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Return to Article: Postal Service prepares for rate hike despite strong financial results

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  The writer complaining about overpaid postal employees doesn't know the half of it. I am not sure now if he is a rejected postal applicant, or a Wal-Mart Greeter, but I am sure he makes what he is worth. That is the same with the postal service.

  Charlie Posted February 24, 2005 7:32 PM
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  I totally agree with the first message. As a Fed since 1987, it has always been a thorn in my side that postal employees are in the same medical plans as the rest of us, yet, they pay a fraction of the premiums that we do. It is my understanding that this sorry situation exists because postal unions bargain on benefits, while the rest of us Feds have to take whatever Congress gives us. It is time for the immoral discrepancy to end.

  Contracting Officer Posted February 24, 2005 5:09 PM
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  Before worrying about where the money is coming from to cover additional costs, maybe they ought to look at where all the money is being spent and if sufficient justification exists. Most taxpayers don't realize how much the postal system pays out to their employees (some with little or no education). A mail sorter for example can make around $54K a year. Also unlike most federal employees, postal employees pay little if any toward their health care programs. We all know health care premiums have increased by double digits in the last 7-10 years so I'm sure the postal system is suffering since they haven't tried to pass the increase on to their employees. Their only option is to pass it onto the taxpayers. Like most federal agencies they also have to absorb the cost of living increases alloted to their overpaid employees. So now they want to pass this increase on to the taxpayers as well. Why don't we set postal rates high enough to pay for all federal agencies inflation issues? Can you imagine a VA hospital telling the veterans (the consumer) we had to increase your cost due to our deficit? I think the postal system needs to start reassessing their program and stop overspending. Two things to start with is pay and benefits. Also I'd wager a bet that they (like most federal agencies) are too top heavy in management so this is another area to cut back. Since Bush likes contracting out, how about contracting out some of the work? Given the choice I'd bet that the employees would rather pay their fair share of their health program than lose their jobs. I don't think the postal employees will ever need to worry about their jobs being contracted out since the postal system is another method of collecting taxes and the government wouldn't ever want this cash cow put to bed. Say, makes you wonder, does a postal money problem really exist or is this just another sneaky way for Bush to collect taxes?

  GovExec.com reader Posted February 24, 2005 7:42 AM