Congresswoman says five day delivery will hurt rural areas
TweetWASHINGTON, March 3 — Rep. Jo Ann H. Emerson, R-Mo. (8th CD), issued the following news release:
U.S. Rep. Jo Ann Emerson (MO-08) responded to an announcement that the U.S. Postal Service will seek to drop one day of home delivery in an effort to offset budget shortfalls. Emerson, who represents the mostly-rural Eighth Congressional District in Southern Missouri, says the reduction of delivery days would adversely affect residents of her part of the state.
“There are many, many considerations the U.S. Postal Service must take into account before making a decision about removing a day from the weekly mail delivery to American homes and businesses,” Emerson said. “Especially in rural areas, the timeliness of financial information, bills to be paid and even deliveries of medicine by mail is important. Many of our daily rural newspapers rely on six-day delivery to get their news to their customers. And I am also concerned that the postal service is focused on cutting back service and potentially losing millions of customers rather than finding long-term solutions to these budget woes.
“In an urban area where the post office is right around the corner, these issues might not be so severe, but for residents of rural areas like Southern Missouri the nearest post office might be miles away. On top of the challenges of getting to a nearby post office is the fact that many of these rural facilities are threatened with closure every year,” Emerson said.
The content of Emerson’s letter to the U.S. Postal Regulatory Commission is attached:
Nowhere in the nation do Americans appreciate the regular, personal, efficient service of the U.S. Postal Service than in rural areas of the country. I am honored to represent the rural Eighth Congressional District of Missouri, and the intention to limit mail delivery to five days per week would directly and adversely affect thousands of the constituents I serve. I appreciate and understand the severity of the financial difficulties facing the U.S. Postal Service, but I remain opposed to the reduction in postal delivery for reasons I hope to explain in this letter.
First, the opportunity to walk to the corner post office is not a luxury many Americans in rural areas enjoy. The nearest postal facility where people in rural areas can rent a box or go to drop off their outgoing mail may be several miles from home. Elderly and disabled residents in these rural counties rely on the Postal Service to come to them, because they often cannot go to the Post Office.
Newspapers in rural areas, too, rely on six-day delivery to communicate the news of their communities to residents of their circulation areas. Many of these are papers of record, and many more daily papers would lose advertising revenue by being forced to drop one issue per week.
Another issue arises during inclement weather situations, which we in Southern Missouri have experienced more than once in the last year. Ice and snow do sometimes make regular postal delivery impossible. The loss of one more day in the week which would otherwise allow carriers to make up for the delay in service is a further impediment to customers with bills to mail and correspondence to send.
In addition, under certain circumstances, a day’s delay in postal services can mean a two-day delivery becomes a five-day delivery. This is especially concerning when the mail contains a supply of medicine or time-sensitive financial information. I remain very concerned about the unintended consequences of delaying delivery of certain envelopes and parcels to all of the USPS’s customers.
Finally, I am not convinced that the USPS has adequately pursued alternatives to reducing delivery to five days. Other options exist, namely, executive salary reductions, better-negotiated vehicle acquisitions for the USPS fleet, concessions from the groups representing Postal Service employees who also wish to see the USPS return to profitability, and cost-cutting measures that would further streamline postal operations.
For these reasons, the FY2010 Financial Services Appropriations bill contains language requiring the USPS to maintain six-day delivery. I would like to insist that this language be adhered to by the USPS and the Postal Commission and encourage you to reconsider this decision. It is extremely important to your customers in rural areas of the country like Southern Missouri. Thank you for your kind consideration.
Very sincerely,
JO ANN EMERSON
Member of Congress
March 7th, 2010 09:44
Although I would love Sat and Sun off, I am not completely sure that it would be the right thing to do. I agree with Congress woman, I think alot of the executives salaries should be looked at plus there is way too many managers. Craft employees are the ones taking the hit right now. Threatened with discipline for things that 15 years ago were not even an issue. Local management are grasping at straws right now doing everything they can to figure out how to make it work. I feel bad for the newer craft employees, not being sure they will have a job. Not looking forward to next contract negotiations
March 7th, 2010 10:58
Has anyone in power at HQ ever came straight out and said that Saturday is the planned closed day ?
Wednesday or Thursday is much more logical since it eliminates the 2 or 3 day “no mail” problem. As for businesses being open…oh well !
I think all you supporters out there that think that you’ll have every Saturday off are dreaming ! Since when has the USPS been doing nice things for craft. They’re dangling a carrot out there , and you are foaming at the mouth when you see it. Exactly the response that HQ wants from you, and to pressure the unions to cave in.
March 7th, 2010 12:12
Saturday was specifically mentioned in the Powerpoint presentation (also on Postalnews.com) done by Mr. Pulcrano.
March 7th, 2010 12:47
Here’s another genius from congress, like Olympia Snow. She thinks the unions are going to give in and make concessions, no way man its not happening. All union contracts will wind up in arbitration. As for execs giving up any money that won’t happen without severe prodding from congress and the white house. Its gonna be a fun year.
March 7th, 2010 16:10
I AM A RURAL MAIL CARRIER AND THIS MAIL COUNT THAT WE GO THROUGH EVERY YEAR IS A JOKE. EVERY YEAR THE RURAL CARRIERS LOSE MONEY AND TIME WHILE THE OTHER CRAFTS LOSE NOTHING. WE CANNOT CONTINUE TO FINANCE THE ENTIRE POSTAL SERVICE. IT IS ABOUT TIME THAT THINGS STARTED BEING TRIMMED FROM THE TOP OF THE LADDER OR STARTING WITH MR. POTTER. THE MAIL COUNT IS NOT A FAIR AND ACCURATE ACCOUNT OF ALL THE MAIL FOR AN ENTIRE YEAR. I HAVE NEVER WORKED FOR A COMPANY THAT REWARDED YOU FOR A JOB WELL DONE BY TAKING MONEY AND DAYS OFF AWAY. I DONT SEE ANY EFFECT OF TRIMMING MANAGEMENT WHICH IS WHAT NEEDS TO HAPPEN. THERE ARE TOO MANY CHEIFS AND NOT ENOUGH INDIANS. I LOVE MY JOB AND I LOVE MY CUSTOMERS. I TRY REALLY HARD TO PLEASE THEM ALL AND WHAT I GET IN RETURN IS A CUT IN SALARY AND JUST AS MUCH WORK AS I HAVE BEEN DOING ALL ALONG. IF IT WASNT FOR US OUT THERE FIGHTING THE WEATHER AND EVERYTHING ELSE THAT WE HAVE TO DO THEN THERE WOULD BE POSTAL SERVICE. I AM THE ONLY PERSON THAT SOME OF MY CUSTOMERS EVER SEE. IT REALLY UPSETS ME THAT THIS IS SO ONESIDED. A FAIR AND ACCURATE COUNT WOULD BE TO TAKE THE WHOLE YEAR AND AVERAGE IT INSTAED OF A FEW WEEKS (WHICH ARE THE SLOWEST WEEKS OF THE YEAR) AND RATE US ON THAT. YOU WOULDNT LIKE IT IF YOUR SALARY AND LIVES WERE TREATED IN THE SAME FASHION. I HAVE GONE FROM A 46K TO RIGHT NOW AS OF THIS COUNT SO FAR (WITH 5 DAYS TO GO) A 43H IN ONLY 3 YEARS. THIS MEANS I HAVE LOST MONEY AND I AM OUT THERE 6 DAYS A WEEK EVERY WEEK. I GUARENTEE YOU GET EVERY WEEKEND OFF. IM SORRY BUT I HAVE TO GET THIS OFF MY CHEST ALTHOUGH I KNOW IT WILL DO NO GOOD AND FALL ON DEAF EARS. SOMEONE NEEDS TO TAKE A GOOD HARD LOOK AT WHAT WASTE IS GOING ON AT ALL LEVELS AND DO WHAT NEEDS TO BE DONE TO TRIM DOWN THE FAT. AND IT STARTS AT THE TOP OF THE LADDER NOT AT THE BOTTOM AND STAY THERE YEAR AFTER YEAR. THERE IS ONLY SO MUCH YOU CAN TAKE FROM US AND THEN YOU WILL HAVE TO FIND SOMEWHERE ELSE TO TAKE IT FROM BECAUSE THE RURAL CARRIERS WILL HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO GIVE
March 7th, 2010 18:31
Rural customers will have no disadvantage over city customers if five day delivery is implemented. If rural customers generate so much business that they HAVE TO HAVE six day delivery, then rent a PO box.
To Tammy, the person shouting in ALL CAPS above, rural carriers get paid for the pieces they deliver. If you deliver fewer pieces then you get paid less. If you don’t like it, THEN BECOME A CITY CARRIER.
March 7th, 2010 23:35
Rural carriers bid on their respective positions, the national association of rural carriers picks the dates for the mail count ~
March 8th, 2010 00:03
i am a postal employee. and i agree… this would really jeperdize the post office and put the company into a faster downward spin. i am also a union steward… off the record though i can see many ways the postoffice could save jobs and stop this moving people around within 500 miles business. i mean negotiate with the local unions and lets give back some of our many bennefits. i for one would understand if the postoffice did away with sunday premium pay. this is where we get paid an additional 25% of our base wage for working sundays. for some this would be a cut back on their checks of 200 dollars (including taxes) each pay period. there are alot of employees that depend on that money. and yes it is nice to get but seriously..i for one would miss that money but knowing it can save my job.. i would give it up. if someone out there would do the math on how much the postoffice pays out on sunday premium pay..(and this is ALL crafts ALL employees who work this day) they could save billions. also if employees work one hour from saturday into sunday they get 2 days of sunday pay 25%..this could be a huge savings for the company..
a 5 day work week would KILL the post office. lets start thinking of peoples lives and start being more productive and fixing this from within. instead of taking us all down with you.
March 8th, 2010 00:06
Postal Pete, the NRLCA does not pick the dates of the mail count ! it used to be in September and the PO cried that Feb-early March was better and the arbitrator gave that to the PO in binding contract arbitration.
It needs to be changed to something more fair.
mail volume is down but not nearly as much as our small count period shows.
March 8th, 2010 00:57
DO YOU HAVE AN EXTRA 200 BILLION,THEY DEPEND ON UPS, FEDX AND THE REST ;NUTS THEY DONT DELIVERY ON SATURDAY!
March 8th, 2010 14:13
We could continue to deliver on Saturday but it could come with a hefty price.Fed EX and UPS charge a hefty fee for Saturday delivery so why not us.We are always being compared to them so why not let us act like them.Sorry Congress woman but it is not impossible to pull it off,it will just cost.Kind of like your pay raises that congress votes its self in the middle of the night when no one is looking.
March 8th, 2010 15:35
Nothing says “downward spiral” like cutting service. Since the post office is losing revenue due to electronic communication, it needs to put more focus back on it’s package services and delivery of items that can’t be emailed. By integrating itself into eBay, it’s taken a step in the right direction. Rather than copying the business practices of UPS and FedEx, it needs to go them one better.
In this age of instant communication, the “ideal” should be instant package delivery too. Until beam-me-up- Scotty teleporters become reality, the next best thing is 7-day delivery. I wouldn’t expect a hefty surcharge for weekend delivery any more than would I expect my super market to jack up their prices on Sunday.
Rather than trying to cut their losses, the USPS needs to move into the 21st century with better service…..not a reduction to 5-day delivery.
March 8th, 2010 19:14
THIS OUTFIT NEEDS TO TRIM THE FAT AT THE TOP AND IN A HURRY. THERE IS AT LEAST 6 TO 10 CHIEFS IN EVERY
STATE THAT MAKE MORE THAN ONE HUNDRED THOUSAND DOLLARS A YEAR AND NEVER TOUCH A PIECE OF MAIL NOR DO THEY HAVE ANY IDEA ON HOW TO SELL A STAMP OR PUT POSTAGE ON A PACKAGE, UNTIL CONGRESS STEPS IN AND STOPS THIS FOOLISHNESS AND ILL CONCEIVED WAGES, AND STOP THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS THAT HAS BEEN HANDLED BY PEOPLE THAT HAVE NOT BEEN IN THE MAIL FLOW MORE THAN 15 YEARS AND ARE JUST TRYING TO JUSTIFY THERE JOBS. THE CONGRESS MAY GET TO THE BOTTOM OF THIS MESS.
March 8th, 2010 21:04
The USPS is not getting rid of their managers and they ARE going to 5 day delivery…. they simply can’t afford all of us anymore…. most of the mail we have is JUNK.. I received an entire package of legal papers through EMAIL…. as a 30 year carrier (as of TODAY), I like the idea of them offering a SERIOUS retirement early out to all of us CSRS people…. they could get rid of us QUICK! and leave our jobs to the lower level, lower paid folks….
March 10th, 2010 08:03
The mailcount for Rural Carriers is not determined by the Postal service, but by arbitrators as stated. However, the planned DATES are provided to all bulk mailers, with the understanding that if they choose to mail things during these dates, their postal rates WILL increase. what do you think will happen during mailcount with regard to volume? Face it, the Rural Union is just weak, and the other unions are stronger. Because the City Carrier Union refuses to allow it’s carriers to go to a salaried pay scale rather than being paid by the hour (read:being paid to be slow), and other unions for clerks and handlers refuse to make choices to change the way they are paid in order to save jobs and help the Postal service, they are Helping the Postal Service go private and will, by these choices, HURT their Union Members. Reduction in the work force, by way of firings and letting carriers and clerks go is going to be the result of the Unions hard stance against these ‘easy’ solutions for some small changes made to their method of pay.
March 10th, 2010 21:56
I am a city carrier and yes tammy I know what your talking about. I would like to say thank you for the two weeks of light mail that we get to carry while they are doing your count. Where are they hiding it all???
Last year I was the last city carrier next to a rural guy and I listened to the count. The OIC would say… “I’ll put this down as a seven?” You notice the question mark. He didn’t say it was a seven, he asked permission from the rural carrier to mark it as a seven. What was it really? After the count the rural carrier told me he lost 4K a year. I told him he didn’t lose it, he gave it away. If they were cheating me the way they cheated him then I would go online and order new phone books for my entire route. Sears catalogs for half, Victoria’s secret will send a catalog to any one that requests it and who wouldn’t want one… Go through the list. But no, there is no corruption in the post office… Why does the OIC count the mail while the rural carrier cases his route? Who verified that it really was a seven if every ones back is turned?
March 17th, 2010 10:33
Stop giving out overtime. I know lots and lots of carriers that are still getting overtime tons of overtime. I understand the full time guys want it, but too bad. I am sorry if you built your life around a salary based on overtime, but overtime is not a guarantee. Stop with the overtime and they would save a ton of money. There are unions out there that won’t let part timers get hours because they feel they should get the overtime first. Thats just stupid in this day and age. Each full timer should get 40 hours then the PTFs should pick up hours, then the TEs if there are any, overtime should be a last resort not an expectation.
April 9th, 2010 12:36
The pay as well as the overtime is outrageous. A base rate of $27.00/hr to deliver mail? Then pension, TSP. Where does it end? Also, they say the post office is not funded by taxpayers. Lie! I pay for usps employees to get better health insurance then I have! Look it up, they can enroll in Federal Employee Health Benefits(FEHB). I understand government employees such as police and fire, but not letter carriers.
April 9th, 2010 16:51
Theresa- you’re entitled to your opinion as to whether postal employees are overpaid. But you are incorrect in your assertion that taxpayers foot the bill for postal workers’ health benefits. Those are paid for by the employees, and by the Postal Service. The share paid by the Postal Service comes from its postage revenues, not from your tax dollars. Feel free to look that up if you like.