U.S. Postal Service Fights for Survival

These huge Postal losses have been going on for years. billions of tax payers dollars. If this were a normal business and these losses lasted for more then 3 years it would be desolved.

How can UPS and FEDX make money they don't have to break even like USPS. I say it's time to sell the USPS and recupe some tax payer revenue in the sale and let the whoever give just as good service without the tax payer footing this bill (minus that cost to the tax payers)

Tom of PA 9:47PM October 09, 2012

I worked for the USPS for ten years and struggled with workers that complained about the lack of pay, stupid supervisors and how bad the unions are. All the while goofing off more than they should. I do agree that it is difficult when workers lose their job but that is the way of the world. When companies fail people lose their jobs. The average age of the worker was 40 years of age and under ten years of service. This statistic clearly tells you something of the work force. I left and never looked back. Clearly it is time to privatize and if you the worker can not do the job, you will be forced out. In the civilian job market, if you do not perform you are gone. Remember your job should be based on performance not soley by the contract!

Ex Postal Employee of NY 12:31PM October 02, 2010

As a letter carrier I am honored to not only deliver packages and letters to people who may not have a computer to keep up with the Joneses but become part of the community. I am in the neighbor hood 6 days a week and become aware of who may not belong there. We have been able to be first responders(we get 30 minutes for lunch and one 10 minute break, which is now being timed by expensive GPS systems in many places because management feels we are possibly stealing time) to call the fire department when we see smoke, the police in case of an accident,emergency when help is needed. 1984 has ended what everyone seems not to know, that civil service pensions are no more. Countries where the postal systems were taken out of government control are now going back to government. Items were stolen or not delivered because the "subcontractors" were not paid enough. I currently have 24 years in service and I still do not make as much money as my fellow equals in UPS or FedX. They (UPS and FEDX) both have contracts to give us their items to deliver so that they do not use excess monies to deliver to all people no matter where they live. The USPS delivers to all persons with a mail box and no hazzard as a dog or impassable road,etc.( to my knowledge). I enjoy what I do, rain, sleet, no snow so far,hail, tropical storm (yes we did) kids, and many other daily obstacles.Yes we have gone from two times a day deliverly to one and sometimes we are late and we are many times in a hurry,we are human. Yes we are for the majority a union organization. I grew up being concerned of what union meant. My mother worked with the Meat cutters union in the 60's and I remember picket lines. I also remember having Sunday off for family, maybe not as many holidays but what we had was value in ourselves and what we did. Florida is a right to work state. This means the employer has the right to fire you if they so chose. Unemployment depends on the employer as well. Is the mail slower than a computer, yes. It si faster than the pony express we started out with or the train deliverly. Next time you get the card or gift from someone, remember it takes time to chose what and then to send. If a person cannot be with you,their thoughts and caring can. Will this system be different 100 years from now, possibly because we may not be here or everyone will have to go to a post office box ( at a cost) to pick up your food coupons or letters, but what we have is not biased for now 44 cents I can send a letter to Alaska with a picture of a grandchild, and not have to worry about someone stealing information from an emial and use for possibly harmful purposes unintended.

Deborah Ford of FL 11:19PM April 02, 2010

The whole concept of mail delivery is absurd to me.

You want to save some money? Slash every letter carriers job and replace them with nice P.O. bozes that will last a hundred years with little or no maintenance.

It's a poor business plan, for $0.40 cents per letter you pay some independant contractor $50k a year to deliver letters?

How about this, for $0.20 cents per letter you can pick your damn mail up at the post office.

BTW, UPS does not pawn their packages off on letter carriers, UPS Logistics are the ones who get USPS's mail where it needs to go because USPS is INCAPABLE of doing this itself in a timely efficient manner.

If no tax dollars are going towards the postal system, who is PAYING for the billions in deficets?

The post office is the poster child of grossly inefficient government agencies, and I have no idea how it got to be so big.

I for one would welcome the collapse of the postal system, as UPS or FEDEX would do a much much much better job than any government agency.

Jim of PA 8:22PM February 27, 2010