March 27, 2006 - Vietnam War veteran who lost one arm worked as mail carrier for 22 years - Aloysius Henel Jr. worked as a mail carrier for 22 years, and he did his job without most of his right arm. He lost it in the Vietnam War. So, as you might expect, he has some strong feelings about the ability of injured war veterans to do hard work. Henel, of Cheektowaga, retired last month from the Postal Service at age 62. |

March 27, 2006 - APWU Asks Legislators to Support Public Input on USPS Consolidation - The APWU has asked key legislators to support language in the Senate version of postal reform legislation that would require the Postal Service to consider community input when contemplating consolidation of postal operations. The language, offered by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), was adopted by the Senate when it approved the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act on Feb. 9, 2006. Before decisions about network consolidation are finalized, Burrus wrote, “the USPS should be required to provide an opportunity for the citizens of the impacted areas to consider the effect of the consolidation plans on their lives and businesses, and given the opportunity to express reservations, if any.”  |

March 27, 2006 - Ask President Burrus

Question: Isn’t the USPS saying publicly that volumes are down? Isn’t it true, according to www.USPS.com, that: Total mail volumes have increased over the last few years; First-class volume was up .1 percent last year; The USPS paid off all of its debt; and,

Over the last three years the Postal Service made approximately $10 billion in revenue from operations?   |

March 27, 2006 -USPS to Exhibit New Mail Technology At National Postal Forum

 Generically known as a four-state barcode this development in technology will enable business mailers to sort and track up to a billion pieces of mail at a time as well as to more easily request special services, such as address correction and confirmation of delivery. The new technology will also enable the Postal Service to process and deliver mail more efficiently. USPS to boost package info  |

March 26, 2006 - USPS VP Discuss Network Realignment, APPS at MTAC Meeting

"Facilities that primarily handle originating mail are subject to partial or full consolidation. Ten facilities have gone through AMP and forty more are in line for transition. The new network of ADCs will allow the Postal Service to move mail out of the air and onto ground transport, which is less costly and more reliable. BMC modernization will replace many of the old facilities built about 30 years ago. Rather than abandon the old buildings, they will be completely renovated and new equipment will be installed. There may be some temporary changes for employees and mailers during this process." |

March 26, 2006 - USPS OIG Report: Postal Service Actions to Safeguard Employees From Hurricanes (PDF) -"We concluded the Postal Service took appropriate actions as described in the Integrated Emergency Response Plans and supplemental hurricane plans related to effective notification to employees prior to Katrina's landfall. As a result, Postal Service employees were safeguarded and there were no reported injuries to employees prior to Katrina's landfall. We commend the Postal Service for its efforts-The Southwest Area vice president also stated the OIG report was accurate and that he noted the New Orleans American Postal Workers Union president was not personally contacted regarding efforts to safeguard employees prior to hurricanes. "

Emergency Purchasing in Response to Hurricanes (PDF) |

March 26, 2006 - $2,900 In Cash Stolen From Neal Bay Post Office
U.S. Postal Service inspectors are investigating the theft of $2,900 from a drawer at the Neah Bay post office  (Washington state ) on Friday afternoon. A clerk at the post office last saw the cash about 11:30 a.m. before the post office closed for lunch, said Neah Bay Police Officer Earnest Grimes. ``When they opened the drawer again, the money was gone,'' Grimes said. The thief is believed to have jumped the counter and grabbed the bundle of bills, Grimes said.  |

March 26, 2006 - Going postal: Kingston leaders, preservation group angry about new curbside mailboxes -The Postal Service announced the program in 2004. At the time, officials said it was part of a plan to allow letter carriers to complete their increasingly longer delivery routes without having to trudge the streets in the elements. In part, the motivation for the change is that e-mail, online bill paying and other Internet services have taken business away from the Postal Service, and street delivery routes are taking longer to complete.  |