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Grappling With the Latest
USPS 'Reform' Effort
(This Viewpoint column by APWU President William Burrus first appeared in the Nov./Dec. 2003 issue of The American Postal Worker magazine)
Over the past several months I have written extensively about the aspects of postal reform that are unacceptable to the American Postal Workers Union and its members.
The latest wave of attempts at 'reform' began in 1996 in the House of Representatives and continued with the introduction of various bills through 2002 and the Presidential Commission in 2003. Throughout the legislative efforts, APWU has been adamant that free collective bargaining be protected.
By the time the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (H.R. 4970) was drafted last year, it included provisions that restrictions on postage rate increases would not adversely impact the rights of employees to engage in free collective bargaining. But this bill, like the other attempts at legislation before it, was defeated in a congressional committee vote.
Unresolved in the earlier efforts was the issue of discounted postage rates granted to large mailers. The APWU has been pointing out how this damages the USPS bottom line, and we have tried to influence any proposed legislation to include restrictions on worksharing discounts so that they do not exceed the avoided postal costs. But when H.R. 4970 died in committee, the issue of rate discounts became moot.
In December 2002, President Bush appointed his commission to make recommendations on postal reform. Anticipating that radical changes were going to be proposed, I expressed the union's reservations. Throughout the seven months of hearings and deliberations, I attempted to expose the one-sided considerations before the commission, and upon receipt of its recommendations pointed out the inconsistencies and the adverse impact the report would have on the American public and postal workers.
Where We Are in Opposition
Our union has publicly opposed those recommendations of the Presidential Commission that would:
These radical recommendations are unacceptable to the American Postal Workers Union and, we believe, unacceptable to the American public. We believe the commission recommendations would reduce rates for the large mailers at the expense of the public and postal workers.
The Uncertain Forecast
It is not enough, however, for the union to oppose all efforts to change the Postal Service business model. We recognize that mail volume has declined in each of the past two years and that postage rates have increased three times in the same time period. We also recognize that many people believe this decline in mail volume will continue indefinitely, that individuals and commercial entities are converting to other technologies for many types of communications, including electronic fund transfers. Due to the wide disparity in the cost between electronic communications and hard-copy mail, there is and will be continuing incentives for conversion.
I have maintained that the nation's economic slump has been equally responsible for the declining mail volume. Historically, in a growing economy, a mail volume increase offsets the conversion to electronic communication. Over the past 100 years, hard-copy communications have been affected by the use of the telephone, fax, and now, a variety of electronic communications. During each of these periods, the growing economy generated new and increased use of mail. I predict that as the economy recovers, mail volume will grow.
The dominant means of communication in the future has not yet been determined. Citizen revolt against telemarketing is likely to dampen the use of the telephone for mass marketing, and tighter state and national bans on unsolicited marketing via the Internet are on the horizon. Coupled with these uncertainties is the fact that 42 percent of American citizens do not yet use personal computers for any communication. Even among those who use electronic communication, There is stiff resistance to converting their financial activities.
Each of these factors will play a major role in the future of hard-copy communications and future mail volume; predictions are fraught with uncertainty.
Support for Prudent Changes
Given these uncertainties, the responsible thing to do is to prepare for the future by adjusting the Postal Service business model. Therefore, it is responsible for the union to be pro-active in supporting necessary change.
Many advocates for reform lack specificity in their declaration of support while being specific in what they oppose. Combining previous legislative efforts with the recommendations of the Presidential Commission, APWU can support several positive proposals for change. They include:
These changes would represent positive steps for the future of the Postal Service notwithstanding the future growth or decline of mail volume. If they are enacted, the Postal Service could continue to provide service for the American public as it has throughout its history -- and without drastic modifications intended to convert the USPS to nothing more than a tool for the business community.
The American Postal Workers Union is prepared to play a positive role in postal reform. But we will use every resource at our command to protect the interests of the American public and the postal workers we are privileged to represent.
