October 29, 2008

PRC Chairman Predicts 5% Rate Hike for 2009

PRC Chairman Predicts 5% Rate Hike for 2009: "Although the 2006 Postal Reform law restored a semblance of normalcy to annual postal rate increases, many catalogers are wondering what they can expect in terms of a rate hike in May 2009.

Dan G. Blair, chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission, offers his educated prognostication: “It appears that the average increase for each class of mail will be approximately 5%. The actual rate cap will depend upon the behavior of the monthly CPI (Consumer Price Index) between now and December.

The cap is based on an average over two consecutive 12-month periods, Blair says. “The current value (as of Oct. 21) is 4.4%, and we’ve witnessed an upward trend over the past year.”"

Cops pose as postal workers, make drug arrest

Cops pose as postal workers, make drug arrest - Allston-Brighton, MA - Allston/Brighton TAB

October 27, 2008

Postal Service Looks To Cut 40,000 Jobs In First Layoff In History

KSLA News 12 Shreveport, Louisiana |Postal Service Looks To Cut 40,000 Jobs In First Layoff In History: "'We lost 2 billion dollars and like any other business we have to stay afloat.' And to keep from sinking, the United States Postal Service is considering cutting thousands of jobs nationwide. Lavelle Pepper with the post office in Shreveport says they too are feeling the affects of the same disease hitting the country... a struggling economy. 'We employ about 685,000 people. If we do layoffs it would include clerks, carriers, mail handlers across all crafts.'"

Cops nab alleged burglar with aid of postal worker

The Tribune Democrat, Johnstown, PA - Cops nab alleged burglar with aid of postal worker: "The sharp eye and quick response of a worker at the Portage post office with aid by an in-store alarm system aided police in the quick apprehension of an alleged burglar as he left a pharmacy with a bottle of prescription painkillers in hand."

October 22, 2008

Report of shooting stops mail

Report of shooting stops mail for 52 Harvey homes :: The SouthtownStar :: News: "A report of shots fired followed by nearly two weeks of miscommunication has left 52 Harvey households with empty mailboxes.

The U.S. Postal Service suspended mail delivery to homes near 151st and Marshfield in Harvey after a postal carrier said she was caught in crossfire Oct. 10 while working her regular route, said Jose Aguilar, a postal service spokesman."

October 19, 2008

Postal service cutbacks could affect customers

Postal service cutbacks could affect customers - Midstate PA Local News, Weather, Sports & Entertainment - PennLive.com: "Although more people prefer e-mail to snail mail and more businesses are likely to fax than ship, the mail -- what remains of it -- has to be delivered six days a week. The U.S. Postal Service expects to end the year with a decline of 9 billion pieces of mail versus last year.

In a press release, Postmaster General John Potter said the best way to cope is to reduce work hours. That could take several forms, including fewer staff working fewer hours."

October 17, 2008

Top Federal Postal Cop Retires in Wake of ABC News Investigation

ABC News: Exclusive: Top Federal Postal Cop Retires in Wake of ABC News Investigation

Two weeks after being questioned by ABC News about his travel expenses and gambling habits, the head of the US Postal Service's Inspection Service abruptly announced his retirement.

October 13, 2008

The Changing Postal Landscape:

The Changing Postal Landscape: What Mailers Need to Know: "Postal reform is the best thing that ever happened to direct mailers: True or false?

Both answers are correct, depending on how you mail.
The 2008 rate hike was reasonable. But last year’s wasn’t, nor was the one before that—least of all for catalogers. And there are many other postal variables that make planning difficult for anyone using the mail stream."

Neither Snow, Nor Rain, Nor Anthrax... - NYTimes.com

Op-Ed Contributor - Neither Snow, Nor Rain, Nor Anthrax... - NYTimes.com: "IMPORTANT planning for responding to a future anthrax attack has quietly been under way since the last attacks seven years ago. A key part of this effort has been figuring out how best to deliver prophylactic antibiotics quickly to the people living in the city that is attacked"

October 12, 2008

Next step for USPS: Layoffs? - FederalTimes.com

Next step for USPS: Layoffs? - FederalTimes.com: "Will there be layoffs at the U.S. Postal Service? That’s the buzz among the agency’s 670,000 workers as signs grow that the agency is sliding further into financial trouble."

3685 Postal Workers Take Early Retirement Offer In First Round

TheDay.com - Postal service is cutting back with offers of early retirement: "As of Friday, 3,685 mail handlers, clerks and low-level supervisors in processing plants and at retail windows across the country had accepted the first buyout offer made to 72,000 eligible employees, said Greg Frey, a postal service spokesman.
That's an acceptance rate of about 5 percent, at the high end of the number of workers the postal service projected would take the so-called “early outs,” Frey said.
The deadline for those early retirement decisions was Sept. 30; they take effect Dec. 31, Frey said"

October 08, 2008

Postal worker alerts woman in burning house

Postal worker alerts woman in burning house - News - inRich.com: "A letter carrier for the U.S. Postal Service, Wilson had just started his route today shortly before 10 a.m. in Richmond's Highland Park neighborhood when he saw smoke coming from the side of a house.

Wilson raced up to the one-story bungalow in the 3400 block of First Avenue and began banging on the door."

October 04, 2008

Postal worker goes beyond call of duty

Elderly woman’s failure to collect mail leads concerned carrier to her rescue.

Postal worker goes beyond call of duty: "Karen Teller rescued a woman who’d fallen down and been stranded for four days after noticing the mail piling up."

Illinois postal worker to plead guilty in money order kiting scheme

Area postal worker to plead guilty - Springfield, IL - The State Journal-Register: "A Christian County postal worker is expected to plead guilty to allegations she developed a kiting scheme to steal money orders from the post office.

Susan A. Poleon, 46, of Palmer is charged in federal court with misappropriation of postal funds."

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October 03, 2008

At the Postal Service, Talk of Layoffs - washingtonpost.com

Joe Davidson - At the Postal Service, Talk of Layoffs - washingtonpost.com: "Here's another sad sign of our economic times: Never before has the U.S. Postal Service laid off workers. Now, it's a real possibility.
'For the first time in history, that is being considered,' said Gerald McKiernan, a USPS spokesman."

2 men rob Texas Post Office

The Facts: "CLUTE — Police are searching for two men who robbed a postal employee at gunpoint on the loading dock of the Clute Post Office and ran away with a bag."

Congressman Asks Boston Postal Managers For Explanation Of Outsourcing Vehicle Maintenance Work

PostalReporter.com Blog » Congressman Asks Boston Postal Managers For Explanation Of Outsourcing Vehicle Maintenance Work Expressing concern about the outsourcing of maintenance and repair work on postal vehicles, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) wrote to the USPS Boston District Manager on Sept. 22, [PDF] and asked for an explanation of USPS policy.