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Published Wednesday, September 28, 2011 in Local
Photo by Bob Fraley
Milton Garrison holds a sign, “Save America’s Postal Service,” outside the Newnan office of U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga. Third District, on Highway 34 East.
Postal workers rally to 'Save America's Postal Service'
By John Winters
The Newnan Times-Herald
Area postal workers were out along Hwy. 34 East Tuesday afternoon as part of a nationwide rally to "Save America's Postal Service."
About 30 workers participated in the local effort, held outside the Newnan district office of U.S. Rep. Lynn Westmoreland, R-Ga. Third District. They said they had about 2,000 signatures to deliver to the congressman's office asking him to support House Resolution 1351.
Supporters of the Postal Service say the truth about massive multibillion-dollar losses has not been told. They say a 2006 congressional mandate is the blame, one that requires the Postal Service to pre-fund future retiree benefits for the next 75 years, and do so within 10 years.
That cost, they say, amounts to $21 billion since 2007 and accounts for all the Post Office's deficit. HR 1351 would address the pre-funding mandate. To date, that bill has 216 co-sponsors in the House.
"We are the only agency mandated to fund future retirees," said Jerry Paggi, a congressional liaison with the National Association of Letter Carriers.
The rally was two-fold, according to Cynthia Burney, vice president of the National Association of Letter Carriers No. 73.
First, to educate the public about the real financial status of the Post Office. And second, to rally support of the public in support of HR 1351.
Burney said excluding the mandates, the Postal Service actually made more than $600 million in each of the last four fiscal years.
"The Post Office does not use taxpayer money," she said. "We get all our money from services and selling of stamps."
Paggi added, "We need the American people to determine our future ... we need Congress to address this mess."
In a written response, Westmoreland said, "In order to save the USPS, we need to bring them into the 21st century with long-term, structured reforms. That's why I support the provisions in HR 2309. This legislation eliminates excess costs at the USPS and helps to make the USPS a more effective agency."
Postal workers oppose HR 2309, which would give the service the option of eliminating Saturday service and also close various postal offices that bill sponsors estimate could save $1 billion.
"It (HR 2309) would destroy the Post Office as we know it today," Paggi said.
But Westmoreland said he did not believe HR 1351, supported by the postal workers, is the right answer.
"I do not believe HR 1351 addresses all the issues at the USPS," he said in the prepared statement. "It does not fully eliminate the mandatory pre-funding of future retirees' health benefits like some of its proponents are trying to claim.
"Instead, it simply provides a temporary bailout without providing any long-term solutions to help the USPS."
Comment On This Story
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The same reason you are allowed to come here and whine. Free forum. At least he entertains us. You - not so much.
Posted by Hobbs at 12:26 PM
Joe, we should be on the stage. In fact, there's one leaving in 35 minutes.
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 11:38 PM
Thank YOu for that comment!
Don't tell Ralph but I think he is envious of my good looks.
Posted by Joe Cool at 9:39 PM
Has it ever occurred to some of you that Joe Cool may be giving some of you something to think about. I sometimes consider him to be the Neal Boortz of the NTH. (sorry Neal). Besides, isn't there something, somewhere written that gives him and others like us the right to express their core values. Without Joe and others this paper would be dull indeed. One more thing, Ralph. How do you know that Joe is a "character"?
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 7:50 PM
the times I saved your life! Here is another life saving advice. The squirrels are gathing nuts for the winter. Please stay indoors.
Posted by Joe Cool at 6:02 PM
I apologize for constantly talking over your head.
Why don't you go get a job. I have one.
I was going to ask the moderator why he allows clueless liberals on here.
Posted by Joe Cool at 5:48 PM
Why do you continually allow this Joe Cool character to constantly dominate the message boards on every subject. His comments are rarely insightful. He is argumentative and rude. Maybe if you stop publishing his remarks he might go get a job or at the very least go outside. You could save his life.
Posted by Ralph at 4:29 PM
My father-in-law is a retired postal employee. You are right. They are not complaining about their pensions or their medical benefits which also continue to cover their spouses. Both were well earned but rarely seen in this day and age.
Posted by Hobbs at 11:35 AM
UPS and FedEx packages delivered in 2-3 days right to the door. Both are well worth the cost. Two Christmas cards postmarked December 9th delivered the second week of February. Cable bill postmarked August 22 delivered September 29th. Maybe they have returned to the old Pony Express.
Posted by little miss sunshine at 11:27 AM
You will not hear postal employees complaining about their pension and medical benefits I bet...
Posted by poll goer at 12:31 AM
But the delivery drivers are very well paid. You sound as if they get paid 44 cents.
Posted by Bubba B Bad at 8:46 PM
But who gives the best service and is not bankrupt!
Posted by Joe Cool at 3:07 PM
Letter carriers deliver mail to address on mail. It is not their business to know every person at that address as they have 1000s of pieces of mail. Did you know UPS and Fed Ex depends on USPS to deliver many of their parcels? That's right. You pay them and they have to pay USPS so you are paying more and delaying delivery.
Safety is 1st. Have you tried to access a mailbox on a busy road or down an almost deserted dirt road? Drivers don't pay attention to PO vehicles, trashcans or cars parked in front of boxes, tires have been replaced due to dog bites. imagine what a leg would look like. No postage on some mail, CODs, wrong address, and the (boxholders)JUNK MAIl they have to deliver loads them down and slows them up as they have to stop at every box on the route.
I apprecaite what they do for .44 cents; UPS of Fed Ex could not and would not for any price.
Posted by Sandy at 12:08 PM
We are talking about the post office in Newnan. Now back away slowly from the computer and take a deep breath.
Posted by Joe Cool at 1:32 AM
How in the world am I being hysterical? Im being realistic. Read the news somewhere outside of Newnan. It doesnt even matter if they were killed or not. Its not like the postal workers are the only people who go to work each day and could possibly get hurt. Police officers, fire fighters, even probation officers are just a few examples of workers that risk their lives. But Im almost positive that you have reasons to complain about them as well. Facts are facts. There are plently of people who go to work each day and risk their safety.
Posted by ashley at 11:51 PM
When was the last time a postoffice person was killed or robbed in Newnan?
Posted by Joe Cool at 1:20 PM
Ashley,no taxes ,not even yours, go to the Post Office!!!!
Posted by the mailman at 11:05 AM
I don't have a government job. I don't work for the post office. I just know how to appreciate what other people do. But yes they do risk their lives. Maybe you should read the news or listen a little harder. There have been deaths of postal workers quite a few times this year because of reckless driving. There have also been robberies in which postal workers are stopped and held at gunpoint, some of which have been shot. Rabid dogs are the least of these peoples problems. It is horribly naive of you to think that little of people.
Posted by ashley at 3:16 AM
I could careless if you deliver to my box. Risk lives everyday? Really what are there some rabid dogs going around biting people.
If you would read the comments and stop whining about your gov job going away you might learn something.
It will change because I vote.
Posted by Joe Cool at 11:11 PM
Sure you have a right to complain, but is that all you do? If you don't like it then change it. Oh but that won't happen will it? You will just continue to sit on your computer and go after every hard working citizen in this county. The postal workers risk their lives every day just to bring you some junk mail. If you don't appreciate it then do it your way. No one will miss delivering to your box.
Posted by ashley at 9:02 PM
let the USPS sink or swim on there own, get the government out why is congress telling them what to do with the money they make? If USPS doesnt make it guess who pays those tens to hundreds of thousands of retirees. YOU DO!
Posted by north moving zax at 2:41 PM
Paying on line is more secure than post office and you get an immediate receipt--if you have a printer. Look for the pad-lock icon at the lower right hand corner to see if you are accessing a secure site.
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 12:04 AM
Re-read my post, twocrows. I never wrote that you didn't know how to use your PC, or inferred that you didn't have a firewall. I wrote that epay is convenient and safe if you (meant in the general sense) have a security program. There are statistics which show it's safer than mailing, so to think otherwise is a misguided concept. I didn't infer you, as an individual, are misguided.
Geez, you really should back off that defensive hair-trigger of yours and take a breather before you spit back. After all, two crows is supposed to symbolize joy, isn't it?
Posted by Elcee at 1:41 PM
My job does not take me to their house. But they come to mine. So people have a right to complain. There taxes pay your salary.
Posted by Joe Cool at 11:46 AM
If you want the right mail put in your box or mail delivered to a blocked box,give your carrier a CHRISTMAS present!!
Posted by scott at 11:15 AM
Id like to see all of you complainers get and keep a job at the post office. Its a lot harder than you think. Oh and while youre at it, sort and seperate thousands of peices of mail EVERY DAY. Does anyone in this city complain about everything? The post office workers dont come to your job and tell you how bad you are at it, and Im sure there are plenty of you that arent perfect. And the postal worker is not allowed to get out of her car unless delivering a package to the door. Would you want to get out of your car on Bullsboro or Lower Fayette to put mail in a box? Didnt think so.
Posted by ashley at 12:31 AM
We're glad you did a great job sorting, Scott - maybe with your retirement, the sorting is not the priority it once was.
No kidding, it's very common to get the wrong mail delivered, everyday.
Posted by Coweta resident at 9:26 PM
If you choose to pay your bills by check, make sure you don't leave them in your mailbox for the postal worker to pick up. My aunt and uncle had some charity contribution checks stolen from theirs and the thieves changed the payee and $ amount on the checks, cleaning out their bank account. The thieves were caught but it was a long road to justice.
Posted by KC in Newnan at 4:03 PM
I was a snail for 38 years.I would go to work and case mail for 2-3 hours,pull it down in order.then put 20-100 boxes in order of delivery,and then deliver to 800 houses.mistakes happen,but not often.No other company can touch the P.O.for service or price.
Posted by scott at 10:51 AM
We would appreciate more effort on getting the mail sorted correctly - our neighbors are always bringing us our mail and we are always bringing neighbors their mail. It gets OLD.
Posted by Coweta resident at 10:05 AM
I have a mailbox down near the road and it's more of a possibility of your bank getting hacked than my mail stolen. Hackers target banks rather than individuals and once they access your info , it's Katy bar the door. I'm traditional, I heat with wood heat , I grow and preserve a lot of my own food and I'm not at all misguided. You're being offensive suggesting I'm misguided, don't have secure wall on my computer and don't know how to competently utilize my pc. So why not be defensive?
Posted by twocrows at 4:22 AM
Your in the wrong Post all your fan mail will be sorted by CLM...
UPS or FedEx will definitely not be cheaper.
I think overall the PO does not do a bad job.
44 cents? The others cant touch that...They wouldn't touch that
Meanwhile if Joe ran the PO his employees would not last long sorting because of having to work for 3 bucks below minimum wage.
Posted by Ken at 2:22 AM
You wrote that your reason for preferring snail mail was "...because of the possibility of getting hacked".
Your choice is your choice, but if you think you're somehow safer because you send a paper check through the post office, you're misguided. In any case, I'm sure the post office staff enjoys seeing your cheerful face every week.
Posted by Elcee at 10:04 PM
I must agree with twocrows. I, too, chose to pay my bills through the postal service. In 32 years none have been lost or late. I have 3 bills per month - cable, power and phone. Once each quarter I pay garbage pick-up and quarterly taxes. They, too, take 10 minutes to pay. Everyone has the right to choose which they prefer to use. I choose to mail mine.
Posted by Barbara Wetherington at 9:53 PM
I am totally aware of how to pay online and I do have security programs but I still prefer to pay my mail . That's my choice and I 'm really not concerned about other peoples choices other than my own. I have been using the postal service for a long time and none of the proposed happenings have occurred. You could also experience a 3 or 4 day power outage that could result in late fees as well.
Posted by twocrows at 7:58 PM
You really should try online bill pay. All things considered, it's far more secure than mailing a check.
With regular mail, thieves could steal your payment enroute. An inept postal worker could trash your letter instead of delivering it. It could get lost or delayed, resulting in late fees.
All of those things have happened before and have a greater chance of happening than someone hacking your bank account, provided you have a decent security program installed on your computer.
Even my 84 year old father-in-law pays online. It takes 10 minutes to pay bills for the month. Most payments are credited the next day and it doesn't cost a penny.
Posted by Elcee at 4:59 PM
I find that with gasoline prices being what they are that 44 cents is still a bargain to mail a letter , I can, but choose not to pay electronically because of the possibility of getting hacked . And I maintain my box so that the carrier does not have to get out of their vehicle simply because they aren't supposed to have to get out of their vehicle. And to the person who complained about not getting any mail because of a car being parked in front of the box ....here's your sign.
Posted by twocrows at 2:46 PM
With all the junk mail my box collects, it should keep the PO afloat for the next 100 years. Anything important I get goes directly to a PO box rather than my home because of vandals and thieves. And I'm not buying an expensive mailbox to get bashed on. My mailbox sits on a post tied with bungees waiting for the next punk to come and whack it. I even painted a target on the side.
Posted by get rid of it at 10:00 AM
I go out of my way NOT to use USPS, and they did it to themselves! I lost count of how many boxes that they smashed and bent to get into my mailbox rather than get out of the vehicle. Even had one attahed to the lid with a rubberband! It was just hanging there. And of course it rained. How about a few months ago, when the substiture mail lady actually THREW the box out onto the ground rather than get out of the vehicle.
Everytime a bill gets paid electronically I smile inside....
Posted by Sher at 5:09 AM
I guess the moderator didn't like my attempt at postal humor submitted in another comment. Too risque for small town America.
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 3:21 AM
My daughter, in June, sent a card to her brother from South Lyon, Michigan to Duluth, Ga. She got it back today with a yellow note indicating that he had moved with no forwarding address. He's been at the same address for the past 5 years. If you want to help out the post office, take all the postage paid return envelopes that you receive as junk mail and stuff them with as much as they can hold with the other junk mail. Just be sure your name and address aren't included. The receiver pays the postage and this helps out the post office; plus, the receiver uses its shredder thus helping out the environment. Winners all around. I've been doing this for 25 years.
Posted by coweta cur-mudgeon at 1:37 AM
Unlike other government agencies, the US Post Office actually has to turn a profit. I know it stinks if you are a postal worker, but to save the US Post Office, there have to be radical changes. Snail mail has become obsolete, and regular home delivery to EVERY address is highly inefficient.
Posted by Captain America at 12:01 AM
We are constantly getting the wrong mail delievered to our house - our neighbors get our mail - we trade mail back & forth...Eliminate Saturday deliveries...
Posted by Coweta parent at 11:56 PM
Do away with the unions and privitize the usps. I would bet that UPS could take over and make a profit. Of course all those snails would be looking for another government job.
Posted by Ron at 11:11 PM
Why would civil servants have a union?
Posted by Don at 9:53 PM
I guess I will be paying more! I would hire some liberals to work for me sorting it. But they don't wanna work. Plus they would mess it all up like they have done to the country.
Posted by Joe Cool at 9:36 PM
Don't worry. I'll ask my personal UPS man (my Jim) to make sure you get all your fan mail delivered. If it exceeds 70 pounds per day there may be an extra charge though.
Posted by Barbara Wetherington at 9:16 PM
If you don't like the USPS, ask Big Brown or FEDEX to deliver your first class letter from Newnan to Seattle, WA for 44 cents. Think it will happen? Not a chance. This is no fault of the USPS. They are not funded by the Federal Government, but the Feds run the show. Not to mention, If they got rid of the union, that would be a big plus in itself. Unions cost more money and cause more trouble than they a worth. Create your own retirement plan. Get the government and unions out of the picture. One will really surprised at how much smoother and cost effective the USPS will be.
Posted by Thomas at 8:35 PM
UPS and FEDX will fight over my fan mail!
Posted by Joe Cool at 8:34 PM
I guess this explains why I didn't get any mail today - not even one piece of junk mail.
Posted by William at 8:15 PM
Close the USPS down. Let UPS and Fedex deliver mail and let the market determine who floats and who sinks. I hate having to go to the post office. Last time I had to go in, people were lined up to the door and there were two people behind the counter, and they were certainly not in a hurry to help anybody. I stood there watching the snails whizzing by.
Posted by Coweta Native at 7:18 PM
I just tracked a package of mine ---it was delivered to Allentown, PA.
Posted by return to the sender at 7:13 PM
Sharpsburg has an excellent post office and I hope it stays open. Our mail carriers have always gone out of their way to support us.
Posted by Liz at 6:24 PM
Lets save tax money and rid the government of this service. Yes there are some good postal workers but the majority of them move like snails and the service is lousy.
Posted by Don at 4:51 PM
You gave me and my UPS man a pleasant giggle today. You are right! He ran those legs off for 33 years! He's retired now and he still moves that fast!!!
Posted by Barbara Wetherington at 4:42 PM
Actually, why on earth did you let someone block your mailbox for two days? I don't think they have to get out of their vehicles to deliver mail to inaccessible mail boxes. What if everyone let someone block their mailbox? We'd never get our mail if they had to get out of their vehicle (putting themselves in possible danger) at every other house. When you didn't get your mail the first day, that wasn't a CLUE that you should maybe have your guest move their car?
Posted by blah at 4:42 PM
Growing tired of receiving all of my neighbors mail I talked to my postman about it. He says "hey no my fault they sort it at the post office and I just put it in the box". After more mix ups I called the post office - "oh no we don't sort it. The postman does. He wasn't being totally truthful with you. We will talk to him". Thank you inventor of email.
Posted by Bill McNail at 4:03 PM
all my fan mail!
Posted by Joe Cool at 3:59 PM
I had a guest who parked their car in front of my mail box for two days. The mail man actually skipped my house until guest left. I go out the third day and have a mailbox full of mail. The guy wouldn't simply step out of his postal truck and put the mail in my box. What a joke.
Posted by Ryan at 3:05 PM
Cancel Saturday service. One less day for me to have to sort through junk mail and open bills that I will be paying online.
Posted by Nice at 2:54 PM
don't get paid what the UPS man gets paid . Mo' money mo' hustle.
Posted by twocrows at 2:51 PM
Let's see how fed ex can do? Let's see how much you want to over pay you mean.
Fact is these large freight companies are being overpaid to move US Postal Packages and leaving the final mile (aka Post Office) without enough of the share to cover the cost of delivery, as mandated by congress. Politicians are always business friendly when using your money.
Posted by turfkiller at 2:48 PM
they should focus on being more efficient and giving better service.
I've NEVER seen a postman run like a UPS man. Why does it take six days to get a package from Ohio to Newnan via the post office, but only three via UPS or Fed Ex ground? Try sending a "Next Day" letter via the post office. Only at the post office does "next day" mean two days, much of the time.
If they want to stay in business, they should provide competitive service.
I hope Westmoreland doesn't give them a penny. Stop supporting inefficiency and let the market take care of itself.
Posted by Elcee at 2:30 PM
Give up Saturday and save money and the Postal Service, OK I'm sold on this then all of the workers can be off for the week-end and maybe they will be alittle more happy about thrie jobs, then add this I might be able to my mail only and not the mail of someone else who lives down the street.
Posted by superman at 2:17 PM
It amazes me how Congressman Lynn Westmoreland can talk about hosting a Job Fair on the 29th of September and then support a bill, H.R. 2309, that is not only going the destroy an American institution as we know it, but it will eliminate over 200,00 jobs. One consolation, maybe when you and your cronies finish destroying the Postal Service, you will have to pay top price for all that campaign propaganda you send through the mail using taxpayer’s dollars.
Posted by Shirley M. Garris at 1:37 PM
Remember the Fedex commercial about the people at the USPS service waiting in line forever while the postal workers counting the days to retirement. Service has not improved. Customer no-service abounds. If you complain about your postal carrier they hold your mail for several days.
Posted by Bonnie Blue at 12:51 PM
I have the same recieved a magazine subscription for the last ten years and they are either late or torn up, maybe if this folks tried to do better work.
Posted by Jeannie at 12:07 PM
Thanks to all these postal workers! I'm all for saving the post office..
Posted by Susan1 at 11:35 AM
So because the PO leadership were inefficient, because the PO leadership did not keep up with technology, we lose Saturday delivery? Question: Did the PO leadership and workers take a pay and/or benefit cut? How about letting UPS or Fed Ex deliver on Saturday and lets see how they do. Time to break the monopoly if it ain't working.
Posted by Concerned citizen at 10:59 AM
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H.R. 1351 Is NOT a bailout
10/8/2011
Link To This Comment
H.R. 1351 is not a bailout as described by the Congressman. It would simply fix the massive over-funding to postal CSRS and FERS accounts & take the first steps towards ensuring a financially sound postal future. One Americans deserve!
Remember, NO Taxpayer money supports the U.S. Postal Service.
Ask Your Congress Representative to co-sponsor H.R. 1351 and stop making it a partisan issue! This is Americas to keep!
Posted by Judy Willoughby at 6:03 PM