The Interesting History Of The USPS

The U. S. Post Office began in July of 1775 in the great city of Philadelphia,

Pennsylvania, and the first Postmaster General was Benjamin Franklin. The purpose

was to unite everyone in the country with a communication system that cost the same for

everyone in the country. The U.S. Constitution contains language mandating that this

continue. Obviously, modern times have changed communication but our Constitution

has not. And, as the country has evolved, Congress has passed legislation directing

the Postal Service on how to continue fulfilling its constitutional duty. One such law

changed the U.S. Post Office Department to the U.S. Postal Service (USPS). The law

also requires that USPS satisfy its constitutional mandate while breaking even using

only postage revenue (in other words, no tax payers’ dollars). USPS has been successful

doing this with only a 45 cent stamp. Great job, USPS!

Unfortunately, in 2006 Congress passed another law directing that USPS pay for postal

retirees 75 years in the future. No other federal agency or private company has this

obligation. Even though this law has nothing to do with the mandate in the Constitution,

USPS has paid $5.5 billion every year for future retirees. It is this 2006 law that is

causing the financial woes of the USPS. And, as a result, USPS has had to consider all

options to save money, including cuts in days of service, closing postal facilities, and

eliminating jobs.

The USPS employs over a half million people by itself, and is responsible for at least

that many more jobs in the private sector. PostalUniformXpress.com, a leading online

store for low priced postal uniforms and accessories, is one of the many organizations –

with dozens of employees – that relies on USPS. Can’t we keep Americans working?

Does the USPS need to pay for retirees that are not born yet? Should the 2006 law be

changed?

Letter carriers protest against new bill

Letter carriers nationwide are protesting before the doors of their Senators’ offices. This week, the
Senate is considering legislation, S 1789, which would end Saturday mail delivery as well as phase out mail delivery to the porches and doors of homes. Letter carriers claim S 1789 will be destructive to the
Postal Service.

Since 2006, the Postal Service has been in the “red” financially, due to legislation that requires it to
deposit $5.5 billion each year to prefund for retirees up to 75 years from now. Unfortunately, this
prefunded money has been taken away from the Postal Service and used by Congress to offset other parts of the budget that have nothing to do with the Postal Service.

Without the 2006 law, the Postal Service would operate in the “black,” making a profit based only on the postage collected for mail. Incredibly, the Postal Service receives no taxpayer dollars and is totally off budget. And, year after year, the Postal Service ranks as “highly trusted” by Americans, receiving a favorable rating of about 90%.

What do you think Congress should do? Does the 2006 law make sense? Should S 1789 be passed?

Attorney Joshua Javits appointed to mediate between the USPS and NALC

On February 13, 2012, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service announced that attorney Joshua Javits was appointed to mediate between the U. S. Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers.  The parties moved to the mediation phase of negotiations on January 20, when the USPS declared there was no advancement in the negotiations.  Javits will work with both sides in an attempt to help them reach a voluntary agreement. 

 

The law generally requires a sixty-day mediation period during which time the parties will try to negotiate a contract.  If, after the sixty days, there is no agreement, the parties will begin the arbitration phase.  During the arbitration phase, a three-arbitrator panel will be assigned to listen to testimony and arguments from both parties.  There is no time limit to the arbitration phase, and the arbitrators have the power to set the terms of the contract. 

USPS to take contract negotiations with the NALC

The U.S. Postal Service has decided to take contract negotiations with the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to a federal mediator.  Under the law, parties must work with the mediator in an attempt to resolve differences and reach a negotiated contract.  If mediation fails to produce a contract, the parties will submit the matter to arbitration.  There, a panel of three arbitrators will be chosen.  One arbitrator is chosen by each side.  After each party selects its arbitrator, the two sides work through a list of arbitrators to select the third and final arbitrator.  This three-person arbitration panel will hear testimony and consider the surrounding facts in order to decide the specifics of the NALC and U.S. Postal Service contract.  The final decision from the arbitration will be binding and final.  Much is riding on these negotiations.  We wish the best to all involved.   

New postal regulations - uniform shoes should be made in the USA

Did you know that all postal regulations for shoes authorized for allowance purchases must be made in the USA?  That’s right!  And Thorogood shoes by Weinbrenner are the only “union made” shoes available for postal allowance purchases.  However, the cost of materials to make shoes has drastically increased, causing a significant rise in the price of shoes.  To help, Postal Uniform Xpress (mypux.com or postaluniformxpress.com) offers discount prices on all of their products, including postal shoes.  You can get great discounts on the web site, or call 800-331-7604 with full allowance orders for even bigger discounts.  Postal Uniform Xpress is your best deal on postal shoes.

USPS financial woes continue!

USPS estimates for fiscal year 2011, ending this September 30, it will reach the $15 billion maximum debt ceiling. USPS has reported in Congressional hearings that it needs to eliminate Saturday delivery to save money, and it needs to recover “pre-paid overpayments” on future retirees held by the Office of Personnel Management. Both will have to be voted on by Congress, and the Government Oversight Committee continues deliberating these and other financial issues facing USPS. 

PostalUniformXpress.com supports the U.S. Postal Service, because it is the best postal service in the world with the best postal employees in the world.  What a bargain we have in a $0.44 cent stamp!!! 

APWU Tentative Agreement

On May 8, 2011, representatives from the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) spoke during a “town hall meeting” to Postal Uniform Xpress and other uniform vendors at a conference in Orlando, Florida. 

As part of the meeting, the representatives provided an update on the tentative 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement between USPS and APWU.  They explained the tentative agreement is currently out to each member on referendum vote and that ballots would be counted on May 14.

The tentative agreement would also create more jobs, including jobs for veterans, and has a four and a half year duration, which the APWU representatives said was their longest initial contract to date.  Postal Uniform Xpress will keep you updated on the results.