Category: Content

Fact Finding

Fact finding with the U.S.P.S. and NAPS convened on Monday June 4th 2012. I know our leaders did their homework preparing for this event. I am sure the U.S.P.S. is equally up to the task. What can NAPS expect to achieve from the proceedings? We all know that money at this point is non-existent. The Government just came out with an additional freeze on pay for Federal workers in its 2013 budget. Let’s just say for example that the fact finding committee recommends a pay package for all EAS based on NAPS presentations, the U.S.P.S will counter with sorry we are not agreeing to it and that’s the end of it. We have no other recourse. We would have the panel’s recommendation and try to work with the U.S.P.S. in other areas. We could enhance job security, finally get our jobs posted, receive a realistic SWC’S formula, getting credit for the extra things that are filtering down to the stations, that are taking valuable time away from the supervisors. We have been working on reducing redundant forms and whenever possible putting supervisors who are on detail back to their assignments, reducing the need for 204’bs. We can work with the U.S.P.S to show the need for jobs that were done away with, only to have the impacted EAS or 204’b still do the job that does not technically exist.

We have to be proud of the fact that NAPS after being thrown under the bus by the other associations stood its ground and pursued Fact Finding when every thing else failed. This is nothing new when it comes to pay negotiations. NAPS will never say, We had to go to fact finding only because the other associations went, please reopen pay consultations or I was able to save the jobs but not the Postmaster. While I do respect the other associations I am a firm believer in NAPS negotiating on its own with the U.S.P.S., it’s been that way for years. My mentor and friend Vince Palladino always told me we have different agendas then our counterparts in the other associations so it beneficial to both to negotiate with the U.S.P.S. on it’s own. They accepted what the U.S.P.S. gave to save money and not go to fact finding, our organization put the membership first and pursued fact finding regardless of the cost. Our Resident officers and Executive board members who voted to go to fact finding must be commended. An old Roma saying applies here, While I might not win every fight, my opponent will definitely know they were in one. GO NAPS, STAY STRONG.

Tommy Roma
N.E.R.V.P.

Washington Article

Washington, DC – On May 31, the Postal Regulatory Commission issued Order No. 1361 establishing Docket N2012-2 to provide a public hearing and issue an advisory opinion on the U.S. Postal Service’s Post Office Structure Plan (POStPlan). The primary focus of the proposal is to reduce costs by changing operating hours at approximately 17,700 of the 32,000 postal retail locations nationwide. The Service’s previous plan, the Retail Access Optimization Initiative, to close 3,700 post offices has been put on hold.

Vice Chairman Nanci E. Langley will serve as “Presiding Officer” for this docket. “This proceeding will provide all interested persons with a full opportunity to provide input,” said Vice Chairman Langley. “At the same time, the Postal Service has said it would like to be able to begin to implement its plan in September, and the Commission will conduct a timely review with this in mind.”

The Commission proceeding provides a transparent, on-the-record process to ensure that any nationwide changes in postal services are consistent with the Postal Service’s obligation to provide prompt, reliable, and efficient postal services to customers in all areas and to all communities. The public is encouraged to share their written views with the Commission. Comments may also be shared via the Commission’s online customer service form at www.prc.gov.

“The public should have a clear understanding of the changes the Postal Service is currently proposing to reduce the overall level of rural post office service,” said Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway. “I encourage postal customers to become familiar with the new proposal and to let the Commission know of their interests and needs.”

Email from Congressman Michael Grimm

Email from Congressman Michael Grimm

Dear Mr. roma,

Thank you for contacting me regarding the financial troubles of the United States Postal Service (USPS). It’s good to hear from you.

I realize the United States Postal Service is in a difficult financial situation. Unfortunately, the USPS lost $5.1 billion in 2011 and is projected to lose another $11.1 billion in 2012. In order to cut costs, the USPS has announced plans to shut down over 200 mail processing facilities and over 3,000 retail locations.

Several proposals have been introduced in both the House and Senate to help the USPS achieve savings and preserve current mail standards. Recently, S. 1789 the 21st Century Postal Service Act of 2012, which seeks to preserve mail standards and keep processing facilities and retail locations open, passed in the Senate. This legislation was passed with an amendment to maintain all current door delivery services. While far from perfect, S. 1789 has bipartisan support and will strengthen the USPS for generations to come.

Rest assured, I will keep your views in mind as legislation regarding the future of the United States Postal Service is considered in the House of Representatives. Thank you again for sharing your thoughts and concerns. I invite you to follow me on Facebook, www.facebook.com/repmichaelgrimm, and Twitter @repmichaelgrimm or visit my website at www.grimm.house.gov. Should you have any further comments or questions, please do not hesitate to contact my office.

Sincerely,

mgrimmsig?
Congressman Michael Grimm

The New York Times – Free the Post Office!

OP-ED COLUMNIST

Free The Post Office!

By JOE NOCERA
848
5/19/2012
The New York Times
English
Copyright 2012 The New York Times Company. All Rights Reserved.

 

In the short run, it’s not all that difficult to figure out how to stanch the bleeding at the United States Postal Service.

True, its losses seem downright scary. In just the first half of this year, it reported losses of $6.5 billion, more than double the loss for the first two quarters of 2011. That’s on top of the $25 billion it has lost over the past five years — not to mention the $21 billion it expects to lose by the year 2016 if nothing changes.

On the other hand, its pension is overfunded to the tune of around $11 billion. It is also required by law to make an annual payment of nearly $5.5 billion to prepay for health benefits for future retirees, a mandate imposed on no other company — or government agency — in America. Simply ending that onerous prefunding requirement and reclaiming the excess pension money would go a long way toward shrinking the losses.

It could also close money-losing rural post offices and outsource the work to the local general store. It could shrink its work force. It could end Saturday delivery. It could raise prices, which are among the lowest in the world. It could take steps, in other words, to get its costs under control, just like any other business grappling with red ink.

Even over the long haul, the Postal Service isn’t necessarily doomed to oblivion, as many critics believe. Everyone understands the basic problem: thanks to the rise of the Internet, first-class mail is in inexorable decline. Yet the Postal Service still generates more than $60 billion in annual revenue, and if you strip away the prefunding requirement, its ongoing operating losses are not crushing — at least not yet. Other businesses with a declining core product have been able to change business models and come roaring back. There is no good reason the post office couldn’t do likewise.

So why hasn’t it? The easy temptation is to blame the lack of progress on the unimaginative bureaucrats who run it, or on shortsighted unions. But that’s not really where the fault lies. With the aid of Evercore Partners, a respected Wall Street boutique, the Postal Service has put together a five-year plan that includes many of the above-mentioned steps, and offers a credible route to profitability.

The unions, meanwhile, aren’t shying away from acknowledging that the work force will have to shrink. ”Of course, you have to cut costs,” said Ron Bloom, a former Obama administration official who is advising the postal unions. ”That is not debatable” — though he also stressed the importance of finding new revenue.

Rather, the problem is that neither the management nor the workers really control the Postal Service. Even though the post office has been self-financed since the 1980s, it remains shackled by Congress, which simply can’t bring itself to allow the service to make its own decisions. It was Congress that insanely imposed the prefunding requirement in 2006. Laws restrict the post office’s ability to raise prices and cut costs. Over the years, when the post office wanted to get into new businesses, it was often prevented from doing so by Congress.

Even now, with a crisis approaching — the Postal Service simply doesn’t have the money to make the next prefunding payment, which is due in August — Congress can’t stop meddling.

Last year, the post office announced an ambitious cost-cutting plan, including the closure of 3,700 rural post offices, for potential savings of $6.5 billion. The Senate reacted by insisting on a six-month moratorium, during which it was supposed to come up with a bill that would fix the problems. It passed the bill, all right — one that grudgingly gives the post office a bit more wiggle room but also continues to tie its hands in a hundred different ways. (It does, however, eliminate the prefunding requirement.)

A parallel House bill, which has not yet reached the floor, would allow for rural post office closings — but only after they’d been vetted by a commission, similar to the way Congress allows the military to close bases. Meanwhile, the Postal Service is doing what it can. Last week, it unveiled a rural post office strategy that would only save it $500 million, and, just a few days ago, it said it would begin consolidating its big mail-processing centers. But, without legislation, there are severe limits to what it can do to save itself.

There is nothing ideological about fixing the post office. It’s not like the debt ceiling. The Internet notwithstanding, the country still needs a viable Postal Service. What is mainly required is for Congress to get out of the way and allow it to begin truly operating like a real business.

And if it can’t? If Congress can’t do this one, nonpartisan thing, then it’s worth asking whether it can do anything at all.

A Message from Senator Charles E. Schumer

Dear Mr. Roma:

Thank you for contacting me regarding the 21st Century Postal Service Act (S. 1789). I agree that the Postal Service is a vital part of our democracy and that the U.S. Congress needs to do what it can to preserve the institution.

As you know, I opposed the original Postal Service plan to slash over 3,600 post offices and more than half of the mail processing plants in New York and around the country. I also strongly opposed the Postal Service’s plan to slow down mail by ending overnight delivery for first class mail. I’ve been working hard with my colleagues in the Senate to ensure that these draconian cuts were not implemented and to significantly improve S. 1789, and I believe the bill that passed on April 24, 2012 is a step toward preserving this important institution.

The Senate bill as amended would prevent rural post offices from being closed in areas that do not have access to broadband Internet; if seniors and other citizens would not receive substantially similar access to prescription drugs and other timely mail services; and if businesses would suffer significant financial losses as a result of the closure. Furthermore, the Senate bill would prevent the Postal Service from closing any post offices until it has established a set of service standards that would guarantee all postal customers regular and effective access to retail postal services.

Additionally, the Senate bill as amended requires the Postal Service to maintain a modified overnight delivery standard for first class mail and periodicals for a period of three years. Specifically, this bill requires the Postal Service to provide overnight delivery for mail that is both mailed and delivered in an area served by the same processing plant. As a result of this provision, if the Senate bill becomes law, more than 100 mail processing plants in the country currently on the list for closure would remain open.

Furthermore, the Senate bill bans the Postal Service from ending six day delivery for two years. After the two year ban is over, the Senate bill will only allow Saturday delivery to be eliminated if the Postal Service and Postal Regulatory Commission that ending six-day delivery is the only way for the Postal Service to achieve long-term sustainability.

Lastly, the Senate bill would establish a blue ribbon entrepreneurial commission to make recommendations on additional postal and non-postal services that the Postal Service could provide to achieve long-term fiscal sustainability. Innovative thinking is absolutely vital in order for the Postal Service to thrive in the twenty-first century.

Again, thank you for contacting me to about this important issue. Please feel free to contact me again if I can be of any further assistance on this or any other matter.

Sincerely,

Charles E. Schumer
United States Senator

Please do not respond to this email. To send another message please visit my website at https://schumer.senate.gov/Contact/contact_chuck.cfm . Thank you.

Postal News – Statements from the Postal Service Board of Governors and the Postmaster General on Today’s Senate Action

April 25, 2012

The following statements are in response to today’s vote by the U.S. Senate to approve S 1789, the 21st Century Postal Reform Act.

Statement of the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service

The Board, in working with management, has spent the past two years preparing a comprehensive business plan to make the Postal Service viable so it would not become a liability to the American people. This plan was validated by outside experts. We stand behind this plan, and we are convinced it is the right approach.

Unfortunately, action by the Senate today falls far short of the Postal Service’s plan. We are disappointed that the Senate’s bill would not enable the Postal Service to return to financial viability. A strong Postal Service is important to the health of the entire mailing industry and the Postal Service’s ability to finance universal service for the American public. Given volume losses we have experienced over the past five years along with expected future trends, it is totally inappropriate in these economic times to keep unneeded facilities open. There is simply not enough mail in our system today. It is also inappropriate to delay the implementation of 5-day delivery when the vast majority of the American people support this change. Failure to act on these changes will ensure that the Postal Service’s losses will continue to mount.

We remain hopeful that Congress will ultimately produce legislation that will enable the Postal Service to return to financial viability.

Click here for complete statement.

USPS Plans for Workforce Cuts as Senate Expected to Take Up Reform Bill

This week the Senate is expected to take up legislation to reform the Postal Service. The bill (S.1789) could close post offices, end Saturday deliveries and return funds the Postal Service as pre-paid for retiree health benefits.

USPS already has started considering how it would operate with a slimmed-down workforce. Tony Vegliante, chief human capital officer for the Postal Service, said there are three ways it is trying to reduce the number of employees: Attrition, control hiring and voluntary separation incentives.

Click here for complete article.

-Jolie Lee
Federal News Radio 

An LTS to Remember

An LTS to Remember

Tommy Roma, Northeast Region Vice President

I have been attending our annual Legislative Seminar for more years than I care to remember. We have had many good LTS programs over the years, and have been fortunate enough that we haven’t had any lemons due to the hard work of our Resident Officers and our Legislative Counsel, Bruce Moyer.

This year, going back to our old home at the Marriott was fabulous. Not only was it great to be back at the Marriott, the changes in the program also freshened and energized all of the delegates. I know that I personally liked the new training materials, the upbeat programs, and the perks that all the delegates received.

Something else that was different this year was our new meeting planner, Ms Sheri Davies from Conference Direct. Conference Direct is something new for NAPS headquarters, but not something new to the Executive Board.

Many board members have been using Conference Direct for several years now. After a long string of successful events at the state and local level, last year the national executive board voted overwhelmingly to have Conference Direct negotiate with our hotels and manage the LTS program for the next several years.

The feedback that I received from delegates from my region told me that everyone was very satisfied with the 2012 LTS. Because we had a great location and the best training anyone could ask for from our lobbyist, Bruce Moyer, it was a win-win situation.

Those of you who attended the 2012 LTS, and for those members who didn’t, don’t forget…. stay in touch with your Senators and members of Congress. Making contact with them needs to happen frequently in order to save the Postal Service.

Boy, I am glad that baseball is back! Let’s go Mets!