As I was preparing to close my window and to do the 1412 work of finalizing my co-worker's receipts and money, I heard a customer in the lobby area banging on the APC machine. I walked towards the customer to ask her what was the problem.

"Those brilliant minds within your management who decided to get rid of the stamp machines are a bunch of idiots!! All I want to purchase is a first class stamp for a letter."

What seems to be the problem, I asked.

"First of all, I have to put my bank card in this machine before I get a total for my purchase. It's like signing a blank check to a complete stranger. I want the total first before I give you people permission to take the money out of my account."

Actually, this customer brought up a valid point.

"Anyways, I put my card in this machine and touch the screen where it says "first class domestic letter" and look at the price I am given - forty two dollars and ninety eight cents."

She cancelled the transaction and began again. The same total appeared on the APC - forty two dollars and ninety eight cents. I told her that I would use my 1412 terminal and sell her a single stamp.

"Never mind, young man," she said, "I noticed that your machine works if I purchase a book of stamps. I will pay the $8.40 instead. I think your post office is in cahoots with the Bush Administration in taking all of our hard earned money to bailout those crooks on Wall Street!!"

Yes, this really happened at work today. The REAL problem was that our APC machine wasn't working properly and it was shut down after this transaction. And no, the Postal Service is not in "cahoots with Bush Administration" although I could empathize with the customer's frustration.

For some reason, there are those that believe that everything in life is surrounded by a deep dark conspiracy. There seems to be a large dose of this going on amongst the internet message boards and blogs. I was reading Tom's blog concerning a message from "Tsunami" who wrote a message on the letter carrier's message board. Tsunami writes that this came from an "area meeting." What area? Who knows? Coincidentally, he writes about the same "talking points" that were discussed at last summer's APWU Convention in Las Vegas. Perhaps, Tsunami truly believed he was doing the right thing in informing us about some undisclosed plans of the USPS. I thank Tom for including a follow up blog from a PostalMag reader who is knowledgable about Article 6 concerning layoffs within the craft.

When any of us write blogs or messages on the internet we have the responsibilty to include the source of information where we obtained the words we write. Some people believe that anything written on the internet is the gospel truth unless it has the letters "LOL" written after it. I have read far too much SPECULATION about the USPS' future with no documentation to back up their words.

Agreed, the USPS is arguably in the worst financial mess in its 232 year history. The national economy is facing a recession and the USPS is no longer the main messengers of communication - it is now MSN or AOL or whatever internet server you are using to read my blog.

As workers, the best we can do is to stay focused on our jobs, do our best in times of trouble and wait to see what the PO and our unions can do to get out of this financial mess. If you believe that your union is so far in bed with management that you can't tell whose ass is sticking up higher - than run against him/her in the next election. I became the local APWU president here after only 2 years in the P.O. It isn't that difficult to do. It's a job most people don't want to do so there is very little competition.

Upper management are busy using scare tactics again and this is nothing new. It is a pattern of their behavior to shake the trees of the craft to see what kind of fruits and nuts fall out. With some folks in mangement - intimidation supercedes intelligence. All of this talk of mass layoffs is something that I don't believe will happen. Anthony Vegliante released a statement on LiteBlue today that if any layoffs occur it will start within National Headquarters.

If you are of like mind and believe that management wants their PFP bonuses you will realize that if mass layoffs occur - the mail will be delayed. Overtime will be incurred on the craft and the PFP bonuses will dry up for management.

There are far too many safeguards within our respective National Agreements for mass layoffs to occur. True, there will be jobs abolished and employees excessed to other offices that may need the complement. Currently, the worst case scenario will be the abolishment of Tour 2 employees in preparation for the start-up of the FSS implementation.

But mass layoffs? If anyone on here has written documentation and NOT heresay about this kind of action, please let your union know about this. From my vantage point as an acting local APWU president, I have not seen ANY real documentation about this kind of action.

True, there will be changes AFTER 2010, and unlike what some presidential candidates will tell you - change is NOT always good. But, all of this undocumented SPECULATION does not do any good to anyone - whether you are in craft or management.

Speaking of conspiracies - what happened to Spauldo? Her profile just disappeared!! She dropped of my friend's list and I cannot find her!! Was it the government? Was it management? Was it aliens? OMG!!!

LOL