operational needs ~ not political expediency!
I would think that IF it saved a whole heck of a lot of money, going to 4 days a week would be acceptable, as long as it comes along with less pay and fewer workers, which with govt isn’t always the case...
I know a retired postman who tells me that he and his retired postman wife both collect their pensions and get something close to 100K/year plus full medical benefits. For the rest of their lives.
*sigh*
Most of the closed postal facilities here in Dallas and surrounding smaller communities have been redeveloped pretty damn quickly. Usually into retail, thus BOOSTING the tax rolls.
With all due respect, why not repeal the private express statutes and allow the marketplace to decide the type, frequency and quality of mail service?
A Christmas job or summer job with the Post Office was coveted by my young friends in the 50s & 60s, it always paid far more that other ‘short time’ jobs. It does today with many perks...it wasn’t too long ago that the US Post Office ‘cleaned’ up their arrogant act and required their workers to be polite and kind to customers. Being run by the private sector is long over due......
Your postman dings twice? /rimshot
We are always getting less and less for paying more and more.
Just switch them over to ObamaCare. If it’s good enough for us peons, it’s good enough for postal workers.
The Obama administration has discovered that Unemployment benefits create jobs !!!
http://www.realclearpolitics.com/video/2011/08/10/carney_unemployment_benefits_could_create_up_to_1_million_jobs.html
Therefore, We need more unemployment to stimulate the economy.
Start now. Start with government workers. The more, the better.
Did I hear somebody say "waiver" ??
Yep.
My husband died before retiring and never collected SS. I sure would like to get what he paid in all those years...
THIS WILL NOT BE TOLERATED! Why...why...
The USPS is trying to operate just like a REAL business, and we cannot allow that to happen!
What’s next...term limits for Congress Critters?
Oh, the horror, the horror...
Everything is working perfectly, according to 0bama’s plan.
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