-Computer error overpays thousands of postal workers (San Francisco Chronicle)

 Update: USPS Computer Glitch Leads to $103 million in Overpayments - "The Postal Service as asked the Office of Inspector General to the investigate a computer glitch that caused 41,000 employees to receive too much money in their paychecks." The problem reportedly originated when the agency attempted to send bonuses to a select group of employees. The computer misread the instruction that it was given (or computer failed to  follow instructions). USPS spokesman George McKiernan said that reissuing checks or docking future pay would be too difficult for employees who need to use the money in the near future or adhere to strict budgets Also, due to payroll glitch, "a lump-sum payment that was to be paid to 1905 bargaining unit  employees on June 18 has been delayed until July 2."(source: Govexec & USPS)  (6/17/04)  |

• Senate Panel Backs Postal Reform Bill-The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act S. 2468 proposed by Senate Govt. Affairs Committee Chairman Susan Collins (R-ME) and Sen. Tom Carper (D-DE) passed unanimously. The House and Senate could vote on the bills as early as this month.  The three  nominations, Albert Casey, James Miller III to USPS Board of Governors and Dawn Tisdale to the Postal Rate Commission were unanimously confirmed. |

•  Mail Handlers Named as Primary Craft for APPS  (PDF) -In a letter dated June 2, 2004, from John Dockins, USPS Manager Contract Administration, APWU and NPMHU learned the Postal Service has identified mail handlers as the primary craft to perform work associated with the Automated Package Processing System (APPS). The Postal Service also  determined the appropriate level to perform activities associated with the APPS is Level 4.  APPS Passes 1st Test, National Deployment Begins Next Month -The Automated Package Processing System (APPS) passed its first test recently at the Twin Cities Metro Hub in Minneapolis, MN, and begins national deployment in July at the annex in Oklahoma City, OK. APPS combines the latest in automated package sorter technology with optical character reader, bar code reader and video coding capabilities to process a wider range of packages and bundles — even irregularly shaped ones. A total of 74 APPS will be deployed to 70 mail processing facilities by fall 2005 -USPS Today News ). |

• Postal Service Recognized for Diversity-USPS has been named one of the 50 Best Companies for Minorities for the fifth year in a row by leading business magazine FORTUNE. USPS ranked 6th on the list this year up from 11th last year. The news article said "with 59 percent of new hires minorities, USPS has managed to best its own highly rated efforts to ensure a diversified workforce"|

USPS Ranks 6th Among Best Companies For Minorities in Fortune Annual List

EEOC: USPS Diversity Profiles 2003 -USPS' top four major occupations were reported as Postmaster, Supervisor, Clerk, and City Carrier. Large percentage of women (56.71%) are postmasters, smallest percentage (25%) of women are letter carriers.

• GOING POSTAL II…Still Fighting for Dignity In The Workplace- The second book in the series describing working conditions of postal employees by retired Portland, Oregon Letter Carrier Al Ainsworth. Featured stories are a Nebraska APWU steward fired for taking Ainsworth's first book to work ;a picket in Texas protesting working conditions; stonewalling a disabled workers rights and a collection of short stories in "The daily grind." The book is approximately 250 pages and is scheduled for publication on July 10, 2004

• Appropriate Remedy for Exceeding 12hrs. day/60hrs. week Work Limitations -As management continues to right size our work force we will see an increase in overtime hours to cover the shortage in the workforce. Along with this increase of overtime come increasing attempts by management to deny the Bargaining Unit of its rights. Article 8 overtime provisions of the Collective Bargaining Agreement has been arbitrated and been put to rest, I thought… I see some of the same issues that we fought hard and long for resurfacing. The question of working over 60 hours within a service week continues to surface even after being settled 16 years ago. The issue of 12/60 work hour limitations and the appropriate remedy when management allows you to work beyond the daily/weekly work limitation has been a problem since the 1988 settlement.

• NPMHU Oppose Worksharing, OWCP Changes in Senate Reform Bill - The National Postal Mail Handlers Union is opposed to "worksharing" language in the Senate bill that could open the door to more "outsourcing" of career postal jobs to private mailing companies." The Mail Handlers Union is  also opposed to provisions in Senate Bill  "that would single out postal employees and cut their workers' compensation benefits for future injuries or illnesses.

- National Rural Letter Carriers Stance on Postal Reform

• Lexington Institute: Postal reform slips away-"If closing outdated military bases is tough, closing a post office -- or cutting the bloated postal bureaucracy -- seems well nigh impossible. Any day now, Congress could vote on what's been hailed as the biggest postal reform in 34 years. But personnel cuts, budget rollbacks and post office closings -- all of which are crucial to fixing the postal service's financial problems -- aren't even on the table. Such is the awesome power of our entrenched postal unions."|

• EEOC Gives Final Approval to Settlement in Injured Employees Class-Action Suit against USPS- An EEOC administrative judge gave final approval to a settlement of a class-action lawsuit (Glover/Albrecht vs USPS) that accused USPS of discriminating against injured employees who were allegedly denied promotional and/or advancement opportunities allegedly due to discrimination on the basis of disability. (6/11/04) |

- EEOC: Injured postal workers eligible for back pay (Federal times-6/15/04)

- Dean Albrecht: The recent settlement of the Glover/Albrecht class complaint was not a made whole remedy of all the injustice that rehab/modified employees

- Dean Albrecht's pain defeated Postal Service

• Book: You've Got the Right to Go, When You Gotta Go-Have you ever had to go to the bathroom and been told by your supervisor to wait until your break? That's illegal. Workers have a right to use the toilet "when they need to do so." That's the law according to the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). In one cited case, comedian Jay Leno joked about a company's bathroom rule  |   (see page update for OSHA links)

• Potter: Higher Fuel Costs Hurting USPS-USPS vehicles consume 800 million gallons of gasoline and diesel fuel annually. Potter also noted that high fuel prices have increased heating and electricity costs for the postal service's 38,000 facilities. Despite cost reduction efforts that offset much of the increase, "continued increases will have an adverse impact on postal finances."

 - USPS to Use GM's Fuel Cell Van in DC Area|| photos (6/15/04)

-Statement of Thomas G. Day, USPS Vice President, Engineering

• USPS Award Contract for Security Guard Services--ABM Security Services, Inc., has been awarded a multi-year, multi-million dollar national contract with USPS. The contract covers unarmed security guard services for more than 60 postal service facilities located in 20 states across the country and includes more that 300 security personnel. USPS closed postal police operations  in 6 cities last year saying the presence of armed police is no longer needed at the 6 facilities |

 - Private guards are not allowed to carry guns on postal property

 - ABM also provides cleaning and maintenance service to USPS (8/22/03)

• Postal Clerks' EEOC $165,000 settlement is upheld-EEOC has upheld an administrative law judge's award of $165,000 in damages to two disabled clerks at the Meadville (PA) post office. The two Postal clerks each filed complaints with EEOC under the Americans with Disabilities Act and the Rehabilitation Act after the men were denied the use of chairs while operating CSBCS machines at the post office in September 1999. In 2001, EEOC Administrative Law Judge Francis Polito ruled in favor of both clerks, but USPS filed an appeal with the EEOC claiming the chairs created a safety hazard;  complainant had a pre-existing condition and that this condition had worsened by normal everyday use  and several other arguments

• USPS, Private Shipper in Mexico Sign Licensing Agreement -USPS announced today the signing of a licensing agreement with Estafeta USA Inc., a leading private shipping company in Mexico, which allows the company limited usage of USPS' logo. Estafeta USA Inc. links to USPS' domestic delivery network by clearing inbound packages originating in Mexico through U.S. Customs, transporting them into the U.S and tendering them to the U.S. Postal Service at the McAllen, Texas post office as domestic Priority Mail. (note: did everyone get all of this long sentence??)

• House Panel Passes Bill Revise CSRS Benefits for Part-Time Workers-

• USPS On Roll and Paid Employee Stats April 2004 (pdf)

• NALC Acts To Revise Route Inspections -The NALC Executive Council, decided to present to the National Convention in Honolulu, Hawaii for debate and consideration, a proposal to revamp the route inspection process. The current system results in daily confrontations between letter carriers & front-line supervisors and is dysfunctional.  |

- Cased Volume Verification Concluded; Moratorium on Inspections Continues

•  Carrier Arrested for Alleging Assaulting Co-Worker over Postal Policy-Police reported a part time carrier, and a full time carrier, were driving postal vehicles when the argument became violent. The argument ensued over postal policy that allows full time workers to work an eight hour day. The Full-Time Carrier had run out mail and was asking the Part-Time Carrier for his mail so he could get in his eight hours. The Part-Time Carrier allegedly refused to hand over his mail. What happens next is simply unbelievable. |

• NALC Wants to Make Federal Case Out of Letter Carrier Assaults-There's been a series of assaults against letter carriers, but many of the  cases are dismissed or not prosecuted at all . NALC Union officers in Buffalo, NY wants to make a federal case out of it. The U.S. Attorney's office says it's not an automatic federal offense when a letter carrier is assaulted, and says there are other factors to consider like interfering or tampering with mail.

• Former NBA Star John Salley plays 'angry mailman' in new TV sitcom-Former Detroit Pistons, Los Angeles Lakers and Chicago Bulls star John Salley plays an angry, 7ft-tall mailman who just grows angrier every time the show's star tries to befriend him. Salley also diverts packages for others to (comedian) Tom Papa and his wife played by Jennifer Aspen.

-• NALCREST Still A Bargain for Postal Retirees after 40+ Years-Neither rain nor heat nor gloom of night stops folks from living large at the unofficial retirement community of the National Association of Letter Carriers located in Polk County, Florida. Nalcrest (it stands for National Association of  Letter Carriers Retirement, Education, Security and Training) was conceived and developed by NALC in the early 1960s and  is fully owned by the union. Nalcrest’s low rents contribute to its popularity. more info from NALC

• Rural Carrier: Yes, people do call post office for ad inserts-"On June 13, David C. Kaminski asked, “I wonder whether anyone calls the postmaster about not getting enough junk mail?” (Editor’s Note column, “If you think junk mail is like ads inserted in The Rep, just try to stop it”). The answer is yes. I am a rural mail carrier, and if I run short on advertisements, my customers will call. They want their advertisements to plan their shopping trips. These advertisements keep the economy flowing. The provide a job for the people who produce them, keep businesses running with the money that consumers spend when they shop using the advertisements, and they provide postal employees with a job. Kaminski also said, “Perhaps the nation needs a do-not-mail list.” There are a lot of postal employees in the area who buy The Repository. He would not appreciate it if we started a do-not-buy-The Repository list. I do not disrespect The Repository. Please, Repository, do not disrespect my career." KATHY HILTON

June 25, 2004-

eBay and USPS to Offer Co-Branded Shipping Supplies Exclusively For The eBay Community--

Andover Postal Carrier Convicted of Mail Theft

Marketers Who Send Junk Mail Not Welcome, Group Claims
New Postal Machine in San Diego Automates Mailing

Lightning strikes postmaster

Revised Cost  Estimate for H.R. 4341, Postal Accountability Enhancement Act

Postal Worker/ veteran falls between cracks

Letter: Compliments to Somerville (TN) Postal Employees

June 24, 2004-

• At its closed meeting on June 15, 2004, the USPS Board of Governors voted unanimously to add 'Proposed Filing with the Postal Rate Commission for Repositionable Notes (RPNs) Pricing Experiment' to the agenda of its closed meeting and that no earlier announcement was possible. The General Counsel of the United States Postal Service certified that in her opinion discussion of this item could be properly closed to public observation. (source: Federal Register)

• A Tale of Two CEOs-"If you follow the news from U.S. Postal Service headquarters, you've probably noticed a spate of imminent retirement announcements by many middle and senior managers who you have known and worked with over the past two decades. Yes, the population at USPS headquarters is aging, and it's beginning to show."

• Brentwood Employee's Response to EEOC in Anthrax Discrimination Case

• Last Minute Lease Agreement Saves New York Post Office

• USPS Accused of Ignoring Pro-Family Pleas Regarding 'Playboy'

• Latest Postal Bulletin : Limited Use of Postal Property, Directives /Forms Update
• Postal Inspectors Link Two Postal Workers to ID Theft Ring

• Former Notre Dame postmaster charged with destroying mail--a package of outgoing cognac

• Wilma Rudolph stamp to debut July 14

• Ex-Appleton postal worker will be sentenced for theft

• Severance Post Office robbed

June 23, 2004

Letter Carriers' Union Convention Scheduled for Honolulu July 19-23; Over 8,000 Delegates Registered to Attend Sessions

Images from the First Day of Issue Disney Stamp Event at Disneyland

FedEx 4th-Qtr Profit Rises as Growth Boosts Shipping

UPS Files Cases Against Deutsche Post With European Union

Postal Worker Remembered On Anniversary Of Death-It's been one year since postal worker Clayton Smith was accidentally shot and killed. But that year hasn't eased the suffering of family and friends.

USPS Final Rule: Release of Information, Privacy of Information-On October 1, 2003, the Postal Service published a general revision of its rules dealing with records and information (68 FR 56557). This revision updated terminology to reflect the Postal Service's current organizational structure, removed obsolete or duplicative provisions, and revised the fee schedule for disclosure of information where necessary. Further inspection of the affected provisions indicates that minor additional revisions are necessary to remedy oversights in the previous notice and avoid possible confusion

EEOC: Class Certification Proper. A Colorado Postmaster's formal complaint asserted that the agency's application of its merit evaluation system, which imposed a 10% cap on managers receiving a "far exceeds" rating, resulted in female postmasters being denied the opportunity to be eligible for and receive a "far exceeds" merit rating. EEOC subsequently certified a class of all female postmasters employed in 1999. EEOC modified the definition of the class to encompass: female postmasters whose performance exceeded expectations but received a "met expectations" rating due to the 10 percent cap. The class complaint, as modified, was remanded to an EEOC District Office for processing.

2001 Background of Holmes, et al. v. USPS case

June 22, 2004-

June 22, 2004-

According to Denver APWU - "The Postal Service is pursuing plans to establish contract retail services in Hallmark and Office Depot stores across the country. This represents a serious threat to jobs in customer service offices. The APWU will do everything in its power to resist these initiatives. We believe retail services are best performed by genuine postal employees." 

 USPS, Hallmark join forces to offer customers added convenience

June 21, 2004-

USPS Income $919 million over budget- Standard Mail Volume Up 3.8% -

- USPS had net income of $2.9 billion -- $918.9 million over budget -- from Oct. 1 to May 31. Meanwhile, mail volume was up and expenses are under plan. According to USPS revenue was $46.65 billion, 0.5% better than planned, while expenses of $43.75 billion were 1.5% under the planned budget. Mail volume rose 0.7% compared with last year. Standard and International mail grew 3.8% and 6.9%, respectively. However, several mail classes saw declines. Periodicals fell 4.4%; Express Mail, 4.2%; Priority Mail, 2.4%; First-Class, 1.7%; and Package Services, 0.2%. For the month of May, total mail volume fell 2.5%.

West Virginia Rural Carrier inspires others with his positive attitude Clarksburg Rural Letter Carrier Frank "Franky" Billings spends most of his days stuffing about 400 mailboxes with various letters, postcards and packages. He's a mailman -- or, as he likes to say, a rural route mail carrier. But to most people, he's more than just a mailman or rural route mail carrier. To the 400-plus residents he delivers mail to on a daily basis, he's a friend, source of strength and a hometown hero.

Special deliverer: Mailman has fun with costumes, unique gifts-First you hear his whistle, then you see his smiling face. If it's a holiday, he'll be dressed in a Santa hat, or patriotic garb, or some other festive costume. If it's your birthday, he'll give you a dollar folded, origami-style, into a ring. If it isn't any of those, Dave Bohn will still say hello and ask how you're doing. Then he'll go on his merry way, delivering mail to the next house on his route. Bohn is a mail carrier, but he delivers more than just letters to the customers on his route. That's why the Pemberton Rotary Club honored him last month as their citizen of the year

USPS Files Request for Two More Negotiated Service Agreements (NSAs) with the Postal Rate Commission : one for (PDF)and    more from DMNews

- USPS FINANCIAL & OPERATING STATEMENTS May 2004

Handhelds keep USPS managers in touch

Salvaged mail delivered from Warrendale, PA Post Office

UPS, pilots ask mediator to supervise contract negotiations

Mailman faces close encounters of the canine kind

Latest NALC Bulletin-COLA, NALC member killed in Iraq...more

Japan eyes universal postal services after privatizing reform

Mickey Mouse..Donald  Duck.. Postal Service to Issue Disney Stamps

Contract Mail Carrier Isn't the Oldest at 86 in USPS --81 yr. in Alabama Holds Honor-

June 20, 2004-

USPS Gets 140 Replies to First-Class/Standard Proposal-The rule proposal calls for an exclusive-purpose test in which personal information would be permitted at Standard rates only when advertising or solicitation is the exclusive purpose of the piece and personal information is included solely to increase the effectiveness of the ad or solicitation.

Historic Annapolis (MD) Post Office May Undergo Makeover to fit Condos and Retails Shops- into the space behind the building where mail operations once took place. USPS has no intention of closing the wood-paneled post office. It's a pattern being replayed in cities nationwide. As mail-processing operations are moved from older, distinctive downtown buildings, officials seek creative ways to reuse valuable real estate, said Bob Novak, spokesman for USPS' Baltimore district |

- Keating Partners LLC in Philadelphia has worked with USPS on other projects

CAGW: Cycling Waste-The USPS misdelivers

Getting off spam lists can be risky

OPM Release Final Rule on Voluntary Early Retirement Under the Homeland Security Act

Burglars rob, vandalize Paulden (AZ) post office

Fallen soldier/ Letter Carrier leaves behind a large family

Mastrapa's wife, Jennifer, went to post office to bring news of husband's death

June 19, 2004-

Postal worker gets 7 months for stealing cash in greeting cards

Post office disrepair concerns city officials

June 18, 2004-

 Judge delays ruling in lawsuit that claims USPS breached contract

-Florida Letter Carrier about to come home from Iraq killed- Sgt. Arthur Stacey Mastrapa, who kept his scheduled return home secret for a Father's Day surprise was killed along with two other soldiers in a mortar attack in Iraq.  Mastrapa worked as a letter carrier in Altamonte Springs.

Rural letter carrier a Lifesaver of note

APWU advise members to refrain from participating in postal reform programs / campaigns organized by other organizations

Fire destroys Post Office in Pennsylvania

NAPUS: Impact of Post Office Level Changes (pdf)-throughout the year, the field processes changes to authorized post office EAS levels (both upgrades and downgrades). NPA differentiates between post offices by assigning unit indicators based on EAS level groupings

Four Salinas CA Letter Carriers notch 1 million safe miles

Pitney Bowes Campaign Teaches 'Value of Mail'

Three postal employees charged with taking mail

Postal Worker delivers tombstone

AuctionDrop says poised for growth with UPS deal

BioDefense sees growth with mail scrubber

Community Banks Critique ID Theft, Postal Proposals-A group representing community banks raised concerns this week about regulatory proposals to combat identity theft and adjust some commercial mail rates. The ACB group also raised concerns this week about a proposal from the U.S. Postal Service. It claimed its members could be overly burdened by a planned test to determine which letters should be eligible for relatively cheap Standard Mail rates.

Commentary: What is the Postal Service Trying to Tell us-Businesses providing services usually try to find a logo, slogan or icon that inspires trust, and conveys proficiency and product excellence, or so one is told in Marketing 101. So exactly what is the U.S. Postal Service trying to tell us as they trot out a jackass and a green monster to promote the priority mail service?

Dulles Postal Center Gets Anthrax Detection Equipment

June 17, 2004-

Retirees Looking At 2.4 Per Cent Raise in 2005
Original Free Victory Stamps unglued postmaster -Cadet contracted with a printer to make Free Victory St