PostalReporter.com Blog

The U.S. Postal Service will offer a Flight 93 pictorial cancellation to commemorate the heroes of Sept. 11, 2001. 33 passengers and seven crew members died when Flight 93, en route to San Francisco from Newark, NJ was hijacked by four terrorists and crashed near Shanksville.The cancellation will bear the image of the Flight 93 “Thunder Bell” to commemorate the rededication of Flight 93, Boulevard of Heroes. It will be the fifth pictorial cancellation offered by the Shanksville post office to honor those who lost their lives on the sixth anniversary of the United Flight 93 crash.

The special postmark will be offered beginning Sept. 11 at the Shanksville Post Office and will be available for 30 days afterwards. “We are pleased to participate, in this small way, with the remembrance of these fallen heroes by way of a special cancellation to commemorate the tragedy that, at the same time, unified Americans and world citizens around the globe,” said Shanksville Postmaster Kathy Bates.

The Shanksville Post Office will also have a temporary outdoor postal station open from 10 am to 4:30 pm on September 11. The Flight 93 postmark will be available at that location.

Pictorial cancellations are offered as a community service by the Postal Service to commemorate local events nationwide. They are prized by collectors, and saved by non-collectors who want keepsakes of these memorable events. The cancellation can be obtained in person by visiting the temporary post office station at the event. The cancellation can also be obtained through the mail, provided the request is postmarked within 30 days of the event.

Customers wishing to obtain a cancellation should affix the correct stamps to any envelope or postcard of choice, address the envelope or postcard to one’s self or others insert cardstock of postcard thickness to prevent bending, and tuck in the flap. Place it in a larger envelope and mail it to:

          PICTORIAL CANCELLATIONS
          FLT 93 THUNDER BELL STATION
          422 STUTZMANTOWN RD
          SHANKSVILLE PA 15560-9998
After applying the pictorial cancellation, the Postal Service will return the envelope or postcard through the mail. Anyone wanting their item returned under protective cover should include a larger, self-addressed, stamped envelope.

source: USPS

Possible ID Theft Worries Postal Workers

Hundreds of postal workers around Nashville are finding out their personal information was stolen three months ago. U.S. Postal Service inspectors are looking into how the computer was stolen as postal workers are asking why it took so long for them to find out.“One of my questions (is) why did it take so long for someone to contact us?” said Levan Butler of the Postal Workers Union. Butler is vice president of the union and just got a letter informing him that a post office laptop containing his name and Social Security number was stolen in May. WSMV-TV

According to the Natick Bulletin & Tab (Massachusetts)

The controversial mural “John Eliot Speaks to the Natick Indians” painted inside the post office here [Natick, MA] is going to be restored next week [see photo below] , according to federal officials.

The mural, painted by Natick native Hollis Holbrook in 1937 as part of a New Deal program for creating art in public buildings, depicts a late 1600s scene where Puritan missionary Eliot is preaching to a group of his “Praying Indians,” whose hands are bound.Dallan Wordekemper, federal preservation officer for the U.S. Postal Service, said 1,200 murals were created during the period, though most of them were painted on canvas. Natick’s mural, which is one of 1,100 murals left, was painted fresco style right on the wall of the post office.The mural was damaged by a roof leak a few years ago. The leak was fixed recently, allowing the restoration project to go forward, he said.The job, which Wordekemper is paying for out of his budget, will cost about $10,000, he said. He hired Parma Conservation of Chicago to restore the mural. Full story

Ex-postal worker involved in extra-martial affair with co-worker

US Department of Justice, US Attorneys Office for the District of Columbia press release.

(September 7, 2007) A 40-year-old Capitol Heights, Maryland man, Bryan Keith Wilson, Sr., was sentenced today in D.C. Superior Court to a total of 64 years of incarceration for the murder of his wife, Inga Wilson, on December 13, 2003. Wilson had previously been found guilty of first-degree murder while armed and related firearms offenses following a week-long trial in May of this year. Today, the Honorable Erik P. Christian sentenced Wilson to 55 years for the murder and 9 years, consecutive, for the firearm charges.

The government’s evidence at trial showed that, at approximately 2:41 p.m. on Saturday, December 13, 2003, Inga Wilson was found dead, shot four times in the left side of her head, in her and her husband’s green Ford Expedition. Ms. Wilson’s body was seat-belted in the front passenger seat. The Expedition was parked on the street in front of 3004 Adams Street, NE, in Washington, D.C., approximately 14 miles from the defendant and Ms. Wilson’s home address, on Fairway Manor Drive, in Upper Marlboro, MD.

Earlier that same day, at approximately 3:49 a.m., the defendant had called 911 from the couple’s Upper Marlboro home to report his wife missing. The defendant claimed that he last saw his wife alive around 11:00 p.m. on Friday, December 12, 2003, when she left their home in Upper Marlboro, MD, for a nearby convenience store to buy some candy. The defendant claimed that he fell asleep after his wife left, and that when he woke up around 12:30 or 1:00 a.m., she had not yet come home. He claimed that he then drove around his neighborhood and to the nearby convenience stores in an effort to locate her. His attempts unsuccessful, the defendant claimed that he then called the police.

During the subsequent investigation, it was determined that the defendant, a former letter carrier employed by the U.S. Postal Service in Hyattsville, MD, had been involved in an extra-marital affair with another postal employee that lasted from approximately June to September 2003. After the relationship ended, the defendant tried to win his ex-girlfriend back. He repeatedly told her that he was unhappy in his marriage and that he did not want to be married anymore.

On or about December 5, 2003, the defendant told his former lover a blatant lie: that his wife and two youngest boys had been in a car accident, that the boys were okay, but that his wife was seriously injured. For the next week – the seven days preceding Inga Wilson’s murder – the defendant frequently gave his ex-girlfriend updates on his wife’s supposed grave condition at the hospital. The defendant indicated that his wife was on life support and that the plan was to leave her on life support until Friday, December 12, at which time he and Inga Wilson’s family members would “pull the plug.”

Subsequently-obtained “cell site” records for the defendant’s Nextel phone showed that, at 12:51 a.m., on Saturday, December 13, 2003, at a time when the defendant claimed he was in Upper Marlboro, MD, his cell phone made a 52-second call from a Nextel cell site in Northeast Washington. The records showed that the cell site that processed the defendant’s call was 13.8 miles from his home, yet only approximately ½ mile from where his wife’s dead body was found the following afternoon. Based on these records, expert testimony established that the defendant was in Northeast Washington, D.C., and not – as he claimed – in Upper Marlboro, MD, around the time of his wife’s murder.

The evidence at trial also established that the defendant acquired a handgun approximately a week before the murder, and that he admitted on a consensual video recording that he got rid of the gun by throwing it in the Patuxent River following his wife’s death. The evidence also showed that the defendant took out a $218,000 life insurance policy on his wife six days before the murder, on December 7, 2003.

In announcing the sentence, U.S. Attorney Taylor praised the hard work and determination exhibited by the lead Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) investigator in this case, Detective George Blackwell of the Violent Crimes Branch, as well as Lieutenant Paul Wingate of the Violent Crime Branch and former FBI Special Agent Brad Garrett, both of whom assisted Detective Blackwell. The U.S. Attorney also thanked FBI Special Agent Gary Gerszewski, now with the FBI’s San Diego Field Office; Metropolitan Police Department Detectives Jacqueline Middleton, Michael Pavero, Marlon Gainey, and Anthony Brigidini, all of whom were with the Violent Crimes Branch at various times during the course of the investigation; Evidence Technicians Pamela Cooper and James Savage of the Forensic Sciences Division; Officer Luciano Morales of the Firearms Examination Section; Gloria Graves of MPD’s Fingerprint Identification Section; and Detective John Hamer of the Fifth District, who at the time of the murder was a patrol officer assigned to the Fifth District. U.S. Attorney Taylor also praised the work of staff at the U.S. Attorney’s Office, including Victim-Witness Advocates Yvonne Bryant and Marcia Rinker; Paralegal Specialists Richard Cheatham, Nicole Tate, and Eugene Lee; Legal Assistants Debra Joyner and Mary Doster; Intelligence Specialist Larry Grasso; and Litigation Technology Specialists Kimberly Smith and Joe Calavrese. Finally, the U.S. Attorney thanked Assistant U.S. Attorney Matthew P. Cohen, who prosecuted the case. 

The U.S. Postal Service wants its customers to handle their own postage — and is offering cash prizes to those who do. At post offices nationwide, including three in Greensboro, customers will get a chance at $250 daily cash prizes and a grand prize of $10,000 when they use the Automatic Postal Center kiosks rather than standing in line to be served. Greensboro News Record

According to a USPS Press Release:

… 2500 Post Offices throughout the country participating in the Do It Yourself and WIN Sweepstakes.

The Do It Yourself and WIN Sweepstakes is designed to show customers how to save time at Post Office locations by using the Automated Postal Center (APC) kiosk. The promotion runs from now through October 31 and no purchase is necessary. Participants will have a chance to win a grand prize of $10,000 plus daily cash prizes of $250.

All offices will hold a Customer Appreciation Day to introduce the APC to customers.

Customers can submit Sweepstakes entries once a day until October 31, 2007. There are several ways to enter the sweepstakes online or via the U.S. Mail. Customers can:

• Simply fill out an online form and enter the Code printed on their APC receipt at apcsweeps.com.
• Get a Take-One from the Post Office lobby with a Code and enter it online at apcsweeps.com.
• Go online and generate a Code at apcsweeps.com.
• Print your name, address and email address on a 3” X 5” piece of paper, insert entry into envelope, affix postage and mail to: USPS APC Sweepstakes, PO Box 861, Bethpage, NY 11714-0861.

Prizes will be drawn daily with the $10,000 grand prize winner selected on or about November 8, 2007. The grand prize winner will be notified approximately four days later. Strobe Promotions, an independent judging organization, will determine the winners. Postal employees, Strobe employees and their immediate families are not eligible.

 

Although the Postal Service employs large numbers of veterans, not enough is being done to help qualified veterans secure jobs with the agency, APWU Executive Vice President Cliff Guffey told a House panel during testimony on Sept. 6.

 “The Postal Service has systematically eliminated or contracted out the six job classifications that, under the Veterans’ Preference Act are restricted to applying veterans.” These policies, he said, are especially damaging to veterans’ chances of finding employment with the USPS. Veterans are losing their postal employment rights because the Postal Service is not preserving these restricted jobs for them in accordance with federal policy. The Postal Service should be required to bargain with the APWU before it can contract out any restricted job.” Full article

Related: Fed agencies avoid hiring vets, critics say

The Postal Service seems hell-bent on moving 40 percent of window services to alternative services, such as Automated Postal Centers. Part of this plan seems to involve computerized Function 4 audits. The so-called Customer Service Variance (CSV) program is gutting post office staffing in various regions.

The CSV program collects data through various Web-based means and filters the results into equations used to establish “retail marketing” benchmarks. By measuring workload, complement, and time elements, CSV allegedly determines “ideal” staffing levels.

The problem? CSV crunches numbers that crunch employees and service! But there are ways to fight back:

Educate members to make all their clock rings and moves. Sales & Service Associates should record all transactions, standbys, and sign outs. CSV uses recorded work activity to determine staffing needs. Failing to make clock rings can kill your job!
Ensure that Function 4 administrative reviews do not just rubber-stamp CSV results.

Validate earned workload data. The authorized complement in the COINS program must be validated to square with the actual complement at your office.Work schedules on Form 1994s must be compared to real schedules, along with the Unit Operating Plan. (Do you know your unit plan?)

Initiate individual grievances under Articles 3, 5, 7, 12, and the appropriate craft article if there are any discrepancies in the Function 4 review.

source: APWU

Related : Postal Window Clerks Protect Your Jobs

Post Office: Bodega Bay, CA 94922

From eNAPUS Legislative& Political Bulletin

This has been an anxious summer for the National Republican Senatorial Committee (NRSC). Two scandals, two investigations, and one key retirement means that the GOP climb back to the top has become much steeper. Presently, Democrats are nursing a slim one-seat Senate majority; and in 2008, the electoral landscape looks a bit better for Democrats than Republicans. (The GOP needs to defend 22 seats, while Democrats need to protect 12.)

Before the summer, the only announced retirement was that of Sen. Wayne Allard (R-CO). However, last week, Sen. John Warner (R-VA) announced his retirement. Both open Senate seats are highly competitive, meaning that there is a reasonable possibility that the seats could be captured by Democrats. In Colorado, the favorite is Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) and he may be challenged by former Rep. Bob Schaffer (R-CO). In Virginia, a highly contested GOP primary is anticipated, pitting moderate Rep. Tom Davis (R-VA) against conservative former Gov. Jim Gilmore (R-VA). The likely Democratic nominee would be former Gov. Mark Warner (D-VA). Former Gov. Warner would be the favorite in the general election.

Sen. Warner’s retirement puts a spotlight on the electoral plans of two of his contemporaries, Sens. Ted Stevens (R-AK) and Pete Domenici (R-NM). Both are highly respected veteran legislators who are under investigation. There is considerable speculation that they may retire. Depending on candidate selection, open seats in Alaska and New Mexico can be competitive.

Also during the summer, Sen. David Vitter (R-LA) admitted that he procured “escort services” during his tenure in the House of Representatives. More recently, Sen. Larry Craig (R-ID) pled guilty to a charge relating to his activities in the men’s room at Minneapolis International Airport, forcing his resignation from the Senate. While Vitter is not up for election in 2008 and Idaho is a safe GOP state, the bad publicity is a distraction and undercuts the GOP’s national campaign messaging. In addition, it can depress electoral turnout among voters who believe that “moral issues” are pivotal in elections.

Related Link: Craig Tells Senate Leader of Plans to Fight Charge, Finish Term
Sen. Larry E. Craig (R-Idaho) told a Republican leader today that he would finish out his term if he is able to overturn his guilty plea to a disorderly conduct charge in the next three weeks. (Washington Post)

A few excerpts from the recent federal case (note: the case was initially filed in 2003)

In a suit brought by current and former postal inspectors against the Postal Service alleging that they are entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA), summary judgment for the Postal Service is reversed in part and remanded where: 1) 39 U.S.C. section 1003(c), which requires payment to inspectors on the basis of “comparability” to other similarly tasked executive branch employees, is not in clear conflict with the FLSA; 2) Congress did not implicitly repeal the FLSA’s overtime provisions to plaintiffs; 3) thus, the Postal Service’s construction of section 1003(c) was unreasonable; and 4) a remand was necessary to determine whether the inspectors are otherwise exempt from the FLSA.

This appeal principally involves the relationship between two labor statutes — the Fair Labor Standards Act of 1938 and a 1996 statute related to compensation for postal inspectors, 39 U.S.C. § 1003(c). Robert Nigg, a postal inspector currently employed by the United States Postal Service (”the Postal Service”) and Keith Lewis, a retired postal inspector, sued the Postal Service alleging that the inspectors are entitled to overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act (”FLSA” or “the Act. The Postal Service does not pay postal inspectors FLSA overtime,  instead claiming that their pay is governed by 39 U.S.C. § 1003(c). At issue is whether the compensation provision in § 1003(c) trumps the overtime provisions of the FLSA

In general, postal inspectors undertake criminal, civil and administrative investigations involving the postal laws.

The district court granted summary judgment in favor of the Postal Service, reasoning that 39 U.S.C. § 1003(c), which requires the Postal Service to pay the inspectors on a basis of “comparability” to other similarly tasked executive branch employees, permits the Postal Service to provide “availability pay” rather than FLSA overtime. The court adopted the Postal Service’s argument that postal inspectors are comparable to certain other federal law enforcement officers who receive availability pay under the Law Enforcement Availability Pay Act (LEAP).

FLSA overtime and availability pay differ significantly, both in terms of the hours of work required to qualify, and the way in which pay is calculated. For example, FLSA overtime entitles a covered employee to  overtime pay for all hours worked in excess of 40 hours per week. In contrast, availability pay requires a covered employee to work an average of two extra hours of overtime per day beyond the eight hour day for the entire year to be entitled to extra pay for the extra hours worked.

FLSA’s overtime provisions presumptively apply to federal employees, such as the inspectors, unless a specific FLSA exemption applies.  (”Each employee is presumed to be FLSA nonexempt unless the employing agency correctly determines that the employee clearly meets one or more of the exemption criteria[.]”). In enacting § 1003(c), Congress did not amend or repeal the FLSA, either explicitly or implicitly. We conclude that § 1003(c) is not clearly in conflict with the FLSA, and that Congress did not impliedly repeal the FLSA. (”‘Repeals by implication . . . are not favored and will only be found when the new[er] statute is clearly repugnant, in words or purpose, to the old statute . . . .’”) .  We reverse the district court’s grant of summary judgment to the Postal Service and remand with instructions to consider whether the inspectors satisfy any FLSA exemption or are entitled to FLSA overtime.

 In a deposition in this case of James K. Belz, a Postal Service executive in charge of budget issues, Belz testified he believed that with the creation of the IG office, longstanding pay inequities for postal inspectors had to be addressed or else the Postal Service inspectors would all seek to leave to go to the IG’s office.

See Full Text of Lawsuit -