No Fear -- Just the Facts

By Jeff Riddell, Vice President

The USPS is extending retail hours.  This is a nation-wide program.  The intent is for window sections to remain open until 7 p.m.  The main objective of the extended retail hour initiative is to open at least one post office to match the hours of every UPS Store or competitor that is within 5 miles of the USPS retail window operation.  In the USPS extended retail hours plan, we're open LATER).

Soon the targeted offices will know who they are and what jobs are being affected, via job repostings.  Those of us who are not adversely impacted have the feeling of relief.  "Sorry 'bout that, but better you than me."  Trust me that no matter what anyone says to you, that's the way we all generally feel, but, not so fast. . .

This is the 1st phase of a 3-phase plan.  Phase one was for the offices that were in the top 30% of retail package volume nationwide.  This was taken from the POS system.  Nationally, this does involve a minimum of 1,082 retail window operations.  That is the reason that only a few offices that have a UPS Store within 5 miles are being impacted. For now. . .

Phase two is set to take effect in 2006 with an additional 2,628 offices being targeted nationally.  Finally, phase 3 is programmed for 2007, with another 3,170 facilities coming online.  This is a total of 6,880 offices in the Postal Service system who are candidates for this program.  This is out of 31, 323 total retail locations.  The Southeast Area has a total of 791 offices that have the potential to be in this program.  We will have 128 offices involved in Phase one. Let's see... that will leave 663 operations in the Southeast Area that will be impacted in Phase 2 of this program.  Understand now...

This is the plan that management has for us.  As with all things, it is possible that this program may be put out to pasture.  Hopefully, a reasonable postmaster will monitor the effectiveness of this operation during Phase one to determine if it is a bust or not.  If the results prove significantly less than what is projected then it seems to me that it would be incumbent on the USPS to abandon this project without implementing the last two phases.  That would take courage, and you can draw your own conclusions on that issue.

Those are the facts.  Clerks who are concerned that they may be negatively affected should weigh their options, as bids are posted.  I'd rather make a change on my terms than have a change forced on me.

On page 9 of the USPS Extended Retail Hours Plan, it is stated that approximately 8% of UPS Stores are open on Sundays and that the average UPS Store is open 9 to 5 on Saturdays.  A telling statement is made on that same page through the following: "...once retail hours are extended, the change is permanent.  There will be no going back."

Sounds like the decision is already made and with no room for courage.

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Last modified: July 13, 2007