5 Day Work Week

[deepNdirt]

Many of us work a 5 day work week, I read today where the USPS mail delivery is cutting back to 5 days, excluding Saturday deliveries, Not sure how most feel about the cutback but as for myself 5 days is enough junk mail for me, and if cutting back 1 day helps to save... why Not?
we've all had to cut back in one way or another, I have a relative ( Uncle )who retired from the USPS and he is but a worn out old man health wise, But only into his 70's... He was very committed to his job as a mail deliverer, He prospered from his job in the way of a good life style but in doing so he neglected his personal well being and health, The bottom line is can the usps employs not make it on 5 days of work? Heck some agencies have changed to 10 hour days/4 days week, which IMHO could save $$ all the way around, lessoning gas expense by 1 day in commute to work, which will also save fuel from being used by pulling 2 extra hours a day is no big deal ....
I used to work 10-12 hours 5 to 6 days a week, being self employed I had no incentive other than keeping caught up on work loads, I didn't receive time 1/2 for overtime or any company bonuses, I'm just saying why are the usps workers, ( I respectively ask) so upset about being cut 1 day?
Do they live as My Uncle did? a lifestyle beyond their needs, and will they need to only make adjustments or will they feel like sacrifices to them?

Again I do respect the work they do for us all, But times are tough and we all need to adjust our life styles, at least for the Moment...
All my working life I helped build new homes, I for one have certainly had to make adjustments, But I don't think of it as making sacrifices,

 

[mjarrels]

They are only loosing 25 million dollar a day, any business play is better than they have now! Congress is to blame.

mark

 

[murphy1244]

Yes Congress runs the Post Office.

 

[mikehaugen]

they don't work 6 days a week, they deliver 6 days a week. Each person is assigned a route and 1 day off during the week, and then Sunday. They have substitutes that fill in the rotating "off" days. My mom has been working for them for around 10 years, but between a transfer and then a merge with another post office, has not accumulated enough seniority to get a route so is still a substitute. She actually works 6 days a week quite often, but the regulars don't. Basically, this move (which has been under consideration for quite some time) will eliminate a lot of substitutes.

So, for my Mom's sake, I am against it. But also, I think Saturday delivery is kind of nice. Living in the sticks, I order a lot of stuff online and if it is sent USPS it may come on a Saturday vs. having to wait until Monday depending on when I order it- means a lot sometimes. This gives them an edge over UPS and FedEx who charge a large premium for Saturday delivery. If they lose that, it may hurt business more than they think.

 

[Western]

I can see where it would effect some jobs, but I wonder would the savings be worth it. In fuel alone it may save a bundle. I could live with out Weekend delivery, fact I never opt for that when given the chance (at a higher rate). 4 days a week would be fine for me, I would just have to manage things I need accordingly. A parts order type business could be effected though.

 

[dmccarty]

...Living in the sticks, I order a lot of stuff online and if it is sent USPS it may come on a Saturday vs. having to wait until Monday depending on when I order it- means a lot sometimes. This gives them an edge over UPS and FedEx who charge a large premium for Saturday delivery. If they lose that, it may hurt business more than they think.

The report I read said that packages will still be delivered on Saturday. USPS package deliveries are increasing.

Not getting mail on Saturday likely won't mean much to us anymore.

Later,
Dan

 

[Thomas]

Just going to need bigger mailbox for less delivery.

 

[mvwicker]

Word is that USPS packages would still be delivered on Saturdays, as that part of the business still makes money.

My rural postman delivers mainly junk mail, and my city postman says that carriers are being cut with the remainder getting more and more overtime to fill the gaps. Sometimes my mail comes after 6pm because the carrier spent the early part of the day sorting and covering other routes.

Despite having a monopoly on first class mail, USPS seems like a poorly managed business stressed by a shrinking market. I predict it will vanish in a generation or so, like passenger railroads in the US outside big metropolitan areas.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

I vote they go to MWF mail delivery.

 

[dave1949]

I could live with M-W-F post delivery. I imagine that would be a real monkey wrench for many businesses though.

A friend on the local VFD works for USPS. He said he gets 8 Saturdays per year off, and I don't think he gets to pick them.

Saturday is junk mail day here, the same 4 or 5 flyers every week that go directly into the recycle bin.

 

[lakngulf]

There is a lot of inter-workings with USPS, UPS and Fedex now. I was in a large post office recently, and UPS brought some packages in, and picked some up. That may be the clue to still having package delivery on Saturday

 

[clemsonfor]

they don't work 6 days a week, they deliver 6 days a week. Each person is assigned a route and 1 day off during the week, and then Sunday. They have substitutes that fill in the rotating "off" days. My mom has been working for them for around 10 years, but between a transfer and then a merge with another post office, has not accumulated enough seniority to get a route so is still a substitute. She actually works 6 days a week quite often, but the regulars don't. Basically, this move (which has been under consideration for quite some time) will eliminate a lot of substitutes.
So, for my Mom's sake, I am against it. But also, I think Saturday delivery is kind of nice. Living in the sticks, I order a lot of stuff online and if it is sent USPS it may come on a Saturday vs. having to wait until Monday depending on when I order it- means a lot sometimes. This gives them an edge over UPS and FedEx who charge a large premium for Saturday delivery. If they lose that, it may hurt business more than they think.

heard packages will still be delivered on SAt, maybe that was just to PO boxes but they did say something about Sat and packages?

 

[clemsonfor]

The USPS does final delivery for many UPS packages, they figured out they save by paying PO to deliver them vs going to all the houses that the PO will already go to. The PO can do it cheaper as they already go by each house each day.

 

[Gale Hawkins]

The USPS does final delivery for many UPS packages, they figured out they save by paying PO to deliver them vs going to all the houses that the PO will already go to. The PO can do it cheaper as they already go by each house each day.

I have had this happen with some UPS ground packages.

 

[NoTrespassing]

My grandfather was a rural carrier and my father still is a rural carrier. He's on his 50th year of service right now. Dad still works 6 days per week right now and gets mileage paid. He actually comes out ahead on his mileage allotment by driving older vehicles.

My grandmother received benefits for 39 years after my grandfather died. Grandfather didn't live long after he retired. Grandmother lived to age 92 and was several years younger than he was. I think she got 60% of his salary. I'm not sure what other benefits she received. My father will receive 80% of his pay if he ever decides to retire. He's collecting SS while he's still working right now.

In short, the postal service has been very good to our family but those days are coming to an end. Luckily my son will probably inherit most of those benifits someday.

Being an advocate of smaller government, I think most government services could be better provided by private companies, not controlled by the government.

Kevin

 

[oldnslo]

I suspect the USPS is like any other large corporation. To many chiefs and not enough Indians. How many upper management positions are required Vs what their are?

I could easily live with M-F delivery and as one other person posted suspect it will hurt the part time people the most.

 

[sseelhoff]

With telephone, fax and now e-mail, regular mail is an antiquated concept. It should come as no surprise that the USPS is struggling.

 

[Jaeger]

Whoever does the Saturday route around my way doesn't do a very good job (actually get more mail Monday and none on Saturday most of the time) so I won't notice any difference.

The only good thing about the mail is my catalogs, and magazine subscriptions the rest is junk, and bills!

 

[robbyr]

I hate it when we order something online to be shipped via UPS only to get a card in my mailbox telling me to come to post office to pick up package. Post office wont deliver it, why didn't UPS deliver it?

 

[Ken45101]

I hate it when we order something online to be shipped via UPS only to get a card in my mailbox telling me to come to post office to pick up package. Post office wont deliver it, why didn't UPS deliver it?

^^^ YES! They are too lazy to deliver it. I especially hate when they leave the "we missed you" card which is an outright lie!

Oh, and when you do get down to the PO to pick it up, they are closed for lunch, or whatever.