Lawmakers question pay for USPS employees

[lanlady]

Source: Government Executive

House lawmakers are seeking answers on workforce costs at the U.S. Postal Service.

The House Oversight and Government Reform Committee has scheduled an April 5 hearing to examine postal workers' pay and benefits. Lawmakers previously have expressed concern over the U.S. Postal Service's labor costs, which account for approximately 80 percent of its expenses.

The committee will hear from witnesses on the new contract between the Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union. USPS and APWU on March 14 reached a tentative agreement after months of negotiations. Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., expressed concern that the contract could worsen the Postal Service's fiscal situation.

"Costs must be reduced to align them with falling mail volume and declining revenue projections," Issa said. "The union contract renewals are the best chance to find new savings. Unfortunately, this looks like a missed opportunity. The Postal Service must show Congress and the American people that it can pay its own way, because the numbers do not seem to add up."

Read more: http://www.govexec.com/dailyfed/0311/032311l1.htm

---

Darrell Issa continues the GOP's all-out assault on public workers.

[The_Casual_Observer]

1. Millionaire Issa is worried that people might be making a living

working at the post office. Issa, people don't get rich working at the post office. Further, the post office was never intended to pay it's own way, that kind of shit talk is a legacy of st. ronnie,

[alfredo]

57. Economic power equals political power. That's what scares Issa.

[SharonAnn]

71. USPS employees question pay for Lawmakers

[laconicsax]

2. Of course! People doing vital, stressful, thankless jobs better not get paid.

:grr:

[Psephos]

70. Stressful and thankless? Absolutely. Vital? Each day, that's a little less true. n/t

[drm604]

3. Could this affect postal retirees benefits?

I don't know what my mother would do without what she gets from my late fathers postal pension and health insurance.

[Kerrytravelers]

4. As the daughter of a now retired letter carrier, these people certainly earn their pay.

My dad carried in the heavy rains and winds. He knew everyone on his route. He carried dog bones to seduce the pets from biting him. He performed CPR on an elderly man. To this day, he still gets holiday and birthday cards from people on his routes.

Issa's goal is to privatize the postal service. Personally, I like sending my parents a birthday card for less than pocket change and having it arrive in a couple of days. And once we lose this service, there will be a lot of anti-union clowns who realize they liked it, too. But then it will be too late.

[mrmpa]

12. Ditto, as the daughter of a retired clerk and the sister of a clerk..

where else can you spend 44 cents and have it arrive clear across the country in 2-3 days. God forbid it becomes a privatized service, people making minimum wage won't care if you get your mail or not. A big reason it's in the red, is because the Fed continues to borrow from it.

[tclambert]

33. Germany and Japan have privatized their postal services. Rates are way higher there.

In Germany, it costs about 75¢ to mail a letter. In Japan, it's about 96¢. And they are physically much smaller countries.

[fasttense]

43. Unlike the US, Germany and Japan also regulate their private services.

Germany requires a minimum of 1/3 labor representation on all corporate boards.

Both countries provide free or heavily subsidized health-care, education, extensive paid maternity leave and vacation (a month or more) and elaborate unemployment benefits to be covered by the corporation hiring the employee.

Privatization of our commonly required services in these countries, though stupid, is not the burden on workers as it is in the US.

In addition our Constitution provides for the establishment of the Postal Service and our founding fathers considered inexpensive access to communication a bedrock foundation of democracy. I trust our founding fathers to have a better view of democracy then the current crop of RepubliCONS.

[Wilms]

5. Issa starts out stealing cars. Now he's robbing pensions. n/t

[Initech]

6. Why don't we start questioning the pay of these millionaire CEO scumfucks?

[guitar man]

46. Oh my

We couldn't do that, it would be class warfare!

:sarcasm:

[Initech]

53. I bet they're salivating over that idea that it will come to that.

[guitar man]

55. yeah, and the old folks had a saying

"be careful what you wish for" :evilgrin:

[blunderbuss]

64. Why don't we start questioning the pay of these senators and

house members

[rpannier]

7. So when will he be having his committee look into the pay and benefits of congress people?

A: Never

[pa28]

8. For Republicans the USPS is an ideal target for privatization.

They would love to see the assets of post office sold for pennies on the dollar to UPS and FedEx.

In the Republican dream world stamps would be a dollar each because the market might bear it, "spoiled" postal employees would have no benefits while suddenly finding themselves making $7 an hour and the resulting "savings" would be diverted into executive bonus pools.

Issa's plan is not just about efficiency. The Republican full court press on labor is at work here with the added kicker of laying groundwork for a private mail service.

[999998th word]

17. Those greedy bastards should really concentrate on privatizing hell because they are goin to OWN it

They will reap what they sow.:grr:

[fasttense]

26. The Post Office is the only specific public service mentioned in the Constitution.

I thought these RepubliCONS read the Constitution when they took control of the House?

I guess they just skipped the parts they didn't like. Just like they skipped the parts of the Bible they didn't like.

[tpsbmam]

32. That was exactly my reaction when I saw the headline. nt

[Hestia]

51. Ain't that the truth - FedEx fights any type of union talk, they are vehemently against it

[Bandit]

52. It is obvious to all, but no one is countering it in any real manner.

Unions are going to be destroyed unless they get off their ass and shut this place down..Show those bastards where the power really lies. It is very much like the frog in the pot of slowly heated water....:shrug:

[mindwalker_i]

9. People question pay for lawmakers

Yeah, I wish

[bluesmail]

10. The Nazi's are coming. The Nazi's are coming. eom

[billymayshere]

11. Great

I was hoping we would slip under the radar with our new tentative agreement but now this pile of shit car thief wants to start fucking with us. I argue with republicans daily at my job and I cant wait to show them this story tomorrow. They want our collective bargaining rights now.

[Zambero]

19. Useful idiots

Republicans would not win a single election if it was not for the help of those who steadfastly vote against their own economic interests. Yes, by all means show your co-workers this proposal and ask which "lifestyle changes" they'll choose to make when they're compelled to put in low bids for by-the-job contracts, in order to get their old jobs back for a fraction of what they were earning. Wow, they'll be in 7th heaven being "their own boss" with no union to run interference.

[SoapBox]

13. My FIRST concern is the Pay and Perks given to Lawmakers!

...hey scumbag "lawmakers"...let's cut YOUR pay first!

These jerks make me want to barf.

[ProgressiveProfessor]

14. USPS is a big target

It shouldn't be, but it clearly is.

[UrbScotty]

15. Hey Rep. Issa - why now QUESTION YOUR OWN DAMN PAY?!

:eyes:

[iwishiwas]

24. They wil make a law only to raise it. Bet on it.

[UrbScotty]

68. Of course! (nt)

[Zambero]

16. Any Republicans out there work for USPS?

If so, they might wish to reconsider their political allegiance as they've just been included in the GOP's "public sector workers who are overpaid and underworked" category. Not only that -- as of now they also represent a "missed opportunity" for getting screwed, although Issa & company will certainly be glad to revisit that one. If Issa has his way and the postal service is privatized, the ensuing hefty profit margin added to base costs will rocket postal rates into the stratosphere. And we could also look forward to monthly billings for the privilege of having our for-profit mail delivered.

[gtar100]

18. More crazy shit from the republicans. They just can't stop!

Didn't they come into office saying they were going to be all about creating jobs? Seems like that's the last thing on their mind.

[Star]

61. This is not crazy shit

Well, it is crazy shit, but its also a clearly defined, well-orchestrated effort to impose Milton Friedman's "Pure" free-market capitalist economy on the country. All of those we put down as "bat-shit crazy" are that way on purpose. They distract our attention from the real danger and make us think they can't possibly succeed once everyone understands how crazy they and their ideas are. Unfortunately, I'm afraid by that time, it will be too late.

Friedman's idea is that everyone will prosper once the entire economy is absolutely free of interference by the government. This includes eliminating all regulations on any kind of business, and no social services whatsoever. They fervently believe all government services must be privatized, and that the government itself should be a mix of government and business. Friedman thinks government's only responsibility should be national defense and enforcement of laws. The Republicans have been slowly putting these ideas into place since Richard Nixon. (Grover Norquists "government so small you can drown it in a bathtub" fits in nicely right here)

Read Naomi Klein's The Shock Doctrine; The Rise of Disaster Capitalism. The economic collapse of 2008 has given these free-market capitalists just the disaster they need to be able to abolish all social programs in the name of budget cuts. They recognize that under "normal" conditions, the majority of the people would not vote for them or allow the things they are doing to happen. They're counting on the part of the population that has been brain-washed by Fox "News" to be large enough to give them the support they need until they succeed in putting their ideas into practice.

If we don't recognize the real danger of the actions of these people, we will be spinning our wheels while they dismantle every social safety net we have. They've used issues such as abortion, gay marriage, and religion to convince people that they are the only ones who can return our country to its rightful condition, while at the same time slowly eroding those same people's standard of living. That's part of the plan.

Their attacks on "liberals", "socialism", Obama, Democrats, etc., are only a small part of their overall plan. We're just now starting to see their end game, and we need to stop it ASAP before its too late, if its not too late already. I just don't know how to do that.

Everywhere they have tried this, mostly in South American but also in Iraq (Shock and Awe), their ideas have been abject failures, but they are convinced the failure was caused by the system not being "pure" enough. Their goal now is to make sure the system is "pure" enough.

[freshwest]

69. 100% agree and the outrage needs to turn into education and action.

[Citizen Worker]

20. There's just no end to their viciousness.

[lib2DaBone]

21. All workers are under siege when the Repuke Bankers are on the prowl....

Corporations LOVE a desperate, compliant work force. Good for Republican values.

[Daphne08]

22. Is there no end to the insanity?

I really, really dislike these people. :grr:

[timtom]

23. Okay, let's stop right here!

Lawmakers need to seek answers on workforce costs of legislators, executive branch, supreme court justices and all those who work for them. Cabinet members. TSA, NSA, Homeland Security. Slash 'em all. Let's f***ing save some MONEY! Let's Rock!

Oh, yeah. That goes for daily drug testing, as well!

[JohnnyRingo]

25. I know a T-Party letter carrier.

I haven't heard from him in a while, but this is indeed interesting. If I do, perhaps I can tell him I'm beginning to see things his way, now that republicans are cutting the deadwood out of government.

Actually, I wouldn't do that to even him, but it demonstrates well how those people vote against their (and our) better interests. He was all for cutting welfare rolls and slapping teachers back in line, but I imagine this isn't what he had in mind when he was at the protests last summer.

BTW, On edit, He was warned the Republicans would seek to privatize his job, but he shrugged it off saying he would just retire and live off a lifetime of pensions. Besides the total lack of concern for his co-workers, I'm not so sure Issa cares for his "legacy cost" either.

[fasttense]

29. It's a strange attitude.

I had an argument with a couple of Tea-baggers during the last election. We both happen to be handing out leaflets on the same street corner.

So, I asked them why they voted for RepubliCONS since the ladies were both older and clearly on Social Security and Medicare.

They claimed that the RepubliCONS were NOT going to cut their Social Security or Medicare. I told them that RepubliCONS go around saying they are going to cut Social Security, close the Department of Education, eliminate libraries and any form of medical assistance. I asked them why didn't they believe what the RepubliCONS were saying?

They kept telling me that RepubliCONS were NOT going to do any of that. They eventually admitted it was part of "some" RepubliCONS rhetoric but that RepubliCONS just "said" things like that. The majority of the GOP would not really cut all or their benefits. The ladies really believed it and handed out leaflets trying to convince others of the same thing.

It's amazing that they didn't believe what the RepubliCONS were saying they were going to do. It's as if they only heard what they wanted to hear out of the mouths of the GOP and ignored the parts where the GOP was going to take away their benefits.

[JohnnyRingo]

59. I had the debate with a different RWNJ who was collecting signatures to repeal health care

He was obviously on Medicare, and I asked him to justify his collecting govt health care while shutting out others. His predictable reply was that he was different because he paid into his all his life. I was ready though, because he isn't going to stop collecting the benefits when he uses up his contribution. It's still the "socialized medicine" he so adamantly opposed, and not a savings account. By that time other RW nut jobs had eavesdropped on the heated debate and began distracting me with AM radio talking points about "illegals" who get free health care, social security, and ice cream. I had my hands full by then.

I notice that all these Tea Baggers who are pushing to cut SS cleverly do so by grandfathering in current recipients. Indeed, most proposals I've heard so far involve cuts to those under 55 years of age. They know their base, and try not to step on their toes. It's still surprising how 'baggers are willing to throw their own children under the bus when it comes to social security cuts. Now that's conservative greed.

[think4yourself]

34. Mine too.

My carriers (2) listen to RW talk ALL day. This is just going to bring more into OUR tent. These Repugs continue to overreach.

[tpsbmam]

37. I kind of like you're initial suggestion....

Nothing wrong with stringing him along for a few minutes to get your point across. Not only cutting deadwood but putting a halt to taxpayers getting stiffed for high wages coupled with all of those benefits. And why the hell should I be paying for their retirement? WTF? And look at your ridiculous vacation time -- if we cut that back we could probably cut one or two positions at bigger post offices.....

Seriously, I'm amazed at union workers who don't frigging get this on their own -- most places I go when I get talking to unionized workers, they totally get it. He has to have co-workers who get it so it's not like he's operating in a total vacuum. (Unless you're like me and live in a rural(ish) area -- I think our PO has about 5 or 6 employees.)

[USBlues]

27. Keep it up fellas...just keep pushing...

The more the corporats keep pushing the sooner the Big PushBack will begin. Oh we are seeing a bit now...a few notable protests against the onslaught of the rats. But the BIG PushBack is coming. And when it does the rats will pay...they will pay big. So just keep pushing you disgraceful scum sucking rodents. Anything to accelerate your demise.

[Mike65th]

28. Yet another attack on the working people...

I love how Republicans cry for "Less Government", yet they always want to put their cold, greasy hands into everything. I have an idea that would please everyone and help balance the budget...Have all of the Republicans quit their jobs and not go on unemployment.
As the son of a postal worker and being a postal worker myself for the past 4 years, I can assure you, we are NOT rich. I can't even afford to move out of my mothers apartment because I can't even afford to finish paying off my college loans, from a school I couldn't afford to continue paying tuition for (Community College). The postal health benefits barely cover anything, even on the high option plans. The pension is also hardly enough to even allow you to live without getting some sort of part-time or side job ("That's uniquely American").
They talk about a 3.5% pay increase but that's over 5 years, not to mention we have been working out of contract since November, so that makes it over 6 years. And what is that 34.2% more than comparable workers? Who is comparable? No other organization deals with the people's mail(Letters), especially not on the same scale.
And why is it that no Democrats were asked any questions about the "situation"? Where are they? Republicans are constantly on the offensive while Democrats are hiding, not defending the people who elected them.
I'll stop now 'cause I'm just getting completely frustrated, I might want to break something that I couldn't afford to replace.

[tpsbmam]

40. Oh c'mon, Mike65th. The Rethuglicans can prove you make 34.2% more than

comparable workers. Just look at these data....no, not that closely, what the hell are you doing? You're going to other sources to check our facts? Oh hell, what do you know, you're a leftie and just a lowly worker -- we'll tell you what the facts are and we win because we'll just stick to our story, repeat it endlessly and we'll get the teabaggers all shouting about your ridiculous wages and benefits that are coming out of their pockets. Get a damn grip and stop whining!

You guys work your asses off. In almost every place I've lived I absolutely adore my carriers. Damn, when I lived in CT I had one guy, Dave, who was so awesome & wonderful to me. I wasn't as disabled then as I am now but I was still somewhat limited in physical ability and the amount I could get done in a day. I was in grad school full-time and working 20+ hours a week. My mailbox was on the front door of the house I rented. One year we had a terrible winter -- I think we got about 6 snowfalls of 1+ feet over three months. To get to my mailbox, he had to climb up a small hill and trudge through snow that got to be over two feet. I told him he had every right to refuse to deliver my mail and I'd just go pick it up at the PO. Nothing doing. Dave knew how hard I worked and how exhausted my MS left me at the end of every school/workday. He trudged through that snow with a smile on his face and a big hello and time to chat for a couple of minutes if I happened to be home when he delivered. When I had to fly around the country for internship interviews, he told me just to let him know when I'd be gone and he'd take my mail to the neighbors 'til I was back. He indicated that he thought that was safer -- I just said, "problem at the PO?" Yep. So we did it that way every time I left. Man, I was sad when I moved away -- I made sure to catch him and give him a huge hug and thank you! (Boy, that felt great to reminisce about him -- hadn't thought about him for quite a while.)

So, that long-winded response was my way of totally agreeing that you most of you guys/gals are awesome and work your butts off. I've had issues with my local PO here in a rural(ish) area but it's all with the PITA manager, not with any of the other workers.

Oh, and if you've gotten this far....welcome to DU!

:hi:

[DFW]

30. I can see the Republican response to criticism:

They'll just paraphrase Marie Antionette: "Let 'em use FedEx."

[Heywood J]

31. Wasn't the Post Office privatised, at least partially?

If so, wouldn't this be contractual interference in the private sector?

That would make a great ad against Republicans. "We'll meddle in the affairs of business when we think YOU'RE being paid too much. But when it comes to the crooks at your bank, we won't lift a finger."

[bigworld]

42. It's a quasi-public corporation

Meaning that it receives no tax dollars, and has to pull its own weight, yet it has congressional oversight.

[valerief]

35. Can't have all that taxpayer money circulating in our economy. Must give it

to the uber-wealthy via war funds to hasten our country's demise.

[liberal N proud]

36. They killed funding for NPR - Now its on to the Postal Service

A quest to privatize everything leaving no public domain untouched, but theirs.

[Lucky Luciano]

38. I am guessing the GOP is inviting someone to go postal.

:shrug:

[BlueGirlRedState]

39. My dad is retired USPS

My dad is 83, and retired from the USPS and civil service (dock worker at a Naval base). He was able to retire at 56 years old -- something I'll never be able to do. Thanks to his membership in the union, he has a pension and good health insurance. However, he's grown ever increasingly right wing. I'm tempted to send him this article and ask how he feels now.

[City Lights]

41. Cut your own pay first, Issa! And follow it up with slashing your benefits!

Fucking assholes.

[dipsydoodle]

44. U.S. Postal Service's labor costs ?

Given that's the service is labour intensive I'm surprised its only 80%.

[melm00se]

45. ummmm

Mr. Issa:

this is a services "company" so the bulk of their costs will be around the people who provide the service.

[Overseas]

47. Sad K&R. Stop the attack on government workers.

I really appreciate the USPS.

I don't have a car to drive somewhere to pick up a package delivered by a private service while I am at work. I can walk to my post office on Saturdays.

I wish they would focus on how to really SHARE THE SACRIFICE and raise taxes on the richest. Change the plan and rescind the Bush tax cuts sooner.

[w4rma]

48. 80%? He' d rather spend the money on cheap crap from China and executive salaries. (nt)

[lz1122]

49. I just sold two of my textbooks on Amazon

They give you a regular shipping credit of $3.99 so I went to UPS to ship them and it cost me $16 each. I figure it was easy to do it since the UPS store was right around the corner from me and I could easily get the tracking numbers which also turns out were never emailed to me. I just sold another text book so I am definitely going to go down to the Post Office and see what their rates are as I don't really feel like paying an extra $12 for shipping.

[patrice]

50. How come we never see lawmakers question fat salaries enabled by Medicare? . . .

at least for positions that do little more than perpetuate their own silos and have little or NOTHING to do with Care . . . hmmmm?

How come we never see those questions?

[patrice]

54. Can honestly say that I am a 100% absolutely USPS satisfied customer. Have NEVER had

any trouble with the USPS.

Something I absolutely cannot say for American "health" "care".

[Pacifist Patriot]

56. GOP Mindset:

If you're making a living wage, you make too much.

[GOTV]

58. Why must USPS pay it's own way. Isn't it a public good?

Should parks and libraries pay their own way?

[Doctor_J]

67. According to the Repukes, "Public Good" in an oxymoran

Clean water, clean air, decent roads - none of them should be available to the public.

[Zorra]

60. Screeeeam!. We had to loan banks a trillion dollars in order to keep private enterprise

afloat.

That was We the People, OUR GOVERNMENT using the fruits of our labor, that saved the ungrateful greedy, incompetent fucking self-described "masters of the universe" bankers and their Chamber of Commerce minions that are now trying to kill labor and cut our wages.

Think about it. The RW is now trying to enslave us after we were so kind as to save their sorry greedy asses.

That was quite a big mistake we made, huh?

[patrice]

63. And what would happen if we stopped SUBSIDISING Agri-Biz & Pharma!!!

[Zorra]

65. Dunno. Let's try it and see what happens.

:thumbsup:

[IcyPeas]

62. First they came...

First They came... - Pastor Martin Niemoller


First they came for the communists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a communist.

Then they came for the trade unionists,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a trade unionist.

Then they came for the Jews,
and I didn't speak out because I wasn't a Jew.

Then they came for me
and there was no one left to speak out for me.

___________________________________

isn't this ringing very true these days?

[Doctor_J]

66. Getting rid of USPS has been a goal for years

One of the wingers whom Hartmann constantly gives air time to wants USPS to be gone. Get ready to pay $3.50 to mail a letter.

[Psephos]

73. Or pay nothing and email one.

Which is an oversimplified but accurate reason why the USPS is in trouble. It has huge fixed costs that must be borne by rapidly shrinking revenues. Its principal product becomes more obsolete and less needed every year. Extend that trend forward and it's not hard to see where it ends up.

[Rex]

72. I question pay for lawmakers.

I believe they are making way more than they are of actual value to the American people. Mostly Repukes.