UPS Ground Rates going UP UP UP

[Alkali Ike]

Someone in Charlotte NC sent me a Priority Mail package on 12/4. Yesterday 12/5 was an unscheduled "off" day for USPS due to the national federal worker memorial observance. The package arrived today 12/6 (I'm in Eugene OR). That's kind of impressive.

 

[gitfiddl]

The Postal Service reimburses DOL for all workers' compensation claims in addition to paying an administrative fee.

Not to doubt you, but can you provide a source for your information? I'd asked about that out of passing curiosity a few times at work, but never could get a straight answer. I'm just a lowly contractor, after all.

 

[nshuman]

In the USPS, they are still nationalized in the sense that they are prohibited to strike or otherwise inhibit the service, whereas Canada Post shares more in common with privatized corporations in that crucial regard.

You're wrong on so many levels. Government workers in Canada can strike unless a specific piece of legislation, usually governing essential services, is in effect. Just like police/firefighters/etc can strike in the absence of legislation. Canadian Postal workers are back on the job because the Government just passed back to work legislation, just like the Conservative government did before them.

You are doing the public a disservice by putting out incorrect information.

 

[Alkali Ike]

APWU = American Postal Workers Union

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]

12. What about strikes?

The APWU believes that the right to strike is an inalienable right of all American workers. However, federal law prohibits strikes by postal and federal employees and requires that if contract negotiations do not result in agreement, unresolved disputes are to be submitted to arbitration — to an impartial third party — for resolution.

While our position is "no contract, no work," the 1982 APWU National Convention authorized our national leadership to continue negotiations past the contract deadline if they feel this is necessary to reach agreement, but only as long as postal workers continue to be covered under the previous contract. Thus, the APWU views the strike as a weapon of last resort to be used only when all other means of reaching agreement have been exhausted.

 

[fdeck]

I love USPS for my business. Zero issues ever. And they have the best rates for stuff that's less than a pound.

 

[Fab Superlative]

Not to doubt you, but can you provide a source for your information? I'd asked about that out of passing curiosity a few times at work, but never could get a straight answer. I'm just a lowly contractor, after all.

A simple google search of 'Does USPS pay into workers comp' provides the following:

"Postal Service Workers' Compensation Program. In 1916, the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) was enacted. ... DOL provides direct compensation to medical providers, claimants, and beneficiaries. The Postal Service reimburses DOL for all workers' compensation claims in addition to paying an administrative fee.Jan 31, 2011"

So for expanded reference and details see the (FECA) also from the Postal OIG's site the following:

"In fiscal year 2009, the Postal Service workers’ compensation expense was approximately $2.2 billion, an 81 percent increase from $1.2 billion in FY 2008. These costs include $55 million in DOL administrative fees for FY 2009. About 72 percent ($718 million) was a non-cash charge related to changes in the estimated discount and inflation rates used to calculate the liability for future payments. At the end of FY 2009, the Postal Service estimated the total liability for future workers’ compensation cost was over $10 billion."

I don't even want to hazard a guess as to what the actual cost since then was or has been- yikes!

 

[Fab Superlative]

You're wrong on so many levels. Government workers in Canada can strike unless a specific piece of legislation, usually governing essential services, is in effect. Just like police/firefighters/etc can strike in the absence of legislation. Canadian Postal workers are back on the job because the Government just passed back to work legislation, just like the Conservative government did before them.

You are doing the public a disservice by putting out incorrect information.

Guilty as charged I guess? All Government workers in Canada can strike? WOW!

 

[nshuman]

Guilty as charged I guess? All Government workers in Canada can strike? WOW! Including the Military?

Canadian Military personnel are not Civil Servants, maybe you need to read up more? You're just digging a hole for yourself here, it's not pretty.

 

[nshuman]

Also, why am I arguing with people unencumbered with facts? I'll stop now.

 

[Fab Superlative]

Also, why am I arguing with people unencumbered with facts? I'll stop now.

Unencumbered arguing? BTW, I dig your current sig. "Delivery may be delayed due to labour disruption" how ironic.

 

[gitfiddl]

A simple google search of 'Does USPS pay into workers comp' provides the following:

"Postal Service Workers' Compensation Program. In 1916, the Federal Employees' Compensation Act (FECA) was enacted. ... DOL provides direct compensation to medical providers, claimants, and beneficiaries. The Postal Service reimburses DOL for all workers' compensation claims in addition to paying an administrative fee.Jan 31, 2011"

So for expanded reference and details see the (FECA) also from the Postal OIG's site the following:

"In fiscal year 2009, the Postal Service workers’ compensation expense was approximately $2.2 billion, an 81 percent increase from $1.2 billion in FY 2008. These costs include $55 million in DOL administrative fees for FY 2009. About 72 percent ($718 million) was a non-cash charge related to changes in the estimated discount and inflation rates used to calculate the liability for future payments. At the end of FY 2009, the Postal Service estimated the total liability for future workers’ compensation cost was over $10 billion."

I don't even want to hazard a guess as to what the actual cost since then was or has been- yikes!

Thank you! I have to admit that the last I looked into that was at least 10 years ago. We used to have USPS liaisons in the office checking on claims and even they weren't sure how it worked. They did tell me that SOP was for the USPS to controvert and dispute every claim, even the most obviously legitimate ones in an effort to deter fraudulent claims.

 

[Fab Superlative]

To live in this town you must be tough, tough, tough, tough, tough!

/Thread

 

[Sebbyv]

I just looked it up.

Canada Post is "Crown Corporation". "Crown corporations are wholly owned federal or provincial organizations structured like private or independent companies."

In no way is Canada Post privatized by any rational definition of that word. In fact the Canadian parliament(?) stayed in session over the weekend recently to debate and vote on mandating Canada Post go back to work. That obviously wouldn't happen if it were a private corporation.

Also the strikes have been rotating, not an actual full-scale strike. Mail has still been delivered daily, just more slowly for the most part.

The pay and benefits are amazing for what they do. Bottom line, they have a massive sense of entitlement just like all government employees and they're trying to hold the country hostage to get even more. Nothing new.

 

[Sebbyv]

Massive sense of entitlement? Really people shouldn’t have the right to better wages and benefits? Massively pompous on your part I would say

 

[FishDub]

I received this email today from the Big Brown Cabal.

As we plan for the future, we’ve made key technology investments in automation, capacity, visibility and delivery solutions this year. Enhancing our operations and improving the unmatched portfolio of services to help you grow your business is our priority. We recognize the importance of planning ahead for both you and your customers, so below is a summary of our 2019 rates*.


The following changes will take effect on December 26, 2018:

• The rates for UPS® Ground, UPS Air and International will increase an average net 4.9%.

I don't know about you, but I'm pretty sure I'm not getting a 5% raise this year.
The cost of GAS keeps going up.

Amazing huh? I recall sending basses with or without cases and bags for $50-$75..now I cant seem to send anything under $115-$130, even without a case! I don't blame people on TB, Ebay or reverb for not including shipping anymore..

 

[fhm555]

To be clear, they are striking to maintain their benefits, not asking for a bunch of extra stuff. And my mail service has been fine. Maybe a day slower. Neither looks like entitled behaviour to me. Where do we get the idea that working people should just accept their jobs getting a little worse every year? Why should mail delivery be a crap job?

Next thing we’ll hear that time off and weekends are entitlements workers shouldn’t have.

We are already hearing it, but we are a right to work state so any real worker protections are either myth or false rumor.

 

[MIMike]

With UPS prices going up, can Fedex hikes be that far behind?

FedEx already announced their price increases. UPS was the last one to post new prices for next year.

 

[buldog5151bass]

I've said it before...I think the general public is footing the bill for all the "free" Amazon Prime shipping. If they are investing in automation and productivity, shouldn't rates be going down?

The more they get people hooked, the less incentive to lower the price.

 

[Fab Superlative]

Amazing huh? I recall sending basses with or without cases and bags for $50-$75..now I cant seem to send anything under $115-$130, even without a case! I don't blame people on TB, Ebay or reverb for not including shipping anymore..

Recently (edit*) October 2018, I shipped a Fender bass with traditional hard case from Michigan to Georgia via UPS and the total cost was $61
Even I was a bit taken aback by the fee why so low? and when I asked the UPS clerk why? and if this was correct they commented that it was probably due to the fact that I was sending to a commercial address* the actual breakdown of fees & details were as follows:
$34 Ground Commercial* (the actual shipping charge) and $27 Service Options (this was for the full $3K value insurance)
Actual weight was 33.2lbs billable weight was 34lbs at dims: 25.00x7.00x18.00 inches.

To be clear *I do not* have a commercial account with UPS - just a walk-in at the UPS counter.

I'm under the impression- because lordy be, I don't want to be doing the public a disservice by putting out incorrect information Lol! that the reduced rates were because I was sending it to a commercial address, in this case- the work place of the buyer.

So one way to save on shipping rates (with UPS) it seems would be to ship where possible, to the recipients place of work. If the recipient is able to receive deliveries at their workplace, seems like this would be the way to go?
As always check with your local UPS for rates and fees to see if this applies. YMMV, service disruptions may occur yadda, yadda, yadda.

(edit* to include date)

 

[MCF]

I have a cousin that works for Canada Post. It must be a dangerous job, because every time school has begun in September, she has a new injury that will prevent her from carrying out her duties until the following June.

She has seriously only worked about 4 months per year for about 12 or so years now. She has always been paid in full.

I am not proud of her behavior. She’s on the Injured Reserve list right now. Probably plotting how she can cut that inconvenient 4 month period down further.

I have a cousin who made a career out of being injured at jobs with various counties. She was a health inspector for crying out loud. She carried a clipboard and thermometer. I guess getting in and out of her county vehicle was hard work.