The great big Postal Service lie

  The great big Postal Service lie

"...look out, because a cabal of corporate predators and Koch-headed ideologues are scheming to take "public" out of this pubic agency and strip "service" out of the Postal Service by spreading a diabolical Big Lie. Their bogus claim is that this essential public service is a hopeless money loser, sucking billions from taxpayers every year. Unfortunately, our lazy media establishment..."

Reference: Federal Employee News  

Outgoing PMG Patrick Donahoe Calls Out Lawmakers, Unions and the Business Lobby as He Prepares for Exit

  Outgoing postal chief calls sounds off on Washington's 'myopia'
"...The nation’s top postal official called out practically everyone connected to the mailing industry on Tuesday, accusing lawmakers, unions and the business lobby of impeding efforts to modernize the U.S. Postal Service. ..."
Reference: thehill.com

David Koch: “We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service."

 

David Koch of the extremely wealthy Koch brothers are investing heavily in agendas that only make the rich richer and the rest of us are paying for it. Although there is nothing wrong with people protecting and growing wealth, there is a problem with doing so off the backs of the blue-collar worker. Midterm elections are next month, please educate yourself before simply voting on unsubstantiated claims and promises. Although we will not go so far as to tell you who to vote for, we do suggest doing an internet search of legitimate resources to determine who is behind specific agendas. Please vote not only at the polls, but by where you shop and spend your money.

Astounding: David Koch's 1980 VP Run: Kill Medicare, Social Security, Minimum Wage, Public Schools

"...“We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service. The present system, in addition to being inefficient, encourages governmental surveillance of private correspondence. Pending abolition, we call for an end to the monopoly system and for allowing free competition in all aspects of postal service.”..."

Reference: www.dailykos.com  

Southeastern and Northeastern US to Take Disproportionate Hit in Next Round of Mail Processing Facility Closures

Data map found on govexec.com identifies heavily unionized portions of the United States, as well as extreme population growth areas, will face the biggest attacks on service and displacement of the working-class in the next round of mail processing facility closures. Will economic and service impacts in these areas be as severe as many expect?


One Map to Show Where USPS Will Cut 7,000 Jobs

Map found on Government Executive

"...Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., has endorsed a proposal to reverse plans by the U.S. Postal Service to close an additional 82 facilities in 2015...."
Reference: www.govexec.com

"the most important labor law case the court has considered in decades"

  Who Is Behind the National Right to Work Committee and its Anti-Union Crusade?

"... If the court follows National Right to Work's lead, every state in the country would essentially turn into an anti-union "right to work" state, which would be a significant blow to public sector unions' collective bargaining efforts and also complicate thousands of existing contracts..."

Reference: www.prwatch.org  

Destruction of the Postal Service and collective bargaining rights

  Postal Workers: The Last Union

NPMHU 317

"...The Postal Service, which is older than the Constitution itself, stands at a precipice. If this great institution, which provides one of the oldest, most reliable services in the country, is permitted to fall and Congress kills its great union, then truly no collective bargaining rights, no worker contract, no union will be safe within the United States...."
Reference: www.truth-out.org

Wisconsin Supreme Court cleared the way on Tuesday for significant cuts to collective bargaining rights

  Wisconsin ruling limits collective bargaining among public workers "...The Wisconsin Supreme Court cleared the way on Tuesday for significant cuts to collective bargaining rights for public workers..." Reference: www.stltoday.com  

National Postal Mail Handlers Union supports Wisconsin union members

  National Postal Mail Handlers Union supports Wisconsin union members "...As the situation in Wisconsin continues to boil over, and as several other states have now indicated that they too wish to restrict or eliminate collective bargaining for certain groups of public employees, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union is committed to standing in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in the labor movement.

“This has long ago ceased to be about balancing the budget, if it ever was,” said National President John Hegarty. “In Wisconsin, and now in many other states, this is nothing more than retribution by the right wing against the labor unions for exercising their right to support the candidates of their choosing in last fall’s elections.”

The public-sector unions in Wisconsin have already indicated their willingness to work with the Governor, and to chip in and do their part to balance the budget. Apparently, that’s not good enough for Governor Walker, who is insisting that they also give up most of their collective bargaining rights.

We have fielded numerous calls to the National Office asking how our members can get involved. The AFL-CIO has a link on its website regarding protests going on in cities across the country: http://www.aflcio.org. Jobs With Justice also has a listing of events on their web site at http://www.jwjblog.org/2011/02/worker-solidarity-rallies-planned/. Please be advised that any activity on your part should be off-the-clock.

The NPMHU encourages all of its members to stay informed, and to support these workers in whatever way they see fit. ..." Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union  

Union Action Alert

Postal News Alert!

Although this article is from the APWU site, all union members should take immediate action to protect their collective bargaining rights (please forward to all the postal employees you know and urge them to contact their senators to urge a "NO" vote. Thanks):

“If the bill passes as written, it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers.” Burrus said.

From the APWU Article: "... Because a vote on the bill is expected early next week, before the Senate adjourns for its August recess, local and state activists must move quickly, Burrus said. The national union will hold a teleconference for local and state leaders on Monday, Aug. 3, at 2 p.m. EDT, to discuss the issue.

“I call on every APWU local to generate messages to their senators based on a 1 to 5 ratio of their members,” Burrus said. “If the bill passes as written, it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers.”

The amendment would require arbitrators ruling on postal contracts to take into account the “financial health of the Postal Service.”

“Given the severity of Postal Service’s financial crisis, if this bill passes, we can anticipate that in the next round of negotiations, many of the things our members take for granted — such as cost-of-living increases, raises, and protection against layoffs — will be at risk.” Under current law, arbitrators must consider the “comparability” of postal wages to employees in the private sector who perform similar work.
Click here to email your senators: http://www.capwiz.com/apwu/issues/alert/?alertid=13812926 ...help protect your benefits and pay!
“In fact, arbitrators routinely consider the Postal Service’s financial status as part of the context of negotiations,” Burrus said. “However, to attach this specific requirement to the law leaves workers at a severe disadvantage. ..."  
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