e-Team Report, July 22, 2011

Council for Citizens Against Government Waste Comes Out in Support of Issa's H.R. 2309

The Council for Citizens Against Government Waste (CCAGW) came out this week in support of Congressman Issa’s (R-CA) H.R. 2309. In their letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives the CCAGW cites “decades of unmanageable labor costs” as one of the many reasons they are supporting this legislation.

However, CCAGW does not accept the real reasons for the Postal Service’s financial problems. The CCAGW does not acknowledge in their letter to members of the U.S. House of Representatives that Issa’s H.R. 2309 does not address the congressional mandate requiring the postal service to annually pay $5.5 billion dollars a year for future retiree healthcare benefits. This is something that no other company in the private sector or government agency is required to do. Nor does this bill address the billions in overpayments made into both CSRS and FERS accounts by the Postal Service.

The APWU does not support Issa's H.R. 2309 and is asking members to please take a minute to reach out to your member of Congress and ask them not to support H.R. 2309.

To read the CCAGW’s press release please click here.

Multiple Bills in Both House and Senate Look to Overhaul Postal Service

Currently, there are multiple bills from many legislators aimed at fixing the Postal Service’s financial problems circulating around Capitol Hill. As of today a total of five postal reform bills have been introduced. Many legislators have their own view about the actual cause of the Postal Service’s monetary hardship. These legislator’s views are reflected in their different pieces of legislation. Some cite the excessive burden the Postal Service carries to prefund future retiree health benefits to the tune of about $5.5 Billion a year. Some seek to give the Postal Service access to billions of dollars in overpayments made into both the FERS and CSRS retirement funds. Some legislators simply are taking aim at those who work for the Postal Service saying they are overpaid and their benefits are too great. Even more look to give the postal service more flexibility in services, some under the guise of reducing days of delivery. More legislators are looking to drive business to the Postal Service through other means and are opposed to cutting service. Some think the answer is to close billions of dollars worth of post offices within the first two year after passage. Others think post offices should be able to be closed simply based on whether or not it turns a profit each year.

In this week’s Washington Post Columnist Joe Davidson wrote about the Postal Service’s losses. To read his article click here. This week the New York Times printed an article about the different bills. To read this article please click here.

We are asking all of our members to reach out to their member of congress in support of Rep. Stephen Lynch’s (MA) H.R. 1351 which will let the USPS use billions of dollars in CSRS and FERS overpayments to meet its financial obligations. Unlike, other bills that address the pension overpayments H.R. 1351 will not attack the rights of workers to collectively bargain. Also make sure you voice your opposition to Congressman Issa’s H.R. 2309. You can reach your member of Congress by calling the Capitol Hill switchboard today at (202) 224-3121, or to email your member of congress click here. If your U.S. representative has already signed on as a cosponsor to H.R. 1351 please make sure you reach out to their office and thank them for their support.

There are currently 15 Republicans and 161 Democrats signed on as cosponsors of H.R. 1351. 

This week Postmaster Donahoe sat down with the USA Today to answer a few questions about the postal service. Interested in the Postmaster’s response:

When asked about six day delivery?
When asked about three day delivery?
When asked about closing post offices?
When asked about The Postal Service’s Future?

If you are interested please click here!

Another Step toward Victories in Ohio and Wisconsin

July has seen two states step in the right direction toward fighting back against radical Republican legislation aimed at breaking unions in their states. This week over 900,000 signatures were validated by Ohio’s Secretary of State which will now allow the public to vote to repeal SB 5 this November 8th at the polls. July has also brought victories in Wisconsin primaries for six democrats seeking to replace six republican senators in the August 9th recall elections.

To read more about the recent victory in Ohio click here. To read more about the recall effort in Wisconsin please click here.