Postal Reporter - Postal News

Kenneth Jones vs. US Postal Service, illustrates why postal employees should think twice before appealing their discipline to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

New Book: Beware of Cat: And Other Encounters of a Letter Carrier

Postal Worker Fired After Second Violation of USPS Zero Tolerance Policy

Bush Plan Would Cut Tax-Free Employer-Provided Health Insurance

MSPB Overturns Postal Worker’s Removal for $45,000 Stamp Stock Shortage

Postage Rate Hike in 2008?

Postal Service: ‘Intelligent Mail’ Fully Operational By 2009

Video: Signed, Sealed and Delivered- Labor Struggle in the Post Office

USPS: New Postal Law-The Financial Impact

Can Bush Open Mail Without Warrant?

Former Postal Worker Charged in FEHB Scheme to Defraud USPS and NALC

Un-Merry Christmas
Postal Service Terminates Disabled Iraq War Veteran for Unacceptable Attendance

Letter to the Editor - Mismanagement at Royal Oak Carrier Unit

FedEx and DOT at Stalemate in Dispute Over Disclosure of Postal Contract Data -

USPS, APWU Reach $5.3 Million Agreement in Anthrax Travel Grievance

Postal Worker Fired for Refusing to Work on DBCS Machine

Postal Nurse Charged With Defrauding USPS

Five-Year Postal Employees Stats At a Glance

Big Win For APWU in MS-47 Maintenance Case - "Custodial Jobs Protected"

USPS to Sell Segway Scooters to General Public

Postal Worker Sues USPS – Denied Permission to Work Off-the-Clock?

USPS OIG Paper: Postal Officers Travel Expense Guidelines

USPS Mail Processing Facility Faces $44,250 in Fines for Safety Violations

Man Pleads Guilty in Kickback Scheme to Pay Postal OWCP Specialist

APWU Initiates Dispute Over Changes to USPS Computer Security Rules

Postal Worker Injured in Iraq Wins Job Back Under USERRA

USPS to Conduct Search for Sex Offenders on Postal Payroll

Postal Supervisor Fired for Rewarding Employees With Non-Worked Overtime Pay

April 30, 2008

Letter Carrier Accused of Warning Customer About 'Mail Cover' Surveillance - Federal prosecutors in Detroit say letter carrier Darlene Cry illegally tipped off a postal customer that he was the subject of a "mail cover" -- a form of warrantless surveillance in which the envelope information on every card and letter received is secretly recorded by the Post Office, then passed to federal law enforcement or intelligence officials. Archive: NY Postal Employee Charged With Disclosing Confidential Information |

Postal inspector in Arizona seeks to boost staff
Texas carrier placed dog in a box on mayor's doorstep
Post Office Won't Let Charity Reuse Boxes

Pushing the Envelope: Interview with USPS's Paul Vogel

April 29, 2008

Look For The Union Label
Mike Causey: "....after reporting on the NALC-APWU endorsements earlier this month we were contacted by a dozen or so members of each union who object to endorsements. As one e-mail said: "...I'm a union member and I can tell you that no matter what our executive council says we want, I'm telling you most of the members I know are going to vote for Sen. John McCain (R-Ariz.)." |

Mail halted by spit spat

APWU: Six More U.S. Representatives Co-Sponsor Mail Network Protection Act

Matinicus Post Office flattened by fire

Former Postal Worker Sentenced for OWCP Fraud

Postal collection reminds Juan Rodriguez of his years of service

Every Time a Bell Rings… Another Forever Stamp is Sold

April 28, 2008

Rally To Protest Lafayette Post Office Closing

"Up to a few weeks ago, the only reasons given by United States Postal Service officials for closing the branch had to do with security concerns, citing broken security cameras and a broken bulletproof glass door through which parcels are passed. But earlier this month, Darleen Reid, a USPS spokeswoman gave Jersey Journal columnist Earl Morgan an additional reason. "It's not official yet, but the paperwork is already in the works to permanently close the Lafayette Post Office because it doesn't make a profit and we are under a congressional mandate that post offices make a profit," Reid said." USPS Spokesperson says safety only issue in post office closing |

Missouri Postmaster Demoted to Supervisor After Investigation

The postmaster of Jackson who was on administrative leave for more than a month during an investigation of unspecified rules violations, has been reassigned to duties in Cape Girardeau, a spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service said. Heuschober "accepted a reassignment to a supervisory position." | Comments (33

April 27, 2008

USPS Districts Currently Under Phase 2 Of the National Reassessment Process - The National Reassessment Process is a key initiative that reviews the status of those 33,777 employees in rehabilitation and limited duty assignments at the end of each year. "The Postal Service continues to implement Phase 2 of the National Reassessment Process (NRP) in USPS Districts across the country. There is no set schedule that establishes a date when a particular District will begin Phase 2." San Francisco, S.E. New England, Mississippi, Central New Jersey are the latest districts to begin implementing phase 2 of the National Reassessment Process |

Neighbors march in support of injured letter carrier
Retired postal employee runs Internet radio
Post office’s plastic gear lost to offices, recycler

April 26, 2008

USPS OIG Recommends Diverting Some Window Transactions to Alternate Channels (PDF) - "The Postal Service could divert some non-revenue generating transactions currently conducted at the retail counter to alternate channels by promoting the use of USPS.com and the contact center, expanding automated services available in the retail lobby, and exploring new channels that its domestic competitors and foreign postal entities currently use. OIG also recommends that USPS "Explore adding fee-based premium delivery options to available services." Revised Delivery Form 3849 | Comments (46

APWU: Off-Site Safety and Health Inspections MOU

Postal Debate: Time Inc. vs. The Nation

Cracking the zip code of Atlanta cool

Rural carrier indicted for mail theft

April 25, 2008

Ask President Burrus: Why Are Jobs Going to Mail Handler Craft?
Q: Do you think the new jobs are going to the Mail Handler craft because we have provisions for penalty overtime pay and they do not? When APWU can prove that the manual activity is integral to clerical duties, we have been able to prevail in the assignment of work. It is regrettable that another union would take solace in reducing the salary level of the work in question in order to maintain a membership base. |

Attacker of postal worker gets 7 years

April 24, 2008

Pissed At The Post Office

From Boulder City to Boston, rural mail carriers across America tell CityLife they're seething over a "fixed" evaluation system -- called, appropriately enough, the "mail count." This periodic process (held from late February to early March of this year) is an official accounting of each carrier's average mail volume so that post-office managers can reallocate workers and resources to routes that have grown the most and need more TLC. In reality, say rural mail carriers, postmasters and post office managers manipulate the mail count, either by hiding large volumes of mail until after the evaluation or straight up dumping tons of letters, bills and catalogs, to make it seem rural carriers aren't as busy as they've been in the past. |

Sweeping Changes Debated for Landmark Family and Medical Leave Act - This year marks the 15th anniversary of the landmark Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), which made it possible for many workers to take unpaid job-protected time off to care for their newborn children or sick relatives. But instead of celebrating, workers' rights advocates and the Bush administration are battling over what would be the most sweeping revisions ever to the law. These and other proposed changes have set off a fierce debate. More than 4,000 comments were submitted to the Labor Department as of Friday, April 11.The White House, meanwhile, is intent on putting its stamp on the FMLA. Assistant Labor Secretary Victoria Lipnic said her goal is to finalize the new rules during this administration...|

50 Postal Sites On OSHA Highest Injury/Illness List

Fifty Postal Service facilities were among more than 13,000 workplaces nationwide that OSHA surveyed as having high occupational injury and illness rates. Last year OSHA identified 63 postal facilities out of 14, 000 with the highest injury/illness rates. |

USPS Cancels Solicitation Seeking Vendors For Tracking Devices

The USPS Inspection Service was seeking technology to Track People, Packages, Letters and Vehicles - As stated in the earlier solicitation: "The mission of the Postal Inspection Service is to protect the assets of the Postal Service. To do so, it is sometimes required that IS personnel be able to track people, vehicles and packages. As such, the IS seeks to determine the devices available in the market place that fulfill IS requirements. The IS is interested in devices that utilize GPS, assisted GPS, cell phone, radio frequency and internet (IP) based technologies." |

Jury Convicts Former Postmaster For Attempted Murder-For-Hire

A federal jury convicted former Cornelius postmaster for advancing a scheme to have his ex-wife (a Rural Carrier) murdered. David Willis, 56, was convicted on two counts of soliciting to commit a crime of violence and use of interstate commerce facilities in the commission of murder-for-hire, according to the Department of Justice. Willis was arrested in December and has been in jail since that time. |

Postal Worker Finds $2,300 In Envelope

Arizona: Congressman gets more complaints about post office

California: Mail carrier carjacked
Virginia: Former letter carrier convicted of stealing mail

April 23, 2008

NY Congressman Backs Bill to Protect Stamp Vending Machines
"Congressman Edolphus "Ed" Towns (NY-10) announced his co-sponsorship of H.R. 5548, the "Postal Service Access Assurance Act of 2008." This legislation would serve to ensure the continued availability of automated stamp vending machines by the United States Postal Service for underserved communities. USPS announced in October 2006 that it would phase out stamp vending machines by 2010. Approximately 5,900 vending machines would be removed each year until nearly 23,000 machines - now in service - have been withdrawn. USPS points to reasons such as aging equipment, lack of repair parts, and the high costs of maintenance." |

USPS Board of Governors to Meet May 6-7, 2008

APWU: Workers Memorial Day April 28

Mail Carrier robbed at knifepoint in Tipton

Illegal immigrant from Honduras charged in Atlantic City mail carrier assault

Former postal worker sentenced for theft

Raising the Red Flag

Working Life (High and Low

April 22, 2008

CRS Report: USPS Use Of Contractors To Deliver Mail

During the 110th Congress, three measures, H. Res. 282, S. 1457, and H.R. 4236, have been introduced to address the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS’s) use of private contractors to deliver mail. This Congressional Research Service report provides information on USPS’s authority to contract and data on USPS’s use of private contractors to deliver mail. It notes that USPS has statutory authority to contract, although the extent of that authority has been contested. It also shows that USPS has increased its use of contractors in recent years, but that USPS employees continue to serve more than 98% of all U.S. homes and businesses. This report will be updated to reflect major legislative action. NALC Members Lobby Congress to Keep Close Watch On USPS Contracting Out | Private Contracting Would Help Postal Service, Experts Say |

House Committee Holds Hearing To Examine Postal Nonmailable Tobacco

Queens residents protest poor post office service

Thrift Savings Plan's Stock Funds Take a Hit

TSP automatic enrollment, fund transfer restrictions move forward

April 21, 2008

San Francisco Postal Workers Plan Picket Against Abusive Supervisor - Join Branch 214 Carriers in protesting the continuing abusive and discriminatory behavior by Bryant Annex Supervisor and calling for the Postmaster to remove him from supervising carriers. Management allowed this supervisor to continue his obnoxious behavior at PCA. Carriers at PCA struggled to stop the abuse including petitioning Congress people. He was moved to Bryant Annex where he continues his behavior in violation of The Joint Statement on Violence and Behavior in the Work Place. |

Postal worker saves infant who fell from second-floor window

City police said Lisa Harrell was making a package delivery when she noticed the child in an upstairs window that was open and did not have the screen pulled down. Harrell started to walked to the front door when she was struck in the head, police said. Unsure of what hit her, she put her arms out and the child fell into her arms, according to police. |

Raleigh Post Offices Make Up Own Rules
(North Carolina) At least two Raleigh post offices have denied some U.S. citizens the ability to get a post office box by creating their own requirements that are more stringent than Postal Service rules listed on their website. The Raleigh Chronicle looked into what it takes to get a post office box in Raleigh after a local university student said they were denied a post office box despite presenting proper identification. |

Retired postal workers have town to call their own
(Florida) The name of the town is Nalcrest and it is the only official retirement community for mailmen and mailwomen in the United States. Located on 300 acres, about 7 miles east of Lake Wales in Polk County, Nalcrest contains 500 apartments. They are full, almost exclusively, with former carriers and their spouses. The village is meant to provide a safe, social and warm retreat for the mail veterans, most of whom completed their 25 to 30 years of service." |

Post Office seeking return of white mail tubs

Op/Ed: Contractors Are Antidote to Postal Service's Billion Dollar Losses

PRC Initiates Public Outreach on Universal Postal Service Study (PDF)

Smithtown postal worker charged with credit card theft

Former postal worker sentenced for money order scam

Postmark Power

eNAPUS: Expanding Competition Risks Universal Service (PDF)

April 20, 2008

Women Who Collected Tax Returns On April 15th Were Not Postal Workers - Two young women wearing flag T-shirts were collecting tax forms outside of the Laguna Hills and Laguna Woods Village satellite offices April 15 and telling late filers they would bring their completed forms to Santa Ana to be postmarked that night. The women were not from the post office nor were they from the Internal Revenue Services. |

Bicyclist struck, killed by postal truck
To-die-for ZIP is code for 'made it'

April 19, 2008

APWU: Mail Network Protection Act Gains Eight More Co-Sponsors

Postal Worker Dies Three After Crash

Postal carrier returns lost wallet

Two-vehicle accident claims life of Rural carrier
Mail Carrier May Have Known Man Who Shot Him
Mail carrier climbs on car to fend off dogs
Tallahassee merchants call for later postal pickup times
'Stamp Out Hunger' Food Drive is Saturday, May 10

Man in postal uniform robs Union City bank

April 18, 2008

APWU Opposes NLRB/USPS Settlement Agreement Relating To Weingarten Violations - On February 28, the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) notified the APWU of its decision to implement a settlement agreement with the U.S. Postal Service establishing a pilot program to address current and future Weingarten violations by the Postal Service. A Weingarten violation occurs when the Postal Service fails or refuses to provide you with a union representative – if you request one – in any management-conducted interview that you reasonably believe could lead to discipline. According to the NLRB, t he purpose of the pilot program is to explore a method of resolving Weingarten disputes without resorting to litigation and to obtain meaningful remedies that are not currently available through administrative proceedings before the NRLB. The APWU disagrees. |

Even Credit Card Offers Are Ebbing
McAllen postal worker charged with stealing from mail

April 17, 2008

Regular postal hours catch last-minute taxpayers off guard

Many West Alabamians became unwitting late tax-filers Tuesday after they discovered too late that post offices had closed at their regular times. The U.S. Postal Service didn’t send notices to the media about post offices closing at their regular times on tax day, although the agency did distribute notices about branches that were open late and postmarking mail until midnight. “We didn’t announce that we would have extended hours, so it shouldn’t have been presumed that we would have them,” said Joseph Breckenridge, the U.S. Postal Service’s Alabama spokesman. Tax Day snafu needs addressing .... The announcement of the stimulus (rebate) payments alone should have sent up a red flag for post office officials that there could be an issue this year. Tax Day Fiasco as Hundreds Shocked to See Post Office Closed | Error leads to post-dated tax returns |

OIG Audit: USPS Voyager Card Program (PDF)

At nine of the 10 sites visited, Postal Service officials did not implement effective controls over the security and use of Voyager Cards Specifically, we found that officials did not always implement the Voyager Card controls prescribed in the Site Fleet Card Guide for the United States Postal Service and the Voyager Handbook. We identified multiple control weaknesses affecting the Postal Service's Voyager Card Program. |

Teens accused of shooting BB gun at mail carrier

Senate Committee To Hold Hearing on PRC Nominee

Postal Inspectors Return Funds From Nigerian Internet Scam

Ross-Simons Slams Proposed USPS Rule Change For ‘Slim-Jim’ Processing

Postal Bulletin 4/17/08 Issue

Grandmother in Shock: Grandson Shot Mail Carrier

Mail carrier accused of vandalizing trees on route

April 16, 2008

'Fine' Time for Postal Cop
A former postal police captain was fined $10,000 yesterday for joining a mobbed-up gambling ring at the Terminal Produce Cooperative Market and Hunts Point Cooperative Market, both in The Bronx. Ronald Seebeck, 42, of Yonkers, had managed uniformed postal cops in the Postal Inspection Service's Newark offices before getting booted last year. Prosecutors said Seebeck's role in the gambling ring included working side-by-side with a Genovese associate handling sports bets. |

McCausland post office gets reprieve

April 15, 2008

Postmaster Steals Mail Van To Teach Carrier A Lesson

(Rhode Island) The police launched an intensive search for a stolen mail van Friday afternoon, only to discover that it had actually been “stolen” by the local postmaster in an attempt to teach a worker not to leave the keys in the van. Barrington Postmaster Steven Santilli who had taken the truck, was unapologetic, saying there was no theft because it was his truck, and this was the policy used to teach employees a lesson. |

Postal worker shoots 2 neighbors, then himself, in Harlem
A postal worker shot and gravely wounded two neighbors at a Harlem apartment building today before turning the gun on himself as cops closed in, police said. One victim was found in the lobby with a gunshot wound to the head while the other apparently was chased to the third floor and shot three times in the chest, police sources said. Both victims were in critical condition at area hospitals. The gunman, described by neighbors as a mild-mannered postal employee in his 40's, committed suicide, shooting himself in the head after cops cornered him at his apartment, the sources said. Harlem Postal Killer Had Load of Illegal Guns | One Dead, One Extremely Critical |

Texas Rep. Lamar Smith Wants Post Office Named After Lobbyist

One of Washington's minor traditions is to name post offices after heroes, usually recently deceased. But Rep. Lamar Smith (R-Tex.) has taken a new approach. He's pushing to name a post office after a prominent, very-much-alive lobbyist. His legislation started moving through the House on the same day the lobbyist's employer donated $5,000 to him. |

Texas: Remote post office robbed

Same Uniform: Different Commander in Chief

Mail carrier robber imprisoned

April 14, 2008

Burrus Asks Bush to Appoint Postal Service Advisory Council
Under the law, the postmaster general serves as chairman of the council, the deputy postmaster general serves as vice-chair, and the president appoints 11 other members, including four nominated by postal labor unions; four representatives of major mail users; and three representing the public at large. At this critical juncture in the history of the Postal Service, the APWU insists that the Advisory Council be established and consulted, in accordance with the statute,” Burrus wrote. “Matters of crucial importance to the Postal Service and its employees, including realignment of the postal mail processing network, implementation of a major new flat sorting program, establishment of service standards, and implementation of the new rate-setting provisions enacted by the PAEA, make consultation with the Advisory Council more important now than at any time since the passage of the Postal Reorganization Act. |

Postal Carrier Shot While on the Job

A postal carrier was shot and critically injured on the job Monday afternoon in South St. Louis. Arrest made in shooting of mail carrier in St. Louis | Mailman Shot Twice While on Delivery Rounds |

Kodiak postal customers get new bins to dump junk

APWU Members Lead the Charge in Defense of FMLA

USPS snubs Mac users with changes to Click-n-Ship service

Last Minute Post Office Hours, Tax Tips

Postal service truck robbed

USPS Tax Information

Postman is Volcanoes Favorite

Postal rate increase makes business more expensive

April 13, 2008

Postal Protest: Mansfield Employees Say Move Is Hurting Service

"Overtime is an issue. So are contradictory statements about whether delivery of mail deposited in Mansfield on Saturdays is delayed because it is sent to Akron or Cleveland for processing. Tillman Franklin believes work that could be done locally should remain in Mansfield. Franklin, a member of American Postal Workers Local 903 and chairman of the Save Our Mail campaign, said the Diamond Street post office stopped canceling Saturday mail March 15. The Postal Service was designed to be a service to America, not a money maker. But now they're all aiming toward money and away from service -- and that's wrong." |

Postal Worker Saves Woman

April 12, 2008

City Gets $30,000 Donation From APWU To Save Post office
(Iowa) The American Postal Workers Union is offering a big helping hand to the northern Scott County town as it tries to save its post office from closing. The union is donating $30,000 to the city’s efforts to buy a building and outfit it to U.S. Postal Service requirements. Residents are trying to avoid having mail service suspended and changed to rural route delivery. |

Former Louisiana Postal Workers Indicted
Two former postal workers are accused of tossing a combined 150 pieces of mail into a trash bin and a canal. A contract worker is accused of stealing $3,400 worth of checks from the mail. Two Baton Rouge women are accused of submitting false and forged time sheets, claiming they had worked when they hadn't, while working for the postal service in 2006. Another ex-postal worker is accused of filing a false claim for FEMA hurricane relief money . |

PRC okays USPS' competitive products price increase
Bill the Mailman: A grateful farewell

Letter Carriers food drive slated for May 10

April 11, 2008

Former Letter Carrier Sues Postal Service
A rural letter carrier who delivered mail locally for 34 years before he retired last week has a federal lawsuit against the Postal Service, accusing his former boss of age discrimination and retaliation. Peter J. Marinelli, 57, of Ashland, claims a postmaster pressured him to leave during his last six years on the job and retaliated against him when he complained to superiors that he was being harassed. |

Former Postmaster Relief given probation in postal scam

A post office in Party Town

Postal Service $13,000 dinner = good PR for Ruth's Chris

Postal union decries bulk mailing change

Postal Service looking to consolidate Watertown and Oakville post offices

April 10, 2008

Postal Officials Defend $13,500 Steak Dinner

When the U.S. Postal Service rang up a $13,500 tab at an Orlando steakhouse, it spared no expense during a five-hour meal that government investigators are calling "abusive" in its extravagance. The order -- charged to government credit cards -- included more than $3,000 for drinks, more than $500 for shrimp cocktails and almost $900 for mini crab cakes, according to the Government Accountability Office, the investigate arm of Congress. Lavish $13,500 Postal Service Dinner Party Held at Orlando Restaurant | GAO: $15,700 in USPS Web-Based Awards System Inconsistent With Published Policy |

Handbook PO-408 Revision: Area Mail Processing Guidelines

Postal Bulletin 4/10/08 Issue

Postal worker legs are No. 1 on turkey temptation list

Postal Service Cuts and Runs

The Pro-Junk Mail Lobby

Revised Mailing Standards Effective May 12 | Pricing Incentives (PDF)

April 9, 2008

APWU Endorses Sen. Barack Obama For President

The National Executive Board of the American Postal Workers Union has voted unanimously to endorse Sen. Barack Obama for president. “Sen. Obama’s message is one of hope and change,” said union President William Burrus. “His message is special, and the timing is right.” Burrus: He'll Take Us in the Right Direction | Also Union Members Urged to Help Save FMLA Protections |

USPS Inspection Service Seeking Technology to Track People, Packages, Letters and Vehicles - "The mission of the Postal Inspection Service is to protect the assets of the Postal Service. To do so, it is sometimes required that IS personnel be able to track people, vehicles and packages. As such, the IS seeks to determine the devices available in the market place that fulfill IS requirements. The IS is interested in devices that utilize GPS, assisted GPS, cell phone, radio frequency and internet (IP) based technologies." |

NY: Plans for changes in postal facilities discussed

Post office heist nets $21G; 3 put in vault

Ex-postmaster pleads guilty to taking Over $52,000

April 8, 2008

GAO: Millions Wasted on Gov't Credit Cards

"U.S. Postal Service workers separately billed more than $14,000 to government credit cards for Internet dating services and a dinner at a Ruth's Chris Steakhouse in Orlando, Fla., for 81 people at a cost of $160 each for steaks and crab. The dinner bill also included more than 200 appetizers and more than $3,000 worth of wine and brand-name liquor such as Courvoisier, Belvedere and Johnny Walker Gold. In the Internet dating case, a postmaster charged $1,100 over 15 months for two online services, including the Ashley Madison Agency. The expenses went unnoticed for more than a year even though he was under internal investigation for viewing pornography on a government computer. The postmaster was eventually told to repay the Internet charges but faced no disciplinary action." According to the GAO report: the Postmaster was "removed from his position in November 2006 after working out an agreement with USPS in which he was authorized to remain on sick leave until his retirement date in May 2007." |

USPS: Lafayette Post Office Not Profitable for Us
"It's not official yet, but the paperwork is already in the works to permanently close the Lafayette Post Office because it doesn't make a profit and we are under a congressional mandate that post offices make a profit," USPS spokeswoman Darleen Reid said last week. |

Post Office Pricing: Say The Magic Word "Cheaper"

Maryland: Saturday service at two Cumberland post offices ending

No Mail For More Than 16 Months for El Paso Man

Postal Service offers outreach to Hispanics

Letter carriers can smoke on breaks
Letter: Postal service in Tradition unsatisfactory

Mail truck rolls on US 287, killing driver
Letter carrier finds small token from an anonymous toker
Tossed rock breaks windshield on postal truck

PRC Unveils New Website

April 7, 2008

EEOC Rules USPS Must Process Class Action Complaint For Rehab Postal Employees - Part II of Glover/Albrecht Class Action Disability Discrimination Case - Edmond Walker, a Temporary Rural Carrier Relief, filed a class complaint alleging that discriminatory acts had been continuing for a class of disabled permanent rehabilitation employees in the Postal Service. The EEOC Administrative Judge certified the class. On appeal, the Postal Service argued that the certified class was poorly defined and the class members were unidentifiable. The EEOC found that the class was sufficiently defined to enable the parties to identify potential class members. The EEOC also determined that the class met all the requirements for certification, and therefore, ordered the Postal Service on March 18, 2008 to process the class complaint within 30 days. Walker v. Potter |

NAACP sides with Richmond-area postal workers about "unrealistic goals"

The NAACP has asked the FBI to investigate assertions by several U.S. Postal Service employees that they were pressured to hide or discard mail to conceal delivery problems at Richmond-area operations. At an NAACP news conference today, two employees and a retiree claimed that "unrealistic goals" for delivering mail had prompted employees to discard bulk business mail or hide undelivered mail and falsify work-hour reports. |

U.S. Postal Service Again Honored as ‘Most Trusted’

More than 86 percent of the 9,000 Americans surveyed by the Ponemon Institute ranked the Postal Service first among 74 agencies as the one that is best able to keep their information safe and secure. The Postal Service has increased its privacy trust score every year since the survey began four years ago. |

Postal Workers Attacked By Wild Turkeys

(Wisconsin) Mara Wilhite, manager of the Hilldale Station Post Office, said wild turkeys have been pestering postal delivery workers in Parkwood Hills. Between five and 10 large male turkeys, or toms -- apparently a little giddy with the onset of turkey breeding season -- have been bullying postal workers as they make their rounds, pecking at them and even trying to rough them up with the sharp spurs on their legs. One of the birds launched itself through the open door of a mail truck and scratched the driver. Nervous postal workers have been armed with water pistols. But while the squirts of water worked for a while, Lobner said the turkeys now seem accustomed to the spritzing. |

In the mail soon - a new generation of direct marketing
"Direct mail marketing - often derided as advertising's poor relation - is experiencing a resurgence. In today's marketing climate, direct mail is getting more creative attention as well as an explosion in alternative delivery vehicles. A recent survey by the United States Postal Service found that people look forward to seeing what is in their mailboxes and they spend an average of 30 minutes reading their daily mail. |

Frustration increases over Truckee post office

Lost In The Mail: Funeral Postponed Until Cremated Remains Are Found

High-tech mailbox aims to take a bite out of crime

April 6, 2008

Postal Service Again Vexes Penny Pinchers

Snail mail makes this columnist positively postal

Snail mail a bother to others

Postman to the Rescue, Saves Family From Drowning

Postal Worker and Family Shot Execution-Style In Illinois

April 5, 2008

Senator Collins Addresses National Postal Supervisors

"The entire postal community is very concerned about proposed “Do Not Mail” legislation. This sounds good to a lot of legislators, who mistakenly equate this ill-conceived proposal with the “Do Not Call” registry. In fact, it would have devastating consequences. Direct mail is an essential part of the Postal Service’s mail volume. “Do Not Mail” legislation would curb this growth and place a heavier burden on other classes of mail to cover the fixed costs of providing postal service, and thus raise its costs and jeopardize universal, affordable service. " |

eNAPUS: Moran Introduces Leave Equity Bill (PDF)

Postal Worker Treated for TB

North Side residents want to send gangs a message

Credit Card Companies Cut Back on Direct Mail

Harmony post office suspends service after 94 years

Alaska: Battle looms over bypass mail

April 4, 2008

San Antonio Local APWU Plan Boycott and Picket

Membership vote to boycott and picket USPS Unity Day - "Management is out there, blatantly and without repercussion, disrespecting the Craft Members under their charge and the APWU is sick and tired of having to put up with District Managers, Plant Managers, Postmasters, Area Managers, and Station Managers who have given up on the idea of Customer Service and now only worry about the bottom line and whether they will receive their next bonus’ or promotion." The post office in the story below is part of San Antonio APWU. |

Opinion: Consumers can 'police' their own mailbox

Postal Carrier Honored

Mobile: Postman Robbed at Knifepoint

Ten More U.S. Representatives Co-Sponsor Mail Network Protection Act

April 3, 2008

Postman saves family from watery ditch
Postmaster guilty of throwing out mail

UK: Direct marketers dealt heavy blow

ID theft traced to bogus postal form

April 2, 2008

Postal Employees Speak Out On Hostile Working Conditions At Texas PO

One employee called "Joe" says Postmaster Antonio Gracia harassed an employee for weeks telling her quote 'a monkey would do a better job than her'. ‘Joe' says that's not the worst. He says the postmaster reportedly threatened employees. "He was upset that a postal employee had called in sick. So that day he made a comment that if he had a gun he'd shoot someone," says Joe. Employees are so scared now. He says some have even filed reports with the postal inspector but nothing has been done. | See video on KGBT-TV4 home page |

Postal Service High-Speed Sorters Get Smarter, Faster

In a move to enhance mail sorting technology to better serve customers, the Postal Service Board of Governors today approved funding to purchase technology to postmark letters faster and sort them smarter. The 550 Advanced Facer Canceller System (AFCS) machines will replace existing sorters operating on 1980’s technology. During its meeting today, the Board also approved funding to purchase 400 computer systems to replace existing National Directory Support System (NDSS) and the Integrated Data System (IDS). In other action, the Board also established the honorary title of chairman pro tempore for James Miller III, the immediate past chairman. New equipment to lower USPS costs as revenue declines |

Two Postal Workers Recovering After Attacks
Two letter carriers in Milwaukee are recovering after attacks in their neighborhoods. One letter carrier was attacked by kids throwing rocks. Another letter carrier was attacked by a dog. “Carriers are just out there trying to do their job and they want to deliver their mail fast an courteously, and they really don't need to be harassed or insulted by anyone in the neighborhood,” Postal Inspector Lori Groen said. |

After 38 Years, No Sick Days, Pennsylvania Mail Carrier Retires

Through sickness, storms and all sorts of other issues, customers in Houston, Washington County, could always count on Frank Schussler to deliver their mail. |

APWU Board Assails McCain for Crossing Strikers' Picket Line

Federal Court Dismisses APWU Suit

TSP stock funds post losses in March

Indiana woman, 77, uses car to save mail carrier from attacking dog
A postage stamp for Wilt the Stilt?
Man Sets California Post Office On Fire

Former mail carrier 'Baby V' still knows how to deliver

Judge rules against political campaigning at Post Office

Rains collapse roof at Florida Post Office

Former clerk accused of misappropriating over $13,000.00

April 1, 2008

Postal Workers Test Positive For Exposure to Tuberculosis
Fairfax County health officials are investigating why more than 30 employees at a Chantilly post office have tested positive for exposure to tuberculosis. A union leader representing Northern Virginia postal workers was upset about the union not being told about the situation. "I'm outraged," said Douglas Sapp of the Northern Virginia area local of the American Postal Workers Union. Update: Chantilly post office knew of TB in January | Postal Workers Are Tested For TB |

Postal Service offers $50,000 reward in contract worker robbery

How to Outlast the Do-Not-Mail Movement

Businesses waiting on USPS before implementing barcode system

Mailers drive film fans to cars

Reverses Stance on ZIP Code Change

Clerk indicted for theft of mail