US Postal Service suspending pension contributions

[SC Maintenance]

For those who are quick to favor abolishing the US Postal Service, a simple summary by AI is appropriate:

The USPS is a public, independent entity of the executive branch, not a private corporation. Established in 1970, it functions as a government-business hybrid that is self-funded through postage sales rather than taxpayer money, yet it is mandated to provide universal service to all American addresses.

All agencies are independant agencies - meaning simply they have a charter to function per law and the President has limited ability to directly influence there daily operation. I write a check to the department of state to pay for my passport. No different.

Why should this have anything to do with abolishing the post office? Either its existential to the operation of the United States (like the Department of State), or it is not (post office). Anything not should go away. If they want to sell it all the better?

 

[dishdude]

Here is one of them hard working USPS employees.

Is that early morning? Likely waiting for next day air early morning delivery packages to land. UPS, FedEx, DHL all do the same. Huge revenue to get a package to a far destination by 8 AM the next morning.

 

[dishdude]

Many good reasons of which none can be discussed here.

The police unions need to be the first to go.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Is that early morning? Likely waiting for next day air early morning delivery packages to land. UPS, FedEx, DHL all do the same. Huge revenue to get a package to a far destination by 8 AM the next morning.

There is no such thing as guaranteed 8AM delivery from the USPS I do not believe. I know it exists for UPS and Fedex - and have used it many times.

 

[6.7 CTD]

The NLRB is a government union that protects other unions. That is a conflict in my book. The outcome of every unfair labor practice charge is determined on day one...guilty.

No, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) does not govern federal sector unions. Instead, federal employee labor relations are primarily governed by the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute and overseen by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), which handles organizing, bargaining, and unfair labor practices for federal employees.

• NLRB Scope: The NLRB covers most private-sector employees and the U.S. Postal Service.
• Exclusions: The National Labor Relations Act specifically excludes employees of federal, state, and local governments from its coverage.
• Federal Authority: The FLRA functions as the federal sector equivalent to the NLRB for government employees.

So while the NLRB does cover postal service employees, they do not cover all other federal unions. Just trying to stop the spread of ill informed federal union opinions presented as fact (such as above). Public and private sector unions are much different than most people realize. But you’re entitled to your opinion, even if it’s wrong. And hey, I’m just a federal employee, in a federal union (who voluntarily pays dues)…what would I know

Until you have experienced the management of a supervisor who implements disproportionate and arbitrary changes, or engages in blatant favoritism (and a plethora of similar egregious acts), you would not comprehend the necessity of a federal union.

 

[SC Maintenance]

No, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) does not govern federal sector unions. Instead, federal employee labor relations are primarily governed by the Federal Service Labor-Management Relations Statute and overseen by the Federal Labor Relations Authority (FLRA), which handles organizing, bargaining, and unfair labor practices for federal employees.

• NLRB Scope: The NLRB covers most private-sector employees and the U.S. Postal Service.
• Exclusions: The National Labor Relations Act specifically excludes employees of federal, state, and local governments from its coverage.
• Federal Authority: The FLRA functions as the federal sector equivalent to the NLRB for government employees.

So while the NLRB does cover postal service employees, they do not cover all other federal unions. Just trying to stop the spread of ill informed federal union opinions presented as fact (such as above). Public and private sector unions are much different than most people realize. But you’re entitled to your opinion, even if it’s wrong.

I am ambivalent to Unions. I think its people's right to organize if they so choose irrelevant of where they work. I also believe in right to work - which most Unions don't actually which is also a hypocrisy. Different thread. Free will.

Still I agree with @Arc on this one. The NLRB by definition doesn't exist without unions, and hence are anything but unbias. Why Unions get some special biased group and the rest of us slugs get the normal courts is wrong. Equal protections under the law - in this case not. The NLRB needs to go. The Unions can stay - assuming there members want them to.

 

[BMWTurboDzl]

And that $15-16 pays for the service you receive for most of the year?

Well the USPS has historically made most of its money not from first class mail so it's sorta irrelevant.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Never say never. Couldn't find any snowmobile or cable car pics, lol. https://news.usps.com/2017/06/13/special-deliveries/

https://facts.usps.com/unusual-delivery-method-dock-to-dock/ ......... https://facts.usps.com/boat-delivery-on-the-detroit-river/
View attachment 332653 View attachment 332651

https://facts.usps.com/8-mile-mule-train-delivery/
View attachment 332646

Put your mailbox at the end of a unplowed, snow covered road and see how often you get mail.

This seems mostly like propaganda for the masses.

 

[dnewton3]

Why do we even need a post office?

Because one can send a first-class letter anywhere in the US or territories for less than a dollar.
Try doing that with FedEx or UPS ...

The USPS existed for decades because of no direct competition and they dollar-cost-averaged the postage to reasonable rates for lightweight packages. The concept is that EVERYONE in the States should be able to communicate via letter for a reasonable price.

I'd agree that there are quicker, (perhaps more reliable), and cheaper alternatives in large urban areas. But those private-entity business models fail when you try to send a small letter from one remote area to another.

Further, bulk mailings (such as local advertisements, or "junk mail" stuff) would never be served by the private delivery groups; they have no interest in low-budget stuff.

Maybe we should just disband it. I can’t remember the last time I got anything important in the mail. Decades ago maybe.

Maybe we should modify the way the Postal Service provides services. Maybe they should stick to "mail" and not worry about large and bulk package options.




What folks need to do is stop comparing the two different options; they're not apples to apples and were never meant to be so.

 

[SC Maintenance]

Because one can send a first-class letter anywhere in the US or territories for less than a dollar.

Let me rephrase.

Why is sending a first class letter for under a dollar existential to the republic - like it was in 1776? Just because there good at it doesn't make it the governments job.

If the government could serve up a decent hamburger for $2 that would be great, but they still should not be doing it. Not there job.

 

[4wd]

Never say never. Couldn't find any snowmobile or cable car pics, lol. https://news.usps.com/2017/06/13/special-deliveries/

https://facts.usps.com/unusual-delivery-method-dock-to-dock/ ......... https://facts.usps.com/boat-delivery-on-the-detroit-river/
View attachment 332653 View attachment 332651

https://facts.usps.com/8-mile-mule-train-delivery/
View attachment 332646

Husqvarna cap as he delivers to Kohler !

 

[Revving2Redline]

Some Federal employees are unionized, but not all. The USPS is in a tough spot: rising costs, declining revenues, minimal government funding and pressure from large retailers and mailers to keep shipping costs low. Sure, many postal employees are overpaid, but there's more to it than that. How many postage stamps have you purchased in the past year?

When they contracted with Amazon I saw the on the wall. No mail on weekends either.

 

[Revving2Redline]

How many of those businesses are mandated to provide uniform service throughout the nation, including the boondocks and hinterlands where the Postal Service must deliver mail by snowmobile, motorboat, dog sled or seaplane? This is the biggest argument against privatization of the Postal Service. No one else will perform the service.

Well, they had Silencer Central and other mainstream NFA business til they screwed it, leaving it up to UPS.

 

[Revving2Redline]

I liked when people bought stamps and wrote letters. My cousin in the 1980s(we were (9-10) decided to see how long it would take to get a letter from his home to our grandparents. He got the receiving address mixed up with the sending and forgot to put a stamp on it. Worried they would charge our grandma the twenty some odd cents much to our surprise , it arrived at her house a few days later.

 

[nickaluch]

The US postal service does not deliver on the end of a motorboat or seaplane - pure gibberish. US postal service only delivers on year round regularly maintained public roads. For those that live outside normal routes they can receive mail "general delivery" - meaning you go to the nearest post office and pick it up.

You also pay more to ship packages to places like Alaska and Hawaii.

More reason to sunset the post office. Do taxpayers need to subsidize Amazon delivery for rural areas?

I'm thinking Amazon will just stop doing business with rural addresses I'm cool with that but I'm sure people living in those areas would be upset

 

[cudavid]

Monday Wednesday Friday mail only, close post offices less than 5 miles apart, saves gas, more efficient, better for the environment, less traffic, less accidents, all good!

 

[Mackelroy]

Whether the post office makes money or doesn't is irrelevant. Government is not a business. We no longer need a post office for the security or business of the nation as we did in 1776 when we in fact did. Therefore there is no good reason whatsoever to keep it functioning - profitable or not. Sunset it and focus on important things.

So turn over to private industry, $20 to mail a letter?

go to ups or Fed ex and mail something, without some contract.

 

[rijndael]

A lot of the new neighborhoods around me have group mailboxes at the entrance.

 

[SC Maintenance]

So turn over to private industry, $20 to mail a letter?

go to ups or Fed ex and mail something, without some contract.

Maybe. So. Not the job of the government to make our life cheaper. Its there job to protect the republic.

If your mailing something important your not sending it first class snail mail.

Unless your mailing me a Christmas card. Then I am all for it!.

 

[SC Maintenance]

I'm thinking Amazon will just stop doing business with rural addresses I'm cool with that but I'm sure people living in those areas would be upset

In the cities here there are Amazon boxes. Looks like a stack of large post office boxes. You go and enter a code - and one door opens and you get your stuff. For people in apartments and such - Amazon can't enter anyway. They could put an Amazon box in the nearest town or at a popular corner and people could go retrieve there own stuff.

I am not unsympathetic to those people, but I grew up in a very rural place and mom went to town at most once per week. There were no deliveries back then. Its part of living in a rural area, and anyone that actually understands this won't worry about it.