PostalReporter.com Blog

The Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service will meet in Washington, DC, at Postal Service Headquarters, 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, on Jan. 29-30, 2008. The public is welcome to observe the Board’s open session, scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Jan. 30 in the Ben Franklin Room on the 11th floor. The Board is expected to discuss the following items:

Wednesday, Jan. 30 at 8:30 a.m.

1. Minutes of the previous meeting, Dec. 10-11, 2007.
2. Remarks of the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board (James Miller and Alan Kessler).
3. Remarks of the Postmaster General and CEO (John Potter).
4.Committee reports.
5.Consideration of Board Resolution on Capital Funding (Chairman Miller).
6.Quarterly Report on Service Performance (Delores Killette, Consumer Advocate and Vice President).
7.Quarterly Report on Financial Performance (Glen Walker, Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President).
8. Capital Investments (Tom Samra, Vice President, Facilities).
a. Providence, RI, P&DC Expansion.
b. West Sacramento, CA, P&DC Expansion.
c.Perris, CA, Delivery Distribution Center.
9. Tentative agenda for the March 4, and April 1-2, 2008, meetings in Washington, DC.
10. Election of Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Board of Governors.
 

USPS issued the following press release:

The Board of Governors has approved two new initiatives to grow our shipping business and revenue. A new, larger Priority Mail Flat Rate Box enables customers to ship 50 percent more than with the current box. It will be offered at a discount to overseas military addresses — a postal first for the armed forces. USPS also announced a new Sunday and holiday delivery price for Express Mail. Customers can begin using the new boxes March 3, the same day the premium takes effect.

The Postal Service filed notification of these decisions today with the Postal Regulatory Commission. They’re the first actions under the new pricing regulations set forth under the Postal Act of 2006. Public notice is being submitted for publication in the Federal Register.

New Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box

The current flat-rate box — introduced in November 2004 — gives customers a single, predetermined rate regardless of the weight or delivery zone. The new, larger box extends our successful flat-rate offerings, providing more choices for small businesses and consumers.

The new Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box will debut March 3.

“We listened to our customers, and we’re giving them a new box that lets them ship larger items while still enjoying the benefits of a flat rate,” said Postmaster General Jack Potter. “Flat-rate boxes are very popular and the new, larger version provides even more value.”

The new Priority Mail Large Flat Rate Box is 12” X 12” X 5.5” and can be used for both domestic and international shipments. This extends the flat-rate price and ease-of-use benefits to international shippers. There’s also a 5 percent online discount.

There will be a special version of the box for the military, with a $2 discount, if it’s shipped to an Army Post Office or Fleet Post Office (APO/FPO) address. The larger flat-rate box will sell for $12.95 domestic and $10.95 to APO/FPO addresses. Internationally, it’s $29.95 to Canada or Mexico and $49.95 to all other countries.

The Postal Service will continue to offer its original Priority Mail Flat Rate Box that currently retails domestically for $8.95.

 All Postal Service Priority and Express Mail packages and envelopes are environmentally friendly, exceeding the highest standards for recyclability.

Express Mail Sunday Delivery Price

The Governors also approved a $12.50 premium for Sunday and holiday Express Mail delivery. The premium — equal to competitor surcharges for Saturday delivery — reflects the unique delivery option the Postal Service provides on Sundays. As an alternative to Sunday, customers can choose Monday delivery at the standard Express Mail price.

“These are the first initiatives that take advantage of the flexibility afforded us by the new pricing regulations under the Postal Act of 2006,” said Potter. “They enable us to compete in the marketplace while continuing to meet the changing needs of our customers.”

According to TrackingtheWorld press release:

The United States Postal Service (USPS) processes and delivers more than 212 billion pieces of mail per year to Americans. The U.S. Postal Service continually aims to increase its quality of service, to reduce delivery times, to pinpoint logistical inefficiencies, to save costs and to eliminate waste.

To support this challenging task, the USPS commissioned TrackingTheWorld Inc., a leading global positioning technology firm, to develop a letter-tracking GPS device that would meet the agency’s precise needs.

These needs include reporting the positioning of letter mail from anywhere on the planet at customizable time intervals, interfacing with Google Earth, and recording down time, all fitted in a device conveniently and completely unnoticed within a standard size envelope

Scheduled released February 1, 2008

Barry Eck was a 20-year city letter carrier and local postal ambassador fired for hitting a off-duty rural carrier while on his route. The Merit System Protection Board upheld his removal and the Federal Court of Appeals confirmed.

Below is the background of Eck’s case: 

Mr. Eck was a City Letter Carrier for the United States Postal Service (“agency”). On July 22, 2006, while delivering mail to residents of a condominium development, Mr. Eck physically assaulted an off duty Rural Letter Carrier, Doug Ward (“Mr. Ward”). He was later arrested and charged with aggravated assault. The agency found that Mr. Eck engaged in “unacceptable conduct” resulting in “severe bodily injury to a fellow employee” in violation of the agency’s Employee and Labor Relations Manual, Administrative Support Manual, and Joint Statement on Violence in the Workplace. It therefore issued a notice of proposed removal on August 2, 2006 and decision of removal on August 23, 2006. Mr. Eck appealed to the Board’s Regional Office, arguing that he neither initiated the altercation nor caused “severe bodily injury” to Mr. Ward, and that his actions were in self defense. (more…)

Bushland Texas Post Office 79012

Photos

Post Office: Medora, North Dakota

Photos

Primaries Offer a Ray of Hope by William Burrus, American Postal Workers President

The results of the 2008 Iowa caucuses have been finalized, and Barack Obama and Mike Huckabee have been declared the winners. The results are surprising, and they offer a ray of hope about the democratic process.

It is far too early to draw conclusions about who the eventual Democratic and Republican presidential candidates will be, but the number of voters and the infusion of new participants in the process are cause for optimism.

Perhaps Americans have begun to turn away from the divisiveness of the past seven years. Perhaps hope has begun to replace fear, and the voters in November will cast their ballots for a new direction. Although APWU as an institution has not expressed preferences in the primary process, the Iowa results offer hope for the future.

We congratulate the Iowa caucus winners and the APWU members who participated in the process. As the remaining 49 states go to the polls in the coming months, we encourage APWU members to participate in the process by voting and supporting the candidate of their choice.

Sen. Clinton on Track, Needs Your Help in New Hampshire by William Young, National Association of Letter Carriers President

The results of the Iowa caucuses are in, and contrary to what you might be hearing from the media spin machines, NALC’s endorsed candidate is on track for the Democratic nomination. Sure, I was a little disappointed that Sen. Hillary Clinton was not named the “winner” in Iowa, but she had a very strong showing and is well positioned to win in New Hampshire. I hope I can count on you to help turn out letter carriers in support of NALC’s choice for president next Tuesday.

Leaving aside the reported percentages, here are the actual results from Iowa: Sen. Obama won 16 pledged delegates to the Democratic National Convention, Sen. Clinton won 15 delegates and former Sen. Edwards won 14 delegates. It will take 2,026 delegates to win the nomination, so this race is far from over. On January 8th our members in New Hampshire have a chance to stand up for all letter carriers in America by taking the time to vote for Senator Clinton.

She is committed to a strong Postal Service, opposes contracting out, and considers the labor movement the backbone of the middle class, not just another “special interest” group. Like us, she is committed to changing the direction of this country. Unlike others, she has the skills and experience to actually make it happen.

Thank you all for being activists for letter carriers nationwide. Have a happy new year and don’t forget to vote on Tuesday.

Douglas F. Carlson, an attorney and self-professed postal watchdog has filed a complaint with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) alleging that the Postal Service after May 14, 2007 eliminated single-piece Bound Printed Matter rate as a mailing option for customers. 

Carlson’s complaint alleges that “When a customer presents items for mailing at a retail window and asks for the least-expensive shipping method and the window clerk knows or should know that the item would qualify for a Bound Printed Matter rate, Postal Service policy prohibits the window clerk from offering or suggesting Bound Printed Matter service to the customer, even if Bound Printed Matter service might or would fulfill the customer’s shipping needs at the lowest price of any service.”

Carlson’s complaint cites several incidents :

On May 14, 2007, the Postal Service ceased to offer single-piece Bound Printed Matter service at retail windows.

Prior to May 14, 2007, the Postage Rate Calculator at www.usps.gov provided rates for Bound Printed Matter. Since May 14, 2007, the Postage Rate Calculator has not provided rates for Bound Printed Matter or mentioned the existence or availability of this service.

Automated Postal Center kiosks in post offices do not offer Bound Printed Matter or Media Mail or advise customers that these less-expensive alternatives may exist to the services that the APC’s do offer, such as Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and Parcel Post.

Although the decision of the Postal Service Governors in Docket No. R2006-1 asserted on page 19 that Postal Service window clerks “will continue to provide customers with information regarding Bound Printed Matter,” postal clerks do not provide accurate information to customers seeking to mail items that qualify as Bound Printed Matter.

The Postal Service’s decision not to offer Bound Printed Matter at retail windows unduly and unreasonably discriminates against individual and smallbusiness mailers, in a manner not specifically authorized by title 39. Compared to large mailers, individual and small-business mailers are less likely to know about services that window clerks do not offer, that Automated Postal Centers do not offer, and that the Postage Rate Calculator at www.usps.gov does not mention.

Carlson Requests that “the Commission order the Postal Service to offer Bound Printed Matter service to customers at retail windows.”

click here to read the full complaint

According to a PostalReporter reader (Thanks), Azeezaly Jaffer, former USPS Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications has started his own public relations consulting business:

Need a Public Relations Consultant? Read on…

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Azeezaly Jaffer globalprpros@yahoo.comOwner, globalPRpros LLC. International Public Relations and Communications Consultant.

Washington D.C. Metro Area
Contact Directly
Get introduced through a connection

Current President and CEO at globalPRpros LLC (Sole Proprietorship)

Past Vice President, Public Affairs and Communications at United States Postal Service Executive Director, Stamp Services at United States Postal Service Director, External Relations at United States Postal Service Manager, Market and Product Publicity at United States Postal Service Executive Director, Public Affairs at National Aeronautics and Space Administration
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2 more…
Education University of Southern California
Santa Monica College
Beverly Hills High School
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Recommended 21 people have recommended Azeezaly Connections 500+ connections Industry Public Relations and Communications
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Azeezaly Jaffer globalprpros@yahoo.com’s Summary
Seasoned PR professional with expertise in media relations, crisis communications, brand and event management, marketing and promotions, talent relations, executive coaching and multi-cultural communications.

We stand ready to take any marketing or communications need you have.

Results guaranteed.

Azeezaly Jaffer globalprpros@yahoo.com’s Specialties:
Multi-cultural and multi-lingual.

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Azeezaly Jaffer globalprpros@yahoo.com’s Experience
President and CEO globalPRpros LLC (Sole Proprietorship)
(Sole Proprietorship; 1-10 employees; Public Relations and Communications industry)

August 2007 — Present (5 months)

A full service communications company specializing in media relations, crisis communications, multi-cultural initiatives, brand development, extension and management. Additional expertise in licensing, special events, marketing, promotions, talent relations, executive coaching and video production.

source: Linkin

Previous articles and OIG report on Azeezaly Jaffer:

The OIG report that prompted Jaffer’s sudden resignation.

A Washington Post article summarizes the OIG’s findings on Jaffer

USPS Communications VP Azeezaly Jaffer Resigns