Yep. I think there was a Harvard business case on USPS - how they tried to pull their head out of their own a$$, and somewhat succeeded, but with no competition they are sliding back. Also, they are a union shop, so that makes any change very tough.

What's funny, though, FedEx ever since its founding in 1973 never (!) laid people off: they downsized only by offering incredibly generous packages. Their part-time sorters (the ones that work night shift) have full benefits. Etc. So their workers never even contemplated getting a union...