Our Postal Station Workers Will Be Replaced?

[NYGUY]

My wife got this info from a neighbor on Nextdoor:

In an effort to save money, our independent contractor postal station workers will be replaced with USPS employees. One person will be at a station. 20 people will lose their jobs.

Has anyone else heard about this?

[coffeebean]

This doesn't make sense to me that 20 people will lose jobs and leave only one person per postal station. Isn't there a postal station for each village? There are many more than 20 villages at present. The numbers don't add up.

[asianthree]

We have two at our station Monday to Friday

[retiredguy123]

The way to save money is to eliminate the USPS totally. Let UPS and FEDEX take over. More than 95 percent of my mail is junk that is delivered at a price that is way lower than the actual cost to the taxpayers.

[alanmcdonald]

I talked with our postal station person yesterday and they are being let go at the end of the month. Looks like fewer people that will each have to cover multiple locations. Betting service will be slowed, especially trying to receive large packages that do not fit into bins.

[Taltarzac725]

I thought that USPS workers were paid extremely well? That does not make much sense unless the independent contractors are paid well???

[redwitch]

This seems like such a dumb move. USPS employees get benefits, independent contractors don’t. USPS employees are well paid, our independent contractors bid for their jobs, which frequently puts them below minimum wage. On the plus side, there won’t be any more debates about tipping the delivery people since USPS employees can’t accept tips. I hope someone can explain the logic of this move.

I, for one, am going to give my delivery person a very large thank you gift this week. She deserves it.

[DeanFL]

PLEASE tell me this ain't true!!!

Now we must wait a couple extra days for our mail from the Cremation Society, Annuity offers, Car dealers (with the key...), Furniture stores, and Realty firms?

Not fair.

[villagetinker]

Yes, I saw our GREAT postal contractor on Friday and she gave me the BAD news. This looks and sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Anyone have the lady Lake postmaster phone number handy for complaints?

[Carla B]

PLEASE tell me this ain't true!!!

Now we must wait a couple extra days for our mail from the Cremation Society, Annuity offers, Car dealers (with the key...), Furniture stores, and Realty firms?

Not fair.

And the FREE DINNERS will already be over by the time we are invited!

[collie1228]

Think about how much money the post office is already saving by not delivering our mail. I have never before lived any place where I had to pick up my own mail. I don't mind at all, but I would object to a USPS effort to cut my service back even further. They are already saving millions of dollars by not having carriers deliver mail in The Villages.

[stan the man]

This seems like such a dumb move. USPS employees get benefits, independent contractors don’t. USPS employees are well paid, our independent contractors bid for their jobs, which frequently puts them below minimum wage. On the plus side, there won’t be any more debates about tipping the delivery people since USPS employees can’t accept tips. I hope someone can explain the logic of this move.

I, for one, am going to give my delivery person a very large thank you gift this week. She deserves it.


Postal employees may accept gifts valued up to $20, but cannot accept cash, according to a postal spokeswoman. Gift cards of up to $20 are also permitted, but the card cannot be redeemable for cash money and must be issued from a single company, not from a bank or shopping mall.

[billethkid]

If there were only a way to opt out of junk mails.
All the USPS provides is service to the postal station trash can.

Anybody want to venture a guess how many actually make it to the house?

If the junk mail that goes largely unread could be eliminated that would take a major strain off the postal work load......however that is never going to happen....

I would like to think if the story is true that the USPS would have sent some sort of notification indicating a potential effect on delivery times. Since no one has seen such a notification one would/could expect no detectable difference in handling the mail.

How do we know whether the sub contractors are not being replaced one for one with USPS employees. Those being let go would only be aware for sure of one thing....they are being let go!

I guess we shall see....maybe the change in snail mail delivery will be unaffected?

[Chi-Town]

This is hard to believe. I thought the reason to go with independent contractors was to save money. And we got the bonus of better service. I don't feel good about this.

Sent from my VS995 using Tapatalk

[retiredguy123]

My postal station has 5 trash cans, and they tell you not to put junk mail in them. So, what are they there for?

[Rapscallion St Croix]

As long as I keep my eye level post office box.......

[New Englander]

Yes, I saw our GREAT postal contractor on Friday and she gave me the BAD news. This looks and sounds like a disaster waiting to happen. Anyone have the lady Lake postmaster phone number handy for complaints?

You must be talking about Brittany. Yes, she is great! I hope this switch to USPS workers never happens.

[graciegirl]

I say, let's all wait and see. NO postal worker either private or gubmint STAYS at our postal station all day. They drive up, go in, put the mail in our boxes and go to the next postal station.

Could it possibly be this will NOT be a calamity? Could this possibly be something that will work out fine? Could it possibly something that will have no effect on us at all? That the folks who now do the job could more easily take the postal test and be hired by the U.S.P.S.?

Let's see what happens before we all go into a funk.

[Polar Bear]

...Could it possibly be this will NOT be a calamity? Could this possibly be something that will work out fine? Could it possibly something that will have no effect on us at all?...
Come on, gg. That’s crazy talk.

You’re still upset about Michigan winning last night. You have to settle down. :D

[graciegirl]

Come on, gg. That’s crazy talk.

You’re still upset about Michigan winning last night. You have to settle down. :D

Oh no. I missed that. They won? Oh well, it wasn't


THE GAME.

[coffeebean]

My postal station has 5 trash cans, and they tell you not to put junk mail in them. So, what are they there for?

Dog poop???


Just joking!

[coffeebean]

As long as I keep my eye level post office box.......

Lucky you! I have to reach into my mailbox with my arm and use my hand as a "rake" to make sure I've emptied the box. I'm not even at the tippy top either. Our box is one step down from the top. You may have guessed.......I'm height challenged.

[JoMar]

If there were only a way to opt out of junk mails.
All the USPS provides is service to the postal station trash can.

Anybody want to venture a guess how many actually make it to the house?

If the junk mail that goes largely unread could be eliminated that would take a major strain off the postal work load......however that is never going to happen....

I would like to think if the story is true that the USPS would have sent some sort of notification indicating a potential effect on delivery times. Since no one has seen such a notification one would/could expect no detectable difference in handling the mail.

How do we know whether the sub contractors are not being replaced one for one with USPS employees. Those being let go would only be aware for sure of one thing....they are being let go!

I guess we shall see....maybe the change in snail mail delivery will be unaffected?

All my mail goes home, including junk mail, we recycle and putting it in the trash cans defeats our commitment to help.

[fw102807]

If there were only a way to opt out of junk mails.


There is:

How To Get Off A Mailing List - Consumer Assistance (https://dmachoice.thedma.org/MPS/mailpref.php)

[retiredguy123]

There is:

How To Get Off A Mailing List - Consumer Assistance (https://dmachoice.thedma.org/MPS/mailpref.php)
I really don't think this will have much affect on your junk mail. The mail people just automatically put most of the junk mail in every box.

[Kenswing]

If your junk mail comes with a postage paid return envelope just stuff it full of your other junk mail and send it back..

[manaboutown]

If your junk mail comes with a postage paid return envelope just stuff it full of your other junk mail and send it back..

Back in the 1970s and 1980s I used to do this while watching television at night. I jammed as much weight as I could into each envelope, sent A junk to B and vice versa. The amount of junk mail I received abated over a few months to about a third of what it had once been.

[thetruth]

The way to save money is to eliminate the USPS totally. Let UPS and FEDEX take over. More than 95 percent of my mail is junk that is delivered at a price that is way lower than the actual cost to the taxpayers.

Priority Mail, according to me a great value, actually handled by FEDEX.

Today with flat rate phone service, e-mails the post office has lost much of the business and profit from days of old.

In the Villages wow mail service is far less costly than the service we used to get at our old home. Here, you need to drive, walk or? to pick up your mail at a central location.
We used to get delivery to our home door at no extra cost to the sender.

[silverblack]

USPS will replace contractors. They will receive benefits, vehicle and higher pay.

[silverblack]

Contractors were told it was not in the best interest to keep them. Only mailstations whose contract is up March 31st. They are being replaced by USPS carriers. They receive benefits, vehicle and higher pay.

[pauld315]

Think about how much money the post office is already saving by not delivering our mail. I have never before lived any place where I had to pick up my own mail. I don't mind at all, but I would object to a USPS effort to cut my service back even further. They are already saving millions of dollars by not having carriers deliver mail in The Villages.

This is being done all over the country. I lived in Houston in the mid 90's and we had to go to the central mailboxes in our subdivision to get mail. In the Raleigh, NC area all new subdivisions over the past 7 or 8 years have been built this way.

I don't understand how using real USPS employees is supposed to be saving any money but I guess we will have to see if it actually hurts service.

[Topspinmo]

This is being done all over the country. I lived in Houston in the mid 90's and we had to go to the central mailboxes in our subdivision to get mail. In the Raleigh, NC area all new subdivisions over the past 7 or 8 years have been built this way. I don't understand how this move is supposed to be saving any money but I guess we will have to see if it actually hurts service.

It saves money by not having to drive route delivery. They go to the station and stuff mail instead of using gas and wear tear on fleet vehicle. Which they can service more area quicker (meaning they just stuff it in the boxes all lined up and close toagther.

[pauld315]

It saves money by not having to drive route delivery. They go to the station and stuff mail instead of using gas and wear tear on fleet vehicle. Which they can service more area quicker (meaning they just stuff it in the boxes all lined up and close toagther.

I understand that. I don't understand how replacing contractors with USPS employees saves money.

[billethkid]

Did anybody say the change was being put in effect to save money?

If that is the case, what none of us know is how many USPS employees are fully utilized. There could be excess employment due to automation or lower utilization because of newer technology. So the answer could be as simple as get rid of contractors and use under utilized personnel already on the payroll.

There are not too many other scenarios justifying the change on economics....unless there is an element of load up the existing personnel work load and let the service quality fall where it may.

We shall soon experience the results of the change.

Then we can speculate anew....again!!

[Nucky]

Newman!

[moonman]

This is the best news I have heard since I got here 8 years ago, you will see that you're service will improve, since the non-postal
employees don't really care if they have this job or not. They do not receive medical, no pension, low salary. This job that they have is a piece of cake, air conditioned facility indoors. The amount of employees going from 20 to 1 will be changed according to the amount of mail.
About using UPS or Fed-ex, do you really think they want this job, they have more work than they can handle now.
Retired Letter Carrier after (30 Years) been retired for 18 years. Watch what you wish for, it's going to work BELIEVE ME.
JJO'D

[SCasey]

My wife and I have sent cash and gift cards to our grandchildren from the mail boxes at the postal center here. They never arrived at the destination. When we contacted the USPS to ask, they said there was nothing they could do because the employees at the postal centers are not USPS employees. Since the second time this happened, we have been going to the USPS post office to mail anything that looked like a greeting card just to make sure it gets where it is going. I hope this change will avoid this situation.

[retiredguy123]

This is the best news I have heard since I got here 8 years ago, you will see that you're service will improve, since the non-postal
employees don't really care if they have this job or not. They do not receive medical, no pension, low salary. This job that they have is a piece of cake, air conditioned facility indoors. The amount of employees going from 20 to 1 will be changed according to the amount of mail.
About using UPS or Fed-ex, do you really think they want this job, they have more work than they can handle now.
Retired Letter Carrier after (30 Years) been retired for 18 years. Watch what you wish for, it's going to work BELIEVE ME.
JJO'D
Yes, I believe UPS and FEDEX want the job. But, they are in business to make a profit. They would not deliver junk mail and lose money on it like the USPS does. So, the amount of junk mail would be drastically reduced.

[Rapscallion St Croix]

Yes, I believe UPS and FEDEX want the job. But, they are in business to make a profit. They would not deliver junk mail and lose money on it like the USPS does. So, the amount of junk mail would be drastically reduced.

USPS does not lose money on junk mail. It is their life support machine.

[graciegirl]

My wife and I have sent cash and gift cards to our grandchildren from the mail boxes at the postal center here. They never arrived at the destination. When we contacted the USPS to ask, they said there was nothing they could do because the employees at the postal centers are not USPS employees. Since the second time this happened, we have been going to the USPS post office to mail anything that looked like a greeting card just to make sure it gets where it is going. I hope this change will avoid this situation.

We have sent similar gifts and never had one problem, we use checks.

One of the reasons we like the postal stations is that they are air conditioned and our prescriptions are mailed to us and it is very HOT here in the summer and traditional mail boxes would hurt many prescriptions in a short time due to excessive heat.

[OhioBuckeye]

Personally I'm surprise the Postal Service can even survive because of computers & emails & text messages. I think evenually computers will run the postal service out of business. Just my thought!

[retiredguy123]

Personally I'm surprise the Postal Service can even survive because of computers & emails & text messages. I think evenually computers will run the postal service out of business. Just my thought!
The postal service is not in "business". They are wasting your tax dollars because Congress won't stop them.

[GAGammy]

The junk mail we get is actually income to pay the postoffice by the advertiser to deliver their mail to us.So if we blocked that, then the usps would get less money,then our rates would go up.vicious cycle.

[retiredguy123]

The junk mail we get is actually income to pay the postoffice by the advertiser to deliver their mail to us.So if we blocked that, then the usps would get less money,then our rates would go up.vicious cycle.
The problem is that the advertisers are not paying enough money to cover the cost to deliver the junk. Our Government is subsidizing the cost. It has gotten to the point that almost all of our mail is junk, and the "for profit" services like UPS and FEDEX are delivering the real mail. If the USPS charged the actual cost to deliver junk mail, the junk mail would disappear.

[Bavarian]

Contractors make more money then Federal Employees!

[Rich42]

The entire reason the postal system went to contract workers in the first place was to reduce the exorbitant cost of unionized employees on thei payroll with all the associated pay and benefit costs. So your assumption is backward leading to an erroneous conclusion!

[HMLRHT1]

FedEx and UPS don’t want it and are not set up to handle or distribute mail. Many packages are given to USPS from FedEx and UPS because they don’t want to deliver to a lot of houses.

[HMLRHT1]

They are not wasting tax dollars, they are self sufficient. In fact the US govt steals money from the USPS just like it does from SS and Medicare.

[PPLEPEU]

The entire reason the postal system went to contract workers in the first place was to reduce the exorbitant cost of unionized employees on thei payroll with all the associated pay and benefit costs. So your assumption is backward leading to an erroneous conclusion!

It is very unlikely that any Postal workers were laid off when the 20 contractors were hired to handle the mail in The Villages.

Even if there wasn't any work for the displaced USPS workers, they were assigned to other tasks, no matter how menial or wasteful. Then a few years down the road, management 'discovered' they would attain 'savings' by taking the outsourced work in house, using labor they already employ.

Crazy, but absolutely true. As a subcontractor looking to help the USPS save money, I saw this happen several times. They absolutely do not operate like any other normal business -- and therefore have a horrible time reducing their expenses.

[pierrevlgs]

Yes, We heard the same thing. Our contract person thinks she will be gone.

[Read2know]

Yeah, we all look forward to those financial seminars which will feed us and lie to us about much money we can lose ?

[manaboutown]

The problem is that the advertisers are not paying enough money to cover the cost to deliver the junk. Our Government is subsidizing the cost. It has gotten to the point that almost all of our mail is junk, and the "for profit" services like UPS and FEDEX are delivering the real mail. If the USPS charged the actual cost to deliver junk mail, the junk mail would disappear.

Actually we, the first class mail users, are heavily subsidizing the junk mail postal costs. Advertisers only pay a small portion of their actual mailing costs. They paid lobbyists to get congress to make this the way it works.

[retiredguy123]

They are not wasting tax dollars, they are self sufficient. In fact the US govt steals money from the USPS just like it does from SS and Medicare.
I'm sorry, but this is just not accurate. Even the U.S. Postmaster recently acknowledged that the USPS lost more than $5 billion is FY 2015 and another $5 billion+ in FY 2016, and that they need to change the way they operate. This has also been confirmed by several audits. The postal union does not want to count the cost for prefunding the future health and pension benefits of their retirees. When a postal employee retires, he/she will receive a generous pension and health insurance for the rest of their life. These are real costs to the taxpayer and they are enormous, sometimes lasting 30 years or more. The postal service is not self sufficient.

[mrf6969]

Well as far as most folks are concerned and me included, Once or twice a week delivery would be ample. Most people now days do their bill paying and personal business electronically on-line. Cut the delivery way back and save a bundle and maybe just maybe the United States Postal Service will stop operating in the red.

[judynlee]

That IS what they are there for but they cannot recycle because there is (mysteriously) dog poop in them!

[neelie]

Talked to my postal person She told me that some contracts are being let go but USPS workers are not

[pqrstar]

. . .
One of the reasons we like the postal stations is that they are air conditioned and our prescriptions are mailed to us and it is very HOT here in the summer and traditional mail boxes would hurt many prescriptions in a short time due to excessive heat.

I've often wondered who pays the bills for the air conditioning, lights, upkeep, repair and taxes for these postal buildings.

I've also wondered if Citizens First Bank pays anyone for the use of the space for the ATM's at the postal stations.

Hope someone can enlighten me; however I fear we foot the bills here.

[justjim]

USPS lost two billion dollars last year. However, it’s not all their fault. From what I read, USPS has tried a number of times to close many rural unneeded post offices but Congress, because of politics, stops many efficiencies they attempt to make. That shouldn’t be a surprise, they (Congress) has run up a 21 trillion dollar debt.

[600th Photo Sq]

[QUOTE=pqrstar;1527217]I've often wondered who pays the bills for the air conditioning, lights, upkeep, repair and taxes for these postal buildings.

I've also wondered if Citizens First Bank pays anyone for the use of the space for the ATM's at the postal stations.

Hope someone can enlighten me; however I fear we foot the bills here.

i1Dery.......I Wonder..Wonder...Wonder...Who.......

[Bowtorc]

They won't answer

[moemaddie]

I hope I can clear a few things up since I am one of the contractors being affected by this change. Contracts are good for about 5 years and then they get counted for renewal. This renewal included about 24 routes. 15 of the routes were denied renewal and they did an appeal which still got denied and they were informed it would be going up for bid as a large contract. Everyone was waiting to see who would be awarded this bid, in the meantime 5 routes negotiated their contracts and thought everything was fine and 2 weeks ago they were told they are now being converted to rural routes (postal jobs) the other 15 who have been waiting found out on Friday that March 31st will be their last day. Total routes affected are 21 which span across 32159, 32162, and a majority of 32163. We do not understand why this is happening but they are making them postal positions and any of the current contractors may now apply for a position at the Lady Lake Post Office and go through the hiring process. 15 were given a week notice and 5 were given about three weeks notice. This is devastating to all of us. I know some customers were happy with their carrier and I'm sure some were not. If you were in the 32163 I know those carriers loved their customers and their customers loved them.

[biker1]

Yes, very dependable and nice!

I hope I can clear a few things up since I am one of the contractors being affected by this change. Contracts are good for about 5 years and then they get counted for renewal. This renewal included about 24 routes. 15 of the routes were denied renewal and they did an appeal which still got denied and they were informed it would be going up for bid as a large contract. Everyone was waiting to see who would be awarded this bid, in the meantime 5 routes negotiated their contracts and thought everything was fine and 2 weeks ago they were told they are now being converted to rural routes (postal jobs) the other 15 who have been waiting found out on Friday that March 31st will be their last day. Total routes affected are 21 which span across 32159, 32162, and a majority of 32163. We do not understand why this is happening but they are making them postal positions and any of the current contractors may now apply for a position at the Lady Lake Post Office and go through the hiring process. 15 were given a week notice and 5 were given about three weeks notice. This is devastating to all of us. I know some customers were happy with their carrier and I'm sure some were not. If you were in the 32163 I know those carriers loved their customers and their customers loved them.

[graciegirl]

///

[geofitz13]

The postal union does not want to count the cost for prefunding the future health and pension benefits of their retirees. When a postal employee retires, he/she will receive a generous pension and health insurance for the rest of their life. These are real costs to the taxpayer and they are enormous, sometimes lasting 30 years or more. The postal service is not self sufficient.

This is so true. But the same can be said of the retirement benefits for public school teachers, police, firemen, and nearly all government workers. I have many friends in those kinds of positions, and in their retirement, they are making more money from their pension, than I make working 50 hours a week. And they're attitude is generally, "I got mine". One of these days, these pension costs are going to come back to haunt everyone. I'm in favor of decent pensions, even though private sector does not do this any longer. But when I see people getting high 5 and sometimes 6-figure pensions, it makes me sick. They are getting more in retirement than the working people they serve.

[Radioman41]

Wonder if the postal unions had a hand in this now that The Villages is much larger? We have been very happy with our contract person in 32163.

[Scarlyte2899]

Contractors make more money then Federal Employees!

If they did the post office would have never implemented contractors in the first place. They make enough to survive pay check to pay check. Out of that they have to pay for their own vehicle, self employment tax, purchase their own uniforms, as well as pay out of pocket for any office supplies needed to do their job more efficiently. Lets not forget the commercial insurance that they have to have that is most likely higher due to the amount of accidents in the area. To top that off the only days they have off are Sunday's and national holidays.

[retiredguy123]

This is so true. But the same can be said of the retirement benefits for public school teachers, police, firemen, and nearly all government workers. I have many friends in those kinds of positions, and in their retirement, they are making more money from their pension, than I make working 50 hours a week. And they're attitude is generally, "I got mine". One of these days, these pension costs are going to come back to haunt everyone. I'm in favor of decent pensions, even though private sector does not do this any longer. But when I see people getting high 5 and sometimes 6-figure pensions, it makes me sick. They are getting more in retirement than the working people they serve.
I agree. But, the difference is the the postal union wants to tell you that the USPS doesn't cost the taxpayer any money, which is total hogwash. Other Government employees acknowledge that their agencies do not raise more money than they spend.

[geofitz13]

I agree. But, the difference is the the postal union wants to tell you that the USPS doesn't cost the taxpayer any money, which is total hogwash. Other Government employees acknowledge that their agencies do not raise more money than they spend.

The postal unions want to completely ignore the necessity of funding future pensions and health care. I saw this up close and personal, as I have a brother who was president of a local postal union bargaining unit for many years. The stuff that was espoused in the name of the "union" would make most people ill. They will also try to persuade you that the USPS is an indispensable part of the government. Actually, the best thing would be to privatize, and let the private company charge bulk mail rates that make sense.

[Clawdio45]

Just a note from a retired Postal worker: the Post Office is self funding. It is NOT supported by taxes, but by its own sales and postage. I can also tell you from PERSONAL experience that my "pension" consists of a very small government stipend (into which I paid for almost 20 years) and Social Security. The two combined come nowhere near what I earned while employed. It rankles when people who have no direct knowledge present unfounded crud that "everyone knows" as fact. I do NOT get health insurance "paid for" for the rest of my life. NONE of us do. I pay for Medicare (comes out of my Social Security) and I pay for additional insurance (comes out of that small pension). End of rant.

[retiredguy123]

Just a note from a retired Postal worker: the Post Office is self funding. It is NOT supported by taxes, but by its own sales and postage. I can also tell you from PERSONAL experience that my "pension" consists of a very small government stipend (into which I paid for almost 20 years) and Social Security. The two combined come nowhere near what I earned while employed. It rankles when people who have no direct knowledge present unfounded crud that "everyone knows" as fact. End of rant.
So, why did the U.S. Postmaster recently acknowledge that the agency lost over $10 billion in fy 2015 and 2016? The U.S. Postal Service's own fiscal reports show that they lose money every year. Look it up. Isn't that direct knowledge?

[villagetinker]

I hope I can clear a few things up since I am one of the contractors being affected by this change. Contracts are good for about 5 years and then they get counted for renewal. This renewal included about 24 routes. 15 of the routes were denied renewal and they did an appeal which still got denied and they were informed it would be going up for bid as a large contract. Everyone was waiting to see who would be awarded this bid, in the meantime 5 routes negotiated their contracts and thought everything was fine and 2 weeks ago they were told they are now being converted to rural routes (postal jobs) the other 15 who have been waiting found out on Friday that March 31st will be their last day. Total routes affected are 21 which span across 32159, 32162, and a majority of 32163. We do not understand why this is happening but they are making them postal positions and any of the current contractors may now apply for a position at the Lady Lake Post Office and go through the hiring process. 15 were given a week notice and 5 were given about three weeks notice. This is devastating to all of us. I know some customers were happy with their carrier and I'm sure some were not. If you were in the 32163 I know those carriers loved their customers and their customers loved them.

I am very sorry to hear about this situation, I know myself and several neighbors really like our postal contractor, she has always been very helpful and pleasant, Now I have no idea if this is useful, but I have been keeping an eye out for jobs for my stepson, and I keep getting postings for postal positions in the Wildwood Post office. Please pass this on to your fellow contractors, and I hope this works out for all of you.

[Nucky]

We have been treated like royalty by the two people who run the Paradise Postal Facility. The latest example of them going above and beyond what is necessary was a white package 8 1/2" x 11" addressed in crayon from our granddaughter that had one get well soon personalized homemade card that was short 50 cents on the postage. They delivered it anyway and not only was the card touching, the extra effort from our Postal Person should be mentioned. I hope our two Clerks get the position and it works out great for them. After all, they have responsibility just as we all do. Best of luck to them and thanks for the favor.

[Dr Winston O Boogie jr]

I'm sorry, but maybe I'm not understanding this correctly. Am I to understand that 20 people will be let go and replaced by one person?

If that is the case, perhaps it explains why USPS always seems to be in financial trouble. If one person can do the job why are they employing 20?

Is the mail supposed to be a government service or simply an agency to give people jobs?

If I'm not understanding this correctly please enlighten me.

[moemaddie]

No, they will be replaced by new postal workers.

[fw102807]

I am very sorry to hear this as we live in 32162 and are very happy with our mail delivery person.

[DeanFL]

Not concerned if this slows regular mail delivery (esp junk mail) to the Postal station boxes. BUT timely delivery of boxes/packages there, and to home by USPS. hopefully will not become an issue.

[graciegirl]

Does anyone know why this has changed. IN FACT?

Please don't tell me the developer is being greedy. I haven't had coffee yet.

[DeanFL]

Does anyone know why this has changed. IN FACT?

Please don't tell me the developer is being greedy. I haven't had coffee yet.

GG,

Drink up quickly, if today is the norm on ToTV. Matter of fact - some days you may need an adult beverage or two.:beer3:

(not from me mind you, I LOVE TV and all "The Family" has done/will do for us here in Paradise USA).

[Bay Kid]

IF the government needs to replace private workers with government workers why not give the private workers at least a chance to keep their job if they become a government worker? No training necessary!

[Cedwards38]

The original poster started the comment with, "In an effort to save money." If that is true that money will be saved, then why the complaints? The USPS is currently paying the independent contractors. Sometimes people lose jobs when efficiency policies are implemented. I also hate to see anyone lose jobs, but it looks like the USPS will be adding jobs to do this. Don't we want the USPS to be run as efficiently as possible?

[Bavarian]

Just a note from a retired Postal worker: the Post Office is self funding. It is NOT supported by taxes, but by its own sales and postage. I can also tell you from PERSONAL experience that my "pension" consists of a very small government stipend (into which I paid for almost 20 years) and Social Security. The two combined come nowhere near what I earned while employed. It rankles when people who have no direct knowledge present unfounded crud that "everyone knows" as fact. I do NOT get health insurance "paid for" for the rest of my life. NONE of us do. I pay for Medicare (comes out of my Social Security) and I pay for additional insurance (comes out of that small pension). End of rant.
As a retired CS Electrical Engineer, we made less money then Contractors that startedsetting up shop outside the gate. People do not know that the manual labor jobs like painting, plumbing, electrical and so forthe are done by Service Contractore. The Fed Govt employees are Engineers, Scientists, Medical Doctors, Lawyers. That swings the comparison to the total private Sector workforce off.

Now Police and fireman can not work as long due to the demands of the job.

I am under CSRS, no Social Security, pay as much for my FHEB Health Insurance now as when I worked. It is not free and quite pricey. Get Medicare A free as since early '80s we were forced to pay Medicare tax.

So don't begrudge us Feds our pension as that is all we get.

[Jdmiata]

Why not wait till all the facts are in instead of making wild statements without any .

[Clawdio45]

So, why did the U.S. Postmaster recently acknowledge that the agency lost over $10 billion in fy 2015 and 2016? The U.S. Postal Service's own fiscal reports show that they lose money every year. Look it up. Isn't that direct knowledge?

Well, it isn't losing money because of paying oversize pensions or lifetime health insurance. Of that, I personally have direct knowledge.

[DeanFL]

The new Mail folks just better not mess with our Valpak mail>

No strings attached: Valpak is tucking $100 checks in some of the envelopes with all those coupons

Don’t be so quick to stuff those coupons you get in the mail in a drawer – or the trash.

Valpak, the direct marketing business behind those budget savers that arrive every month says that it has tucked $100 checks inside some of those envelopes.

The unexpected bonus will show up in random, specially marked envelopes each month this year. Your chance of winning? Roughly 1 in 50,000.

The company said in a statement that there are “no strings attached.’’ Rather it’s a way to get people to actually open Valpak’s signature blue envelopes and check out the coupons inside.

The envelopes will read “Look inside! $100 could be in this envelope.” Winners will find a check wrapped in an insert with similar language.

[Dutchman]

Originally Posted by Clawdio45
Just a note from a retired Postal worker: the Post Office is self funding. It is NOT supported by taxes, but by its own sales and postage.

Who is making up the $10B loss, the tooth fairy???

[Clawdio45]

Originally Posted by Clawdio45
Just a note from a retired Postal worker: the Post Office is self funding. It is NOT supported by taxes, but by its own sales and postage.

Who is making up the $10B loss, the tooth fairy???

Interesting point. Guess by that logic, the tooth fairy also makes up the difference between tax revenues and government spending in general (otherwise known as the Federal deficit). No, USPS does just what any corporation or government does when it loses money... it borrows to cover the losses. How much money did Sears Roebuck lose last year? Do you think the taxpayers bailed them out?

[CFrance]

Interesting point. Guess by that logic, the tooth fairy also makes up the difference between tax revenues and government spending in general (otherwise known as the Federal deficit). No, USPS does just what any corporation or government does when it loses money... it borrows to cover the losses. How much money did Sears Roebuck lose last year? Do you think the taxpayers bailed them out?
From whom did the USPS borrow the money?

[Rapscallion St Croix]

The only reason the USPS is in debt is because in 2008 Congress mandated that they had to pre-fund future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years and do so by 2018.

[CFrance]

The USPS is not self-funding, in that it borrows from the US Treasury at a highly subsidized rate of 1.2% to cover its losses. It also doesn't pay any state or local property or real estate taxes, tolls, vehicle registrations, and parking tickets. An interesting article with this information is here: U.S. Post Office gets an $18 billion gift from taxpayers every year | Fortune (http://fortune.com/2015/03/27/us-postal-service/)

An estimate of the subsidies and legal monopolies that Congress bestows upon the post office is worth $18 billion annually.

We loved Vera, our postal contractor person, when we lived in Tamarind Grove and hope she keeps her job. Her customer service is amazing.

[CFrance]

The only reason the USPS is in debt is because in 2008 Congress mandated that they had to pre-fund future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years and do so by 2018.
And didn't they also block the USPS's idea of cutting costs by discontinuing Saturday delivery? Talk about a double bind.

[New Englander]

The only reason the USPS is in debt is because in 2008 Congress mandated that they had to pre-fund future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years and do so by 2018.

:agree:

[Jdmiata]

The only reason the USPS is in debt is because in 2008 Congress mandated that they had to pre-fund future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years and do so by 2018.

Absolutely correct !

[rhood]

I say, let's all wait and see. NO postal worker either private or gubmint STAYS at our postal station all day. They drive up, go in, put the mail in our boxes and go to the next postal station.

Could it possibly be this will NOT be a calamity? Could this possibly be something that will work out fine? Could it possibly something that will have no effect on us at all? That the folks who now do the job could more easily take the postal test and be hired by the U.S.P.S.?

Let's see what happens before we all go into a funk.

Easy for you to say, you don’t have 900 mail boxes where you are.

[retiredguy123]

The only reason the USPS is in debt is because in 2008 Congress mandated that they had to pre-fund future retiree health benefits for the next 75 years and do so by 2018.
It is absurd to suggest that the USPS not be required to prefund future retirement benefits. They are a real cost to the taxpayers. I retired from the Federal Government 11 years ago and have already collected almost as much money in my pension as I did in salary during my entire career. No wonder people don't like unions. The postal union actually wants you to believe that the USPS pays for itself, but they only want to count their current operating expenses with no regard for future retiree benefits. That is laughable.

[ColdNoMore]

It is absurd to suggest that the USPS not be required to prefund future retirement benefits. They are a real cost to the taxpayers. I retired from the Federal Government 11 years ago and have already collected almost as much money in my pension as I did in salary during my entire career. No wonder people don't like unions. The postal union actually wants you to believe that the USPS pays for itself, but they only want to count their current operating expenses with no regard for future retiree benefits. That is laughable.

Really?

Given that even under the old CSRS, a person maxed out at 80% of 'high 3' at 40 years of service (a little earlier for certain classes)...please explain how your statement could be possible.

The Maximum CSRS Annuity (http://www.fedweek.com/reg-jones-experts-view/the-maximum-csrs-annuity/)

[graciegirl]

Easy for you to say, you don’t have 900 mail boxes where you are.

That is true. Only 53 at our place. NO POOL.

Could this have been another tempest in a teapot?? Am I reading that it has been resolved? Could this be another crisis averted here in lower Paradise??

I can now continue thinking how wonderful this place is??

And thanking the Morse family?

[Sail41]

We spoke to our contract postal person today and he said they solved the problem late yesterday and no contract personnel are leaving. It's a 2 year contract and then will be renewed for 5 years. This was at the Rio Grande PO. Hope it's true. He's very attentive to his customers and would be missed.

[ColdNoMore]

We spoke to our contract postal person today and he said they solved the problem late yesterday and no contract personnel are leaving. It's a 2 year contract and then will be renewed for 5 years. This was at the Rio Grande PO. Hope it's true. He's very attentive to his customers and would be missed.

:cool:

[OhioBuckeye]

The postal service is not in "business". They are wasting your tax dollars because Congress won't stop them.

Congress may not stop them because they're govt. ran & it's federal money that runs the P.O. Our money is what helps run the P.O. & the federal govt. collects the money.

[retiredguy123]

Really?

Given that even under the old CSRS, a person maxed out at 80% of 'high 3' at 40 years of service (a little earlier for certain classes)...please explain how your statement could be possible.

The Maximum CSRS Annuity (http://www.fedweek.com/reg-jones-experts-view/the-maximum-csrs-annuity/)
It's true. So far, I have collected about 70 percent of my total career earnings in pension income. My income at retirement was about 12 times the salary I had when I started working, which is pretty typical for someone who went from a GS-7 to GS-14 over the years. I was under the old CSRS system for about 35 years.

[Gpsma]

That is true. Only 53 at our place. NO POOL.

Could this have been another tempest in a teapot?? Am I reading that it has been resolved? Could this be another crisis averted here in lower Paradise??

I can now continue thinking how wonderful this place is??

And thanking the Morse family?


My love...did you really count the the mail boxes? And God Save the Morse family...they made this place for us.

[redwitch]

Not a tempest. A real issue. According to my postal contractor in Hemingway, six people will be out of work after tomorrow. The other 15 whose contracts are to expire shortly are in limbo for now. The rest are truly worried and have been given no indication what their fates are. This is neither right nor fair.

This has nothing to do with the Morses so far as I can tell. It was and is a USPS decision. As powerful as the Morses are, I doubt they have that much pull with this Federal agency to cause any changes.

Regardless, it will be a sad day for us if we lose our postal subcontractors. For they most part, they go above and beyond their duties. Furthermore, I really don’t want to go to Lady Lake for large packages.

[Taltarzac725]

Not a tempest. A real issue. According to my postal contractor in Hemingway, six people will be out of work after tomorrow. The other 15 whose contracts are to expire shortly are in limbo for now. The rest are truly worried and have been given no indication what their fates are. This is neither right nor fair.

This has nothing to do with the Morses so far as I can tell. It was and is a USPS decision. As powerful as the Morses are, I doubt they have that much pull with this Federal agency to cause any changes.

Regardless, it will be a sad day for us if we lose our postal subcontractors. For they most part, they go above and beyond their duties. Furthermore, I really don’t want to go to Lady Lake for large packages.

That Lady Lake PO can be extremely busy at certain times of the year as well as times of the day.

[asianthree]

Since we receive very little mail, and mostly junk, I venture up to the boxes once a week. Our packages come fedex, to our door.

However in this day and age of less face to face interactions, most know their postal person, who if you have a problem answer the door with a smile, and how can I help you. So far no word on if staff will change at our station.

[graciegirl]

My love...did you really count the the mail boxes? And God Save the Morse family...they made this place for us.

No. I didn't count the mailboxes. Our village has met frequently AT THE POSTAL Station where we put up tables and have potlucks. We know each other. It is one of the smallest villages.

I still do not understand how this works. We are charged a fee at the beginning for post office key. I assume that offset the cost of the building of the air conditioned postal buildings that keep our medication from baking in the heat and are owned by the CDD????

I knew that the postal workers that delivered our mail worked for a private company. (Or thought I knew that)

Has the private company just negotiated a new contract? Has the Government postal union stuck a large foot down? WHAT IS the fly in this ointment that may cause workers to lose their jobs and some allowed then to take tests to work for the postal service?

I don't understand who is to blame and whether it is partially resolved. WHO KNOWS?

[graciegirl]

This seems like such a dumb move. USPS employees get benefits, independent contractors don’t. USPS employees are well paid, our independent contractors bid for their jobs, which frequently puts them below minimum wage. On the plus side, there won’t be any more debates about tipping the delivery people since USPS employees can’t accept tips. I hope someone can explain the logic of this move.

I, for one, am going to give my delivery person a very large thank you gift this week. She deserves it.

how much usps independent box delivery contractors make? | Yahoo Answers (https://answers.yahoo.com/question/index?qid=20101011070713AA6Hylu) Short answer (48K)

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[ColdNoMore]

It's true. So far, I have collected about 70 percent of my total career earnings in pension income. My income at retirement was about 12 times the salary I had when I started working, which is pretty typical for someone who went from a GS-7 to GS-14 over the years. I was under the old CSRS system for about 35 years.

Sorry, but I'm still not buying it.

It would be extremely rare for someone to jump from working at a GS-7 level for a lot of years...then jump to a GS-14 level toward the end.

Which is about the only way said person could have received 70% of their cumulative 35 years of salary...in 11 years of retirement.

As that person moved up in their positions in a normal progression...their salary would obviously also increase.

Meaning of course, even if they retired at about 75% of their high 3 (even at a 14 level)...there is no way that would be equivalent to 70% of 35 years of cumulative salary.

I'm gonna have to throw this one in the same category as those who believe that when a Congressperson retires, they get their full salary for life...regardless of number of terms.

[JoMar]

A full pension is available to members of Congress, 62 years of age with 5 years of service; 50 years or older with 20 years of service; or 25 years of service at any age. The size of a pension is based on the highest three years of a member's salary, the number of years of service and a multiplier, which is 1.7 percent for the first 20 years of service and 1.0 percent for subsequent years. ColdNoMore has it right and just putting this out there in case anyone is interested.

[Restless Tongue]

Just a small point - The Post Office is the largest dispenser of political patronage in our government. Leasing real estate, buying vehicles, leasing aircraft, etc. Don't shed a tear for every congressman's kitty of political favors for their donors.