Volume 100

Postmasters On Line

Volume 100

Jan 3 2001

The Denver Post recently reported that PMG Bill Henderson's days are numbered. The report was issued by Bill McAllister, a longtime Washington Post Postal and Government beat editor who now works for the Denver paper. He probably has the news from good sources.

The question now must be asked. Who will replace him?

Do we want a revolutionary the ilk of Marvin Runyon? Do we want a company man like Henderson? Do we want an idea wonk like Tony Frank?

We are faced with a postage due bill of over 1 billion dollars this fiscal year. Many of us are in no position to do a thing about it. Sure we can use one ply toilet paper, refill our ink pens, send a clerk home an hour early, make the carrier carry the satchel for a block instead of dismounting, but none of these things add up to a billion dollars. It was Henderson who said that no company can cut themselves to prosperity. We have cut and now we are at the point there is little more we can do at our level.

What we need is a leader who can find ways to make us profitable again. Runyon did it with his revolution. However, the revolution ran out of gas and he and his staff resorted to stacked numbers and unpaid bills, resulting in today's crisis.

What is your opinion? Who can ride the white horse? Should be an outsider? Should it be a career postal person? What kind of resume should the Board of Governors be looking for.

Send your comments on this issue or any other to rupzip@cs.com

New subscriptions, cancellations and other questions can be directed to the same address

Check us out on the Web: this issue, along with archives, links and other goodies can be found at

http://ourworld.cs.com/rupzip

David Rupert

Editor

Wilson WY 83014

(PS we are still taking contributions to help buy a domain name and better our service. Send a dollar, two, five or 20 to POB 3 Wilson WY 83014. Thanks to all of you who have already helped.

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1) A Devil in Every Bush

Rup,

Again I have to say Thank You for an opportunity to read and learn what other Postmasters are saying, Not what the Washington bureaucrats say. Great service and thanks.

What will save us? My personal opinion, for what it counts. At this point I firmly believe that we, The Postal Service is doomed. Sorry to say it but several factors lead me to this opinion. First, we just lost the election. That is what I said, we lost. Read your history, every there was a Republican President the Postal Service lost or went in the red. I have only been around the great Service for 15 years but I can remember that under a Republican President we were required to contribute more to the retirement fund, our medical etc. Hey, I am sorry you Republican out there, this is fact and if you really look at the facts you will see that I am right. Second, we have become a Trojan Horse, way to big. Remember back in the mid 80's when the PO was buying all this equipment that was suppose to replace people. This equipment costs thousands and hundred of thousands of dollars. We are still buying. Have we lost any people? No we have had to add people. A few factors have contributed to this and one of them is the APWU and Mailhandlers contracts. They would not let the postal service delete positions, even if they wanted to. Third, competition will run us into the ground even more in the next 4 years. Now that UPS has an ally in the White House, the USPS does not stand a chance of getting anything. Oh we MAY, and I emphasize may, get the Postal reorganization bill passed, but I firmly believe that it will be so watered down that there is no way we would win. Fourth, we are doomed because WE, the Postmasters can not agree on what is best for us. Look at the latest survey paid for by NAPUS on one Postmaster organization.

Ninety some percent of the respondents want ONE organization. Are we moving forward? Not much, the League is fighting it tooth and nail. Why I ask? Are they afraid of losing their little piece of the pie? We have these two organizations in Washington, the League and NAPUS, (I am a member of both) that have all these buildings and money that they are afraid of giving up. Come on folks, lets look at the big picture, to heck with the money and property, but it all in a trust and lets get on with the wishes of the people you are suppose to serve. It is this Washington mentality that will be the down fall of the USPS as we know it today. The past is the past and we should look at it and learn, not hold grudges because of something that happened 20 or so years ago. If we Postmasters to not get up-to-date and start fighting for what we the working folks know will save this service and our jobs then we should not complain when they start closing small Post Offices. Oh make no doubt about it, they will have to to survive and we the Postmasters will be the ones that help them. Last but not least we are doomed because WE the people will let the Washington beaurocrats do what they want to continue making big bucks. Oh we may fuss and fume a little but in the end we will give in and let them run all over us. Heck, we have been doing it for years. Have not we lost our convention leave, our PMRs not to mention our pay equality. How many of us are making LESS money than our clerks and carriers? Far to many. In No other company in this great country do the managers make less money than their subordinates. Do not get me wrong, I love the Postal Service, I just do not like the way we are heading and regretfully, we are not doing much about it.._

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2) The New, For Profit, FedZ

Hey Dave, Thank you for continuing the newletter!

What can we do to secure a better future for ourselves? I once suggested to John DiFalco (@ Stockton CA state convention) that we start the process of becoming a for profit organizaton. What do you think?

What a better time to do this than when both organizations (League/NAPUS) would consider a merger!

We could all become stockholders in the nations largest and diversely capable communications corporation in the US with thousands of (possibly independent) contractors nationwide. We could take all level 18 and below Post Offices from the USPS. Then revive the 1993(?) Kiosk program that the USPS dropped, and have the support of every state government in the nation for rural development. If (we were a Union?) they turned us down we could resign our positions and open up shop as an independent, after securing SBA financing for our Corporate plan. I wonder if MicroSoft, UPS, Fed-X, etc would be interested? [Call the New Corporation "Fed-Z"].

Well, as GSA pay schedules continue to go beyond what I make as a level EAS-11 I am reminded of the articles about the (pre 1970's) Post Office Department and how employees had to take on second jobs to make ends meet. Again, many of us are at that point; Ask around, see how many employees work second jobs and not for "extra" spending money; You will NOT discover many (if any) craft personel in your inquiry rounds. Why do we REALLY need that top heavy WADC staff?

[Just Dreaming, about what service used to be like, in California.]

Dan,

(a UPPM/EAS 11 Postmaster)(UPPM = UnderPaid PostMaster)

Thinking Outside the (Mail)Box

Currently, it is US Postal Service policy to provide at least one form of free delivery to its customers whether it be in the form of a post office box, cluster box unit, rural route, general delivery, etc.

It is now time to "start thinking outside the box" and change this philosophy. Everyone should be required to pay at least a minimal fee for the privilege of receiving his or her mail. The telephone companies employ this concept well. They not only charge the sender for each telephone call made, they also charge the recipient a flat rate for the privilege of being connected to the telephone network regardless of whether or not the recipient initiates or receives any calls during the billing period. The US Postal Service should, likewise, charge for each mail item sent (as they do now) and also charge everyone a fee for the privilege of being attached to the mail delivery network. The economic precedent has been set by the telephone communications industry.

Yearly revenue would be appreciably enhanced. For example, a local 1st class office has 1340 post office boxes rented of which 492 are "no fee". The rural route, which offers free delivery, has 450 delivery points. If a universal, minimum yearly delivery fee were to established (say, $14.00, the same as a size D small box)), the annual revenue return would be $13,188 [(450 + 492) X $14.00]. On a national scale this would amount to around $500,000,000.00 of new money each year ($13,188 X 38,000 post offices) all without having to lift a finger to introduce new technologies along with their associated startup costs!

Usage based revenue such as this could easily be marketed in the context of each customer helping to pay his or her way. That is, these charges are necessary to offset the cost to the US Postal Service of providing and maintaining the post office box, cluster box, and high cost of rural route delivery (mileage and vehicle usage). Thus, we would be able to recoup monies to offset these current expenses which are not directly self-supporting.

With its high degree of competition, the business world is proving everyday "there is no such thing as a free lunch". The US Postal Service should now reverse its current "no fee" delivery philosophy.

The answer to Chuck from WV (level 13 postmaster on an OIC assignment in a 15 office with one career employee who makes more than him)) according to USPS is you must supervise two or more full time equivalent employees ( be FLSA exempt) to qualify for the 5% differential. We do not agree with any postmaster being paid less than any employee. We will present our case again at pay and benefit talks next year. USPS refuses to discuss the issue outside of Title 39 USC restrictions. It is just another reason to get behind our effort to change Title 39 and pass "The Postmasters Rights and Benefit Act" in the 107th Congress. Keep up your good work! I'm sure the checks are in the mail. Joe Cinadr, LEAGUE National President

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4) The Sins of The Post Office

After almost 30 years of government service i have seen it all. not some of it, but all of it. in all of management, and in all of the crafts, there is good and evil. Now let us talk absolute truth if you can handle it. in management, you truly have company folks working above and beyond, and sacrificing greatly, ( as well as their families and friends ) to do their jobs to the utmost of their ability and beyond. usually, most of the time, these type managers have folks that will work hard for them no matter what their craft is because they too want to do a good job, and they know the necessity and importance of our financial security. Now the bomb. There is also the type of manager at all levels who truly could care less of anyone except their own egos and numbers, and butts and possessions. These are the type who dont care if they wreck the lives of their own supervisors, managers or craft employees, so long as they try to please and suck up to upper echelons of command. they destroy lives of their employees, and of their families. each and every one of you has seen this, and know it is going on. to do this is evil. to know of this and to succumb to it, is evil. There truly is a god. to do this evil is to be a coward. and god himself says he hates a coward, and they shall pay horribly. Our country was founded with god.Our guys and gals died for god, country, integrity, freedom and you. We as christians "are" obligated to do the right thing. how and what? I dont know nor have the answer. But the truth is out. the seed planted,and there are those of you who know what can be done to disclose and expose to elected officials the sins of the post office. Let the true hard working and sacrificing good people win this one. Yes, this is a calling........godspeed.

Unsigned

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5) One Organization : Been There Already

Hi Dave-

I have attached an e-mail from Donna Dort, a recently retired PM with over 30 years as a PM, over 50 years with the Postal Service, and a past New York State NAPUS President. She gives a little history on past attempts to organize or consolidate into one association.

I, for one, think that having two organizations representing us is ridiculous. A merger, or starting a new organization is a lot of work, but companies do it everyday--and make money doing it. Let's get with the real world!!

Ralph E. Viegelmann

Postmaster, Interlaken NY

Donna Dort's recall of a past attempt:

This has been tried for years, as you know. Alice Brusich from Alaska conducted a huge survey by mail of every Postmaster in the U S in the early 60's. I think Dave Trevithick from Salt Lake City was National President at the time. The popular vote was overwhelmingly for one organization, and we NAPUS people were all delighted. However, the League had a different voting system from ours at the time. Any member could attend their convention, but only a limited number of delegates was eligible to vote. I cannot remember the details, but it would be a matter of record in NAPUS headquarters. At any rate, there was a League convention in Buffalo, and the headlines read, "Buffaloed at Buffalo", where the League convention turned down the merger overwhelmingly, clearly against the wishes of most of the Postmasters.

The duplication of expense for offices, travel, services, etc., has to be horrific! It is hard to understand how thinking people can support the present situation. I would assume the interest of the League officers in retaining the status quo is monetary.

ddort@cecomet.net (Donna & Kathy)

I do not understand anyone that does not agree with a united PMs organization.

Remember United we stand divided we fall!!!

Cobraag@aol.com

6) Competition is good

From the comments in this article I can see that some people are motivated by sound bites and slogans. when I first became a Postmaster I joined both organizations. I was a NAPUS District president and started joint district meetings in Indiana. I was attacked at a NAPUS board meeting for starting the joint meetings. I continued the joint meetings. I even promoted a joint state convention in Indiana which was held in Columbus, Indiana years ago. Guess what. NAPUS stopped the movement. NAPUS has always opposed the two organizations. Competition is good. I dropped my NAPUS membership because the leaders are hand picked. The problem is that Postmasters are not united. Why not show good faith, NAPUS. Start having joint district meetings with the League. Some NAPUS members are afraid to join the League or hide their membership in the League because of their fellow NAPUS members. Wake up Postmasters!!!! If we don't unite, they will pick us off one by one. It doesn't take one organization, it takes postmasters being united. I did the smart thing. I was a member of both organizations and stuck with the best. I would still be a dual member if NAPUS members treated me better. Think about it! Oh and the people who don't join either organization are the ones to worry about. they want a free ride on our dues. It isn't the issue of two organizations. I found that the rising stars are non members. The sad thing is that this organization is in deep trouble. Everyone in the organization needs to unite form the PMG to the custodian. The survival of the organization is at stake. Right now it looks like war at every level.

James Leggett

Postmaster

Noblesville, IN 46060

7) Organizations are For Girl Scouts

Hi David:

I have a few comments on the one organization concept and the raising of Postage to compensate for our loss of revenue.

We as Postmasters should abandon the organization debate and concentrate on finding out what it would take for us to become a union with rights, and teeth. Weather you are a member of NAPUS or the League you have absolutely no rights with Postal Headquarters or your bosses. We cannot negotiate wages, benefits or working conditions. We have no right to grievance procedures, and US Postal Headquarters doesn't even have to listen to us on anything. The only rights you have is through the MSPB process and taking handouts whenever headquarters wants to throw you a bone. Our wages are solely made up depending upon what the crafts get and the percentages are figured out by Postal lawyers. You lost half of your convention leave, and hospitalization with NAPUS. The EVA process was not negotiated but thrown down your throats. Larger office Postmasters get hardly anything, (and if the crafts give you a low survey, your screwed) most smaller level Postmasters get very little. The only employees who benefit are those in the PCES ranks (most are non members of NAPUS or the League) and only someone like Mr. Porras could explain the workings of EVA (and we all know what happened to him). So if you want to be in an organization, then join the Boy or Girl Scouts and become a den leader. I say lets unionize and put some bite in our bark.

Now as far as raising our rates, the only way we are going to save this great system is through Postal Reform. Lets get out of the hands of government and run this company like a business. Offer discounts to large mailers, raise rates when gas goes up (like UPS), charge extra if mailers (such as ADVO mail) of "Standard A" mail want "time is critical" delivered , offer Post Office Box service Free to anyone who wants it, charge the customer a yearly fee if the carrier has to go to the door for delivery, set up a partnership with companies UPS and Fed EX, and offer other products, like pack and ship in our lobbies.

Until we do things like I've described we will be nothing but a company slowly going out of business on the backs of managers trying to keep it afloat. I would have absolutely no problem competing with our competition but give me the same playing field and three strikes to swing at.

Now my fellow postmaster, Im interested in your comments!

POSTIER1@aol.com

Managers Should Consider Craft Positions for Pay Hikes

You forgot to cite The recent "Pay for performance, pay raises for management " as having any bearing on the future fiscal responsibility of the Postal Service. Apparently these so called pay for performance bonuses have no negative impact. In this article and in the article "how is this possible" individuals in management question the monetary compensation to the backbone of the postal service, the workers (rural and city carriers,clerks,mailhandlers, etc.)

To address this issue, I will cite to points. The first is that the wages of the above crafts are negotiated thru collective bargaining or awarded thru arbitration. Both systems award what they feel is just compensation based on the work performed and individuals doing the same type of work in the private sector. In this case the closes private sector employers to the carriers would be UPS, Fed EX. And these companies deal mainly with parcels. I personally would appreciate being compensated at the level UPS employees are compensated.

The second point I want to address is the constant complaints from management personnel concerning the wages of the working crafts. First and foremost you (management) should have researched the monetary compensation prior to accepting employment in a management position. If you found the pay scale to be unacceptable you should have sought employment elsewhere. Or those of you that feel the carriers,clerks,mailhandlers are over compensated, should seek employment in those crafts. Test for this crafts are given periodically throughout the country. But now that I think about it, I can't remember one case where a Management individual crossed over to the craft position. Now assuming that the monetary compensation is in fact better(sic) why would there not being a flood of Supervisors and Postmasters becoming craft employees? Could it possibly be the work LOAD.

In closing I'll tell management the same thing I tell craft employees when they complain about the compensation that other crafts and management receive. Change crafts or seek management positions. Or better yet go market your skills in the private sector. No one is preventing anyone from further themselves in life. Hand in your resignation and move on to bigger and better things that make you happy.

John McGough

Hilton NY

Local Steward

Rca 5/1

9) Managers Should Give Respect

While I agree with your basic response to the post below, we must accept the bad with the good, you did not address the main theme of her post, respect. I've been with the postal service since 1983, and I have seen deterioration of workroom respect. It starts out with little things and balloons into grievances all because of the lack of respect. Postmasters hold a superior station to their employees on the workroom floor, but only in the performance of their duties, and not as human beings. Is it asking too much to have your supervisor take you aside and tell you privately that there is a problem on your route, or is it mandated somewhere that carriers must be humiliated in front of their peers? Sometimes carriers are berated only to be vindicated later, but the damage has been done, and no attempt is made to restore the good name of the carrier. What kind of respect does the postal service endow on its employees in general, when they "offer" reductions in pay and benefits in contract negotiations? Can we get PMs to refer to themailcount guide as a mutually agreed upon document, and not a carrier "wish list"? Can we get PMs to realize that disallowing legitimate claims for Rtime or markups or whatever, not only hurt the carrier, but also the office evaluation? Can we have real attempts at hiring RCAs, and not token attempts like Help Wanted signs in the lobby? I won't bore you with an extended list of misfeasance malfeasance and nonfeasance, just suffice to say that as carriers, we feel we are not getting the respect we deserve. I will grant that there are those among us who do not deserve respect, but on the whole, as a craft, we do the most for the least and in return get dissed, to use the modern parlance. As I write this, I am thinking of a lot of postmasters in 11s and 15s thinking that this sounds just like them. They too are getting less than deserved respect, and I'm not pinning the blame just on postmasters, many of the edicts carried out in the problem offices are not locally generated. Bottom line is that a lack of repect at all levels is the cause for a majority of problems within the postal service. Any way we can change that?

SKIZ

No Humans Need Apply

After reading your last newsletter and the comments from the recently retired EAS 11 human reasources person, I felt compelled to write.

I agree wholeheartedly with the writer of that comment. The Postal Service is probably one of the least humanistic of all companies for whom to work. And also one of the most hypocritical.

The organization "embraces" sick leave dependant care and family medical leave act while continually cutting the sick leave goals for each office and pressuring managers to get ahold of the sick leave. Service is emphasized while positions go vacant and mail is delayed in AO offices where EXFC is not yet measured, so that the EXFC offices can meet their goals and PCES can get their bonuses. We are told to treat our employees with respect and dignity while the POOMs and other upper management people treat the Postmasters and supervisors like garbage!

My office just came off one of the best years we have ever had (and I even got an outstandiung merit) and we are under PLAN for the year so far, even after a cut in hours, and yet my POOM is constantly micromanaging us to death! And it stems from the District Office, not the POOM.

I am so envious of that retired individual that I find myself checking the want-ads and the internet for jobs, with the idea of chucking 21+ years of service because the stress and bull@#$% is not worth it for the lousy merit and the thanks I get. The money isn't the big thing with me, it's feeling as if, even after doing a recognized excellant job, and continuing to do so, I feel as though my boss is watching every move I make, waiting for me to slip so he can jump in and say "AHA!"

The stress just isn't worth it. I've worked for these past 21 years to have a nice home and a job that I can feel proud of doing, and I am instead looking to sell my house to move to much less expensive housing so that I can take a job elsewhere that no longer requires my soul. I wish every day for an early out that I know will not be coming for the Postmasters. Thanks for listening. If you choose to print this, please do not identify me. Thanks

Had it in the Midwest

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11) New Postmasters Credits PM Online Advice

Dave,

I just found out this week that I have been appointed to a level 13 PM here in central Arkansas. I applied to about a dozen and got interviews on all but one. I was really getting discouraged when I got this one. I e-mailed you a couple times about advice for interviews, PM info, etc. Thanks to all of you for all your help. I'm excited and a little scared since I have never even OIC'ed before. I know I can do the job, just have some learning to do. Really enjoy your newsletter, have been reading it for a couple years and will probably read it even closer since I am now "one of the gang".

As far as this one or two PM organizations, I definitely think we would be better off and stronger with one. I will probably be one of those who joins neither until we merge into one.

Happy Holidays,

Gerald Garner

PM Paron, AR

(Congratulations Gerald. Can't believe you would still want to be one us after all our dirty laundry has been hanging on this forum for the last 100 issues. However, despite some my peers grumblings, it is a great job and an honorable position. You are a postmaster whereever you go, so wear the title with pride. Netword with your neighbors, because you won't get great direction from the Post Office. Don't be surprised if your boss doesn't call and tell you what a great job you are doing. Run your PO like you own it - just like it is a small business. Follow the rules, deliver the mail, have fun!)

12) District Web Page Sought

Hi, my name is Aleta Hernandez, and I am currently the OIC in Cantwell,

Alaska. I do not yet have a computer in my office (one is supposedly on the way), but would like to visit the Alaska District Web Page on my computer at home. Was wondering if you could help me with the address. Found your e-mail address in the "Alaska Postmaster" publication, which I found to be

great reading. Thanks for any help you can give me. Aleta D. Hernandez

birdiereturns@hotmail.com

20 Billion in 7 Years

There's lots of concern inside the United States Postal Service that a penny increase on first-class stamps won't stem the growing debt. Insiders say one debt projection is $20 billion in 2008. Competition from E-mail and private shippers gets some blame. No wonder there are rumblings that Postmaster General William Henderson is thinking about quitting rather than face a life of headaches.

PS we are still taking contributions to help buy a domain name and better our service. Send a dollar, two, five or 20 to POB 3 Wilson WY 83014. Thanks to all of you who have already helped.