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Selected News from Postalblog


GAO: New Delivery Performance Measures Could Enhance Postal Managers’ Pay for Performance Program

 

Postal Manager Demoted Over Violation of NALC Contract?

 

Postal Worker's Self-Defense Claim Can't Save Job

 

NAPS Challenges USPS Network Plan, Questions USPS Outsourcing

 

USPS Posts $1.1 Billion Loss For Third Quarter

 

House Passes FERS Sick Leave Legislation

 

GAO: Data Needed to Assess the Effectiveness of USPS Outsourcing |  Watchdogs question US Post Office outsourcing system

 

USPS Names Two Postal Execs To New VP Slots

 

USPS Releases Details Of Voluntary Early Retirement Offer

 

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

 

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

 

USPS Early Out Offer Excludes ETs - No Cash Incentives

 

PMG Potter Announces Reorganization At USPS Headquarters

 

House Committee Approves Study On Ending Saturday Mail Delivery

 

EEOC: Postal Worker Was Not Provided Smoke-Free Vehicle

 

ASFM-100 Work Awarded Back to Clerk Craft at Trenton P&DC

 

Court of Appeals Keeps Alive 14-Year-Old Lawsuit Against NALC

 

Postal Service Selects First-Ever Vice President of Sustainability

 

Video: Postal Workers Protest Terrorism On The Job

 

EEOC Rules USPS Must Process Class Action Complaint For Rehab Postal Employees

 

OPM Submits Proposal To Create Short-Term Disability Insurance Program

 

To Err Is Not Human for Demoted Postal Supervisor

 

USPS Resolves Dispute With Unions Over Computer Security Rules

 

USPS Selects Former Halliburton Executive As New CIO

 

Proposed FMLA Rule Changes Would Be Major Defeat For Workers

 

APWU: Proposed FMLA Regulations Threaten Medical Privacy, Other Protections

 

Bush Administration Seeking Changes To FMLA Regulations

 

USPS to Add Surcharge for Express Mail Delivery on Sundays and Holidays

 

Big Pay Increases Approved For Top Postal Service Officers

 

Letter: Expeditor dies after on the job fall in Denver parking lot

 

Postal Workforce Stats At A Glance

 

USPS Retail Cost Cutting (PDF)

 

Postal Watchdog Files Complaint Over USPS Elimination of Bound Printed Matter Rate -

 

Former Postal Public Affairs VP Jaffer Starts Own Consulting Business

 

Former Postmaster Wins Hostile Workplace Lawsuit - But No Money

 

USPS Wants To Automate Road Tests

 

Postal Service Updates Its Transformation Plan

 

EEOC: Postal Worker Has Claim For One-Time Incident of Discriminatory Harassment

 

Postal Worker Fails to Convince Appeals Court to Overturn APWU-USPS Settlement

 

Appeals Court: Evidence of Disability for Disability Retirement

 

NALC’S Young: Good Cop/Bad Cop - Right Here In The USPS

 

Rollout of PostalPEOPLE Initiative Completed

 

Mail Handler Fired After Threatening Behavior Towards Co-Workers

 

Court Upholds Postal Supervisor’s Demotion For Altering Time-Keeping Records

 

USPS Los Angeles District Gets Approval From OPM to Offer Early Outs

 

NALC’s Young Urges Support For Harkin Amendment to Labor-HHS Bill

 

APWU: Casual Issues Disputed At National Level (PDF)

 

Arbitrator Issues Award in Rural Carriers Contract Case

 click here to read the award (PDF)   | A Short Comparison of USPS Contracts With APWU, NPMHU, NALC and NRLCA  |

 

PRC Requests Help In Developing Report on Universal Postal Service And Postal Monopoly

 

Postal Service’s Oldest Employee Still Going Strong At 93

 

OIG Recommends USPS Increase Postal Employee's Benefit Costs

 

Canadian Lottery Scheme Using Fake USPS Checks

 

APWU Questions and Answers on USPS Shared Services

 

Court To USPS: Retire Not Fire Postal Veteran With PTSD

 

Bogus USPS Early Out / Buyout Letter Making The Rounds

 

PMG Potter and USPS Executives Focus On 2008

 

USPS Threatening To Discipline Employees Over Failure to Pay Local Tax ??

 

Postal Worker Gets 2 Years for Stealing Over $400,000 In Money Orders

 

USPS Seeking Info On Automatic Vending Machine Manufacturing

 

Veterans Preference and the U.S. Postal Service

 

Supreme Court to Hear Postal Worker’s Retaliation Case

 

USPS Reports $5.4 Billion Deficit for FY 2007

 

Appeals Court Overturns Postal Worker’s Conviction for Theft

 

Fired Postal Worker Featured in Push to Expand Reservist Job Rights

 

USPS Workforce Size and Employment Categories, 1986-2006

 

Appeals Court Overturns Postal Worker’s Conviction for Theft

 

Fired Postal Worker Featured in Push to Expand Reservist Job Rights

 

USPS Responds to APWU Inquiry Regarding Absences of 3 Days or Less

 

Letter Carriers Ratify New 5-Year Contract

 

USPS Offering Cash Prizes in Automated Postal Center Sweepstakes

 

Postal Inspectors Sue USPS for Overtime Pay

 

APWU Questions USPS Medical Documentation Requirement for Absences of 3 Days or Less  

 

Arbitrator Awards $50,000 for Postal Inspectors Misconduct

 

Notice: USPS Revised Rule for Conduct on Postal Property

 

Mail Handlers Awarded $13.8 Million for Casuals Violation

 

Company Tests Popcorn Vending Machine at NJ Postal Facility

 

"Kelly Girl" Arbitration Award to Cost USPS Nearly $20 Million

 

Postal Supervisor Fired For Rewarding Employees Non-Worked OT Loses Appeal

 

Flat Sequencing System (FSS) Strategy

 

USPS: Boston District's New Mystery Shopper Board Game

 

 

Postal Employees Cry Foul Over Alleged USPS Privacy Violations

 

Photo: Semi-Automated Postal Robotic Delivery Vehicle

 

USPS Deployment of Automated Postal Centers Put On Hold

 

USPS Seeks Vendors for Postal Package Processing System

 

Photo: Postal Window Clerk and A Very Strange Mail Package

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

September 30, 2008

Burrus: USPS’ Bleak Financial Picture And the Presidential Election

16,000 Postal Employees Could Face Layoffs- Although the Postal Service has the authority to borrow up to $15 billion, far in advance of reaching that limit, the Postal Regulatory Commission, Congress and the next president will be under tremendous pressure to privatize the Postal Service. In response to the financial crisis, the Postal Service has announced a hiring freeze. And, in a meeting with union leaders and management association presidents, the Postmaster General pointed out that 16,000 USPS employees lack the six years of continuous service required to achieve protection against layoffs. The PMG’s message was clear: For the first time in our history, postal employees may experience layoffs. Hard Times   |

 

Trial opens for ex-postal worker charged with OWCP fraud

Credit card mail sees decline

USPS looks at tight fiscal year

Texas: : No bidders for closed Beaumont REC building

Some mail delivery begins on Galveston Island

September 29, 2008

USPS Financial Woes Can Be Found Within Postal Reform?

Commentary From Postcom - Who'da thunk that after seven successful years of cost-cutting and after the enactment of a new postal law, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) once would again find itself stuck between a fiscal rock and hard place? Of course, this time, it's different. This time, no one can blame the leadership of the USPS for not doing their mightiest to trim postal costs to reflect rapidly changing postal realities. So what's the cause of the current fix? Very simply, the largest part of the Postal Service's current financial woes can be found within the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006.  |

 

Mail carrier's camera phone catches thief in the act

Bristow post office on suspension

 

Invasion of the yellowjackets - Because of yellowjacket attacks that have left two Gillette mail carriers hospitalized, the post office has stopped delivery in the past month to at least two homes

 

Putting Off Retirement Can Make A Huge Financial Difference  |

City sends post office packing, but the mail will go through

American Postal Workers Union to protest layoffs at DHL  |

Terra Ceia losing post office

September 28, 2008

Filling in the Gaps

Opinion: What the USPS CFO Didn't Report At BOG Meeting - At the Board of Governor’s meeting  September 24, Postal Service’s CFO Harold Glen Walker provided only a limited picture of the Postal Service’s current and near term and financial condition. He did not present as expected either a forecast of a projected loss for the remainder of the fiscal year, nor did he present an integrated financial plan for FY 2009 as was expected from the agenda e-mailed to the press. The loss so far in the fourth quarter is driven by a 4.7% decline in revenue, a 1.3% increase in expenses, and a $329 million workers compensation adjustment. Extrapolating this trend through September would result in a quarterly loss of $2.168 billion and a fiscal year loss of $3.326 billion. |

 

Mail carriers feel they're 'sitting ducks' for wrecks
The postal rural carriers at the Sharpsburg (GA) post office have become easy targets for distracted drivers, following accidents this summer that have sent three people to the hospital and prompted one of their own to resign.  |

 

Bush signs bill that broadens Americans with Disabilities Act

USPS puts new facilities on hold

 

September 27, 2008

Postmaster Gets 17 1/2 Years For Plot To Kill Ex-wife

Former Cornelius, NC Postmaster David Willis was sentenced Friday for a murder-for-hire scheme to kill his ex-wife so she wouldn't share his retirement pension. Federal authorities caught Willis on tape asking a fellow postal worker to arrange for the killing of his ex-wife (a rural letter carrier).  | Comments (53)

 

To Postal Workers, No Mail Is ‘Junk’

To the post office, consumers like her are a serious threat. "Efforts to convince people not to receive mail are really going to hurt," says Steve Kearney, a Postal Service senior vice president. The Postal Service lost $1.1 billion in its latest quarter. That number would be even larger if it weren't for direct mailings, which now constitute 52 percent of mail volume, up from 38 percent in 1990. Revenue from direct mail "is the financial underpinning of the Postal Service—it could not survive without it," says Michael Coughlin, former deputy postmaster.   | Comments (50)

 

After Complaints, Postal Service Shifts Course to Provide Absentee Ballot Applications

 

September 26, 2008

Federal Health Premiums To Rise in 2009

Premiums for the federal employee health plan will rise by an average of 7 percent in 2009, a sizable increase from the previous year. On average, that translates to an extra $4.83 every two weeks for employees with individual plans, while those with family plans will pay an additional $11.12. Premium hikes will vary, depending on which health plan an employee has enrolled in. Federal employees and retirees can change their health insurance plans during the open season, which will run from Nov. 10 to Dec. 8. Employees planning to continue using a flexible spending account must re-enroll. 2009 FEHB Premiums   | Comments (81)

 

Using Your Postman as Your Shipping Consultant

Olathe woman: Postal carrier dumped mail in trash

Eleven postal employees charged with federal housing fraud

Poor economy drives down mail volume at Postal Service

Ohio postal driver named nation's safest

Man threatens to kill his mail carrier

Monocacy upset over losing post office

Postal branch may be cut off

Feds charge postmasters in Alaska

If You don't Get It (Shopping Guide), Good!

 

September 25, 2008

Re: Postal Employees Ordered to Stop Offering First-Class Mail

Here is some additional information on the issue submitted by a PostalReporter.com reader: "Attached is a 5 page comparison chart that shows the current mystery shop questions compared to the FY 09 requirements that will take effect October 1st, 2008. Realistically there are very few changes to the program that we have not already been coaching, teaching, training, and should have been enforcing for the last 3 years. Now you must explain features of EVERY additional item you offer for purchase."   | Comments (40)

 

Sticky-Fingered Mail Carriers Answer To Letter Of Law

In the past few months, the U.S. attorney's office in Tampa has prosecuted four letter carriers, all of whom have either pleaded guilty or signed documents agreeing to plead guilty. One was sentenced to a year and a day behind bars. The four worked in different post offices and had no apparent connection to one another.  | Comments (15)

 

Postal Worker accused of stealing money orders

Postal Bulletin 9/25/2008 Issue

Postal Service prohibits absentee ballot applications in lobbies

Ivins bragged he knew anthrax killer

 

September 24, 2008

APWU: Nurses' Contract Headed for Interest Arbitration

Postal Service freezes hiring, promotions

Former postal clerk accused of theft

Galveston Post Office Temporarily Moved to La Marque

Reward in mail carrier attack

Man pleads guilty to theft of  funds to Pay fuel for mail trucks
How Safe Is TSP?
French postal workers protest privatization move

September 23, 2008

PMG Urges Leaders of Employee Organizations To Work With USPS

 Potter Says USPS financial condition poor - Postmaster General, Jack Potter met today with the leadership of the three management associations and craft unions representing all craft employees and EAS employees of the Postal Service. Potter added that the Postal Service would need the help of the unions and associations in working with the Congress as the Postal Service attempts to develop solutions to our problems that will involve discussions and Congressional approval. Specific plans were not discussed at the meeting.  |

 

Flashback: Postal 1992 VER Cost $1.01 Billion

Summary: In offering the early-out program in 1992 , Postmaster General Marvin Runyon had hoped that 30,000 managers would retire. Instead, approximately 33,000 mail handlers, clerks and letter carriers took the offer .”For fiscal year 1992 the Service’s cost for the restructuring as reported in its audited financial statements totaled $1.01 billion. About $886 million of this represents retirement incentive payments (6 months salary) to employees. In total, about 48,000 employees took advantage of the special option retirement. By February 1993, the Service had in effect reduced the total work force, including career and non-career employees as well as overtime hours, by only about 7,300 employees, compared to a year earlier in February 1992.”   |

 

MSPB: Scheduled vs Unscheduled Sick Leave

The appellant, a preference eligible veteran, was employed by the agency as a Mail Handler in Memphis, Tennessee. On March 15, 2007, the agency proposed the appellant’s removal for failure to be regular in attendance and absence without leave. After sustaining the charge, but prior to effecting the appellant’s removal, the deciding official, the appellant, and the appellant’s union representative entered into an LCA, which was dated April 17, 2007. In the LCA, the appellant agreed to maintain satisfactory attendance by not having more than three unscheduled absences during any 6-month period. MSPB has held that the agency has not met its burden to prove absences were unscheduled where leave was requested in advance and the agency did not show the date or the time the supervisor approved the appellant’s leave request. Also, the appellant made all of his leave requests, except two, prior to the start of his shift.  |

 

APWU will continue to pursue  re-employment of postal retirees in retail outlets

No Such Thing as Free Shipping?

38 years and counting

 

September 22, 2008

PMG Urges Leaders of Employee Organizations To Work With USPS

 Potter Says USPS financial condition poor - Postmaster General, Jack Potter met today with the leadership of the three management associations and craft unions representing all craft employees and EAS employees of the Postal Service. Potter added that the Postal Service would need the help of the unions and associations in working with the Congress as the Postal Service attempts to develop solutions to our problems that will involve discussions and Congressional approval. Specific plans were not discussed at the meeting.  |

 

Flashback: Postal 1992 VER Cost $1.01 Billion

Summary: In offering the early-out program in 1992 , Postmaster General Marvin Runyon had hoped that 30,000 managers would retire. Instead, approximately 33,000 mail handlers, clerks and letter carriers took the offer .”For fiscal year 1992 the Service’s cost for the restructuring as reported in its audited financial statements totaled $1.01 billion. About $886 million of this represents retirement incentive payments (6 months salary) to employees. In total, about 48,000 employees took advantage of the special option retirement. By February 1993, the Service had in effect reduced the total work force, including career and non-career employees as well as overtime hours, by only about 7,300 employees, compared to a year earlier in February 1992.”   |

 

MSPB: Scheduled vs Unscheduled Sick Leave

The appellant, a preference eligible veteran, was employed by the agency as a Mail Handler in Memphis, Tennessee. On March 15, 2007, the agency proposed the appellant’s removal for failure to be regular in attendance and absence without leave. After sustaining the charge, but prior to effecting the appellant’s removal, the deciding official, the appellant, and the appellant’s union representative entered into an LCA, which was dated April 17, 2007. In the LCA, the appellant agreed to maintain satisfactory attendance by not having more than three unscheduled absences during any 6-month period. MSPB has held that the agency has not met its burden to prove absences were unscheduled where leave was requested in advance and the agency did not show the date or the time the supervisor approved the appellant’s leave request. Also, the appellant made all of his leave requests, except two, prior to the start of his shift.  |

 

APWU will continue to pursue  re-employment of postal retirees in retail outlets

No Such Thing as Free Shipping?

38 years and counting

September 21, 2008

Postal worker faces forgery charges for phony NYPD parking placards

Postal Employees Ordered to Stop Offering First-Class Mail

Postal worker struck by car while delivering mail in Chambersburg

Charges dropped against ex-postmaster

 

September 20, 2008

USPS Freezes All Organizational Structure Changes Effective Immediately - ...in part; that due to the current financial situation a more controlled approach in managing the complement is needed. Therefore, a freeze on all organizational structure changes is effective immediately. The freeze includes position upgrades, additions to complement, position neutral exchanges, and requests for new positions and their related position evaluations. The Postal Service also notified NAPUS that it will begin a new initiative involving the PO Box Service Measurement. This new initiative, in which clerks will be required to scan a barcode upon completion of the PO Box distribution.  |

 

Former Brooklyn postman banned from offices for selling clothes

A former mail carrier has been banned from all 52 post offices in Brooklyn after selling his self-designed brand of postal apparel to former colleagues. The rhinestone-emblazoned United States Postal Service .T-shirts, hoodies and polos have been a big hit with Brooklyn letter carriers, but Postal Service brass sent Marty Grace's idea to the dead letter office.   |

 

Postal Service considers closing office in Stambaugh

The doggy-dog world of a postal carrier

USPS to deploy IPv6-capable video surveillance
 - Archive: USPS Chooses Diebold

 

September 19, 2008

NAPS: USPS May Lose $3 Billion By Year’s End

The Postal Service reported a net loss of approximately $960 million in August, according to recent reports filed with the Postal Regulatory commission. While year-to-date revenue is slightly above the same period last year, revenue for August was about ten percent below August 2007 in spite of a 2.9% increase implemented in May. Potter said that those numbers will influence craft staffing levels, and in turn supervisory staffing. He noted the possibility of movement to 4-day/ten-hour shifts, but continued to insist that USPS will not offer financial incentives coupled with VERAs. “We have to be prudent. In 1992, we paid 46,000 employees a half-year’s salary to go, then ended up rehiring 70,000,” Potter maintained.   |

 

USPS To Launch Nationwide Program To Track Revenue Performance Of Window Clerks - Postal Headquarters representatives briefed the Postmaster organizations on a pilot program that is slated to go nationwide soon. Called the SSA Revenue Goals System, the process will track the retail performance of Sales and Service Associates (SSAs) at offices on the POS system. The system will generate a daily report on the retail performance that will be made available to Postmasters and supervisors. In turn, Postmasters and supervisors will be able to share the information with the SSAs during morning huddles to let them know where they stand as far as helping their post office or station reach retail revenue goals.  |

 

US postal worker part of gun-smuggling scheme   |

Snail Mail Is Going Digital, a Boon for Businesses

Objection of USPS to Document Request of Capital One Services (PDF)

Rushing' to provide good mail service

TSP Drops Fast; 2009 COLA Rate Also Drops

Team Houston Responds to Hurricane Ike

West Virginia post office closed after asbestos discovery

USPS Relocates Services, Deploys Portable Buildings

Two teens accused of vandalizing Postal Service vehicles
PRC Appoints Fisher Director of Public Affairs and Government Relations

 

September 18, 2008

OPM will soon decide RetireEZ's future

Arizona City: USPS clarifies misinformation about mail delivery survey

 

September 17, 2008

Postmaster General Cautions of Perfect Economic Storm

Postmaster General John E. Potter challenged the mailing industry today, cautioning mailers about the severity of the current economic climate and urging them to create new growth opportunities. Citing fluctuating oil prices, inflation in paper prices and the strife in the financial markets, Potter described challenging economic conditions as the most difficult time since the 1960s. The additional move of hardcopy messages to the Internet and questions about mail’s environmental impact have led to a volume decline of 9 billion pieces this year.  |

 

Market Meltdown Could Delay Retirement for Some

Over the past couple of months I've talked with dozens of fed investors and nearly all of them say the same thing. They aren't likely to retire if economic times are bad (even if they don't want or plan to get another job), and especially if their TSP accounts are down.   |

 

Postal Workers Protest DHL Move from Ohio

Contract Cleaner pleads guilty to stealing from post office, courthouse

CA. : Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Fraud, Theft | Clerk faces 35 years after plea

APWU to hold 2010 National Convention in Detroit

Catalog paper prices will continue to rise

Ohio: Sixty area postal stations still without power

CA: Postal Service vs. Aliso Viejo: Who has facts on proposed plant?
Postal Worker Wins $250K Mega Millions Prize
Mail carriers live up to motto
FBI requests review of anthrax case

 

September 16, 2008

Mail Handlers File National Grievance on USPS Lost/Stolen Laptops - Over the past several years, and with increasing frequency over the past few months, the Postal Service has notified the NPMHU that, on approximately fifteen occasions, either the Postal Service itself or its vendors and/or subcontractors either has lost or had stolen a laptop computer with personal information about mail handlers and other postal employees.  APWU Grievance Over USPS Lost/Stolen Laptops Appealed To Arbitration - It is the APWU's position that sensitive employee data (e.g. social security numbers) should not be stored on portable computing devices. In addition, the union is asking, as a remedy, that the Postal Service provide Identity Theft Insurance to impacted employees.   |

Seven Alaska Postal Workers Charged With Stealing
Six Postmasters and one Postal Employee - Seven postal officials from Bush communities across the state have been charged in federal court with pilfering tens of thousands of dollars in cash and checks from their employer while on the job, the U.S. attorney said Monday.  |

 

Why Lehman Brothers and Merrill Lynch Matters to the CEP Industry

NPMHU: Ink Jet Modification on AFSM 100

Cincinnati post offices affected by power

Postal employee dismissed amid charges of mail theft

Postal service awaits lifting of mandatory evacuation
USPS Redesigns Website

Post office scuffle ends in gunfire

Asbestos find results in post office closure

 

September 15, 2008

Federal Workers Owe Billions In Unpaid Taxes

The agency with the most delinquent employees is the U.S. Postal Service. With more than 747,000 employees, the postal service is the largest employer in the federal government, but with a 4.16 percent delinquency rate, it is a full 1 percent above the average compliance rate this year. Archive: Tax Obligations of USPS Employees - To have this many employees with a balance owed is more than just an issue between the IRS and an individual. When USPS employees are viewed as being non-compliant with the proper payments of their federal taxes, it impacts the public’s confidence in our abilities to conduct our assigned mission of delivering the mail.  |

 

Sumner residents say 'postal service' is contradiction in terms
Postal Service open in most LA and TX areas on Monday

Even with no mail, post office delivered

Rep. Bartlett skeptical that Ivins sent anthrax

Mail Handlers Roll Out “Submit A Lead" Program
In a cooperative effort to boost revenues, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union is working in conjunction with the Postal Service to encourage Mail Handler Craft employees to “Submit a Lead.” Mail Handlers can notify the Postal Service of potential customers they encounter in their daily lives.   |

 

September 14, 2008

Postal Union Leaders Fight Outsourcing

American Postal Workers Union leaders are fighting a U.S. Postal Service proposal to outsource processing work at the nation's 21 bulk mail centers, saying it could hurt service and result in lost union jobs. “We believe that if they get away with this, they could go after the next group [of public postal employees],” said Vince Tarducci. He's president of the APWU Local 7048, which covers the Philadelphia Bulk Mail Center on Philadelphia's Byberry Road. “They could continue to cut out government workers. ... They want to farm it out to people who are not in public service. APWU: Congressman, Postal Workers Protest BMC Privatization | U.S. Rep. Murphy Joins Postal Protest   |

 

Video: USPS Express Mail 1987 Ad

FL: USPS Opens Distribution Center In Wellington

September 13, 2008

Connecticut Congressman Presses Postal Service for Answers Regarding Meriden Route Changes - Congressman Chris Murphy (CT-5) released a letter he sent to Frank Marshall, Acting District Manager for the United States Postal Service to get answers for Meriden residents about how the Postal Service is going to resolve the mail delivery delays in the city caused by the recent elimination of eight routes. |

 

APWU: USPS Rejects Pilot Program For New Retail Position

During the last round of contract negotiations, the APWU proposed another pilot for a Crew Chief position, with the new title, “Team Lead.” An agreement to implement the program was signed after the National Agreement was finalized. During a recent meeting, the USPS officials informed us that they are not interested in the Team Lead concept. The announcement came after a disappointing effort by management to monitor the success of the program. Basically, all management wanted to do was look at the numbers.  |

 

FERS Sick Leave Credit Legislation Update

eNAPUS - Earlier this week, Sen. Cornyn, the Senate sponsor of the Senate companion to HR 1108, legislation to give the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority of the tobacco products, indicated that the Senate is unlikely to take up the measure this year. HR 1108 includes a provision, authored by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-CA) that provides FERS retirement credit for unused sick leave. eNAPUS: So Much to Do - So Little Time (PDF)  |

 

Hurricane Ike USPS Mail Service Updates | USPS suspends services

APWU Youth Make Unionism 'A Family Affair'

Postal error delays benefits checks

Letter carrier charged with forgery and identity theft

 

September 12, 2008

Potter Names Cochrane and Betman to VP Positions

Postmaster General Jack Potter today announced the appointment of Jim Cochrane as Vice President of Ground Shipping and Mitzi Betman as Vice President of Corporate Communications. Both have been acting in their respective positions for several months, and each has done an outstanding job during that time,” Potter said.   |

 

Testing Earth Class Mail: The Results

Postal Service to ask if Arizona City wants curbside service

USPS May Introduce New Flat Rate Box

Postal Parcels Pilfered

Suit alleges postal worker ran over child |

Fishing postmaster receives top honor

Probation given to Connecticut letter carrier in theft
Neither sleet, nor heat stop Mary and the mail  |

Georgia mail carrier caught stealing on her route

 

September 11, 2008

Postal Bulletin 9/11/2008 Issue

Postal Service Issues New Procedures for International Registered Mail Items

Neither snow, nor rain nor gloom over cutbacks seen affecting seniors' mail

Small business pushes growth of Postal Service

Photo: Post Office In Stockton Utah

 

September 10, 2008

GAO: New Delivery Performance Measures Could Enhance Postal Managers’ Pay for Performance Program - USPS pay for performance (PFP) program for managers includes quantitative performance indicators. PFP ratings are the basis for salary increases and lump sum awards for nearly 750 Postal Career Executive Service (PCES) executives and about 71,700 other participants, mostly Executive and Administrative Schedule (EAS) employees. GAO was requested to provide information about USPS's PFP system. This report (1) describes the key features of USPS's PFP system, (2) provides information on the weight of its performance indicators in determining PFP ratings, and (3) identifies opportunities for USPS to incorporate delivery performance indicators into its PFP system.  |

 

NALC President Young: Stand up, be strong for a better America

NALC will do all in its power to help elect Sen. Obama, a charismatic young leader who has demonstrated both vision and the power to inspire by mobilizing millions of Americans to join his campaign for change. Unlike his opponent, Sen. John McCain, Sen. Obama strongly supports NALC on all our major legislative issues, everything from Sen. Harkin’s ban on delivery outsourcing and the expansion of vote-by-mail to universal health insurance and the Employee Free Choice Act. At a time when the staggering economy is badly damaging the Postal Service—USPS lost $1 billion in the third quarter, when mail volume plunged more than 5 percent—America must break free from the disastrous policies of the Bush administration. Obama offers that change and a chance to rebuild the middle class; McCain offers more of the same. |

 

Early-Retirement Info Wrong, Burrus Tells USPS

APWU President William Burrus has notified the Postal Service of significant errors in information the USPS provided to employees eligible for Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) and has requested management’s “immediate attention to these matters” so that employees do not suffer irrevocable harm as a result.   |

 

Appeals Court Upholds Firing Of Postal Carrier For Unsafe Driving - The postal carrier while delivering mail on his route ran a stop sign and hit a vehicle driving through the intersection. The driver of the other vehicle was thrown from it, and the passenger had to be pried out by the fire department. USPS issued a notice of removal as a result of his negligent driving which resulted in the accident.  |

 

In Deficit, Retirees See Plenty of Reason to Worry

"During the budget crises of the 1980s and early 1990s, federal retirees and survivors lost $50 billion in deferred, reduced and canceled cost-of-living adjustments while 40 million Social Security beneficiaries never missed a dime's worth of COLAs," said Daniel Adcock, NARFE's legislative director. "They always want to take it out on the back of the retirees and employees," complained Moore, who retired after almost 38 years as a postal clerk in Grand Rapids.  |

 

NALC: Five California Letter Carriers to Share Award as Hero of the Year

USPS Chooses Diebold to Implement Nationwide Security Program

U.S. Postal Service combines kiosks, digital screens

Plans for several new Inland postal service facilities put on hold
Post Office scrambling to recover from Gustav
Ohio fights UPS-DHL deal at congressional hearing

Postal employee charged with murdering pregnant girlfriend

Retirement Bound? Planning is Everything!

USPS Uses Transportation Modeling to Reduce Costs

Mexico's postal blues remade in hot pink

Missing Checks Fallout

New Barstow postmaster keeps up a family tradition

 

September 9, 2008

Gustav precautions put burden on Postal Service

September 8, 2008

Georgia Supreme Court to Hear Rural Carrier's Case

a Georgia State Trooper was using a rural carrier's postal truck as a "blocking" device so he could track suspected speeders undetected. . The state trooper rear-ended the rural carrier's vehicle resulting in carrier suffering back and neck injuries.  |

 

East St. Louis PO burglarized | Authorities Investigate Post Office Break-In

Credit Crisis Puts a Dent in Card Offers

 

September 7, 2008

 USPS: Buyouts Not An Option

Even though the agency needs to cut staff, [Anthony Vegliante, Chief HR Officer]  said paying employees to retire early isn’t an option. The agency anticipates a $2 billion deficit for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30. “There’s absolutely not going to be an incentive,” he said. “Economically it doesn’t make any sense at this point. It would cost us too much money, and right now we’re not in the position.” The agency has some flexibility to adjust its work-force levels beyond the early-out offer, he said. Work performed each year by part-time employees and noncareer employees working transitional and casual shifts, as well as through overtime, is the equivalent of work done by between 80,000 and 90,000 full-time positions. In addition, roughly 30,000 employees either quit or retire voluntarily each year. The agency also could separate employees through a reduction-in-force action, although Vegliante said that’s a “last resort.” NALC President Will Offer No Recommendation On Letter Carriers Taking Early Out   |

 

Post office's move raises concerns

Ex-mail carrier sentenced to 18 months

Postal service working to return in Iberia, LA

8-year-old boy dead after being struck by postal truck in Brooklyn  |
Residents complain of delays with mail

 

September 6, 2008

Postal supervisor considers employee too valuable to serve on jury duty - Before adjourning Thursday in a murder re-trial case, the judge and the attorneys discussed a couple of potential problems involving jurors. One, employed by the U.S. Postal Service, has a supervisor who considers the juror too valuable to leave work."  Did she suggest that because you're so indispensable, she'll give you a  substantial raise?'' Smith asked the juror. The juror said no, and the judge said he would call the postal supervisor and apprise her of the importance of jury service.  |

 

Postal Service Supports Military Absentee Voting

Undelivered mail found at home of Wilson carrier

Senate committee to consider re-appointment of PRC commissioner Goldway

 

September 5, 2008

Postal worker suspected of embezzling $15000

USPS FSS Resources

Postal Service back to work in 6 parishes

Print Catalogs Still Rule, Survey Shows

It's a grand old flag stamp, but collectors can't buy singles

 

September 4, 2008

USPS Announces VER Timeline For Letter Carriers, Maintenance, EAS, PCES Employees - The age and years of service criteria must be met by the effective retirement date of this VERA: February 28, 2009. If you don’t meet the criteria by February 28, 2009, you are not eligible for voluntary early retirement. VER Timeline & Revised FAQ's for: Clerk; Mail Handler; Supervisor, Distribution Operations; Supervisor, Customer Services   |

 

Burrus to Maintenance, Motor Vehicle Employees: Don't Go!
With news that the Postal Service will offer Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) to Motor Vehicle Services and Maintenance Craft employees - except Electronic Technicians - APWU President William Burrus is reiterating his advice to union members: DON'T GO! "My reasoning is simple," he said. "Every APWU-represented employee who leaves early will save the USPS hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet the Postal Service is refusing to offer cash incentives.
 |

 

Judge rejects anxiety excuse, sends former postmaster to prison

A lawyer in Newark today offered a novel argument for keeping his client out of prison on federal corruption charges: He claimed the former postmaster, John F. Balliro, was claustrophobic. "Mr. Balliro suffers from severe anxiety," said attorney Thomas Bello. "He has difficulty driving across a bridge or through a tunnel. Any period of incarceration, even one day, would cause him severe emotional distress." But U.S. District Judge Stanley Chesler didn't buy it. Archive: Former Postal Manager Indicted for Misuse of Government Property and Employees  |

 

Analysis of a Postal Scam

Town to keep its three post offices

Brewfest to benefit family of deceased letter carrier

Mail Carrier Admits to Stealing Worker's Comp, Social Security Checks

USPS has no plans to rebuild Post Office Destroyed by Fire

Deluxe to Close Three Plants, Axing 570 Employees

Beach police seek man who tried to steal postal truck

Postal Truck, Bicyclist Collide in Court House

Bound printed matter mailings to be paid by permit only
Town meeting held on 'emergency suspension' of post office

 

September 3, 2008

 National League of Postmasters Work Climate Survey
As Part of the Leagues ongoing efforts in support of Postmasters, OICs, PMRs and EAS employees the National Board has put this survey together for the purpose of documenting the current work climate. This is in response to the concerns and issues raised at State and National Conventions. Your input will assist in addressing issues from the District level to US Postal Headquarters. We need to hear from you, both good and bad. Check Out Survey   |

 

Work Slowing At Mail Plant In Eastern Maine

For the two dozen employees at the U.S. Postal Service’s Eastern Maine Processing and Distribution Facility, things have slowed a little in recent weeks. “We’ve got guys standing around not doing anything; that’s a bad sign,” said Richard J. Reed, president of the Bangor Area Local 536 of the American Postal Workers Union, which represents 21 of those workers. Work has leveled off since the USPS decision last month to shift some of its processing from the plant in Hampden to a newer, more technologically impressive facility in southern Maine, Reed said. "  |

 

USPS Pounds Own Coffin Nails

APWU Offers Campaign Material in Support of Obama's Candidacy

Beach police seek man who tried to steal postal truck

Ohio: Mail carrier under investigation for identity, mail theft |
Texas: 10-Year El Paso Residents Still Waiting For Mailboxes   |
Hawaii: Mail truck causes chain reaction accident on freeway '

 

September 2, 2008

Labor marching into uncertain future

Mailbox pipe bomb packed deadly force

Rural Letter Carrier admits piling up 21,000 pieces of mail  |

Aviation fuel charges may bury bypass mail service  |

 

September 1, 2008

Two Errors In USPS VER FAQs

By Don Cheney: "There are two errors in management's questions and answers on Voluntary Early Retirement. It could affect a few people's decision to retire now or not. These were brought to management's attention by the APWU at least six weeks ago and have not been corrected."   |

 

Postal service adjusts to 'snail mail' demise

...changing customer habits are why the postal service is moving to expand carrier routes, remove rarely used corner mailboxes and automate more functions in central distribution centers like the one near Hares Corner that processes all mail in Delaware. "We must take appropriate steps now to manage costs and increase efficiency in order to preserve our ability to provide quality service at reasonable rates," said Ray Daiutolo, spokesman for the region that includes Delaware. There is an "overall need to consolidate our nationwide infrastructure at a time when revenue has been declining."  |

 

Kansas Postal Carrier overcomes polio, accident to deliver mail

Jerry Totten, 51, is a survivor. He’s defied death on two occasions and is Lawrence’s only remaining full-time, walking mail carrier. He admits he’s lucky to be walking at all.   |

 

Mail worker eyed in Queens hit-run - Cops are searching for a U.S. mail truck that fatally mowed down a father of three Sunday as he crossed a Queens street on his way home from work. Shakoor Khan, 75, died from injuries suffered when the Postal Service tractor-trailer rig clipped him in the crosswalk at Rockaway and Farmers Blvds. in Jamaica."  |

 

Why Mail Piece Weight Matters  |

Ordeal becomes test of man's will

Postal Service reduces mailboxes

USPS Service Updates for Hurricane Gustav

Don't let Saturday mail deliveries cease

 

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