President Issues Executive Order on USPS

Mon, 04/16/2018 - 2:24pm
WEB NEWS ARTICLE #: 
38-2018

04/13/2018 - President Trump has issued an Executive Order to form a “task force” to evaluate the finances of the United States Postal Service. Such evaluation will include pricing, policies and the costs of the workforce.

The Task Force will be chaired by the Secretary of the Treasury, and comprised of the Director of the Office of Management and Budget and the Director of the Office of Personnel Management as well as other department and agency heads the chair may designate.

The Executive Order calls for a full report within 120 days to provide a “thorough evaluation of the operations and finance” of the USPS to include:

  • the expansion and pricing of package delivery
  • the USPS role in competitive markets
  • the decline in mail volume and implications of USPS financing
  • the USPS monopoly over letter delivery and mail boxes
  • the USPS business model, workforce, operations, costs and pricing.

The task force will potentially develop recommendations on administrative and legislative reforms regarding the U.S. Postal Service.

The primary reason for the financial challenges facing the Postal Service is the 2006 Congressional mandate forcing the USPS to “pre-fund” retiree health benefits 75 years into the future. This crushing burden is faced by no other company or agency and is being used by those who wish to destroy the postal service.

 “The APWU looks forward to working with anyone truly interested in maintaining a vibrant public Postal Service for generations to come. If given the opportunity to meet with the task force, we will forthrightly tell the truth, share our views and promote the protection of the rights and benefits of postal employees,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “One step toward USPS financial stability is to fix the pre-funding debacle by passing the bi-partisan postal reform legislation currently stalled in both the House and the Senate.” 

The new Executive Order is of real concern to the APWU and we will continue to keep all members informed and up to date.