Aug. 30, 2013—Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe issued a video message on Aug. 14 that was played on the workroom floor. The video provided an assessment of developments in Washington on the legislative front and addressed the subject of a separate Postal Service health plan.
“In both cases, what the PMG did not say was more important than what he did say,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said.
On postal legislation, Donahoe said in the video that he was encouraged by the introduction of S. 1486 by Sens. Tom Carper (D-DE) and Tom Coburn (R-OK), which followed the Oversight and Government Reform Committee’s passage of Chairman Darrell Issa’s (R-CA) postal bill in the House.
But what the PMG failed to note was that neither bill provides a real solution to the postal financial crisis. In fact, both bills would continue the mandate to massively pre-fund retiree health benefits (after a brief moratorium), and both would pay for that mandate by slashing service and jobs.
Both bills also call for elimination of Saturday and door delivery, at the cost of nearly 100,000 postal jobs, and for slower mail service, which would drive even more business away and deepen the USPS’ financial crisis.
“The PMG’s comment that there are some positive aspects in both bills is bizarrely beside the point,” Rolando remarked. “Sure, there are a number of individual provisions in the bills that are good in isolation—but both bills would hasten the destructive downsizing and service cuts we’ve faced for years, and both would attack the collective-bargaining rights of postal employees.
“Mr. Donahoe should be demanding much, much better from Congress,” the president said.
The postmaster general also talked about the issue of health benefits and his plan to create a separate Postal Service health plan, either inside or outside of the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program (FEHBP). He mentioned that he is working with the unions on this issue—but he failed to make clear that neither the NALC, nor the other postal unions, will support any plan that involves leaving FEHBP.
And although Donahoe rightly focused on the importance of taking full advantage of Medicare benefits as a way to reduce the Postal Service’s costs for retiree health benefits—indeed, it is crucial for reducing the crushing cost of pre-funding—he did not mention that fully integrating those benefits into Medicare can be easily achieved within FEHBP.
“NALC is committed to working with the Postal Service on reducing health care costs for both employees and the agency,” Rolando said. “But we are insisting that any legislative changes in this area be proposed as part of a broader reform package to be offered as an alternative to the destructive bills now before the House and Senate.”
Such a package, the president said, would reject service cuts and measures aimed at undermining the collective-bargaining rights and living standards of city carriers and other postal employees, and would focus instead on mutually acceptable reforms on health care, pension valuations, pre-funding, new products, pricing and governance provisions.
Visit the Legislation and Politics section of the NALC website for fact sheets and talking points on the bills.
Just go to 5 day delivery so I can rock out with my balls out, chillin on the beach…… With weekends !!
Translation of Rolando’s remarks: Even though I’ve waited TWO YEARS to say anything about the PMG plan, the bribes, kickbacks, etc. offered to me to play ball have not been large enough.
Therefore, I cannot endorse it.
Residential delivery should be no more than 3 times a week. Carrier A can carry route 1 on m/w/f and route 2 on t/t/s with a floater like he has now. There would still be room to pivot as volume is minimal.
Rolando has a job I sure don’t envy. He has to be careful in his remarks because to get too inflammatory would just make the Service mad and they would in their usual childish spiteful way make our jobs a living hell.
What representation we do have rests on at least being able to talk to management. The NALC knows full well as do the rest of us that Donohoe is on the take from Congress, and there’s no way he’s going to stand up to them, but you can’t publicly accuse the PMG of that and hope to get anywhere in any kind of negotiations. It’s politics, it’s Washington, and we’re stuck with a system that has royally failed everybody. The only way this country will ever right itself will be a wholesale turnover of all Congress, instituting term limits for states that still don’t have them, eliminating war chests that allow incumbents to grossly outspend any opponent, and just plain voting the bastards out. However, divisive politics have brainwashed too many of us into thinking their side is right, the other is wrong, and the truth is they’re all the same monster. Having a nation of voters who see this for what it is and a real threat to their job security is their biggest fear.
Republicans and Democrat voters must realize that D.C. is against all of us and strictly for the big business interests. That is the last thing Washington wants, and what it needs the most.
Rolando makes a valid point : Donahoe does not have to go outside the FEHBP plans in order to coordinate retiree benefits with Medicare. Several of the current plans like GEHA, offer less expensive plans to retirees willing to do this. So that should raise a red flag – why is Donahoe so insistant on why USPS must pull out of FEHBP and have its own, independent plan?
-their proposal would allow them to raid the $46 billion kitty that has already been set aside to pay for health benefits, and use it to cover up the losses on the operating side of the budget.
-once their plan passed, they could later, down the road, unilaterally cut the level of benefits offered, up dedutibles, co-pays etc.That why it reads for year one, the benefits will be comparable to those offered in FEHBP.
-Currently, under Fed law, they cannot cut the level of benefits retirees currently enjoy. Once they get their new and “improved” plan, they could for future retirees.
Remember, in their white paper presented to Congress on their plan, they said we will offer benefits comparable to those offered by other major employers in the private sector. More and more private sector companies are severely cutting these benefits back (esp. for retirees) or eliminating a health plan benefit altogther.Currently, OPM and the FEHBP monitor the level of benefits provided and the costs. All that would go out the window w/ the Donahoe plan. Elephant Plaza would have total control. Donahoe says w/ such a large pool of USPS employees and retirees, they could bargain for lower costs. FEHBP already does this, so there is no gain there.
In regard to 5 day delivery, I think it is inevitable. Both sides of Congress have bills that support it. The White House supports this cut. 70% of the American people support it in a Gallop poll. You can talk about death spirals and weakening the brand and any other cliches you want to use but the writing is on the wall. Of course Rolando has to oppose it because it probably means about 30 thousand carrier jobs. For him to do otherwise would be political suicide. The real question is how to shrink USPS fairly, and remain viable. I totally agree that you cannot cut your way to prosperity. Hack off a leg, then and arm, lower your service standards and let tell everyone things are hunky dory. It like the Black Knight in the Monty Python movie, were Sir Lancelot keeps cutting off his limbs and he insists he can still fight. So don’t blame Rolando, he’s in a box and doing what he can against a lot of folks who would enjoy nothing better than to see USPS fail. I was really surprised to see how many carriers were willing to throw the junior carriers under the bus, just so they could get weekends off.
If Donahoe is allowed to remove us from FEHB he and congress will be taking away our pension next. All Federal employees should be outraged by this because they are coming for you next. If postal employees are not federal employees then can someone explain to me why we are contributing to the Federal Campaign Fund and why it is illegal for us to go on strike? Donahoe and congress want to break there contract they have with federal employees. A quote from Edmund Burke ” when bad men combine, the good must associate; else they will fall, one by one”
John the reason we pay union dues is because without them we wouldn’t make what we do. Its classic double standard to blame the union when things go bad or the future looks bleak.Certainly you never complained when we got a $1500 COLA a few yrs. back or when you are enjoying your 10 paid holidays or the extra day off when your day off falls on a holiday which I am doing today. What about not being on the OT list yet when I go over 8 I always get paid residual OT. Weather this outfits financial problems are real or just an attempt to break up the unions and privatize I always get my step increases,COLA’s and wage increases because its covered by a contract. Not many if any companies would give you any salary increase given the current state of affairs.Being single my health coverage is only $45/paycheck for excellent coverage. Maybe we will be offered a $20000 buyout to leave early. You seem to discount this type of stuff. Working at USPS is voluntary yet you typify the spoiled government employee.
john long island doesn’t like the unions he should tell the postal management that he will work for walmart wages maybe issa would put him on staff I cant beieive that people can be so stupid but I guess if you watch fox and friends oh well nuf said
NALC can’t do anything about it….Keep supporting a union that has no BALLS. 23.44 a pay check for that…And Mr. Rolando they are going to re caculate what the pre fund payment is going to be and by that the payment will be reduced, so yes they did address the pre fund…It will never be eliminated so get over it, If I were you I would be more worried about 5 day because both Bills have 5 day delivery in it or did you give up on that too….Thats a real leader…Put that 23.44 into your TSP so you get some real use out of it….The union is like OBama blast the other side but have no solution….Something other than the pre fund has to be done. Open your eyes….
FINALLY! Rolondo state’s his position on “Donahoecare” two years after he announced his pie in the sky plan.And as to the two proposed Postal Service destruction and anti-union bills, he should remember Donawhore supported Issa’s bill in the last Congress that went nowhere and likes the part that kills collective bargaining and let’s management dictate the work rules and pay by eliminating arbitration by making their “last best offer” binding,which is in both bills.