Field Updates on 5 Day Delivery by Deputy PMG Donahoe

[Postaltexan]

[daboysdada]

Don't you just love how they are screwing the delivery crafts with the five day delivery but leaving P.O. Box delivery and Priority delivery package for P.O. Boxes as six day delivery. Don't be surprised if there is a boom in P.O. Box rentals enough that it  effects our evaluation. If/when this goes into effect, prepare for another national screw job, err count!

[idontlikerocks]

i disagree with you dab.  i don't think there will be any mad rush for p.o. boxes.  i think that management is only leaving  window service open on saturdays to appease anyone  who wants to use a lack of service as an excuse to deny the switch to 5 day delivery.  after a year or two i suspect even this service will be eliminated except during the holiday season.

[daboysdada]

What I see is the window clerks being trained/told to use six day service as a advantage over a box in front of their house or business as a better service and or more secure service than five day service that the "carriers" can offer. Which if the higher ups were smart, they would have been touting our six day delivery cycle to every address and P.O. Box with no additional surcharges such as Saturday or Fuel as a advantage over FEDEX AND UPS.

[manOman]

daboys, here's a copy of one of my previous posts. You'll notice that the USPS did say what you thought they should:


Mail helps power the economic engine of the nation. Mail is a $1 trillion industry that employs more than 8 million Americans. You probably know at least one person who relies, directly or indirectly, on the mail for his or her livelihood. It could be your friend, family member, neighbor or colleague — or it could be the carrier who delivers your mail every day. Every letter, catalog, newspaper and package we deliver represents a journey through the American workforce: the mill workers, truck drivers and engineers employed by a paper manufacturer. The sales force, call center operators and fulfillment staff who work for the retailer in a small town in Nebraska. The graphic designers, wordsmiths and account representatives for the big direct mail firm in Chicago. Small business owners — everywhere — who sell online but rely on the mail to reach their customers.

And when the economic engine of our nation sputters? We’re still delivering to every address, six days a week — and even on Sundays if our customers need us to get it there. Even when gas prices spike, we won’t add a fuel surcharge on that package delivery.  Americans depend on reliable delivery at reasonable prices, and that’s our commitment. For more than 230 years, the United States Postal Service has provided dependable service at a uniform price. Our products and services create jobs, strengthen relationships and connect businesses. Mail continues to bind the nation together.

================================

The above was taken directly from the introduction to the USPS' 2008 annual report. Tell Congress we'd hate to see the USPS have to eat their words - keep 6-day delivery SERVICE like the nation's founders AND the USPS promised "more than 230 years" ago.

[manOman]

OPENING THE MAILBOX

At yesterday's MTAC meeting, a mailer asked if mailers could have access to the mailbox for delivering periodicals, newspapers, and advertising on Saturday if the Postal Service stopped delivering on that day. While the hypothetical question was dismissed, it illustrates the risks that reducing delivering on that day could have for the Postal Service. Currently, access to the mailbox is restricted but reductions in the service that the Postal Service offers could create real demand for access that was just theoretical in the past.
=================================

And so we see that the glorious "solution" being pushed by USPS management could have a real blowback, affecting our universal service obligation, customer privacy, and our exclusive mailbox access. As I've said before, you start tinkering around with the basic foundation of our service and you open the door to all sorts of nasty little "surprises".  I put surprises in quotes, because I'm not so sure that that isn't the intention of some of the changes being proposed. There is a LOT of $$$$$$$ to be made from dismantling the Post Office.

LINK TO THE FULL ARTICLE:

http://courierexpressandpostal.blogspot.com/2009/08/opening-mailbox.html

[gjtrisa]

One of the consequences of opening the mail to contractors is simply the lack of security.  No one is talking about this being a federal crime when postal employees steal mail but not when a contractor disposes of thousands of pieces of paper in the land fill is a medemeanor.  Opening that box on Saturday would allow a contractor access to the mail that was not gathered on Friday.  Oh my!  Can we say skyrocketing amounts of identity theft could occur from this?  I bet we could make that claim and get a lot of agreement from sensible people.


-----Original Message-----
From: manOman (via Nabble) <[hidden email]>
Sent: Fri, Aug 14, 2009 8:22 pm
Subject: 5 Day Delivery - Donahoe - THE LAW OF UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES

OPENING THE MAILBOX

At yesterday's MTAC meeting, a mailer asked if mailers could have access to the mailbox for delivering periodicals, newspapers, and advertising on Saturday if the Postal Service stopped delivering on that day. While the hypothetical question was dismissed, it illustrates the risks that reducing delivering on that day could have for the Postal Service. Currently, access to the mailbox is restricted but reductions in the service that the Postal Service offers could create real demand for access that was just theoretical in the past.
=================================

And so we see that the glorious "solution" being pushed by USPS management could have a real blowback, affecting our universal service obligation, customer privacy, and our exclusive mailbox access. As I've said before, you start tinkering around with the basic foundation of our service and you open the door to all sorts of nasty little "surprises".  I put surprises in quotes, because I'm not so sure that that isn't the intention of some of the changes being proposed. There is a LOT of $$$$$$$ to be made from dismantling the Post Office.

LINK TO THE FULL ARTICLE:

http://courierexpressandpostal.blogspot.com/2009/08/opening-mailbox.html

[Bulldawg]

Isn't part 3 suppose to be launched today. When will it be here for viewing?

[Postaltexan]

Yes it was released today, but only available on the blue page from a postal computer..  I am waiting for someone to release it on the web so I can share it..  I will get it up as soon as possible...

[Bulldawg]

Thank you, Hope someone releases it soon. It is the one that says what happens to us.

[djschett]

We saw it this morning before leaving on our routes.  He didn't say much new...talking with the unions, etc.
He did mention that clerk hours and some RCA's would be cut.  He stressed again the no delivery or collections on Saturday but then says remittance mail will be collected and delivered on Saturday.  Huh..

[Bulldawg]

Did they say what rca's , seniority or what? Are the regs. safe with 5 days for them?

[gjtrisa]

We currently have a no layoff clause that may expire with the end of the contract in November of 2010.  I don't see any regulars being layed off but perhaps relocated.


-----Original Message-----
From: Bulldawg (via Nabble) <[hidden email]>
To: gjtrisa <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tue, Aug 18, 2009 5:37 pm
Subject: Re: Field Updates on 5 Day Delivery by Deputy PMG Donahoe

Did they say what rca's , seniority or what? Are the regs. safe with 5 days for them?

[Bulldawg]

Some javascript/style in this post has been disabled (why?)

well were just wondering about the regular  getting 4 days and subs get one. I want to know how they plan on weeding out the rca's. unbelievably my office just took in a rca transfer starting this week!!!now all routes have a sub.

ANGEL

 

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Date: Tue, 18 Aug 2009 19:45:01 -0500
From: [hidden email]
To: [hidden email]
Subject: Re: Field Updates on 5 Day Delivery by Deputy PMG Donahoe

We currently have a no layoff clause that may expire with the end of the contract in November of 2010.  I don't see any regulars being layed off but perhaps relocated.


-----Original Message-----
From: Bulldawg (via Nabble) <[hidden email]>
To: gjtrisa <[hidden email]>
Sent: Tue, Aug 18, 2009 5:37 pm
Subject: Re: Field Updates on 5 Day Delivery by Deputy PMG Donahoe

Did they say what rca's , seniority or what? Are the regs. safe with 5 days for them?

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Get back to school stuff for them and cashback for you. Try BingT now.

[Postaltexan]

Here is Part 3 on 5 day Delivery

[Bulldawg]

are they going to reduce rca's by performane or seniority?

[RogerR]

You raise some good questions, and the simple answer is, nobody yet knows.

If you watched the video, all the other job categories had numbers dealing with estimated impacts.  With the rural craft, the numbers were current complement, not possible impact.  And that's because of the bizarre way we currently structure our subs.

Whatever sense our system made under 6 day delivery, it will make little to none under 5 day delivery.  It is extremely unlikely that regulars would work a 4 day week with subs getting the 5th, because that would imply at least 10 hour days under the current contract logic, and that would create all kinds of logistic difficulties.

So assuming 5 day weeks for all regulars, what will the sub force look like?  To me, the only sensible option is to get rid of the current system of having subs hired and assigned to specific routes  They need to go to more of a pool structure, like you have in other postal jobs, and indeed, in the work world in general.  Figure out how many subs, on average, you would need to cover each 10 routes.  There would be bidding on vacation weeks by regulars at the beginning of the year, much like city routes.

In larger cities, this would work rather easily.  In small offices, and sparsley populated areas of the country, there would probably have to be "rosters" of subs who would declare themselves willing to work at individual offices, and seniority might be within 3-digit zip code areas, or districts.

But since our current system is hard coded into the contract, the union will have some input on what will happen.  If they can agree on a new system reducing the number of subs, seniority will probably rule on who gets the axe.  If they can't agree and it goes to arbitration, we will probably see the ranks reduced by attrition, as RCA's get few hours, and are forced to seek employment elsewhere.   There might be some senior subs leaving and some junior subs without the financial needs hanging on.

I think this is probably the #1 issue the NRLCA must decide upon, but I get the feeling it wasn't even discussed at the convention.  What a dysfunctional union.  

[R10 Lady]

I was at the convention and it sounded to me like they were just finding out about Donahoo's videos and were upset that the USPS hadn't given them copies!  I guess it is a little embarrassing when some well informed delegates are the ones who tell the National Board.  I may be wrong, but I had the impression that the videos were news to the Natl Board.  Another biggie I found out at convention is that because the volume has so drastically fallen off they are "spreading out" the FSS machines (100 I think) and some offices that weren't in Phase 1 at all are now on "the list" The USPS wants 69 flats/min.  unbelievable

[manOman]

Watching the Dona-hoot video

In the first Don'tKnowHow video, our man with the "business plan" 'splained to us peons why the "model" just wasn't working. See, the big brains at HQ figgered that mail volume would just keep going up & up forever & ever, and they'd throw in an increase in the price of a stamp every now & then, and things would be hunky-dory. Well, gosh, things got all out of kilter. WHO'D A THUNK IT??? (From now on, Duh=Donahoe). Duh went to a great deal of trouble to equate the Postal SERVICE with a business, despite the fact that the Postal Service was never intended to be a business, and was set up 230 years ago to provide UNIVERSAL mail service for our country. However, IF the Postal Service WAS a business, why haven't the MORONS who set up the "business model" been fired, along with their successors, who CONTINUED to follow a flawed business plan??

What we have here is Duh FRAMING HIS ARGUMENT.

The plain facts of the matter are well known. The current "problem" the Postal Service is facing is a result of one of the worst recessions in U.S. history, coupled with a near-collapse of the financial sector (source of a HUGE amount of mailings), the imposition of an extra yearly $5 BILLION+ set aside for retiree healthcare, the effect of a massive COLA increase in late 2008, the use of accounting "assumptions" by the USPS which ADDED $800 MILLION in costs for workers comp, a HUGE increase in the cost of gasoline which cost additional $MILLIONS, and possibly a drop in mail due to use of the internet.

This is what we call ADVERSITY in the "business" world. BUT, as many politicians have proven, there is OPPORTUNITY in ADVERSITY. And that's where the "framing" comes in.

Say you have something you'd like to do. Say you don't really have a good reason to do it. Then along comes a PROBLEM. What you do is present the thing that you've been wanting to do as a "solution" to the PROBLEM (even though it isn't).

Almost all of the "problems" facing the USPS are of a temporary nature, and as such, could be solved WITHOUT DROPPING 6-DAY DELIVERY.

I think the COLA increase cost the USPS an extra $Billion or so. The retiree healthcare prefunding clocks in at somewhere between $5 & 6 BILLION, the workmen's comp "assumption" added $807 MILLION, the fuel increases added many more $MILLIONS, the MASSIVE recession probably cut AT LEAST 5% <maybe 10> in revenues ($3.5 BILLION), AND we had a "business plan" which included buying flats sorting machinery to sort the gazillions of flats which Duh said we DON'T have - now THAT'S A PLAN!!

So, even without the $Billions WASTED on unnecessary FSS equipment, I figure the USPS would have MADE an EXTRA $11-12BILLION last year without the special circumstances which occurred. Figure we'd have been about $10 Billion in the black (even without FSS waste).

Seems to me that the "plan" to go to 5-day delivery is UNNECESSARY.

Again, Duh FRAMED his argument making use of a confluence of events which really had no bearing on his "solution". The "problem" could be solved without going to 5-day delivery.

My sense is that IF 5-day delivery is implemented, that will bring about the demise of the Postal Service. The Postal Service is NOT a business - it was created to provide universal delivery service to the ENTIRE country. If you want to "frame" the argument in "business" terms, think what would happen to McDonald's or WalMart if they decided on a "business plan" that included closing their stores on Saturday!!

[Postaltexan]

Excellent Sum up of the facts Mano..  Of course you hit the nail on the head..  Slam dunk my friend..