USPS 10,000 Workers to be Cut

[stuff4divas]

in the next 30 days, what affect, if any, do u think it'll have

https://www.foxnews.com/politics/usps-signs-agreement-doge-agrees-cut-10000-workers-broken-business-...

[12345jamesstamps]

My San Francisco post office  is down to 2 clerks...one at a time so I notice when I visit it almost daily.

I usually buy my own stamps so I have been rather lucky...still nothing lost in years.

The machine for stamps and shipping labels now has a line...LOL.

But it's much shorter than waiting for a clerk.

I don't think anyone is hiring at my branch...no signs up 'for hire' and haven't seen the postmaster there since last year.

I do see the USPS, UPS, FedEx trucks maybe once an hour on my blocks...Pacific Heights where the rich live.

And I see the white plain trucks that are Amazon all the time...and they just drop packages outside compared to everyone else who puts packages inside buildings.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

I think I'm having deja vu.  Wasn't there just like a 20 page thread about the same thing?

[tarotfindsandmore]

Yep, but the OP had the thread closed so here we are again. 😏

Hopefully we'll have better luck staying on topic this go round.

[simply-the-best-for-you]

@tarotfindsandmore  Oh, I didn't realize that.  It's at it's core a political issue though, so  I doubt it. 

[chapeau-noir]

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@simply-the-best-for-you wrote:

I think I'm having deja vu.  Wasn't there just like a 20 page thread about the same thing?

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I'm like Yogi Berra - I have deja vu all over again all the time on this board - it's because the same topics just keep revolving.

[harv_2804]

I expect we'll see some short-term operational hiccups as the USPS begins implementing these workforce reductions. With 10,000 employees leaving through a voluntary early-retirement program, there could be transitional delays in mail processing and customer service while roles are realigned. However, the USPS is likely taking measures to minimize disruption during this period. Additionally, while the agreement with DOGE signals a move toward innovative, cost-saving solutions, its tangible impact on day-to-day operations might take longer to materialize. In short, there may be some noticeable adjustments in service efficiency in the immediate term, but ideally, these will stabilize as the new structure is put in place.

[harv_2804]

In the next 30 days, I expect we'll see some short-term operational hiccups as the USPS begins implementing these workforce reductions. With 10,000 employees leaving through a voluntary early-retirement program, there could be transitional delays in mail processing and customer service while roles are realigned. However, the USPS is likely taking measures to minimize disruption during this period. Additionally, while the agreement with DOGE signals a move toward innovative, cost-saving solutions, its tangible impact on day-to-day operations might take longer to materialize. In short, there may be some noticeable adjustments in service efficiency in the immediate term, but ideally, these will stabilize as the new structure is put in place.

[tarotfindsandmore]

Agreed, and you're probably right.  It would be nice if folks could exchange ideas and experiences without resorting to personal attacks.  I think most of the people who contribute to this board are capable, but there are a few who have some difficulty articulating their positions without getting personal when they disagree.

I am genuinely interested in what others have to say, even when I don't agree, if for no other reason than to see if my own position(s) are in need of revision or updating.

On this topic in particular, I would welcome any evidence that might indicate that  a paring down of the USPS would be detrimental.  From what I've seen, the decline in service has been tied to really sloppy, erratic, unexpected growth.  The USPS has become an unwieldy mess.  They used to regularly test carriers for time and accuracy (Charles Bukowski talked about the stress of it in Ham Sandwich), but they stopped doing that some time ago and the new entrance test doesn't test for literacy or numeracy at all.  Even with a week at the Carrier Academy, half the "graduates" come out with no idea of how to use their equipment (think of all of your missed scans), but that's kind of to be expected when it's not clear that they can even read or count.

[adamcartwright]

@tarotfindsandmore 

Since you have experience...

I was driving to the post office the other day and saw my driver parked a block away.

I pulled over and handed her my package, which she took willingly.

The package didn't get its first scan until more than 24 hours later. 

Is that normal? I figured even if she didn't scan it upon receipt, it would be scanned at the end of her shift. 

[tarotfindsandmore]

She's supposed to scan it as a "prepaid" as soon as she picks it up, or takes it from you.  Lots of newer carriers, or just plain lazy ones, don't bother with the pick up scan though so the package will go into these huge bins which get loaded onto big trucks that go to the main hub for your area before they ever get their first scan.  This can be as long as two days (which will get us into trouble) if it's a Saturday.

Personally, I only trust my regular carrier for pickups.  On his days off and on Saturdays I take my packages in.  The carrier pickup is the safest, most reliable way to ensure your package gets scanned immediately if you don't want to stand in line for a receipt (and you have a good carrier).  I frequently hang out and shoot the breeze for a moment while my carrier scans my packages.  He gets a very, very generous xmas gift from me of course. 

[lakefor94]

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@slippinjimmy wrote:

That would depend on which employees they that get rid of. Following the Doge strategy it will be low level / new hires that they can fire without running into union issues or offering buyout to those that are retiring in the near future.

With over 640,000 employees (2023) I'm not sure there will be any serious effects losing 10,000. On the other hand, if they eliminate 10,000 critical positions (like the people who maintain the sorting equipment etc) there definitely could be issues.

USPS operates over 10,000 properties (from local post offices to major sorting facilities) they could cut one person from the cleaning staff at each which would likely have no real affect at all.

As always, the devil is in the details.

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A voice of reason.

[adamcartwright]

@tarotfindsandmore 

Thank you. This is all good to know.

I was actually shipping same day so I wasn't in trouble.

[chubbycatcollectibles]

Should see a vast improvement

[roccotacodad54]

I get it. I have a postal worker in the family that's around 45 years old.

   I talked to him today and this subject came up. From what he understands most of the people that would be leaving are at or past retirement age. Sometimes really past and just drawing paychecks and benefits without doing much if any real work. He said he's not at all worried about it and thinks it's past due time to shake things up and streamline the postal service.

   -->Reply of mine from another similar thread.

[roccotacodad54]

   Yes a postal employee family member told me today on the telephone that his office isn't delivering Amazon anymore. He said Amazon has taken over their own deliveries in his area. He told me he has gone from 6 day weeks and long hours to a normal volume/pace. Some of that he attributed to the holidays being over but thinks alot of it is due to Amazon deliveries being done by Amazon.