Stamped for extinction

Stamped for extinction :: Ken Tingley :: PostStar.com: "The mail was, at one time, much more than just bills and credit card offers. It was a relationship that was a bridge to our other relationships. The mail was exciting."

Postal cutbacks don’t worry businesses in age of e-mail

: "Postal cutbacks don’t worry businesses in age of e-mail"

Most Post Offices will close at 12 noon on Friday, July 3, 2009.

PostalReporter.com Blog » USPS: Most Post Offices will close at 12 noon on Friday, July 3, 2009.: "USPS released the following information:
On Friday, July 3, regular mail delivery services will be available. However, most Post Offices will close at 12 noon, and most collection times will be advanced to noon."

Mail Processing Staying In Mansfield

WMFD.com - Mail Processing Staying In Mansfield: "The Postal Service has ended its Area Mail Processing (AMP) study of mail processing operations at the Mansfield Post Office."

Congressman To Introduce Bill For Mail Carriers To Conduct 2010 Census

PostalReporter.com Blog » Congressman To Introduce Bill For Mail Carriers To Conduct 2010 Census: "Today Rep. Jason Chaffetz announced he will introduce legislation requiring the Commerce Department’s execution of the 2010 Census to be conducted in partnership with the United States Post Office. The Census previously announced a need to hire in excess of 750,000 people to conduct the Census. The Post Office has 760,000 employees."

NALC: NRP settlement clears path for hundreds of held grievances

Contract Administration: "As a result of many months of negotiations, the party’s three-part settlement addresses all of the NALC’s contentions in this grievance and solidifies the contractual rights of affected letter carriers. The parties agreed that NRP does not change management’s obligations to provide limited duty to injured employees and it does not change the provisions of ELM 546. The parties also agreed that NRP does not create new criteria for assigning limited duty and that light duty carriers will not normally be displaced solely to make new limited duty or rehabilitation assignments unless required by law."

Family of hawks halts mail delivery in Liberty

Family of hawks halts mail delivery in Liberty - Local & Regional News - Vindy.com, The Vindicator: "Neighbors hadn’t received mail for about a week because of the birds."

Postal Service May Boost Ride-Alongs

Dead Tree Edition: Postal Service May Boost Ride-Alongs: "The U.S. Postal Service is preparing some price breaks for the money-losing Periodicals class, sources tell Dead Tree Edition.

The most likely change to the Periodicals class, which is used by magazines and newspapers, seems to be a revamping of the “ride-along” pricing and regulations. Ride-alongs are items not eligible for Periodicals treatment on their own, such as product samples and catalogs, that are mailed along with a Periodicals publication"

Fraud trial for postal worker begins

El Pasoan Jose Barraza, who worked as a letter carrier, was indicted in November and charged with 14 counts of making false reports to obtain workers compensation benefits.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/ci_12668810?source=most_emailed

Schumer urging reconsideration the proposal to terminate local mail services in Binghamton

Schumer urging reconsideration the proposal to terminate local mail services in Binghamton - WIVT/WBGH Newschannel34: "SCHUMER URGES U.S. POSTAL SERVICE TO RECONSIDER DECISION TO CONSOLIDATE MAIL SERVICE IN SOUTHERN TIER, CENTRAL NY AND THE NORTH COUNTRY INTO ONE REGIONAL FACILITY"

Postal inspectors investigate mail theft at Clemson

Postal inspectors investigate mail theft at Clemson | GreenvilleOnline.com | The Greenville News: "U.S. Postal Service inspectors were called last week amid concern over an estimated 4,000 to 6,000 pieces of mail in a stolen Clemson University van found in flames."

House sub-committee meets June 24 at 9 AM on USPS Financial Relief Bill

Business Meeting Notice :: Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia :: United States House of Representatives: "On Wednesday, June 24, 2009, at 9:00 a.m., in room 2154 of the Rayburn House Office Building, the Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and the District of Columbia Subcommittee will hold a business meeting to mark up H.R. 22, “United States Postal Service Financial Relief"

Carrier pleads not guilty in theft of mail

toledoblade.com --: "A suspended postal carrier who for nearly 20 years delivered mail in rural Wyandot County appeared in U.S. District Court in Toledo Monday to face charges that she took the mail she was entrusted to deliver and fraudulently opened credit card accounts using stolen applications."

Former postal worker faces sentencing on fraud charges

Sinko, former postal worker, faces sentencing on fraud charges - Bay City News - The Latest News, Blogs, Photos & Videos – MLive.com: "A former U.S. Postal Service worker will have to wait a little longer to learn her penalty for trying to defraud the government.

A jury in March found Bobbie J. Sinko guilty of conspiring to defraud the Postal Service.
The 52-year-old worked as a bulk mail technician at the Mount Pleasant Post Office from 2004 through the autumn of 2007 when, inspectors say, she and Matthew E. English concocted a scheme to skim hundreds of thousands of dollars from the government."

South Dakota Contractor gets 1 year for stealing mail

Garretson man gets 1 year for stealing mail - KTIV NewsChannel 4 Sioux City IA: News, Weather and Sports: "A 36-year-old Garretson man who worked for a company that contracted with the U.S. Postal Service is going to prison for stealing mail."

Marines mom needs help taking on postal service - 6/19/09 - New York News and Tri-State News - 7online.com

7 On Your Side: Marines mom needs help taking on postal service - 6/19/09 - New York News and Tri-State News - 7online.com: "It was a not-so-special delivery for one young United States Marine. Expecting a new laptop, instead, he got a boxful of car parts in the mail. Good thing his mom insured the package with the postal service, right? Wrong. For the past year the sergeant's mom's has had a battle on her hands to get the USPS to pay off her claim."

Troubled USPS eyes help from Congress

The U.S. Postal Service is projecting a loss exceeding $6 billion for the fiscal year ending Sept. 30, which puts retiree health benefit contributions in jeopardy unless a bill is passed by the U.S. Congress

http://www.nhregister.com/articles/2009/06/20/news/a3-postalwoes.txt

Postal Service To Issue List Of Post Offices July 1 That May Be Closed, Consolidated -- Courant.com

Postal Service To Issue List Of Post Offices July 1 That May Be Closed, Consolidated -- Courant.com: "The U.S. Postal Service expects to have a list of post offices by about July 1 that will be 'candidates for a full-blown study' for closing and consolidation, postal service spokeswoman Maureen Marion said Wednesday."

USPS Still Seeking Home-Based Independent Contractors For EEO Investigations

PostalReporter.com Blog » USPS Still Seeking Home-Based Independent Contractors For EEO Investigations: "An EEO investigator is paid on a “per case” basis, generally $1100. Note that these positions are open to postal retirees. Preferred applicants have three years experience in EEO law or EEO complaint processing with a background in Human Resources, Labor Relations, or Law."

New Castle Mail Processing Facility Will Stay Open

PostalReporter.com Blog » New Castle Mail Processing Facility Will Stay Open: "U.S. Senator Bob Casey today joined the congressional delegation and Lawrence County leaders in announcing that the United States Postal Service (USPS) has decided to keep the New Castle Mail Processing Facility open."

USPS OIG Awards Contract To Company For Purpose Of Scrutinizing OWCP Medical Bills

PostalReporter.com Blog » USPS OIG Awards Contract To Company For Purpose Of Scrutinizing OWCP Medical Bills: "The OIG is carefully scrutinizing OWCP medical bills. (see attachment) This will discourage some providers from taking these patients. Why would a physician want the hassle of dealing with the OIG?"

USPS: AVAILABLE FOR DUTY TOOL DRIVES IMPROVEMENTS IN ATTENDANCE

USPS News Link - June 19, 2009: "The enterprise Resource Management System (eRMS) — a tool designed to help on-the-job attendance — has been improved to include an “Available for Duty” (AFD) measurement that helps manage unscheduled leave requests."

In New Jersey, Many Post Offices May Be Marked for Closing

In New Jersey, Many Post Offices May Be Marked for Closing - NYTimes.com: "The Postal Service, whose finances have taken a beating as electronic communication has overtaken paper correspondence, has marked hundreds of post offices across the country for closing."

Inverted stamps expected to go for millions

Inverted stamps expected to go for millions : State : Abilene Reporter-News: "One man's collection of more than 3,000 mistakes is expected to sell for millions.
These, of course, aren't just any mistakes: They are the very valuable variety that happens when part of a stamp is printed upside-down."

Stamp Vending Machine Complaints Rise

Stamp Vending Machine Complaints Rise - News Story - KFOX El Paso: "El Pasoans are starting to notice the postage stamp vending machines are gone and said they are being inconvenienced.

Last year, the U.S postal service decided to begin to phase out the vending machines."

USPS Board Of Governors To Hold Meetings Closed To The Public June 22-24

PostalReporter.com Blog » USPS Board Of Governors To Hold Meetings Closed To The Public June 22-24

A year after fire, new Matinicus Island Post Office opens

A year after fire, new Matinicus Island Post Office opens: "Wanda Philbrook, Matinicus Island's postmaster (and yes, she does prefer that title), looks through the service window from her neat office on the other side. She hands the islander the stamps, and his mail (as of this writing, the actual post office boxes have not arrived yet). Like so many others, the customer cannot resist asking her how it feels to finally have a real post office to work from. 'It's such a relief,' Philbrook says, clearly having answered this question before. 'It's like a weight off my shoulders.'

For the last 13 months, Philbrook had managed the island's mail from her home, after an accidental fire destroyed the building housing the newly-renovated Matinicus post office in April of 2008."

Busy Huntsville Post Office evacuated

Busy Huntsville Post Office evacuated - WAFF.com: North Alabama News, Radar, Weather, Sports and Jobs-: "Huntsville Fire and Rescue crews evacuated a busy post office Tuesday morning after an employee found a leaking package."

Post Office Looks to Scale Back

Post Office Looks to Scale Back: "The agency is reviewing 3,100 post offices and retail outlets -- out of 36,700 -- for possible closure or consolidation, and it expects decisions by Oct. 1. Since 2000, the agency has shut 1,337 post offices and outlets, and since 2005 it has closed two of 380 mail-processing centers and consolidated nine. Dozens of other proposed closures or mergers were rejected, many following local resistance."

Post office for homeless wins reprieve to stay open

Post office for homeless wins reprieve to stay open: "The U.S. Postal Service is re-evaluating its decision to cut funding to a Phoenix post office that serves homeless clientele, just days before the scheduled start of closure proceedings.

The post office at Lodestar Day Resource Center, a 12-acre human-services campus that assists homeless adults, had been slated to gradually lose postal services beginning next Friday if the campus' executive director couldn't supplement the thousands in funding the Postal Service had decided to cut.

The office, which serves about 3,000 homeless clients, offers afternoon mail pickup Tuesdays through Saturdays for everything from personal letters to Social Security checks, disability checks, W2 forms, food stamps and birth-certificate copies."

USPS looking at consolidating facilites in Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven

USPS looking at consolidating facilites in Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven - The Connecticut Post Online: "Branches and satellite postal facilities in Bridgeport, Stamford, New Haven, Hartford and Waterbury could be among those targeted for consolidation by the U.S. Postal Service.

However, branches in Monroe, Milford and Shelton won't be affected by the cost-saving moves that could take place by the Christmas/New Year holidays.
No site has yet been identified for closing."

Going Postal: Reid’s New Defense of Public Health Care - The Note

Going Postal: Reid’s New Defense of Public Health Care - The Note: "Getting your health care like you get your mail.

Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., employed a new analogy to defend the prospect of enacting a public (government-run) health care option as part of wholesale health care reform.
Call it the postal service plan. Which seems like an odd pitch, but according to a survey reported in the Federal Times in 2008, the postal service has high approval. (Who knew?)."

Postal Service Studies Retail Network, Office Consolidations

PostalReporter.com Blog » Postal Service Studies Retail Network, Office Consolidations: "The Postal Service currently is examining the possible consolidation of delivery and retail functions among some of its larger (EAS-24 and above) stations and branches. This follows aggressive cost-control measures already taken, such as adjusting carrier routes, consolidating various mail-processing and tour operations, and restructuring administrative functions."

NAPS Sue USPS Over EAS Representation

PostalReporter.com Blog » NAPS Sue USPS Over EAS Representation: "On Tuesday, June 9, 2009, the National Association of Postal Supervisors filed a motion in the United States District Court for the District of Columbia for the courts to enforce a prior court order originally issued on February, 17, 1977, that provided NAPS with the legal right to represent supervisors and other managerial employees of the Postal Service."

Postal Worker’s Firing Upheld For Inappropriate Conduct With Customer, Deviation From Route

PostalReporter.com Blog » Postal Worker’s Firing Upheld For Inappropriate Conduct With Customer, Deviation From Route: "Juan Cabrera worked as a mail carrier in the Hayward-Castro Valley Post Office in Castro Valley, California. On October 24, 2007, the agency issued a notice removing him from his position based on two charges: unacceptable conduct and deviation from his postal route. Mr. Cabrera appealed his removal to the Merit Systems Protection"

House Provision Could Cost FedEx Millions, Stall Deliveries

Federal Express is preparing to launch a multimillion dollar public-affairs campaign to derail House-passed legislation that would put the airline-based freight company under labor rules governing United Parcel Service, FedEx's trucking-based competitor. Worried that its costs could surge and overnight deliveries could be stalled by wildcat strikes if the changes are put into place, FedEx on Tuesday is expected to lay out a multimedia campaign using the Internet, TV, and paid advertising.

At issue is a provision in the Federal Aviation Administration reauthorization bill that would make it easier for FedEx drivers to be organized by the Teamsters. The House OK'd the bill largely on party lines. Its fate in the Senate is in doubt. In the past, FedEx has killed the provision that would remove the company's drivers from the Railway Labor Act's jurisdiction, which requires companywide labor-organizing votes, and put them under the National Labor Relations Act, which lets unions organize on a location-by-location basis. FedEx argues that the RLA is more appropriate because the company is jet based, and Congress in the past has worried about letting strikes impact aviation-based commerce—especially critical today when internationally traded products and medical supplies and even body parts travel on overnight flights.

http://www.usnews.com/blogs/washington-whispers/2009/06/04/house-provision-could-cost-fedex-millions-stall-deliveries.html

USPS Notifies APWU Of Retail/Delivery Units Being Considered For Consolidation Or Closure

PostalReporter.com Blog » USPS Notifies APWU Of Retail/Delivery Units Being Considered For Consolidation Or Closure: "The Postal Service is considering consolidating operations in our larger stations and branches. This effort could include possible termination of leases and/or movement of operations from Postal Service-owned facilities. As a consequence, employees working in those retail/delivery facilities may be reassigned to other retail/delivery units, and/or other facilities, or other duties in accordance with the relevant provisions of the applicable collective bargaining agreements"

Global postal industry to measure carbon footprint

Global postal industry to measure carbon footprint : "The carbon footprint of the global postal industry will be published for the first time to coincide with the Copenhagen climate change talks this December."

PRC Approves USPS “Summer Sale” Rates Proposal

PRC Approves USPS “Summer Sale” Rates Proposal: "The Postal Regulatory Commission today unanimously approved the U.S. Postal Service proposal to implement a Standard Mail Volume Incentive Pricing Program. The seasonal rates are scheduled to take effect on July 1 and run through September 30, 2009."

Confronting A Disruptive Technology

Confronting A Disruptive Technology : "Before Congress can decide what kind of relief the Postal Service needs, it needs to ask some hard questions: How much of the current decline in mail volume is due to the economic crisis that will eventually end and how much is due to societal changes caused by electronic communications? How much mail volume will return when the economy recovers? What types of mail will return? Or has electronic media permanently changed how people communicate? And can advertising mail replace personal correspondence and remittance mail? Before Congress can decide what kind of relief the Postal Service needs, it needs to ask some hard questions: How much of the current decline in mail volume is due to the economic crisis that will eventually end and how much is due to societal changes caused by electronic communications? How much mail volume will return when the economy recovers? What types of mail will return? Or has electronic media permanently changed how people communicate? And can advertising mail replace personal correspondence and remittance mail?"

Recession, U.S. Postal Service downsizing may force closure of twenty post office branches in NYC

Recession, U.S. Postal Service downsizing may force closure of twenty post office branches in NYC: "'This is unprecedented,' said Chuck Zlatkin, the legislative and political director for the New York Metro Area Postal Union. 'This is pretty drastic, and it's happening very quickly.'

The union has not received formal notification of the closings, but Zlatkin said it was part of an overall cost-cutting effort by the Postal Service. Union officials heard postal officials in New York had 90 days to select the doomed branches."

Letter Carriers’ Union Applauds McHugh Nomination For Army Secretary

Letter Carriers’ Union Applauds McHugh Nomination For Army Secretary: "The president of the 300,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers (AFL-CIO), today applauded the announcement by President Obama that he will nominate Rep. John M. McHugh (R-NY) to be the next Secretary of the Army."