Day 2
Today we had guest speakers this morning and what I gleaned from them was quite informational. First we had to do the awards that we were unable to finish yesterday. Then we heard from Denis Lamelin, President of the Canadian Union of Postal Workers. His speech was one that was not so unfamiliar than that what we hear from our Union, Government intrusion into the Postal Service including downsizing, assaults on time standards harassment from managers basically a assault on organized labor and he very much looks forward to the sharing of information in battling the Congress that is trying to destroy the Union that he is President of, sounds real familiar.
Next we heard from Harry (Jack) Potter he arrived with a greeting from the members but it was not an overwhelming response you can imagine why. He brought with him a contingent of Postal Inspectors who were very much like the Secret Service. They were there to protect him from us. I took notes and will try to relay to the best of my ability his direction that he wants to take the USPS.
He started out with the importance of us working as a team, that this is troubling times of which we already knew. His plea was that we continue to do our best in the performance of our duties, as this is the best defense when he is required to go before congress. Our high marks in the ability to deliver in a timely manner and correct performance of our duties is a plus in his ability to argue our abilities to those that will be deciding the future of out company. Such as our EXFC number that are the highest in history.
His next points were on what needs to be done in order to turn the financial losses we're occurring in this great recession, this is greater flexibility in services that we provide. These include our need to seek out new business, a few of those were the ability to offer more products in our outlet stores. The adding of new products that could help in justifying leaving open as many outlets, this is because the sales of stamps are not enough to maintain the costs of leaving those offices open. He also mentioned the Rural Reach Program and the need of us to advance the ability to garner the business that is currently being taken by the UPS and FED EX companies. He explained that it is the intention to advance the Parcel Return program as we can do this much cheaper than are our competition. He also plans to expand Global Express as this seems to be a lucrative business opportunity. He again expressed the need to do the best we can do in order to convince Congress that Universal Service is a legitimate cause and affordable. We have to be able to pay for that service and we will continue to downsize and consolidate in order to better perform in this economy. He expressed that it's obvious that we cannot control the actions of Wall St. & the advertisers. He said that in order to continue to keep our mailers is the reasoning behind the Summer Sale. He said it's his intent to keep the people we have and the way is again the seeking out of new deliveries and mailers. He also mentioned that we will have to rebuild routes through attrition, and that no one is expecting a quick recovery. Long term goals, are the need to reevaluate the long term health care payments required by Congress, also we have to remake our business model. We have to find new revenue sources and new products, he also said the Flat Rate Parcel is a booming success and justified the advertising and costs of selling this product.
Then came the dreaded 5 day delivery model and his support due to decreasing mail volume. He said " How can we afford to go on delivering 6 days with shrinking business" this received a collective groan from the members as we were told yesterday that we could see the loss of 40,000 rural employees.He also repeated surveys of the American people wanting 5 day delivery instead of the raising of postage rates, " We have to be open minded about change". He did take a question and answer period but I failed to ask any hard questions as by that point I needed to walk away as my frustration was becoming evident.
Next up was Michael Gann, NRLCA Counsel. He had a very informative and inspiring speech with the reality of his job in defending you and I against the assault by the USPS on the Rural Craft. He explained the incentive afforded the Rural Carriers of performing in a productive manner and the incentive being our ability to go home after finishing our jobs. He also told us that that is and continues to be used against us because of the "bump" that exists because of the incentive of evaluated pay. There was more but this was what we know that being we are under assault by not only the USPS but now Congress and no job is safe.
We next addressed Constitution changes and most of those failed, the ones of most interest were those of the biennial convention, 2 year terms for our National Officers that are now responsible to the members on a yearly basis. Others that passed were those that cleaned up the Constitution due to the NRLCA withdrawing from the QWL-EI process, also was giving the ability of the National Officers the ability to have more flexibility in the arrangement of the National Convention thus helping to cut overall costs.
We have to do everything to protect ourselves, we can do that by contacting our Senators by defeating S1507 in it's current form, so contact your Senators today. We are responsible for our actions and failure to act will be detrimental to our jobs. This is all I have for now and will be updating you on tomorrows business.
And Thats The Way Jay Sees It
Never doubt that a small, group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has..
