Postal News July 2008

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

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

July 31, 2008

House Passes FERS Sick Leave Legislation

(NAPUS) The Waxman FERS provision differs from H.R. 5573, FERS sick leave introduced earlier this year by Rep. Moran. H.R. 5573 would have provided a lump-sum payment of 15% of the amount of accumulated sick leave exceeding 500 hours, not to top $10,000. Instead of providing a lump-sum payout, the Waxman provision would credit unused sick leave towards the FERS annuity. Specifically, FERS employees who retiree within three years after enactment would be credited for 75% of unused sick leave, and employees retiring after the three years would get full credit, similar to CSRS employees. The credit, however, would not be able to be used to determine retirement eligibility. APWU: House Passes FERS Sick-Leave Bill | NALC: FERS Sick Leave Reimbursement Moves Forward In Congress | NAPS: House Approves FERS Sick Leave and Thrift Savings Reforms|

Ex-Postal Worker Settles Lawsuit

(California) A 26-year former Postal Worker who claimed he was fired because he complained about discrimination against Filipinos has settled his lawsuit for $175,000 and lifetime retirement benefits. After a career of good workplace evaluations, he said he was passed over for promotion twice in 2000 in favor of white employees. When he and a Filipina co-worker took disability leave, Dumaguit said, supervisors posted their photos at the Richmond office - a display he compared to "Wanted" posters - to make sure guards kept them from entering. |

Closing The Boring Post Office? |

Funeral held for slain postal worker
GAO: Information on the Irradiation of Federal Mail (PDF) |

Postal Bulletin 7/31/2008 Issue

Pallet Lessons From the USPS |

Cleveland: Postal Workers Rally In Support of Mail Processing Facility |

Pipe bomb devices removed from post offices

APWU: Convention Planning Moves Into High Gear

Seniors angry about end of postal truck

July 30, 2008

Postal Service Wants Limits On Its Universal Service Obligation

The U.S. Postal Service wants to exempt its competitive products — like Priority Mail and package services — from the universal service obligation. Doing so would allow it to cut back on offerings in sparsely populated areas where business is thin. The Postal Service argues that those services shouldn’t be treated differently than those of competitors such as FedEx, DHL and UPS. An exemption would allow the Postal Service to choose which competitive products it offers in a given market, and what standards of service to apply. Products covered by the universal service obligation — such as first-class mail — must be offered in a uniform fashion across the country. |

Lacey mail carrier lobbies worldwide for kilt equality
Until last week, Dean Peterson was just a relatively anonymous 48-year-old mail carrier. Then he went to Boston and nervously introduced a resolution to include kilts as an official uniform option for male Postal Service carriers. And even though his pitch to the NALC convention failed, Peterson now has gone worldwide. |

FedEx CEO On McCain’s VP Short List |

Breaking a town from the center |

Mail delivered 107 years late

Letter to the Editor: 'Junk mail' is our bag

Oneonta firm is postal service's top shipper

Gas Station Employee Accused Of Stealing $87,000 From USPS Using Voyager Card Numbers - Investigators said the station submitted 815 separate charges for payment by the USPS, representing about 12 percent of the total charges for the Houston district. Officials said 194 of those transactions were entered manually, which was 79 percent of all the manually entered transactions in the USPS Houston district. Many of the transactions were made when the employee with the corresponding PIN was either on leave or not on duty, investigators said. |

July 29, 2008

NALC'S President Young: No Decision Yet On Extending Early Out Offer To Letter Carriers - "President Young told delegates at the NALC Convention in Boston last week that “very little has been decided” about the possibility the Postal Service will extend to city letter carriers its pending “Voluntary Early Retirement” program for clerks, mail handlers and their supervisors. Young, who is in close contact with USPS on the issue, emphasized that if there is an “early out” offer to city letter carriers, it would be limited and not likely to occur before 2009. Even with the advent of flat sorting equipment and the decline in volume, he reminded the delegates there are still 145 million delivery points that need service by carriers. If any substantial information becomes available, members will be notified promptly, President Young said. " |

Former Sioux Falls Postmaster Files Discrimination Lawsuit

Kim Pritchard says she was passed over for promotions because she is white and a woman. Pritchard started as postmaster in November 2004 and resigned March 6 after her employer rejected a discrimination complaint. She filed the lawsuit Monday in U.S. District Court in Sioux Falls against Postmaster General John Potter, seeking back and front pay and damages for emotional distress. |

$50, 000 reward in mail carrier hit and run fatality

Corsicana, TX: U.S. Postal Inspectors Monday issued a reward poster offering up to $50,000 for information leading to the arrest of Daniel Gonzalez Rodriquez. Gonzalez Rodriquez is wanted by Corsicana Police on charges of criminally negligent homicide in connection with the death of local mail carrier Donnie Evett. Evett died from injuries suffered July 22 when a truck went through a red light and hit Evett’s mail truck . |

Possible Pipe bombs found at two Ohio post offices

Suspected pipe bombs were discovered this morning at the Stewart and Guysville post offices, causing authorities to evacuate the areas around the buildings and to call in the Columbus bomb squad. The suspected bombs were apparently found by a man working for a private contracting firm that delivers mail from the Athens post office to outlying post offices. He said he moved the device slightly, delivered the mail and then moved on to Stewart."I never got the memo on what to do in case of a pipe bomb in the door," he said. |

USPS Unable to Justify Outsourcing, GAO Finds

USPS BOG Member gets contract as lobbyist for E. Kentucky University |

Sorting out postal law |

Congresswoman calls for investigation of police shootings

Cleveland Hopkins International Airport keeps retail mail window |

More long-delayed family cards turn up in mail

Capital One, USPS in NSA dispute

July 28, 2008

Editorial: Rocking The Mail Boat

Summer residents of Sutton Island have lost their special private postal service, and there may be a moral to the story. For at least 50 years, residents of the little island, one of the Cranberry Isles off the coast of Mount Desert Island, have been sending and receiving their mail through a trash can that has stood on the float at the Sutton town dock. The can was labeled “U.S. Mail 04662.”The postmaster called her supervisor and was told that the trash can service was impractical, insecure, and completely in violation of regulations protecting the U.S. mail. |

Letter carrier's job inspires son's game |

Detroit postal workers meet mayor at his mansion |

A Direct-Mail Pioneer Considers Moving His Company to the Web |

Mail carrier hit by rocks in Washington County |

July 27, 2008

NPMHU: Hegarty Testifies on USPS Network Realignment Issues
It makes absolutely no sense to this Union to give away mail volume to the private sector, when the nearby postal plants, as is well documented, are suffering from a major loss of mail volume themselves. If the FSS is going to cause work to be moved out of the Bulk Mail Centers, it would make perfect business sense to relocate that work to the nearby plants. There simply is no need to outsource this work!

APWU Testimony Assails Latest ‘USPS Network Plan’ - “By intentional design, the plan considers only the 400-plus USPS mail processing facilities to be ‘the network,’ while in reality, the network consists of both public and private facilities that prepare mail for delivery by USPS employees.” [Myke] Reid testified. Any review of the network must consider the combined system." The question that now must be asked is whether universal mail service is intended to provide a service to the American people, or a vehicle for corporate profit.” |

Obama Promises to Fight Alongside NALC (PDF)

Democratic Presidential nominee Barack Obama vowed to fight alongside NALC to "build an America where we value the labor of every American," he said in a letter dated July 21, thanking NALC for its endorsement. |

Postal Worker Shot with BB Gun

Loving every mile

Detroit Postal Workers to Meet With Mayor

July 26, 2008

eNAPUS Legislative & Political Bulletin

500 gallons of fuel stolen from Ester post office |

Post Office Open After Fatal Shooting
Police Promise Full Investigation into Postal Worker's Death |

South Sterling Post Office suspends service |
Alabama Post Office Burglarized And Set On Fire |
US Postal Service Delivers Record-Breaking Performance

Carrying the mail helps airline post extra revenue

July 25, 2008

Postal Service Seeks Flexibility In Closing Facilities

Facing falling mail volume and limited control over its prices or costs, the U.S. Postal Service is relying on post office consolidation to stem losses, but the effort faces stiff political resistance. The self-supporting agency on June 19 sent Congress an outline of how it hopes to save money by streamlining a network of 37,000 post offices and 400 large mail-processing plants. The outline did not provide any details indicating how many facilities the Postal Service might consider closing or consolidating. GAO Report on USPS Network Realignment | Deputy PMG Discusses Network Plan | Testimony From USPS Network Plan Hearing |

Houston postal worker admits to mail theft

Century-old post office shutting down

America's Nearly Perfect Postal Workers

Heated Meeting Over Oak Creek Postal Facility

From Letter Carrier to Postmaster

Postal Worker Accused of Stealing Mail

July 24, 2008

GAO: Data Needed to Assess the Effectiveness of USPS Outsourcing

The U.S. Postal Service (the Service) has a long history of contracting out postal functions, such as mail transportation, mail delivery in rural areas, vehicle and equipment maintenance, and retail postal services. However, postal employees also perform many of these same functions and unions representing these employees have concerns about the scope and impact of outsourcing. The Service does not have a comprehensive mechanism for measuring results, including any actual savings; therefore, it could not provide information on the effectiveness of its outsourcing. Without cost-savings data, postal managers, stakeholders and Congress cannot assess the risk and value of outsourcing. Watchdogs question US Post Office outsourcing system |

Burrus Addresses Letter Carriers Convention
In a historic moment for the two major postal unions, APWU President William Burrus delivered a speech at the biennial convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers. It was the first time that the top leader of either union had spoken at a national gathering of the other organization, and Burrus said it was symbolic of the need for solidarity among those whose livelihood depends on the Postal Service. |

Postal Service seeks to cut gasoline dependence

The U.S. Postal Service on Wednesday said it is looking for vehicle technologies that are less dependent on gasoline to replace its 195,000 neighborhood delivery vehicles. Meanwhile, the Postal Service is also using 10 Ford Motor Co Escape hybrid vehicles to deliver mail and is in talks with Ford about testing a plug-in hybrid in 2009. Postal Service Takes Lead In Going Green - This summer, the Postal Service is testing the latest generation of hydrogen fuel-cell vehicles with General Motors. O'Tormey says the Postal Service is doing things like cutting out left turns and U-turns — and finding fuel efficiency improvement of 5 percent to 12 percent, he says. More letter carriers are walking more of their routes. And they're using bicycles and subways. In the Grand Canyon, they're using mules.|

Mail Carrier robbed, locked in mail truck for hours |

Mail carrier struck by lightning, injured in Virginia Beach |

Highway Contract Route Carrier faces up to 10 years for theft of mail |

Mowing mailman delivers goodwill |

Postman, neighbor help save woman’s life
House hearing on USPS network plans is today |

Rumors claim gas prices may prompt changes in postal service

Bluffton post office draws fire again for missing mail

VeriFone wins USPS contract worth up to $10M for electronic payment systems

July 23, 2008

NALC Convention Updates
See Thu | Wed | Mon |

NAPS Legislative Update:

VER, Hearing on USPS Network Plans and PRC Universal Service Study - At the present time, the USPS has identified that there are 5,332 EAS who are eligible for VER. The effective date of retirement will be January 3, 2009. |

Direct Mail Tries to Go Green. No, Really.

"MOST marketers readily concede it: getting rid of direct mail - or junk mail, as environmentalists and most recipients call it - would save a lot of trees. But they are not about to render bulk mailings obsolete. So a group of direct-marketing companies, along with a handful of their corporate clients, are banding together to make an inherently unsustainable practice at least a little bit greener." |

In Your Shoes: Reporter dons mail carrier's bag |

UPS says profit down 21% in second quarter

Co-workers upset over postal employee's shooting
Mail carrier hurt in wreck
Man sues USPS over wife's death
Postal worker helps unravel odor mystery
Mail carrier aids ID theft investigation

July 22, 2008

FSS Deployment Schedule

PR Reader: "The 10,000 letter carriers meeting in Boston this week would be interested in when FSS is coming to their office." source MTAC |

Pedaling postal worker wins trip to Olympics |

Post office shortening hours |

Secular and Cyclical Trends

USPS Announces 'Green' Fleet Testing Strategy

Mailbox move? "Potential change upsets Fort Dodge residents"

July 21, 2008

Mailman seeks comfort in kilt

Letter carrier Dean Peterson, 48, of Lacey, Wash., owns 15 kilts. He wants the option of wearing a kilt while working. Local mailmen aren't too keen on wearing kilts on the job. As some 10,000 mail carriers gather in Boston this week for the 66th biennial convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Peterson is on a one-man mission to persuade his colleagues to approve a change in their strictly regulated uniforms. He has proposed a resolution to allow mailmen to wear kilts, which he calls a Male Unbifurcated Garment, or MUG. |

Letter Carriers Union Endorses Obama

Delegates to the 66th Biennial Convention of the National Association of Letter Carriers, acting on a motion by “Honorary NALC member” Hillary Rodham Clinton, voted enthusiastically today to endorse Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) for president in this fall’s general election. Video: Hillary Keynote Speaker at NALC Convention |

Postal Worker Shot and Killed by Police |

Postal Workers Barred From Carrying Doggie Treats |

Elderly woman injured when her car runs into post office

Post office can't notify everyone

Dallas letter carriers rank 3rd in the nation in most frequent dog bites

Shots fired at Valley postal truck

July 20, 2008

Rep. Udall Takes Postal Service to Task: Rash of Customer Complaints Reported - Albuquerque isn't the only place in New Mexico that's having post office problems. Rep. Tom Udall, D-N.M., on Friday sent a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter saying he has received numerous complaints from citizens in Santa Fe and other areas of District 3 about shoddy mail service. In the letter, Udall asks for "further written explanation of the situation, as well as monthly updates from both your Washington, D.C., office and your local (United States Postal Service) representatives on the steps being taken to address this situation." Udall points out that management of the USPS in New Mexico has changed three times in the last two years. |

Postal worker derails reshipping scam |

Postal worker given probation for stealing $20 from birthday card |

Postal Worker Among Dead in Barry County Murder

Texas Mail Facility Named After Postal Worker Killed in Iraq
Postal worker was courteous, helpful

July 19, 2008

Gas Prices Fuel Postal Experiment

"Mail carriers in Centennial (Colorado) are spending more time on their feet and less time behind the wheel to save money on gas. Since June 30, Centennial delivery routes have been adjusted to emphasize more walking, taking more right turns to save on gas and adding more deliveries to each route. But how much that will save, if anything, remains to be seen. Overtime costs have increased as carriers log more hours. And because walking routes can slow delivery, some residents have been receiving mail later in the day."|

Woman drives car into post office
Postal Worker Held-up At Gunpoint |

Modesto Counterfeiting Couple Sentenced

Former post office clerk sentenced

Residents want money back For PO Boxes |

Recycling service welcomes hazardous materials into the mail system |

July 18, 2008

USPS Names Two Postal Execs To New VP Slots

Two Veteran Postal Service Executives Named Officers - Postmaster General John E. Potter has named Pritha Mehra vice president of Business Mail Entry and Payment Technologies and Maura Robinson vice president of Pricing. These newly created positions are the latest in the Postal Service’s reorganization efforts to leverage competitive opportunities resulting from recent changes in federal law. |

Postmaster Shot And Killed At West Virginia Post Office
Police arrested a man in Ohio on Friday after they said he shot and killed a postmaster at the Dallas Post Office. Marshall County Sheriff John Gruzinskas said Postmaster Lua Wolverton, 35, was wounded twice with shotgun blasts shortly before 3 p.m., but was able to call 911 to identify and describe her attacker. shooting appears to be the result of a domestic dispute |

Letter Carrier On His Rounds Rescues Drowning Girl

Jumping in the lake part of a day's work - It's been more than 30 years since Keith McVey used the lifesaving skills he learned as a Boy Scout, but the letter carrier didn't let that stop him from jumping into Nesmith Lake to rescue a young girl Tuesday afternoon. |

USPS Seeking EEO Final Agency Decision Writers

From PR reader: "This shows the extent to which the USPS will contract out work!" The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is soliciting individuals with the right skill sets and availability to invest numerous hours a week to write final agency decisions (FAD) in accordance with EEOC regulations and USPS quality and timeliness standards. Selected individuals will be home-based independent contractors, located throughout the United States. |

House Subcommittee To Hold Hearing On Postal Network Plan Impact

Brick postal worker indicted on forgery, tampering charges

Postal Employee was trying to get out of work for several days each month |

Patrick Donahoe on Postal Service's approach to 'pain at the pump'

Postal Service Goes to Bat for Children in Need

Mail carrier charged in credit card case

July 17, 2008

One Strike, You Are Out!

Editorial by Lisa Herrera, Field Rep, East Bay Area Local #47 -" ...our biggest battle is saving Clerks from being terminated for failing the window examination. In offices where excessing occurred, management abolished nearly all mail processing jobs and reposted new jobs adding window (SSA) duties. Clerks were forced to bid on window jobs, and they are failing the window examination. Management will not give Clerks another opportunity to qualify for the window test; instead management is issuing notices of removals. Several postmasters have informed me that a directive was given from their bosses to remove employees if they cannot meet the qualifying requirements of their positions. By doing so, it reduces their employee complement and in offices of two hundred man-years, it allows management to replace the full-time regulars with part-time regular employees. |

Three postal employees face pot accusations |

The Post Office Wants Their Penny Dammit!

APWU Sues Bush Over Failure to Appoint USPS Advisory Council |

Obama Thanks APWU for Endorsement

Postal robberies bring long sentence

Postal Bulletin 7/17/08 Issue

July 16, 2008

USPS Releases Details Of Voluntary Early Retirement Offer

"On Aug. 18, an annuity estimate will be mailed to all VER-eligible employees from Eagan, MN. In addition, on Aug. 22 a VER offer packet will be sent to all eligible employees containing a cover letter, an application and a list of questions and answers. Interested employees will have from Aug. 25 to Sept. 30 to submit their application. It’s important to note that Sept. 30 is the date when an employee's voluntary choice to retire becomes irrevocable. By mid-November, the Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC) will notify employees as to the status of their VER application. At that time retirement counseling will be made available. Employees receiving approval will have an effective retirement date of Dec. 31. "|

Postal service uses more walking routes

(Texas) Because a one-cent increase in the price of fuel raises USPS costs by more than $8 million per year, the postal service is exploring options such as increasing walking routes, bicycle routes and fuel-efficient vehicles to reduce its energy consumption.|

This Postal Worker Has A Vaulted Position

The U.S. Postal Service has fewer than 100 employees across the nation with the same job as Charlie Farmer. He is keeper of the stamp vault. As accountable papers manager for the Postal Service's Kentuckiana district office. Farmer is in charge of two large vaults where up to $70 million worth of stamps are sometimes stored behind heavy steel doors with combination locks. When he takes a vacation, Farmer,, spends nearly two days counting over his entire inventory of stamps to another supervisor and changing the combination to the vaults. When he returns, it takes two more days to count the stock back over to Farmer and again change the combination. |

COLA Update: NALC: $1,330 | APWU: $1,310 |

Over 100 sign petition for street delivery of mail in Arizona City

3 year old Child Hit by Mail truck

Subdivision residents want to get away from cluster mailboxes

Bush Joins USPS in Unveiling "Take Me Out To Ballgame" Stamp

Post office seeks to trim Sandusky mail carrier routes |
Is the post office leaving Winslow?

Delivery problem delays unemployment checks

Mail carrier makes lifesaving delivery

Delivery issues, rising rates discussed at NNA Postal Forum

African American Cinema Honored by US Postal Service

Chanteuse Josephine Baker honored with US stamp - The US Postal Service (USPS), which last year lost a legal battle after refusing to mail postcards with a topless image of US-born chanteuse Josephine Baker, is honoring the late African-American with a stamp of her own on Wednesday. |

July 15, 2008

Who Will Be Eligible For the ‘Early-Out’ Offer?
OPM’s approval of the Postal Service’s VER request [PDF] applies to Clerk, Mail Handler, and initial-level supervisory employees agency-wide. The offers can be made to eligible employees “from June 30, 2008, through June 30, 2009. Burrus to VER-Eligible Employees: ‘DON’T GO’ “The opportunity to retire early may be tempting, but it is not being offered for the employee’s benefit: It is intended to improve the financial condition of the Postal Service. An employee who retires after 25 years of service can expect to receive an annuity of less than half of the average basic salary of the last three years,” Burrus said. He noted that this would exclude most of the time period covered by the 2008 upgrade and the September 2008 Cost-of-Living Adjustment, which is expected to be over $1,000 — one of the largest in postal history. Early Out (VER) Info |

Some say postage is due on Kilroy's stamp

Open House For New Oak Creek Postal Center

July 14, 2008

Hillary Clinton to Address Over 8,800 Letter Carriers At Boston Convention

-Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), who the union had endorsed for president, will address delegates on Monday, July 21. The NALC was among the earliest unions to back Clinton. |

Post office reduces lobby hours to cut costs

A number of post offices in Michigan have reduced or will be reducing their lobby hours to help cut costs, the U.S. Postal Service announced recently. Most of the changes are expected to be complete by July 26. Postal officials say almost anything you can do at the post office can now be done online. |

Video: Mail delivery car catches fire

Dog Pushes Open Door, Attacks Mail Carrier

Flood-damaged mail remains in limbo |

Former Maine postmaster guilty of stealing funds |

Postal Worker Killed at Home By Stray Bullet

Mural is stamped into post office memories
FERS & CSRS Disability Retirement: The Case Does Not End Until A Final Order Is Issued And The Time For Appeals Has Expired

July 12, 2008

Burrus: Employees Would Be Best Served by Postponing Early-Out Decisions

In light of the announcement that the Postal Service has received approval to offer Voluntary Early Retirement to employees in the Clerk Craft and the Mail Handler Craft, as well as to some supervisory employees, many APWU members are beginning to wonder about their options. The union has been informed that the Postal Service expects a deficit of approximately $1.4 billion in the current fiscal year. We also can expect that if a sufficient number of employees do not accept the early-out offer, the Postal Service will still face a significant deficit, and will still be forced to find ways to reduce the workforce. |

USPS Wants Quality Over Quantity
"After years of managing volume, the U.S. Postal Service wants to instead manage mail quality, according to Hamilton Davison, executive director of the American Catalog Mailers Association. "The post office is not just making sure that mailers get stuff delivered, it's making sure that the mail is really wanted," Davison said during a session Thursday at the MeritDirect Business Mailers Co-op and Conference. Davison's information stems from discussions with Postmaster General John E. Potter during ACMA's National Catalog Advocacy & Strategy Forum last month. Potter suggested then that the USPS may soon become a much smaller organization that would not longer be handling more than 200 billion pieces a year, including 50 billion flats." |

Three Mailman Caught Smoking Marijuana On Job

"A postal pot bust. The Douglas County Sheriff's Office ticketed three postmen, for smoking marijuana on the job. It's the culmination of a two week investigation. All long time employees of the Omaha Post Office. We're told all three have been put on administrative leave. The mailman marijuana investigation started when the office of the Inspector General of the United States Post Office became suspicious of a few employees." |

eNAPUS: Commission Completes Hearings On Universal Service – Report Next

- APWU to PRC: ‘Burden of Proof’ Is on Those Pushing for Change

- Young Defends Universal Service before PRC (PDF) |

Privatize postal service? Sure, if you want higher prices and less delivery |

TX: Alvin postal carrier arrested

July 11, 2008

Denver Postal Workers Tired of Violence in Workplace

About 50 letter carriers walked the picket line Thursday to get their message out." We demand a safe and harmonious workplace, that's our right," said Mike Williams, president of the local Branch 47 of the National Association of Letter Carriers. “Management is constantly harassing, intimidating, finger pointing, and bullying letter carriers on the workroom floor on a daily basis.” |Comments (67)

NALC: Young Urges Congress to Reject Study for 5-Day Delivery

President Young is urging Congress to reject a proposal by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) to order USPS to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of adopting a five-day delivery week. In a letter sent to top congressional leaders, Young notes that a similar yet more comprehensive study of universal service is already underway, as mandated by the 2006 postal reform law. “Saddling the Postal Service with the responsibility for conducting or participating in a duplicative study of Saturday delivery is unnecessary and wasteful,” Young said. Young's Letter | amendment |Comments (50)

84-year-old clocks out as most experienced letter carrier in America

Bob Slama has been on his Southeast Cape Coral mail route for 27 years, reporting as scheduled every day to serve his customers. At age 84, Slama is proud of the fact that he has never called in sick a day of his career. He has never even clocked in late. More: Nation’s oldest postal carrier, retires | 85-Year- Old Postal Worker Celebrates 60 years of service - USPS News Link- Jerrell Evans started working at Cleveland's West Park Station in 1948. He hasn’t regretted it. Evans, who will be 85 in November, served in the Navy during WWII, including a stint in the Philippines. Evans said, "I have no plans to retire.” |Comments (72)

Actor DiCaprio an anti-junk mailer uses direct mail |Comment (1)

Ex-Postal Employee Charged With Benefit, Mail Fraud |Comment (1)

Neb. post office evacuated over powder scare

Marking 90 years of airmail

Two Omaha Postal Employees Arrested

Mail Carrier Believes Car Is Electric Lemon |Comments (2)

Feds offer reward for mailbox pipe bombs

July 10, 2008

Post office to cut 20K employees
On Tuesday, the Postal Service announced it had received approval from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to offer voluntary early retirements to postal employees in clerk and mail handler positions nationwide. Automation and technological advances, coupled with mail volume reductions, has the Postal Service continuing to look for ways to voluntarily reduce its work force while maintaining excellent customer service," read a statement. On Wednesday, Freda Sauter, a Postal Service spokeswoman for the Eastern Region, said the OPM approval allows for the development of an early retirement program, a process that postal officials said would offer no incentive package. NPMHU: "The National Office has learned that the Postal Service has formally been granted authority by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to offer a VERA to certain postal employees during the period from

June 30, 2008 through June 30, 2009 Postmasters Want a "Me Too" on Early Outs? (PDF) |Comments (134)

Trespassing latest in Chiefland postal dispute
The dispute involving a pair of suspended employees (3 Florida Postal Clerks Say They Were Unfairly Suspended) of the Chiefland Post Office took a new turn Tuesday with trespassing charges filed against a family member of one of the two. |Comments (35)

No air conditioning unit turns post office into sauna

Although I was in the lobby for only a few minutes, thanks to the efficiency of the sweat-drenched clerk, who didn't allow her discomfort to affect her efficiency, by the time I reached the counter, I was feeling nauseous and feared I might pass out. At least the post office put out huge, industrial fans in the lobby so there's a breeze, even if it is hot and sticky. Oh, sorry. They didn't. Not a single fan in the area of the lobby where customers steam as they wait. |Comments (31)

Bush Nominates Ruth Goldway to Additional 6-Year Term on PRC

Explosive device discovered by postal carrier

Two Pittsburgh postal workers accused of wrongdoing

July 9, 2008

Mail Carrier, Two other Postal Workers Among Dozens Arrested in Gang Crackdown | Comments (5)

PRC holds hearing on universal service | Comments (3)

Pit Bull Mastiff Attacks Dallas Mail Carrier

USPS to Look Like UPS and FedEx | Comments (4)

First-class postal clerk gets priority pickup after 43 years | Comments (2)

Sketch in Rock Hill post office robbery released

Demand soars for mobile postal unit

Saginaw: Guard your postal carrier

What do we get for our 42 cents? | Comment (1)

Oklahoma Postal worker admits credit card theft

July 8, 2008

APWU Meets With USPS, Seeks Bargaining Over Early-Outs
"Postal officials indicated that OPM has approved the request. APWU President William Burrus met with postal officials July 8 regarding USPS plans to offer early-retirement opportunities to 40,000 employees. "We do not oppose Voluntary Early Retirements," he explained, "but we do object to any plan to offer them selectively and exclude some employees from eligibility," he said. "We also believe that for this VER, which is not the result of contract negotiations, severance pay must accompany an offer of early retirement." NALC: President Young addresses early out rumors - There are many rumors on the internet about a pending early out for letter carriers. I have been advised that the USPS has requested permission to have a VERA for letter carriers and expects an answer at the end of this month. 20,000 postal clerks, mail handlers may get early retirement - But in a statement issued to Federal Times July 8, the Postal Service said it will not offer buyouts to anyone taking early retirement. NAPS: Postal Early Outs | Comments (69)

Burrus: High Gas Prices Are No Justification for Five-Day Mail Delivery - Lately, special interest groups have begun to use rising gas prices as a way to advance their agenda — under the guise of reducing energy use and demand. Recent proposals to reduce mail delivery from six days a week to five are a case in point. These suggestions represent just another rationale by those who wish to privatize postal operations. On June 25, the House Appropriations Committee approved an amendment offered by Rep. Jack Kingston (R-GA) that would require the Postal Service to study the cost effectiveness and fuel consumption of five-day mail delivery, and to survey consumer demand for Saturday delivery. Rep. Kingston called Saturday delivery “a perfect example of government waste that is driving up the price at the pump.” | Comments (136)

Cleveland Hopkins airport post office may Close | Comments (3)

Rural mail carrier ends 40 years on the job

She always delivered

Mike Causey's Federal Report: Postal Early Outs

U.S. Post Office clamps down on community beautification | Comments (5)

Cambridge Post Office subject of bomb scare

July 7, 2008

Delivery habits

Last Post Comes After 35 Years

July 6, 2008

Hidden Camera Crew Tails 'Contracted' Letter Carrier

Union leaders warned management this would happen. If the U.S. Postal Service contracted out mail delivery in places like Beaverton, Ore., there would be accountability problems and breaches of mail security, said NALC officers like L.C. Hansen, president of Branch 82 in Portland. And that's what Hansen found in June when she and a hidden camera crew followed a Beaverton postal service "contractor" for several days. | Comments (76)

They're still delivering, but high gas prices are hurting

July 5, 2008

USPS Early Out Offer Excludes ETs - No Cash Incentives

From NAPS via reader: "The USPS has put a request in with the OPM for a VERA for all USPS employees with the exceptions of Electronic Technicians (PR note: President Burrus is challenging that exclusion). The OPM should be able to notify the Postal Service by August. I was told to say to ALL who inquire that there will be NO INCENTIVES! I repeat No incentives. The Postal Service will not make the same mistake that it made in 1992 with cash incentives. The number that we need to reach is 40,000 employees. I was told that under current conditions they will not reach the 40k goal. Our mail volume has dropped to the 2004 volume and our anticipated attrition is down 50% do to gas prices and the economy. " |

Postal Bulletin 7/03/08 Issue

Carrier Helps Save 91 Year Old Trapped Under Car

July 4, 2008

USPS Issues Request For Proposals To 'Outsource' Some BMC Activities - (NPMHU) On July 1, 2008, the Postal Service issued a draft request for proposals concerning a Time-Definite Surface Network, which is another step toward outsourcing some of the work (the processing and transportation of parcels and standard mail) now being performed at the 21 Bulk Mail Centers. As currently constituted, the draft RFP envisions a single, private contractor that would perform certain types of mail processing and transportation related to the BMCs. | Comments (36)

Benefit lunch raises money for injured Arizona postal worker

Post office branch cuts hours, could close

Looking to cut your wait at the post office?

July 3, 2008

APWU to Meet With USPS Over Possible 'Early Out' Offer

The union has learned unofficially that the Postal Service has requested from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) the authority to offer early retirement to 40,000 postal employees. In response to an inquiry from my office, a meeting with Postal Service headquarters has been scheduled for Monday regarding these reports. Early Out Info-PDF (source: NALC Branch #38) "This is an update of where we are with the upcoming implementation of the National VERS for craft and supervisory positions. We expect to have an OPM approval for the initial VER request for the clerks, mail handlers, SDO and SCS positions as early as next week. We do not expect to receive the second OPM approval for Maintenance, Motor Vehicle, Carriers and Rural Carriers crafts until the end of July." USPS VERA Info | OPM:VERA |

3 Florida Postal Clerks Say They Were Unfairly Suspended - Chiefland Postal Clerks Debbie Hamberger, Bonnie George and Kim Poole thought they were doing the right thing when they questioned a sudden change in policy regarding mail box late fees. Although that order was eventually reversed, Hamberger and George say they are still feeling the repercussions for their act of "whistleblowing" - in a big way. Hamberger and George are in their fifth week of serving an "emergency suspension without pay." Poole said she has escaped such status because she is officially on sick leave |

Postal Service plans to overhaul delivery network, close facilities
The U.S. Postal Service plans to close dozens of facilities across the country as part of a major reorganization, a move that could save millions of dollars and create a more flexible postal network. But the plan is certain to spark a fresh round of bickering with the agency's strong labor unions. Last month, the agency released a plan for overhauling its delivery network. The so-called network report calls for closing airport mail facilities, consolidating bulk mail centers and streamlining the computer software that maps postal routes. The closures could lead to the elimination of hundreds of jobs and more outsourcing. Postal officials say the changes will help revitalize a decades-old network.|

eNAPUS: Appropriations Bill Includes Five-Day Delivery Study (PDF)

TSP funds take a dive in June

Jupiter man caught with undelivered mail

APWU: Support Keeps Growing for Mail Network Protection Act

July 2, 2008

Don't Go Postal Over This
(Mike Causey's Federal Report) I thought this might be a good time to run this column again. Keep in mind that the Post Office this week announced a major reorganization. Wonder why? Although many rank-and-file feds don't know it, employees at a number of agencies, especially those that regulate banks, march to a different drummer. That drummer, in most cases, pays better than regular federal agencies. But the biggest independent of all, and the one agency that touches nearly all our lives, is the U.S. Postal Service. And while the USPS is composed mainly of relatively low-paid clerks and letter carriers, its officer corps does fine. | Comments (42)

Pa. Postal Workers Honored For Bug Discovery

Thieves steal gas from postal trucks, cars | Comments (2)

Postal workers back on job | Comments (2)

USPS reorganizes to support Intelligent Mail Barcode implementation| Comments (2)

Frugality is a virtue, but the Postal Service takes it too far| Comments (2)

Mail delivery transforms from early settlement days

Mail theft suspects flee across town

Ripton Residents Want Post Office Back

Opinion : Let Carriers Walk to Save Gas

July 1, 2008

North Carolina Postmaster Charged With Sex Offense, Kidnapping

The postmaster at the Concord Post Office was arrested Tuesday on sex charges. Keith Allen Fraley is charged with one count of second-degree sex offense and one count of second-degree kidnapping. Police say the incident happened on May 17 at the post office located on McCachern Boulevard. Police say Fraley held another postal employee in the post office against her will. Investigators are trying to determine if other employees were assaulted. Update: Postmaster charged with sexual misconduct | Comments (52)

Union Members Mobilize to Turn Around America
Postal worker in Houston admits to mail theft
Unveiling of Alabama's State Stamp Begins New Postal Service Series
Mailers preparing now to battle holiday season

Postmaster Potter to catalogers: "You got hammered"

Comments Submitted to PRC on Universal Service Obligation
50 years of letters, only 3 dog bites

APWU Health Plan Alters Benefits to Aid Midwest Flood Victims