Copy of email I sent to my congressional reps:

I oppose allowing the U.S. Postal Service to deliver mail only five days a
week because:

A five day week would mean the elimination of the utility position - the
carrier who does the route on the regular carrier's day off. That could
mean the layoffs of tens of thousands of carriers (perhaps 1/6 of 214,084
active duty letter carriers). The union contract stipulates carriers with
less than 6 years seniority can be furloughed. This whole idea needs to be
fought.

The more unemployed people there are, the longer the depression will last,
since even more people will be unable to buy goods and services.
Everything should be done to avoid layoffs.

If the Postal Service is to make it through this depression, than the
federal government will need to provide the necessary resources. Ditch all
the business plans - none of them are working. What did the Postal
Service do in the 1930's to make it through that crisis? The government
funded it even though it was losing money.

It's better to temporarily provide funding to labor-intensive industries
like the post office, instead of giving hundreds of billions to the
banking industry idiots who contributed to this crisis.

Sincerely,

Justifying jobs! Had a FULLY readable 15 minute 'training' on Dim/Weight pricing and Mystery Shoppers yesterday. Took 3 Financial experts to read it to us over the phone. Anyone else seeing this type of thing?

Yes.

Hey Iluvmail.... at the time of the post I just put a new Tranny in my jeep... I was very angry cause I maxed out a third credit card on repairs for my 2 vehicles. And shortly after came to the decision that I couldnt afford to pay the cards no more... Anywho since christmas Ive paid about 900$ in repairs for my vehicle and im even more bitter now then ever cause I had to borrow mony from my family to get my latest repairs... Just dont think its fair to have to be put into this financial stress to do work... I cant quit now Im the top sub in my office nor get a job in the area now cause i have bad credit due to repairs... EMA=crap give Rural carriers postal provided vehicles... Noone should have to deal with this to work part time....

RCANC,
  
     I agree they should pay more for mileage/repairs.....Hell, I'm right there with you on that one. Maybe you'd be better better off renting a used car like one girl didin our office for $20 a day. That way no repairs, insurance, just car and rental cost. I know how you feel about repairs, I had to chunk out $5,000 over a course of a year 1/2 to car repairs on a 2000 buick. I learned that an older buick....without all the computers were long lasting...if you can find one. I made the mistake of thinking a newer car would be better and last without repairs....wrong! I am a city carrier now and still driving the hunk of rural garbage...with even more things going wrong still now. I will finally have the thang paid off soon! I know the rural route screwed it up because the car was great! when I first started driving it.....I now have a list form a transmission to control arms to this and that ....that I have had to do. There is is still something not right about about it to this day....just waiting for it to blow up I guess with only 115,000 miles lol. I would find me a *cheap* older car that runs good and let it run its course....but check into the used car lots too! Just be careful of hitting or lets say tapping those mail boxes with it. I didn't even menyion the right side damage lol....needs dent man! I feel with you, trust me. I wish you luck when you go regular! Getting something out of USPS, health insurance, vacations, sick leave, tsp, hopefully, will make up for all the crap you has gone wrong! But, lets just be thankful for our jobs and try to LOVE it! If it makes you feel any better, I am on a route that I don't even get to drive.....leave with a bag and return with a bag...walk about 15 or more miles a day! Think about me during storms! Lord, I have to pray every day to make it through another. I have age on me, but I am in great shape....upside!!!! My heart rate and BP are all that of a 20 year old. Legs too!!!! lolol

Also about your credit cards....make sure that nothong is in your name ot they will issue judgements against.....then dont sign anything, or make a deal with them....dont pay, change your phone # send back letters they send....they have already messed your credit and will be off after 7 years of your last payment to them. Clarkhoward.com ..pull up a completely free no strings attached credit report(s) on yourself....check it out....after 3 years in NC you can start to get thing back in your name with now fear....but double check on that statue of limititaion fo credit cards. My friend not a USPS carrier had some problems and this is where I learned from.

FECA HELP/ QUICKTOPIC/FORUM

DIRTYDAVE

Dear Rural brothers,
     Depending on what part of the country you're in, you may not want to wish so hard for LLVs. As a vehicle to move you and the mail from point A to point B, it's adequate, but they were never designed with carrier comfort or safety in mind. When it was discovered that LLVs were too light in the rear end for winter weather, some genius(read mgmt.person) had cinder blocks bolted inside on top of the rear wheel wells. The heat blows in your face, so your feet freeze in winter, in summer, you broil, because there's no ventilation, even with both windows open. The mirrors block your vision. Also, knowing the Postal Service, rural routes would probably get city carrier hand me downs,(like the jeeps?), and you'd inherit the not so Long Life problems that come with them. But, as opposed to the maintenance situations you rurals have to deal with, I suppose a service maintained vehicle, even an LLV, is a better way to go. Since it seems to make sense, though, the Postal Service will never go for it
     Work Safe, John

Independent filmmaker and son of a postal worker seeking postal employees to share their experiences working for the U.S. Postal Service and their thoughts on the past, present, and future of their industry. If interested, please email Jay at usmaildoc@gmail.com. Thank You.

Here in western PA., a Supervisor got a grand idea. The fact that we transport some mail further to a 'sub' station of ours was a 'chance' to do some of the cutting Management likes. By getting us clerks to ignore the level line in filling up the cages to transport, we can effectively split a cage on top of three others. So the idea of cutting an extra trip from a carrier to shave moneys is gonna make up for the SAFETY VIOALTION being done? This is done daily, and today meant the difference of 8 spilling out cages versus 11 caged correctly. Go ahead and say ENOUGH IS ENOUGH and fill out the safety papers to send to District Safety?

GM's new buyout offer at a glance

General Motors Corp. said Tuesday it was offering buyouts to 74,000 U.S. hourly workers represented by the United Auto Workers. Here are some details:

What are workers being offered?
Retirement-eligible employees (30 years or more) will be offered $45,000 for production workers and $62,500 for skilled workers to retire with full pension and benefits. Employees can take the money in a lump-sum payment, have it paid over time in monthly installments or roll it directly into a retirement account or 401(k).

Workers close to retirement (between 26 and 29 years) can take a leave with reduced pay until they reach 30 years, when they will be eligible for regular pension and health benefits.

Employees who are at least 50 with 10 years at the company can retire early with accumulated pension and health benefits.

Workers with 10 or more years of service are eligible for a one-time payment of $140,000 to leave the company with no pension or health benefits. People with less than 10 years of service are eligible for a $70,000 payment.

    hello anyone know if they are taking transfers to charleston sc

Has anyone recieved your stimulus raise in your paycheck yet?

don't know about your check, but the way mine varies from pp to pp, I wouldn't notice. it's only supposed to be $15 a week or so

the pay check you received on April 3 was for money earned in march. the tax change did not take effect until April 1, 09.