THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE - REALLY!?!
By Sam Wood www.swfloridaapwu.org
President - Southwest Florida Area Local - American Postal Worker's Union
Last year, USPS's Office of Inspector General (OIG) said that "deploying Flats Sequencing System (FSS) machines to additional sites is premature" until the system "demonstrates operational stability and achieves the minimum performance requirements under field test conditions"( http://www.uspsoig.gov/foia_files/DA-AR-09-012.pdf ). But postal officials decided that the results were good enough and providing enough cost savings to press on with more installations. REALLY!?!
On February 28, 2010 the web site Presort.com( http://www.presort.com/2010/02/usps-is-accelerating-flats-sequencing-installations/ ) announced "USPS Is Accelerating Flats Sequencing Installations". The article stated that "The USPS is committed to buying another 50 Phase I FSS machines from Northrop Grumman". In this same article the USPS has a Power Point Presentation showing that flat mail was down 26% in the past four years. REALLY!?!
Just two (2) days after (on March 2, 2010) the article on the acceleration of the FSS Machines Postmaster General (PMG) John Potter unveiled the "New USPS Business Model" ( http://multichannelmerchant.com/printchannel/postal/potter-unveils-new-usps-business-model-0302/ ). During this speech he stated that mail volume is expected to decline by another 20 billion pieces over the next 10 years with First Class mail declining by 30 billion pieces. Potter also was quoted as saying, “We’ve looked at this data from every angle possible going forward and even brought in outside experts to help develop a forecast,” Potter said. “Their conclusions are very sobering: Mail volume is not going to come back.” REALLY!?!
In the same news article Potter states: The USPS lost $11.7 billion during the past three years, Potter said. “If we don’t address our fundamental challenges, we’re going to see those losses continue to grow." In 2020, the Postal Service could lose $33 billion—just for that one year. REALLY!?!
The USPS is paying 1.4 billion dollars for the first 100 FSS Machines according to the OIG for the Phase 1 investment ( http://deadtreeedition.blogspot.com/2009/01/unofficial-guide-to-flats-sequencing.html ). REALLY!?!
Just last week the USPS announced through another Power Point Presentation ( http://deadtreeedition.blogspot.com/2010/05/fss-througputs-9-below-plan-usps.html ) that the FSS Machine throughputs were down by 9% and that is a result of the declining mail volume and does impact the potential savings estimates. REALLY!?!
They stated: "Technology solutions to gain back efficiencies are in review" REALLY!?!
They also stated: "Limited capital funds are available for new technology." REALLY!?!
One of the FUTURE Flats Mail strategies listed in this Power Point Presentation was " Improve Utilization and Efficiencies of the AFSM100 (Older Flats Machines)." REALLY!?!
The last page of the Power Point Presentation simply states: "QUESTIONS." REALLY!?!
Our fearless leader USPS Postmaster General John Potter has told congress and the American Public that he has a PLAN for the future of the Postal Service. REALLY!?!
1) Cut Saturday Delivery, but states that Post Offices and Box Sections will be open on the weekend (So if you have a box section, you still have six day service?). REALLY!?!
2) Eliminate some USPS Stations and Branches (with reduction of these, the number of Post Office Box Sections stated in #1 would decrease?). REALLY!?!
3) Cut window staffing which creates longer wait times and attempt to send them online to do business with the USPS which actually drives customers elsewhere for doing business. REALLY!?!
4) Restructure payments for the retiree health benefits to pay as you go instead of pre-funding. Actually a good Idea from Potter. REALLY!?!
5) A "MODEST" price increase proposal in 2011, instead of cutting all of the inflated discounts mailers receive. REALLY!?!
6) Flexible pricing of all USPS products. REALLY!?!
7) Increase the staffing level at USPS Headquarters yet drastically cut the rest of the workforce. REALLY!?!
Potter has stated that any closures of Stations and Branches will be balanced by expanded online and kiosk offerings in places like supermarkets, pharmacies, and other retailers. REALLY!?!
As to cutting Saturday delivery Potter stated: "If 70 percent of the American population tells us in surveys that they can live with five-day delivery, we have to do it," REALLY!?!
Do you think that if 70% of the American population said they could live without the Internet, would they really want to? REALLY!?!
With stamp prices looking to be increased sometime next year, Don Landis, Vice President of Postal Affairs for Arandell Corporation stated: “Any increase will hurt catalogers and will probably cause a decrease in the number of catalogs in the mail,” REALLY!?!
In calendar year (CY) 2008 alone, the Postal Service spent $73 million (mostly management) in relocation costs related to over 2,000 employees. REALLY!?!
Many Americans are becoming tired of hearing USPS Management continuously telling the US Congress that if they revamp the Postal Service, their "Plan" will work. REALLY!?!
http://tpmcafe.talkingpointsmemo.com/talk/blogs/w/a/wattree/2010/05/its-time-for-the-postmaster-ge.php
The only real change the Postal Service needs is NEW LEADERSHIP. There have been 72 United States Postmaster Generals since 1775, who have averaged 3 years of service in that position, including over the last 100 years. Since June 26, 1823, no Postmaster has served over 8 years as Postmaster General. As of June 1, 2010 the current Postmaster General John Potter will have served for 9 years in this position. It is obvious that no other United States Postmaster General has done a better job running the Postal Service since 1823 when you look at how long he has been in that position compared to the rest of the sixty-four (64) Postmasters since. REALLY!?!
The End! REALLY!?!
