Just talked to my letter carrier- she is PRAYING they cut back to 5 days

[underpants]

nice short conversation

I was not too impressed with what she told me (not a member) of their union.

She works a "T6" schedule which means that she works 6 days a week and gets a full weekend off every 6 weeks.

Apparently the post master mentioned something about not delivering on Tuesdays. My letter carrier thought that had to be bait for people to say "Tuesday? hell no SATURDAY!!" which she wants. Her husband, retired Postal, said that if they did cut out Tuesday and there was a Monday holiday that would mean no mail to businesses from Saturday until Wednesday. Even without a holiday the Tuesday thing would mean delivery on Saturday, Sunday off, delivery on Monday, Tuesday off--doesn't make much sense. The business crowd won't like that either.

Anyway she would LOVE a 5 day delivery week. Fed employees get 4 weeks of vacation a year-after 15 years they get 5 weeks but they can only take 3 and they have to have the union negotiate (union rules) to sell back the other week or two that they were never going to get anyway.


Not bashing on unions-just telling you what she told me. She gave my daughter a lollipop when she saw us out for a walk last weekend.

[seabeyond]

1. isnt there a rule they cant go more than two days without delivery.

postal has to be losing money with internet and all other communications.

[notesdev]

5. The main uses for snail mail these days

are business correspondence (such as bills) and junk mail.

90%+ of email is spam... and judging by the typical contents of my mailbox, the numbers aren't too different for snail mail.

[seabeyond]

8. hey... i so agree. fill my trash with the trash i get from mail. n/t

[NNN0LHI]

6. My father used to deliver tons of magazines 20 years ago when he was a letter carrier

Only place I ever see magazines any more are in doctors offices. And not many there.

Don

[seabeyond]

11. we get boys life, times, smithsonian, nation geographic and game mag. lol. n/t

[MorningGlow]

2. I read that they picked Tuesday

because that's usually a day with the lightest mail load. :shrug:

[notesdev]

3. My neighbor postal worker

and I had a discussion about this last night... he seemed to think that the net result would be a greater use of Express Mail for delivery on the day that gets cut from the schedule, as happens now with Sundays.

He also had an interesting tidbit to relate as to the huge increase in the number of people using Express Mail, to pay mortgages and credit card bills at the last minute.

[MadHound]

4. What a bizarre schedule,

I wonder if that is typically the case. Everywhere I've lived in the Midwest, there's a full time carrier Monday-Friday, then a part time weekend carrier. I think that the weekend carrier sometimes subs for the full time person and/or does work at the distribution center or such.

If they're going to cut, Saturday does make the most sense. However I find it rather disgusting that they feel the need to cut service, especially in light of how much the PO has raised mail rates in the past decade or so. Just goes to show you how inefficient this privatized monstrosity is.

Rather than cutting service, why not try cutting out some of the deadwood at the top of the PO management. There are way to many of these people who perform very little work in exchange for one hell of a lot of money.

[Puglover]

7. My partner is a carrier and we

are both praying for the 5 day delivery week and praying it will be Sat. If they pick Tues. scheduling the carriers will be even more nightmarish then it already is. He is sick to death of not having two consecutive days off.

As far as Sat is concerned I would think they could only deliver express mail etc. if something HAD to be delivered.

[kestrel91316]

31. As a small business owner (we are open Mon thru Sat) I could get

100% on board with dropping Saturday delivery. Let the mail delivery only occur on banking days. Works for me - I can't see any problems with that.

Not delivering on Tuesday, a BUSINESS and BANKING day, is completely freaking insane.

[SheilaT]

9. Unless her workday is only six hours,

which I doubt, she's working a 48 hour week five out of six weeks. So she should be making lots of overtime pay. Personally, I prefer the time off. This is an example of why the workweek should be shortened to provide more jobs out there. Not just at the post office, but in most places.

[Coyote_Bandit]

10. I'm convinced

that my Saturday carrier slready takes most Saturdays off.

[havocmom]

12. Monday holiday + no mail on Tuesday = BIG $$ for lenders

Lots of late payment fees (and they are going up from what I read) will apply when check get stuck in the mail for extra days.

My new method for evaluating real motives for just about anything: Who stands to profit?

[underpants]

18. Good point

hell they can just claim it was late-how could YOU prove other wise?

[bread_and_roses]

13. Why not pray for more carriers with shorter days and usable vacation time?

Mail is an important government service and should never have been "semi-privitized" or whatever they call the peculiar set up they have now? It sounds as if your carrier would like to actually use her vacation time and have a shorter ordinary work-week. But why assume cutting service is the answer? We have over-worked postal employees and people who need jobs and communities that need the wages to generate tax income, etc. Seems plain enough to me.

[Greyhound]

43. All true. Potter has spent 8 years fucking up the postal service in order to

sell privatization. Over the last few years they have quietly switched more and more service to "contractors" that are paid much less, get none of the federal or union benefits, are not subject to the same regulations as regular carriers, and as the inevitable result service gets worse.

There is also a move afoot to eliminate the rural system all together, turning it all over to the contractors.

Those six-day routes and the forced surrender of vacation time are just ways to get carriers to quit/retire or otherwise leave. Maybe the new PMG will turn this around.

[lies and propaganda]

14. so I am.

as an internet business owner its incredibly nice to be able to have a day off. From shipping and packaging, anyway.

As much time i spend in the Post, I can tell you that all of my carriers do as well.

[Warpy]

15. My mail has been getting later and later

and now it doesn't arrive until an hour after dark. I suspect the USPS has been laying off by attrition lately and increasing the sizes of all the routes.

Unions call it a speedup, one person trying to do the work of two as the line speeds up. Only under a GOP administration can they get away with it.

Now they have too few hands to do to much work. Cutting back to business days seems reasonable, although it's going to make the weekends long for some folks who are waiting for checks.

Eventually, I expect every other day residential "service."

And I'm old enough to remember two deliveries a day.

[underpants]

17. At our old place we got mail at 8PM

City of Richmond

no idea why it was so late other than it was a foot route

When canvassing during the campaign I noticed several neighborhoods out here in the 'burbs with no mailboxes. I noticed one and started checking it out as a time waster between doors. In an urban setting like the apartments we used to live in that is fine but with 1/2 acre lots that means a lot of walking (time) between each residence.

[Warpy]

25. This is the inner city

and most mail boxes are on the front porch. Mine is a rural mailbox at the front of my yard, installed by the last guy who lived in this house and a real plus in prospectus and proxy seasons.

It's still a speedup, no matter how you look at it.

[Nay]

33. 20 yrs ago I was a city carrier in Chattanooga. Richmond ALWAYS

had the lousiest stats for everything -- late mail, lost mail, overnight deliveries not delivered overnight, use of overtime when their mail volume didn't indicate the need, etc., etc. Whatever the stat was, Richmond was worst. As GMF Chattanooga workers, we worked like slaves and were conscientious (plus we had good bosses who could actually manage routes and ppl very efficiently), so our stats were always very good, even tho we had plenty of walking routes as well.

My point is that Richmond hasn't changed much. Richmond is the ONLY place I have ever lived where I have had pcs of mail lost (both sent and received). Right now we get our mail at about 6 p.m., most likely delivered by a sub who is picking up the easier-driven/heavy mail parts of a regular route for the regular carrier. When I worked, carriers who finished their regular routes early could be assigned to: 1) another route that had had a lot of mail to deliver and the reg guy was running late; 2) a route that needed to be finished since the reg guy got sick; etc., etc. This did not happen often, because it was considered a failure to plan efficiently. Too many routes being finished late at night meant overtime, and efficient planning was meant to limit overtime. Routes were often re-evaluated if carriers regularly had a hard time casing their mail and then delivering it in an 8-hour day.

I suspect Richmond, and many other towns, have part-time subs who take on parts of routes regularly. Rather than break up routes into pieces manageable by one carrier, they hire part-timers who get lower pay and few if any bennies to take on parts of routes. But you'd have to ask a recent carrier what's actually going on--I've been out of it for a long while.

Oh, and Tuesday was the slow mail day back then, too.

[underpants]

36. I did not know that about the Richmond post offices

thanks

I have had things lost-thought it was a rarity...apparently not

[merh]

24. just imagine the mail experience for those in the hurricane recovery

areas - along the MS Gulf Coast, they have cut hours at most post offices with only one in each city staying open 8 to 5 five days a week (only open Sat 3 hours) - they haven't replaced most of those that retired and the carriers are overworked - NOLA was a major hub - since the storm they have tried to reallocate the deliveries and mail to NOLA can take longer than it once did.

Out of necessity we have had to rely on the other private mailing corps. Hell, even the feds rely on them over the USPS.

I would venture to guess that a thorough investigation into bushco's USPS administrative operations would show the efforts to harm the unions and make them inconsequential along with the buying of junk from private corps to sell at the USPC (they have junk in the post offices, bears and plastic scales, etc). Privatization was the goal and that required destroying what was working.

[RJ Connors]

16. The Tuesday day off is based on the findings of the post office

That Tuesday is typically a day of light mailing, or at least that is what an article I read earlier this week claimed. But your carrier might have a point about when there is a holiday on Monday. I suppose the question would be how many times does that situation occur throughout any given year?

The more concerning fact is that the post office is one of the few government agencies that usually makes money or breaks even year after year. The whole postal system was created by Benjamen Franklin and from books and articles I have read over the years it really is not much different today than when he created it. Just bigger. So the fact that the post office is getting in financial trouble is just more evidence as to how bad our economy really is these days. (Thank you Republicans)

On a lighter note, I went to my mailbox earlier this week and got the mail, came inside, and started to go through it. Behind my mail was my next door neighbors mail, which has happen before but not very often. Then, when I got to the end of his mail, behind that was the next neighbor down mail.

I thought maybe the post office is having operational problems, and this is their new way of cutting cost. Giving one in three recipients all the mail and then having the person who gets it deliver it to the other two recipients thereby cutting down delivery time, and hours and cost, of the post carrier.

Maybe that could work and we would still get mail service 6 days a week. :think:

[underpants]

20. Newspapers too.

I picked up my Tuesday newspaper a few weeks ago and thought "why did they even print this today?"

really thin

but then this is the Richmond Times-Dispatch, there really is no reason for it to be printed anyway

[Nay]

34. True! That's why it's called the Times-Disgrace! No reason for it

to get printed! If we didn't get the paper at work, I would never read it, RW rag that it is.

[underpants]

37. I had to call them 4 times to get my money back and stop delivery

Well I got my money back but they won't stop delivering it


yes the T-D is a worthless RW rag. Their "From Wire Reports" articles are unbelieveably skewed. Richmond itself is a news void from the T-D (and their horrific website) to the local news (WWBT is owned by the Lincoln Group) that likewise have websites that don't seem to be familiar with what was on the air the people around here are dealing with a completely different set of "facts" than the rest of the world.

[Nay]

39. Yeah--what day was it they closed the Powhite for ice and accidents?

Thursday? I had to take surface streets in to work, but the next day in the newspaper, not one mention of the whole thing. You'd think that would be worth a picture and a blurb, at least, since thousands of ppl were grossly inconvenienced and some got into wrecks.

And you're right that the websites are useless. I used to try to get on them for updated info on breaking news in Richmond area, and they'd never have a thing. But boy-howdy, if some Dem say the Pubs were acting badly, you are treated to six editorials and hundreds of half-wit letters to the editor about how the Dems are Nazis. Unbelievable.

Agree about the ppl around here -- this is the first place I have ever lived where I have concluded that vast swaths of the population are either uneducated/idiotic or crazy. From the unholy love of everything Civil War (while ignoring the Rev War stuff around here) to the barely-concealed racism, it's not a place we would normally have chosen to live. But we've both got good, stable jobs that are going to have to suffice until we retire.

[underpants]

40. Talking to my mom last night

daughter of a friend (Wm& Mary graduate degree) got laid off and Vvvwwwoop! out of town she went. She was amongst 10 people that she knew who got laid off (we were supposed to be "recession proof" remember) who high tailed it out of town when the work they moved here for went away (Circuit City, Genworth, LandAmerica, etc.)

GONE

Growing up in Yorktown it is strange how the Revolutionary War just didn't happen to Richmonders. Of course Richmond doesn't know that Hampton Roads or Roanoke exist (and vice versa) I do have to take exception to your attitude about the Civil War around here.... they spent a lot of time and money on all those Second Place trophies at major intersections around town (okay I was kidding about taking exception :hi: )

[soothsayer]

42. ...except that thursdays are actually lighter

good old usps still doesn't know its own bizness.

[RJ Connors]

44. Why do you think that Thursdays are lighter? n/t

[madaboutharry]

19. I have the nicest mail lady in the world.

I have to ask her about this.

[underpants]

21. Mine is really nice too

she seemed to know a lot about us-mentioned my wife's employer. She has to do something to kill the time I guess.

like I said she pulled over to give my daughter a lollipop a few weeks ago. She had a bag of them at the ready.

[Jamastiene]

22. That Tuesday thing has me stumped as well.

I just cannot figure out why they want to make it a Tuesday and break up the week like that. It makes not sense to me.

[stray cat]

27. They have by far the fewest deliveries on Tues is why Tue is being considered

[Gman]

23. So a scab is looking out for herself

I'm sure she doesn't complain one bit about the vacation she gets because of the union. And selling back vacation weeks? That's a great perk. Many union contracts say you work 52 weeks, you get paid 52 weeks and you can't sell anything back. That's a good perk.

Being a scab, she should be required to take unpaid vacation, be ineligible for health care coverage, etc.

[DemBones DemBones]

38. Where did you get the idea she's a scab?

:shrug:

[Gman]

45. The OP says so

[stray cat]

26. I've heard in general postal jobs are secure and well paid - with potentially the exception

of carriers. My understanding is they are hard jobs to get unless you know someone to get your foot in the door.

[pansypoo53219]

28. ebay made everything Paypal

i used to demand no paypal. no mail now. no more stamps.

[alarimer]

29. The only day I have to go to the post office is SATURDAY.

This is bullshit. They are only open until about 4 the rest of the time. Am I supposed to take time off work to go mail my stuff (bills or resumes/applications for example)? I have switched to paying all my bills except rent online. I am fucking sick of all the junk mail. As far as I am concerned I have very little need for mail at all.

[msongs]

30. most "mail" is garbage/trash that rides cheap. raise the rates on the trash first nt

[WCIL]

32. I am thinking the carrier you talked to

is a "casual". The Post Office hires these temporary workers at around $13.00/hour and guarantees them a minimum number of hours/week (I'm thinking 15 but I'm not sure). In reality, they usually work 40-60. This saves the post office money by not having to pay them very much and they don't get the union benefits. In return, you sometimes get a different mail carrier every day; someone who doesn't know the route and routinely in hours behind the regular (that is union) carriers.

My father retired from the post office and my sister has been with them 20 years. They both started out as casuals and were actually hired on as regular employees, but that almost NEVER happens anymore. The post office just lets the casuals go at the end of the cycle and then re-hires them at the same rate of pay. It seems like good money in towns where 1000 people show up for an $8.00 retail job, but casuals never get the benefits and protections that the union provides.

[underpants]

35. I am pretty sure she was a long term employee

I think she said she had been there over 15 years

thanks for the info though

[Tierra_y_Libertad]

41. T-6's work 5 days a week and all carriers get a full weekend every 6 weeks.

T-6's fill in for the 5 regular carriers on their rotating days off. i.e. Carrier A, has sat/sun off, the T-6 fills in on sat. Carrier B has Sun/Mon off she fills in on Mon. The days off are rotating for all carriers, including the T-6.
Every carrier has a "long" 6 day week every 6 weeks.

T-6's get paid more because they have learn every route they carry.

[recoveringrepublican]

46. My husband is a supervisor, he was basically told the same thing about requesting Tuesday..

Tuesday is ad mail day for most areas. His postmaster told him what someone higher told him..lol, that "they" mentioned Tuesday for this very reason. Hoping that Businesses will freakout and congress will say "ok, take Sat instead".

She may like the idea, but I'm betting many carriers and supervisors who depend on overtime aren't going to like it.