Postal News

Ernest Perry worked for nearly 20 years at the Raleigh mail processing center. He says he sorted mail using giant machines that spewed dust until he started getting sick. In 2006, Perry needed a lung transplant. Perry's one of 450 postal workers all over the country who've signed a petition asking the federal government to study the impact of postal dust on their health. Archive: Sorting Through A Sickness | Comments (81)

Postal Service stops anti-graffiti painters in Mt. Washington

Postmaster's retirement ends small town's mail

Swedish Postal Chief says he will work for free

November 28, 2008

Hot diggity: Dog is in the mail

Post office to reach out during holidays to aid those in need

November 27, 2008

PRC Annual Report: Postal Execs Compensation
The report includes information on Pay Compensation for Top USPS Officers .

Based on the Postal Service's achievement on pay-for-performance goals and metrics for 2008, the Governors awarded Mr. Potter $18,300 for fiscal year 2008. Pursuant to his contract, the Governors awarded Mr. Potter a performance incentive of $116,741 for fiscal year 2008. In doing so the Governors considered Mr. Potter's effective leadership during the difficult economic challenges of 2008, his implementation of a number of process improvements that led to record service levels at a lower cost, the steps he took that strategically positioned the Postal Service to maintain its viability for the future, and his achievement of personal goals set by the Governors for the fiscal year. Mr. Potter’s non-equity incentive plan compensation is deferred due to the compensation cap and will be paid in ten annual installments after he leaves postal employment. Executive Officer Compensation FY 2008 |Comments (152)

USPS: “Next Generation Mail Processing Solution”

This solution will be deployed to sort and sequence the high volume of letter and flat mail currently processed within USPS facilities nationwide. The NGMPS Program Objective is to deploy a system solution which will be capable of efficiently, reliably and accurately delivery point sequencing both letter and flat mail simultaneously within a merged mail stream and within the same system. |Comments (35)

'Partial' Post: Does Post Office Hide its Lower Cost Services?

A hidden camera investigation reveals what the Post Office isn't telling you when mailing packages. Are window clerks required to offer higher premiums services such as express mail and priority before offering parcel post? A USPS spokesperson says no, a window clerk says yes.. |Comments (35)

USPS Cost Containment Strategies 2009 (PDF)

Florida: Sarasota Area postal plant could be closed

Direct mail volume from banks on the rise

Mail Carrier Confronted by Skunks

November 26, 2008

Feds Say Detroit Mail Handler Stole Phones
Mail Handler admits to stealing approx. 800 phones -The Postal Service says a mail handler stole hundreds of cell phones while working at a processing center. Agents got a tip in late October from someone who saw Keith Howard sell two dozen phones to a retail store. Earlier this month, they secretly videotaped him at work as he opened small parcels and put phones in a backpack. |Comments (66)

Will direct mail remain a top channel?

Contributions wanted for injured Wellfleet-Maywood mail carrier
Study to determine fate of mail center

November 25, 2008

APWU Files Unfair Labor Practice Charge Over Elimination of Tour 2 - The APWU has filed an Unfair Labor Practice charge against the Postal Service , alleging that management failed to bargain over a nationwide plan to consolidate mail processing into two tours — a plan that would eliminate or greatly reduce the number of assignments on Tour 2. The charge, filed Nov. 25 with the National Labor Relations Board, also asserts that the Postal Service failed to provide information to the union regarding this initiative. |Comments (89)

What Ails The Mail? Businesses Cite Lateness
The post office reduced the number of carrier routes in the city in early August from 56 to 48 as part of a plan to improve efficiency and lower costs. Administrators warned of several days of delays, but residents and businesses are still receiving mail late in the day or not at all. Deborah Frederick, a member of the Meriden Postal Employees Safety Committee, sent a letter to the Record-Journal last week asking residents to leave their lights on and clear sidewalks and walkways of hazards so carriers can make their late deliveries. "They don't have enough help," Daniels said. "We wouldn't be delivering this late if the routes were properly adjusted." The union is fighting to get the post office to reinstate some of the routes, and one was restored in September. The union claims its attempts to offer advice have previously been ignored by the post office. |Comments (106)

APWU: Uniform Allowances Go Up

Addressing direct-mail deliverability and anti-marketing initiatives

UPS, FedEx battle Post Office for parcels

November 24, 2008

CA: Cinder blocks thrown through windshields of 5 postal trucks

APWU: Bronx Consolidation Plan - Finally - 'Not Approved'

A Challenging Year: CFO Glen Walker Previews '09 in Video

NC: Colfax Postal Carrier Honored for Saving Man's Life

Ohio: Ellet postal workers to serve free Thanksgiving dinner

Overview: Interim Alternate Route Adjustment Process Joint Training (PDF) |Comments (5)

Blue Mailboxes Disappearing |Comments (5)

Dogs alter mail route

November 23, 2008

USPS Pacific Area Two-Tour Initiative Information (PDF)

Current vs Proposed Plant Staffing |

Report: Employment of Veterans in the U.S. Postal Service - FY 2007 -The U.S. Postal Service is among the largest employers of veterans in the Nation, second only to the Department of Defense. There were 170,851 veterans employed in the Postal Service during FY 2007. This is a decrease of 8,497 veterans from the 179,348 employed during FY 2006. more |

Problems Plague U.S. Flex-Fuel Fleet |

eNAPUS: Something Old, Something New for the Postal Community

USPS: Money order fraud prompts tighter precautions

In Manassas Retiring Clerk Is the Post Office

Post Office honored as oldest continually operated mail center in Texas

Bypass mail misses mark, say rural customers

Photo: Post Office In Topaz California

November 22, 2008

Mailman Fails To Deliver, Becomes Local Hero

Overwhelmed by piles of junk mail, 'Mailman Steve' quit bringing it to the people on his North Carolina route. Customers are grateful. The DMA., however, is not amused. "Mailman Steve" was given probation in federal court this week for squirreling away at least seven years' worth of undelivered junk mail, which he had stacked in his garage and buried in his yard." That 'Mailman Steve' should get a commendation," one of hundreds of people who contacted local news media to praise Padgett. "Steve Padgett for President!" another reader wrote. Others offered to help cover Padgett's legal fees, to nominate him for awards and to ask that he deliver mail in their neighborhoods, the paper reported. |

Postal Service Goes After DHL Shipping Business With Ad Campaign
Postal service could be forced to shorten hours

Rural carrier dies in crash

November 21, 2008

Buying One stamp? Not A whole Book? Get In Line! |
Rural mail carrier's car catches on fire

USPS Closing Chattanooga Remote Encoding Center in 2009 |
Postal service cuts back routes, boxes |

Postal Carrier Delivers Stroke Victim To Help

NAPUS, USPS Quarterly Consultative Meeting Minutes

November 20, 2008

Union Decries Conditions For Postal Workers

Arthur Prouse president of the APWU in Albuquerque, NM said clerks aren't getting restroom breaks and injured carriers are filling in as clerks, which is against their contract. Some postal carriers are out until 1:30 a.m. delivering mail, using miner flashlights to see. "At some of the stations around the city, there's mail that's been sitting there for three weeks, including prescription medication," he said. And at the post office, customers are waiting in longer lines because of understaffing. |

USPS Says It Needs To Eliminate 9,200 City Carrier Routes in FY 2009 - The USPS today at the MTAC meeting announced an unprecedented route adjustment process as a result of a joint effort between the USPS and the NALC. The USPS said it needs to eliminate 9200 city carrier routes in FY 2009 in order to meet its budget goals. It said the route adjustments could impact 50 million addresses, 85,000-90,000 carrier routes and 5,000 delivery units. The USPS already has eliminated 1100 routes a change that took effect November 15. |

New T-3 Delivery Vehicles Go Into Service

The vehicle being tested has a top speed of 25 mph (for safety reasons, USPS production T3s will run at half that speed). And with field-swappable batteries, it’s got unlimited range. The USPS version includes a solar powered anti-theft secured mail cart that can carry up to 450 pounds. The zero emissions vehicle is part of the Postal Service's commitment to reduce energy consumption and environmental impacts 30 percent by the year 2015. See Photos |

APWU: Union Members to Gather for Obama Inauguration |

Mailman assaulted in Va. Beach

USPS to Get the Lead Out of Vehicle Wheels

Uniform and Work Clothes Program Allowances Under the USPS-APWU

Postal Bulletin 11/20/08 Issue

Postal, Federal Employees Can Now Wear Election Gear

Smaller Postal Rate Hikes?

Postage stamp planned for Bob Hope

November 19, 2008

Mail Carrier Charged With Smoking, Delivering Crack |

Mailman Steve' gets probation for delaying/destroying mail |

USPS To Honor Colfax Mail Carrier Hero

Van Buren mailman charged with DWI

Making the million mile mark

Maine: Postal worker pleads guilty to card thefts

New Slim-jim Standards Nearly in Sight

November 18, 2008

APWU: USPS Denies Existence of Program to Eliminate Tour 2

In response to an inquiry from APWU President Burrus, the Postal Service has denied that it is “considering or is in the process of implementing a nationwide program establishing a two-tour operation, which is intended to eliminate or greatly reduce Tour 2 assignments, operations, and staffing. |

Postal Employee Groups, Unions and Mailers Urge Congress to Assist USPS Finances (PDF) - U.S. Postal Unions and Mailers have urged Congress, through a joint letter, to assist the Postal Service with its actuarial unfunded liability for retiree health insurance coverage. As a result of the Postal Reform legislation passed in 2006, the USPS is on a 10-year payment schedule that has now become unrealistic. The payment schedule adjustment proposed by the Postal Service would preserve the full funding of retiree health benefits, but would lessen the financial demand during the short-term financial troubles. Over 45 Postal unions, management organizations, and mailers have co-signed the letter, which is being delivered to the leadership of both the House and Senate. ‘Stakeholders’ Urge Congress To Give USPS Legislative Relief | Legislative change sought by USPS |

Ex-Postmaster Gets Prison For $53,000 Theft

A former postmaster in southwest Missouri is sentenced to five months in federal prison for stealing nearly $53,000 in postal funds during 2006. |

USPS Helps the Environment and Aims to Cut Costs with Green Routes

NPMHU: BMC Task Force Adopts Action Plan to Deal With Subcontracting

Olympia: Picketers oppose Postal Service merging

Green Your Holidays With Earth911.com and the USPS

November 17, 2008

Postal Service Investigates PMG's Countrywide VIP Mortgage

The Postal Service is investigating whether the nation's postmaster general improperly received a sweetheart deal on a mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corp., the chairman of the service's governing board said. Postmaster General John E. Potter is one of several prominent current and former U.S. officials who received discounts and other benefits from the mortgage giant. The Postal Service has hired an outside investigator to review the deal, which reportedly included one shaved point and waived fees for Potter's $322,700 loan." We're taking it seriously enough that we wanted it reviewed and we didn't want it done internally," the chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors, Alan Kessler, told The Associated Press. | Comments (139)

Some post offices trim hours, routes

Former Mobile postal carrier gets prison term
Dangerous Deliveries

November 16, 2008

Next Up For Bailout? USPS

Add the U.S. Postal Service to the list of ailing businesses seeking help from Congress. The agency asked Congress last week to allow it to dip into a trust fund to pay for its retirees’ health care. In addition, the agency plans to cut 100 million work hours this fiscal year, its board of governors announced last week. The Postal Service also plans to cut 100 million work hours this fiscal year, double the number it eliminated in fiscal 2008. The cuts would save billions of dollars; postal officials won’t say exactly how they plan to achieve them. “We have discussed with our unions new ways to align our work schedules,” Postmaster General John Potter said. |

Another Intelligent Mail Barcode Delay?

Post office: Take unwanted mail home

Obama Names Transition Team Leader for USPS and PRC

NALC Branch 3825: Interim Route Adjustment Data Instruction Guide (PDF)

Postal worker recognized for heroic actions

Postmasters once core of vast patronage system
Beware of scams involving U.S. Postal Service jobs
NAPUS eNewsletter: Postal Stimulation

November 15, 2008

Trenton APWU: Tour Compression, Two Tour Initiative |

Maine: Mail processors picket over changes

Not All Magazines Doing Badly

Louisville: 300 mailboxes to vanish

Detroit: Letter Carrier Robbed

E-Billing Saves More Than Trees

November 14, 2008

New Bush Rules Narrow Family Leave for Workers
(AFL-CIO Blog) "As part of its last-minute move to push dozens of pro-business regulations onto the books before it leaves office, the Bush administration today issued new finalized rules for the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that will make it tougher for some 77 million workers to use leave when they need to take care of themselves or family members." APWU: Bush’s Lame Duck Labor Department To Implement Onerous FMLA Rule Changes | Final U.S. Department Of Labor FMLA Regulations | FMLA Regulations (PDF) |

USPS to Change Shipping Prices in January

2 sentenced for $67,000 postal theft

Postal Carrier jailed for stealing credit cards on mail route

Illinois: DeKalb, Sycamore Post Offices suffer from decline in mail volume

USPS Seeks to Realign Its Retiree Health Benefit Obligations
Board of Governors' FY 2008 Year End Review (PDF)

November 13, 2008

USPS Reports $2.8 Billion Year-End Loss

The Postal Service concluded fiscal year 2008 with a net loss of $2.8 billion as the national economic slowdown lowered mail volume and as the Postal Service bore additional costs mandated by the Postal Act of 2006.The loss occurred despite more than $2 billion in cost-cutting measures that included the use of 50 million fewer workhours compared to the previous year. |

Mail Delivery Dilemma in Connecticut
Postal worker honored for helping shooting victim
Letter carrier fired after mail dumped in the desert

Miami Postal Employee Finds Wandering Toddler

November 12, 2008

40,000 Layoffs at the Postal Service – NOT TRUE
A news story currently in wide circulation is reporting that the Postal Service will soon layoff 40,000 employees. This story is not accurate. Originating out of Shreveport, LA, the story does quote a Postal Service spokesperson. Unfortunately, that spokesperson was in error. The Postal Service is not laying off employees. Efforts to match our workforce to a reduced workload are focused on voluntary early retirements. Voluntary early retirement has been offered to a number of employees and to date, 3,685 employees have accepted the offer. |

Election Results Could Mean Change for the Postal Service |

What needs a bailout? The post office |

USPS sees huge drop in deliveries due to crisis

Who really needs the Post Office anymore? Certainly not me

The Check Is Less Often in the Mail

November 11, 2008

Sorting Through A Sickness

Nationwide, hundreds of postal employees say they're ill with what they call severe, mysterious, respiratory problems. Many of them are right here in the Chicago area. More than 450 employees and former employees on a petition to occupational health officials and postal unions blame health concerns on paper dust fibers inside post offices. Several are fighting for health benefits. They blame their illnesses on dust from letter sorting machines. They showed ABC7 dusty filters that workers say used to be in the sorting machines. |

Carrier Optimal Routing Presentation (PDF)
One example: COR Generated Route Structure at 90% FSS and 95% DPS Letters. Route Reduction from 32 Routes to 19 Routes. |

NPR: 'Return To Sender' Contest Pushes USPS Limits - contest challenged readers to send any "mailable" item through the postal system without packaging

Postal Service wants software to help procurement

November 10, 2008

Chicago Postal Managers Meeting On FSS, Pay Freeze, VER

This is what was discussed at a meeting of all District Managers and Plant Managers held in Chicago last week: 7000 to 9000 routes have to be removed in FY 09.We need to cut our compliment by 64,600 employees this FY. Only 8,500 took the VERA, the goal was 40,000. |

RIF Competitive Areas for the Postal Service

Shiloh mayor upset with postmaster

New mass-mail rules require more-frequent database scrubs

Orting corrals post office into branding

November 9, 2008

NALC's Young doesn't expect any layoffs of career city letter carriers (PDF) |

November 8, 2008

Postal Worker Sent Home For Wearing President-Elect Obama T-Shirt

Fifty-year old Roger Thompson works at the main post office in downtown Jackson. (Miss.) Thompson said workers were told Friday that they could not wear President-Elect Obama T-shirts, hats or other paraphernalia. He says the post office plant manager told employees they would receive disciplinary action if they wore Obama attire because some workers complained that it upset them. He feels his rights are being violated. USPS explains political clothing ban |US Office of Special Counsel: [link corrected] Wearing or Displaying Presidential Candidate Items after the Election is not prohibited (PDF) |

Expect Less Junk in the Mail As Marketers Continue Cutbacks
Marketers are generally a persistent lot, but they're beginning to think that bombarding your mailbox might not be worth it... Catalogue companies, already pinched by a postal rate increase last year, began scaling back earlier this year. "All of the catalogers I'm talking to are working to reduce their dependence on mail," said Hamilton Davison, executive director of the American Catalog Mailers Association, which estimates that companies spend $5.6 billion on postage annually. The industry is feverishly trying to figure out a way to find viable [customers] in other ways and when it does there'll be an enormous migration away from mail. The Earnings Warning Hiding in Your Mailbox |

Two Massachusetts Postal Workers Charged With Selling Drugs At Work |

Interim Route Adjustment Process Field Report (PDF) |

Contract mail carrier accused of stealing dog |

USPS Scraps Western Iowa Consolidation Plan

November 7, 2008

Suspension Of Mail Delivery After Fatal Shooting Triggers Outrage From Residents - Postal authorities informed the management at Mar Vista Gardens that their mail carrier would no longer be making door-to-door mail deliveries following a fatal shooting at the apartment complex. The letter carrier and her supervisor also alleged that the carrier had been the victim of harassment by gang members in the complex and that unattended dogs had attacked other carriers. Armed housing agents subsequently accompanied a substitute carrier for a few weeks before postal officials informed the residents that they would be required to journey to Culver City to retrieve their mail. |

Former New Jersey NALC Branch Officer Pleads Guilty To Embezzling Union Funds - A mailman from Hopatcong who also served served as secretary-treasurer of NALC Branch 272 pleaded guilty yesterday to a federal embezzlement charge. Kevin Sherlock admitted to U.S. District Judge William Martini in Newark that he used two union-issued credit cards to ring up $45,000 in purchases for personal use. Prosecutors said he spent $45,000 of the local's money on meals, gas and alcohol between 2001 and 2005 |

Postal worker helps foil attempted child abduction

Postal Bulletin 11/06/08 Issue

Prison for Odessa carrier over undelivered mail

November 6, 2008

APWU: Union Requests Documentation of Supervisors Performing Bargaining Unit Work in Small Offices - The information is necessary to determine whether the Postal Service has violated the contract at these offices," Burrus said, noting that Article 1.6.A and 1.6.B of the Collective Bargaining Agreement restrict the circumstances under which management personnel can perform craft work. Article 1.6.A. prohibits supervisors from performing craft work - except in an emergency; for training purposes; to assure proper operation of equipment, or to protect the safety of employees and postal property. The information we have requested will help us determine whether management is shifting work from craft employees to supervisory employees,” Burrus said. “In this time of financial difficulty for the Postal Service, we are determined to protect APWU members’ jobs. |

Burrus Hails Election Results As Signifying ‘The System Has Changed’ - America came together last night, and perhaps has begun a new chapter in the history of our democracy,” APWU President William Burrus said during a celebration at union headquarters on Wednesday. “We have turned a page. Leaders in this country can be elected on their merits and not on their politics. NALC: Young Applauds Obama Election | NPMHU: Victory for Obama is Win for Working Families| NAPUS: Presidential Elections Have Postal Consequences |

ZIP, the post office is gone

Confusion Reigns Over Intelligent Mail Barcodes

Overnight Shipping Overview : FedEx vs. UPS vs. USPS

Dogs clash with mail carriers -- and it's no joke

New Los Altos postmaster looks to deliver

November 5, 2008

Management Groups Complain to BOG, PRC (PDF)

NAPUS, NAPS and League of Postmasters Presidents send letter to Chairman of the Board Governors and the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission concerning the degradation of the consultative process.. | Comments (55)

OIG Investigators Crack Bribery/Kickback Conspiracy (PDF)
"It could have been a storyline taken right from the hit show the Sopranos with conspiracy, kickbacks, intimidation, free services (like car repairs) in exchange for contracts, cash transactions and even payment for a wedding. Only the former Post Office Operations Manager (POOM) in this story ended up somewhere Tony Soprano normally never did, in jail! He, along with several New Jersey businessmen and other postal employees took part in an 8-year conspiracy to try and defraud the Postal Service of hundreds of thousands of dollars." archive: Postmaster Indicted in Sack of Scams | Comments (35)

NALC: Contract COLA: 0%

Interim Alternate Route Adjustment Training (PDF)

Key West moves the mail with electricity

W.Va. postal employee pleads guilty to theft

USPS Board of Governors to Meet Nov. 12-13

Inquiry triggers closure of Gales Creek post office

If postal facility opens, neighbors fear clogged, noisy roads

November 4, 2008

President-Elect Barack Obama

Sen. Barack Obama defeated Sen. John McCain to become the next U.S. president. Projected wins in West Coast states helped give the Democrat the magic number of electoral votes. McCain concedes . Comments from Obama in a recent MSNBC interview: Can you give me an example of how you would make agencies better at doing what they're supposed to do? Answer: "While there are examples of that all throughout our government that can remove bureaucracy, eliminate red tape, make the whole process more customer friendly. Anybody's who's gone to the post office and wants to buy some stamps and you're trying to figure out the machine, it's not working properly, the lines are long. There's no reason why we can't make operations like that more efficient and work better." | Comments (468)

Postal worker loses job over illegal disclosure
A Watkins Glen (NY) post office employee who admitted disclosing confidential information on the job avoided prison but lost his job when he was sentenced in federal court.. The employee illegally told a customer that their post office box was being monitored by the postmaster during an ongoing investigation. | Comments (31)

70-year-old Letter Carrier honored for 50 years of service

TSP funds continue to slide in October

South Carolina postal worker charged with stealing mail

Postal Service Abandons Plan to Consolidate Aberdeen Mail Center

Postal Service to keep Sioux City mail center open

Winn-Dixie Joins 'Stamps to Go'

Mailing options taking toll on USPS

Postage-due political mailings spark 'chaos'

APWU: Today's the day: Vote!

Mail delivery in limbo

November 3, 2008

Ex-postal worker sentenced for assaults

The former officer-in-charge of the Kipnuk (Alaska) post office has been sentenced in federal court to five years of probation following his conviction on charges he assaulted and intimidated two of his female postal employees. |

Arbitrator Orders USPS to Revise Certain FMLA Form Letters
In a recent national-level arbitration award, arbitrator Dennis Nolan ruled that certain form letters that the Postal Service planned to use when employees seek family and medical leave violate the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The arbitrator ordered the Postal Service to revise the form letters as necessary to comply with the law. Award Summary

Region tests new postal vehicle

Postmaster closing in on fund-raising goal

November 2, 2008

E-Mail Greener Than Mail? Measuring Proves Elusive

November 1, 2008

250 HQ Postal Employees Could Lose Jobs |

13,000 pieces of mail found in van of former contract carrier |
Delivering mail goes electric with T3 vehicle