Members Crxsh Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 According to an article in Time, the USPS has some problems. Problem 1: They owe $5.5 billion by the end of the month to fund retirees' healthcare. Problem 2: They owe $9+ billion Problem 3: Revenues are downProblem 4: Revenues will continue to drop And so on. Apparently, if they default on this debt, it could result in an outright shutdown and/or massive layoffs (to the tune of 120,000 workers). Seems there are labor union issues, but regardless of that.... business ain't exactly boomin'. And now it's in the hands of congress. Thoughts? Insights? Tips on the best way to ship pedals once the mail shuts down? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members big69 Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 I would be so royally screwed if the only way to get stuff across the border was UPS. *shudders* Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Operator Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Is there any facet of American society that is not poised on the brink of total collapse? Any at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members goodhonk Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 post master general should be fired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Crxsh Posted September 8, 2011 Author Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Is there any facet of American society that is not poised on the brink of total collapse?Any at all? Fast food. Credit cards.Liquor. Gambling. Porn.Drugs. ...the usual vices. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members WildBilly Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Where will I get my coupons for new windows and collections notices to tenants from 8 years ago? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Operator Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ryan. Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Its just one of those things that needs to be absorbed into the market. And I hate to say that, because a lot of business depends on marketing mailers. But its time to pay the piper. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Naterel Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Fast food. Credit cards.Liquor. Gambling. Porn.Drugs. ...the usual vices. You forgot the Church, gotta have faith! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members goodhonk Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 i've never seen a liquor store or pawn shop go out of business, ever. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mhuxtable Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 I was reading something that talked about part of the problem is this: The USPS isn't tax funded....they get their revenue from postage. And because they were required to fund the next 75 years of their pensions in the next 10 years, it {censored}ed the system up badly. Some proposed plans are cutting delivery on Saturdays, raising postage, layoffs, possibly even privatizing portions of it. It's a mess for sure, but necessity spawns innovation....something good will come of it eventually Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dr.Picklebottom Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 yay unions! lets go get those SOBs and ruin another industry! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ryan. Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 yay unions! lets go get those SOBs and ruin another industry! unions, like the pony express... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members carrier street Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 The problem is they have to, by act of congress, fund their retiree pensions and benefits WAY in advance. This seems like a good idea, only the number of employees they have to fund for is the 700,000+ they had when the law was enacted. According to the union that represents the USPS, this fund will have $57 Billion in it within the next few years. It's all salvageable though. Either congress have to release them from funding retirement for nearly 400,000 employees they don't have, or they lay off a third of their workforce, loss another third to attrition by 2015, and cut delivery back to 3-4 days a week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Great Waldo Pepper Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 The last post master general was a proponent of privatizing the USPS, even prior to his appointment... A lot of his policies were such to push USPS in that direction. Alas, they ultimately aren't evolving with the times. 6 day delivery is pointless, but advertisers don't want to give up Saturday because they want their ads in the mail box on the weekend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members carrier street Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 yay unions! lets go get those SOBs and ruin another industry! Usually I'd agree with you, but this is the fault of Congress. Nobody can completely {censored} something up like the US government. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members hivedestruction Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 You forgot the Church, gotta have faith! hahaha Awesome, and very deserving of being on that list. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members goodhonk Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 they've been trying to get their drivers to become independent contractors for years now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Great Waldo Pepper Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 yay unions! lets go get those SOBs and ruin another industry! Folks should read some history of the union. It is demonized now, but the fact of the matter is if it weren't for unions the workplace and working life would be a lot different. Little things like workplace safety, overtime and child labor are taken for granted today, but these were not given, they were earned. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Dr.Picklebottom Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Folks should read some history of the union. It is demonized now, but the fact of the matter is if it weren't for unions the workplace and working life would be a lot different. Little things like workplace safety, overtime and child labor are taken for granted today, but these were not given, they were earned. absolutely. at one point. not this one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Ryan. Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Folks should read some history of the union. It is demonized now, but the fact of the matter is if it weren't for unions the workplace and working life would be a lot different. Little things like workplace safety, overtime and child labor are taken for granted today, but these were not given, they were earned. Unions had a time and place. Lets see CB employees form a union, strike, demand $33 an hour and pension with 90% of their income at retirement. Unions have become the disease not the cure. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Great Waldo Pepper Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 absolutely. at one point. not this one. And why not? Very well could be. Apathy is why they are broken. Apathy is also why the government is doing the bidding of multinationals rather than citizens. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mhuxtable Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Unions served a great purpose decades ago....today they hurt more than they help. They are a big part of the reason the US lost most of it's manufacturing base....they priced themselves out of competition. The UAW did everyone a favor recently and agreed to a lower wage....and now the US is actually going to make a profitable micro car...something it hasn't been able to do before. Basically GM said: you can have a job for half of what you were making before we had to lay everyone off or we can make this car in Mexico. You pick. They made the right choice and if things keep going this way, manufacturing will have a strong presence in the US again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Great Waldo Pepper Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Unions had a time and place. Lets see CB employees form a union, strike, demand $33 an hour and pension with 90% of their income at retirement. Unions have become the disease not the cure. We already function democratically as a function of company culture. My staff choose the work they do, the hours that they keep and negotiate openly their compensation for their achievements. I steer but have no interest in being an absolute dictator. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members The Great Waldo Pepper Posted September 8, 2011 Members Share Posted September 8, 2011 Unions served a great purpose decades ago....today they hurt more than they help. They are a big part of the reason the US lost most of it's manufacturing base....they priced themselves out of competition. Trade policies like NAFTA and GATT have more to do with this than unions do. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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