April 30, 2009

Waxman asks postmaster general about mailbox removals

Waxman asks postmaster general about mailbox removals | L.A. Now | Los Angeles Times: "Responding to an 'unprecedented number of complaints' from constituents, U.S. Rep. Henry A. Waxman (D-Los Angeles) this week wrote to Postmaster General John E. Potter for an explanation about why so many mailboxes had been removed in the L.A. area."

April 28, 2009

Swine Flu Guide for Federal Workers - Federal Eye -

Eye Opener: Swine Flu Guide for Federal Workers - Federal Eye -: "The concern and intrigue surrounding a potential swine flu pandemic continues around the world and here in Washington, as the Office of Personnel Management has issued guidance to federal agencies about how to react to the illness"

April 27, 2009

The OIG Wants to Know How You Feel about Sick Leave

» Blog Archive » The OIG Wants to Know How You Feel about Sick Leave: "Career employees earn 4 hours of sick leave for a full pay period (80 hours), or at a rate of 5 percent. Some career employees are currently taking sick leave at approximately the same rate, liquidating their leave bank. The Postal Service’s sick leave absence rate (absenteeism) was 4.3 percent in 2008. This seems high compared to the 1.1 percent"

New TSP options likely

New TSP options likely - Federal news, government operations, agency management, pay & benefits - FederalTimes.com: "Congress is poised to add three benefits to the popular Thrift Savings Plan."

Four seriously injured in crash With Postal Truck

Four seriously injured in crash: "A U.S. Postal Service truck apparently broadsided a car carrying five people in downtown Minneapolis Sunday night, injuring four of them seriously, police said"

April 26, 2009

Some blue mailboxes to be eliminated in Oshkosh

Some blue mailboxes to be eliminated in Oshkosh | thenorthwestern.com | Oshkosh Northwestern: "Fourteen of the blue U.S. Postal Service collection boxes will be put out of service effective Monday in Oshkosh. A density test was undertaken and the boxes slated for elimination were not used enough with each having 25 pieces of mail or less each day, said Marge Oehlke, a spokesperson for the U.S. Postal Service in Wisconsin."

As volume of mail decreases, Postal Service drops collection boxes

South Bend Tribune: As volume of mail decreases, Postal Service drops collection boxes: "Walking a few extra blocks to mail your letters might become part of your routine if you live in Mishawaka. The postmaster said 12 collection boxes were removed because of low volume"

Federal Court Orders Postal Service To Reconsider Mailing of Illegal Animal Fighting Magazines

Federal Court Orders Postal Service To Reconsider Mailing of Illegal Animal Fighting Magazines | The Humane Society of the United States: "A federal judge has ordered the U.S. Postal Service to reconsider whether the mailing of certain animal fighting magazines should be banned by the Postal Service because they violate the federal Animal Welfare Act. The ruling comes in response to a case brought by The Humane Society of the United States challenging the Postal Service's denial of The HSUS' 2006 legal petition seeking to block the mailing of advertisements for illegal fighting animals, knives and other animal-fighting paraphernalia."

April 24, 2009

Woman Indicted in Post Office Threats

KAALtv.com - Woman Indicted in Post Office Threats: "A federal grand jury has indicted a Faribault woman for allegedly making bomb threats against 16 post offices in southern Minnesota."

April 23, 2009

Tulsans Continue To Fight Post Office Closing

Tulsans Continue To Fight Post Office Closing - NewsOn6.com - Tulsa, OK - News, Weather, Video and Sports - KOTV.com |: "A Tulsa woman is taking her fight to save a post office to a new level.

Peggy Fielding, 81, is a writer who relies on the Kendall Whittier Post Office near First Street and Lewis Avenue to conduct her business affairs."

USPS ‘Clarifies’ Some Early-Retirement Deadlines

USPS ‘Clarifies’ Some Early-Retirement Deadlines: "The Postal Service has informed the APWU that the deadline for eligible employees who wish to apply for Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) effective June 30 or July 31 is June 19. The USPS has also designated June 19 as the “irrevocable” date, by which employees who have applied for retirement but wish to withdraw their applications must do so.

Employees who wish to apply for VER effective May 31 must do so by May 15; the irrevocable date for May 31 retirements is May 15 as well."

Federal nFederal Times: More Bad Numbers Ahead For USPS

Federal news, government operations, agency management, pay & benefits - FederalTimes.com: "The Postal Service’s board of governors is meeting early next month to discuss, among other things, the financial results from the second quarter of 2009. There’s not much optimism about the numbers, considering USPS lost $384 million in the first quarter, which is traditionally the strongest of the year."

April 22, 2009

USPS Unveils Further Details on 'Summer Sale'

USPS Unveils Further Details on 'Summer Sale' DMA Provides Update on Current Outline On Tuesday, April 21, the US Postal service briefed DMA and other associations on the details of its upcoming “Summer Sale.” Although the Postal Service Summer Sale has not yet been approved by the Board of Governors, USPS is informing mailers of what they currently envision as the outline of the plan. DMA has provided a summary of that outline, which may be changed before it is brought to the Board of Governors. The plans may change further after review by the Board and the Postal Regulatory Commission."

April 21, 2009

Mail carrier signs, seals and delivers 50 years of Service

Herb Benham: Mail carrier signs, seals and delivers 50 years of ... - Bakersfield.com: "Images:
Casey ChristieCasey Christie / The Californian Retiring post office letter carrier, Paul Shaw tries on one of his first hats he wore close to 50 years ago while delivering mail in Oildale. He said this particular hat was a little hot in the summer time because it lacked holes for ventilation. Casey ChristieCasey Christie / The Californian Retiring postal worker Paul Shaw holds up a worn out U.S. Mail baseball type hat he wore out after wearing on his Oildale route for years. He is retiring after close to 50 years on the route. Casey ChristieCasey Christie / The Californian Retiring post office letter carrier, Paul Shaw still has his original jacket he wore while making the rounds on his postal route. He is retiring after nearly 50 years on the job. Casey ChristieCasey Christie / The Californian Paul Shaw, is retiring from the post office as a letter carrier after 50 years on the job. He is holding some of his original attire he wore including hat and jacket. Audio:
Hear Herb: 50 years of hauling the mail
Paul Shaw's been bitten 10 times. Ten times in almost 50 years. That seems like a lot, even for a letter carrier.
If you're a civilian, one bite may be too many, but for the old guard like Shaw (retiring in May after almost 50 years with the post office), 10 could have been 20 and still the mail would have been delivered -- usually on the same day --and probably without a subsequent lawsuit against the dog's owners."

April 20, 2009

Authorities searching for Jacksonville post office gunman

Authorities searching for Jacksonville post office gunman | Jacksonville.com: "Federal postal inspectors are hunting for a gunman who attempted to rob a Westside Jacksonville Post Office on Friday, terrorizing employees and a customer with a baby, a police report said."

Mail Bans, Postal Woes

Talkback on Graphic Arts Online: "Its finances deteriorating, the U.S. Postal Service faces another hurdle as a major cities advance restricting a key revenue stream for the agency, and the printing industry—direct mail"

APWU-Led Consolidation Protests Gather Steam, Gain Public Support

APWU-Led Consolidation Protests Gather Steam, Gain Public Support: "Owners of small businesses, workers, and other concerned citizens continue to speak out at protests and at public meetings staged by the Postal Service to “share initial results” of Area Mail Processing studies."

USPS Seeking Contractor To Create New ID Cards For Postal Employees

PostalReporter.com Blog » USPS Seeking Contractor To Create New ID Cards For Postal Employees: "The United States Postal Service is requesting quote for the Identification for Postal Access and Security Standardization (iPass) Card Initiative"

April 19, 2009

Going Postal - The Imminent Death of the U.S. Postal Service?

Going Postal - Georg Jensen - The American Interest Magazine: "For all its inability to stay in tune with changing consumer trends, technology advances, a warming planet and a deep economic crisis, the leadership of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) might as well have given all their mail carriers Hummers to drive on their appointed rounds in recent years"

April 18, 2009

WV Congressman Working to Maintain Six-Day Mail Service

Rahall Working to Maintain Six-Day Mail Service - Huntington News Network: "U.S. Rep. Nick Rahall, D-WV, continues to champion southern West Virginia’s mail carriers with legislation in the 111th Congress by supporting H.Res. 173, a resolution that supports the continuation of 6-day mail service across the country.

“West Virginians depend on the reliable delivery of mail,” said Rahall. “Our mail carriers are a vital part of our communities and ensure the safe arrival of vital packages, including medication, and pay and Social Security checks.”

Congressman Rahall is also working on H.R. 22, legislation introduced to allow the United States Postal Service (USPS) to pay health benefits from the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund."

April 17, 2009

UPS, DHL end negotiations over $1 billion contract

UPS, DHL end negotiations over $1 billion contract | ajc.com: "Negotiations have ended between Sandy Springs-based UPS and European rival DHL over an air cargo contract valued at $1 billion.

“UPS and DHL have mutually agreed to terminate their negotiations,” confirmed UPS spokesman Norman Black. “As UPS is in its quiet period before earnings, we will have nothing further to say at this time.” UPS will release its earnings on Thursday."

Postal worker threw away mail because it was printed on inferior paper

kare11.com | Twin Cities, MN | Police: Postal worker threw away mail because it was printed on inferior paper: "A former postal worker in upstate New York has been arrested for tossing mail.
Glen Helmer was arrested Thursday morning and charged with destroying mail he was supposed to be delivering.
According to the criminal complaint Helmer admitted to throwing away bulk mail circulars."

The Limitations of USPS Delivery Confirmation

The Limitations of USPS Delivery Confirmation « Auctioncope: "“Verify delivery with Delivery Confirmation. Our low cost Delivery Confirmation service gives you the date, ZIP Code™ and time your article was delivered. If delivery was attempted you will get the date and time of attempted delivery. You can easily access this information with our Track & Confirm tool.”"

Netflix Subscribers See Red Over Cracked Blu-ray Discs

Netflix Subscribers See Red Over Cracked Blu-ray Discs | Gadget Lab from Wired.com: "Netflix customer representatives have been pointing fingers at the post office. On Grant Brown's blog, users say Netflix encourages them to complain to their USPS if they receive cracked discs.
'It almost looks like Netflix doen't want to deal with the problem and they are pushing people to complain about the postal system,' says Grant Brown.

Netflix says it takes user complaints seriously. Every DVD that is reported damaged is pulled out of circulation, says Swasey. And while some users suggest a more sturdy mailer for Blu-ray discs, the company is not in favor of it."

April 16, 2009

SF City Attorney Threatens Discrimination Lawsuit Against USPS

Herrera Threatens Discrimination Lawsuit Against US Postal Service | Fog City Journal: "San Francisco City Attorney Dennis Herrera today sent a formal letter of demand to the U.S. Attorney’s office outlining his intent to file suit against the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) “for unconstitutionally depriving tenants of single room occupancy hotels, equal and adequate mail delivery in San Francisco.”"

First-Class Inefficiency

First-Class Inefficiency - Forbes.com: "Postmaster Gen. John E. Potter recently announced that the postal service saw a $2.8 billion deficit in 2008. Worse, he forecast a net loss of $6 billion for 2009"

City Attorney Says He'll Sue U.S. Postal Service for Stiffing SRO Tenants

San Francisco - The Snitch - Special Delivery: City Attorney Says He'll Sue U.S. Postal Service for Stiffing SRO Tenants: "You don't have to be an FBI profiler to figure out that dumping piles of mail on the floor in the city's SRO hotels -- where many people are receiving assistance checks via the mail -- is nearly tantamount to the postman shouting 'Hey, steal this!' as he leaves the building"

PostCom Runs Numbers For Summer Postage Discount Program

PostCom Runs Numbers For Summer Postage Discount Program: "The USPS is mulling temporary postage discounts for high-volume mailers who schedule drops between June 15 and Sept. 15. But mailers would have to reach certain thresholds based on previous activity in order to qualify, and only the pieces above the thresholds would be mailed at the discount rate, according to one proposal."

April 15, 2009

Burrus: ‘Summer Sale’ Will Discount Our Future

‘Summer Sale’ Will Discount Our Future: "In response to declining mail volume and deteriorating financial circumstances, the Postal Service has announced plans for new price incentives for major mailers"

April 14, 2009

Summer Postal Rate Rollback May Make Big Mailers Big Winners

Summer Postal Rate Rollback May Make Big Mailers Big Winners: "If a proposed test rollback of mail rates this summer goes through, listen for the sound of corks popping in Plano, TX. That’s because J.C Penney Co., which makes its headquarters there, was the biggest mailer during summer 2008, and stands to reap the largest benefit."

While the details of the program are still being worked out, discounts are expected to be between 20% and 30%.

Summer Postal Rate Rollback May Make Big Mailers Big Winners

Summer Postal Rate Rollback May Make Big Mailers Big Winners: "If a proposed test rollback of mail rates this summer goes through, listen for the sound of corks popping in Plano, TX. That’s because J.C Penney Co., which makes its headquarters there, was the biggest mailer during summer 2008, and stands to reap the largest benefit."

Postal Service users upset over bulk mail delays

Postal Service users upset over bulk mail delays : City & Region : The Buffalo News: "Timothy J. Wagner, a grocery store owner who depends heavily on advertising through bulk mail, has a problem with the U. S. Postal Service. Wagner, who owns the Super Saver market on Broadway, said he dropped off slingers advertising a Valentine’s Day sale at the Buffalo bulk mail center in late January.

But many of the 250 customers he was targeting didn’t receive the slingers until late February — well after the Feb. 14 holiday."

April 12, 2009

Pinehurst post office hours cause emotional mail storm

FayObserver.com - Current Article Page: "Residents and business owners upset by a reduction in hours at the downtown post office have persuaded the U.S. Postal Service to return to its old operating schedule, but some still are complaining about the hours.

The subject became a hot topic in February, when Postmaster Denise Krise announced the hours would be cut from 10 a.m to 2:30 p.m. to 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, starting March 16."

April 10, 2009

FOWL PLAY?: GH mail carriers dealing with agressive turkeys

West Michigan News from the Grand Haven Tribune a Michigan Newspaper: "Mail carriers are trained to deal with attacks from dogs, bees and a variety of other animals, but nothing has prepared them for the latest animal threat — turkeys"

USPS Playing "Let's Make A Deal"

Dead Tree Edition: USPS Playing "Let's Make A Deal"

April 09, 2009

Can't deliver a good defense for junk mail

Can't deliver a good defense for junk mail - Los Angeles Times: "The co-owner of a direct marketing firm in Los Angeles says the ailing economy is putting jobs in the industry at risk. There still has got to be a better way."

April 07, 2009

Postal sector feeling the pinch, but financial crisis not all doom and gloom

High-level conference reveals risks and opportunities for the sector and the world economy . The results of a recent Universal Postal Union (UPU) survey indicate that postal networks are increasingly trusted to further the growth of e-commerce and provide financial services. This trust is keeping this postal sector’s head above water as the financial crisis wreaks havoc on the global economy.

Press Release Universal Postal Union

Post office to cut operating hours at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport

Post office to cut operating hours at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport - Metro - cleveland.com: "The U.S. Postal Service plans to reduce the operating hours of its retail post office at Cleveland Hopkins International Airport but will keep it open nights and weekends."

Get to the Post Office early on Tax Day

The Virginia Gazette - News - Get to the Post Office early on Tax Day: "The Post Service announced Tuesday that late filers need to get to the Post Office early on April 15.

Although in the past the post office has stayed open late on April 15 to accomodate late filers, Fran Sansone of the Postal Service, said demand for that has waned.

'We see fewer returns,' she said. 'More people are filing online.'"

USPS: Organizational Changes And VERA Timelines Updated

PostalReporter.com Blog » USPS: Organizational Changes And VERA Timelines Updated: "USPS has released an updated timetable for employees affected by the recently announced staffing reductions and district closings and for those who are considering the Postal Service’s voluntary early retirement (VER) offer."

Postal Service looks to consolidate city carrier routes

Postal Service looks to consolidate city carrier routes - Federal news, government operations, agency management, pay & benefits - FederalTimes.com: "The U.S. Postal Service could reach an agreement with one of its largest unions as early as this week to consolidate letter carrier routes in the face of dropping mail volume, according to Postmaster General John Potter.

The Postal Service is negotiating with the National Association of Letter Carriers, which represents more than 214,000 city letter carriers. It would merge some of the routes in the city delivery networks, a move that will reduce the total number of routes but won’t impact universal service. Letter carriers are delivering 4.7 pieces of mail per address today, compared with 5.9 pieces in 2000."

April 05, 2009

Flats Sequencing Hits Some Bumps

Dead Tree Edition: Flats Sequencing Hits Some Bumps: "Declining mail volume, budget cuts, and equipment problems are forcing the U.S. Postal Service to rework its plans for the Flats Sequencing System.

The deployment schedule for Phase I of the system has been pushed back a couple of months, while the coverage area for the 100 machines has been expanded. Some of the 32 original Phase I facilities will get fewer of the enormous machines than originally planned as postal officials adjust to declining volume for catalogs, magazines, and other flat mail."

Postal Relief Bill Support Hits 252

On Friday, Representative John McHugh (R-NY) reported that 252 of his House colleagues joined in cosponsoring H.R. 22, emergency legislation to refinance U.S. Postal Service contributions to pre-fund its retiree health costs.

http://www.napus.org/govrelations/E6-6.pdf

Postal Service to trim 30 jobs across region

Postal Service to trim 30 jobs across region | Business | projo.com | The Providence Journal: "As part of an effort by the U.S. Postal Service to cut costs across the country, more than 30 jobs will be eliminated in Rhode Island and Southeastern Massachusetts this year."

Tulsa postal closure defies customer survey results

Tulsa postal closure defies customer survey results | NewsOK.com: "It appears the U.S. Postal Service will close the Whittier Station post office despite a survey indicating the vast majority of survey respondents oppose its closing"

April 03, 2009

Postal financial reform and beyond

Postal financial reform and beyond - By Stephen Musacco - The financial situation of the U.S. Postal Service has reached critical mass, and it has taken dramatic actions in the past several months to downsize its operations and business expenses. Unfortunately, the USPS has taken no action to deal with a postal culture that generates toxic workplace environments and an increased potential for workplace violence.

Postal disservice

Postal disservice - Our Take - Bradenton.com: "People must be wondering that after the U.S. Postal Service announced this week that 59 jobs at Manatee County’s mail processing center will be eliminated and the work will be shifted to Tampa."

April 02, 2009

Woman charged in S. Minn. post office bomb threats

Ap |  Bemidji Pioneer  | Bemidji, Minnesota: "A Faribault woman already on parole for threatening elected officials in Austin was charged Thursday with making bomb threats against 16 post offices in southern Minnesota"

April 01, 2009

Payson postmaster charged with DUI

The Payson Roundup / Payson postmaster charged with DUI: "Payson’s postmaster was arrested and charged with DUI March 23 after cutting through a service station parking lot."

Iowa Post Office to Close its Doors

KAALtv.com - Iowa Post Office to Close its Doors: "In this struggling economy, everyone is taking a hit even the United States Postal Service.
Carpenter, Iowa is the kind of town where everybody knows your name.
But on Friday, the small community of 140 people will say goodbye to their only post office, and to the man who ran it for more than a decade."

Three Manhattan Post Offices Could Close This Year

US POSTAL DISSERVICE - New York Post: "Three Manhattan post offices could be shuttered this year, making life miserable for snail-mail dependents."

San Francisco Passes First ‘Do Not Mail’ Resolution in Nation

PostalReporter.com Blog » San Francisco Passes First ‘Do Not Mail’ Resolution in Nation: "The San Francisco Board of Supervisors today passed a resolution calling on California to create a Do Not Mail Registry giving its citizens the choice to stop receiving unwanted junk mail."

Postal Employees Win Important Legal Victory; Judge: Unions’ Privacy Lawsuit May Proceed

Postal Employees Win Important Legal Victory; Judge: Unions’ Privacy Lawsuit May Proceed: "Postal workers won an important legal victory March 30, when a district court judge upheld the right of the APWU and the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to pursue a lawsuit against the Postal Service and the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) for “widespread and systematic intrusions” into the medical records of their members."

Mail delivery hampered in the Dakotas

Mail delivery hampered in the Dakotas |  The Jamestown Sun  | Jamestown, North Dakota: "As another winter blast rolls into the Dakotas and northwestern Minnesota, U.S. Postal Service employees 'continue the challenging task of delivering mail when and where it is safe to do so,' said Clem Felchle, manager of the agency’s Sioux Falls-based Dakotas District"

Postal Service to shift mail processing to Tampa; 59 jobs affected

Postal Service to shift mail processing to Tampa; 59 jobs affected - Breaking News - Bradenton.com: "The U.S. Postal Service announced today it will be shifting originating mail processing and distribution operations from the Manasota Process and Distribution Center in Tallevast to a facility in Tampa, beginning Oct. 1."

USPS To issue 44-cent stamps featuring Simpsons

The Simpsons Get Stamp of Approval: "The U.S. Postal Service(R) and Twentieth Century Fox Licensing and Merchandising (Fox L&M) today announce that the FOX hit series THE SIMPSONS will be commemorated on 44-cent First-Class Mail(R) stamps in 2009. Featuring the iconic Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie Simpson the stamps have been personally designed by SIMPSONS creator and executive producer, Matt Groening"