Copyright 1999 Federal News Service, Inc.
Federal News Service
FEBRUARY 11, 1999, THURSDAY
SECTION: IN THE NEWS
LENGTH:
1247 words
HEADLINE: PREPARED TESTIMONY OF
VINCENT
R. SOMBROTTO
PRESIDENT
BEFORE THE HOUSE GOVERNMENT
REFORM COMMITTEE
SUBCOMMITTEE ON THE
POSTAL SERVICE
BODY:
Testimony
of Vincent R. Sombrotto President of the National Association of Letter Carriers
Before the House Government Reform Subcommittee on The
Postal Service
Thank you Chairman McHugh and Members of the
Subcommittee for the opportunity to discuss this important piece of legislation.
I am Vincent R. Sombrotto, President of the National Association of Letter
Carriers, and I am pleased to be here representing the 310,000 members of the
NALC.
A recent survey conducted by the Pew Research Center for the People
and the Press stated that the public gave the Postal Service an 89% favorability
rating, higher than any other federal agency. Another study by ICR of Media, PA
said that nearly three fourths of Americans believe the Postal Service is doing
an excellent or good job. This is a tribute to the hardworking men and women who
make the system work on a daily basis. As the public face of the Postal Service,
letter carriers take great pride in receiving such recognition for the
outstanding service we provide. While every American has come to rely on these
vital services, few understand the way the USPS operates. I can even remember a
time, Mr. Chairman, when you yourself acknowledged being surprised by the
intricacies involved with timely and efficient mail delivery. You are to be
congratulated for dedicating yourself to learning about the Postal Service and
taking on this effort to enhance its performance through the introduction of HR.
22, the "Postal Modernization Act of 1999."
As the Members of the
Subcommittee are well aware, the fundamental principle which guides the USPS is
universal service at uniform rates. This means that Postal employees must
continue to provide normal six- day delivery to all addresses at the same
reasonable rate. The public demands nothing less, and the NALC believes that any
proposed Postal Reform must fit into that frame-work.Rather
than taking time today to go through the bill section by section, I'd like to
focus on a few key points which are critical for meaningful Postal
Reform. We are encouraged by some of the changes that have been made in
HR. 22 since its introduction. Chief among those is the elimination of the
"Mailbox Demonstration Project" proposed in the original draft of the bill. As
you know, the relationship between letter carriers and the public they serve is
one of trust and security. Some of our competitors would like nothing more than
to destroy that trust, sacrificing a public service in the name of profits. We
view the removing of the "Mailbox Demonstration Project" from the bill as an
acknowledgment of the desire to maintain the high level of service and
professionalism the American people have come to expect from letter carriers.
We are pleased with Congressman Gilman's efforts to ensure that the proposed
Postal Regulatory Commission envisioned in the bill will not undermine the
collective bargaining process. This language discourages the new commission from
using its expanded authority to interfere with matters best left up to labor and
management representatives. We applaud this suggestion and encourage its
adoption with the full force of law and not just the "sense of the Congress."
Also, I'd like to thank Congressman Fattah for his proposal which would
create a labor seat on the Postal Board of Directors as created in HR 22. Since
its inception in 1971, 50 individuals have served on the Postal Board of
Governors, Members of the business community, former Congressional staff and
even dentists have served on the Board, but not one person has come from the
ranks of organized labor. Mr. Chairman, there are hundreds of thousands of union
employees within the USPS. Sound business practice would dictate that someone
serve on the board who understands the challenges facing these hardworking
employees. I know there are Members of Congress who have legitimate concerns
over reserving specific seats on the Board At the same time, I thank the
Subcommittee for acknowledging the inequity that has existed for all these
years.I am aware that the Postal Service is proposing a number of changes to HR
22. We have recently received some of these proposed measures and are working so
that we may fully understand their impact. Given their far reaching scope it
would be imprudent for the NALC to express a position on them at this time. We
take these proposed changes as well intended, and are eagerly awaiting the
reaction of the mailers, other customers and competitors.
While most of the
groups paying attention to this bill have the public's best interests at heart,
we at the NALC are concerned with some competitors of the Postal Service who are
trying -- at all costs -- to break the Postal Service's mandate of universal
service. It is imperative that HR 22 not become a vehicle for their self-serving
attempts to weaken the Postal Service. Such an effort would undermine the
constructive spirit which has characterized the healthy debate surrounding HR
22.
As you are well aware Mr. Chairman, there have been questions raised
recently about authority over the Universal Postal Union -- much of which was
initiated during the Appropriations process. An apparent compromise was
satisfactorily reached. I think it's fair to say all sides gave a little in
order to reach that point. My concern is not over a good faith debate about
proper policy and objectives. Instead, I would suggest these issues be
considered and brought up using the normal legislative process. I am convinced
that if we had worked through the committees of proper jurisdiction with the
necessary background on the subject-matter, not only would we have been able to
reach a faster resolution, but probably would have avoided two years of rancor
and disagreement.
I want to be very clear with the Members of the
Subcommittee. Despite the misinformation being spread by Postal competitors,
competition within the mailing market is fierce. Private companies are free to
charge different rates for delivery to different addresses. Or, in the
alternative, they may choose to provide no service at all.In addition to taking
on the Postal Service's business internationally, some of our competitors have
stepped up their attacks on profitable enterprises such as Priority Mail -- a
product on which millions of Americans depend on a daily basis. The revenue
generated by such products helps us maintain universal service. At best, the
tactics used by these companies refuses to acknowledge this necessity. At worst,
they simply don't care. Without this stream of revenue, the Postal Service will
not be able meet with the your constituents' demand for service.
Given my
years of dealing with the Postal Service and their many issues, I appreciate the
difficulty of trying to pass a Postal Reform bill through the
Congress. There are a number of organizations seeking to place their imprint on
this bill. Chairman McHugh, you and your staff have been accessible and
open-minded in taking on this monumental project. As you were recently quoted by
the Associated Press "the person who brings the mail is almost a member of the
family who visits each and every day." We want to continue that relationship and
dedicated service. On behalf of the National Association of Letter Carriers, I'd
like to thank you for your tireless efforts to improve public service provided
by the Postal Service. As this bill progresses and continues to take shape, we
look forward to working with you.
END
LOAD-DATE: February 12, 1999
