e-Team Report, June 15, 2012

Postal Reform

The Post Office’s continued plans to close and consolidate processing plants and degrade service standards are stark reminders that Congress must act to save America’s postal service.  Postal reform is still awaiting action in the House and it is important that we make our priorities heard by Congress. Click here  to send a message to your Representative telling them that Rep. Darrell Issa’s (R-CA) H.R. 2309 is unacceptable and that the House should use the bipartisan Senate bill, S.1789, as a starting point.

Thursday, the Senate Appropriations Committee passed a bill that could impact ongoing postal reform efforts.  The bill, sponsored by Sen. Dick Durbin (D-IL), stipulates that six-day delivery “shall continue without reduction” and protects certain post offices and mail processing facilities from closure for a few years.  To read more about the bill and its movement in the Senate, please click here.

PRC Complaint

Without any Congressional intervention to date, the Postal Service is poised to implement its misguided plan to close and consolidate mail processing plants across the nation.  Phase 1 of the Post Office’s plan calls for the USPS to consolidate 48 mail processing plants this summer and to cut service standards effective July 1, 2012.  

The Post Office is not free, however, to rush through their plan without oversight from the Postal Regulatory Commission.  The APWU filed a complaint with the PRC earlier this week demanding that the Post Office comply with federal laws which require it to seek an advisory opinion whenever it plans to make nationwide changes in service.

To read more about APWU’s call for the Post Office to follow the rule of law, please click here.

Congressional Approval Hovers At 17%

The lack of action in Congress to pass much needed legislation, including postal reform, has resulted in an overall job approval rating of a mere 17%. This year, Congress still faces a long to do list including defense spending cuts, possible forced cuts to Social Security and Medicare, possible elimination of the Bush tax cuts, transportation bills, and postal reform. Serious doubts linger about Congress’ ability to act on this long list of critical issues, especially in an election year. 

To read more about Americans’ overwhelming disapproval of Congress, please click here.

Want Better Health? Join A Union!

A recently published study out of Duke University shows those employees who are in a union are overall healthier than those who are not represented by a union. The bottom line of the study shows that joining a union is usually tied hand in hand with having a higher income.  This research shows an increase in overall health, which grows incrementally the higher an individual’s income grows.

To read more about the study, please click here.