Wednesday, September 14, 2011

Suddenly, we're everywhere

Have you noticed the news lately? We're everywhere and suddenly everyone is talking about us.

It's all the talk about layoffs, defaults and postal finances.

We've been the subject of thousands of news articles and hundreds of editorials.

The Postmaster General has had more than 50 interviews with major media outlets like the New York Times, Washington Post and Time Magazine. Tonight, he's appearing on the O'Reilly Factor.

Is all of this working? Are your neighbors, friends and customers getting the picture about the Postal Service and what is their reaction?  What do you think? Comment here.

20 comments:

Anonymous said...

I am always asked about what is going on. They can't believe the USPS is really going to close their post offices. They hear about our financial losses but don't really understand them. They see it as a federal government red tape problem that we will "work out" some day.

Anonymous said...

If he has over 50 interviews with major mailers....then apparently he is not communicating effectively. I watched his testimony before congress and later on a news channel. He was asked a point blank question about closings....and instead of answering the question...he simply went back to what he wants. He has to do this because he doesn't have a sound business reply for this question.

Anonymous said...

THE US is insolvent...bankrupt! The fact that the Postal Service is also is just further proof that our country is in real trouble....people are afraid.

Anonymous said...

He's not communicating effectively with his employees either...

Anonymous said...

We may be in the news but the news isn't getting onto my workroom floor. The management in my office is horrible in relaying what we really need to know. Customers are sorry to hear about our problems and still don't understand that we ARE NOT PART of the government. I have people ask me all the time what is going on and since I don't know what do I tell them.

Anonymous said...

I still think that Donahue needs to tell the Congress what is going to happen and when. Say October first the Postal Service will go to a 5 day delivery, we will also/ get rid of upper management that is not needed, (why do we need 2 new postmasters right under Donahue) let's give a VERA with incentives to reduce some of the workforce Let the unions fight over what the h*** happens next. I would like to be able to retire from this institution but it doesn't look like that will happen.

Anonymous said...

I am watching OReilly now. Donahoe is not on. ???

Anonymous said...

What's worse is that everyone with a few cents to buy a stamp now has to put their two cents in how to fix us.

Anonymous said...

None of us mail carriers are coming back into the office at end of day empty handed .. we are doing our job ! Somewhere..whoever takes care of the moneys that we ARE generating..oughta be investigated way down deep & close. i smell a rat ... thieves!

Grannybunny said...

It's good that the Postal Service's crisis is getting alot of public exposure, because the American people -- including some of the commenters here -- want to, and need to, know the true sources of our problems, if there is ever going to be any realistic hope of their being corrected. There are those who want to privatize or shut down USPS, and -- without the true facts -- we can not effectively defend against their ill-intentioned attacks.

Anonymous said...

There is no money for VERA or incentives...
announcing processing plants that will be studied for closure today
NO $ NO $ the mail volume will not come back
even some of us don't understand the severity...

Anonymous said...

Well after the message today, I am afraid there is no hope at all for my little office. We haven't had our meeting yet, but after the anouncement to the public today from the PMG, my town may just throw in the towel. I guess I am disposable, non-career, no benefits employee...unemployment should be grand.

Anonymous said...

The media is really doing us a disservice by not reporting on the REAL reason we are broke, that Congress will not give us back the billions in overpayments that we have already made. Many of my customers hear all the bad news about post office closings and are only concerned that theirs is next. They don't understand everything else that is hindering us financially because they don't hear that part on the evening news. Of course, 500 interviews with the PMG saying we need to close offices and stop delivering on Saturdays is not getting the message out, either.

Anonymous said...

The real problem is NOT getting out...the retirement overfunding that the US lawmakers NEED to get back to the USPS. This is less about operating funds than politics...just more of the efforts to cripple and shush rural/small community America.

Anonymous said...

As stated on savethepostoffice.com
trying to correct misinformation by the media is like playing Whack a Mole. You write a letter to one Editor, only to read an article the next day with the same incorrect information or flat out lies. I don't believe the PMG is presenting our story correctly, he's just scaring our customers away. He couldn't have planned this better if he were deliberately trying to put us out of business.

Exhume said...

Responding to "I guess I am disposable, non-career, no benefits employee...unemployment should be grand". Many of us share in your grief! At almost 50 many of us are to old to start all over.

I am in a P&DF so we are on the list. Our Union President whom is on the customer service side says that only processing will loose their job..those on the customer service side are not impacted. Seeing as how he is low Seniority, that is the only way he can protect his job. It is nice to know that someone with 3 years seniority will stay before someone with 25. I have always thought a clerk is a clerk and we all are on the same seniority list. Those are the resons that so many people have dropped out of the Union in our office. At least I have something to think about at night while I am unable to sleep...well that and how your family is going to react when you tell them you are going to loose your house.

Anonymous said...

Well I can see why they postponed the annoucement. They were suppose to announce it last Thursday. Yet I guess it did not look good giving the announce about putting up to 50 thousand out of work on the same day the President give a National Address on creating jobs for America.

Yes we are everywhere..including the unemployment line.

trod said...

Right wingers on my route say that we're asking for a government buyout and don't deserve it. I tell them that all we want is the money that we overpaid in the prefund retirement account. Can't explain too much to those Rush Limbaugh addicts.

Anonymous said...

So if I do the math correctly, if they decide to close my office it should be close to christmas time or shortly after the new year...BAH HUMBUG

Anonymous said...

Alot of us are going to have a great new year,NOT!.Uppermanagement is what needs to go.Leave the employees that are working the mail alone.We need our small rural offices.