PRC schedules hearing on USPS plans to close stations and branches
Washington, DC – The Postal Regulatory Commission today issued Order No: 244 establishing Docket N2009-1 to provide a public hearing and issue an advisory opinion on the national service implications of a U.S. Postal Service “Station and Branch Optimization and Consolidation Initiative.”
The Postal Service has advised it will examine approximately 3,200 postal stations and branches nationwide for possible closure or curtailment and that an additional 1,600 stations and branches could likewise be reviewed depending on the outcome of the initial examination.
The Commission proceeding provides a transparent on the record process to ensure that any nationwide changes in postal service 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 Commission invites interested parties to participate in the process in accordance with CFR 39 §3001.20(b). Requests are due on or before July 28, 2009. A prehearing conference is scheduled for July 30, 2009, at 9:30 a.m. in the Commission’s hearing room.
July 11th, 2009 07:23
Their should not be any stations or branches of the USPS
consolidated or closed. Each and every community has the right to their own postal facility. If this happens, it would cause unnecessary hardships for postal customers who have postal boxes in these stations and branches.
THIS IS A TOTALLY RIDICULOUS IDEA. DONOT CLOSE ANY STATION OR BRANCH.
July 11th, 2009 07:25
Their should not be any stations or branches of the USPS
consolidated or closed. Each and every community has the right to their own postal facility. If this happens, it would cause unnecessary hardships for postal customers who have postal boxes in these stations and branches.
THIS IS A TOTALLY RIDICULOUS IDEA. DONOT CLOSE OR CONSOLIDATE ANY STATION OR BRANCH.
July 11th, 2009 08:37
If this was your company & a office does not bring enough revenue to even pay for lease of building and the employee payroll, then who is to make up the difference when the company is near bankruptcy. The post office does not recieve tax payers money, we survive solely on what is brought in by it’s products, stamps, etc. Somethings gotta give up some conveniences to survive as a company. We do this in real life too, it is part of cutting back to survive in this economy.
July 11th, 2009 09:44
The station WILL BE CLOSED. The PO already has the hack saw. The “review” is for show only. Its a done deal to close the ones they want. Those idiots in managment have to save their own jobs and justify it too. So its on. Hey remember the Milk delivery man???????
July 11th, 2009 10:36
Many of the United States Postal Service’s problems can be resolved by eliminating 50% or more of management positions. A 50% reduction in management alone, would save the service $4 billion a year. It’s time to contact your elected representatives in Washington and inform them that you’re tired of the ongoing charade that only seems to benefit the self-serving interests of all postal management. Not many people are being fooled by this agency’s deterioration to the point where they are no longer providing “service.” It’s time for everyone to get involved and take a proactive approach, especially Congress.
July 11th, 2009 10:59
Adam Smith, if that is your real name, I agree that a reduction in Administrative functions is necessary for the solvency of the organization, 50 percent is probably a bit tighther than anyone would like. That will never happen. To many relationships established, before the organization does anything.
July 11th, 2009 12:45
Stop blaming management for the financial condition of the company. The collective bargaining agreement ties managers hands for dealing with unproductive workers. If you worked in the real world you would either work to standard levels or be terminated. Without change from highly paid union workers making about 55k plus plenty of benefits, the future will be that of the autoworkers. There are millions of people out of work, you make good money for unskilled labor, and all that keeps coming out of craft employees is overstaffed management. What a joke, with less managers employees like you would cost the company more money….and you would still find something to complain about!
July 11th, 2009 13:45
Mike,
your clueless. Management ran this company into the ground not the unions get your head out of the sand or management butt and join the real world. I guess you think Obama wrecked the economy too. News flash 8 years of Bush did it. Stop posting nonsense.
July 11th, 2009 14:12
There are several reasons the USPS is in the current position. The first is the country as a whole is in an economic slump that reduces the number of business mailings made in the past. The second is there maybe to many management functions is there a need for what will be soon 8 areas or do we really only need 5 like we had when there were regions. There is the potential for reducing Postmaster positions if you could eliminate the outcry from communities by eliminating the post office. The comment on craft employees is probably accurate as we have unskilled labor being paid what skilled laborers are paid. A prime example is the custodial positions tell me any other company where the custodians make over $45K a year. The next is we need to get the politicians out of making policy for the organizaiton. If they are going to legislate facilities are required to be left open then they need to make the USPS a federal agency. When they want us to act like a business, be solvent and provide a service then they need to let management run the organization. It appears from how all other federal agencies are run and operated it is apparent that congress has a hard time showing how well they can perform that job. The current network is based on 1970’s technology we need to realign the network to be more efficient. The USPS can provide communities the same service they have today but there is no need for that community to have either a postmaster or facility. It always makes me laugh when the union’s cry that congress should stay out of our business since we have a collective bargainning agreement. When the union can’t fall back on the CBA then they run to congress to have them stop USPS actions. I think it’s time we work together to make sure the organization as a whole is viable into the future. I think this is going to require everyone to sacrifice a little to keep us solvent.
July 11th, 2009 16:34
Mike,
50% cut in management will save 4 billion????Where do you get your figures from? Think before your talk….that’s poor math, there is no where near that number at 50%….First managers have no CBA to protect them. They will be reduced probably by 20% or more overall. Offices will close as well weather you like it or not, they have to. Second the contract years of 2010 & 2011 will be big because congress knows we have too many overpaid craft as mentioned above, unskilled labor, we have been lucky for years now. The NALC will be broken up and evaluated routes will come…bet on it! This will save billions plus the reduction of 6 day will save another 3 billion per. With craft reductions will come managers as well….So don’t worry about your supervisor, just your own butt….If you are a good worker you need not worry… but a slug who just complains then see ya!!!!!!!
July 11th, 2009 18:29
GPS will get rid of slugs, oh but union will save them or they won’t be able to collect dues
July 11th, 2009 22:23
How can upper management blame unions for the problems faced? Did not the Postmaster General sign off on each and every CBA under the last contracts, and the ones before that? So if you are a manager, and can’t get your job done, blame your boss, or yourself for your shortcomings, not the low level employees.
July 12th, 2009 01:20
Tired of it. District managers coming down next week to harass us because now we are only meeting DOIS projections. We told them we did not recognize DOIS the last couple of years. So when OUR mail volume started going up and DOIS showed overtime everyday we obliged them and started meeting DOIS. Now all of a sudden DOIS figures are wrong and we have to work to a better standard than DOIS.Will never be able to satisfy the SOB’s. Have one carrier position open for 6 months. District manager says hiring freeze. Then in the next breath asks “does anybody want the supervisor job.”Have 2 postmasters now and 1 204B to manage 6 city routes. Talk about a fleecing of the PO.Interim Route Adjustment is a joke too. We eliminated one route with it back in January and was able to keep all remaining routes this last period. But that irked them so much up at District that they are now doing this harassment next week to make us save them time so we will have to add to the routes this next interim route adjustment. Also our union president has been standing up to them filing grievances on all their violations and now they are trying to frame him on some trumped up charges.Said they are going to make an example out of someone. Drive around until they find someone with a door open or seatbelt unfastened and fire them on the spot. Talk about a bunch of ungrateful SOB’s.
July 12th, 2009 11:49
Good 4 all of u guys, I am willing to take a pay cut of 20% in order to save same of my coworkers positions, I already told the union people to put the offer on the table, what about you guys, R U with me? god bless you
July 13th, 2009 13:13
http://blog.uspsoig.gov/?p=1952
submit ideas to save the usps money or help generate revenue
July 13th, 2009 20:05
When there are post offices and stations and branches within 1-5 miles of each other, that is a little much. Times are tough and most people who own a business would never operate the way the Post Office is mandated and continually lose money day after day. Collective bargaining has not been the answer since labor costs are well over 75% of the budget. The mentality of some postal workers is something they should be ashamed of. They just want to work at their pace, take days off when they want and who cares how and when the mail gets delivered. The Postal service needs to be able to address these issues in all offices or they will continue to fail, even if they cut the 50% of management that some say is the demise of the service. What about cutting all jobs by 50%, establishing standards of work and eliminating all the sweet heart deals the unions had acquired in many offices. Maybe expect people to give a solid days work for a solid days pay. Postal Workers are paid very well for what they do!!!!
July 14th, 2009 01:39
Im not willing to take a pay cut, skilled or unskilled labor, call it what you will. Only half of the people I came in with made it to the present day. Craft employees and their unions are not the problem. Do we really need a supervisor for every six employees? I mean come on! That is the ratio I deal with every day. And now to justify their jobs they are driving around trying to act like they are doing something. Burning up company gas, putting wear and tear on USPS vehicles to drive behind me and observe me walk up and down stairs for an hour, and then off they go to meet the other four for an hour lunch on company time and maybe even a thirty minute shopping stop and then its off to the tanning bed. they dont even try to conceal it anymore. And yet, all I hear is how the over paid carriers are bringing down the USPS! BULL! That ratio I mentioned before does not even include all the cozy administration jobs higher than station level. Delivering the mail is our primary function and yet only 200,000 out of 650,000 carry mail! I look around and the only positions I see being cut are those assigned to carriers. At this pace maybe I can get my very own supervisor. Everyday I go on a ten to twelve hour hike, stopping only for a thirty minute lunch and a couple of ten minute breathers. I mean HOW MUCH MORE SHOULD I BE ASKED TO GIVE?
July 15th, 2009 22:43
As a retail associate, I believe that the company needs to eliminate, or put on hiatus, these expensive programs, i.e. mystery shopper. Although I appreciate the importance of airline security (especially when flying during vacation); the scoring and unreasonable demands by management to improve scores to justify THEIR performance rating is a thing of the past. A dinosaur. I wish Congress would examine this component of expenses that USPS management deems uncondinationally necessary…..c’mon. Our postal service performed well before the Bush-era imposed fear of “tur-ists”, and we can do so again without the added expense of funding an independent company to monitor our performance. We may not need to close any branches or curtail to 5 day delivery if some of the “fat” could be cut. We (and Congress) should be asking for fiscal accountablity & transparency…..”what exactly does USPS pay for the Mystery Shopper Program?”
August 5th, 2009 11:18
This is really a very big mistake, a lot of people lost jobs, I’m sure many lost internet and need to use postage to mail letters or pay their bills to keep their electricity or pay their mortage, some how, some may have lost their means of transportation, so if they are riding their bike or walking to a nearby post office, they are very lucky. Closing the branches and stations will really impact hard on the customers haven’t they thought of that! This will really cause a national crisis!
August 23rd, 2009 04:07
USPS MANAGER
Let me tell you this…
When people are seeing their managers talking on cellphones, and not doing their jobs. Well you really have no say. I believe in working hard everyday. A sharp cut in management will make the Post Office be competitive. U could relate, if you understood. I dont know if you are upper management, or, low level. but be certain. WE DONT NEED 4 SUPS FOR 12 EMPLOYEES!! Especially if you are gonna talk about the last casual you were interested in. OPPS!!! thats old school!!!
SO I will say ESPECIALLY IF YOU ARE GONNA TALK ABOUT THE NEXT HOOOORE YOU STAND UP!!! SLAM!!!