Today, postal workers and their supporters are holding events across the country to press their demand for repealing the benefit-funding mandate and push back against calls for their workplace to be privatized.
For months, Americans have heard dire warnings about the impending collapse of the United States Postal Service due to fiscal insolvency and a drop in the use of mail service. In early September, the U.S. Postmaster General told Congress that the USPS is close to default and unveiled a series of radical proposals to cut costs by firing up to 120,000 workers, closing several thousand facilities, scaling back deliveries, and reducing benefits for retirees.
But many postal workers say the much-touted crisis facing the U.S. Postal Service is not what it seems. They argue the greatest volume of mail handled in the 236-year history of the postal service was 2006. They also point to a 2006 law that forced the USPS to become the only agency required to fund 75 years of retiree health benefits over just a 10-year span, and say the law's requirements account for 100 percent of the service's $20 billion in losses over the previous four years, without which the service would have turned a profit.
Democracy Now! hosted a debate on the issue today between Chuck Zlatkin, the legislative and political director of the New York Metro Area Postal Union, and Gene Del Polito, president of the Association for Postal Commerce in Washington, D.C.:
Last week, Republicans introduced legislation to overhaul the USPS in response to a bill proposed by Democrats that would refund a reported $6.9 billion in over-payments to the USPS retirement plan, offer early retirement and voluntary separation incentives, adjust retiree benefits prepayment requirements, and preserve employee protections set out in collective bargaining agreements.
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Daniel Burrus: It's Time to Transform the U.S. Postal Service
We all can help by making some noise with our congressman, senators and the White House.
Every time the GOP, and now the TP, get into the majority they try to "fix" everything overnight that they haven't been able to accomplish because no one would trust them enough to vote them into the majority.
So, now they're temporarily in the majority and we can see what's happening. Shut down, hostage-taking, "my way or the highway", "Hell No !, Default, etc.
Can you remember when government actually acted as a stable and well run organization ? Yes,....just before the TeaParty and GOP gained the majority..... Now, we have a group of politicians that are trying to do as much damage in as short a time as possible in order that they might have a chance to embarrass the present administration. Patriotic Eh ?
Results ? Almost a default. Reduction in credit (and credibility) rating. Gridlock.
So now, we want to follow their lead and "privatize" the Post Office ?
Aren't there some REAL problems they can attend to ? It seems thay have all this time to "solve" all these secondary and outlying situations but somehow can't get to the real problem that they ran for office on ? JOBS, JOBS, JOBS !!!!!
Damn Hypocrits !
Later: "Look at that hunk of junk--- up on blocks, doors off, no roof, no place to sit in back, and you can't even back this heap out of the driveway, and if you could, as soon as you've gone twenty feet you're picking bugs out of your teeth! Seat belts make my tummy hurt. I told you this car was no good!"
It all began with that Bush. When in office this was just another area the Bush thug pushed for privation. Fight back. Just some more 'scare tactics' brought to you by the Repugs.
Now the it is only regarded as a Postal Destruction so implemented by the followers of Milton Friedman et al in Japan and the failure should be well publicized in the United States of America. Shock Doctrine of Postal Destruction was implemented nationwide in Japan, by the strong pressure of Bush administration and their agents in Tokyo.
******Some of the future retirees may not even be born yet.
Manufactured crisis....."they" tell the American people the U.S. Postal Service is in trouble.....the people get scared and upset.....and "they" come up with the brilliant idea of privatization.
*****And it just might work.
Look at education.
Teachers are being demonized.
For two reasons.....to force teachers to accept lower wages and benefits AND to eventually privatize.
*****And it just might work.
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"they" = politicians (all Repugs and who knows how many Dems)
http://thedianerehmshow.org/
Though I don't trust many Dems either.....
Sadly, our politicians are bought and paid for and work for the oligarchs.
http://www.recordcourier.com/article/20110928/OPINION/110929856/1020&ParentProfile=1052
You're so correct PS. Just more scare tactics.
http://www.democracynow.org/2011/9/27/shock_doctrine_at_us_postal_service
33:38 Gene Del Polito~Association for Postal Commerce. This explains it all; clearly.
Also endorsed by all the postal unions - go figure......
In my rural area the postwoman who delivers our mail has worked for the USPS for 16 years. She has never gotten any benefits. Zip. Nada. Zilch.
Takes all a sham
LSR
And the oligarchs and their toady politicians are winning.
So far.
If things keep getting worse, I believe we will have political and social unrest.
An American spring might be coming.....and it won't be pretty.
OCCUPY WALL STREET!