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PMG Potter To Retire Effective December 3, 2010

After nearly 10 years as U.S. Postmaster General and CEO of the U.S. Postal Service, John E. Potter today announced that he will retire on Dec. 3, after 32 years of service. The Governors of the Postal Service named Patrick R. Donahoe, currently Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Operating Officer, to succeed Potter |

Postal Service Echoes Enron Abuses - The need for reform at the top and a complete overhaul of the current USPS culture is evident when you look at the scandals revealed recently, including the Bob Bernstock scandal in July, |

PMG Potter: Give U.S. Postal Service The Freedom To Compete |

USPS Has Too Many Supervisors And Too Many Employees, Congressman Says -"The Post Office has 200,000 people who should be retiring," Rep. Darrell Issa said in a speech Wednesday to The Heritage Foundation. USPS had 568,301 employees at the end of August. "When I say retiring I mean we don’t need them. But let’s bear in mind it’s just not the guy at the post office; it’s the thousands of people who are doing maintenance at post offices that we don’t need to have so many of." |

Former Oklahoma Postmaster Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $642,808 From Bulk Mail Customers |

Senator Collins: OIG Audit Shows Stunning Evidence Of Excessive Postal Execs Perks - The U.S. Postal Service pays 100 percent of health insurance premiums for 835 of its top employees, an expensive perk that occurs at no other federal agency, . Archive: Postal Execs Compensation & Perks Reported Last Year | Audit: Ex-Postal Service execs return as private contractors, make more money | Ex-postal executives return for high-pay contracts |

GOP Rep. Darrell Issa: Time for another government bailout

Postal employees have incentives for holding tight to negotiating positions. NALC responds to recent media attacks on postal workers |

Postmaster General Addresses Need for Fundamental Change |

OIG Says USPS Overfunded Its FERS Retirement Obligations By $6.8 Billion |

Postal Service's History of Seeking Five-Day Delivery to Cure Financial Woes

Top USPS Attorney Says They Are Two Sets Of Rules Governing Use Of Postal Equipment - Replace a broken USPS - Letter to the Editor of the Washington Times by Wayne L. Johnson, Commander, Navy Judge Advocate General's Corps (retired) |

Appeals Court Uphold Removal of Postal Manager For Falsifying Timecard

Board Of Governors Chairman Remarks On USPS Need To Act Like A Business |

Arbitrator Limits Abusive Postal Supervisor’s Contact With Carriers |Comments

USPS Attendance Control Crackdown 2010 - Letter sent out from Area VP to District Managers |

If There Is No Work For Postal Clerks, Why Are Supervisors, Carriers Doing It?

By Stephen Lysaght, President, APWU East Bay Area Local |

October 3, 2010

Postal Workers Lawsuit Requesting Class Action Charging USPS With Labor Violations Is Denied

A federal judge in Texarkana (TX) denied a request to certify a civil suit filed by seven U.S. Postal Service mail carriers as a class action lawsuit. The suit alleged the carriers had been forced to work more than 40 hours per week without overtime compensation, had timecards altered to their detriment by a supervisor, been forced to work through lunch to complete their routes and been required to work off the clock. USPS argued that it does try to build in a thirty-minute lunch break into City Carrier routes although there is no guarantee a particular city carrier will get the break Archive: Postal Workers Lawsuit On Labor Violations Covers 5 States |

Former Tanacross, AK postal worker accused of theft

			*November 30, 2010* **Chaffetz calls Postmaster General's retirement package 'ridiculous Rep. Jason Chaffetz called the $5.5 million retirement package for outgoing Postmaster General John Potter absurd and unfair in the wake of the United States Postal Service’s announcement that it had lost $8.5 billion this year. “That was ridiculous,” Chaffetz said in a phone interview with The Daily Caller. “It doesn’t seem fair to anybody.” \| National Deficit Commission Proposed Big Hits on Feds and Postal Workers, Retirees - From an archived Legislative report from NAPS: The co-chairs of the National Commission on Fiscal Responsibility released their recommendations for significant savings in federal spending. As feared, the proposals would bring significant pain to the active and retired federal and postal workforce. NALC: Proposed Federal Pay Freeze Does Not Include Postal Workers \| Postal employee sentenced for stealing 11000 packages OIG Intelligent Mail Report and Recommendations Wisconsin Postal Worker Charged With Theft From Mail Wisconsin: Congressman Blasts Process for Moving Oshkosh Postal Facility, Requests Audit California: Carlsbad letter carrier celebrates 50 years on the job Wallingford KY Post Office finances under scrutiny Twin Falls Mail Carriers Brave The Cold Mail truck catches fire in Billings Mail truck flips, closes Interstate 10 ramp in Louisiana Mail Thefts Worry Wichita Residents**
			*November 29, 2010* Contract Talks Approach Deadline; USPS Extends Bidding Union and management representatives continued bargaining Nov. 30, and will meet again on Dec. 1 — the day the contract is set to expire. “The final days of contract negotiations are always the toughest, and that’s where we’re at,” APWU President Cliff Guffey said. APWU Contract Negotiations Resume The union and management discussed returning subcontracted work to USPS employees and issues related to workforce structure, as well as pay and benefits. “The APWU is seeking an agreemen t that will benefit our members and the Postal Service,” APWU President Cliff Guffey said. \| Obama Proposes 2-Year Pay Freeze For All Civilian Federal Employees The President has decided to propose a freeze in civilian pay for federal employees for two years, 2011 and 2012. Upon taking office, the President froze salaries for all senior White House officials; in last year’s budget, he proposed to extend this freeze to other top political appointees; and he eliminated bonuses for all political appointees. \| It Will Not Affect Postal Workers - It would not affect members of Congress or their staffs, defense contractors, postal workers or federal court judges and workers. \| Postal Inspectors Investigate How Sensitive Mail Ended Up In Charlotte Man's Hands - Chris had picked up the trays for his business...every piece of mail he found is addressed to a Charlotte P.O. box, mostly businesses, and was postmarked in September. It all appeared damaged, and many pieces were open. The stack included a check for $96,000, sent from the Logan County School District in West Virginia. Another piece, addressed to Humana, had multiple checks for more than $1,000 and that's not all." But then you have this other big wad of paper that falls out, and it's just paper after paper with social security numbers," Chris said. \| OSHA levies $46,200 in proposed penalties against U. S. Postal Service in Des Moines, Iowa - OSHA initiated an investigation in October at the Des Moines facility following a complaint alleging a lack of powered industrial truck training and operation deficiencies. The serious citations include failing to provide refresher training when workers were observed operating powered industrial trucks in an unsafe manner and to certify that workers were properly trained. \| Residents Demand Postmaster General Reopen Post Office A group of Flushing residents in West Virginia want the U.S. Postal Service to reopen their post office because they believe it was not closed via the proper channels. Sandy Kidd wrote a letter to Postmaster General John Potter claiming the Postal Service 'deprived the citizens of our post office by circumventing the law governing the closing or consolidation of our post office and unjustifiably closed our post office to save money. \| Postal Service IG examines cyber incident data - Nextgov USPS sued by customer who slips in rain puddle Saginaw: Postal Service May Cut Jobs; Public Meeting Set USPS Getting Ready for the Most Wonderful Time of Year A destination to avoid when sending holiday packages High Costs and Lack of Training are Barriers to Intelligent Mail Arkansas woman recalls career as postmaster Closing post offices more harm than good Residents turn out for letter carrier's retirement
			*November 28, 2010* The real facts and figures behind the Postal Service Editorial by Mark Strong, President National League of Postmasters - Myths about the U.S. Postal Service fly fast and far these days. For instance, you have may have heard that there are 36,000 post offices in the U.S., which is more retail outlets than Wal-Mart, Starbucks and McDonald's combined. In addition, many of these post offices are labeled "money losers." These statements, made more to shock than inform, are not accurate. \| OIG Audits: U.S. Postal Service spent too much on FedEx ...in a series of internal audits it has identified $millions in unnecessary expenses linked to its lack of diligence under its FedEx mail-hauling contract. The Inspector General of the U.S. Postal Service audited all eight Postal Service regions across the country and found the same problems in each region: Mail that should have been shipped by surface transportation found its way onto expensive FedEx jets. First-class mail that could have been sent on cheaper commercial airlines instead went on FedEx jets. \| Imagine A Saturday Without Mail (NPR) Delivering mail house to house, six days a week, is something letter carriers guarantee. But in these days of FedEx, e-mail and online bill-paying services, there's not as much mail to deliver. \| Packages left on porch like presents for thieves This holiday season, keep in mind that the package left on your front porch might be on someone else’s shopping list. Police and delivery companies say that package thefts are, fortunately, infrequent. \| Police calm man upset with carrier Why I Cannot Stand Giving A Holiday Tip To My Mailman Songs We Love: Going Postal The Loss Of Its Post Office Changes W.Va. Town Stimulating stimulus -75th Anniversary of WPA and its legacy of murals When You Care Enough To Send ... An E-Card
			*November 27, 2010* Henning: Violent post office deaths haunt residents every day SUV Goes Through Post Office The Loss Of Its Post Office Changes W.Va. Town
			*November 26, 2010* Post Office Cuts Cause Economic, Emotional Blow Faced with an $8.5 billion loss, the U.S. Postal Service has been cutting back: slashing hours, combining routes and closing offices. In East Cleveland, Ohio, the city's only post office has been downsized from nearly 100 employees to just one. \| *USPS Hires Top Legal Firms To Battle PRC in Court* *Atlanta: Postal Service Investigates Mail Thefts*
			*November 25, 2010* NAPS Members Unhappy With USPS Reduction Of Management Positions During Holiday Season -- Our concern is that simply that our folks in the field will be asked to do more with less. Considering the strained nature of our workforce and infrastructure it would be unwise in my opinion and the opinion of our membership to potentially jeopardize our ability to meet our Universal Service Obligation. \| Postal service disputes union claims of delayed mail (Chicago) USPS says only on a rare occasion has first class mail been delayed -The union alleges the amount of delayed first-class mail in ZIP codes starting with 600 mail that's delivered at least a day late has grown from about 30,000 pieces daily from July to October to between 100,000 and 150,000 pieces each day this month. “There is mail there in Carol Stream that should be delivered the next day, but it's not,” said Jackie Engelhart, president of the American Postal Workers Union's Northwest Illinois Area Local chapter. “(The postal service) said there'd be no degradation of service and there has been. She said more than a dozen career employees were given the option of either relocating to another state or becoming part-time regulars. Those who chose to stay saw their hours cut to just a handful a week, she said. \| USPS On-Rolls and Paid Employees Stats Oct. 2010 (PDF) Going Postal: Mail Stickers as Street Art 43 postal jobs eliminated in Honolulu, transfers could mean going to US mainland Filipino Postal Workers In San Francisco Protest Cuts Canada: Mail delivery resumes after walkout Which Shipping Company is Kindest to Your Packages Netflix's Move Onto the Web Stirs Rivalries
			November 24, 2010 After Losing Billions, Retiring With Incentives, Potter Tells Other Execs Bonuses To Be Tied To USPS Finances - note: Postal Executives Salaries Increased over the past three years- Outgoing U.S. Postmaster John E. "Jack" Potter, who earned nearly a quarter million dollars in incentive pay in 2010 on top of a $273,000 salary, is telling fellow Postal Service executives that from now on bonuses and salary increases will be tied to the agency's financial condition. Mr. Potter said in a memo obtained by The Washington Times that for fiscal 2011, the Postal Service's Board of Governors had decided that "all future officer executive pay and incentives will be linked to the Postal Service's financial condition. \| USPS To Begin Bargaining With Postmasters After Settlement With APWU The Postmasters League is in receipt of a letter from Doug Tulino, VP, Labor Relations regarding the expiration of the EAS Pay Package (2007-2010). The letter states in part that "..the Postal Service will begin consultation with NAPUS concerning pay policies and fringe benefits after the Postal Service concludes a collective bargaining agreement with the American Postal Workers Union (APWU), the union that currently represents the largest number of employees. Postmasters will still get their bonuses in January 2011. \| OIG: USPS Could Have Saved $122 Million In FY 2009 By Using Lower Costs Employees To Deliver Mail - Our analysis identified that, during FY 2009, city delivery supervisors scheduled full-time city delivery carriers to use overtime hours to deliver the mail on city routes. Management actually expended overtime hours at a cost of more than $282 million, rather than use available and lower-cost PTF and transitional straight-time workhours at a cost of about $160 million. Using the lower cost employees would have saved approximately $122 million. \| PMG Potter Honored With Lifetime Membership In Mailers Group USPS Entry Exams Now Online Postal Service Criticized at Meeting on Oshkosh Mail Facility
			November 23, 2010 Rural carriers reject USPS proposal for wage freeze, benefits cuts U.S. Postal Service proposals to freeze wages, cut benefits for current career employees, and create a lower wage scale for new hires are among factors that led to an impasse Saturday in contract talks with the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association, according to an announcement to union members obtained by Federal Times.\| APWU: Contract Negotiations Extended to Dec. 1 Negotiators for the union and the U.S. Postal Service have extended their Collective Bargaining Agreement for a second time, until Dec. 1, and will continue bargaining on Monday, Nov. 29, APWU President Cliff Guffey announced today. “Although we have not yet reached agreement, we remain hopeful that we can arrive at a settlement,” he said. \| Former APWU National Officer Found Guilty For Theft Of Union Funds "After less than half an hour of deliberation, a federal jury has convicted a former postal union officer for submitting false travel receipts seeking and obtaining more than $10,000 in union funds in reimbursement. Frankie Sanders faces a maximum penalty of five years imprisonment and/or a $250,000 fine for the theft of union funds conviction." \| Fear Grips Tennessee Town After Post Office Slayings It's been a month since two female postal workers were fatally shot while at work in Henning, Tenn., and the town of 1,200 nestled between Highway 51 and a line of often-used railroad tracks may never be the same. People are afraid and frustrated: Investigators have hinted that the killer or killers may be among them, and authorities say with certainty that someone in the town must at least know what happened. \| Postal Worker Late On Day Car Crashes Into PO May Have Saved His Life "Police removed an SUV that crashed into a Post Office in Roosevelt, Long Island, The car broke through the wall of the building, bringing down bricks and cinderblock with it. A postal worker, Terry Owens of Levittown, N.Y., normally would have been at his desk where the car crashed, but luckily he was late that day. "I would have been dead ... I would have been gone," Owens said." \| Family wins $11.6 Million lawsuit against Postal Service A federal judge in Athens has ordered the US Postal Service to pay $11.6 million to a woman and her son who were injured in a highway accident in Monroe. \| Postal Service continues rate case appeal Editorial: Postal Service choice betrays Oshkosh Texas Letter Carrier Pleads Guilty To Stealing Mail
			November 22, 2010 NALC: USPS News Release On Contract Negotiations Is Full Of Spin And Distortions - and distortions aimed at influencing public opinion. NALC wants its members to know that we are responding to press inquiries regarding the USPS release as follows: The Postal Services spins the issue of eliminating Saturday delivery by claiming that the public favors 5-day delivery over using taxpayer funds and other alternatives. In fact, as the USPS well knows, the Postal Service has not used a dime of taxpayer money for 25 years, and no one is proposing that it do so now. \| U.S. Postal Service Labor Negotiations Fact Sheet The Postal Service’s goal is to negotiate a contract that’s fair to its customers and its employees while meeting its financial and operational needs. \| Oshkosh Postal Workers Picket to Save Mail Processing Plant Postal Worker Herbert Garvin Delivers Hundreds of Holiday Turkeys Rural Vermont post offices could be slated to close Florida Letter Carrier Featured On “This American Life” Season’s Greenings from the U.S. Postal Service Netflix Adds Streaming-Only Plan, Raises Prices For DVDs Sent Through USPS Editorial: Let the post office change its business Mail Time: Day starts early for local postal workers
			November 21, 2010 APWU Negotiations Contract Extended to Nov. 23; Union, USPS to Continue Talks - APWU President Cliff Guffey announced that the union and Postal Service have extended their Collective Bargaining Agreement through Tuesday, Nov. 23, at noon. The contract was scheduled to expire Nov. 20.“We do not have a new contract,” Guffey said, “but we believe there is still potential to negotiate an agreement. The union and management will continue to discuss the topics that remain in dispute.” \| USPS, Rural Carriers Union Contract Talks Reach Impasse a process begins which could result in a third party determining contract terms and work rules. \| APWU Contract: Facing a Tradeoff APWU President Cliff Guffey and his leadership team have a difficult job in these negotiations as the cards that the APWU has going into arbitration are weak. Possibly even more difficult is trying to sell to the rank and file a negotiated contract that introduces wages and benefits for new employees at lower levels that those that existing employees now receive while existing employees receive relatively limited assurances of job security given an expected increase in the pace of plant consolidation. \| USPS Speeds Up FSS Start-Ups After starting up just seven Flats Sequencing System machines in the past six months, the U.S. Postal Service says it will have another 10 handling live mail by the end of this month. \| Letters: Postal study jeopardizes facility
			November 20, 2010 NALC: Congresswoman Virginia Foxx’s Tasteless And Demeaning Comments About Postal Workers - During a November 18 House debate, North Carolina Rep. Virginia Foxx (R-5th) engaged in an anti-union screed that lasted several minutes. After attacking the pay and benefits of federal workers, she said that they also have too much job security. “Short of shooting up a post office,” Foxx said, "government workers rarely get fired or laid off." "Foxx's statements about unions are factually wrong and her reference to workplace shootings in post offices was tasteless and demeaning to hard-working postal employees," National Association of Letter Carriers President Fredric V. Rolando said. "Her comments were morbidly disrespectful to those postal employees and their families who have been the victims of shootings. \| APWU Joins UNI Discussion Of Future of Women in the Workforce
			November 19, 2010 Sen. Carper: To Save Postal Service, Modernize The inscription doesn’t say anything about e-mail, the Internet, Facebook, Twitter, FedEx or UPS keeping couriers from their rounds. But times are changing. People are moving into the 21st century — and it’s time the U.S. Postal Service did as well. PR note: I wonder if changing means passing legislation like Carper and his fellow Senators signed in 2006. At the time it was considered the historic Postal Reform Act of 2006, a bill to save a $900 Billion industry and put USPS on the road to financial stability. What a difference fours years can make on USPS finances. \| Postal service says carrier acts disrupting mail service are rare Congressman pushes Postal Service for Healdsburg meeting It's in the mail ... finally - Candidate's campaign mailings reach homes weeks after election Details slim as public hearing nears on Oshkosh mail consolidation to Green Bay Lack of sponsor means no postal service food drive
			November 18, 2010 NAPUS Expresses Outrage Over Retention Payments to USPS Executives Earlier this year Mr. Vegliante placed a freeze on all Postmaster vacancies, creating management and service instability in more than 3,000 post offices across the nation. During FY-2009, the Pay-for- Performance ratings for Postmasters were arbitrarily lowered, resulting in a record number of Postmasters receiving no pay increase. NAPUS is opposed to providing financial incentives to retain it’s top paid officers, which is not in the best interest of the Postal Service when we are facing financial turmoil. \| *Missing Walmart coupons land an Texas Postal Supervisor In Hot Water* Authorities issued a warrant for the arrest of a U.S. Postal Service supervisor, suspected of taking more than 100 Walmart gift coupons. The man is accused of misdemeanor theft related to more than $500 worth of the coupons that had been sent through the mail, San Patricio County Attorney David Aken said. \| *NALC: The Real Story Is USPS 2010 Losses Amounted To $500 Million* ... still a lot of money, but considerably lower than $8.5 billion, and down by more than 50 percent from last year’s $1.1 billion loss. Media coverage of the report predictably focused on its negatives—the historically high figure is undeniably a headline-grabber—and news stories, shying away from the somewhat harder analysis the report demanded, laid the blame for the losses on the ever-rising use of e-mail, text messaging and paying bills online as a substitute for communicating via postal mail. But take away two key complications that are completely beyond the Service’s control, and you’re left with the real story: that postal losses instead amounted to about $500 million... \| *USPS Opposes Mailer Groups’ Request To Intervene In Rate Case Appeal* Postcom.org - These eleven would-be intervenors were not “parties” below; they were merely commenters. Accordingly, they are not entitled to intervene as of right. Further, allowing a host of mere commenters to intervene permissively in this review proceeding would unduly burden the original parties and this Court, interfering with the Court’s ability to resolve this petition with the expeditiousness the Court has already recognized is needed. Therefore, the motions should be denied. . \| *Michigan Postal Worker Suffers Heart Attack, Saved By Coworkers* A postal worker was saved by coworkers and police after he collapsed from a heart attack Wednesday, police said. Police said Tom Krause told his coworkers he was not feeling well earlier in the day. He was headed outside to get some fresh air when he collapsed by the door. \| *Pennsylvania Postal Worker Indicted On Charges Of Obstructing and Delaying Mail* *Relatives of Slain Henning Postal Workers Speak Out* USPS Celebrates Success Of Priority Mail Flat Rate Boxes Louisiana Postal contract driver given 6-month prison sentence in mail theft case Former Hingham letter carrier defends posting video
			November 17, 2010 Retiring postmaster general gets another big payday amid financial crisis Outgoing U.S. Postmaster General John E. Potter earned nearly $800,000 last year - an increase of more than $60,000 over the previous year - as the U.S. Postal Service faces the worst financial crisis in its history. Citing Mr. Potter's "extraordinary leadership during the difficult and unprecedented economic challenges of 2010," the Postal Service Board of Governors said in a recent regulatory filing that "it was appropriate" to award him $228,000 in incentive money \| APWU Negotiations Update: Union Pushes for Job Security Guffey and other members of the union’s negotiating team discussed their efforts to protect work performed by APWU members and to defend jobs. “Every proposal we have made to secure work for our members will also save the Postal Service money,” he said. “If we are forced to go to arbitration, that will be a powerful argument,” said Director of Industrial Relations Mike Morris. \| OSHA proposes $287,000 in fines against USPS in Bluefield, W.Va., for exposing workers to electrical hazards USPS may move its Victoria mail processing to Corpus Christi Milwaukee: Postal Service to transfer 35 metro area jobs D.C. postal workers injured in storms Illinois letter carrier pleads guilty to stealing mail USPS study finds consolidation could save money, eliminate Saginaw positions California: Ukiah Postal clerk says downtown post office to be closed Judge orders Akron postal worker to repay nearly $15,000 in fraud case The Social Value of Mail Sticky Mail Boxes Raise Theft Concern Third mail collection box stolen in Phoenix Postal trainee loses job after he's caught trashing mail
			November 16, 2010 USPS Revamps ‘How-To’ Direct Mail Website New residents threatened with loss of mail delivery if they don't put up curbside mailboxes Couple Files Complaint Against Postal Inspectors Following Them After Postal Murders Letter Carrier Seen Throwing Away Mail Could Possible U.S. Postal Bankruptcy Derail Netflix?
			November 15, 2010 Outgoing Postmaster General's $5.5 million golden parachute Postmaster General John E. Potter will earn about $5.5 million in deferred compensation, retirement benefits and accrued annual leave when he leaves the U.S. Postal Service next month, according to financial statements. Potter also is eligible for up to two years of outplacement assistance and may continue receiving health-care insurance from USPS for up to one year after his departure - *Millionaire Postal Executives Are Underpaid, Consultant Says -* By government standards, the U.S. Postal Service's top executives, with their multimillion-dollar pension packages, are doing quite well. But their compensation is lagging further behind their counterparts in private industry, according to a USPS consultant. USPS Execs Compensation 2010 (correction) Shipping VP Paul Vogel will get a lump sum of $95, 000 and performance incentive up to 50% of his basic salary each calendar year. Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett will get a $75, 000 bonus plus 25% of his salary each year. Postal Exec's Real estate deal called for paying interest on only 40% of loan. \| USPS Annual Report 2010 Highlights Mail volume fell by 6.2 billion pieces in 2010, resulting in a $1,038 million, or 1.5%, decrease in revenue compared to 2009. In 2009, mail volume decreased 26.0 billion pieces, resulting in a $6,842 million, or 9.1%, decrease in revenue compared to 2008. Work hours decreased in all major functions in 2010 compared to 2009: city delivery declined by 16 million hours; rural delivery declined by 4 million hours; customer service declined by 18 million hours; and mail processing declined by 27 million hours. \| *Business Leaders Call For Electrification Of USPS Delivery Vehicles* Given the size and purchasing power of the USPS ,the federal government should offset the incremental upfront cost of EV and PHEV purchases by the post office for the period 2011-2014 through direct appropriations to the USPS. \| Alabama postal worker gets probation in money order scheme The former postal worker admitted she had used the money to pay for her daughter's 2003 Ford Mustang, which had been repossessed, and to help make payments on her house, which was in foreclosure, according to court documents. In addition to the $10,807 taken from nine money orders that Sullivan is ordered to repay, another $41,000 involving 59 money orders was taken and later repaid during the kiting scheme, according to court documents. . \| Trio of men, including letter carrier help 77-year-old woman stay warm this winter - When East Stroudsburg (PA.) USPS carrier Robert Rivera took note of the shabby condition of a house on his route, he asked the 77 yr. old homeowner about it. She told a tale of a contractor who left before the job was finished, and what was finished was poorly done. The carrier then pledged to correct the problems as best he could. He put $230 of his own money into material for the project, and enlisted the help of two missionaries. \| FEHBP Premiums: Feds Bite Dog Story! Online Postage Company Isn't Just Mailing it In USPS Makes it Simple to Send Season’s Greetings Ohio Postal Officials Miscalculated Mail and Staffing Needs After Limo Center Closing More USPS red ink to lead to bloodletting
			November 14, 2010 NALC Files National Grievance Over Reassignment Of Postal Clerks To Carrier Craft - the NALC recently filed a Step 4 Dispute, which asserts that no Clerk Craft employee should be excessed into a Letter Carrier position unless all APWU positions have been filled — in every installation from Maine to Guam. Needless to say, the APWU disagrees. Also Gut-Wrenching Tales of Excessing. \| Who’s More Concerned About the Future Of USPS? by Bill Sullivan- I recently attended a District Labor-Management meeting with a very interesting agenda: Locals, for the most part, were concerned with what were traditionally considered managerial concerns, not labor issues. All of their complaints were legitimate and reflect a deep concern about our industry’s viability, which makes one wonder: Who’s more concerned about the future of the Postal Service? All of the locals’ concerns were well-founded and make it clear that the Postal Service needs much better managerial oversight. The loss of customers, the decline in revenue, and inappropriate discounts to major mailers add up to a recipe for disaster. \| Give USPS a viable trust-fund payment schedule by Rep. Edolphus Towns (D-NY), outgoing chairman of House Oversight Committee- The obstruction by key Republican senators who refused in late September to grant the U.S. Postal Service partial deferment of trust fund payments has driven the agency close to a breaking point. Because USPS was forced to make this $5.5 billion payment into its already well-funded retiree health benefits trust fund, its cash reserves now sit at a dangerously low level, leaving it in a precarious financial position for fiscal 2011. Moreover, according to the independent Postal Regulatory Commission, this annual payment is part of an "overly optimistic" payment schedule that is "the principal cause of the Postal Service's impending liquidity crisis. . \| City Manager Says Closing Oshkosh Mail Center May Be 'Politics' and Not Cost Savings - Oshkosh (Wisconsin) City Manager Mark Rohloff wonders if there's more than just cost savings behind the United States Postal Service's reconsideration of closing its Oshkosh mail processing center. Now, the city intends to find out if there's any evidence politics and not cost-savings is putting mail processing operations in the crosshairs for consolidation and threatening more than 100 local jobs. \| Louisiana: USPS moving Lake Charles Mail Center to Lafayette
			November 13, 2010 Update: TE Letter carrier wasn't fired over alleged attack, officials say Video of Racial Tirade Against Postal Worker Only Part of Story - A former Transitional Employee letter carrier who was allegedly slapped and subjected to a racist rant by a local resident last year was not fired as a result of the incident, as some news media reports suggested, officials at the US Postal Service said yesterday. Video: Former Postal Worker Talks About Customer’s Racial Tirade \| Meet the Volvo-Driving Racist Mailman Harasser \| How Quickly Can the Postal Service Implement a Rate Increase?
			November 12, 2010 USPS Reports $8.5 Billion Net Loss For Fiscal Year 2010“ Over the last two years, the Postal Service realized more than $9 billion in cost savings, primarily by eliminating about 105,000 full-time equivalent positions — more than any other organization, anywhere,” said Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett. “We will continue our relentless efforts to innovate and improve efficiency. However, the need for changes to legislation, regulations and labor contracts has never been more obvious.” Postal Service to manage losses with more workforce cuts \| Senator Carper Reacts to Historic Postal Service Losses \| APWU Rank and File Bargaining Committee Arrives in Washington, DC The union’s Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee is scheduled to arrive in Washington, DC on Nov. 14 to be on hand in the event of late-breaking developments at the negotiating table. With the current Collective Bargaining Agreement set to expire Nov. 20, APWU President Cliff Guffey remains optimistic about the possibility that an agreement can be reached. Follow Contract Negotiations on Facebook, Twitter \| Postal Worker Fired For Improper Use Of FMLA Gets Job Back USPS charged Postal Clerk with using FMLA to work second job. This is a summary from an arbitration decision regarding the Postal Service’s decision to discharge a Postal Clerk for Improper Conduct/Providing False-Inaccurate Information on PS. Form 3971 (Request For Leave). The arbitrator sustained the Union’s grievance and returned the grievant to work with back pay, less any compensation received during the period of removal. \| Postal Worker Fired After Customer’s Racist Rant And Assault? Postal customer in Hingham, Mass goes on racist rant after a Black letter carrier refused to take back a certified letter she had signed. The Postal customer later slapped the letter carrier. The letter carrier had secretly taped the entire episode on his cell phone and uploaded it to Youtube. \| Postal Service Board Recognizes Postmaster General Potter Retirement Planning: Medicare Questions Couple claims harassment by postal inspectors over Henning murders Postal worker convicted of opening students' mail Residents not so keen on new postal service Why does Shelby post office see high number of wrecks? USPS's Action Delays Announcement of New Postal Rates USPS prepares for busy season FedEx SmartPost to Drive Busiest Day in FedEx History On December 13 Test sought of greeting cards including postage \| Notice for USPS Prepaid Postage for Greeting Cards (PDF)
			November 11, 2010 Mail Carriers Launch Campaign To Boost Safety A national safety campaign has been launched by postal carriers to keep them safe this fall and winter. The National Association of Letter Carriers has started a campaign called Leave the Light on for Your Letter Carrier. \| Oklahoma Postal Worker gets probation for stealing veterans' meds from mail Missouri Postmaster Gets Probation For Misappropriating Postal Funds Mail carrier injured in rollover in Albany Township How Does Walmart Offer Free Shipping? USPS Bulk Mail Verification Issues?
			November 10, 2010 New York Letter Carrier Charged With Conspiring To Sell Cocaine While In Uniform - a New York letter carrier carrier has been charged with conspiring to sell cocaine With a street value of approximately a quarter of a million dollars while in uniform and driving a postal truck. \| Burrus: Postal Bill Sponsored By Sen. Carper Needs Major Modifications The Post Act also includes significant negative features: It would give the USPS sweeping authority to close small post offices solely for financial reasons, and would require arbitrators to consider the financial health of the Postal Service when contract negotiations end in arbitration. On balance, this legislation is not worthy of support — unless major modifications are made. \| Postal Employee Among Ex-Marines Accused of Selling Guns to Street Gang The ATF says the deal was carried out June 23 in the parking lot of a Pasadena post office. Gitschlag, along with another former Marine, met with a postal service supervisor, a Florencia 13 street gang member and other associates, and sold them the weapons for $6,000, the ATF said. One of the men buying the guns was working as an ATF informant. \| Georgia. Mailman Guilty of Revealing Confidential Info On Fed Investigation‎ In June 2008, Randall T. Smith, 53, was a mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service working in East Point, Ga. In that position and during an active federal criminal investigation, Smith disclosed sensitive and confidential information to the occupant of a residence that was the target of the investigation. \| Beyond Mail: U.S. Postal Service Delivers Hope Through Marrow Donor Program - Thousands of patients with leukemia, lymphoma and other life-threatening blood diseases need donor matches for a bone marrow or blood cell transplants, yet there is only a 30 percent chance of patients’ finding matches within their own families. \| Postmaster General Honors Burrus at the Bargaining Table Interview: Ruth Goldway, chairman of the PRC Postal Workers Frustrated by Secrecy of Oshkosh Facility Study Three Detroit post office branches to close Washington man pleads guilty to assaulting postal carrier Postal worker convicted of opening envelopes
			November 9, 2010 Amid changes on Capitol Hill, Postal Service faces uncertain future Rep. Chaffetz said he is working with Issa on a comprehensive reform package, which could include a reduction in postal facilities, early retirement incentives for employees and postal holidays. Issa also said USPS has too many supervisors and a total of 200,000 unnecessary positions. \| Injured Postal Worker Loses 40-Hr. Work Guarantee After Voluntary Transfer In 1995, Marshall was a part-time letter carrier for USPS in Detroit, Michigan when he suffered a knee injury. After surgery Marshall accepted a modified job as a City Carrier Technician in Detroit. This job carried an 8-hour workday . Effective November 27, 2004, Marshall transferred to become a part-time Flexible City Carrier in Guayanilla, Puerto Rico. For some time he was paid for 40-hours per week, but, pursuant to Postal Service policy, as a full-time employee who transferred to a part-time position, it was later determined that he was not entitled to a 40-hour work week guarantee. Marshall filed a complaint alleging that he was entitled to the 40-hour work week he had before his knee injury. Although the case deals with Marshall attempting to overturn an agreement he signed, it provides insight on postal workers wishing to transfer to other postal facilities. \| New Deal Art Murals At Post Offices With about 1,200 murals and 200 sculptures in Post Offices nationwide, USPS is the custodian of the largest public art collection owned by any federal agency. \| Two Brothers Charged With Defrauding Federal Workers’ Compensation Program - Two brothers pleaded not guilty to federal charges that allege they submitted bills that fraudulently sought hundreds of thousands of dollars from a government workers’ compensation program for supposedly transporting injured Postal Service employees to medical appointments that never took place. \| Goldway: PRC To Issue Ruling On Ending Saturday Delivery By End Of Year Three Research Contracts Awarded by Postal Regulatory Commission Postal Carrier Pegs Bank Robbers Postal Service studies consolidation of Huntsville, AL facility with Birmingham Letters: Postal Service should raise its bulk rates US knew for years that cargo planes were vulnerable but shippers fought full screening Interest builds in potential for USPS switch to electric vehicles USPS recommends consolidating Oshkosh mail processing
			November 8, 2010 NAPUS: Guidelines for Fiscal Year 2010 Pay-for-Performance Mitigating Factors re-issued by Postal Headquarters (PDF) USPS OIG:Postal Service Customer Service – Is It Working for You? Rolling with the punches: California letter carrier delivers through adversity Muncie USPS to hold public meeting on proposed mail processing changes Opinion: Postal priority?
			November 7, 2010 MSPB Overturns Demotion of Postal Supervisor For Misuse Of USPS Credit Card - USPS removed the appellant from his position as EAS-17 Supervisor, Distribution Operations, on a charge of failure to follow instructions – unauthorized purchases on his government credit card. USPS did not challenge the Supervisor's assertions regarding his limited experience with using a government credit card. To the extent that he might have been confused about whether his detail within the local area constituted travel for purposes of government credit card usage, his confusion was shared by other USPS employees, including the proposing official, and the then-Acting Plant Manager. MSPB modified the demotion to a 60-day suspension. \| Editorial: The USPS Number Crunchers Strike Again! by Stephen Lysaght, APWU Local #47 President - After years of excessing Clerks outside their installations and thereby gutting the workforce in nearly all our offices, we hoped that management could not possibly be planning to excess any more employees outside their installations. Clerk staffing has already been reduced to its lowest levels ever, with many of our offices having no employees for vacation coverage, no clerks to clear Carriers of their accountables or do dispatch in the afternoon, and no Clerks to assist customers at will-call doors. Our hopes were dashed.. (note: In many of the offices nationwide Carriers, Mail Handlers, Postmasters and Supervisors are performing the work due to shortage of Clerks. \| Bicyclist Killed by Mail Truck in New York Mail delivery gets stamp of approval after Sun-Times report
			November 6, 2010 There’s Always Work at the Post Office: African American Postal Workers and the Fight for Jobs, Justice, and Equality U.S. lodges concerns on Japan postal reform bill Retired postal employee decries bullying, kills self Vermont postmaster gets probation, fine in mail case North Pole postal worker questioned over missing mail When building a post office builds a sense of community Yankton: USPS May Close City's Downtown Facility US News & World Report to Cease Printing hardcopy Magazine
			November 5, 2010 Carriers Picket Long Beach CA Post Office For the second time in weeks, local workers protest labor conditions. More than 100 mail workers picketed downtown Thursday to protest what they say are rapidly deteriorating working conditions in local post offices. The workers, mostly carriers who deliver mail throughout Greater Long Beach, said more than two years of downsizing and consolidation at the United States Postal Service are taking a severe toll. \| GOP Tidal Wave Will Impact USPS, Postal Issues What is certain, with Republicans gaining control of the House, is that the chairmanships of all House committees and subcommittees will change hands. And as the Postal Service prepares to see its leadership change hands from outgoing PMG Jack Potter to incoming PMG Pat Donahoe, that could mean the opportunity for a fresh start with a new set of Republican leaders. Whether Republicans are really serious about solving the Postal Service's problems -- or more intent on simply blaming the Obama administration for postal distress -- remains to be seen. \| Editorial: Postmaster General Jack Potter’s Retirement Exclusive Editorial to PostalReporter by Guy Nohrenberg - In days of double digit unemployment, where trillions of dollars of national debt mount, the leader of one of the largest civilian employers in the free world just up and declared that soon he’s retiring, because he can, with no reason given. And YOU MISSED IT!? \| Louisiana Postal Clerk Charged With Stealing Over $114,000 According to the bill of information, from approximately July 1, 2008 through July 14, 2010, while employed as a U. S. Postal Service employee, MADER converted to her own use, approximately $114,363.25 which came into her control during the performance of her duties. \| Appeals Court Approves USPS Request To Expedite Rate Case Appeal Schedule - Upon consideration of petitioner’s unopposed motion to expedite consideration and for an abbreviated briefing schedule, it is ORDERED that the following briefing schedule will apply in this case: USPS’ Preliminary Statement Of Issues In Rate Case Appeal \| The Economist, "Sending explosives through the post has a long and murky history." 'Tis the Season and the Postal Service Message is Simple Attitude Check in Henning, Tennessee After Double Murders Mail carrier struck by vehicle How the elections may hit your TSP fund Man sentenced for robbing postal carrier Small-town and rural post offices targeted Royal Mail trials evening deliveries Florida group to hold 'Rib Cookoff' to help letter carrier with cancer pay medical bills
			November 4, 2010 USPS: Majority Of Postal Employees Respond Favorably To Voice Of The Employee Survey - The fiscal year 2010 end-of-year results for the VOE survey are completed. More than 340,000 employees — 59 percent of those surveyed — responded. Of those who responded to the survey, 62.3 percent replied favorably to the dimensions. The majority of our employees understand the Postal Service’s strategic direction and how their work affects the organization’s success. Seventy-five percent of employees say they are proud to work for the Postal Service. \| Open Season For Health Benefits Starts Monday, Nov. 8 Open Season for three benefits programs — Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB), Flexible Spending Accounts (FSA), and the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP) — begins Monday, Nov. 8. Health insurance after retirement \| APWU President Refutes Unrealistic View of the USPS “Mr. Hassett has a right to espouse his anti-government political philosophy,” Burrus wrote, “but his political views do not give him license to distort fact.” The union president corrected many of Hassett’s claims, writing that “taxpayers do not fund the Postal Service; the USPS employee complement is 583,000 (not 712,000, as Hassett claims); and IBM and the Postal Regulatory Commission monitor the Postal Service’s adherence to delivery standards.” \| OPM to boost interim annuities for new retirees Office of Personnel Management Director John Berry pledged Wednesday to increase new retirees' interim annuity payments — even if it means some will temporarily be overpaid. .\| Amazon.com pays $1.5M to settle U.S. Postal Service investigation In response to a Freedom of Information Act request by TechFlash, the Postal Service released its settlement agreement with Amazon. According to the document, the Postal Service contends that Amazon “improperly mailed products,” mainly from the video game category, from Jan. 1, 2006 to Jan. 31, 2009 and owes additional postage. \|
			November 3, 2010 With GOP win, Issa previews his oversight plans The California Republican is set to lead the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, a panel with wide jurisdiction over government operations, federal workers, the District of Columbia and the U.S. Postal Service. The Oversight committee also will turn its attention to the cash-strapped Postal Service, with Issa vowing to find a way to make it profitable again while keeping first-class stamp prices below 50 cents. "There are too many postal workers, too many distribution centers, too many post offices and a reluctance to make those changes," he said, casting some of the blame on lawmakers who have worked to save hometown post offices from possible closure. "Everybody who mails a stamp realizes that we could end up with a huge government bailout if we don't fix it. That's billions of dollars we need to pay attention to," he said. APWU Must Fight for Our Future In Wake of Tough Congressional Elections \| eNAPUS: There is A New Sheriff In Town \| USPS 'Honors' Sen. Byrd With Plant Consolidations As long as the late Sen. Robert C. Byrd, sometimes known as the Prince of Pork, ruled the Senate Finance Committee, the 11 mail-processing centers in his home state were safe. Though West Virginia had more such centers per capita than nearly any other state, the Postal Service’s efforts to consolidate its processing network somehow bypassed the Mountain State. But all that has changed in the past five months, during which the Postal Service’s AMPS (Area Mail Processing Studies) program has hit the Mountain State with full force. \| Ex-Postal Union official admits embezzling up to $200K A former official from the Postal Worker’s Union pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark today to conspiring to embezzle up to $200,000 from the organization. John McGovern told U.S. District Judge Faith S. Hochberg he conspired with the former president of Local 190 of the North Jersey Division of the American Postal Workers International Union to steal the money from 2000 to 2002. McGovern was arrested in 2006 with Gary Weightman, who pleaded guilty in 2008. In 2004, McGovern was barred from running for the National APWU Office Of President. \| Postal Service Prices Last Mile Aggressively in 2011 Touted benefit of Carper's Postal Service bill really a flaw Hits and Misses in Parcel Pricing U.K. Postal Service Sees Profits Shrink USPS seeks temporary holiday workers in Austin
			November 2, 2010 USPS Employee Alert: Report Mail From Yemen To Postal Inspectors To ensure the safety and security of postal employees and the American public, the Postal Inspection Service is requesting assistance from all USPS employees — in particular those in mail processing and delivery operations. \| Vinton St. post office to close Is Advertising Mail Dying or Are New Uses Replacing Old? KeyBank finds key to direct mail success in templates What happened to the USPS's financial health
			November 1, 2010 U.S. Postal Service Announces Shipping Prices for 2011 the U.S. Postal Service is set to extend its popularity with consumers and shippers in the new year when new prices take effect. Prices for Priority Mail, Express Mail and other Shipping Services will change Jan. 2, 2011. In addition to an overall price change of 3.5 percent for Priority Mail, new prices for Express Mail, Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, Priority Mail International, Parcel Select and Parcel Return Service will be effective Jan. 2 Postal Service Prices Last Mile Aggressively in 2011 \| USPS: Incentive Programs Included in PRC Filing \| Federal pay and benefits could change with new Congress In recent months, there's been a lot of talk about proposed hiring and pay freezes and mandatory furloughs in the federal government. But those ideas could become reality if Republicans on Tuesday win the necessary 39 seats to gain control of the House. House Republicans unveiled their Pledge to America in September, promising to reduce the size of government and freeze hiring for all nonsecurity-related federal positions. Lawmakers in both chambers also have pushed several measures that would affect federal jobs and benefits. OPM: Pay gap widens; feds fall further behind private sector \| USPS Wage, Benefit Proposal: An Insult To Postal Workers Postmaster General Potter has said he intends to protect current employees by “grandfathering” their wages, and imposing lower pay and benefits on future employees. Management’s wage proposal reflects that objective: It would severely reduce the pay and benefits of employees hired after the signing of a new agreement, and would make postal jobs substantially less desirable. \| USPS: Delivery Unit Optimization Is Working In Buffalo, NY Phelan says the results were clear. “By combining our carrier and distribution operations at Northside, we eliminated one customer service manager position, reduced two daily motor vehicle trips from the plant and better utilized distribution resources,” said Phelan. \| 'You've Got Maelstrom' When the recession hit and compounded challenges already unique to the U.S. Postal Service, CHRO Anthony Vegliante rose to the occasion by helping to lead an agency-wide transformation. Communication with employees was key throughout the process, he says. For rescheduling and reassigning, give people as much notice as possible. "If you can give them five to six months, not five to six minutes, it will avoid a lot of problems," such as employees who can't make it into work because they can't find babysitters. The postal service is also hoping to cut labor costs and gain scheduling flexibility by increasing the proportion of part-time and temporary workers -- a move that will likely face union opposition. Burrus is now negotiating for a new contract and says the U.S.P.S. will "have to convince me there's a need and, so far, I haven't seen a need." Abandoning the mail \| Where do CFC donations go? Not always where you think More than 10 percent of the government's regional Combined Federal Campaigns suffer excessive overhead costs, official figures show. Of the 226 campaigns that took part in the 2009 fundraising drive, 25 charities — about 11 percent — had operating costs totaling more than 20 percent of pledges raised, according to figures released by the Office of Personnel Management. That figure is slightly worse when compared to the 10 percent of charities that had excessive overhead costs last year. \| TSP funds stay in the black for October Your mail on an electric delivery cart: Postal Service goes greener USPS Board Of Governors to Meet Next Thursday and Friday Small Combined Federal Campaign Sites in Trouble Direct mail gains new potency as online marketing evolves Mail-in ballots change long traditions

If There Is No Work For Postal Clerks, Why Are Supervisors, Carriers Doing It?

November 30, 2010

***Chaffetz calls Postmaster General's retirement package* '*ridiculous***

Postal Worker Late On Day Car Crashes Into PO May Have Saved His Life

USPS Speeds Up FSS Start-Ups

After starting up just seven Flats Sequencing System machines in the past six months, the U.S. Postal Service says it will have another 10 handling live mail by the end of this month. |

NAPUS Expresses Outrage Over Retention Payments to USPS Executives

Who’s More Concerned About the Future Of USPS?

OPM to boost interim annuities for new retirees

Ex-Postal Union official admits embezzling up to $200K

November 30, 2010

After starting up just seven Flats Sequencing System machines in the past six months, the U.S. Postal Service says it will have another 10 handling live mail by the end of this month. | postCount('fssnov2110');

After starting up just seven Flats Sequencing System machines in the past six months, the U.S. Postal Service says it will have another 10 handling live mail by the end of this month. |