Postal Reporter -Postal News August 2004

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Postal News Archive - August 2004

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2003: Jan-June 2003| July-Dec. 2003

Top News Story of the Month

• APWU Delegates Endorse Kerry-Edwards-APWU 17th Biennial Convention closed its proceedings Thursday with a rousing endorsement of the John Kerry- John Edwards ticket. “We know that the President’s Commission on the Postal Service has tried to reduce your pay, your health-care benefits, and your retirement,” Edwards said. “John Kerry and I will reject these measures, and stand up for your collective bargaining rights and your hard-won no-layoff status.”

- Convention Updates: USPS Cancels Hallmark Contract, Delegates reject shifting removal of elected officers to NEB, Candidate Off election ballot, APWU to lobby for Moe Biller stamp, Visitors to APWU Website will need to register. |

- APWU Convention Bulletins|

USPS Offers $10 Settlement to 17 Employees in File-Sharing Incident-Ted Born, a retired letter carrier and spokesman for the affected employees said, "the Postal Service response was to offer each employee $10 to settle the problem. "The postal workers social security numbers and names were posted on a file-sharing internet system. The files reportedly came from a supervisor's computer. The files are now off the system, but the workers are trying to find an attorney, to take their case. A postal employee in California found them online and notified us" (8/21/04)|

- Decatur,Ill. Postal Workers May File Lawsuit Over Files Sharing Incident (8/19/04)

Postal Employees' Disciplinary Files Found on Internet--"They were disciplinary write-ups from a U. S. post office computer in Decatur, IL. Someone had installed Kazaa on the post office computer and shared the C drive with the world. The files, 21 in total, each contain the full letters of discipline given to postal service employees, including their full name and social security number" |

Top Stories

• USPS Likely To Resume Debt Finance For Renewed Spending-According to Dow Jones "USPS is likely to resume debt finance for renewed spending as a recent freeze on capital investment in facilities ends." |

- Treasury Loans To USPS Fall To Zero In June Vs $7.3 Billion End of FY03

- USPS Releases Financial & Operating Statements for June 2004 (PDF)-Total Mail Volume for June, FY 2004 was 1,161 million pieces or 7.6% above SPLY. First-Class Mail, Express Mail, Periodical Mail, Standard Mail and International were above SPLY, while Priority Mail and Packages were below their June, 2003 levels. Quarter 3 volume was 2.0% above same quarter last year. Although workhours were reduced, overtime hours increased. While the number of career employees decreased--The number of casual employees increased.

- USPS Posts Mail Revenue and Volume Declines (Direct)

• Postal Inspector Pleads Guilty to Stealing Credit Cards - A postal inspector who was investigating credit card fraud pleaded guilty Friday to using his official position to steal credit cards and use them to obtain more than $19,000 in merchandise. |

• USPS Seals Big Human Resources Management System Deal-The new HR system will help the postal service office recruit, train, and track 700,000 workers. Improved management of such a large workforce is expected to help postal managers analyze information about their employees so that these employees can be better trained and more-efficiently deployed. The SAP system will replace HR software developed 25 years ago by USPS programmers. |

- USPS Plans to Shut District Personnel Services offices (11/22/03)

- Postal Service Turns To SAP For HR -Information Week

• PARS on Track for Rollout This Month-The Postal Automated Redirection System, or PARS is moving forward, PARS is being deployed in two phases. Phase one begins this month and will be completed by November, at which point PARS will be deployed at 80 computerized forwarding system sites, 49 processing and distribution centers and 15 remote encoding centers. Though the system focuses on letter-sized mail the USPS plans to extend it to flats and packages as well. |

- New 3982 label and mail endorsement instructions for Box Clerks/Carriers

• Supreme Court Lets Stand Circuit Court Ruling Of No FMLA Liability for Postal Supervisors -On June 28, 2004 the Supreme Court declined to review the Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit's decision that public sector workers cannot sue their supervisors as individuals for violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act . The initial court action was filed by Kentucky letter carrier against the Postal Service, the PMG and three individual postal supervisors. The carrier claimed that the supervisors' refusal to give him a mail carrier position in which he could use a waist harness violated the FMLA. |

• EAS Postal Employees Awarded $$$Thousands in FLSA suit -Two EAS 17 EEO Investigators sued the Postal Service alleging USPS violated the FLSA by knowingly and incorrectly classifying them as 'exempt' employees and failing to pay them overtime wages. USPS argued that they have "sovereign immunity" under the Tucker Act. The district judge disagreed and awarded the two postal employees over $70,000 in compensation and legal fees

• APWU Prevails in Maintenance Workhour (PS Form 4852 "Line J") Case- A SIGNIFICANT WIN FOR CUSTODIAL EMPLOYEES! In an award dated July 12, 2004, National Arbitrator Shyam Das gave the APWU a long overdue and significant victory in the "Line J" case. Das issued an award rejecting the Postal Service’s argument that Line J’s (PS Form 4852) only purpose is to determine whether facility cleaning can be contracted out .(8/1/04) |

• Two Rural Carriers Press Religious Discrimination Claim Against NRLCA -The pair say a Christian-themed column entitled "Directions From God´s Handbook" in the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association's monthly newsletter amounts to religious discrimination. Dick Springer, who describes himself as a "nonbeliever," said the column is offensive to him. Eric Copperman, who is Jewish, said the Christian proselytizing smacks of anti-Semitism. The Maine Human Rights Commission ruled both carriers had grounds to go forward with a lawsuit against their union. |

• Postal Worker Successfully Appeals Dismissal of FMLA Claim Judge: "This appeal from the dismissal of a claim under the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (“FMLA”) raises an important issue of statutory construction. Specifically, this appeal requires us to interpret the phrase “hours of service” as it is used in the FMLA" (8/1/04)|

• NALC Delegates Vote to Seek 'Early Out' Approval-On a voice vote on the last day of the convention, delegates adopted a legislative resolution supported by the Executive Council calling for the NALC to seek approval from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for an early out for letter carriers under certain circumstances. The resolution seeks early-outs for letter carriers with (1) 25 years service regardless of age, and (2) 20 years service and 50 years of age.|

• Supreme Court Lets Stand Court Ruling Of No FMLA Liability for Postal Supervisors -

On June 28, 2004 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to review the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 6th Circuit's decision that public sector workers cannot sue their supervisors as individuals for violations of the Family and Medical Leave Act

• USPS Release Guidelines for Postmasters Early Out -Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) for Postmasters EAS 11-18. "Of significant importance is the Postal Service's approval of the NAPUS request to grant a one time exception to allow Postmasters who take the VER, to receive a lump sum payment for their 2004 Pay for Performance. In addition, Districts will have discretion to assign one of two VER effective dates, January 31, 2005 or March 31 , 2005 , based on operational considerations." also see League of Postmasters web site |

• Tampa Bay Residents Brace for 'Scary, Scary Thing'-Hurricane Charley bore down on the Tampa Bay area late Thursday, packing winds of more than 100 mph and a potentially deadly storm surge that prompted hundreds of thousands of residents to clog highways and bridges as they fled the coast. Postal workers were told to call in today to see if they're still delivering mail. |

- Postal Operations In Central Florida Suspended

- Hurricane Charley hinders, but doesn’t stop mail service-I

• NALC Takes Big Steps to Improve Mail Delivery-William Young’s concern is the growth end of the Postal Service. As president of NALC, he’s watching the ever-increasing number of addresses mail must be delivered to each year and its impact on the city letter carriers he represents. Young said. the 220,000 city carriers he represents have a pretty good future. This means the letter carriers who tell Young they want the same early retirements that other postal workers have been offered will be disappointed, even though delegates voted to petition OPM for the outs. |

• FedEx To Acquire Leading Parcel Consolidator Parcel Direct-Packages handled by Parcel Direct are taken to 12 company locations around the country where they are sorted and consolidated and then taken to USPS for final delivery. |

NALC applauds Parcel Direct move as a potential job generator for postal workers

• New Memo Allows Local NALC/USPS to Jointly Evaluate Routes -The MOU (pdf) also allows special route inspection activity suspended from April 1 to Aug. 31, 2004, to resume on Sept. 1 using the traditional route inspection process |

• Jacksonville APWU Members Picket at Post Office to Protest Abuse -Members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) showed up in Jacksonville , Ala. Friday to protest what they referred to as “abusive actions” by Jacksonville Postmaster LouAnn Simmons. Workers from across the union’s southern region walked the picket line, to grab the attention of upper level management in the postal service and force action against PM. |

• USPS to Install ATM/Stamp Vending Automated Postal Centers in 2500+ Postal Lobbies- USPS has selected self-service devices from Wincor Nixdorf and its U.S. alliance partner, IBM, for installation at 2,506 postal branches throughout the U.S. Wincor Nixdorf will install its ProCash 1500 ATM, which is equipped with built-in stamp vending modules, a compact Web-enabled system specially designed to move cash withdrawals and stamp vending to a single machine.|

• Seven Organizations Oppose Tisdale Nomination to PRC - In a letter dated 8/11/04, seven organizations requested that President Bush not exercise his authority to appoint Mr. Tisdale to fill the vacancy on the Postal Rate Commission during the summer recess. The groups fear that Mr. Tisdale's nomination to PRC " would be a 'rubber stamp' for the interests of the USPS and its unions rather than an objective, independent citizen/ratepayer watchdog." In a separate action one of the groups urged taxpayers to contact their Senators and "Fight a Postage Increase to Line Union Pockets!" by opposing Tisdale's nomination |

- Postal Fox to Guard the Postal Henhouse?

• Erie, PA Carrier Has a New Route.. Hollywood Steve Scully beat out 800 other letter carriers across the county to become one of nine postal employees who will be featured in USPS' latest ad campaign. Campbell-Ewald is the ad agency in charge of the campaign. Royal Oak, Mi Letter carrier Jim Willson a cancer survivor-- also was chosen to be featured in the ad campaign. The campaign depicts letter carriers helping out people every day|

• Letter: Mass. District Manager says Cartoon unfair to Postal Workers -"I want to express my disappointment with the editorial cartoon that appeared in the July 23 editions of Nashoba newspapers that depicted our postal employees in an unfair light."

• Concerned Postal Workers Prepare for National Day of Postal Worker Solidarity-On Tuesday, August 31, 2004, beginning at 2:00 PM, Concerned Postal Workers, dedicated to the preservation of Universal Service, will gather at the offices of the New York Metro Area Local, in the shadow of the Republican National Convention. The meeting is open to all postal workers, regardless of craft, and massive participation is required. We are not calling this a Rally or a Protest or a Demonstration--those words have negative connotations. We simply wish to exercise our Constitutional Right to peaceful assembly. We simply wish to let the American people know that, where Universal Service is concerned, we are on their side.

• Suspicious Ticking Box Blown Up at Post Office -A package was exploded instead of delivered after a postal worker heard it ticking at the Lakewood Ohio Post Office on 8/19. After Postal employees had shoved the cardboard box onto a loading dock a police bomb unit used a device to detonate it.. Investigators picked through the remains of the box's contents to try to figure out what had been inside. |

• ACLU Goes Postal on HolyBears-USPS Discontinues Sales of "God Bless America" Teddy Bear After a Single Complaint. "HolyBears Inc., the Texas-based company that designs and markets plush bears with inspirational and patriotic messages, announced they received word from the Louisville, Kentucky Postal headquarters that the Post Offices in Kentucky will no longer carry their products due to the threat of a complaint to the American Civil Liberties Union" |

• National APWU Website Has New Look- The National APWU website has been completely redesigned. According to APWU's webmaster, " We hope you will find the new design much improved, more attractive, better organized, and easier to navigate. " In other APWU News.. for the second year in a row, Southwest Michigan member, Dan Sullivan will provide Postal Reporter daily coverage from the APWU Convention Floor which starts Monday (8/23) in Los Angeles.. more info later. Sidebar: Some of the delegates will be keeping a close eye on at least 4 very controversial proposed amendments to the constitution ( one of amendments include eliminating elected officers without the vote of the membership. click here for non-flash entry |

• Mailmen Compared to Energizer Bunny in New Ad Campaign -Energizer Bunny Celebrates 15 Years by Recognizing People Who Keep Going-Energizer Inc. and the Energizer Bunny will honor those who defy the odds, overcome obstacles, and always strive to do their best. The ads feature "A postal worker who brings new meaning to "through wind, rain, sleet or snow." (8/27) |

- see Mailman video (requires window media player)

August 31, 2004

• Gas pump hints at size of raise in 2005 COLA

• Suspect sought in post office heist, second in one week

• Planters now stand in front of the Morgan Hill Post Office

• Revisiting Postal Reform

• Commentary by Gene Del Polito: Think About It, USPS

• Rep. concerned about prices to mail packages overseas

• When Wallingford got the 'best post office' in the world -The opening of the new Wallingford Post Office was big news in 1945 a time when a first-class letter could be sent for three cents, and a postcard for a penny.

• FBI Checks For Link Between Trucker, Greenville Ricin Case -Trucker Committed Suicide during Investigation into Aurora, ILL. Postal Worker/ Wife's Death . During that search of the Truck Driver's home, investigators found a stockpile of weapons, explosives, chemicals and the makings of the poison ricin. |

August 30, 2004

• Amtrak Cancels Mail on Passenger Trains |

• Virginia Rep, Postal Reform Panel Member abruptly retires

- Website Says More Officials in Bush Administration will be 'Outed'

• Bush Executive Order: Strengthening the Sharing of Terrorism Information to Protect Americans - includes USPS and Postal Rate Commission

• Not Always ‘Got Mail’? You’re not alone

• Radiation leak shuts New York City postal facility, surrounding streets

• Army Reservist Returns To Santa Cruz Postal Worker Job

• P-mail: E-mail’s postal service predecessor

• Postal Worker pens poem, hopes for A&W Rootbeer win

• Absentee ballots in Dade County Fla. too big for 37 cent postage

- King County (WA) agrees to pay extra postage for new weighty ballots
• Red Tag Newsletter Sept. 2004
• Switch to 911 address-- or mail won't be delivered
• Canada Post denies dead man's full mailbox
• Arthur Ashe Commemorative Stamp Unveiled at U.S. Open

• ZIP Code Man puts memory to test

August 29, 2004

• Automation streamlines services and high-tech, but at what cost? With the advent of e-mail, the letter-delivery business is going to disappear, he predicts. FedEx and the US Postal Service are "more and more in the small package business now. We'll see kiosks replacing people

August 27, 2004

• USPS Financials Postal Quarter III FY 2004 (PDF)

• Postal Reform Walk by APWU PA President Leroy Moyer Nets over $27,000

• New Stamp to Highlight Sickle Cell Disease

• Postal worker charged with illegally collecting unemployment insurance

• Postal carrier delivered from near-death experience

• FedEx Looks to Protect Network From Growing Air Traffic - Fedex's contract to carry Postal Service mail has boosted daytime flights to about 150, compared with about 300 at night

• Postal worker tackles dilapidated mailboxes

• Some residents may receive mail earlier

• Postal Employees Flex Muscle in Cintas Uniforms Union Settlement

- Press Release from Unite Here

• Police Believe Found Body Is Missing Aurora Postal Worker

• Study finds anthrax retesting unnecessary in postal facilities | USPS Report

• We Have Been Mislead About Postal Reform

• Man Uses Gun With Laser To Rob Postal Driver
• Even Postal Service on RNC Security Duty
• USPS Changes Bulk Mail Drop-off Procedures in NY

• USPS Changes Bulk Mail Drop-off Procedures in NY During Convention
• Federal Times: Postal Rate Commission Nominee Opposed
• Commentary: FSS and DPP- One Year Later

August 26, 2004

• Special Delivery: Post Office Agrees to Rare Land Sale

• Senator Seeks Clarification of Law for Airlines, USPS on Shipping Chicks

• New USPS System Ranks Air Carrier Routes for Best Value

• Postal worker cited for anti-terror service-Seabron Bowler Jr., a postal worker at the Bulk Mail Center in Allen Park, received the President’s Volunteer Service Award for his commitment and service in the Homeland Security Program. Seabron is believed to be the first USPS employee to receive training with a live nerve agent at the Homeland Security Training Center in Anniston, Ala.

August 25, 2004

• Residents oppose postal facility

• He's at it again ... postman puts out fire

• Alabama Post Office Robbed

• Germantown Post Office employee returns from Iraq

• Postal Service Resumes Mail Service to Iraq

• Hearing set for accused mailbox bomber

• Praise is loud for deaf postal employee

• In Westampton, a concern for history

• Sleet and snow okay, but Charley?
• Postal service reverses change on boxes, routes
• Shippers Absorb Oil Shock

August 24, 2004

• New postmaster delivering tracking technology to office

• Will it stay or will it go now? Confusion over Closure of Calif. Post Office Settled

• Postal Service Selects Auto-trol Technology's KONFIG(R) CM

• Disgraced athlete's stamp withdrawn

• Dog, mailman story with a bit of an odd twist

August 23, 2004

• Religious Discrimination Case Against Union May Have National Implications

• Postal procurement rules must provide more oversight-Every year, the U.S. Postal Service spends close to $12 billion on goods and services. With that kind of money in play, entire businesses — from supplies to mail transport to construction — revolve around contracts with the Postal Service. As a government entity, the Postal Service has an obligation to make sure that its contracts are in the best interest of the American people. New purchasing rules issued by the Postal Service in June offer some potentially worthwhile improvements. But for the process to work, it needs an external control audit force

• ADVO Expands Advertising Programs in Major Markets

- Advo Lowers 2004 View on Expansion

• Restoration saves mural at Indiana post office

• USPS to Announce Mailing Team's Findings at National Postal Forum

• For 55 years, Retired Mail Carrier delivered for Seabeck

• New Jersey Letter Carrier Arrested for Debit Card Theft

• Need stamps? Up late? Head to post office

• Pa. doctor loses job amid anthrax probe
• Post office celebrates 200 years
• Sayre postal worker selected for USPS campaign

August 22, 2004

• Chicago Postal Workers #1 Occupation in PayDay Loan Defaulters-

One mail handler called payday loans 'legal robbery'. see

• NZ mark Olympics with 'action replay stamps | See action replay stamps

• Postal Service, builders OK mail box deal

• Postal Reporter Reader Seeks Help in Protecting Veteran/Military Retiree Rights

• Special Delivery: Mail carrier Ricardo Barron Jr. continues 22-year route

• Commentary: Not Your Father's Post Office- U.S. Postal Service should tread lightly into commercialism. |

• Kelvin Mack Promoted to Postmaster of Chicago -overseeing approximately 5,200 employees in the Cardiss Collins facility and 49 neighborhood post offices and 24 retail post offices. Previous Positions: Postmaster of Baltimore, Oakland (CA) District Human Resources Manager

August 21, 2004

• Commentary: You, Too, Could Be A Suspected Terrorist

• Custom postage stamps, credit cards debut

• Post office finds more than half of missing mail following crash

• UPS to Drivers: Shut Your Engines-"You will never see a UPS truck idling" at a drop-off point, "even if it's going to be in your driveway for only 30 seconds," spokesman Norman Black said. The driver, he added, "is taught to turn it off."

August 20, 2004

• Peeking Into Customer Mailboxes

• Kiosks Marketplace: APCs--The end of the line
• Flag from post office returned to ground zero

• Postal worker jailed in bank card theft

• Punta Gorda Mail Carriers Keep Delivering
• Mail carrier pleads guilty to stealing
• DMA, Postcom Fight Rate Increase for Stickies
• Conservative Groups Oppose PRC Nominee

• Active and Retired Postal Employees Eligible for Hurricane Charley Grants

• Letter-writing keeps distant comrades close

• Postal 'nightmare' not over yet

• Postal contract station to open in gas station
• Postal Bulletin 8/19/2004
• Thrift Savings Fact Sheet

August 19, 2004

• 2 killed in crash of mail plane

• Franklin post office to extend hours

August 18, 2004

• USPS Struggles With Damaged Florida Facilities

• Fort Smith Ark. Post Office Staying Put

• Former USPS Marketing Contractor Under OIG Investigation

• Post office address rules cause grief

• Address changes trigger anger

• Woman sprays Illinois Mailman with pepper spray

• Norfolk Post Office Getting Anthrax Detection Machines

• Cincinnati Mail Processor Faces Charge of Second-Degree Manslaughter

• Lost in the Mail: Woman gets flag after 56 years of waiting

• UPS' financials for the period ending June 30, 2004

• Congressman's mail order restores boxes
• Postal machines open 24 hours
• Meet eBay's New Postman

• New Procedures in Place to Ensure Military Absentee ballots are counted-Local postmasters will take ballots and sort them for three different USPS gateway cities:

August 17, 2004

• Letter Carriers Get the Job Done

• Work outside the envelope-There's not much rain, sleet or dark of night on Jan Nelson's mail route, but summer heat is definitely a factor.

• What Happens When You Buy a Post Office on eBay

- Buy A Contract Postal Unit On eBay, Get No Training, Run A Scam, Get Arrested

• Blanchard woman goes full circle at USPS

• Selective Rate Discounts To Preserve First Class Mail Volume-was presented by David M. Levy of Sidley Austin Brown & Wood LLP at the 12th Conference on Postal Delivery and Economics (Rutgers University, CRRI) Cork, Ireland on June 3, 2004. Some of the issues covered in the presentation:
• Paradox of postal ratemaking Paradox of postal ratemaking in in USA
• Threat to USPS from EBPP is similar to intermodal competitive threats faced by other regulated network industries
• Volume-retention discounts, if reasonably calibrated to threat of substitution posed by the Internet, are consistent with established norms for price discrimination by regulated monopolies

August 16, 2004

• Home Depot Signs Agreement to Advertise in USPS MoverSource Program

• American Canyon CA Post Office to Close

• Jaffer: The Postal Service is ready

• Postal Service Revs Up for Sporty Car Stamps
• UK Postal Office Savings stamps make a comeback
• Fort Myers Post Office Received Considerable Damage