Postal News - February 2007 from Postal Reporter

Postal News - February 2007

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TOP POSTAL STORIES OF THE MONTH

February 28, 2007-

Former NJ Postal Manager Indicted for Misuse of Government Property and Employees

(US Dept. of Justice Press Release) - "A former Sussex County Post Office Operations manager who later oversaw 75 post offices in northern New Jersey was indicted yesterday for his role in a number of brazen schemes, including directing hundreds of thousands of dollars in unnecessary repair work on postal vehicles to a Newton garage. John F. Balliro, 51, of Hamburg and other unnamed co-conspirators -- including another postmaster -- are accused of improperly steering $600,000 in repair work on postal vehicles to the Newton garage, having unnecessary construction work performed at various postal facilities, having a postal employee do work at his ex-wife's home in Pennsylvania, and misusing employee work time and leave, said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie." New Jersey Postmaster Indicted in $600,000 Sack of Scams -Archive: Garage Owner Admits Bilking USPS Out of $184,356, Giving Favors to Postal Supervisors |

February 24, 2007-

Reader: USPS Outsourcing Mail Delivery Work

“Starting in January 2007, there has been a surge in new delivery areas being contracted out. The NALC and NRLCA should think about joining together to fight this threat.” |

February 20, 2007-

Top House and Senate Leaders Back NALC on ‘Contracting Out’

- NALC President William H. Young and union legislative leaders from all 50 states swept through offices of House and Senate members this week to bring them up to date on issues critical to letter carriers in the 110th Congress, especially the Postal Service’s plans to outsource delivery work through expanded use of Contract Delivery Services. The NALC state chairs were in the nation’s capital for the entire week for annual training sessions and a full schedule of lobbying their respective senators and representatives. NALC News Bulletin |

Former PMG Bill Henderson Demoted From Netflix COO Slot

According to Valleywag: Former Postmaster General William "Bill" Henderson has been demoted from the "COO slot at Netflix, taking on the likely specious title of “strategic advisor” till his options vest or something." Henderson has been in the job for one year. |

February 18, 2007-

Unofficial Transcript of NALC Rap Session

NALC Branch 38 posted an ‘unofficial’ transcript of the Rap Session held by NALC on January 28, 2007. Some of the highlights: The threat of contracting out Not a new threat., Sombrotto called rural carriers in house contracting out. Most new delivery points designated as rural even if they are city delivery because of the lower cost. Rural carrier union has made concessions over the years to make rural delivery cheaper. Deliveries increased over 50%. 80% to 69% new city deliveries fell. ..five year contract. included colas and general wage increases higher than those negotiated by the other unions. $1900 - $2200 per year more than what other unions got...propose major restructuring of city carriers by 2011. The future of the Postal Service according to every expert is as a delivery service. In fifteen years there will be no APWU. |

Recent EEOC Decisions Involving Postal Employees

Some recent decisions of the EEOC involving postal employees not published elsewhere. The number that were won can be counted on the fingers of one hand. |

February 15, 2007-

USPS Sings The Congress-Ran-Off-And-Took-My-Escrow Blues (PDF)
"Some things in life are certain. Death. Taxes. The return of the swallows each spring to Capistrano. And, when the Postal Service is testing the political waters for another rate case, some plumb pitiful singing from USPS headquarters. On February 9, the folks at L'Enfant Plaza issued a press release claiming that the Postal Service lost $2.7 billion from October through December 2006 (the first quarter of Fiscal 2007), and is on track to lose $5.2 billion by the end of the fiscal year. Time to tune up for another rate case? Not if you listen carefully to the notes in the Postal Service's financial report." (Alliance of Non-Profit Mailers via Postcom.org |

Postal Worker Fired After Second Violation of USPS Zero Tolerance Policy

Ray W. Bagbee began working with the USPS as a Laborer, Custodial, in 1985. He was assigned to three postal stations until an incident in where he allegedly threatened an employee at one of those stations. After that incident, Bagbee was reassigned to another postal facility. During a meeting with his supervisor and postal manager at his new duty assignment, Bagbee made threats against the postal officials' family members. The court ruled that USPS met its burden of proving that Bagbee violated the zero tolerance policy (note: this case was inadvertently left off the front page a week ago)|

February 12, 2007-

NALC Publishes National Reassessment Process Guide
"NALC has published a guide to help injured workers and their representatives challenge the Postal Service's withdrawal or failure to provide Limited Duty. The Guide to NRP (National Reassessment Process) is available online with the Compensation Department." The Postal Service is contractually and legally obligated to make every effort to assign limited duty work to employees who have not fully recovered from an on-the-job injury. The Service, with the development of a new program called National Reassessment Process (NRP), is ignoring that obligation. With NRP, the Service is reducing the effort it makes in offering limited duty work from the effort." |

Postal Employees Should Think Twice Before Appealing Case to MSPB

Kenneth Jones vs. US Postal Service, illustrates why postal employees should think twice before appealing their discipline to the Merit Systems Protection Board. They have a better chance of success in the grievance procedure. When Jones lost his appeal before the MSPB, he appealed to the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals and lost again. ” |

February 10, 2007-

USPS Drops Consolidation (AMP) Study at Four More Postal Facilities

The U.S. Postal Service recently announced that it has ended Area Mail Processing (AMP) studies for the following Postal facilities: Glenwood Springs, Colorado CSMPC to Grand Junction (CO) CSMPC; Sheridan, Wyoming CSMPC to Billings (MT) P&DC; Wheatland, Wyoming CSMPC to Cheyenne (WY) P&DC; and McAllen, Texas Post Office to Corpus Christi (TX) P&DF. "Postal Service spokesman Al DeSarro said it’s his understanding that preliminary study so far has eliminated about 10 of the 40 centers from further consideration." Bryan studies mail changes |

February 06, 2007-

APWU Challenges New USPS Driver Safety Instructor Position

The U.S. Postal Service yesterday announced requirements for driving safety instructor, ad-hoc driving safety instructor and ad-hoc road test examiner (a new ad-hoc position, within the new Safe Driver program) positions. But APWU is challenging the new position stating that "The Postal Service last year revised the driving instructor examiner (DIE) position, changing it to Driver Safety Instructor. The new position, DSI, is nothing more than a modified DIE. |

February 05, 2007-

Rural Carriers Reject Contract!

The (NRLCA) National Board will be contacting USPS Headquarters immediately in order to share the results of the ratification vote. Thereafter, the parties will discuss next steps, and the National Board will keep the membership apprised of important developments as they happen. Here is the proposed contract |
IN FAVOR OF RATIFICATION: 15,927
OPPOSED TO RATIFICATION: 16,932
VOID: 86
TOTAL BALLOTS: 32,945

MSPB: Postal Service Required to File Disability Retirement for Eligible Employees

The Postal Service proposed the removal of Anthony Galwey based on charges of failure to be regular in attendance and failure to provide medical documentation or other acceptable evidence -- The Postal Service proposed the removal of Anthony Galwey based on charges of failure to be regular in attendance and failure to provide medical documentation or other acceptable evidence -- MSPB remanded the appeal to the AJ with instructions to see that the agency file a disability retirement for the appellant if the requirements were met Reader: ”With the demise of district human resources associates, there is no one left with the expertise or willingness to file a management-initiated disability retirement. Disabled employees are now kicked out the door." |

February 04, 2007-

APWU: First COLA Under 2006 Contract Expected to Be ZERO

In December, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) rose to 587.3 - the first rise since August, but still well below the July Index (593.2) upon which the final COLA of the 2000 Agreement was calculated. APWU's economists project that it is highly unlikely that the January Index will rise 6.4 points to 593.6 - the point at which additional COLA would be paid. Based on that projection, the first COLA adjustment under the 2006 National Agreement is expected to be zero. |

February 02, 2007-

APWU: Raises Take Effect March 3rd, Contract Changes Take Effect Feb. 3rd - New pay rates established in the 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement will be implemented on March 3, 2007, and will appear in paychecks dated March 23, APWU President William Burrus has announced. Increases in wages and uniform allowances will be paid retroactively. Checks for the back-pay period (from Nov. 25, 2006 ) will be disbursed at a later date. Local implementation will begin of the consecutive days-off requirement for Clerk Craft employees in offices of 200 man-years or more (except Customer Service) |

NALC’s Historic Contract Agreement Proposal

From NALC NEWS BULLETIN -“The proposal delivers an all-regular workforce with weekends off as well as a significant reduction in the level of forced overtime. For the Postal Service, the proposal offers savings in the billions from reduced overtime and benefit costs in the future. However, it was offered only on the condition that the USPS give us new protections against contracting out and that it share its financial savings in the form of higher general wage increases.” — President Young. Critical to any agreement would be a ban on USPS contracting out city delivery territory, the one issue that Young said prevented the parties from reaching agreement on a new contract. |

February 01, 2007-

Bill Re-Introduced to Protect Vets Preference

The new chairman of the House veterans’ economic opportunity subcommittee wants to make certain that veterans working for the federal government do not lose their veterans’ preference as a result of downsizing. Rep. Stephanie Herseth, D-S.D., said a bill she introduced Tuesday, HR 728, “would ensure the application of veterans’ preference protections to federal and postal employees who are the unfortunate victims of downsizing actions that threaten to unfairly and involuntarily reassign them to locations far from their homes.” |

GAO Drops USPS from 'High-Risk' List

The GAO put the Postal Service on the high-risk list in 2001 because of a bleak financial outlook that included cash-flow problems and heavy debt. But the post office has increased employee productivity while reducing staff -- and saved $5 billion since 2001, the GAO said. "It's a great day," Postmaster General John E. Potter said. "Going forward, it is incumbent upon us to continue to provide high levels of service" and "make sure every dollar we spend is a dollar that we need to spend." Some of the Postal Service’s challenges such as strategic human capital management remain on the high-risk list. In the human capital area, USPS continues to faces challenges related to managing workforce changes due to retirements and network consolidations and implementing performance-based compensation systems. |

Post Office Censors Josephine Baker Post Cards

Josephine Baker is still causing a stir more than 80 years after she took Paris by storm with her nearly naked dance review. Her step-son got a taste of Post Office censorship after he tried to mail post cards featuring a watercolor of the famous dancer. Jean-Claude Baker, owner of the Manhattan restaurant Chez Josephine, wanted to send the cards to his friends. But he says the Post Office refused to accept them, deeming them sexually oriented. Post Office Apologizes |see postcard |

February 28, 2007-

New Jersey Postmaster Indicted in Sack of Scams
"A former Sussex County postmaster who later oversaw 75 post offices in northern New Jersey was indicted yesterday for his role in a number of brazen schemes, including directing hundreds of thou sands of dollars in unnecessary repair work on postal vehicles to a Newton garage. John F. Balliro, 51, of Hamburg and other unnamed co-conspirators -- including another postmaster -- are accused of improperly steering $600,000 in repair work on postal vehicles to the Newton garage, having unnecessary construction work performed at various postal facilities, having a postal employee do work at his ex-wife's home in Pennsylvania, and misusing employee work time and leave, said U.S. Attorney Christopher J. Christie. " Archive: Garage Owner Admits Bilking USPS Out of $184,356, Giving Favors to Postal Supervisors |

USPS Awards $875 Million Contract for Flat Sequencing System

The Postal Service has moved forward with another initiative to improve its delivery capabilities by awarding Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation an $874,639,000 contract to build a sophisticated system that will sort “flats” — large envelopes, magazines, newspapers, catalogs and circulars — in the order in which they are delivered. Letter carriers today spend a portion of their workday in the “office” manually sorting flat mail, a labor-intensive process. The Flat Sequencing System (FSS) — designed in collaboration with Postal Service engineers -sorts mail in delivery sequence at a rate of 16,500 pieces an hour, helping letter carriers start delivering mail earlier in the day. USPS facilities slated to receive FSS machines during the Phase 1 deployment (PDF) (via PostCom.org) |

Long time, no see: Post offices hide their clocks
The clocks are disappearing from the nation’s post offices. It's no conspiracy or science fiction-inspired mystery, but a quietly executed program by the U.S. Postal Service to take down all timepieces from retail areas of the country’s 37,000 post offices. Well, they've been removed," confirmed Stephen Seewoester, a Dallas spokesman for the Postal Service, which is an independent agency of the federal government's executive branch. "We want people to focus on postal service and not the clock." Seewoester said the wholesale clock clearing is part of a “retail standardization program” launched last year that will give the public-service areas a more uniform appearance “like Starbucks or a McDonald’s. |

Residents Vow to Fight Plan to Close Post Office

CO: Lawmaker Plans to Kill Anti-Junk Mail Bill |

Postal Inspectors Lick Counterfeit Stamp Ring

PRC Decision Receives Mixed Reaction

Postal officials seek man in bomb cases

LA: Ex-Casual Mail Carrier Pleads Guilty

Company to provide employment verification services to the USPS |

San Diego: Mail Carrier Robbed At Gunpoint |

Petition grows in support of injured carrier's cause

Netflix Marks One Billion DVDs Delivered
CA: Bakersfield Carriers celebrate Million Mile careers
'Forever' stamp’s real value is marketing
IA: Fort Dodge Post Office may have to move

February 27, 2007-

The Lid Is In The Mail

Omaha's downtown post office has been processing 1,000 packages a day that contain lids from peanut butter jars. They're all headed to ConAgra in the aftermath of a recall. The Food and Drug Administration has linked certain Peter Pan and Great Value peanut butter to salmonella. The contaminated jars of peanut butter were all processed at a ConAgra plant in Syracuse, Georgia The post office suggests using padded envelopes. Envelopes without that padding can tear in mail processing machines. |

Detroit: 2 Dogs Attack Postal Carrier |

Forever' stamp a dud? |

Postal Service investigates complaint of dumped mail |

Weather may be factor in fatal accident of postal contract driver

The bright side to postal rate increase

Potter: Move Update will be required for Standard Mail

Opposition surprised by rapid deal at Canada Post
UPS Drivers in Sidekick Cell Phone Scheme

Royal Mail calls for 20% hike in price of stamps

Montana do-not-mail bill tabled

February 26, 2007-

PRC Recommends ’forever’ stamp, 2-cent hike in letter rate

A postal regulatory commission recommended a 2-cent increase in the cost of mailing a letter Monday and urged the Post Office to introduce a ”forever” stamp valid for first-class postage even when rates rise. The recommendation to increase postage to 41 cents was a penny less than the postal service had requested. The commission recommended a 26-cent rate for post cards, also a penny less than the Post Office had sought. APWU: PRC Decision a Big Win For Postal Customers, APWU | Magazine Publishers Await Postal Rate Hike | PRC Recommended Rates | Text of the Opinion | Recommended Rate Schedules | Recommended Classification Schedules | Technical Appendices |

Postal Regulatory Commission to Rule on Rates Today

The next hike in postage rates could be ameliorated by the introduction of a "forever" stamp that would cover first-class postage despite future increases. The independent Postal Regulatory Commission scheduled a Monday morning briefing to announce its ruling on the Postal Service's requests to raise first-class rates 3 cents to 42 cents and to establish the permanent stamp.

USPS Joins the Blogosphere

Ad agency Campbell-Ewald launched a new WordPress-powered site for the U.S. Postal Service for its Deliver Magazine. According to Adirondack Base Camp blog: Now the big question: What is the future role of the United States Postal Service in the new digital age? |

APWU: Union Launches Ambitious Organizing Campaign

The APWU has unveiled an ambitious union organizing campaign directed at women, scheduled to begin in March, Women’s History Month. Speaking at a teleconference about the campaign, Northeast Region Coordinator Liz Powell noted that although women make up 48 percent of the postal workforce, more than half of the non-members are women. “We are ready to go into the trenches to organize,” she said. “APWU sisters will be on the front line in this effort, and we know that our APWU brothers will have our back.” |

White Rock Post Office is back

February 25, 2007-

DOL Getting Tough on Unions’ Recordkeeping

The Department of Labor’s Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) posted on its web site yesterday an online presentation to help labor organizations comply with the recordkeeping requirements of the Labor-Management Reporting and Disclosure Act (LMRDA). The presentation covers the statutory requirements for recordkeeping, what records need to be kept, and points out potential recordkeeping problems with suggestions on how to avoid them. |

Retired postal employee sentenced to 15 years for sexual offenses

Sick of Junk Mail? We Can Help

Nebraska : DuBois to keep post office

UPS racks up parking tickets by the truckload
Upton Post Office among the best in the country

e-NAPUS: Sarbanes-Oxley and Postmasters -also: Postmasters Working State Capitols for Universal Mail Service

February 24, 2007-

APWU: Book Assails Corporate Influence on Postal Service

A new book that exposes how Postal Service operations are being molded to suit the interests of corporate mailers and USPS competitors at the expense of workers and consumers has become a “must-read” for union and community activists. Preserving the People’s Post Office, by Christopher W. Shaw, makes a compelling case for giving citizens and workers a stronger voice in determining the future of the Postal Service. Purchase Book from Amazon.com |

Maryland Residents Complain Of Getting Mail Late, Tattered

Some neighbors in one Harford County town are looking for answers after they said their mail keeps arriving late and in mangled condition. White said she and her neighbors have complained to the local post office, and they've learned the problem may be happening in processing before the mail gets to their homes. Calabasas delivers stern warning on mail service |

Love Triangle 'Bomb Scare' Evacuates 6 Homes
Police said the feud was between two postal workers. Fifteen to 20 homes were evacuated in a Malden neighborhood Friday night after what was thought to be a suspicious package was found near one of the houses. As it turns out, the package was not suspicious at all, but the homeowner was concerned since he is apparently involved in a feud with another man as part of a love triangle. |

New Mexico: Police catch pair stealing mail

Mailman Mike is a Carrier Who Cares

PostCom Coalition: Do-not-mail statutes unconstitutional (PDF)

Tiny Town students learn about postal service

EU investigating financing of Royal Mail

Tacoma Washington's New Postmaster

February 23, 2007-

Effort for Postal Worker Pays Off in Signatures
Christine Sagnis hoped a petition designed to encourage ABC to provide modifications to the Collings Lake home of Maureen Buscher DePrince and her husband, Troy, would gain 1,000 signatures. As of Wednesday, 28,478 had signed either on a Web site (www.nalcbranch908.com), Maureen's e-mail, or scores of business locations in Ventnor, Margate and Longport. Maureen was a Ventnor letter carrier for 13 years. |

USPS prepares mailers for new postal law effects
Kensington's going 'Postal' over poor service

Alexandria mail center to stay open, mayor says

USPS asks PRC to approve fee schedule for 'premium' stamped stationery

Ramsey post office fights to keep home of 45 years

February 22, 2007-

Postal truck burns in Manor Township; some of its contents destroyed

(PA) A fire that engulfed a Lancaster mail truck Wednesday managed to disrupt mail service for one community, destroying hundreds of pieces of mail." It was an electrical fire in one of our trucks," Lancaster Postmaster Lou DiPerna said Thursday. "It was just one of those things that happens." DiPerna said a mail carrier called for service after noticing smoke inside his truck at about 2 p.m. Wednesday in the Wilshire Hills area, off Columbia Avenue in Manor Township. The carrier was parked and waiting for help along Kimberly Drive when he saw "flames coming out of the dashboard. |

Ohio: Postal worker robbed

Postal workers are known for braving the elements, but today one mailman came face to face with an element he never expected, a gun. Postal worker Chris Golightley told 13abc he has been delivering the mail in Toledo for the last 13 years, and although he's seen a lot of things through the years he's never had a day like today. Chris Golightley was mid-way through his mail route when the suspect "had the gun right between my eyes, he could have took me out at any time. He cocked the chamber and was ready to go." Golightley said the man hit him in the head with a gun and demanded his money, he got away with his wallet, and that's not all. Suspect held in robbery of E. Toledo mail carrier |

Mail Delivery Woes Appear Solved

(Arizona) Mail deliveries are coming at a more reasonable hour compared to a few months ago when some residents were receiving letters after dark." The community seems to be significantly happier with their mail deliveries," Mayor Winkler said. After hearing about resident dissatisfaction with late mail deliveries in Paradise Valley, sometimes as late as 8 p.m., the town mayor and police chief met with post office officials in November to correct the problem. At the meeting postal representatives said they would work to solve the problem within a few months. Julie Utley, Scottsdale area post office spokeswoman said USPS hired 66 new postal workers, which she said would help alleviate the staffing shortage once they completed training. |

Former Mail Handlers Union VP Pleads Guilty To Receiving Child Porn in the Mail
Mark Anthony Mayfield, 51, man pleaded guilty in federal court to receiving child pornography through the mail. Mayfield, who was employed as a mail handler, is the former administrative vice president for the Kansas City, Missouri branch of the Mail Handlers Union and, at the time of the offense, acting Local Vice President. |

Jason Miles Promoted to Postmaster
Jason Miles, who arrived at the Palisades post office more than a year ago to address an accumulation of service concerns within the community, became postmaster on December 23. At age 33, he's one of the youngest employees to hold this managerial position in L.A. Having previously worked in the Bel-Air/Brentwood area, which had concerns like those in the Palisades, Miles quickly identified the root of problems here: namely, that the mail carriers needed support and direction. |

Mail carrier reaches 1 million miles

ADVO Stockholders Approve Amended Merger Agreement with Valassis

APWU: Union to Hold 'Round Robin' Contract Conferences

Potter: Move Update will be required for Standard Mail

Mail carrier sentenced to a year in prison for mail theft

Milwaukee Mail Carrier Mugged

15th Annual Letter Carriers Food Drive Set for May 12

Money order mix-up was fault of post office

DMC continues fight against postage tax

All-mail elections may have a place in California's future

Postal Employees Charged With Mail Theft
Ventnor Postal Worker: Building a New Life

February 21, 2007-

Mailman saves Kensington house – and dog – from fire

Postal Service Issues International Polar Year 2007-2008 Stamps

Elderly Woman Won't Tie Up Dog, Cut Off By USPS

May 6 Looks to Be the Date for New USPS Rates

Mail presorting facility opens in Duncan

Mail carrier recognized for saving man's life

DMers watching do-not-mail bills closely

Apologies made after post office clutter causes a stir

February 20, 2007-

Top House and Senate Leaders Back NALC on ‘Contracting Out’

NALC News Bulletin - NALC President William H. Young and union legislative leaders from all 50 states swept through offices of House and Senate members this week to bring them up to date on issues critical to letter carriers in the 110th Congress, especially the Postal Service’s plans to outsource delivery work through expanded use of Contract Delivery Services. The NALC state chairs were in the nation’s capital for the entire week for annual training sessions and a full schedule of lobbying their respective senators and representatives. |

Former PMG Bill Henderson Demoted From Netflix COO Slot

Montana Post Office Reopens After Mercury Spill

Employees at the main post office here got stuck working for a while on Presidents Day after weekend mail sorting and other tasks were delayed because a package leaked mercury. The post office was shut down Saturday for 26 hours after about 2½ ounces of mercury leaked from a package in a mail-delivery van that was driven into the building.. The U.S. Postal Service contacted a number of environmental firms in Montana in an effort to find a device to measure mercury in the air but the closest one found was in Milwaukee, Wisconsin (over 1500 miles away). The device was brought to Montana by three people who flew to Missoula and then drove to Kalispell. A number of employees — most of them managers — worked Saturday and Sunday to oversee the situation.. Employees who sort mail worked Sunday night and Monday. |

Video: Mail Carrier Struggles After Losing Legs, Sight | Petition

New York Letter carrier and sister win $1 million in lottery

Editorial: Junk mail bill sends wrong message

WA: Proposal to cut down junk mail has rural carriers going postal |

Public interaction the highlight for mail carrier

Northside neighborhood in dispute with post office
UK: Letter bomb suspect is arrested

Personal postage becoming popular

February 19, 2007-

It’s quick and fast, that’s why mail goes so far away to get sorted

Why does all the mail we receive in the valley or send to someone else have a big stamp that says "San Bernardino" on it? Especially considering San Berdoo is really nowhere near here? Why doesn't the U.S. Postal Service create a sorting center here in the Coachella Valley? Mike Cannone, a spokesman for the San Diego Postal District said "that we're not alone in our great distance from a sorting center. It's like this all over the country." The processing center handles all postmarking for all mail for most of San Bernardino, Riverside and Imperial (counties)," he said. And the reason is efficiency, speed and accuracy. |

Man demanding Social Security check slugs mail carrier

(Del Ray, FL) A postal carrier told police that a man demanding a Social Security check slugged him in the 400 block of Southwest Ninth Court. Anthony Difranco, 33, of Boca Raton, tried to calm the attacker, telling him: "Sir, it's the 17th. I don't have your Social Security check," according to a police report The attacker came from behind the mail truck and struck the carrier on the right side of his face, police said. The carrier suffered a bruise on his cheek and declined medical treatment. |

The Strange Story of Postal Reform

The Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation noted, in its October 11, 2006 Congressional Advisory: Wages and benefits per postal-employee work-year averaged $65,636 in 2005. Although the law says that postal employees should receive wages and benefits comparable to what they could earn in the private sector, the majority of economic studies examining the issue have concluded that a postal pay premium of 20% - 25% exists if just wages are counted and about 35% if the Service’s very generous benefits are also included. Who are the winners and losers of Postal Refor?m Winners: Newspapers and competitors such as United Parcel Service and FedEx. Losers: All mailers are at risk, depending on the degree to which they use the mails. |

GAO Report on USPS Fuel Costs

The U.S. Postal Service is dependent on fuel to support its mail delivery and transportation networks, as well as to heat and operate the over 34,000 postal facilities it occupies. The Service has been challenged by recent fuel price fluctuations, and the Postmaster General stated that gas prices were a primary reason for the proposed 2007 postal rate adjustment. GAO recommended that the Postmaster General take actions to improve the Service’s tracking and monitoring of transportation and facility-related fuel consumption data. |

UPS driver arrested in alleged package selling scheme - "His job was to deliver packages to waiting customers. But one man is accused of selling those packages right off the back of his delivery truck. And now, police believe there are several other UPS deliverymen involved in the same scheme."

A holiday with a past - in 1968, a House resolution was enacted into law that was intended to simplify the federal government's holiday calendar. It affected several federal holidays and one of those was Washington's Birthday. The observation of it was shifted to the third Monday in February each year rather than on the 22nd. The holiday was given the name Presidents Day to honor the men who had served as president besides Washington and Lincoln. This act took effect in 1971.However, the act creating the day did not officially change the designation to Presidents Day, but it effectively did so. Bureaucratically speaking, OPM says that for technical purposes the day officially remains on their books as "Washington's Birthday."

Photo: NASCAR Mailbox

Mail keeps on moving as plant changes made

Louisiana: Alexandria opposes closing of mail processing center

Man struck, killed by postal truck in Massachusetts

Protection of mail sent to Juárez still unclear

February 18, 2007-

Unofficial Transcript of NALC Rap Session

Recent EEOC Decisions Involving Postal Employees

Some recent decisions of the EEOC involving postal employees not published elsewhere. The number that were won can be counted on the fingers of one hand. |

Postage stamps: Miniature artwork with mass appeal

Postal Service motto proves more a guide than a rule

February 17, 2007-

Postal Truck Driver killed in Montana highway accident

Postal managers recognized for their outstanding service
Classified ad misleads about Post Office jobs

Post office going mobile this month

APWU: 'Employee Free Choice Act' Events Set for Feb. 19 -23

Gone but not forgotten - Stamp collectors search for a piece of history

Mail service returning to normal as snow is pushed aside
Postal Workers Brave the Cold to Deliver Mail

February 16, 2007-

Friends seek injured mail carrier home makeover

Friends of Maureen DePrince on mission to get ABC's “Extreme Makeover: Home Edition” to build the Deprinces a new home with online Petitions | Two

Fundraisers planned to help Maine rural carrier - Like many rural mail carriers, Mary Glidden is a contract employee with the U.S. Postal Service and essentially self-employed, she has no health insurance and already has racked up $25,000 in bills for two surgeries. She’s facing 16 chemotherapy treatments, another five weeks of radiation and expensive semi-annual tests related to the rare form of cancer she has. |

NPMHU and USPS Agree on Effective Dates for Contract Implementation - As reflected in the attached letter from USPS Vice President for Labor Relations Doug Tulino, the effective date for the 2006 National Agreement has been established as Saturday, February 17, 2007, except as may otherwise be provided by the terms of the National Agreement. The retroactive portion of this 1.2% increase (from PP25-2006 thru PP03-2007) will be paid in PP12-2007, in paychecks to be issued on June 15, 2007. |

Editorial: Junk-mail registry a dead letter

Mail running days behind after storms

New Jersey neighborhood upset at loss of Post Office

Man who placed boa constrictor inside mailbox gets probation

Growth trend continues at post office

New post office to deliver expanded facility

Neither rain ... nor power outages!!?

How to Prepare for USPS Changes in 2007

Nebraska: Memphis Post Office closing Feb. 23

TX: Residents have to go 20 miles for mail -Dream homes didn't come with mail boxes

February 15, 2007-

Postal Worker Fired After Second Violation of USPS Zero Tolerance Policy

Postal Employees Know Your Rights |

Ask President Burrus: Clarification of using casuals on Tour 2 |

Senators seek to extend sale of Breast Cancer Research Stamp
$100,000 reward offered for info on explosive devices sent through the mail

Snow, rain, heat or doom of night? It's all Greek to him

Postal Bulletin 2/15/07 Issue

OSHA Unveils New Guidance on Preparing Workplaces for Pandemic Flu

Gunman Robs Southeast KC Post Office

Pascagoula: Post office on way

USPS: Proposed Mailing Standards Updated
Mailman surely has cool job

Mailboxes deliver novel styling

Gabriels residents want new post office

February 14, 2007-

Rumor: NALC and USPS Have Reached a Tentative Contract Agreement?

Rumors are floating around that NALC and USPS have reached an agreement. Also, NALC has removed references to recent 'Rap Session' from its website. As of 2/15, no information has been received to support the rumor. |

eNAPUS: Bush Budget Targets Postal Employee Health Insurance (PDF)

"On Monday, President Bush sent Congress his Fiscal Year 2008 budget proposal. The federal fiscal year begins on October 1. Within seconds of receipt, Congressional leaders declared the budget dead on arrival. The President's financial package included 2 "hits" to the federal/postal workforce - both would impact the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). One proposal would "tenure-test" retiree FEHBP premiums, and the second would authorize Blue Cross to establish a 3rd FEHBP option." Archive: Bush Plan Would Cut Tax-Free Employer-Provided Health Insurance |

Morristown Postmaster Charged in Fight With Coach

The Morristown postmaster faces charges of aggravated assault after starting a fight with his daughters' high school basketball coach following a game on Jan. 26, according to police reports. |

Edmonds post office survivor addresses tragic past |

Alert Letter Carrier saves woman from house fire

Letter carriers honored for efforts in aiding injured women

Standard Class Mail Becomes Trackable From Desktop

Photo: Carrier Tracks Through the Snow

February 13, 2007-

Marshall Islands: Post Office Probe Reveals Mismanagement |

Congressman working to retain mail processing center in Alexandria
Postal Service seeks Bank of America NSA

Scare closes post office in Punta Gorda

Photo: Small Town, Big Post Office

February 12, 2007-

USPS Abandons Nine More AMP Studies

The Postal Service has notified the APWU that it has cancelled nine more Area Mail Processing studies. In a statement on Feb. 9, the Postal Service told the APWU that “it has been determined that there are currently no significant opportunities to improve efficiency or service through consolidation of mail processing operations” in: Carroll, IA; Glenwood Springs, CO; Hutchinson, KS; McCook, NE; Sheridan and Wheatland, WY; Fox Valley, IL; and Bryan and McAllen, TX. |

Will Postal Reform Law Let USPS Charge by Season, Day?
"The Direct Marketing Association thinks the recently signed postal reform law lets the U.S. Postal Service charge different rates in the summer and, potentially, even different rates by days of the week. This statement came from Jerry Cerasale, DMA senior vice president of government affairs, who spoke at the Direct Marketing Club of New York's February luncheon at the Yale Club. "Monday is the busiest day, so you might pay more," he said. "Tuesday, on the other hand, may have the least amount of mail volume, so maybe you pay less if you have delivery on Tuesday." |

USPS Challenges 'Do-Not-Mail' Bill Sponsor

(Colorado) A news conference called Sunday to promote a bill that would allow consumers to opt out of receiving junk mail was enlivened when a representative of the U.S. Postal Service showed up to challenge the bill's sponsor. Al DeSarro, a USPS spokesman said Rep. Sara Gagliardi, D-Arvada's bill might cost thousands of postal workers their jobs and would hurt businesses that use the mail to reach new customers. |

USPS Rubber Band Deal |

Nonprofit Federation Asks USPS For One Year Before Increases |

APWU: NLRB Files Complaint Against DHL |

USPS' Shape-Based Pricing to Dramatically Alter Rate Structure

A postal office that holds on to memories

Marion Junction Post Office a 'family place'

US Postal Service to Rebid Contract Option Award

February 11, 2007-

Tempeans uneasy about plainclothes mail carriers - (AZ) In a time when neighbors are strangers and fences are friends, U.S. Postal Service uniforms visibly identify letter carriers as familiar public servants who may enter private property. But many postal workers in Tempe no longer wear uniforms when they deliver letters and pick up outgoing mail. U.S. Postal Service spokesman Peter Hass said rural carriers and new postal employees are not required to wear uniforms when delivering mail. “It’s more cost-effective,” he said. “We’re trying to keep postage as low as possible.” |

Troubles Grow for University of Phoenix

"The University of Phoenix became the nation’s largest private university by delivering high profits to investors and a solid, albeit low-overhead, education to midcareer workers seeking college degrees. But its reputation is fraying as prominent educators, students and some of its own former administrators say the relentless pressure for higher profits, at a university that gets more federal student financial aid than any other, has eroded academic quality." The Postal Service partners with the University of Phoenix to "provide all USPS employees with more avenues to reach their higher education goals." |

'Master Impostor' Sentenced To 303 Years

In the movie "Catch Me If You Can," Leonardo DiCaprio plays the role of the infamous impostor Frank Abagnale. Prosecutors said that is who Michael DiPentino tried to emulate. DiPentino even forged checks, sometimes using Abagnale's name, and passed them at U.S. Post Offices. Testimony indicated he purchased $325,000 in postage stamps and would resell them to small businesses. |

Photo: Letter Carrier Delivers Mail With One Leg

Photo: Mailman Statue in Front of Post Office

Win a luxury trip thanks to the US Postal Service |

February 10, 2007-

Burrus Questions 'sister union's' reversal on early retirement remarks

In 2003 APWU negotiated Voluntary Early Retirement Authority for members as part of a two-year contract extension. But the president of a sister postal union thought otherwise, and expressed negative views about the APWU’s negotiated benefit. In his union’s July 10, 2003, Bulletin, the president of our sister union opined that his members were not receiving such offers “because the future for them is brighter than those in the other crafts. Now, during the 2006 negotiations, what is a top priority for this sister union? You guessed it — early-out retirements. What was “not a good deal” in 2003 has become a bargaining priority in 2007. |

Post Offices on High Alert for Suspicious Packages

Joint Statement From USPS and US Postal Inspection Service - The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is working with law enforcement agents from the FBI and ATF, as well as local and state agencies, to investigate two explosive devices sent to financial institutions since Jan. 31. |

Does valentine stamp cross the line? |

Postal official, union leader differ on future of center

Mail flown to Birmingham declines after USPS revises airline contracts

Clinton urges USPS to re-establish Gabriels post office
Photo: Carrier Delivers Mail In Snow Wearing Shorts

OPM Races to Go Digital Ahead of Retirement Wave
2 get prison for stealing collection boxes

In tiny Fidelity, postmaster's heart goes out on Valentine's day

Dead letter for post office?

February 09, 2007-

USPS Reports $2.7 Billion First Quarter Loss Due to Provision in New Postal Law
The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) reported a Fiscal Year 2007 first quarter loss of $2.7 billion due to the accelerated funding of retiree health benefits mandated by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act signed into law on Dec. 20, 2006. The law requires the Postal Service to substantially fund its share of these benefits by 2017. Operationally, the Postal Service would have otherwise achieved a net income of $1.2 billion, in line with its first quarter financial plan. Therefore, the projected net loss for USPS in FY 2007 is $5.2 billion. Fiscal year forecasts assume that the Postal Regulatory Commission recommends the full USPS revenue request in the pending case. |

NALC Opposes 'Do Not Mail' Bill
Young said the proposal "could jeopardize the very future of America's postal system," adding that while it may be well-intentioned, it is being erroneously promoted as similar to "Do Not Call" limits on telemarketers. "Unlike the annoying phone calls that were routinely timed to coincide with the dinner hour, postal patrons are free to choose when and how to deal with the mail they receive," Young said. |

Hacker Quarterly: USPS Loses Our Latest Issue

NLRB Finds Merit in APWU's Labor complaint against DHL

Former postmaster arrested after assaulting coach at game

Post office changes mail time |

Letter carrier files suit against pit bull owner |

PRC begins shift to regulatory agency

Postal carrier rescues woman lying in snow

Post office closes after asbestos detected |

Valentine Postal Workers Sort Through Thousands Of Mail Pieces

February 08, 2007-

CBS 2 Undercover: Identity Thieves Go Postal
WCBS-TV Cameras Show Local Post Offices Lacking Security - "The hidden cameras showed something shocking. CBS 2: "I want to put a change of address form in today. Do you need an ID for this?" Postal worker: "No, you just fill this out and put in mailbox or give it to us." CBS 2: "No ID?"
Postal workers: "No." You heard right. You don't need ID when you turn in a change of address card." |

TRASHED: 200 pieces of mail

Carwash owner Bob Graybill stumbled upon 200 pieces of mail that police say was dumped there by a mail delivery contractor who walked off the job last fall. Fredrick Reincke worked for Platinum Logistics, a contractor that works for the postal service. About two of 370 city and rural routes are delivered by contractors, said a spokesman for the postal service. |

Ask President Burrus: Priority Scheduling of OT List over Casuals |

Convicted Sex Offender charged with stalking postal worker |

Ex-postal worker gets probation for failing to deliver mail

Gallery goes postal with collection

Letter carriers indicted in court |

February 07, 2007-

EEOC Approves FMLA Class Action Complaint
Cyncar v Potter alleges that the agency discriminated against the class defined as "all employees with disabilities who were denied leave under FMLA as a reasonable accommodation for a disability and who were treated less favorably than those without disabilities. EEOC concluded that class members share the common allegations of discriminations against qualified individuals with disabilities when it (1) unreasonably required re-certification of FMLA requests; (2) unreasonably delayed or denied FMLA request or stated they were not approved (3) systematically required seconded or third opinions to support FMLA requests; and designated disability-related absences as AWOL and/or disciplined employees for their absences when FMLA was disapproved. |

New Book: Beware of Cat: And Other Encounters of a Letter Carrier

Do Not Mail bill introduced in Texas |

California Postman Helps Rescue Elderly Woman
Effort on to save rural Post Office
Post office access issue spurs anger
Missouri woman charged with stealing from post office
Fairport residents saved post office
Texas post office burglarized for third time |

February 06, 2007-

Trove of Daggett-bound mail recovered in desert
The mail, described in the sheriff's report as opened and unopened and as "a large amount," was found in concrete vaults in the desert near the cement plant in Daggett. A person reported finding the mail to deputies and then led them to the stolen property, Wiltshire said. |

Supermarket-located Automated Postal Center is a USPS First

Postal Service Again Honored as Most Trusted Government Agency

Pitney Bowes posts higher net as reorg ends

Postal worker struck by truck remains in serious condition

Mail delivery to resume for 2 Brooklyn buildings

One Post Office Serves City Of 76000

February 05, 2007-

New Mexico: Postal Service Promises Fixes By April - The Postal Service says it plans to have new equipment in place by April that should improve mail delivery. Post Office spokesman Sam Bolen said that despite the recent uproar over job cuts, the changes should make it easier to sort mail and get it to carriers earlier in the day. The union representing postal employees has criticized the Postal Service and argued that plans to cut 40 jobs in the area will worsen service. Bolen said service should get better. Equipment expected to arrive in March will make the mail-sorting process more efficient, he said. But the changes will lead to some restructuring of employee duties and job locations.

Photo: U.S. ‘Male’ Jeep

Campus mail clerk's special deliveries warm University

Postal Service's Consumer Protection Week

February 04, 2007-

Photo: Carriers Will LOVE This Mailbox! |

Postal annex gets stamp of approval

Old mail system to be stamped out on Daufuskie

Driver flees after crashing into post office
Retiring Postmaster looks back on unexpected career
First 'femail' leads our P.O.

February 03, 2007-

Postal Center breaks ground for training building
The new building will primarily support training for Postal Service systems that will further automate processing of flats-mail such as magazines and large envelopes," Morgan said. "That will include an existing flat sorting system being moved to NCED from a vendor facility in Baltimore, and the new Flat Sequencing System (FSS) recently approved by the Postal Board of Governors. The FSS will sort flats mail into mail carriers' route sequence, like letter mail is processed now by smaller-footprint systems." The facility is targeted for completion in August 2007. |

Postal Contract Janitor to pay $78,818 for stealing discs from PO trash - James Chalupnik saw the bins full of undelivered CDs and DVDs inside Fargo’s U.S. Post Office as trash. He took thousands of the discs during nearly five years of working inside the building as a janitor for a company with a federal contract to clean the building. And he wasn’t alone. He claims that others inside the building, including postal employees, took discs, books and baby formula that were returned to the Post Office for various reasons and destined for the landfill. A federal judge saw it differently Friday, when he ordered Chalupnik, a 46-year-old Fargo man, to pay $78,818 restitution to BMG Columbia House Inc., the company that sent the discs to customers." |

Former Postal Worker Challenges USPS Denial of Reinstatement |

Former Postal Worker Pleads Guilty to Theft, Selling Items on eBay |

Senator Trying To Save Western Maryland Postal Jobs

Mailman delivers 30 crash-free years
Box of mail delivered after 8 years in Post Office |
Pony Express delivers on Scottsdale tradition