From the article: "...This situation is not due to falling mail volume or the Internet. It is due to a huge (and hugely unfair) congressional mandate.
The Postal Service is in trouble because of a 2006 law that requires it to massively prefund the cost of retiree health benefits over the next 75 years in just 10 years' time. ..."
From the article: "...they unveiled a new plan that would require the federal government to return about $7 billion to the Postal Service that it has paid over the years into a federal retirement account. The money, Democrats said, could be used to offer buyouts or early retirement incentives to eligible postal workers...."
From the article: "...A US Postal Service study is causing a lot of stress for postal workers who could find their jobs eliminated...."
From the article: "...This has been a terrible news for people who used to send small packets or letters to different places across the US. It was the cheapest option for them and saved them lots of money. If they send the same stuff by UPS or FedEx, it will cost them many times more...."
From the article: "...Computer Sciences Corp. has received an $83 million grant from the Postal Service to repair and maintain equipment used to handle and process mail internally. Besides Barrington, it will set up operations in Lakeville, Minn...."
From the article: "...HR 1351, with zero taxpayer involvement, would restore the USPS budget to financial soundness, and do so in the near future, if not immediately...."
From the article: "...It's a worst-case scenario being painted for an organization that lost $8.5 billion in 2010 and seems headed deeper into the red this year...."
From the article: "..."I said to my co-worker, 'Hey have you ever seen anything like this before?'" He said, "'That's definitely a half-stick of dynamite, don't touch anything else around here,' " he said...."
From the article: "...Since taking over as Chair of the House Oversight Committee, one of Congressman Issa’s main objectives has been to try to reduce the pay, benefits, and collective bargaining rights of postal employees. ..."
From the article: "...Postal executives are seriously considering the idea and are expected to announce new plans regarding delivery schedules after Labor Day, according to USPS officials...."
From the article: "...the Postal Service has begun contract negotiations with the National Association of Letter Carriers, AFL-CIO (NALC). Contract talks with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) begin Aug. 30..."
From the article: "...The agency mentioned the downsizing in a paper released last week urging congressional action to eliminate layoff protections in union agreements as part of an effort to cut 220,000 career positions by 2015...."
From the article: "...The U.S. Postal Service intends to close more than 60 percent of its mail processing plants by the end of next year, potentially displacing thousands of employees...."
From the article: "...the United States Postal Service is appealing to Congress to remove collective bargaining restrictions in order to lay off 120,000 workers. It also wants congressional approval to replace existing government health care and retirement plans. ..."
From the article: "...The report found that Band enlisted Kessler to help scuttle the deal. Kessler held multiple meetings with postal officials urging them to settle with POA, the report said. Kessler was the only postal official urging a settlement, the IG said...."
From the article: "...standard-mail revenue rose 1.7% as package-services revenue increased 3.2%.
Revenue from shipping services, including Express Mail and Priority Mail, rose 7.3%. ..."
From the article: "...Officials in the southeast Missouri town of Morehouse recently marked the reopening of the local post office..."
From the article: "...“Before undertaking a consolidation study, the USPS must consider the impact consolidation would have on the community, service standard changes, impact on customer service, impact on operations at gaining and losing facilities, equipment deployment, and the likelihood of potential savings and efficiencies,” wrote Executive Vice President Greg Bell in the union’s request for information...."
