Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) was interviewed by Bloomberg Television about the postal financial difficulties.
He thinks we need fewer plants, fewer retail outlets and fewer employees.
Sen. Carper suggested that Congress give the Postal Service to means to "give more incentives for employees to retire."
What do you think this means? What would it take? Comment here.
46 comments:
A series of VERAs, starting with the managers of offices being considered for closure.
I totally agree.Starting with Postmasters whose offices are on the closure list.Veras.I would take it
I don't see why a company that posted a loss every year for the past 5 years should do a buy out. Instead, it should require individuals who are currently eligible for retirement to do so. When a office/plant needs to reduce staff, it should start wtih the junior employee who is retirement eligible and work its way up until it reduces the number it needs to make. To force someone to accept a VER and take a pay cut so someone senior, who is eligible without taking a cut, can stay is just wrong. I would hate to see someone who has 35 years in the service hold on to a job as the USPS makes someone who has only 17 years quit and take a bite in his/her reitrement.
I have 33 years but can't retire for 2 yrs 9 months, but I think people should have a choice if they want to retire.
I agree with #3. The people who are ready to retire should be the first they look at. And move there way down the list. I agree with someone having a choice to retire but when a company needs to get rid off excess and the higher paid to save itself that's were they should start. I know of 3 people right now that should have retired out years ago but don't want the next person in line to get there job becuase they don't like them. Or it's not who they want to have the job.
Well i only have one thing to say unless you know someone who can get you the job you are after you aren't going to get it and if you are a non career person well they are just going to dump you when they are done with you. I have worked for this company long enough to know unless you are connected in some place or you know someone you are screwed. and unless you can kiss but really god you are not going to move up anytime soon.
great suggestion, this was my idea two months ago!
Offer to add the 5 years to time in service and age we always hear as a rumor and I will give up my spot and don't really care who the next person is that gets it. And I wasn't a but kisser when I got promoted I showed up and did my work and even questioned decisions made and it really didn't hurt me. But I did need a new manager to come into my operation to see this since the prior manager was insecured and didn't like to be challenge professionally and didn't like the "why" question.
Hello! I found this blog via The Missive Maven and I'm glad you are writing about the current doings with our USPS.
I am a concerned citizen who doesn't want to see our Saturday mail delivery shut down! I do not fully understand the in's and out's of the situation, but the ideas of early retirement for those that qualify sound like a step in the right direction...
I am also a mail art artist and am supporting the USPS in my own little way by sending art through the mail =-)
Thanks for writing about this important issue - I look forward to seeing more blog posts in the days to come!
I have 30 years in as a letter carrier but am unable to retire because we are upside down in our home that was to be an investment. Why force any workers who are eligible to retire to quit when you have 10's of thousands of temporary employees who are not under any kind of contract? They are at the bottom seniority wise. That to me seems much fairer to start there. Otherwise, it's a slap in the face to penalize those who have put in the most time with the USPS.
The only people that want the senior employees forced out are the ones that are junior. The ones forced out shouls ALWAYS start with the junior people.
The junior people like RCA's make a lot less money. What USPS is looking for is to reduce the regular employees and be allowed by Congress to keep the non regulars as part time work so as to not pay benefits and retirement. AND.....the will most likely get it!
I was forced to move during the last restructure to maintain employment. Now I must stay in my current job for 2 years or pay back the moving expenses. If the USPS released us of that obligation I would consider retiring next summer when I'm eligible.
The Post Office is broke, they are not going to give out any incentives. If they do, it will be years not money. I think the Senate and the House needs to take a look at their members. Some of them should retire too! Most of them a long time ago.
All for choice.
To get rid of people would be to start at the most recent hired.
or
Let employees vote for "who" should go :)
IMHO, they should start with all the redundant and unneccessary positions...managers who manage managers who manage managers! How many people do we need to run reports and review numbers and tell the people who are actually handling the mail and greeting the customers that they need to increase revenue or that they missed scanning a barcode when they were done sorting the mail? Start with the people who don't touch any mail that's not addressed to them!
If they would give full credit to me for when I was PTF, I would consider retiring as soon as I am eligible to make way for the newer, younger employees. I consider my co-workers part of a family and I would be glad to help them...as soon as I were on firm retirement ground.
I am elegible but with the economy and stock mkt the way it is, and with the threat of having to pay much more of our health care premiums, I am not going. If they offered an incentive of $25,000 I would be out the door in a heartbeat.
I agree. We have way too many managers. Let the ones who actually touch the mail do their work and do away with all of the redundant reports.
If the USPS would make it possible for a USPS retiree to work as an RCA or any part time job in the areas that have trouble getting part time help, retirement would look much sweeter. And the USPS wouldn't have to spend so much on training while getting people already loyal to the service!
I am not ready to retire and to be told I have to because I am over 55 and 20 years of service doesn't seem right. I would take a 65% cut in pay and I am okay with that if all the legislators will do the same and upper management will take the same cut in pay when they leave. I don't see that happening. If people aren't able to do their job they should be let go - voluntarily or otherwise. I see too many people that seem to they because they have been here 35 years they are entitled to the pay without working for it. Just showing up doesn't mean you are working. I agree that we need to get rid of some of the redundant reports and the people that monitor them but don't really do anything about them. (kicking people when they are already down and out because they forgot a report or didn't have time because they were getting carriers out the door doesn't seem to be getting better results).
I think it’s a mistake to strip assets from the postal service by reducing retail outlets, delivery days and processing facilities. In the long term, those assets are competitive advantages which it would be silly to sacrifice as a short term strategy. That said, I’d take an early retirement in a heartbeat. The thrill of working for a respected institution which provid(ed) excellent service to all Americans regardless of where they chose to live is gone. I’m seeing a degradation in our service even now, and I don’t want to be around when it gets even worse.
I think there are a sufficient number of employees who are eligible or close to retirement and don't want to see USPS backsliding in service, that the PMG could get to go if VERAs or additional years were offered.
All it would take for me (30 years, but under 55) to go is the removal of the 2% per year deduction in my retirement. The other thing I would like to see, as someone mantioned earlier, is to create part-time, emergency fill-in positions for recently retired persons that can step in and help on bad days, ESPECIALLY Mondays if we do away with Saturday delivery. Those positions should have ZERO effect on retirement pay (read- no deductions).
I know of two Postmasters that could retire but won't. Hanging on for the money. Won't let anyone else have their job. They'll probably have to carry them out in a box before they give it up. It's sad.
Not one person suggests keeping employees based on merit, and getting the dead wood out? Wow.
We are all spoiled with our pay and benefits. We feel entitled to a job for life. Sadly, that has been the case and why we have "dead wood" in our ranks.
If the usps would start drug testing and fire the people who test positive we would more than likely need to be hiring people. And none of this "I have a disease" excuse "give me treatment".
First the managers we have are far too many, if they don't touch the mail let them downgrade, or retire.
Secoondly,
The postmasters who have 5 years or less to their retirement in the old system (civil service?) give them the 6 months, 14 months, or what they need up to the 5 years and let them enjoy the retirement they have worked for.
I am totally opposed to forced retirement, but do believe that those who are impacted by the threatened cuts should be offered incentives to retire. I also believe that -- during this period of massive reorganization -- job postings should be limited to impacted employees and only opened up to others, especially non-Postal applicants, if the jobs cannot be filled by first considering impacted employees or other Postal employees.
Headquarters seems to think they will be better off with reducing Post Offices and Plant facilities.
They are eliminating the employees that sell the service, deliver the mail, and visit with customers. However, they put more pressure on scanning and reports then revenue generation. I talk to my customers about the services and products. But if I don't put that into Business connect, Hdqts doesn't think we are doing our job. Reports are not necessary. Get rid of the people that develope these nonsencial reports and lets advertise and get the mail business, period.
Get rid of the managers at Headquarters, how much does that cost USPS, what is their wage and their bonus? I am a Postmaster that lost the COLA in 1994, the unions din't, is this fair? Is it fair to mess with our retirements and health benefits? Is it fair to force retirements with the ecomony that way it is? Is it fair that everytime I see Donahoe give a speech that he does not mention the overpmt, just mentions reducing service and compliment. Yes we may need to do some changes, but start with the individuals that don't touch the mail or know what a counter retail line is. Closing post offices and plants and the consideration of 5 day delivery is not providing servce and is not competitive. We change our delivery standards and who is going to want to use our service network? Who is going to work for the rural carrier when he wants vacation? I can't see many RCA's sticking around to work 2 or 3 weeks a year when a carrier wants off. Do more with less has been the motto for the last few years, we certainly are at the ground level, but I doubt that is happening at mid level and up. Give an incentive to those with a certain number of years, don't penalize the retirement. And by gosh don't go be a RCA sub after your retirement, your retirement will be re done, you will take a hit. There is alot of knowledge
in the field, I have enjoyed my job and always worked efficently for the USPS. I have worked short handed, couldn't get time off, no one to borrow to work in my office, upper management didn't care. The pride in this institution among employees is diminishing, sad but true. That's what happens when employees work hard, have pride in what they do and are not recognised for their efforts, contributions and successes. Do we retire or stick around nd try to make this an even better USPS?
For those of you who believe retirement eligible employees should be forced to retire, it is against federal law to do this.
How many managers keep their jobs by putting together the reports they make up, do they really help anybody, start there, and how about the old days, where our pooms sent us a bday card, now its an email, so if we dont use the postal service ourselves do we understand how the general public also uses email.
The huge problem they will create with cutting down to five days, our
RCA will no longer exist, no one is going to stay on waiting for the week or two vacation or the seldom sick day. You need to work with the facts not with what you can dream in a land of make believe.
If they would give me the two years I need to retire I'd be out of here in a second. I don't need a monetary incentive. I do not understand why we are shutting down retail offices, processing plants and degrading service when we have a higher percentage of managers to workers than most other companies. We need to thin the manager ranks before we start
getting rid of what makes us actually tick.
It's not against the law to force out people who are retirement eligible...its against the law to force someone out based on age. A good example of this is the military, who can serve no more then 30 years. When they hit 30...they are out, regardless of economy or their personal financial situation. I hear people who tell me that they can't retire because they have a huge house payment, or because their thrift took a hit..ect. How do you think the person feels who only has 12 years in....they are out and facing the same problems...ect their is no check coming each month. The state of the economy or your personal financial situation should have no play in it. When you signed up...no where did it say you are guaranteeed to stay as long as you want. I always find it funny....union people will hold their right to seniority...all the while forgetting that the union is all about "us" and not "I". You should think about those working around you and should be concerned about them making it to retirement too. Simply have congress place a cap on the total service years allowed...and that will fix that.
Well said!!!
The public is well-aware that the USPS is on thin ice now. Has anyone else noticed the increase of FedEx commericals on TV? It seems they are just waiting for the right moment to pounce on our business. It makes me sick that this is happening.
I agree with #3. If they took out the 2% reduction and offer early out i would take it.Get rid of managers and higher ups.
It's amazing to me how many Amerikans rush to comment on subjects they know nothing about. I wouldn't bother to try to educate anyone here.
Are we sure this guy is a Democrat? His words sound suspiciously similar to what Rep. Issa is proposing in Congress. Force people to retire (and I can guarantee you with no monetary incentive, because frankly, there is no money) and close offices and retail outlets. This will put us one step closer to privatization, which you know they are practically foaming out the mouth to do. We are going to end up with job cuts, pay cuts and benefit cuts.
I have worked in many capacities for the USPS over the years and I come from a postal family. My father was a letter carrier, supervisor, and station manager. We used to say we bled postal cancellation ink because we cared about what we were doing. It was important to me; I took an oath.
I don't really know when we, as an entity, became the US Postal Business instead of the US Postal Service, but I feel that upper management, PMG on down, has been driving this organization into the ditch for the last 15 years. Reports that make no sense, decisions that make no sense, no communication and total disrespect for the people actually doing the job of moving the mail are just the tip of the proverbial iceberg!
I further believe that the Postal Board of Governors has done our USPS and the country no favors with their recent selections of PMGs. When we needed the innovation, creativity and vision of a true Postmaster General, we have, instead, been subjected to the inept, cring-worthy, CEO-type of PMG, who messes things up and then takes his golden parachute and flies away into the sunset.
Employees work hard every day (Doing more with less!) with no recognition and are being scapegoated by management desperate to make the unworkable work. If the plan is to get rid of people, do it, but don't belittle and verbally, mentally, or physically abuse people on their way out the door. Treat people with a bit of dignity and respect. That's my request.
To all these people that think retirement eligible postal workers should be forced into retirement, I am sure when it becomes YOUR turn to retire you will want to go when YOU deem the right time. These loyal postal workers have given many years of their lives to this business and are still VERY productive. In fact, when and if they are forced out so much knowledge will be gone with them, we may have to shut the doors!
I wish I could get moving expenses. That's just another example of wasted money.
I've been with the USPS for over 28 years. I will retire when I get my 30 years in, or if they offer another early retirement.
Here's the reason why... I have a "part-time" business that's doing better than my USPS job, but I want to be able to draw on my pension before I leave. If it wasn't for my business, I would stay until at least age 62. That would have been my choice.
I don't think it's correct to force, shove, and coerce people out of jobs they have held for many years. This is the USA, not some 3rd world country.
For all of you who think letter carriers are "stupid and lazy," get up off your ass, and go to work for the USPS if you think you can pass our entrance exams. You'll work in all kinds of weather, walk 10 - 14 miles a day, deliver to about 600 - 700 addresses and up, and try to get it all done in 8 hrs. Sure, we make an envious wage, but we work hard.
I worked at other jobs, but the USPS is by far the hardest job I've ever had. My small office has seen its share of bad backs, feet, carpel tunnel syndrome, etc. I had rotator cuff surgery last year, and I'm still going strong. I'm not some "pussy-wussie" like a lot of you paper-pushing office types are.
We're trying to get people in my town to move their mailboxes out to the curb where we can save time and money, but guess what? The public wines, cries, and bitches about it like we're asking them to walk to China and back.
America, get up off your ass, and on your feet. You'll be doing both of us a favor.
And now, for my final venting of anger on this forum, I'll say this... If our unions and wages are busted, here's what you'll get... a bunch of low-paid workers who won't give a crap about your mail. Who else would want to work 8 - 12 hrs a day walking 10 - 14 miles daily up to 6 days a week in freezing, rainy, and hotter than hell weather for 10 - 12 bucks an hour?
You'll have a new carrier about every other month. I know, because we've had new hires that couldn't handle the job at $16.00 and up starting wage.
You get what you paid for.
After reading many of the unqualified comments here, I can only say: Your ignorance makes me ill and angry.
I would like to remind all who are willing to force out employees who have been loyal to their oath when hired in the late 1970's and early 1980's at eht USPS that these individuals deserve the respect and support for performing and completing obligations that are not seen by the newly hired managers or floor workers. Give me a break when I hear that Darrell Issa has what it takes to be considered an honorable man to suggest such rubbish in a legislative action. This Congressman Issa is nothing but a car thief!!! But he is worth a lot of money because he came up with the Viper anti car theft alarm. Maybe we should come up with a anti democracy theft alarm for the rest of us who are hard working, honest and loyal to our COUNTRY.
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