Postal Service to cut Saturday mail to trim costs

The Other Side

Well-Known Troll
Troll
Package delivery volume for the post office is up 14% since 2010!

Package volume is UP for the postal service, but that comes at a negative cost to the USPS. Other than first class mail revenue, every other service that the USPS offers operates at a business loss, and it was the first class revenue that made up the difference for the last 25 years.

Unfortunately, as the internet takes away more and more first class revenue each year, the first class revenue can no longer make up the deficits of the other services and today, first class revenue is barely covering itself.

There is NO WAY to reverse this.

Increasing prices will not help unless you raise the first class stamp to 1.50 cents, and that will only chase away the remaining people who use the postal service which are mainly OLD PEOPLE.

It used to be that a 2 cent increase would be enough to cover costs, but not anymore. With 18 billion a year in deficits, massive cuts, layoffs, building closures, reductions in pension and healthcare liabilities will only bring the yearly loss to around 9 billion dollars, which in the end is still enough to wipe out the postal service.

Raising the price of the stamp to 1.50 would bring in enough revenue, however, people will stop using the service alltogether.

The life span of the postal service under the current business model has less than 10 years left. Next thing the postal board is considering is charging customers a monthly fee for the service. This would help, but its unclear how people would respond to the idea.

Peace

TOS
 

The Other Side

Well-Known Troll
Troll
What no one seems to mention is what party was in charge of both houses of congress in 2006? Do the names Pelosi and Reid ring a bell! Be careful what you wish for.


How exactly does Pelosi and Reid factor into the postal service problems? How stupid is that idea?

Peace

TOS
 

Inthegame

Well-Known Member
What no one seems to mention is what party was in charge of both houses of congress in 2006? Do the names Pelosi and Reid ring a bell! Be careful what you wish for.

Maybe no one mentioned it because it isn't accurate. What bell are you ringing? Republicans were the majority party in both Houses in 2006. Democrats won election in Nov '06 for the 110 Congress which convened in 2007.
The Postal Act was passed with unanimous consent on a voice vote through both houses (with 2 Republican, 1 Democrat co-sponsor) and signed in lame duck session by George W. Bush.

What is truly amazing is you didn't blame this on President Obama.
 

sortaisle

Livin the cardboard dream
The two times the Post Office got shafted were 71 and 06. Nixon and Bush. Both Republican, neither very popular in the end. The House and the Senate were Democrat controlled in 71 and in 06 Dems had a 31 seat majority in the House and the Senate was split. It seems both sides carry some blame in the Post Office fiasco.
 

Catatonic

Nine Lives
He could care less if the place goes down the tubes.

That seems to be the prevalent attitude of all the USPS people I run across.
Management there are just totally fed up because they can't really run the company the way they should because of government interference.
 

The Other Side

Well-Known Troll
Troll
That seems to be the prevalent attitude of all the USPS people I run across.
Management there are just totally fed up because they can't really run the company the way they should because of government interference.

This is ridiculous at best, and thats a compliment. The postal board along with the postmaster general sets policy and submits their plans to congress.

There was NOTHING that could have prevented the collapse of the postal system, just as there is no saving the newspaper or paper magazines, or books. Technology will put these industries out of Business.

Its a fact.

Technology has transformed americans into wanting todays new, right now news, not reading yesterdays headlines.

As for raising the stamp a buck, I laugh.

That would only put the postal service out of business in half the time.

peace

TOS
 

1989

Well-Known Member
I am surprised that no one in the government has thought of this yet. The fix for the USPS is easy. You can no longer use the internet for email and paying bills. If caught the government will send armed troops to disarm you of your electronic devices and you will have to register as an offender.

Thats why they want ban guns
 

Brown287

Im not the Mail Man!
I'm amazed how many loop holes the USPS gets and they still are in such a mess. For heaven sakes they don't even have to register their vehicles or get them smoged. For a company that is "not government ran" they sure do enjoy a lot of government perks. Oh well they will someday need to reinvent themselves or they will be a memory.
 

sortaisle

Livin the cardboard dream
They're a government entity. Just like the Federal Reserve. And we know how well that works. It's worked into the Constitution that we get Federal Mail. Ben Franklin was the first Postmaster General. Either way, they'll be shafted eventually.
 

oldupsman

Well-Known Member
That seems to be the prevalent attitude of all the USPS people I run across.
Management there are just totally fed up because they can't really run the company the way they should because of government interference.
And the result of that is each manager makes decisions based on what makes them look good today. There is no long range planning.
Which is just horrible for morale. In another words, a typical government run operation.
 

ORLY!?!

Master Loader
This has been talked about for years.....I guess they are finally getting 'a round tuit'.

Yea, I talked to my mail man about a year ago when this same topic came around then. And this will end up probably in the same out come. The union steps in and ends it alike the last time, and the last time and on and on.

Right, this has been talk about for years, still isnt a reality.
 

Dracula

Package Car is cake compared to this...
You've spoken to letter carriers; i lived with one up until 4 years ago. Our workday is NOT longer. My dad is currently at 8:30 start, but this Sat they are pushing him up to 8:00; his start a couple years ago was 7:30, and his day should be over at 5, but lately he has been out until 8, even 9, sometimes six days a week (and we spend most of our time in a truck, not on foot like them [or the WHOLE time of you got a foot route; they don't get trucks!]). In addition, we cannot be called in to work on a scheduled day; UPS has to ASK us (and some of us are offended they'd even ask); the PO has always had the ability to force my dad in, and have exercised on occasion; he does have high seniority, but that doesn't prevent them. Lately it has been happening a lot more.


In regards to harrasment, unless you suck as a driver, got caught sleeping with center manager's (or mgmt above) spouse, and for some reason haven't already quit, no ups driver knows what harrasment is. We complain because they come to us asking about times; we don't get written up when they ride with us and have a bad day; my father has, and some good friends of mine have been fired for similar offenses. The postal police have escorted my dad out of the building because a supervisor came up and cussed HIM him , ,out hviewed, and my father basically shouted 'Don't curse at me'! (my dad does not curse, and has raised me not to as well, no matter my level of amger). They go postal; what do we do? (And they are a union outfit being treated like this; it adds insult to injury because it should not be this way.

You and others often tell others who don't go by the contract for fear of mgmt reprisals (and really what can be done if we did go by the contract) to grow a spine, but then whine because a runner blows out your route and now your center manager/sup is asking what takes you so long (to that I say who cares what the runner does, stay out his business, mind yours and request a ride-along and let them see you aren't stealing time; for me that has always been the end of the discussion). My father and others finished their routes, are given HALF someone else's route at the end of theirs, kept out until 8, and then written up or suspended for not finishing in 8 hrs.

I'll say it again: I don't care how long you or anyone else has worked at UPS (which supposedly wasn't that bad before '97; my father has had me shaking my head at his experiences since I was in elementary school), you do not know (and will never know now that you are in feeders) what 'harrasment' is.

I stand by what I said. Your father sounds like he is in a black hole of bad management and bad union representation. Either way, it's not even close.We have always had more work, longer hours and more harassment. And you're also wrong about that harassment. You don't have to suck as a driver (however nutty your definition is) to feel the wrath of UPS harassment. Maybe you're a burner, maybe you haven't been here that long, or maybe you do whatever they tell you, but I know many drivers who have nearly cracked from the pressure.

You sound hopelessly naive about your job. I never did care if some stupid burner ran my route. They rode with me a lot in package car. It was more annoyance than anything else. Why? Because I alwaya, ALWAYS, followed their methods and worked safe. Yeah, they asked me why such and such got done two hours earlier than me. I always answered the same: "Because he is a :censored2:." These are the same damn drivers-like you say-who are afraid of standing up for themselves, and complain when their burning only got them rewarded with more work. Have you ever tried filing a grievance before? It sure doesn't sound like it.

Feeders? Keep up with current events here and you might see that although the job is easier, harassment is no different in the big rigs. Same management, same BS: "You MUST be safe, BUT, you must GO GO GO--no matter what". And just like package car, their are plenty of people back here who can't kick the rush rush of little brown. They are a danger to themselves, and worse, to the public. But you can't tell them anything...they already know it all.

And as far a going "Postal"? If all things were equal, there would have been shootings at UPS facilities...but there haven't. I asked a mail carrier buddy of mine about this a few years ago. His reply? "Because the Post Office has always had a few crazies in every building." His words, not mine.
 

The Other Side

Well-Known Troll
Troll
Yea, I talked to my mail man about a year ago when this same topic came around then. And this will end up probably in the same out come. The union steps in and ends it alike the last time, and the last time and on and on.

Right, this has been talk about for years, still isnt a reality.

The union?? The postal union youre talking about?? The weakest union in the country? Youre saying "they" will stop this??

GOOD LUCK with that claim.

This is a DONE DEAL. Congress will approve it, and it will happen come August 1st.

The union doesnt have a leg to stand on.

The postal service is doomed, along with EVERY carrier that works for them. The only thing left is the crying.

Peace

TOS
 

Brownslave688

You want a toe? I can get you a toe.
That seems to be the prevalent attitude of all the USPS people I run across.
Management there are just totally fed up because they can't really run the company the way they should because of government interference.
And the result of that is each manager makes decisions based on what makes them look good today. There is no long range planning.
Which is just horrible for morale. In another words, a typical government run operation.

Sound any different than ups right now? No one on the center level is allowed to run their center the way they think it should be run.
 

ORLY!?!

Master Loader
The union?? The postal union youre talking about?? The weakest union in the country? Youre saying "they" will stop this??

GOOD LUCK with that claim.

This is a DONE DEAL. Congress will approve it, and it will happen come August 1st.

The union doesnt have a leg to stand on.

The postal service is doomed, along with EVERY carrier that works for them. The only thing left is the crying.

Peace

TOS

Thats what I heard from the mail man I talked with, amonst others long the same route. They do have a union, I dont know what kind. As a few of them have said, their union stands up to this each and every time. They tend to lose 45 million man hours that one day, their union wont stand for it.

I would love to see them cut back, big time. But what I've heard from these guys, its hard to imagen what will go down. I'll try to grap my uspser tomarrow or when I can recall it. See if I can dig deeper into their union and info on this very subject. Nothing like getting the lingo down straight from the horse itself.
 

ORLY!?!

Master Loader
I'm amazed how many loop holes the USPS gets and they still are in such a mess. For heaven sakes they don't even have to register their vehicles or get them smoged. For a company that is "not government ran" they sure do enjoy a lot of government perks. Oh well they will someday need to reinvent themselves or they will be a memory.

Heh

Yep, they are government run, and pose all the faults of a government run buisness. Too much going into it, not enough coming out of it. The US government has a cafeteria, which is granted a million dollar budget each year. Yet, they go over greatly each year. Government cant even run a cafeteria, why the hell would someone think they can run anything else.
 
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