Ed Schultz, host of the Ed Show which airs on MSNBC calls the current USPS problems a "manufactured" crisis.  Schultz, correctly, highlights the real reasons behind the USPS deficts and the true desires of politicians like Rep. Darrell Issa.  (Sorry for the commercial lead-in, but MSNBC requires it as part of their video sharing)

The Ed Show - Part 1 (9/27/11) w/ Cliff Guffey	The Ed Show - Part 2 (9/28/11) w/ Rep. Stephen Lynch (MA)

     The House Subcommittee on Governmental Affaris met today to discuss Bill HR 2309, sumbitted by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA).  During the disussion an amendment was proposed by Rep Dennis Ross.  The amendment would change existing rules for enacting a Reduction-in-Force (RIF).  Under current rules, the order of layoffs would be junior clerks first.  Under the Ross Amendment the order of layoffs would be reversed with older, senior retirement-eligible employees being laid off first.   The new provision requires the USPS to RIF all retirement eligible employees prior to laying off any workers not yet eligible for a pension, and to RIF the most senior of them first.

"(ii) GENERAL RULE.—A reduction in force under this subsection shall not result in the separation of any non-retirement-eligible employee before a retirement-eligible employee.

(iii) LENGTH OF SERVICE.—In determining the order for the separation of competing retirement-eligible employees, individuals shall be separated in descending order based on length of service. The law would also prohibit severance payments for such employees, who would also be forbidden from being reemployed by the USPS as long as a non-retirement eligible person was available. The revised RIF pecking order would apply only to bargaining unit employees. "

     It is also worth noting that the changes to the RIF procedures would only apply to bargaining unit employees.  Supervisors and other management would continue to be reduced in juniority order.

     A youtube.com user named PostTruth has created a short video to expose the lie being perpetuated on the american public.  The video hgihlights the medias frenzied reporting on the USPS's financial crisis.  Then the video explains the true cause behing the financial problems.  The video features Charles Mapa, President of the National League of Postmasters, Former APWU Sectretary / Treasurer Terry Stapleton, and an anonymous postmaster.  You can watch the video by clicking the image (right)

     Postmaster Mark Jamison submitted testimony to the Postal Regulatory Committee in which he described the USPS's current financial crisis as "manufactured" and "the result of dysfunctional Congressional oversight and myopic postal management."    Jamison urges the PRC not to endorse the USPS Retail Alignment plan which would close thousands of post offices throughout the country.  Rather than seeing the potential uses for this postal network of offices, the USPS is hell bent on detroying what it sees as "overbuilt industrial capacity".  According to Jamison, the current mess was created by Congress and exascerbated by postal management.  He urges the PRC not to let either part off the hook for their failure to meet their responsibilities.  Read Mark Jamison's full statement

     The APWU has realsed a follow up video to the first commercial they launched in this battle to save the USPS.  This new video focuses on the true reasons for the USPS's debt crisis.  The video informs viewers that Congress, not wages and benefits, is the biggest drain on postal revenues.  You may recall that the first video, which pointed out that the USPS operates solely on stamp sales was called "a lie" by Representative Darrell Issa.

     As part of his Deficit Reduction Plan, President Obama has icluded provisions that would help ease the financial crisis the USPS is facing.  President Obama's suggestions include:

• Restrucuring the Retiree Health Benefit Fund pre-payments
• Returning $6.9 billion of overpayment into the FERS program.  This money would be returned over a period of two years.
• Allow the USPS to reduce delivery to 5-days per week.
• Allow the USPS to offer "non-postal" products. 
• Allow the USPS to negotiate with State and Local governments to offer their services at local post offices.
• Provide more pricing control and allow the USPS to re-submit its request for a "modest" one-time rate increase
• Increase employee contributions towards retirement by 1.2 percent over three years.
• Eliminate the FERS retirement annuity for new hires.  USPS would still match contributions to TSP for new hires.

     The Administration estimates that these changes will provide the USPS with an additional $20 billion of the next two years.  The Administration also believes these changes would reduce the federal deficit by an estimated $21 billion over 10 years.

     President Cliff Cuffey appeared on "The Ed Show" on MSNBC with host Ed Schultz.  Guffey took the opportunity to dispell many of the myths surrounding the current postal "crisis"

          The local has entered into local negotations with the USPS in several offices represented by the local.  The APWU was not planning to open negotiations this year, however, the USPS sent notification that they did want to negotiate.  The National Agreement indicates that either party can force the opening of negotiations and the other party must comply.

          We have concluded negotiations in several Associate Offices.  Negotiations at the Lehigh Valley P&DC are ongoing.  Most issues at the P&DC have been resolved, but there is still one management proposal that is being discussed.  Negotiating sessions were held at the P&DC on September 08 and September 09.  Sessions scheduled for September 13 and September 14 were postponed due to scheduling conflicts.  The parties are scheduling another negotiation session adn hope to resolve all outstanding issues.

          Ranking Member Elijah E. Cummings, joined by Representatives Norm Dicks, Ranking Member on the Appropriations Committee, Stephen F. Lynch, José Serrano, Gerald Connolly, Eleanor Holmes Norton and Danny K. Davis introduced legislation today to provide the U.S. Postal Service a 90-day extension on its pre-payment to the retired employee health benefit fund.  “The Postal Service is one of our nation’s most trusted and reliable institutions,” said Cummings. “This short-term measure would give Congress an additional three months to consider ways to ensure that the Postal Service is profitable and competitive in the 21st century economy.”

               

          The bill would postpone by 90 days a $5.5 billion prepayment to the Postal Service’s retiree health benefits fund due September 30.  This advance payment is required under the 2006 Postal Accountability Enhancement Act, which mandated that the Postal Service make accelerated annual payments to fully fund its anticipated retiree health care costs by 2016. This mandate is inconsistent with private sector policy, where companies typically prepay 70% to 80% of future retiree health care costs.  The Postal Service has already paid more than $42 billion to the U.S. Treasury toward its employees’ future healthcare costs.  Full Story

The Obama Administration is enagaged in meetings with the USPS in attempts to resolve the USPS's financial situation.  Included in the discussions are the possibility of a 30-day extension on the required Retiree Fund payment.  Other subjects discussed were:  Reducing payments the USPS makes to Medicare due to the fact that many USPS retirees do not use Medicare.  Fast tracking office closing studies which would enable the USPS to reduce costs by shifting retail operations to contract facilities. More control over pricing - The PAEA Act of 2006 severely limits the USPS's ability to raise rates in relation to costs.  Food and gas prices are not included in the Consumer Pricing Index which means when fuel prices rise, the USPS cannot increase prices accordingly.