First Post Office Layoff In America’s History?

From DeProgram:

Postal Service Looks To Cut 40,000 Jobs In First Layoff In History

SHREVEPORT, LA (KSLA) – “We lost 2 billion dollars and like any other business we have to stay afloat.” And to keep from sinking, the United States Postal Service is considering cutting thousands of jobs nationwide. Lavelle Pepper with the post office in Shreveport says they too are feeling the affects of the same disease hitting the country… a struggling economy. “We employ about 685,000 people. If we do layoffs it would include clerks, carriers, mail handlers across all crafts.”

Pepper says the postal service is looking to eliminate 40,000 jobs nationwide. There’s not an exact number on how many of those could be from the Ark-La-Tex. Pepper says workers who are not part of union with six or less years of service would likely be the first on the chopping block. “We’ve identified 16 thousand people that are not covered under contract. We’ll see what those numbers add up to.”

The postal service is also offering early retirement packages to workers over the age of 50 who have more than 20 years on the job. But according to pepper it may not be enough. “The preliminary numbers look like it’s not going to be enough and we may have to do something else.” But despite what may happen, Pepper says customers will not feel the pain they’re going through. “The general public when it takes place won’t se any decrease in service.. They largely won’t know about it.”

Source: http://www.ksla.com/global/story.asp?s=9247633

Jen’s Update: 7 Days Since a Lost-Time Accident :-)

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Entry by TRH from TN

GREETINGS JEN NATION!

The living room full of beautiful birthday bouquets will soon give way to holiday cheer!

We’ve had a very efficient week in Matthew’s absence. Strength and focus are good, getting plenty of rest and nutrition.

Hospice care continues to be helpful. Nurse visiting TUE-THU, and case worker Kristine has stopped by a few times, including an extended 1:1 conversation with Sis late last week.

Kristine debriefed afterward with my Mom. Their school of thought suggests Sis has a degree of subconscious control over her own fate, which is intriguing. Encouraged that Sis is still speaking in future tense of things she wants to do, so her will appears strong and intact.

Mom has stayed all but two nights to help out with feeding and getting her up as needed during the night. I’ve been able to go to the office at least 50% of the time, visiting during lunch and whenever Sis needs to get up.

Honestly most of our time recently has been joyful — whether reminiscing or joking about current events. Dad joined us Saturday night for takeout and college football, then came back Sunday to watch the Titans surge to 9-0! And although non-players don’t understand, fantasy football provides much entertainment every weekend. Sis needs Anquan Boldin to out-perform Isaac Bruce tonight to keep her within 2 games of our league lead

Matthew will return from his trip Wednesday evening, which will surely give Sis a boost. He checks in a couple times a day and she always perks up to speak with him.

Hard to make out the road ahead, but we have faith in each other and our many blessings. Thanks for your continued prayers and support — you know ours are with you!

– Love, TRH

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The Hempstead 15–is this the way to treat VETERANS?

Sent via email by my friend Anita:

This is not something you will see on the news! This is how our VETERANS were treated outside of the last presidential debate between Obama and McCain. This was a non-violent formation. The police got violent and caused a horse to trample some of the protestors, one is seriously injured.

http://www.facebook.com/inbox/?ref=mb#/group.php?gid=84242710299

http://www.youtube.com/v/ahP4Y-8_JgY

http://www.youtube.com/v/HvV_6OoqhVw

http://www.youtube.com/v/OjBEwhisGJs

http://www.youtube.com/v/bRzbeOwLG7s

It was a sad day for Nassau County, but a proud one for veterans and activists nation-wide when the Hempstead 15 plead not guilty Nov. 10 in the Nassau County District Courthouse to charges of disorderly conduct while a crowd of nearly 100 supporters cheered them from in and outside the building.

The charges stemmed from an action planned by IVAW around the final presidential debate at Hofstra University Oct. 15. During the debate, members of Iraq Veterans Against the War and supporters peacefully marched into police lines blocking Hofstra’s entrance after having their voices and issues ignored throughout the election cycle by the candidates.

During the demonstration, Nassau County Police used horses to push demonstrators onto a sidewalk before brutalizing them and arresting several, including Nick Morgan, a veteran of Iraq whose face was crushed by a police horse. In total, ten veterans and five of our supporters were arrested, hence the Hempstead 15.

Following an evening of relentless harassment by Nassau County Police, including threats of rape and further brutality, the Hempstead 15 were released to appear in court today where all plead not guilty as the police defended their actions to the press.

“The protesters were trying to gain entry into the debate, and police were not going to let that happen,” said Det. Sgt. Anthony Repalone of the NCPD to Newsday. “We used necessary force in order to carry out that goal,” he said, before asserting that police have yet to determine whether Nick was actually trampled.

This claim comes in direct contradiction not only to video evidence clearly showing Nick and others being trampled and brutalized on the sidewalk opposite the main gate of Hofstra, but also a statement made by Lt. Kevin Smith of the NCPD’s Public Information Office almost a month ago where he acknowledged, “One of the defendants collided with a police horse,” before adding, “Who do you think is gonna win?”

After refusing to drop charges against the Hempstead fifteen, Nassau County once again snubbed the first amendment and our supporters by setting different court dates for our members, scattering our next appearances from this Wednesday to late January, I suspect in an attempt to complicate further demonstrations.

What these legal gerrymanderers don’t realize is they’ve just given a motivated movement a good reason to celebrate liberty and support our troops 15 more times on their front porch!

So where do we go from here?

We must keep up the pressure on Nassau County to drop all charges against the Hempstead 15. You can do this by calling District Attorney Kathleen Rice at 516-571-2994 or contacting her here: http://www.nassaucountyny.gov/agencies/DA/contact.html

As well, you can sign the petition demanding that charges be dropped against Nick Morgan and that those officers responsible for the brutality of Oct. 15th be held accountable. http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/justicefornick/?e Additionally, please donate money to help cover Nick’s medical bills at ivaw.org.

Please reach out to president-elect Obama however you can and demand that he condemn the trampling and arrests of Nick and others as well the eroding of our civil liberties as Americans.

Please help us spread word of the tragic events of Oct. 15th by continuing to forward information about the demonstration, Nick Morgan and the Hempstead 15 to your friends, relatives and co-workers. This REALLY makes a difference.

Adam Kokesh will be going to trial this Wednesday morning at 9 a.m. Please come out to the courthouse at 8 a.m. to show your support! 99 Main St., Hempstead, NY. The next court appearance will not take place until December which gives us some time to plan.

I’ll be appearing on Democracy Now tomorrow morning for Veterans Day and to speak about what happened in court this morning. Please tune in or check out the broadcast on the web at democracynow.org.

We’re a long way from finished fighting. And this is a fight we will ultimately win. Simply having people in this country willing to put their bodies on the line in defense of our veterans and the constitution is proof that victory is within our grasps.

I was so moved this morning to see so many supporters gathered so early in the morning in solidarity with us. Thank you to all who turned out to make good on America’s promise to support her troops. And thank you to all who signed the petition, donated to Nick and who’ve helped us get the word out!

Much more is to come from IVAW and the Hempstead 15. Stay in touch to see how we’re going to end the war and ensure our troops get the care and respect they deserve!

Peace and Solidarity,
Matthis Chiroux

VIDEO OF HOFSTRA ACTION AND POLICE BRUTALITY:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HvV_6OoqhVw&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eupU-StpCqM&watch_response

NAOMI WOLF INTERVIEWS MATTHIS CHIROUX ABOUT HOFSTRA ACTION:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ahP4Y-8_JgY

The Hempstead 15 are:
Matthis Chiroux (Army Sergeant)
Kristofer Goldsmith (Army Sergeant)
Adam Kokesh (Marine Sergeant)
Mike Spinato (Marine Sergeant)
Geoff Millard (Army Sergeant)
Marlisa Grogan (Marine Captain)
Nathan Peld (Navy, 1998-2004)
Nick Morgan (Army Sergeant)
James Gilligan (Marine Corps, 6 years)
Jose Vasquez (Army & Army Reserves, 1992-2007)
Ryan Olander
Paul Blasenheim
David M. Disimino
Lianne Gillouly
Megan Day