Rough draft of letter to Congressman on 5-day delivery

[Sahagan]

Our local steward has asked me to compose a letter to our members of the Senate and Congress, to be signed (or used individually) by our carriers.

Your input would be appreciated.

Here's the first rough draft....

"Dear Sir….

        The USPS provides all its mail carriers with electronic scanners. These scanners document delivery times, as well as provide tracking capabilities and other important functions in today’s postal and business world. Recently, the USPS has been programming carriers’ scanners with daily “Scan Talk” messages. These messages from Post Office management are generally concerned with safety, good work habits and other helpful bits of information and inspiration for the carrier.
        The USPS Scan Talk message for July 2, 2009 was, “The national economy depends on USPS and the mailing industry”.
        Truer words were never spoken. If one views the Postal Service as a business only, to subtract a day of delivery might make sense. But the USPS is much more than a business. It is an integral part of government, a lawfully constituted and essential arm of the government of the United States.  As such, not only would the business world be severely crippled by any cut back in delivery days or other essential Post Office operation, but the very government of the nation would as well.

        The USPS has a contract with America. Simply put, if any one buys and affixes a first class stamp to a letter, and mails it….the Post Office has promised, has contracted, to deliver that letter in a first class manner. That includes, if need be, and as happens very nearly one time out of six, delivery on Saturday. To stop Saturday delivery, is to utterly abrogate the Postal Service’s contract with America.
        There is business, and there is government. There are things, services, that can be ‘shut down’ at times, but others, essential emergency, health, transportation, law enforcement and financial services, are 24/7. This reality isn’t by choice, but by the very nature of their being, of their necessity to the continued success of this nation, and the well-being of its citizens.
        We urge you to consider these real-life facts when faced with any move to go to five day delivery. It simply makes no sense to hobble this nation’s business life at the very moment it is most needed by all, and when some indicators seem to show the depression has turned a corner toward better times. Let the Postal Service do what it does best, that is, be a lifeline in supporting both the business of this nation, and this nation’s business.

        Thank you. We are and remain sincerely yours,

[Clark]

Good letter, You know how to write.  You must not be in senior management or a leader in the union.  But the Post Office should have gone to Mon - Fri delivery years ago.

[Sahagan]

Hi Clark;

"Good letter, You know how to write.  You must not be in senior management or a leader in the union.  But the Post Office should have gone to Mon - Fri delivery years ago."

Thanks for your reply. I think, in something that can impact our incomes, and our working lives so severely, any dialogue that helps us to understand the central issues, is a good thing. I don't know about you, but last winter's mail count served as a serious wake-up call for me. And anything that can negatively effect my income so substantially, has suddenly become so much more important than before.

And while the idea of going to five day delivery gives the appearance of a 'Johnny-come-lately' idea (the PMG introduced it in a way that made it appear as such), you'll find upper management has been thinking along these lines for quite some time. Look at the MOU on page 57 of the current contract, "It is the understanding of the parties that a national mail count may be initiated where rural delivery has been impacted on a national level. Example of such changes would be A REDUCTION OF DELIVERY DAYS, a SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN MAIL VOLUME, etc."  I believe the close proximity of September, and the as yet unannounced mail count then, is the only thing that has kept us from counting this summer. We know volume has gone down. We know the PO is trying to give over to a management style I call "Gestapo Management", and will make every attempt to give us an 'honest' but paycheck damaging count.

And wouldn't going to five day delivery do just that as well, that is, negatively affect my income? I didn't mention, in the letter, the collateral damages going to five day delivery would have on the personal and family lives of post office employees. I suspect at least nine out of ten letters sent regarding this matter will have already covered that detail in great depth. I wanted to move the focus of my letter out of the personal arena into the national and business arenas, where legislators, (who are especially given to PAC's, special interests and lobbies), are more apt to be concerned. I mean, are they really that concerned about your personal loss of income during this depression? And if they are that concerned, are they really doing their job? Today, in a TV news interview, VP Biden said, "We misread how bad the economy was"....and isn't predicting, or 'reading' at least somewhat accurately, one of the things for which we're paying these people the big bucks?

I realize my letter will have very little influence on anything of importance. After all, we're just mail carriers, and about all the influence we, as individuals, can muster hinges on going to the voting booth (with appropriate apologies to the union's PAC). But being mail carriers, we're bound to try.

And about your, "You must not be in senior management or a leader in the union" you're right, although I'm not sure where you were able to obtain those accurate deductions, unless you have a bit of Monk, or Sherlock Holmes in you.

I am a member of the union. I did serve for a few years as the local steward, and did, during that same period of time, serve as RLCA State Newsletter editor. I found however, that union business was taking up almost all of my holidays, and a great deal of my free time. I have a life that extends well beyond post office and post office/union interests. With five kids and ten grandkids, I have quite well enough to do in my free time, thank you very much.

Again, thanks!

Sahagan

[Carolyn]

My thoughts are:  1.  the day that it was decided that the USPS could go out from under total government control, was it's downfall.  From that day forward, USPS was to work toward earning a profit.  Like failing/greedy banks, Mr. Potter and upper management has succumed to ALL the same management greed that has caused these banks to fail the public.  Good benefits/pay for "poor" management, poor decisions?  Take it back under total government control, eliminate all bonuses, force lower management salaries - and make them abide by - good proven performce before any and all types of bonuses are given.

2.  At a time when USPS could have gained greatly from the loss of DHL in the US and cut more of the over burdened "upper" management staff, we have publicly advertized and totally announced to the world we just can no longer handle good service.  The public has seen how badly the USPS has been managed and the have advertized their business away.  USPS has totally ADVERTIZED their own demise.  Publicly letting all know that we just can't provide service causing everyone to have such distrust and forcing their business to go to other carriers.

3.  Out-sourcing mail for city and route delivery services would only continue the demise of one of American's (and the world's) greatest services to the public.   Again, USPS has advertized and used the current ecnomy to take advantage to cut services to one of the "oldest" institutions of America.

4.  In any economic down-turn - more and more elderly and the poor class are doing without computers and internet and without land line phones to handle business.  Just think of all the aging "baby" boomers.

 

[becky]

in our contract read art. 8 section 7.          We are the only craft that says they can not change number of delivery days just because they want to/

[Wave]

It doesn't matter what our contract says.  They can't change it to 5 days without the consent of Congress.  That's where the buck stops.

[Sahagan]

Becky and Wave;

Reading Article 8, section 7 makes it appear you're both right. Changes to delivery days can be made, but must be made "Pursuant to present or future law".

Do remember though, how quickly laws regarding the stimulus and bailout measures were written, passed and enacted.

On the other hand, it appears most of the news articles regarding going to five day delivery are saying legislators are being pretty resistant to the idea. And I can see that, for everyone from the little old lady down the street, to huge multi-national businesses will suffer to some degree if the idea is in fact enacted.

[middle of nowhere]

     i have to agree with sahagan on how quickly this could be changed by congress.  if someone tacks it onto a bill going up for vote, it might only be read by 20% of those voting on it. some of the bills going through are in the 800-1000 page range.
      on the other hand, i don't see a massive impact to business if 5 day delivery comes to pass.  offices that process mail are not open on saturday anyway.  only the delivery of mail on saturday will stop, transporting  it across the country will still go on, and on monday when the businesses are open, the mail that would be sitting in the box  unopened over the weekend, will be delivered.

[Clark]

I have 22 businesses on my route.  19 of them have a letter on file to hold their mail on Saturday and deliver it on Monday.  Even if the business is open, those in charge that would handle the mail and take any action on it are off on weekends.  I have been on this route almost 10 years, and 18 of those letters were on file when I started, so its nothing new.

[Sahagan]

Good points....I have 609 boxes on my route, and 9 of them are businesses, none of which have ever asked for Saturday delivery to be held up until Monday.

But if they were to refuse delivery on Saturday, that would still leave 600 households who expect Saturday delivery. And lots of their mail, both incoming and out-going, is most certainly business related. In my case, I've never had a business complain about lateness of delivery, or mis-delivery. But I will admit there have been complaints over the years (I'd love to blame my subs, past and present for all of those, but then I'd be dishonest) from some of the other 600 households....many of them over very minor matters. To take Saturday delivery away from them would generate a plethora of complaints. We all know there are people on every route who live only and always for the mailbox....people we're thankful for during mail count, but not so thankful for the rest of the time, unless of course, we're enamored with BBM, and pleas for money. They will be very put out if we take their Saturday mail-fix from them.

To me, there are still so many unknowns. Will subs be given even more time off? Will I work five days? or four? How will it impact my salary, my evaluation? What about accrued sick leave? Will I still get 1/2 day sick leave per pay period? Or will it decrease to the same degree delivery days have? How about annual leave? And what about Mondays? Will they all be like the day after a holiday? Will we be able to consistently make our evaluations? What to do about excessed regulars, and so forth?

So many questions, so few ironclad answers....but until hear some of those answers, I'm still against taking a delivery day away.