At Tuesday morning’s business session – 9-12-11, NAPUS Secretary-Treasurer Ruthie Cauble told NAPUS members the organization is financially sound, but needs to be conservative with its funds in light of these uncertain times. She said NAPUS must protect Postmasters.
“We don’t want landing spots,” she insisted. “We want Postmaster positions. We want to keep ‘real’ post offices open.”
Cauble thanked NAPUS retirees for all their work in helping keep post offices open. And she thanked NAPUS members for allowing her to serve again as national secretary-treasurer.
Postal Regulatory Chairman Ruth Goldway told Postmasters she enjoys meeting with people who are out in communities, doing what the Postal Service does best. “It inspires me,” she said.
Goldway explained the role of the PRC as being a regulator whose decisions are made for the public. The PRC balances the needs of citizen mailers, business mailers, people in the community and those who work for the Postal Service, as well as Postal Service management.
“I hope you value this role of the PRC as regulator,” she said. “We are a very necessary part of the balance that allows the Postal Service to exist and has allowed it to thrive.”
Goldway said the agency would not have been able to downsize as it has lately and maintain service without the transparency and accountability the PRC provides. But, as she reminded NAPUS members, the PRC is only an advisor.
The Postal Service claims moving from six- to five-day delivery would save $3.1 billion. The PRC’s estimate is $1.5 to $1.7 billion—after three years. But the Postal Service wrote a letter to Congress, ignoring the PRC’s estimates.
She acknowledged the USPS is going through a real financial crisis and the $5.5 billion retiree health fund prepayment requirement is far too ambitious. The agency has exhausted its borrowing power and has not been able to invest in any new or creative business ventures.
Legislation proposed in Congress would give the Postal Service relief from its prefunding payment. But, despite the White House delaying the payment for 90 days, things still are very much up in the air.
Goldway said no one involved with the Postal Service wants to believe mail would stop being delivered. “I don’t think that will happen,” she said. But with the agency talking about being in default, it makes it difficult to pay for the future and assure the public there will be a Postal Service.
She has a meeting tomorrow with the White House and will advocate the PRC’s concern for the $5.5 billion payment. There also is the $50 billion, by PRC estimates, overpayment into the retirement fund. Goldway said the Postal Service has been subsidizing the government’s retirement fund for some 30-plus years; the PRC will make the case this money needs to be moved to the USPS.
In regard to post office closings, she said the PRC is limited in what it can do. “We have to make sure citizens have gotten notice under the law that the administrative record is clear and whatever decisions made are based on the outcome of that record so it’s not capricious and arbitrary,” she explained.
But there is no way the PRC can tell the Postal Service it can’t close a post office. Goldway expressed her frustration with the limits of the PRC’s regulatory review. She told Postmasters the PRC needs their help.
“It’s important to have a vibrant network of post offices and retail networks for citizens to use. It’s not just a delivery mechanism that goes one way.” She said Postmasters are in a position to provide information to the commission to justify stronger decisions on its part. She admitted some post offices need to be closed, but she wants to make sure the decisions are justified and accountable.
NAPUS Executive Director Charlie Moser said that, over the years, Postmasters have adapted to change and been good soldiers. “Now,” he declared, “we hope the change is in the right direction.”
He suggested the Postal Service focus more on getting rid of programs it has to pay for—the retail customer experience and Mystery Shopper, for example. Not only does the agency pay for those services, but the behavior they drive also costs money. Moser said postal customers are the best measurement of service. “They’ll let you know if you aren’t giving good service,” he declared.
Duplicate reports still are an issue, despite the Postal Service’s promise to correct this situation. Postmasters don’t have time for all these reports.
Moser said DUO is one of the biggest changes NAPUS has faced recently. Now the process is being speeded up and, as a result, the agreed-on rules are changing as the process goes along. “Let’s follow what was intended,” he insisted. “Listen to Postmasters and their recommendations. Postmasters have to be involved.”
NAPS President Louis Atkins told convention attendees the three management associations have been collaborating on many issues, which is so important during these difficult times. “We will continue to work together for the benefit of our collective memberships,” he pledged.
Postmasters and Supervisors are a lot more alike than ever before. “We are leaders and make a difference in the operations we manage.”
Finding solutions to the Postal Service’s financial challenges is the most important goal right now. Congress got us in this mess, he declared, and Congress needs to get us out of it. Referring to “The Wizard of Oz,” Atkins said Congress needs the brains, heart and courage to do the right thing.
He said he was impressed to see so many Postmasters at the convention and urged everyone to stand together and achieve great heights. “Together, we will be successful; there is no other option.”
These 11 Postmasters were elected national vice presidents: Area 2, Richard Hui, Leominster, MA; Area 4, E. Janie Baer, Sabinsville, PA; Area 6, Herbert Balser, Oak Hill, WV; Area 8, Reinaldo Ruiz, Bajadero, PR; Areas 9 & 10, William Judge, Greenville, OH; Area 12, Becky Burbach, Sun Prairie, WI; Area 14, Michelle Feldhacker, Aberdeen, SD; Area 16, Glenda Young, Elm Creek, NE; Area 18, Peggy Fischer, Wylie, TX; Area 20, Darlene Winterer, Coalville, UT; and Area 22, David Eng, Orange, CA.
Bob Rapoza was re-elected national president for 2012-2013.