Shipping affected by COVID 19?

REK Knives

REK Knives

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Knifemaker / Craftsman / Service Provider
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2 pertinent recent articles... This is pretty important to us knife makers in today's day and age.

Any thoughts?

I think congress will pull USPS out of the hole

USPS could shut down in 3 months

UPS is designated as 'critical infastructure' (note I also got an email directly from UPS stating what this article does)

for a while, UPS will not actually take signatures any longer just so everyone knows
 
UPS is critical infrastructure but the USPS isn't?

Is this another excuse for big business to privatize "critical infrastructure"?
 
weo said:
UPS is critical infrastructure but the USPS isn't?

Is this another excuse for big business to privatize "critical infrastructure"?
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Yeah I dunno, sounds weird to me as well.
 
I interpret this to mean that the United States Post Office (USPS) is considered critical infrastructure but is at risk of bankruptcy due to the drop in mail volume. United Parcel Service (UPS) is considered critical infrastructure, so they are allowed to operate during the crisis, but as they are a publicly traded corporation their survival is not the federal government's concern (notwithstanding any bailouts).
 
NeutronStar said:
I interpret this to mean that the United States Post Office (USPS) is considered critical infrastructure but is at risk of bankruptcy due to the drop in mail volume. United Parcel Service (UPS) is considered critical infrastructure, so they are allo wed to operate during the crisis, but as they are a publicly traded corporation their survival is not the federal government's concern (notwithstanding any bailouts).
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YES...This is how I Read it...It comes as no surprise that USPS is Once again on the Brink of Bankruptcy! They got a Big Bailout not that long ago and currently have an $11 Billion loan debt to the government which is being asked for loan forgiveness, and in the same Breath asking for new $15 Billion plus additional funding in the future.
 
marchone said:
One of my idle concerns has been the disruption of national trucking. All commercial carriers and unions are affected in some way. Everything in sight from food and medicine on would be interrupted.

https://www.usatoday.com/story/news...r-us-truck-drivers-have-your-back/2865277001/
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Yes a real concern are the lack of Open eating establishments. I have a friend with a Food Truck, He and his wife are set up at one of the Truck Fuel Centers and making sure these Haulers get a Good Hot Meal.
 
The USPS financial situation cannot be compared to any corporation in existence. Aside from the fact that it receives NO TAX revenues here is additional info about its preexisting and ongoing financial burden that goes well beyond normal abilities to be profitable -

This from a Bloomberg article of 2018:

"Then there is the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA), which some have taken to calling “the most insane law” ever passed by Congress. The law requires the Postal Service, which receives no taxpayer subsidies, to prefund its retirees’ health benefits up to the year 2056. This is a $5 billion per year cost; it is a requirement that no other entity, private or public, has to make. If that doesn’t meet the definition of insanity, I don’t know what does. Without this obligation, the Post Office actually turns a profit. Some have called this a “manufactured crisis.” It’s also significant that lots of companies benefit from a burden (imposed by congress) that makes the USPS less competitive; these same companies might also would benefit from full USPS privatization, a goal that has been pushed by several conservative think tanks for years."

Still there is no doubt that the USPS is currently taking a hit from the economic effect of COVID-19. I think it would be in the public interest for Congress to add some relief to this critical infrastructure - which unlike the airline industries is - like it or not - funding a pension fund for future employees.
 
RayseM said:
The USPS financial situation cannot be compared to any corporation in existence. Aside from the fact that it receives NO TAX revenues here is additional info about its preexisting and ongoing financial burden that goes well beyond normal abilities to be profitable -

This from a Bloomberg article of 2018:

"Then there is the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PAEA), which some have taken to calling “the most insane law” ever passed by Congress. The law requires the Postal Service, which receives no taxpayer subsidies, to prefund its retirees’ health benefits up to the year 2056. This is a $5 billion per year cost; it is a requirement that no other entity, private or public, has to make. If that doesn’t meet the definition of insanity, I don’t know what does. Without this obligation, the Post Office actually turns a profit. Some have called this a “manufactured crisis.” It’s also significant that lots of companies benefit from a burden (imposed by congress) that makes the USPS less competitive; these same companies might also would benefit from full USPS privatization, a goal that has been pushed by several conservative think tanks for years."

Still there is no doubt that the USPS is currently taking a hit from the economic effect of COVID-19. I think it would be in the public interest for Congress to add some relief to this critical infrastructure - which unlike the airline industries is - like it or not - funding a pension fund for future employees.
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There was Time when the two best Retirements were Railroad & Post Office....One of the Postal Unions actually Organized to shut down an effort by "Staples" which was an attempt to privatize the Post Office.
 
great thoughts guys. I know my UPS driver said they have been helping out Amazon deliver lately whereas the mail lady (USPS) said they were really slow and not doing any Amazon packages. I found that interesting.
 
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