Press Release via PostCom
Hearing will examine proposed USPS operational strategies and reforms from the perspective of customers and employee/management groups
WASHINGTON, D.C. – On Wednesday, June 23, 2010 at 2:30 p.m. in room G50 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building, the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security and the Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia will hold a joint oversight hearing entitled, “Having Their Say: Customer and Employee Views on the Future of the Postal Service.”
Specifically, the hearing will examine various mailer, union, and management association views on improving the financial condition of the Postal Service in response to recent reports on the short- and long-term strategies for a viable and financially sound United States Postal Service.
“With mail volume projected to be at a low 167 billion pieces, the Postal Service is expecting to end fiscal year 2010 with a loss of over $7 billion. Given these figures, it is imperative that we are forward thinking and innovative in our planning if we are serious about improving the Postal Services’ financial conditions,” said Chairman Stephen F. Lynch. “Customers and employees represent critical elements of the postal industry. Therefore, hearing their ideas and concerns are essential before we embark on any proposed reforms, or legislate drastic changes.”
According to a recent GAO report, given current mail volume declines, the Postal Service’s existing business model is no longer viable. In light of this, decisions must be made about reducing operations, improving efficiency, and increasing product and pricing flexibility. Focusing on those that are most associated with the Service, the hearing will solicit comments on a host of Postal issues, including delivery frequency, network realignment, and employee retiree health benefit obligations.
“Major changes are needed if we expect the Postal Service to continue providing the products and services that so many Americans depend on,” said Sen. Carper. “I look forward to hearing suggestions and plans from the Postal Service’s employees and customers who rely on the Postal Service daily at our hearing. It is imperative that Congress, postal management, postal employees, customers and other stakeholders give up on old fights and biases and work together to cut the Postal Service’s costs and adjust its operations to meet a changing environment.
Stakeholders on both sides of the issue must make shared sacrifices and work together to implement these common sense measures in order to ensure that the Postal Service remains viable in the 21st Century.”
Witness testimonies the Chairman’s opening statement, and a 2:30 p.m. live broadcast of the hearing can be found on the Subcommittee’s website, www.federalworkforce.oversight.house.gov
There have been some good ideas,but as a 57year old maintenance person with 37 years included military buy back,I am ready to leave with alittle help. I am cival service and I believe they want us all out as soon as possible. Give me the time needed to get my 80% and I am done. Think of the annual,sick leave and things like holiday pay that they can save. We are also looking for cutbacks in our NDC.
Early out across the board.
Palewriter- Don’t know what plaque you are looking at. Ther was no buyout in 1994-it was 1992. It gave employees 1/2 years pay as an incentive.There was no time added to age or service.As Reality has stated this is not allowed.They allowed people to leave before attaining 55/30,with any applicable penalties of course.
Offer an early out, go to five day delivery, and evaluate routes. Doing away with Sat delivery, would cut down call in on SL and EAL, and evaluated routes would cut out the OT and boost morale, The good carriers get to keep their jobs and let the sorry ones that do not want to work go.
Reality – Don’t know where you got your info.
I’m looking at the employee retirement plaque in our lobby.
An awful lot of retirees in 1994.
I shook their hands as they left.
The 1994 buyout terms added 5 combined years to age and/or service to avoid penalties and offered 1/2 year base salary in $$$ (minus taxes – of course).
Should our beloved PO make the same offer they will need a repair crew to replace the front doors as we bust out.
Gimme 5! And throw cash at me!
J Jameson has the solution. Nicely done! Also, the committee should request Potter to show up with all his vice-presidents. Of course, the meeting would have to be moved to a stadium.
Get rid of us CSRS folks. It’s about time for the carriers to get
an opt out. 5 day delivery!
OFFER EARLY OUT FOR THOSE PEOPLE 20YRS PLUS I KNOW A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY HAVE THE YEARS BUT THEY DON’T HAVE THE AGE THEY WANT TO RETIRE SO GIVE THEM SOME YEARS ADDED SO THEY CAN ELIGIBLE TO RETIRE AND HIRE NEW YOUNG PEOPLE WITH LOWER WAGES AND THE PO WILL BE OK .FOR EXAMPLE AVERAGE CLERKS CARRIERS AND MAILHANDLER S MADE $25 AN HOUR NOW HIRE NEW PEOPLE $15 AN HOUR YOU SAVE $10 AN HOUR FULL-TIME EMPLOYEE 40 HOURS A WEEK SO YOU SAVE $400 A WEEK ONE EMPLOYEE PLUS ALL THE BENEFITS LIKE ANNUAL LEAVE ,SICK LEAVE,AND HOLIDAYS LETS DO THE MATH 52 WEEKS X$400=20800 YOU OFFER ONE EMPLOYEE EARLY OUT YOU SAVE $20800 A YEAR
EMPLOEES 100000 X 20800 =2,080,000,000 SO IF YOU OFFER EARLY OUT GIVE THEM 5 YRS ADDED I BET A LOT OF PEOPLE THEY DON’T HAVE THE AGE THEY WILL TAKE IT. 5YRS ADDED TO THE SERVICE NOT VERY MUCH .CAN YOU TO THE MATH HOW MUCH YOU GIVE TO THEM AND HOW MUCH YOU SAVE LET’S DO IT AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO SAVE THE USPS
Sirs, Replace PMG Potter, who thumbs his nose at the President, reduce the bloated managerial salaries and positions as anyone who does not touch the mail is overhead, reduce administrative positions as the redundancy in both positions and the subsequent reports contributes to profit loss, manage from the “bottom up” as that is where both the neccessities and the changes are made. Stop the bonus program, how can the Postal Service possibly be giving bonuses?
Allow for human failings by removing sociopahtic and incompetent managers; no other organization but the Postal Service has a guaranteed “job for life” program.
There is no such thing as “giving years”. OPM regulations does not allow giving years or waiving the penalty for early retirement.
The postal service should go back to self management….one clock rings…When instituted it saved money on overtime, sick leave and unnecessary paper work. This has all been documented. However, this idea makes sense. So, therefore, the postal service won’t have anything to do with it.
Offer and early retirement for Postmasters 50 years of age and 20 years of
service. You could give years to entice some to accept offer. THere are
clerks in distribution areas and less need for them in postoffices. They
could take the postmaster position or a PMR could take the positions. You
would be paying less in salary and across the nation that would amount to
alot of money.