{"id":5070,"date":"2012-09-04T21:31:24","date_gmt":"2012-09-05T02:31:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/?p=5070"},"modified":"2012-09-04T21:31:24","modified_gmt":"2012-09-05T02:31:24","slug":"the-usps-mission-continues-to-be-service","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/2012\/09\/04\/the-usps-mission-continues-to-be-service\/","title":{"rendered":"The USPS\u2019 Mission Continues To Be Service"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

USPS Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Megan Brennan thanked Postmasters for what they do, day in and out. \u201cYou wear the public mantle,\u201d she said, \u201cinternally and for your customers.\u201d She commended President Bob Rapoza for his leadership. She told convention attendees he has been a staunch advocate for NAPUS and Postmasters.<\/p>\n

Brennan flashed on the screen some recent dire headlines about the Postal Service. \u201cThis is what causes a crisis among mailers,\u201d she pointed out, \u201cand impacts employee morale. You and I will change these headlines.\u201d<\/p>\n

She went on to say the losses the USPS has experienced these past years are unsustainable; there is a growing gap between revenue and expenses. The decline in First-Class Mail volume puts tremendous pressure on the organization to adjust the infrastructure.<\/p>\n

Brennan said the USPS will continue to put universal service obligations at the forefront of its mission. The agency still is adding delivery points\u2014600,000 to 700,000 a year. Yet volume declines and the mail mix is devalued with less First-Class.<\/p>\n

As a result, fewer processing facilities are needed. She explained this is a challenge for the Postal Service. From a pricing standpoint, there is limited flexibility. The USPS has to be smarter about how it uses pricing to drive the bottom line; labor costs are 80 cents on the dollar. The challenge is how to increase the flexibility of the work force.<\/p>\n

Brennan also said the USPS wants to continue to talk with the management associations and unions to create its own health plan\u2014maintaining service and benefits while reducing costs. As far as the two missed payments for prefunding future retiree health benefits, she said Congress was well aware the agency would be unable to make the payments.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will pay our employees and our suppliers,\u201d she insisted. \u201cThere will be no impact on material operations.\u201d But those defaulted payments made headlines. The challenge is how to ensure customer confidence going forward. \u201cWe will continue to maintain our universal service obligation,\u201d she vowed, \u201cthe linchpin of a trillion-dollar business.\u201d The Postal Service will protect its employees, customers and suppliers\u2014without asking for a bailout.<\/p>\n

The USPS is asking Congress to restructure its prepayment requirement\u2014not do away with it. It also is asking for the latitude to determine delivery frequency.<\/p>\n

She explained the methodology behind POStPlan: Maintain post offices, but change hours based on customer use. She acknowledged the lingering issue about staffing, agreeing Postmasters responsible for RMPOs will need some assistance. She promised to address that, but, in the meantime, urged Postmasters to continue to serve customers.<\/p>\n

Brennan also discussed administrative Postmasters having to travel to subordinate post offices, which raises the issue of having to use personal vehicles. She said this will be resolved. \u201cDon\u2019t let it become a point of contention,\u201d she urged. \u201cNo one will mandate you and if they do, let me know.\u201d<\/p>\n

In the first go-around with POStPlan, about 13,000 offices would have been evaluated for closure. But they are staying open, with hours based on customer use. The Postal Service is committed to working with impacted Postmasters to help them be better prepared to compete for vacancies. \u201cWe\u2019re going to work with you and help you as you work through this POStPlan implementation,\u201d she promised.<\/p>\n

What will the Postal Service\u2019s retail footprint look like? Brennan said there will be improved experiences in high-traffic outlets, significantly expanded retail partnerships, costs matched to volume in low traffic outlets and increased digital access. \u201cWe need to provide predictable service,\u201d she stressed. \u201cWe have to grow profitable revenue because we will not be able to survive just on cost-cutting.\u201d<\/p>\n

She commended Postmasters on the fact service has been phenomenal; package service has been above target; Standard Mail, letters\u2014tremendous performance. She reminded Postmasters everyone is part of the sales force; the more revenue that is generated, the less pressure on the cost side.<\/p>\n

There has been double-digit growth in packages. \u201cWe are well positioned for packaging; this will be a major priority for us going forward,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n

Brennan told Postmasters not to lose sight that the focus is on service, while closing the gap on expenses. Do the right thing in terms of efficient service. And don\u2019t hesitate to be accessible to employees and customers; don\u2019t duck the hard questions. And reinforce the Postal Service\u2019s purpose: service. There needs to be clarity around the mission.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe Postal Service will be here and thrive going forward,\u201d she vowed. It needs to adapt to changes in the marketplace and control costs and best use its infrastructure. \u201cAs you listen to the opportunities,\u201d she said, \u201cknow we are going to be here. It\u2019s going to be bumpy over the next months and years, but we will be here.\u201d<\/p>\n

USPS Southern Area Operations Vice President Jo Ann Feindt thanked Postmasters for the outstanding jobs they do every day. She expressed dismay at the comments from Postmasters about not being treated well by their managers. \u201cWhen you think about our challenging times,\u201d she said, \u201cit\u2019s really important we\u2019re true partners. But we must show leadership and treat each other well. I know it gets tough and we have managers who don\u2019t do the right thing; that\u2019s the part we need to change collectively.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feindt suggested everyone needs to do come together as mentors and support each other\u2014to say they\u2019re going to grow this business and learn together. She said there are people at the convention who are responsible for her success because she\u2019s only as good as the people with her and Postmasters are only as good because of the people who work for them. \u201cWe have a chance to make a positive impact,\u201d she stressed.<\/p>\n

\u201cWas not one of the proudest moments of your life when you took that oath as Postmaster?\u201d she asked. \u201cAsk yourself, if not for the USPS, are you not better now than before you met the Postal Service? I think we forget that. True teams are defined in the tough times, not in the good times, not in the easy times.\u201d<\/p>\n

She told Postmasters, when they leave the convention, to ask themselves how they can do things differently and better. \u201cWe\u2019re never going to look back,\u201d she promised. \u201cWe will work collectively as a team and support each other through the good times and the very, very tough times. Is this not our family? We spend more time with each other than we do with our families and it\u2019s important.\u201d<\/p>\n

Feindt also told Postmasters they need to help develop the agency\u2019s future leaders. \u201cReach out to people,\u201d she urged, \u201cand say, \u2018I will help you grow as a leader and get you the experience you need to be a future leader.\u2019 Those going to lower levels: We need to help you go up again. Sometimes you have to go down to go up.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cDon\u2019t ever lose sight of how good the eagle has been to you,\u201d she told Postmasters. \u201cThanks for everything you do and you do a phenomenal job; go back and tell your employees they do a phenomenal job. We value what you do and we know, collectively, we will do it together.\u201d<\/p>\n

NAPUS Director of Government Relations Bob Levi told NAPUS members the next six months will be the most important since 1970. A lot is going to happen\u2014some will not be in Postmasters\u2019 control, but a lot will be. \u201cOur issues are at the forefront of Congress,\u201d he said. \u201cWe are the most visible postal employee organization there is.\u201d<\/p>\n

A recent Gallup poll rated Congress\u2019 approval rating at 9 percent\u2014compared to 24 percent for Richard Nixon during Watergate. Levi said this Congress is the most polarized in recent history and is incapable of passing very much. \u201cHowever,\u201d he asserted, \u201cindividuals we have supported through PAC and legislative activism have been our friends and stuck with us because of your activism.\u201d<\/p>\n

Despite Congress not passing responsible postal reform, the Senate did its job and passed S. 1789\u2014because of Postmasters\u2019 support and activism and support of individuals on that committee. \u201cWe were able to get, for the first time, retail service standards; the PRC will have binding authority on post office closings appeals\u2014we pushed for that,\u201d he declared.<\/p>\n

The House, though, is a different story. It\u2019s controlled by leadership not sympathetic to the USPS that would like to privatize the institution. The Postal Service, despite its financial crisis, still delivers to 151 million delivery points daily\u201454 million pieces of mail a day, 45 cents postage and not one dime of taxpayer dollars. \u201cWe have to continue sending that message,\u201d he urged, \u201cbecause it doesn\u2019t get through to some lawmakers.\u201d<\/p>\n

Levi explained that, since 2007, 85 percent of USPS losses resulted directly from the $5.5 billion prefunding requirement. \u201cIf we took that all away, the USPS still would have a loss attributable to diversion of mail to electronic methods. First-Class keeps dropping; the economy still is teetering. But we need to do what we can and as loud as we can; we have to demand that Congress take action.\u201d<\/p>\n

H.R. 2309 has two co-sponsors: Issa and Ross. Their legislation would have a catastrophic impact on the USPS if it were impacted. S. 1789 does not provide long-term relief, but it is bi-partisan, consensus legislation that has the support of 62 senators. \u201cWe won,\u201d he said, \u201cbecause of you and your support and PAC support. And we supported senators who supported a universal postal service that does not ignore rural post offices.\u201d<\/p>\n

Levi said flyers are going to be distributed to communities throughout the country that make postal relief legislation a campaign issue. \u201cWe can hold lawmakers accountable to this,\u201d he vowed. \u201cAnd some House members have been truly supportive.\u201d<\/p>\n

He commended PAC for Postmasters Chair Linda Carter and the chapter PAC chairs for the phenomenal jobs they have done this year. Participators in ePAC are contributing $7,500 per month\u2014a 36 percent increase from last year; $90,000 is projected for the year just from ePAC.<\/p>\n

Levi urged every to contribute to NAPUS PAC. \u201cIt assures access to our members of Congress, amplifies our voices, helps our allies and fights our enemies. NAPUS PAC needs you!\u201d<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

USPS Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Megan Brennan thanked Postmasters for what they do, day in and out. \u201cYou wear the public mantle,\u201d she said, \u201cinternally and for your customers.\u201d She commended President Bob Rapoza for his leadership. She told convention attendees he has been a staunch advocate for NAPUS and Postmasters. Brennan […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[37],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5070","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-usps-new-bytes","last_archivepost"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5070","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5070"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5070\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5073,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5070\/revisions\/5073"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5070"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5070"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/postalemployeenetwork.com\/news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5070"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}