LOVELAND, CO announces deadlines to get its 2011 Valentine postmark

LOVELAND, CO announces deadlines to get its 2011 Valentine postmark : PostalReporter News Blog: "Love once again is in the mail and bound for Loveland and Colorado! It’s the 65th year of the popular Loveland Valentine Postmark Re-mailing program. The Loveland Post Office, Chamber of Commerce and senior citizen volunteers annually have stamped its special love-themed postmark, love verse and cupid cachet artwork on the front of valentine envelopes and postcards since 1947."

Video: Postmaster General On Leadership – Delivering A New Package

Video: Postmaster General On Leadership – Delivering A New Package : PostalReporter News Blog: "Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe talks with Washington Post’s Ed O’Keefe about the challenge of bringing cuts, change and fresh ideas to the nation’s second-largest civilian employer."

Video: Philadelphia Mail Carriers Drinking On the Job

Video: Philadelphia Mail Carriers Drinking On the Job : PostalReporter News Blog: "“Three Philadelphia mail carriers are off the job and there’s a major shake-up in a city post office where they worked. It’s a direct result of a Fox 29 Investigation"

Ohio Postal Worker Gets 5 Months Prison for Workers’ Comp Fraud

Ohio Postal Worker Gets 5 Months Prison for Workers’ Comp Fraud : PostalReporter News Blog: ") Former postal employee Norman J. Motko, Jr., 61, of Cleveland, was sentenced to five months imprisonment and ordered to pay $116,980.34 in restitution after previously pleading guilty to worker’s compensation fraud, Steven M. Dettelbach, United States Attorney for the Northern District of Ohio, today announced."

NALC: The Elephant In the Room And Washington Post Editorial Writers

NALC: The Elephant In the Room And Washington Post Editorial Writers : PostalReporter News Blog: "One or two misleading and one-sided editorials about the Postal Service’s financial situation might simply be chalked up to a bad day or a steep learning curve, but the editorial page of The Washington Post has used up its quota of excuses several times over"

National League Of Postmasters Report On Meeting With PMG, COO

National League Of Postmasters Report On Meeting With PMG, COO : PostalReporter News Blog: "Mr. Donahoe wanted to apologize for the comments in the Washington Post about the 5,000 Postmasters having the loneliest job in the world, and likened them to the Maytag Repairman. He was very clear that he meant no disrespect to Postmasters. The PMG expressed his deep regret for the comment. It was not meant in the manner it was taken and he will be issuing a statement of his own"

Arbitrator: USPS In Mississippi Must Stop Practice Of Using Custodians To Transport Mail

Arbitrator: USPS In Mississippi Must Stop Practice Of Using Custodians To Transport Mail : PostalReporter News Blog: "This is a summary of Regular Panel Arbitrator Leroy R. Bartman in case H06T-4H-C 09241417 regarding the Postal Service’s decision to transport mail between two postal facilities. The arbitrator sustained the Union’s grievance; he directed the Postal Service to cease and desist from continuing its practice of utilizing the two assigned custodians from transporting mail to other Gulf Coastal facilities"

USPS Love Notes CD Debuts At Number 4 On Billboard’s Jazz Charts

USPS Love Notes CD Debuts At Number 4 On Billboard’s Jazz Charts : PostalReporter News Blog: "today, we’ve learned that the CD is already on the Billboard charts. It’s at #4 on Top Current Jazz Album Chart and also # 4 on the Current Traditional Jazz Album Chart"

PMG Addresses Postmasters in Open Letter

PMG Addresses Postmasters in Open Letter : PostalReporter News Blog: "As the Postal Service continues to focus on redesigning its management structure and streamlining operations to increase efficiency and control costs, USPS actions have drawn nationwide media attention . And, PMG Pat Donahoe addressed concerns over recent media reports in an open letter this week to Postmasters"

Marvelettes Lead Singer On Classic Pop Hit ‘Please Mr. Postman’ Dies :

Marvelettes Lead Singer On Classic Pop Hit ‘Please Mr. Postman’ Dies : PostalReporter News Blog: "Gladys Horton, 66 co-founder of Motown group"

APWU: With Slow Progress, Contract Talks Continue

APWU: With Slow Progress, Contract Talks Continue : PostalReporter News Blog: "Although progress in contract negotiations is slow, bargaining is ongoing,” APWU President Cliff Guffey reported on Jan. 28. Representatives of the Postal Service and the union are meeting almost daily, he added."

Video: Philadelphia Mail Carriers Drinking On the Job – Part 2

Video: Philadelphia Mail Carriers Drinking On the Job – Part 2 : PostalReporter News Blog: "Three Philadelphia mail carriers are off the job and there’s a major shake-up in a city post office where they worked."

APWU Protests Bidding ‘Outage’

APWU Protests Bidding ‘Outage’ : PostalReporter News Blog: "The APWU has expressed outrage over the Postal Service’s unilateral decision to shut down online bidding from Jan. 28 until Jan. 31, and for giving the union only 24-hour notice of its plans. The bidding “outage,” as the USPS called it, was prompted by an upgrade to the computer system."

Forget the dog! Mailman faces angry Turkey

Forget the dog! Mailman faces angry Turkey : PostalReporter News Blog: "In Cape Cod, Mass., a local fowl’s feathers are clearly ruffled by the postman"

USPS Puts Hold On Proposal To Expand Ability To Subcontract Rural Routes

USPS Puts Hold On Proposal To Expand Ability To Subcontract Rural Routes : PostalReporter News Blog: "The U.S. Postal Service has withdrawn a proposal that “would have expanded its ability to subcontract rural routes to contract delivery service,” according to an announcement this week by the National Rural Letters Carriers’ Association"

USPS Puts Hold On Proposal To Expand Ability To Subcontract Rural Routes :

USPS Puts Hold On Proposal To Expand Ability To Subcontract Rural Routes : PostalReporter News Blog: "The U.S. Postal Service has withdrawn a proposal that “would have expanded its ability to subcontract rural routes to contract delivery service,” according to an announcement this week by the National Rural Letters Carriers’ Association"

NY Postman Charged With Stealing 7,000 Coupons And Selling Them On eBay

NY Postman Charged With Stealing 7,000 Coupons And Selling Them On eBay : PostalReporter News Blog: "Citing pressure from an impending foreclosure, a Queens postal worker stole thousands of retail-store coupons before they were mailed out — and sold them at a discount on eBay"

Former New York Postmaster Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement

Former New York Postmaster Pleads Guilty To Embezzlement : PostalReporter News Blog: "A former postmaster in Guilderland, New York has pleaded guilty in federal court to stealing money from the U.S. Postal Service"

USPS To Start Process Of Closing As Many As 2,000 Post Offices In March

USPS To Start Process Of Closing As Many As 2,000 Post Offices In March : PostalReporter News Blog: "The U.S. Postal Service will begin the process of closing as many as 2,000 postal offices in March and will review 16,000 more — half of all existing post offices — that are losing money, according to the The Wall Street Journal."

USPS Clarifies Requests For Non Delivery Of Mail With Simplified Addressing

USPS Clarifies Requests For Non Delivery Of Mail With Simplified Addressing : PostalReporter News Blog: "The Postal Service wishes to clarify erroneous information in at least two recent news articles regarding requests for non delivery of mail with simplified addressing"

APWU Denounces Post Office Closure Plans

APWU Denounces Post Office Closure Plans : PostalReporter News Blog: "The union is “deeply disappointed” by the Postal Service’s announcement — via the Wall Street Journal — that it plans to close as many as 2,000 post offices beginning in March, APWU President Cliff Guffey said Monday."

Sen. Carper Looking Forward To Working With New PMG To Reform USPS

Sen. Carper Looking Forward To Working With New PMG To Reform USPS : PostalReporter News Blog: "Today, Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.), Chairman of the Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management which oversees the U.S. Postal Service, issued the following statement regarding the official swearing in of Patrick R. Donahoe as the 73rd Postmaster General of the United States and the CEO of the U.S. Postal Service:"

Man Robs Chattanooga Post Office, Fondles Postal Workers

Man Robs Chattanooga Post Office, Fondles Postal Workers : PostalReporter News Blog: "The U.S. Postal Service is offering a $20,000 reward for information that helps catch the man who robbed the post office on 34th Street in Chattanooga this morning."

Newt Gingrich: Forever Stamps Setting Stage For Future Taxpayer Bailout Of USPS

Newt Gingrich: Forever Stamps Setting Stage For Future Taxpayer Bailout Of USPS : PostalReporter News Blog: "Former Congressman Newt Gingrich seems to think “Forever Stamps” will lead USPS to bankruptcy and a taxpayer ‘bailout.’"

Senator Susan Collins Seeks Reforms To Federal Workers Comp Program

Senator Susan Collins Seeks Reforms To Federal Workers Comp Program : PostalReporter News Blog: "Senator Collins suspects some recipients gaming the system, seeks reforms to bring overly generous federal system in line with states"

Business Group Hires Former Postmaster General Potter

Lobbyists – Business Group Hires Former Postmaster General Potter : PostalReporter News Blog: "Working on multiple fronts, Donahue announced a new project, headed by former Postmaster General of the United States Jack Potter, to open up global supply chains and logistics for American companies."

Siemens and Swiss Post collaborate on the merging of physical mail and electronic mail

Siemens and Swiss Post collaborate on the merging of physical mail and electronic mail : PostalReporter News Blog: "Berlin, Germany, Siemens Mobility and Swiss Post have agreed to pursue a joint marketing strategy in the field of postal automation. Both companies will go on the market for post and postal service providers with a new automation solution that converts physical mail into electronic mail. This collaboration is based on Trust-Ebox, the automation solution developed by Siemens, and on the experience Swiss Post that has gained in the electronic mail delivery. Postal customers receive their mail via Internet and can access it at all times by mobile phone or computer. Compared to similar processes, this Siemens solution enables postal companies and postal service providers to cut their costs tenfold. The Trust-Ebox is currently being put to the test together with Swiss Post in a rollout for their product, the Swiss Post Box."

Postmaster General Reaches Out to Business Mailers

Postmaster General Reaches Out to Business Mailers : PostalReporter News Blog: "New Postal Service Pricing Announced – Postal rates going up

WASHINGTON — Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe today signaled a new direction in continuing to improve customer relations within the mailing industry by consulting with industry representatives on the effective date for new prices and by relaxing some guidelines on implementing Intelligent Mail services."

Postal Service to Adjust Prices

Postal Service to Adjust Prices : PostalReporter News Blog: "Stamp Price Remains 44 cents; Impact to Retail Customers Minimal"

Postal Unions Urge Obama To Fix USPS Pension Overfunding

APWU, Postal Unions Urge Obama To Fix USPS Pension Overfunding : PostalReporter News Blog: "The APWU and other postal unions and management associations have asked President Barack Obama to take “immediate action to save almost 100,000 good, middle-class jobs and stabilize the financial condition” of the Postal Service."

Federal-Postal Coalition Letter Urging President Obama To Reject Deficit Commission Proposals

Federal-Postal Coalition Letter Urging President Obama To Reject Deficit Commission Proposals : PostalReporter News Blog: "As Federal News Radio reported today, a coalition of 15 Federal and Postal organizations sent a letter to President Obama calling on the White House to reject proposals by the Deficit Commission that would cut federal civilian retirement and health benefits, freeze federal pay and reduce the federal workforce by 10 percent"

FedEx Is Again USPS’s Largest Supplier For 8th Straight Year

FedEx transports Express, Priority and First Class Mail, and earned postal revenues of $1.372 billion in fiscal 2010. Another postal competitor, United Parcel Service (UPS) , is the Postal Service's 11th largest postal supplier, earning $95 million in revenue - a $12 million increase from last year.

USPS To Offer Early Retirement

USPS To Offer Early Retirement

APWU: Despite Mounting Frustration, Contract Talks Continue

Although the union is “increasingly frustrated” at the slow pace of contract negotiations, bargaining is continuing, APWU President Cliff Guffey has announced. After briefing the Rank and File Bargaining Advisory Committee on Jan. 4 and 5, members of the union’s negotiating team held discussions with their management counterparts on Jan. 6 and 7.

Suspended Bangor Postmaster rejected for first-offender program

A Northampton County judge rejected an application for a first-time offender program from the Bangor postmaster accused of harassing women and girls while drunk.

(Greg) Schlegel initially faced charges of harassment and luring a child into a motor vehicle after a day of reported bizarre behavior on Oct. 21, 2009.

But prosecutors withdrew the most serious charges after they said interviews with witnesses and victims revealed Schlegel’s alleged antics were more about drunken behavior than a sex offense.

USPS May Close Part Of Petaluma Mail Center

USPS May Close Part Of Petaluma Mail Center : PostalReporter News Blog: "A Postal Service study recommends closing part of its Petaluma (Csalifofrnia) mail processing center and moving some of the jobs to Oakland, the service said Tuesday."

Postal Supervisor arrested for allegedly hitting worker during argument

Postal Supervisor arrested for allegedly hitting worker during argument : PostalReporter News Blog: "A 38-year-old U.S. Postal Worker is scheduled to appear in Cook County Court on Feb. 9 after allegedly hitting another postal employee in the face during an argument at work."

OIG: USPS Fails to Justify 19 Types of ‘Worksharing’ Discounts for Big Mailers

OIG: USPS Fails to Justify 19 Types of ‘Worksharing’ Discounts for Big Mailers : PostalReporter News Blog: "In a report issued Dec. 23, 2010, the USPS Inspector General’s Office (OIG) echoed what the APWU has been saying for years: Worksharing discounts for large mailers mail are too high."

USPS Board Of Governors To Meet In Closed Session Jan. 10 and Jan. 11

USPS Board Of Governors To Meet In Closed Session Jan. 10 and Jan. 11 : PostalReporter News Blog

USPS To Sell ‘Gift Cards’ At Post Offices

USPS To Sell ‘Gift Cards’ At Post Offices : PostalReporter News Blog: "The Postal Service has given notice to the Postal Regulatory Commission it intends to conduct a test of an experimental product: Gift Cards. This product will provide postal customers with the ability to purchase a card loaded with a specified sum of money, which can be sent as a gift through the mail. The test will begin on or after May 1, 2011"

Tennessee mail carrier under investigation for theft of VA mail

Marshall County and federal law enforcement officers are investigating what appears to be theft of medicine mailed by a Veterans Administration pharmacy to a patient who's a resident along a Petersburg mail route.

"The search warrant pertained to the theft of mail," Sheriff Norman Dalton said in a prepared statement issued Tuesday morning, some 12 hours after Chancellor J.B. Cox signed the warrant. "It is not known whether charges will be brought ... by the Eastern U.S. District Court [in Chattanooga] or whether there will be state charges."

"Apparently the Postal Service received complaints over time that things were missing from the mail, medicine being mailed to the VA patient," Bragg said.

"They got a box [of medicine that was to be mailed] and treated the box with clue spray. It's invisible but under fluorescent light, it fluoresces," the experienced detective said. "Apparently, they contacted the person who was to receive the package asking that he contact them when it was delivered.

When it was, "they inspected it and determined that it had been tampered with," Bragg continued. "It was found to have been opened and there was a substitution made."

Shortly thereafter, "They traffic stopped him," Bragg said of Michael Murdock, the letter carrier who delivers from the Post Office on the Petersburg public square. "After he was stopped and they identified themselves as federal agents... he and his vehicle ended up in Petersburg" at the Post Office.

Postmaster Decides not to Move Mailboxes

Postmaster Decides not to Move Mailboxes: "Two weeks after the local postmaster made the decision residents should move their mailboxes from their home to the street in one local neighborhood, she changed her mind."

A Hidden World Inside New York's Great Post Office

A Hidden World Inside New York's Great Post Office : NPR: "Across the street from Penn Station, in the heart of midtown Manhattan, is the enormous and imposing Farley Post Office.
Designed in 1912 by the famous architecture firm of McKim, Mead and White, the Farley building covers two square city blocks. You can still climb up its marble staircase to mail a letter, but there's very little left behind that grand facade."