PostalReporter.com Blog

Press Release

WASHINGTON, D.C. –Senator Susan Collins recently received an award from the National Association of Postal Supervisors commending her for her work on national postal reform.  Ted Keating, President of the National Association of Postal Supervisors presented Senator Collins with a Certificate of Recognition for her accomplishment of ushering in sweeping reforms to the United States Postal Service.  Senator Collins addressed over 600 postal managers and supervisors after receiving the award.

Senator Collins also met with Maine Postal Supervisors Ray Anergian, Sean O’Neill, and Bruce Bartlett. Senator Collins has been a champion of national postal reform, having worked to pass the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act.  The act, recently signed into law by President Bush, aims to make the postal service more competitive and flexible.  Senator Collins’ bill was the first bill to reform the postal service since 1971.

USPS Press Release

click here to view or vote on all 15 Star Wars stamps

Han Solo, Yoda, Darth Vader and R2-D2 are among the Star Wars characters featured on new 41-cent stamps unveiled today at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The famous Los Angeles site is where the first Star Wars movie premiered nearly 30 years ago. The 15 commemorative stamps feature images from the six movies of the Star Wars saga.

“Star Wars fans everywhere will delight in the issuance of these exciting new postage stamps,” said Stamp Services Manager David Failor, who hosted the stamp preview accompanied by R2-D2 and Darth Vader. “Because of the movies’ popularity, we believe these stamps have the potential of reaching the blockbuster status of the Elvis stamp, a milestone only the Force could attempt to surpass.”

The Star Wars and USPS collaboration began March 16, when mailboxes around the country were decorated to look like R2-D2. But there’s more to come. Through May 23, USPS is inviting the public to vote for its favorite image. The stamp receiving the most votes will be issued as a single stamp sheet, available for sale this summer.

In a second contest, customers can solve six different challenges about Postal Service products and services featuring a Star Wars theme. Customers who answer each challenge correctly during the contest’s March 28–May 7 run progress to the next challenge. The winner of this contest receives an all-expenses-paid trip for four to Star Wars Celebration IV in Los Angeles.

The Postal Service will release the stamps at a first-day-of-issue ceremony May 25, during Star Wars Celebration IV.

To learn more about both contests, visit www.uspsjedimaster.com. For an exciting look at the promotion guide surrounding the stamps, go to: blue.usps.gov/advertising.  
 

 Preview of the Star Wars Pre-Paid Express Mail Packaging

source: TheForce.net

The U.S. Postal Service’s  National Reassessment Process (NPR) is “a program focused on reviewing all rehabilitation and limited duty assignments.” The process addresses injured on duty postal employees who have “reached maximum medical improvement or where their condition has been ruled permanent.” If  the Postal Service is unable to find work for injured on duty employees, they will be referred to OWCP for possible placement in the Vocational Rehabilitation Program. (more…)

USPS unveiled the “Forever Stamp” at the National Postal Forum today , the premier trade show for advertising, marketing and mailing executives. The Stamp features a Liberty Bell image and the word “forever.”

Postmaster General John E. Potter said “the Liberty Bell was selected because it resonates as one of the nation’s most prominent and recognizable symbols associated with American independence.”

The stamp will be good for mailing one-ounce First-Class letters anytime in the future — regardless of price changes. The Forever stamp goes on sale April 12 at 41 cents. Customers can begin using the stamp when postage changes May 14.

“Beginning April, 12, the Forever stamp will be available at ATMs in sheetlets of 18, in booklets of 20 through www.usps.com, by calling 1-800-STAMP-24, through Post Office vending machines, at Automated Postal Centers and in Post Office lobbies nationwide. Once prices change May 14, the Forever stamp will remain on sale at the 41-cent First-Class one-ounce letter price until the next price change. The Forever stamp will then be available at the new price.”

source: USPS
 

When I first saw this photo I assumed it was part of the Postal Service’s  “Star Wars” promotion.  But it was just my eyes playing tricks on me.

Flickr Photo

APWU News

Postal Service Continues Plans to Close AMCs

As part of an ongoing effort to outsource postal work, the USPS recently outlined management’s continuing plans to eliminate Air Mail Centers across the country. Two letters to the APWU provide additional details about plans management announced over the summer.

In a letter dated March 14, 2007 [PDF], the USPS notified the APWU that management will continue to consider outsourcing operations at 14 of 43 facilities management identified in July 2006. “This decision continues a disturbing trend of replacing good-paying union jobs with low-wage non-union workers,” APWU President William Burrus said.

A previous notice, dated Jan. 26 [PDF], reported that — as a result of union input — work at the other facilities would not be outsourced; however the centers will close nonetheless.

The Postal Service also notified the union that it plans to “terminate the tender and receipt of air mail operations” at 16 additional AMCs. They are:

(more…)

“The lawsuit filed in 2000 over a postal regulation that bars petitioning on internal post office sidewalks is the oldest pending lawsuit that affects minor party and independent candidates. Although there hasn’t been much news about the case in some time, it is alive and well. It is called Initiative & Referendum Institute v US Postal Service, and is in US District Court in Washington, DC. The judge has asked both sides to cooperate in producing additional evidence. Although much evidence has already been submitted, Judge Richard Roberts wants more.” source: Ballot Access News (more…)

NALC Protests ‘Contracting Out’ Moves;Takes Issue to Lawmakers in Congress

Young, Potter NALC News Bulletin (PDF) reach agreement to resume contract bargaining: NALC President William H. Young and Postmaster General John E. Potter reached agreement March 20 to resume bargaining for a new National Agreement. They set April 6 as a deadline to reach a settlement. Young and Potter also agreed that, in the event talks fail and an impasse remains, mediation would be waived and the impasse would go directly to binding arbitration. NALC continues to protests USPS’s ‘contracting out’ moves and plans to take the issue to lawmakers in Congress

Young and Potter also agreed that, in the event talks fail and an impasse remains, mediation would be waived and the impasse would go directly to binding arbitration.

“I believe it would be in the best interest of both the city letter carriers we represent and the Postal Service if we can reach a contract agreement,” Young said. “But it has now been four months since the expiration of the last National Agreement and this process must come to a conclusion.”

Young added, however, that while he accepts PMG Potter’s interest in continuing contract talks, he rejects unequivocally the Postmaster General’s outrageous position on contracting out letter carrier jobs. (more…)

 According to information found on the internet: “The mechanical eagle, a well-known Stony Brook Village landmark, was installed in the pediment of the post office in 1941. The wood-carved eagle with a 20-foot wingspan flaps its wings on the hour from 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. daily. It is synchronized with the clock on the cupola of the federalist style post office situated in the heart of the Stony Brook Village Center.”

Flickr Photo