PostalReporter.com Blog

(Press Release) The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has proposed significant changes to regulations governing the Combined Federal Campaign, the nation’s largest and most successful workplace fund-raising drive. The proposed regulations mark the first major revisions to CFC regulations in many years and are intended to streamline and modernize the CFC, while continuing to ensure accountability of the participating charities and assure federal employee donors continue to have confidence in the charities that participate.

The proposed regulations published in yesterday’s Federal Register will help eliminate burdensome administrative requirements, while maintaining high standards of accountability. The proposals would modify and update some current eligibility requirements, but still require local and national charities to have IRS determination as a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt organization, as well as meet a revised set of public accountability standards promulgated by OPM.

In 2005, federal employees, postal workers and military personnel pledged a record $268.6 million, the third consecutive year of record-setting campaigns.

“The Combined Federal Campaign serves as a model for workplace giving nationwide by providing federal employees and the military a wide array of charities to which they may give,” said OPM Deputy Director Dan G. Blair. “This proposal will maintain our high standards of accountability while reducing administrative burdens on participating charities.”

Some of the proposed changes would:

- let local Combined Federal Campaigns determine the length of each solicitation, currently limited to a six-week period between September 1 and December 15 of each year;
- allow contractors, federal retirees and credit union employees to be solicited for donations in the workplace;
- permit employees to donate to charities outside their duty stations during emergencies and disasters;
- reduce unnecessary administrative burdens and expenses for organizations with smaller budgets by raising the threshold requirement for the submission of audited financial statements from $100,000 to $250,000.

source: Office Of Personnel Management
 

APWU filed a complaint in U.S. District Court on April 21, 2006, charging that “the Postal Service violated the Postal Reorganization Act in implementing its “network realignment” plan, known as Evolutionary Network Development (END). The complaint seeks a judgment that management violated the 1970 law, as well as an injunction against future violations.”  The following is a consolidation of APWU’s District court filing and the Postal Service’s response submitted to the court on June 26, 2006  (click here) . Although many of the Postal Service’s responses are standard answers used in early proceedings of legal cases — readers may find some of USPS responses to be of interest. The PDF version of both files may be downloaded by clicking either APWU complaint  or  USPS response.

Examples of 46 answers given by USPS:

10. APWU: In November 2001 or before, the Postal Service began development of a Network Integration and Alignment (hereinafter “NIA”) plan to be used to analyze and redesign the existing postal existing postal facility network as part of the Postal Service Transformation Plan.

10. USPS: Defendant denies this paragraph insofar as it alleges that Defendant began development in 2001 of a plan to analyze and redesign its existing mail processing network. At that time, Defendant began development of computer optimization and simulation models that, when ultimately operable, could be utilized as analytical tools for planning a future mail processing network and for testing the feasibility of proposals to shift operations among specific mail processing facilities to realize that future network. Defendant admits that the optimization and simulation models under development at that time were part of a Network Integration and Alignment (NIA) program that has since been renamed Evolutionary Network Development (END).

11. APWU: The Postal Service agreed to provide a copy of its NIA plan to the APWU no later than 2002.

11. USPS: Defendant lacks sufficient information with which to form a belief as to the allegation that it agreed to provide a copy of its “NIA plan” to the Plaintiff “no later than 2002.”

12. APWU: The Postal Service’ NIA plan was sufficiently developed to be used, at least in part , by December 2002.

12. USPS: Defendant denies that its plans for the redesign of its mail processing network were sufficiently developed for use to any degree in or about December 2002, or that it embarked on any centralized plan for mail processing network realignment in or about December 2002. Defendant also denies that the optimization and simulation models referenced above in paragraph 10 were sufficiently developed for use as tools as part of any such plan in or around that time.

13. APWU: Since December 2002 the Postal service has used its NIA plan to evaluate proposals to consolidate postal facilities; and proposals selected by NIA have resulted in the closure of approximately 30 Postal Service processing facilities, and in the reallocation of work processed in other facilities.

13. USPS: Defendant incorporates by reference its answer to paragraph 12. Defendant denies this paragraph insofar as it alleges or implies that Defendant utilized its (formerly NIA) Evolutionary Network Development optimization and/or simulation models to centrally direct a nationwide plan for network realignment or operational consolidation before 2006. Defendant admits that, for decades, it has maintained Area Mail Processing (AMP) review procedures, USPS Handbook PO-408 (March 1995), through which independently developed local management proposals for facility-specific operational consolidations are circulated up the chain-of-command to headquarters for review and consideration. Defendant admits that, since 2004, 17 such locally developed proposals (6 in 2004 and 11 in 2005) were approved; one such proposal in 2005 resulted in the closure of a postal facility; the other 16 involved shifting various mail processing operations among facilities. Defendant admits that review and approval of all such locally developed AMP consolidation proposals was put on hold for a time in 2002-2004. Defendant admits that this moratorium on review and approval of local AMP proposals was imposed to ensure that no locally developed proposals would be approved that might later be determined to have resulted in the establishment of roles for affected facilities that would be incompatible with the roles those facilities might play in a future mail processing network designed through use of the END optimization and simulation models.

Defendant denies this paragraph insofar as it implies at these local operational consolidation proposals were initiated at headquarters or through use of the END models. Defendant denies that either END/NIA or the AMP review procedures have, since 2002, resulted in the closure of approximately 30 mail processing facilities.

Defendant admits that END/NIA can be expected to result in the shifting of operations among postal facilities on a systemwide basis, and that such consolidation of operations could lead to the closure of some facilities.

14. APWU: The Postal Service has not revealed its overall network realignment strategy, opting instead to reveal it slowly over time.

14. USPS: Defendant denies that it has not revealed its systemwide Evolutionary Network Development network realignment strategy, which is the subject of its February 14, 2006, request for an advisory opinion in Postal Rate Commission Docket No. R2006-1. Defendant admits that its network realignment strategy was under development for nearly five years.

15. APWU: The NIA plan has been re-named the Evolutionary Network Development (hereinafter “END’) process. The NIA and END processes use the same methods, data, models and objectives for designing the Postal Service’s mail processing network.

15. USPS: Defendant admits that the former Network Integration & Alignment (NIA) program has transformed into and been re-named the Evolutionary Network Development (END) program. Defendant admits that, in all material respects, END has inherited the methodologies, data inputs, and objectives of the optimization and simulations models developed under the NIA acronym.

http://www.postalreporter.com/usps-responds-to-apwu-court-case.htm 

 A Colorado Mail Processing Clerk (and 10-point Vet) petitioned for review of two final decisions of the Merit Systems Protection Board . One decision, Strozier v. United States Postal Service, denied Mr. Strozier’s challenge to the Postal Service placing him on enforced leave from his position as a Mail Processing Clerk. The other decision, Strozier v. United States Postal Service, denied Strozier’s challenge to the Postal Service removing him from the same position. The court affirmed both MSPB decisions. Strozier v. U.S. Postal Service (6/29/06)

MSPB found that the Postal Service demonstrated by a “preponderance of the evidence that Strozier was properly placed on enforced leave pending resolution of his medically-based employment problems.” (Strozier was nominated for reasonable accommodation consideration by the District Reasonable Accommodation Committee (DRAC), which asked him to supplement his medical documentation for further review. Because of the absence of any medical or other information that his job limitations substantially affected any major life activities, DRAC concluded that Mr. Strozier was not covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, and thus not eligible for reasonable accommodation. Strozier was informed that he had three options: apply for other positions for which he would qualify medically and otherwise; seek disability retirement; or resign). (more…)

FBI Says Data on VA Laptop Not Accessed

(Associated Press) The government has recovered the stolen laptop computer and hard drive containing sensitive data for up to 26.5 million veterans and military personnel, Veterans Affairs Secretary Jim Nicholson said Thursday.

Nicholson said law enforcement officials were still investigating to determine whether data from the equipment, which included names, birth dates and        Social Security numbers, had been duplicated or utilized in any way.

The FBI, in a statement from its Baltimore field office, said a preliminary review of the equipment by its computer forensic teams “has determined that the data base remains intact and has not been accessed since it was stolen.”

Nicholson and the FBI offered no immediate details on how the laptop was recovered, but the VA secretary said no suspects were in custody.

So far, he said there have been no reports of identity theft stemming from the May 3 burglary at a VA employee’s Maryland home. Full Story

As Postal Reporter reported last week , the 3.6 million participants in the Thrift Savings Plan will begin using account numbers instead of Social Security numbers to access their retirement accounts.

According to Federal Times, “TSP administrators are switching to randomly generated account numbers to enhance security and protect participants’ Social Security numbers from being stolen, said Mark Hagerty, director of automated systems at the Federal Retirement Thrift Investment Board, which oversees the TSP.

Participants currently enter their Social Security numbers and a four-digit personal identification number to access their accounts online. Converting everyone to account numbers instead of Social Security numbers is rather simple to do technically, Hagerty said. He said the more challenging task will be educating plan participants on the change before it’s put in place.”

From DMNews: The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers appointed senior U.S. Postal Service executive Anthony W. Conway as its executive director. Mr. Conway is a 34-year veteran of the USPS and most recently served as manager of government relations.

The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers is a national coalition of nonprofit organizations with a common interest in nonprofit postal policy. The 26-year-old entity represents nonprofit mailers before the Postal Rate Commission, USPS and Congress.

Mr. Conway was actively involved in drafting the 2000 legislation that allows the preferred-rate discounts for nonprofit mailers. As executive director of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers, he will have to face the upcoming rate increases from the postal service. Full Story

Agreement expands business relationship

The U.S. Postal Service today awarded a contract to United Parcel Service (UPS), significantly enhancing a business relationship involving the domestic air transportation of mail. The agreement calls for UPS to transport primarily First Class and Priority mail to and from 98 U.S. cities.

Today’s agreement is a three-year arrangement with the possibility of a two-year extension. Currently, UPS provides the Postal Service with mail transportation to and from 16 U.S. cities.

“The Postal Service is one of the largest users of air transportation in the nation and UPS operates one of the world’s largest airlines,” said Postmaster General John E. Potter. “It only makes sense for the Postal Service to take advantage of the reach offered by UPS. The added advantage of the similarity of our operations will only enhance the Postal Service’s ability to provide the highest levels of service for out customers.”

Further, Potter added that it is prudent for the Postal Service to work with suppliers that have the transportation of like commodities as a principal mission.

UPS Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Michael L. Eskew also said the agreement is a win-win situation for both companies. “We are excited about expanding our relationship with USPS. We can help support the Postal Service’s service commitment to its mail customers while creating new growth opportunities for our company.”

Service under the contract will begin July 1, 2006. Postal Service customers will see no change in the way their mail is delivered as the result of this contract. Post Office retail operations are also unaffected.

source: USPS Press Release

Recent news reports have indicated that leaders of the House and Senate committees that have approved postal “reform” bills are hoping for a vote on final passage to occur before Congress’ July 4th recess. Toward that end, the leaders of the two panels have instructed their staffs to work informally to resolve differences between the versions of the bills passed in the House and Senate. The legislators have also been working to address the demands by the White House that the bills be “budget neutral.”

In an Update earlier this year (#03-2006, Jan. 25), I opined that the postal reform bills that had passed in the House and Senate “will not achieve the stated objectives and will be more harmful than continuing operations under current law.” I have been informed that leaders of other postal organizations took exception to the APWU position and made disparaging references about our stand on these issues. I will leave mudslinging to those who feel comfortable in the mud, while reserving the absolute right of the APWU to express our positions independently from others who have a different point of view.

The APWU position on postal reform remains unchanged: The current legislation will not benefit the USPS or postal employees. The Postal Service’s objective in promoting “reform” was to win freedom from burdensome rules governing postage rate increases. But the relaxation of rules on rate-changing is outweighed by the restrictions imposed by rate caps, which are enshrined in both the House and Senate versions of legislation.

Of course, there is nothing in the proposed legislation that would increase first-class mail volume, which traditionally rises and falls with the ups and downs of the American economy. The decline in first-class mail volume often has been cited as the reason postal “reform” was necessary.
Full article

According to Reuters: United Parcel Service Inc. and the U.S. Postal Service have agreed to a deal to be announced on Wednesday that will put mail on the package-delivery company’s planes, a UPS spokeswoman said.Citing people familiar with the matter, The Wall Street Journal said terms of the arrangement call for UPS to begin flying mail for the Postal Service this Saturday.

The agreement will be announced at 11:30 a.m. in Washington, said UPS spokeswoman Laurie Mallis, who was unable to provide further details.

The deal is expected to generate revenue of more than $100 million a year for UPS, a fraction of the company’s annual revenue but an expansion of its business relationship with the post office, the Journal said.

If UPS is successful, it could be in a strong position to compete for some or all of the postal business now handled by FedEx Corp. when that $1.3 billion annual contract comes up for renewal in 2007, the newspaper said.

Wall Street Journal reports: The arrangement, expected to be announced today, buries the hatchet between two longtime enemies that have battled for decades in the parcel business. UPS frequently has accused the Postal Service of using its monopoly on first-class mail deliveries to prop up its package operations, while postal officials long regarded UPS as a political bully.

From Heavy Boxing Champion to Postal Worker - Mike Weaver the former WBA Heavyweight Boxing Champion back in the ’80s is now a postal worker (Custodian) in Southern California.

According to New Mexico Politics with Joe Monahan -”Mickey Barnett is on his way to being Governor. Despite a push by his foes to thwart him, Barnett is expected to win approval tomorrow from the U.S. Senate Homeland Security Committee to become a Governor of the U.S. Postal Service and later, the full Senate. We broke the story of his nomination back in March.”

Aero-News Network: Gary Condley has been named the new Superintendent of the FAA Academy at the Aeronautical Center in Oklahoma City, OK. Condley comes from the United States Postal Service, where he is currently the Senior Executive Manager of the National Center for Employee Development. In that position, he is responsible for all technical, supervisory, and managerial training to more than 167,000 people with a satellite training network that reaches 740,000 people.

Ad Age-  It’s probably safe to assume that, in his rise through the ranks of the U.S. Postal Service, Postmaster General John E. “Jack” Potter never pictured himself on the stage of a small stadium in a giant hotel touting a shoebox-not even “a new co-branded Priority Mail shoebox”-as a notable innovation. This is the guy, after all, who dealt with the post-Sept. 11 anthrax attacks. Yet, on the opening night of eBay Live, here he is, rolling out a shipping-friendly shoebox. And the thousands of eBayers in attendance are loving it. “You told me you’ve been selling a lot of shoes,” he intones, clearly enjoying a rare public moment that doesn’t involve a postage-rate hike. More cheers.

Crime Report - Fermin Quezada, 20 was charged June 12 with drug abuse (marijuana). Quezada was smoking inside the employee smoking room of the U.S. Postal Service, 675 Wolf Ledges Parkway. Officers found marijuana and a screwdriver in his boot. Quezada was found to have a warrant for his arrest at the county sheriff’s office. Akron-Beacon Journal