Postage rates jumped Sunday for the first time in two-and-a-half years as the U.S. Postal Service hopes to generate more revenue amid historic losses. First-class postage stamps now cost 45 cents each, a price jump that officials anticipate will generate an additional $888 million in annual revenue. The rate increase does not affect the use of Forever stamps purchased before Sunday.
The price hike comes as negotiations between the U.S. Postal Service and two of its labor unions reached an impasse that may eventually require a ruling by an arbitrator.
Postal and union officials announced late Friday that separate talks had collapsed between USPS and the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union. Contracts with both unions, which represent a combined 242,000 postal workers, expired in late November. Negotiations were extended twice before failing Friday.
Under the rules of postal labor negotiations, the parties may next engage in talks with a mediator if both sides agree. The mediation process generally lasts about two months, USPS said. If those talks fail, both sides would likely turn to a third-party mediator, who would determine the final details of a new labor agreement. By law, arbitrators are not required to consider the Postal Service’s financial condition when making a final ruling.
Federal law prohibits postal workers from striking during a labor impasse. More in Washington Post.
of course we will get the typical blame it on the unions comments to follow starting in 1…2….
with technology changing at lightning speed , the need to “snail mail” is decreasing every day , they are going the way of the dial telephone .
Ever try to ship a package with ups usps is three times cheaper and it gets there in the same amount of time
it is the fault of the unions , they demand crazy salary vacation sick time insurance.. if the usps cannot affordit to pay it then the unions should back off. the unions are going to drive the usos into bankruptsy just as they did the automotive industry . unions should be destroied, starting with the njea .
Unions are what made this country, without them people would still be working 80 hours a week without any breaks. What do you know about NJEA? Probably only what Christie has brained washed to beleive.
Unions didn’t bankrupt the auto industry, Foreign cars did.
and foreign cars did have a bit to do with the demise of the american auto industry , because the foerign car companys can produce a product way cheaper than the american companys can.how do they do this ??? well for one they do not have crazy unions that breed lazy workers that will not do anyhing extra for their companys because its not in their contracts.. wake up number 5 . unions and liberals aka democrats are killing america…..
Increasing the price of a postal stamps is not going to stop the inevitable demise of the usps.
Who needs them when u have electronic media ! It was a great system in it’s time. well it’s time is over……
Anyone pro unions.I want to see you pay a average secretary $55K with major benefits.I work in an accounting firm in Trenton so I’m very familiar with the outrageous salaries state workers are getting.And whenever I try to get into government I’m told by the state workers I deal with that connections are the only way in.
I can se its time to bash all the workers again , the problem with the postal system has nothing to do with the unions ~ its who is running it!! yes the government READ MY LIPS nothing that they touch MAKES MONEY all they know how to do is spend it to the tune of 15 trillion $$$$$$$$$$$$$ in debt .
Unions are what made this country.Union buster are what is ruining this country. People need to make a good living and only unions can make it job secure.
I work 10 hours a day, with no benefits, no pension, no government programs, no vacations, I make barely enough to feed my family, but I’m happy that I have a job.
But I have to pay taxes so that the lazy public sector union members get top salaries, work little, get vacations and benefits and pensions, all paid for by people like me.
That is why people hate the unions.
Not because I’m jealous. I’m not. You can have as much money as you want. Just don’t tax me and take my hard earned money to pay for your bloated salaries and benefits.
You [moderated] public sector unions.
I think I speak for most of America.
when will we all wake up and realize that the unions are the reason why this country is 15 trillion dollars in debt
#9 you only .50 % correct
#5 the usa was beeter off the old way people worked hard and didnt have time on thier hands fro drugs,crime etc.. like they do today