What's Happening To The Post Office?

Andy Rooney Has Gotten Wind of Potential Changes To The Postal Service And He's Not A Fan

(CBS)  Written by Andy Rooney.

I got an e-mail from a friend I never heard of the other day suggesting I do a story about the trouble that our U.S. Postal Service is in - that's what the post office calls itself, the U.S. Postal Service. I don't take suggestions gracefully, but they're thinking about closing post offices to save money and I think it's crazy.

According to them, there are 37,000 post offices in the United States and if they closed 10 percent of them they could save $3 billion a year. They're also talking about reducing mail delivery from six to five days a week and naturally they thought about raising the price of stamps again, too. Most of us don't like any of these solutions to the post office's problem.

The best mail is the letter from a friend or a relative. It's sad to say that very little of what most of us get these days is that kind of mail.

The postal service is a government agency but it's supposed to operate like a business. Most people don't realize that - I know I didn't realize it - but the post office doesn't get tax money. It has to pay for itself.

In 1900, there were 77,000 post offices around the country. Today with four times as many people, there are only 37,000 post offices - 40,000 fewer post offices for 230 million more Americans. No wonder it wasn't in the mail. We have a lot of things that need cutting, but post offices are not among them.

There's something special about a letter. We all like to get one. An e-mail, on the other hand, has all the charm of a freight train. When I was growing up we all knew when the mailman was coming and we waited for him even though we hardly ever got a letter.

People actually wrote letters to each other though, which they don't do as much anymore. They e-mail each other.

I would rather have a mailman or woman deliver junk mail to me, than to get an e-mail.

[oldcarrier03]

At least snail mail gave us the ability to communicate with each other. The new methods we use such as texting are driving away interaction among people, particularly the young. The USPS definitely serves a purpose with management (mismanagement) being its greatest fault. The carriers and clerks are very hard working people but the lazy ass managers take all the credit and none of the blame. Unfortunately, this is actually a common practice among business people. I retired from the USPS after 25 years and can relate to all the problems my current letter carrier describes as if they happened to me over and over again just yesterday. With all the modern communication methods we have at this time, we seem to have actually fallen behind. No real people answering phones just a machine and the young people using their thumbs to communicate are driving us deeper into a anti-social system that is frightening. Although I may be considered an old dinosaur to most young people, I believe the old ways are still the still best ways.

[Dogger325]

Well,for you people who have no clue about what it is to be 'Postal Blue".There's the wonderful phrase 'DOIS"..which management still tries to adhere to...'You have x amount of volume..so you should be out of the office by 8:55....returning 2:10..so you have and hour and half to deliver on another route" (pivot). I have been a letter carrier for 14 years,and it has gotten insane.Its not the carriers and other craft employees who are doing this to the PO,its an unmanageable management system that does just the most assinine things.Harrassment comes to mind.One gal was in tears because of the verbal abuse she listened to.Letters of warning are now the first step,instead of the usual "official" first offense talking-to..."7 day suspensions" are getting to be the norm in my office first get go(on paper of course).

We have carrier hours being cut,routes done away with...Clerks have been cut,or opted out and retired.

Yet I still see the same number of supervisors.And many are taking a good lunch "stroll" near my route every day,laughing and joking.But they see my vehicle parked,and they are looking like ******** to see if my my parking brake is set,wheels curbed etc...never see them in winter tho here in Maine.One said to me this past summer..'Just think..you get paid for this!" Course it was like 80 and sunny....

If you think management is important to YOU getting your mail,forget it.One night a bunch of thenm went and looked in our route vehicles...seeing what we had.Damn near all of us keep rain gear in them,and Change of address forms,etc..Things we use on a daily basis.They came around and let us know how we scewed up.NOTHING was to be left in a vehicle at night.

Oh and for my Brother and Sister letter carriers...They checked our DPS trays one night for the labels being removed...If not,you got written up.

Its not us carriers or clerks or mailhandlers or custodians...It's the TOP Heavy management thats doing the worst damage.

[Ferrell-2]

I know it's hard to believe but not every home in this country has an Internet connection. Our U.S. Postal Service (it's only a quasi government branch) cannot be allowed to fade away but to streamline it and separate the chaff from the wheat. All of us, at numerous times, need to send and receive letters, bills, cards, etc. which makes it imperative our federal government take it back under its wing. I can see no alternative other than at taxpayer expense.

[cw4cbs]

We the people should grab old and take charge not letting these brainless wonders riun the life and well being for the regular working person. Don't forget we were the the backbone of this country.

[tomturkey]

I too hate to see the postal servive stopped. That's not the answer. I liked the every other day delivery day suggestion. Like most people I've had my run-ins with USPS, but it's the independent route carrier that's been my burden. I felt there was no place to go for help. She had the power and she used it. Her postmaster even though he did not agree with her allowed her to stop my mail. They even held it for 12 days, wouldn't let me pick it up at the PO. Had to rent a box and put in a change of address. Now I don't like what happened but I do enjoy going out to a mailbox andfinding something to read albeit, yes, even junk mail. A lot of people to keep happy, us out here waiting for mail delivery, in town and rural carriers, management and don't forget the UNIONS. I've been a carrier and I've been a union officer. Many, many sides to this story.

[workingman4323]

Please HELP. Management is out of control. One small example. A letter that is brought back at the end of the day because the dps machine missorted it. A carrier will be sent back out to deliver that one letter creating overtime, now that letter cost a couple dollars to deliver. We have eliminated clerks, taken routes out of offices, and added more management. The more management the more harassment. There is no SERVICE in postal service.

[Ben_Franklin_mom]

Yes the republicans want the "constitution" to read we the corporate *****,for the corporate *****, and by the corporate *****..in order to rape and pillage the commons....

[Ben_Franklin_mom]

Yes the republicans want the "constitution" to read we the corporate *****,for the corporate *****, and by the corporate *****..in order to rape and pillage the commons....

[Poworker58]

Actually by the time you add up the cost of a computer, Internet connection, and electricity, an email is not that cheap.

[evad69]

WOW! Where do some of these people come up with their figures? $60,000.00 per year and only working 5 hour days? YOU WISH! I have been with the USPS for 20 years now, I don't ever remember anyone working only 5 hours and getting paid for 8. And to make $60,000 a year, you can only do that with alot of overtime! To you people that complain now at the postal service and them raising their stamps a couple cents each time,...well, if the postal service ever folds up, you will miss us. Just think what it is going to cost to send things then? A letter?...not 44 cents to anywhere in the country, but maybe several dollars instead, through another carrier! OH and NETFLIX? How much more a month is it going to cost them to send you those movies so cheaply every month? It won't be such a bargain then! Netflix rates will probably at least triple, or the company just completely folding up all together.
And for you people living on a unemployment check,...who's gonna bring it to you? No more waiting by your mailbox for the mailman to bring it. Maybe you could use the time to go look for a job instead! And if the check is late for some reason, there isn't a mailman to yell and swear at!
I don't think the postal service will ever fold up, but there is going to be alot of changes, I'm sure!

[kjsnowcone]

The hours comment is correct. Who will need to send a letter with email and cell phones? Netflix is starting to offer streaming movies online and it is their plan that this will be the way movies will be delivered instead of by mail. The unemployment check will be obsolete. They will be just like my child support, it is put on a debit card or it will be direct deposited.

[icing55]

As a 23-year Carrier, I see how management cries about how low the FIRST-CLASS mail volume is down. What they won't say is that bulk advertising is UP & the supervisors are ordered by the higher-ups to cut the bulk mail. Yes, thats right, DONT DELIVER IT! Valassis/RedPlum want their circulars in the mailbox on Tuesday or wednesday. Management cuts every day until it goes out on Saturday. By then, the sales are over, and hundreds of thousands of customers don't buy the goods/services that were advertised. Whats needed is to get rid of those in the executive branch, the Vice Presidents, and some of the District managers. I make 54K a year plus overtime, when I get it. Some of my customers are Pro Ball players making that much in only 9 hours of so-called work they do. Some of the pro Basketball players were "Carriers for a day" and said, I'm glad you are doing this, because I can't!





cut it back until Saturday

[caschultz]

As an employee of the United States Postal Service I want to thank you for your recent kind words about the postal service. I have been working there for many years and it is wonderful to have someone speak so highly of the post office. Thank you for your support.

Thank You,
Fred Schultz
and all Martin Post Office Employees
Martin, OH

[freddyfrugag]

"Cough cough... wheeez wheeez".

What's that, you may ask? That's someone's reaction after blowing the dust off of Andy's perspectives.

Hey Andy, what's your email address?

[rumtugger3]

As a Postal employee and customer, it saddens me to see my employer attempt to reduce the number of Post Offices and to further reduce the amount of delivery days. It is very true that a number of offices do not generate the income it takes to operate them. However, we are a government agency designed to break even. The operations that make money help to support the ones that do not. That's how we operate. We are in every community throughout our great land. That's how it should be. The reduction in delivery days could very well spell the end of the Post Office. After all, that added delivery day we offer is something our competitors do not offer. It is a great selling point for our business.
Thank you for your great commentary about my livelihood.

[mirandacofield]

Thank You Andy Rooney for taking on the suggestion of the United States Postal Service. If more people would look into the postal service through eyes like yours we might not be in the position we are in. I enjoy and take pride in my job and when comments like yours come along I am grateful. I like you still enjoy snail mail!!!

[mmsespene]

I'm so glad someone is finally talking about the state of the United States Postal Service. No one except the employees really know the horror we are facing at the Post Office. None of us know if we are going to have jobs in a year or thirty years from now. I am supervisor at the Post Office and everyone is feeling the heat. We are making cuts in every aspect of the USPS and in return the moral is low throughout. Everyone is in the line of fire: Postmasters, upper management, carriers, clerks... In return we have lost a sense of customer service for our customers. And to comment on a previous comment: The postal employees ie: clerks and carriers, don't usually make $60k a year and in the bay area where I live, that is nothing! PG&E meter readers make $10-$15 more an hour than a 15 year Letter Carrier. A car assembler at the plant makes starting what a carrier maxes out at after 5-10 years of service at the USPS. I don't believe they are overpaid at the USPS.

[rocketjl]

What most people do not realize is that working for the post office is one of the most coveted jobs in America. They get extremely high pay and lots of benifits like very, very cheap health care. I worked for the government and applied for health insurance. Postal workers got the same health insurance for about one fourth of what I had to pay. I believe that it is the Postal System itself that is doing most of the damage and is expecting the rest of us to keep funding their high life style.

[RCinOK]

Postal workers have such good health benefits because of the toll the job takes on our bodies. Try handling thousands of pieces of mail a day, walk dozens of miles a day, and see what shape your hands, knees, back, and feet are in.

[Poworker58]

We haven't asked anyone to fund ANYTHING.

[fss2009]

The postal service is going the way of the buggy whip and the typewriter ribbon. It is simply no longer viable.

[afmcalax]

The Postal Service needs to think bigger. Home delivery should be changed to every other day. M-W-F for some and T-Th-S for others. Post offices and pick-up boxes should still be open daily for pick-up. Businesses and people wanting daily delivery should purchase post office boxes at their nearest post office and pick up their own mail. This would cut back on people costs and transportation related costs while impacting most Americans minimally.

[jaa6]

Andy- you & I are from another age. I retired from the PO after 38 years. Things changed when congress gave up control to the unions in '71. Prior to that wages and working conditions really were bad but it was an easy job. Without tax dollars mechanization and automation were required to increase productivity. As mail volume continued to grow revenue grew. Unions, with the help of congress became deeply entrenched. It is against union contracts to lay off all but a minor number of new employees. By the way- after Rural Free Delivery there was less reason for a postoffice on every corner. There are still post offices in areas that are less than 2 miles apart and do not bring in enough revenue to cover even rent. Fewer and fewer go into a post office every day. The mail is delivered everyday and the delivery person collects mail too. Stamps can be purchased online, by mail, by phone. Those served by rural carriers not only are able to purchase products but can mail parcels and purchase money orders through them too. Today the mail volume has dropped and fewer employees are needed. The rolls have been reduced through early retirement and even incentives. The PO is still over staffed and unable to lay-off. The nasty talk from the union members is not unexpected but unfair. Union contracts have managers hands tied in many ways. Add the EEO process being used as a delay tactic and every other option available being used. Now more than ever employees are being asked to produce more. A huge draw back is there are no standards except carriers are to case 18 letters or 8 flats a minute- very simple. Faced with contract negotiations coming up, droppimg volume, and knowlege the PO is overstaffed they lash out at management. I'm not saying all employees are slugs. The PO has it's share protected by outdated union contracts and federal legislation. The PO also has a lot of hard working dedicated employees. More offices do need eliminated. Few will experience any change in service, some will encounter much better service. In many ways the PO is saddled with the ways of 1900 and we do not drive Model As any longer.

[gopostal999]

It sounds to me like you are a retired management employee. Without the postal unions we would all be working for $12.00 an hour. Care to mention what you draw a month on your pension? What about cost of living adjustments? If you think customer service is going down the tubes now ,just wait until the only people delivering mail are kids, all wearing blue jeans and T- Shirts and showing up for work when and if they feel like it. Everyone who bashes the USPS will be singing a different tune when we are gone. ( City letter carrier of 27 years )