Congressional Neglect Deepens Postal Crisis

(This article appeared in the September-October 2013 edition of The American Postal Worker.)

Cliff Guffey, President 

Although several postal bills have been introduced in Congress recently, our struggle for reform that makes sense is far from over. The “do-nothing” Congress is still a long way from passing legislation that will strengthen the USPS, preserve service, and protect jobs.

As I have pointed out many times, congressional inaction has the effect of deepening the crisis, which benefits those who would like to privatize the Postal Service.

So we must continue to press our case with members of Congress, the media and the American people.

As we go to press, Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK) have introduced a postal bill that betrays postal workers and customers. It would destroy our healthcare and retirement programs, decimate service, and lead to the demise of the USPS. We must defeat it.

The Demise of the USPS

In the House, despite diligent efforts by the APWU and others, the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform approved the Postal Reform Act of 2013 (H.R. 2748), which was introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA).

The July 24 vote was 22-17, with all the Republicans on the panel voting in favor of the measure and all the Democrats voting against it.

If it is enacted, this bill would lead to the demise of the Postal Service. It would punish postal workers and deprive the American people of vital services. And it would subvert the Postal Service’s mission by privatizing major portions of USPS operations.

Rep. Issa’s bill targets workers. It would prohibit postal unions and management from negotiating no-layoff protection; increase health insurance costs for employees; and limit our collective bargaining rights.

It also would reduce vital services to the American people by imposing a two- to three-day delivery standard for first-class mail; closing post offices, stations and branches; consolidating plants; reducing door delivery, and ending Saturday letter delivery and door delivery. Reducing service in this way will devalue the USPS and drive away business.

Rep. Issa’s bill also would promote privatization. It would establish “competition advocates” to promote contracting out and establish a “temporary governance authority” whose broad powers would end only after the USPS achieves two consecutive years of profitability. (This last item really gets me. Since when is the USPS required to post a profit?) H.R. 2748 would weaken the USPS and jeopardize postal jobs and retirement benefits for current and future retirees. And it wouldn’t do nearly enough to fix the financial crisis Congress created. We must defeat it.

Fundamental Principles

On July 17, 2013, I testified before the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee to discuss the way forward on postal reform.

I told the committee that there are four fundamental principles that must serve as the basis of postal reform legislation.

Service standards must be preserved as a means of protecting the value of postal services. The USPS must maintain its network of mail processing plants and retail offices so that it can deliver prompt, reliable service to all Americans. The widespread closure of mail processing plants and post offices is damaging service and the USPS.

The Postal Service must be relieved of the burden of making unnecessary payments into the federal treasury. This will require repealing the mandate to pre-fund retiree health benefits; re-calculating postal retirement obligations based on USPS-specific demographic data; and refunding USPS overpayments into federal retirement accounts.

The Postal Service must be permitted to offer new services. These should include drivers licensing, hunting and fishing licensing, and notary services, as well as micro- banking, check cashing, new technology and media services, warehousing and logistics, facility leasing, public internet access services, and voter registration.

Collective bargaining agreements must be respected, and the right of postal employees to bargain over their wages, hours and working conditions under federal labor laws must be continued without interference.

Health Benefits

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe also testified at the hearing, and he renewed his call to remove postal employees from the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and create a postal-only health plan.

According to the PMG, a postal-only plan could save the USPS $8 billion a year. But, like most of the PMG’s math, it doesn’t add up.

The APWU is adamantly opposed to any attempt to remove postal employees or retirees from the FEHBP.

Our health benefits are among the best in the nation, and we will fight to protect them. (See Vice President Greg Bell’s article for a more in-depth look at this issue.)

Into the Future

Over the summer, we asked locals to reach out to their U.S. representatives and senators during Congress’ August recess and urge lawmakers to support postal reform that preserves postal services for the American people and good jobs for our communities.

Reports haven’t come in yet, but I hope every local participated in the August Actions. After all, your participation is the key to our success.

As Congress reconvenes, partisan budget battles are likely to dominate the agenda. We must make every effort to ensure that postal reform does not fall by the wayside as it has so many times in the past.

If postal reform legislation is still pending in 2014, it will be crucial that we elect worker-friendly legislators in the congressional mid-term elections.

Vote in the APWU Election

Please be sure to vote in this year’s election of APWU national officers: It’s a right  — and a privilege — afforded to every APWU member. But it is effective only if union members exercise that right.

No matter who you vote for, I encourage you to participate. Our union is stronger because of your involvement.

Ballots will be sent to all eligible APWU members Sept. 10-13, and must be returned to and received in the designated post office box by 2 p.m. on Oct. 7.

In these critical times, it is especially important that union members demonstrate their commitment to the union and to collective bargaining by voting.