Control costs: Eliminate the same percentage of mid-level management positions comparable to that of what has disappeared in the craft. All areas of the PO should share in this paring down. You have computer technology in place so consolidate the Postmasters and have them run more than one station. Have a swing pool of clerks like the T-6 carriers that have stations they are qualified to work at so they can be deployed in a timely manner to stations that are short clerks on a given day. This could help facilitate the dispersing of the mail and eliminate the OT caused by the inability to get the mail to the carriers on time. The PO should negotiate fuel contracts nationwide with suppliers for all it's vehicle at a discount. That should be a givien when you consider the volume of fuel used everyday. Correct the major SNAFU that central forwarding has become with good A-Z mail being returned to the carriers day after day even though the mail pieces have been notated. This mail back into the stream unescessarily has to effect processing times over the course of time addiong delays to some mail, and the time that carriers could be better spent putting in mail.
Getting everbody on the same page in management would be a nice start. A carrier I know was just walked with by one of those confrontational types whom was telling hime to place letters inside the flats and jam the whole pile into a mail slot in one motion and it was the customers problem the receptacle was insufficent " we don't have time for that". The next day the carriers are chewed out because of customer complaints of mail on the ground and blowing around. Come on.

LR
Lot Rot In NJ | 10.11.06 - 8:55 am | #

A good start would be changing management philosphy.

-Implement management that know how to motivate employees as opposed to Theory X;

-Implement time/motion studies and charge mailers accordingly;

-Listen and implement employee input. Give employees a voice rather than just "talk" about it. This motivates employees to cut costs and reduce waste.

-Upper management should familiarize themselves with day to day tasks and challenges faced by employees rather than look at numbers generated by a computer.

-Give local Postmasters the authority deviate from mail handling/delivery policiies if those policies hinder productivity.

Just to name a few........
Scrappy | 10.11.06 - 9:03 am | #

The Postal Service can address all the challenges it is presented with:
1) The Internet - The USPS already uses the Internet to sell postage. Visit their web site. The USPS know how to compete in this area. I think people who think otherwise, are really ignorant of the Internet.
2)Fuel Costs - Southwest Airlines bought fuel in advance to hedge their fuel prices. THe Postal Service can (and does to some extent do that). Perhaps they weren't as smart as SWA but, that is a different issue. And if fuel costs are expected to stay high (and here is a hint - they probably will until the Middle East is stable. And that is going to take a long time.) then make sure rates cover fuel costs. Everyone has to pay for higher fuel costs; not just the Postal Service. Plan for it. Besides, isn't the Postal Service already looking at alternative fuel vehicles? So, what is the deal. It always sounds like there is nothing the USPS can do. Not only is that not true but, it isn't the reality. I don't understand management crying about fuel. Is there another reason they are doing that?
3) 1.5 million new addresses - Wait a minute. Marketing pays for eyeballs. Why is this a bad thing? It means the power to reach more eyeballs. And are these addresses really all costing the same to service? I think not. Efficiencies have occurred meaning that each added eyeball cost less that it used to. Granted there is a minimum cost but, still it is added customer opportunities. Not a negative!!
4) Increasing employee costs. This one really frosts me. Of course, if you have quality employees, why wouldn't you want to make sure they stay by giving them at the very least cost of living pay raises? Plan for it. But make sure the employees are quality employees? I think that the public wants to be sure that the person coming to their door is not a child molester or other criminal. Let's make sure our employees are the best. And get rid of those not up to the task. We could have changed our hiring policies a long time ago but haven't. We have the opportunity to keep our standards high with so many retirees coming along. Why not take this opportunity to change our hiring practices. Of course that means something different to everyone. To me it means looking a little closer at our veterans preference hiring. Veterans are trained differently that what is wanted in a Postal employee. I think we need to start recognizing that difference and make sure the veterans we hire can change their stripes to adapt to a different envirnoment. Too often we hire and get a military type that does not fit well with the civilian employees. We are not a military; let's make sure we understand that.

So can the Postal Service compete. Yes. Why is everyone crying "wolf"?
Annon2 | 10.11.06 - 9:29 am | #

Scrappy has some good points.
WB6SVS | 10.11.06 - 9:44 am | #

Tell us something we don't know! S.O.S. The USPS will survive. It's just not as greedy as private enterprise.
Zip | 10.11.06 - 10:07 am | #

Annon 2 you had some good thoughts. When we find a good manager who treats the employees good and follows up on employees that are not producing, we turn on them. I have seen this happen a doxzen times. When an employee has a good record for many years, look at the employee's background. you will generally see the problem.
Joe | 10.11.06 - 11:38 am | #

The PO has historically penalized it's own for growth. Growth should be viewed as a positive factor in any company involved in marketing anything. The PO always has the philosophy that you will do the same (staffing and workhour usage) as last year, regardless of how much growth you have.
papm | 10.11.06 - 12:36 pm | #

Why does no one ever talk about how we add those new deliveries? There is no national growth management plan that would help to eliminate the unnecessary annual expenses that are being built into the system. If for the last 5 years the USPS would have managed the growth in deliveries effectively and effeciently, our costs would have been reduce by nearly a billion dollars. We micromanage the daily workload but fail to manage the long term work. That is a big reason why the USPS is failing. Instead, blame is being placed in other areas like the impact of the internet/computer. There has always been some negative impact on any ongoing entity. The key is how an organization manages their new growth and how they adapt to the changing environment. Until the USPS does that and recognizes the most important asset they have is their human assets (front line workers especially), they will continue to fail. Just remember, losers have excuses why things can't be done but winners find ways to get things done.
common sense | 10.11.06 - 2:39 pm | #

I agree with some of the points made above to make us a leaner, more efficient operation. I've always felt that the Postal Service is the ONE government entity that has the opportunity to NOT get bogged down with bureaucratic waste and inefficiency. So far we have not risen above ourselves.

The article is somewhat self-serving. It pictures a typical outsider "the sky is falling" scenario. At least a couple of times it harps on the decline in first-class mail. Nowhere in the article is the mention that bulk/standard/3rd class mail is exploding and overall volumes are actually up. (don't take my word for it; this is from the PO's own figures)

I'm not surprised that someone from the Mailer's Council would say we have to trim costs. How about some of these mailers paying their fair share? Oh No!! we can't have that! The PO has to pay their people less!

They'd change their tune pretty quickly if the PO were ever privatized and some $6 an hour schmuck delivered their mailing to a dumpster.

The bottom line is that you get what you do (or don't) pay for. But don't piss on our collective legs and swear that it's rain.
gruntled | 10.11.06 - 3:32 pm | #

impressed with many good thoughts. there is still hope for this forum. common sense was pretty much his regular dismal self however.
more sense | 10.11.06 - 4:46 pm | #

One way to cut costs is to make everyone accountible for the work that they proform in a certain operation. Lets say that you are working on a machine, your responsibitly is to get the mail out on time. As long as you receive your mail on time and so on. If there is a break in this process someone has to pay...with their job!!! In the private sector you have to fill out a "job-discription" every year to show the bose that you know why you are getting paid. This takes the responsibility out of managements hands and puts it into the employee's hands! Let the employee worry about breaks and lunch as long as the mail gets out on time. Most people like to feel in control of their livelyhood, it makes them feel like they are accomplishing something. By running this kind of system you would have need of less management to keep an eye on people that slack off! This can work all the up the latter.
Larry | 10.11.06 - 5:22 pm | #

yea they need to dump all the assholes!!!!!
mummyslayerreturns | 10.11.06 - 5:52 pm | #

Why not 5 day delivery??? 1/6 the fuel costs! UPS, FEDX, and virtually all other delivery companies operate on a five day work week. Quit "jumping over 20 dollar bills to pick up nickels"!
Anonymous | 10.11.06 - 5:57 pm | #

Stop hiring people off the street with full benifits and such a high starting salary. We pay a new ptf more their first year then a college graduate.

Make all mailers pay first before mailing then bouncing the checks
NALC | 10.11.06 - 5:59 pm | #

All good points above....I strongly agree to stop hiring ignorant managers with no operational background. Stop hiring executives with college degrees as a cook and hire within the Postal Service. Hire the best candidate for the job and don't judge them because they don't wear a skirt. Judge them on their background experience.

A level 21 Postmistress was hired and within a month was crying in tears because she did not know what to do. It's not her fault, it was the selecting MPOO. Just because she wore a skirt. Fire these kind of MPOO's who deceive the system and make lousy operational choices.
Ken | 10.11.06 - 6:16 pm | #

Ratio of workers to management in Private Industry: 50:1. Ratio of Workers to Management in the USPS: 8.9:1. Private Industry DESIGNS THINGS, MANUFACTURES THINGS, MARKETS THINGS, must adapt TO A CHANGING BUSINESS CLIMATE. The USPS? The ONLY THING that changes is THE WEATHER. Same routes. Same carriers. Same logistics. NOTHING EVER CHANGES. It's not "Rocket Science, so why all the "Scientists"? We COLLECT, DISTRIBUTE and DELIVER the mail. I suggest that unless you are a part of that, you are a negative return on investment. Read the contract: "Managers ARE PROHIBITED for TOUCHING the mail". Can you see where the problem is? How many stamps does one have to lick to pay for these idiots? They fall all over each other trying to get that seat. Can't BUY a carrier, but we're the ASP TRAINING CENTER. We have barcodes to scan, so why the "Snoopervision"? When your Postmaster is out "On leave", do you miss him? How about when a carrier is gone? Until they get rid of all that dead weight, I'm taking you asshols to the cleaner. When you care, I'll care. It's your call.
Get Real | 10.11.06 - 6:50 pm | #

Close and consolidate those small and midsize plants now.
anonymous | 10.11.06 - 7:23 pm | #

When will these stupid f**ks get it through their think skulls that First-Class is a proper name. Leave it to a West Gina bum f**k to label the mail class category as first-class. Dumb s**t.
Anonymous | 10.11.06 - 7:30 pm | #

Pay SSA's level six and pay all plant clerks level 3.
anonymous | 10.11.06 - 7:51 pm | #

We have a branch facility with approx. 50 craft employees and 5 management positions. What is wrong with this picture?

Agree with above posting on the hiring of carriers. Keep the good and get rid of the bad. You CAN tell in 90 days what you're getting. Someone just needs to pay attention.

Have accountability all the way to the top.
so postal | 10.11.06 - 9:02 pm | #

there cutting clerk positions in rochester,but say there are oppurtunities in the 204b program!just what we need less workers and more bosses!!5 day delivery and chopping off supervisors thats the answer!!
Anonymous | 10.12.06 - 3:34 am | #

As a level 20 Postmaster I agree that we are top heavy. We can get rid of almost all procurement positions, op support positions, marketing positions, and budget positions. We don,t need real estate positions, environment control positions, and other stupid titles that perform meaningless work other than compile stats that we don,t care about or don't move the mail. I can run my office and probably 2-3 smaller offices with just a few window techs and a roving supervisor to just take care of morning duties. They can utilize the T-6 carrier like he/she is supposed to be utilized as a team leader to make minor decisions on the unit and report to PM. You DO need someone however to be responsible for the accountability and dealing with problems so you'll never have a unit without management. We just don't need nearly as many.
Anonymous | 10.12.06 - 8:09 am | #

We need a postmaster like a hole in the head.

You think you are responsible for everything Mr Level 20?

Who runs your floor?

"They can utilize the T-6 carrier like he/she is supposed to be utilized as a team leader to make minor decisions on the unit and report to PM. "

So basically let the supervisor run around and do the job while you sit on your ass with what me worry on your face. Sure, you are necessary. Keep telling yourself that.
Supervisor | 10.12.06 - 8:22 am | #

Supervisor-You must be one of those idiots that treats carriers like dirt and bitches cause you have to work for a living. I do more work than you ever could do. I don't have a supervisor so I do your job, distribute mail, work window when needed, and still have time to go out and bring carriers ice water or hot coffee to show support of their difficult jobs. If you think your job is that tough it's because you probably concentrate more of harassing your employees versus doing the job itself. When things go wrong at your office, who gets hauled to the District office? Not you. Yea you don't need a PM! Next time you go take responsibility for accidents, credit shortages, low revenue, budget hour overruns, etc. It won't happen. Go back to the craft and do a real job.
Anonymous | 10.12.06 - 9:12 am | #

More sense says I am dismal? Please explain what I am saying that is dismal. All I am saying is the facts. Whether one takes it personal or not is their business. But the facts are still the facts. Besides it doesn't help to shoot the messenger when one doesn't like the message.

As an employee that has been a carrier, clerk, supervisor, and now PM, I believe that I can relate much better to all of those positions than some of the commentors who have only been a clerk, carrier, supervisor. Until you walk in the shoes of the person you are criticizing, you don't know what the heck you are talking about.
common sense | 10.12.06 - 2:24 pm | #

repeal the private express statutes.
eliminate arbitration.
make the right to strike legal.
let management have the right to lockout workers.
abolish the Postal Rate Commission
let the market decide.
feller | 10.12.06 - 4:10 pm | #

cluster box walking low revenue areas
doggie | 10.12.06 - 9:16 pm | #

Hey stupid anonymous "Postmaster" you want to talk who is responsible?

Who holds the main stock you toolbag? Umm ME. If the main stock was short would they go after the postmaster? Hmmm again NO.

Last time I saw a collection box missed in my district I distinctly remember the supervisor marching up to the district for a beating while the postmaster stayed in the office.

Budget overruns? Ok dopey heres lesson one. Don't overrun your budget. Now again stupid who is responsible for my budget? Hmmm lets see, if I dont make my hours it affects my NPA and I will not make a raise so, this ones a toughie, I guess it would be the supervisor.

Accidents? Lets take a stab at this one. Carrier reports accident 2 weeks after it happened and is out throughout Christmas. Who got the email and had to explain why the accident was reported late? That would be me. Whoops, I forgot the postmaster actually got that email first but had no idea of what they were looking for, or even which carrier it was because he didnt know them by name, so again I answered for him.
SUPV | 10.13.06 - 6:16 am | #

Ken hit the nail on the head. The pathetic excuses for MPOO's who make selections without consideration of qualifications is rampart in ALABAMA. Depends on who you or your sponsor are trading sexual favors for assignments/promotions with as to your level of promotion. Personal integrity is not an issue. Qualifications are not an issue. PM's hide in their office for 6-7 hours and sneak out the door headed home. No control over the operation. Who cares? Certainly not the District. Integrity, intelligence and moral character are not desired traits in Northern ALABAMA.
BAMA | 10.13.06 - 6:23 am | #

SUPV-It proves my point that you are an idiot. I have the main stock and the vending credit. I answer to budget overruns. Your solution is don't go over budget? If 5 full time regular carriers show up for 5 routes, how do you get the job done in 38 hours when no one wants AL. I answer to my POOM not the supervisor. If your PM sends you to answer for anything then HE is an idiot like you. And as for NPA if yours suffers so does the PM. You need to grow some balls and stand up for yourself.
Anonymous | 10.13.06 - 8:59 am | #

Holding the main stock and the vending credit is a conflict of interest, you should be fired.
SUPV | 10.13.06 - 10:25 am | #

And I also dont want to hear your sob stories that you cannot make your budget, it is called doing your job. We all have our cross to bear though I have no problem making my budget it is not easy.
SUPV | 10.13.06 - 10:28 am | #

So many people miss the point. Management isn't the issue, they don't move the mail. "Craft" employees move the mail. If they were as dedicated as some of the morons posting above, there would be no problems. But, most of them are on pseudo job sharing right now, coming to work as many as 3 days a week.

If you gave an employe $5000 in bills that were mixed up and told them to sort them, they would burn through the pile. But you give them a tray of mail and a quadraplegic could sort it faster. Go figure.
cut and dried | 10.13.06 - 2:13 pm | #

"Management" isn't the issue?!?!?! Who regulates policy? Who impliments change? Who enforces policies? Who mandates daily operations?

Obviously there are those that have ideas for solutions, and then there are those that only whine and complain.

Impliment solutions, instead of being a contributor to the problems.
Scrappy | 10.13.06 - 5:48 pm | #

One solution would be to make Scrappy a supervisor where he would then have to shit or get off the pot. Talk is cheap. Scrappy sounds like 204b material.
case worker | 10.14.06 - 9:33 am | #

I would get into management in a New York second if I really believed the USPS had actual "Managers". I have been in management in the real world. I have experience implementing change to reduce waste and cut cost. One thing I never did was berate and cut down the employees that performed the work. "Team building" is the key to success, not employee bashing.

Again....more whining than solutions. If case worker is a "manager", it's proof positive of some of the counter-productive problems bogging down the USPS.
Scrappy | 10.14.06 - 10:11 am | #

5 DAY DELIVERY - GET RID OF THE DEAD WEIGHT CARRIERS THAT DO JUST ENOUGH TO GET BY AND DON'T WORK UP A SWEAT. GET RID OF ALOT OF MANAGEMENT - CARRIERS CAN BASICALLY SUPERVISE THEMSELVES, HAVE A COUPLE SUPERVISORS SITTING IN A CENTRAL LOCATION FOR ANSWERING PHONE CALLS FOR ALL THE LOCAL POST OFFICES AND YOU COULD ELIMINATE ALOT OF MANAGEMENT POSITIONS.
need a job | 10.18.06 - 9:19 am | #

good ideas need a job
HELP | 10.18.06 - 9:21 am | #

They must cut back on management,1 supv for 10 workers....stupid or make them work...mid management way too many cut cut cut and add more workers cut ot
bobby baker | 10.24.06 - 8:39 am | #

3b96c3 7a06c4cdd2
Estelle | Homepage | 12.15.06 - 7:01 pm | #