April 23, 2007-

Surprising details emerge on Philadelphia Post Office sale
"The U.S. Postal Service's grand 30th Street building and surrounding properties in Philadelphia have been the subject of development dreams and rivalries for two decades. Now, in the final stretch toward their $2 billion reconstruction as a glittering gateway to University City, surprising details are emerging about multimillion-dollar deals underpinning the project." The one person who is the custodian for the Post Office becomes the broker, developer and investor, and that's not right," said Frank G. Binswanger Jr., a broker who once represented owners of the property currently leased to the IRS in Northeast Philadelphia. They ignored the facts and gave the Post Office a slap on the wrist," Binswanger said.   |

USPS Commemorative Stamp Honoring Slaves To Be Issued in 2008

From PostalReporter reader: In his April 17th testimony to Congress, President Burrus asked for a more appropriate image on a commemorative stamp honoring slaves.  see testimony-PDF  What do your readers think?  Can they come up with a more appropriate image?   |

Deprince: "I can't thank you enough"

Post office super sleuth helps thousands reclaim their lost mail

USPS seeking mailer input on new law

Leave stamp vending machines where they are
Language technology may improve direct mail readability
Mail service in New Orleans still 'not all good'

Mail woes linger in Las Cruces

April 21, 2007-

With facility closing, mailboxes need a home

New post office in Merced CA will contract out all window service and the entire box section! Though customers won't be able to use the downtown station after September, a postal center will open in June inside Raley's where residents can mail packages and letters. It will be staffed by grocery store employees. PR reader: Privatization, piece by piece, appears designed to eliminate postal unions. Management can set their own work rules. The workplace at USPS is looking more and more like the 19th century.   |

 Beaumont Remote Encoding Center to Close in November 2007

"The U.S. Postal Service today announced that the Beaumont Remote Encoding Center (REC) will be closed as part the next phase of a nationwide consolidation plan. The facility, located at 750 Pearl Street will close in November, 2007. "The Remote Encoding Centers were designed as a temporary solution to automate and expedite the the processing of of handwritten and poorly printed addresses," said Danny Smith, manager for the Beaumont REC. "The plan from the start was to downsize the REC operation as technology enhancements enabled us to automate more mail." Congressman's Statement on Beaumont Postal Facility Closing | Postal Employees Worried About Losing Their Jobs    |

 Postal worker charged with making threat referring to Virginia Tech massacre

A postal worker is in custody for allegedly making comments about a Virginia Tech-type "mass murder" at the Main Post Office downtown and warning a colleague not to go to work Thursday. Another worker reported overhearing those shouts and [Randy] Redecker saying, "That kind of thing can happen here, too," the affidavit says.   |

April 20, 2007-

Postal Supervisors Add Concerns Over Contracting Out of Delivery Service
"NAPS President Ted Keating, joined by the presidents of the two postmaster organizations, told a House Congressional panel on Tuesday that the supervisors organization was clearly opposed to the Postal Service's increasing expansion of contracting out of delivery service on new urban and suburban routes. "Let there be no doubt, I share significant concerns about contracting out, not only because of the security of the mail, but also because of the added burden that contracting out too frequently imposes upon supervisors in assuring that delivery is completed," President Keating told a House federal workforce and postal service subcommittee." (NAPS via PostCom)  |

Newburgh mail carrier charged in groping case
A city mailman groped a woman while delivering her mail Friday, police say. Stephen J. Montone, 54, of New Windsor, was arrested by police Tuesday and charged with a count of forcible touching, a misdemeanor. He was released and ordered to return to City Court later this week. Montone allegedly grabbed the woman's breast after she came to her door Friday and chatted with him. The woman went to the police department later that day and filed a complaint with police.  |

April 18, 2007-

A Large Load to Sort in USPS Overhaul

The new [Postal Reform] law is reordering postal priorities and sparking some tension. Going forward, Potter said, it will be especially important for postal managers and unions to work even more closely to increase productivity and cut costs. That means the post office will use contractors if it makes good business sense, Potter and Miller said. Young portrayed the outsourcing as a public policy issue, but William Burrus, president of the APWU, cautioned against unions seeking congressional intervention in matters that should be left to collective bargaining. Postal Service does not foresee layoffs despite pressures | Young urges Congress to block ‘cancer of contracting out’ | USPS BOG Chairman via PostCom.org (PDF): "NALC have boasted that they will attain their goal through legislation. We sincerely urge you to reject such an initiatives."   |

GAO: Postal Reform Law Provides Opportunities to Address Postal Challenges (PDF)- Workforce realignment- As the Service continues to make significant changes to its operations (i.e., rationalize its facilities, increase automation, improve retail access, and streamline its transportation network), it will be challenged to realign its workforce based on these changes. These actions will require a different mix in the number, skills, and deployment of its employees, and may involve repositioning, retraining, outsourcing, and/or reducing the workforce. Retirements: The Service expects a significant portion of its career workforce—over 113,000 employees—to retire within the next 5 years. In particular, it expects nearly half of its executives to retire during this time. The Service’s decisions regarding these retirements (that is, whether or not to fill these positions, and if so, when, with whom, and where) may have significant financial and operational effects. Postal Service does not foresee layoffs despite pressures  |

OPM Suggests Retirement Reforms
Linda M. Springer, director of the OPM, has sent proposals to Congress that would: · Authorize federal agencies to bring back retired federal workers on a limited basis and let them retain their pension and draw a full salary. Currently, retirees have their salaries reduced by the amount of their guaranteed pension payment.  |

April 16, 2007-

Letter Carriers to deliver message: Don't contract out mail service - The dispute is a local skirmish in a national war of ideology within the United States Postal Service (USPS). Board Chair James C. Miller III, a former Reagan budget director, has called for wholesale postal privatization. ...sources in the Beaverton post office said the Arbor Parc Bethany contract was advertised on Craigslist, and no qualified contractors stepped forward. When USPS started getting calls from several newspapers, management asked supervisors if they knew anyone who could deliver the route. On March 9, USPS signed a 120-day emergency contract with the son of a Beaverton postal supervisor, who then subcontracted with his girlfriend to do the delivery.  |

National Reassessment Process Phase II Implementation Plan Unveiled - NPMHU Local #301 - The Postal Service provided a briefing to Union Officials from the NPMHU, APWU, NALC and Management Organizations regarding the implementation of the National Reassessment Process in the NH-VT District. According to the Postal Service, planned impacts are to begin within the next four to five weeks.In cases where the Postal Service has determined that they have No (necessary) Work Available (NWA) for an employee, the plan is to ultimately conduct an interview with each employee to notify them that there is No Work Available for them with their restrictions.  Once they schedule the actual interview date with each employee, the Postal Service plans to contact the Office of the Inspector General (OIG) and the Inspection Service to have them available to assist in case any employees need to receive service talks on zero tolerance issues while their being shown the door.   APWU Initiates Dispute  |

April 14, 2007-

Postal workers rally for their jobs
Letter carriers dropped their U.S. Postal Service delivery bags and picked up signs protesting the hiring of contract workers Friday afternoon in Orange. The picketing was in response to the recent hiring of the county's first contract worker in January   |

April 13, 2007-

NAPUS: Is Mail Service at Risk?

In a letter to Congress, "Postmasters are concerned that the USPS is compromising the quality and reliability of mail service, by understaffing local post offices and overburdening the Postmasters who manage them. Chronic understaffing and overburden Postmasters create an unhealthy work environment and has a deleterious effect on the quality of mail service. Late mail deliveries, long lines, reduced window hours, and contentious labor relations are symptomatic of unacceptable understaffing."    |

USPS Awards Contract to Protect Employee Personnel Records

 The U.S. Postal Service is implementing a program to convert all paper personnel folders to electronic folders, which will transform the way employee information is stored, retained and retrieved, ultimately enabling postal employees to have 24-hour access to the content of their personnel folder.   |

Former postal employee convicted of mail theft-

An acting supervisor stole two guitars mailed home by a soldier serving in Iraq to pay off a $300 drug debt.   |

April 12, 2007-

NRLCA To Join NALC in Protest at USPS Headquarters

“The National Rural Letter Carriers led by President Donnie Pitts will join NALC President Young in an informational picket on Monday, April 16 at 2:00 PM EDT to protest the Postal Service’s decision to outsource mail delivery to private companies and individuals. At the demonstration, President Pitts plans to deliver a message to Postmaster John E. Potter demanding a halt to the practice of Contract Delivery.  |

Local Post Office Revenues Drop
Gilroy, Calif -  "Despite deep lines of customers at Gilroy's post office, revenues dropped 5 percent in 2006, reflecting industry-wide trends away from over-the-counter sales and toward mailing outposts and online mailing, postal officials said. "Do you really need to come to the post office to conduct your business?" asked Augustine Ruiz, a Northern California postal service spokesperson. Postal workers argue that the USPS should cut costs by re-evaluating the work-sharing program, which gives discounts to businesses that pre-sort their mail, such as advertising mailers and credit-card solicitors."  |

April 11, 2007-

Postal Reforms Pledged; Postmaster adding 200 letter carriers, improved training in Chicago - "Potter said Chicago's problems stem from the failed policies of former Chicago Postmaster Kelvin Mack, who was replaced last fall by Gloria E. Tyson. Though Mack is still with the Postal Service, he is no longer in Chicago, and officials declined to say where he works." Congressman sees post office delivering on promise |

Mystery shopper’  

(Petaluma, Calif.) Most window clerks love serving the public, but loathe these stupid “upgraded service suggestion requirements.” But there is nothing that the window clerks can do about it.  But there is nothing that the window clerks can do about it. Only postal management sets the work rules and only an angry American public can bring pressure on them to change these rules. Also see Rude postal clerk | Postmaster responds |

April 10, 2007-

El Paso mail delays blamed on winter storms

Delays continue to plague the delivery of standard-class mail in El Paso, and USPS is leaning on overtime and temporary workers to correct issues that several longtime employees said demand a larger response. Postal Worker Frank Chavez said that only permanent hirings will help solve the issues wrought by employment attrition. |

HCR Contractor Improperly Accepted Workers'  Comp Payments - Management alerted the USPS OIG that a trucking company with postal highway contract routes had been receiving improper payments from the Postal Service to cover costs associated with the company’s workers’ comp policy.  The Postal Service paid the HCR contractor more than $36,000 to acquire a workers’ compensation..  A USPS OIG investigation found the company has no current workers’ compensation policy in place and never had one. However, the company was in compliance with Florida’s workers’ comp regulations because it had filed for an exemption that was approved.  On December 21, 2006, the Postal Service issued a Letter of Demand for $36,526, for which the HCR contractor is working out a payment plan. The letter was issued in lieu of civil prosecution. The HCR contractor continues to perform work for the Postal Service.  |

Mail Carrier retires after 45 years at post office
Mail Hauler Killed in collision with tractor-trailer

President Burrus has felt the need to criticize the NALC and other postal unions over postal reform, branding their leaders as “fools” for working to shape “bad” legislation. He routinely demonizes the nation’s major mailers. Indeed, he once famously referred to the customers who generate the majority of the Postal Service’s volume—and revenue—as “vermin.” I try to ignore comments like these and usually I succeed. But on March 1, Bill Burrus published something so ridiculous and contrary to the interests of city carriers and other postal employees (including his own members) that I must respond.  |

Retiring the rural route  |

April 06, 2007-

USPS Rejects NALC Offer, Interest Arbitration to Resolve Contract

Postal Service Opts for Confrontation on Contracting Out
President William H. Young announced April 6 that negotiations for a new National Agreement have ended in impasse. “I truly regret to inform the membership that the top leadership of the United States Postal Service has flatly rejected NALC’s offer of a strategic partnership to protect the future of the Postal Service,” Young said. “We are shocked by their refusal to work jointly, and now have no choice but to pursue our bargaining goals through interest arbitration. The current chairman of the USPS Board of Governors, James Miller III, earned his right-wing reputation as budget director during the Reagan administration, and is now trying to ram that ideology down the throats of all at the USPS. ” Archive: NALC challenged Miller’s appointment in 1985 to the OMB Director’s position | NALC News Bulletin (PDF) |

Postal Worker Pleads Guilty In $426,000 Money Order Fraud Case

Calif. - A postal window clerk from Tracy pleaded guilty today to stealing $426,065.09 in money orders, according to U.S. Attorney Scott Schools. Manuel A. Moreno, 46, pleaded guilty in federal court in Oakland to fraudulently receiving a money order (s) without paying for it between 2003 to 2005. When he was arrested on July 8, 2005, Moreno had $13,247 in cash on him and another $15,105 worth of blank money orders   |

APWU President Vows to End Non-Union Members “Free Ride”

In an article that appeared in the March/April 2007 issue of The American Postal Worker Magazine, National President William Burrus stated that despite successes, nothing that the APWU has done has significantly reduced the unacceptable high percentage of workers who continue to receive the benefits of union efforts but refuse to join the organization. He also stated that one solution would be to make non-members pay their fare share. President Burrus made a solemn pledge that if there is a way to require that non-members share in the financial burden of improving condition for postal employees, he would find it. Ask President Burrus: Is it true APWU will not exist in 15 years |

PMR Suspended for Alleged Verbal Threats Against Postmaster

Kipling, NC - Last month the postal service suspended Relief Postmaster Dolores Overby-Tew without pay and with instructions to stay away from the postal facility while an investigation of matters relative to her work at the Kipling Post Office is underway.  Overby-Tew said Postmaster Lori Townsend claimed the relief postmaster threatened her verbally. In February Overby-Tew said Townsend sought a restraining order seeking to keep her off post office property . |

USPS Intent to Solicit for Terminal Handling Services at 66 Sites

USPS posts notice of its intent to solicit for Terminal Handling Services at 66 sites throughout the United States and Puerto Rico. see synopsis and list of proposed sites (PDF)  | Omaha MCC Solicitation has been canceled |

USPS moves  mailbox pickups to get vehicles off the road at rush hour

The U.S. Postal Service has changed the final pickup at 300 mailboxes along Wilshire from downtown to West Los Angeles from 5 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. The idea is to get the postal trucks off the boulevard before rush hour with the hope that it will ease the often grueling commute on one of the city's main east-west routes.  |