Apologies in advance for the length of this post.
It's very seldom reported in the news media that the main reason for the billions in losses every year is the fact that USPS is required to pre-fund 5 billion dollars a year in healthcare benefits for retirees. This started in FY 2007 with an act of Congress and it is bleeding USPS dry. It calls for 5 billion a year for the next 10 years so retirees' benefits can be taken care of for the next 75 years. I understand that's it is a great benefit for me to have health care for the rest of my life, but that is way too much to pay in such a short time and we WILL NOT make it to the end of that. In fact, we blew off the payment this year. It's awfully strange how the financial problems of this organization started right around that time. The economy tanking soon after really hurt. But going there every night, I can tell you that I've never been busier, and I bet every carrier here will tell you they've never been slammed like they've been the last few years. That's a good thing as I really think mail will never go away. How would any company survive starting out five billion in the whole before they sell a single unit of something? The fact that I get a paycheck every other week still amazes the crap out of me.
Think about it. This place has been around since literally the beginning of America. It was created by Ben freaking Franklin. It has survived how many recessions, panics, depression and FOUR YEARS OF MCKINLEYNOMICS! (Sorry, can't help a Simpsons reference). While the internet argument is valid as far as online bill pay is concerned, and the Netflix volume has plummeted since they streamed more and that dumb 30-day new release rule. Blockbuster is all but gone and Game Fly hasn't really taken off.
And people complain about junk mail, but we just deliver it. Mailers are also given huge discounts, and I wish they would pick up a little more of the cost instead of regular people (sound familiar?). And if it really didn't work for companies, why would they still send it out after all these years?
Yes, mail volume is down across the board (according to our postmaster) and yes, there is insane waste within the organization. That story tifosi told earlier is not only 100% true, but I'll add that it took probably 3-5 people making 100+k a year to sit in 400 hours worth of meetings and use $GodKnowsHowMuch worth of charts/software/government cars/fuel/hotel rooms to determine that those four steps could save them $27 in "productivity" over the course of however long. Then at the end of the year, they probably raked in a cool $10k bonus for a job well done. Multiply that by everywhere. I think they spend more money on route adjustments/function 4's (which are basically, how can we make going to the post office more of a nightmare for out customers?) than actually figuring ways to be more innovative and stay with the global/digital world).
Oh, and the clerks/union aren't absolved here either. There's more than I care to admit people just sitting on their asses literally doing nothing or can't be freaking bothered to show up for work that the union is spending my dues protecting. So yes, a house cleaning is in order. Sad thing is, with my lack of seniority, I'll be the first one swept out the door. That's why I'm looking into going back to finish school and looking at a possible new career. I just don't see my retirement from this place ever happening. It's scary but it's true.
I just don't get why they want it dead after 240 years. Actually I do, It's worth billions and billions, and people would love to get their hands on it. But alright Hammer, you just go ahead and believe that it will be better and cheaper than it is now.
