PostalReporter.com Blog

 Letter sent out by the National Postal Mail Handlers Union

October 28, 2008

To: All Local Union Presidents
All National RI-399 Advocates

From: John F. Hegarty, National President
William J. Flynn, Jr., Manager, CAD

Re: Craft Jurisdiction for Flat Sequencing System (FSS)

We are pleased to enclose a copy of an October 24, 2008 letter that sets forth the Postal Service’s determination of craft jurisdiction for employees working on the Flat Sequencing System (FSS). As you know from prior meetings and reports, the National Office has been working to obtain this determination for some time, before the FSS will be deployed in the coming months and years.

As set forth in the attached, the mail handler craft has been determined to be the primary craft to perform most of the work associated with this piece of equipment. In particular, the duties performed at the Automated Bundle Sorting Unit (ABSU), the preparation stations, the dolly maker, the dolly induction unit, as well as the removal of mail containers from the FSS machine and the movement of containers between parts of the FSS, have all been assigned to the mail handler craft. The work at the feed station of the Automatic Induction system has been assigned to the mail processors. Finally, allied duties such as clearing jams have been assigned to whichever craft can perform the work most efficiently and effectively.

Should you have any questions about this letter or its implementation in any particular facility, please contact the National CAD. Also, if you are encountering resistance or opposition from management when implementing this letter, please contact the National CAD so that we can address particular implementation problems with USPS headquarters.

Please disseminate this memorandum and the attached letter as you deem appropriate

source: NPMHU

or Selling Office Products

OBJECTIVES OF RFI
 
Identify opportunities for USPS to leverage its retail infrastructure to generate income by

1) Leasing Postal Store space to companies which sell office supplies and related products/services. 

2) Selling an office supply company’s products in post offices using USPS labor resources.
 
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Comments from PostalReporter reader:
 
I think this RFI will be controversial.  It is one thing to sell USPS-branded products/services.  It is quite another to sell Office Max/Depot/Staples products and services on postal property.  Would sales tax and property tax be collected?  If not, local and state governments will complain.  Excluded retailers will see it as unfair competition.

Federal Business Opportunities notice

On October 24, 2008, the Trenton Local met with management about two-tour consolidation. Management presented to the union their plan to become a two tour-processing center.  The first round will be to eliminate all Tour 2 automation.  This move will cause us to lose 24 mail processing clerk positions on Tour 2 automation. At the present time there is no plan, or were any plans discussed with the union, regarding the AFSM 100 or the SPBS.  Tour 3 automation hours will be moved to 14:50 or 15:50, which will cause some positions to be abolished.  Management intends on posting 11 (eleven) new positions in the Tour 3 automation section.  There will be no change to Tour 1 automation.  

Management plans on creating one manual section by moving tour 1 manual sections 044/150 to two start times of 20:00 and 22:50, and eliminating all Tour 3 manual 030.  Management intends on eliminating 7 (seven) Tour 1 jobs in 044/150. 

Management intends to implement these changes in January 2009.  There is no doubt in my mind with the consolidation of tours that there will be excessing to the needs of the installation and there will clearly be excessing to the needs of the section.  It seems to me that management has no intentions on honoring the CBA, which requires a 6 (six) month notification to the Union on excessing to the needs of the section.  In total, management’s plans will result in 52 clerks not having a duty assignment. 

I will take whatever appropriate action deemed necessary to enforce our Collective Bargaining Agreement.  Another meeting has been scheduled for October 29, 2008 to discuss managements plan further.  This plan, by management, is a clear attack on the senior employees of the Trenton installation.  Due to the large number of employees being displaced from sections, many jobs will be reposted.  No employee is safe from having their job ripped out from underneath them.

Thank you,

Bill Lewis
President, TMAL #1020
http://www.trentonmetroarealocal.com/

USPS is facing one of the most difficult challenges in its history. There has been a continual decline in First-Class Mail volumes over the past decade. The current economic downturn has led to an even greater decline in volume with the loss of more than 9 billion pieces this past year alone. All Headquarters Officers have identified opportunities to streamline staffing by matching current workforce with the workload.

As a result, complement in all Headquarters and Headquarters-related units has been reduced — some vacant positions have been eliminated, while other occupied positions are impacted. Starting this week, employees occupying impacted positions will be notified and given information and guidance.

In a letter to Officers this week, Anthony Vegliante, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, stated, “We are moving forward with a focused approach to organizational change within all Headquarters and Headquarters-related functions.”

On previous occasions, USPS has successfully managed complement with minimal impact to employees and we expect that record of success to continue. A successive series of job postings will be opened to place qualified employees in vacant positions starting Oct. 27.

All Headquarters and Headquarters-related employees interested in competing for these vacancies, impacted or not, are urged to create a profile now within the eCareer system on LiteBlue. Some additional positions will become vacant as a result of regular and voluntary retirements.

What’s next?

Week of 10/20:  General information session for potentially impacted employees only, eCareer tutorials for all Headquarters and Headquarters-related employees begin.

Week of 10/27:  First phase of vacancies is posted for five business days within limited area of consideration (LAC) under each vice president.

Starting 11/5:  Review and selection of first phase vacancies.

Starting 11/19:  Second phase of all Headquarters and Headquarters-related vacancies is posted for five business days.

Week of 12/1:  Review and selection of second phase vacancies.

Additional information will be communicated as it becomes available. Details also will be posted on Blue starting the week of Oct. 27 and updated on an ongoing basis.

source: USPS News LInk

The APWU and the Postal Service have been meeting periodically at the headquarters level and have finally reached a tentative agreement on a method that will allow for locally-negotiated four-day workweeks.

“We have been pushing for a modified-workweek agreement seemingly forever: The first pilot programs were in 1994.”
 
The sticking point of the negotiations was the need to come up with a method that would allow for as many flexible work schedules as possible, which necessarily would have to be implemented on a facility-by-facility basis.

The agreement was set to be finalized the first week of October, with some local parties authorized to negotiate immediately..

We have been pushing for a modified-workweek agreement seemingly forever: The first pilot programs were in 1994. The 2000-2003 APWU-USPS Collective Bargaining Agreement — as well as a contract extension ratified Aug. 5, 2005 — also provided for the establishment of “modified workweek” pilot sites, with employees selecting work schedules of four 10-hour days.

Employees who want overtime may from time to time work a five-day schedule.
 
The pilot programs the last two years were frequently stymied and stalled by Area-level managers who restricted the pilots to a very limited number of post offices and areas within post offices.

This should be a giant step into the future for many postal employees. Changing a full day of work to a full day off for employees will dramatically change lifestyles. A side benefit of the elimination of a full day of work each week is that it reduces the amount of time workers spend getting to and from their jobs, which can only diminish congestion on the roads and help save energy. That’s a win for employees, the Postal Service, and our nation as a whole.

Employees who go on a modified workweek will work 10 hours a day straight time, and will receive penalty pay when they work more than 10 hours in a shift. Workers who like to work overtime should realize that while some straight-time hours and overtime hours will be available, if a sufficient number of employees choose a modified schedule — which is expected — overtime will be possible by working a fifth day.

Employees who want overtime may from time to time work a five-day schedule, but will forfeit their “third day off” in such weeks. Some employees who work the four-day schedule will not necessarily have the third day off consecutively with the other two.
source: American Postal Workers Union

FORMER DEPUTY GENERAL COUNSEL TO ACT AS USPS INSPECTION SERVICE HEAD PMG Jack Potter has announced the appointment of William Gilligan as Acting Chief Postal Inspector to replace Chief Postal Inspector Al Lazaroff, who retires Nov. 3.

Gilligan has been the Deputy General Counsel at Headquarters since May 2000. He began his postal career in 1973 as a clerk-carrier in Philadelphia. Gilligan worked as a postal police officer and an Inspection Service analyst prior to becoming an attorney in 1987.

“Bill has served in a variety of leadership positions within the Law Department and has proven to be a strong and innovative leader who is extremely effective in working with teams to address strategic issues and delivering results,” Potter said.

Gilligan holds Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees in criminal justice from Westchester State University. He earned a Doctorate degree in law from Delaware Law School.

source: USPS News Link

 USPS Chief Postal Inspector  Retires in Wake of ABC News Investigation

 Press Release  United States Department of Justice

Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley announced today that Samuel Davis Kemp, age 59, of Roanoke, pled guilty Thursday in the United States District Court for the Western District of Virginia in Roanoke to charges that he threatened and interfered with a United States Postal Supervisor while he was engaged in his official duties.

At the time of the incident, Kemp was employed as a mail handler at the United States Postal Service Processing and Distribution Center on Rutherford Avenue in Roanoke.

“All Americans must feel secure and free from intimidation at their place of business,” Acting United States Attorney Julia C. Dudley said today. “Employees of the federal government must be held to the highest possible standard and must be held accountable for their actions.”

Kemp pled guilty today to one count of threatening and interfering with a United States Postal Supervisor while he was engaged in his official duties. He was charged in August in a one-count indictment.

According to a statement of facts submitted to the Court by Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day and agreed to by Kemp, on the evening on July 26, 2008 he was called into work by a postal supervisor. At approximately 9:30 p.m., Kemp told his supervisor he needed to go home to retrieve his diabatic medication. At that time, the defendant was advised to “clock off” on lunch and return as soon as possible.

Kemp then left the facility. He returned at approximately 11:05 p.m. At that time, another postal employee smelled an odor of alcohol on the defendant. As a result, Kemp was called into the office of the postal supervisor.

The postal supervisor asked Kemp if he had been drinking, to which the defendant answered, “Hell no.” As per United States Postal Service Policy, 911 was called in order to escort the defendant out of the facility.

According to the statement of facts, when 911 was called Kemp became angry and began to yell profanities and threats at the United States Postal Supervisor. During the altercation he made the following threats and statements toward the United States Postal Supervisor:

“You are going to get yours, MB”

“I’ll kill all you mother f—–s.”

“I am going to get you for this.”

“I am going to kill you, MB. I am a United States Marine.”

During the argument, the defendant also threatened to kill a Roanoke City Police Officer who had responded to the scene. When officers informed Kemp he was under arrest, he became irate and had to be pepper sprayed in order to be handcuffed.

Kemp was transported to the Roanoke City Jail where he continued to be uncooperative. As a result he was taken to Roanoke Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. While the defendant was at Roanoke Memorial he continued to make threats that he would pursue the employees at the post office where he was employed and that he would “kill each and every one of them.”

While at Roanoke Memorial Kemp’s blood alcohol level was tested and analysis showed a .289 blood alcohol content. Today in court, Kemp admitted he had left work to retrieve his medicine but while at home consumed two drinks of “corn liquor.” The defendant also admitted that when his supervisor asked him if he had been drinking, he lied and said he had not been drinking when in fact he did have two drinks.

If convicted on all counts, the maximum penalty faced by the defendant is 8 years imprisonment and/or a fine of $250,000. A sentencing hearing has been scheduled for January 7, 2008 in District Court in Roanoke.

The investigation of the case was conducted by the United States Postal Inspection Service. Assistant United States Attorney Charlene R. Day is prosecuting the case for the United States.

The head of the 302,000-member National Association of Letter Carriers today assailed a television ad attacking Washington Gov. Chris Gregoire that suggests that U.S. Postal Service letter carriers are possible sexual predators endangering the lives of children on the street.

The television ad, being run by the Republican Governors Association in support of GOP gubernatorial candidate Dino Rossi, shows a man walking a dog, and then a letter carrier (with satchel and mail), leering at young children near an ice cream truck, while in the audio background a woman depicting a mother warns that some convicted sex offenders have not properly registered with law enforcement agencies during the Gregoire administration.

“This television ad is beneath contempt,” said NALC President William H. Young.  “It is ludicrous and shameful that the Republican Governors Association would stoop so low as to portray America’s most trusted government agents in this manner just to pump up a specious political argument against the incumbent governor.”

“I demand, on behalf of city letter carriers across the nation, that Republican Governors Association Chair Rick Perry (R-TX) immediately withdraw this ad from all television outlets and websites and publicly apologize to all letter carriers for this damaging portrayal of their character,” Young added.

 Young pointed out that letter carriers are known throughout the country for their many heroic and humanitarian deeds—often coming to the aid of children, their support of charitable organizations, and conducting the nation’s largest food drive to feed needy families.
 
 

USPS Press Release

Postal Service Committed to Continued Affordable Universal Service

The Postal Service today submitted a report to the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on its position related to the Universal Service Obligation (USO) and postal monopoly. The Postal Service confirms its continued commitment of trusted, affordable universal service to the American public. The report supports that no changes to the USO and monopoly are necessary at this time while additional flexibilities will be required to ensure affordable, universal service into the future.

Obligations of the USO include uniform prices, quality of service, access to services, and six-day delivery to every part of the country. To assure financial support for these obligations, the postal monopoly provides the Postal Service the exclusive right to deliver letters and restricts mailbox access solely for mail. Therefore, the USO and postal monopoly are inextricably linked. The report supports that eliminating or reducing either aspect of the monopoly “would have a devastating impact on the ability … to provide the affordable universal service that the country values so highly.” Relaxing access to the mailbox would also pose security concerns, increase delivery costs, and hurt customer service.

The Postal Service said that the USO should continue to be broadly defined and there should be no changes to the postal monopoly. Any changes would have far-reaching effects on customers and the trillion dollar mailing industry. “A more rigidly defined USO would … ultimately harm the American public and businesses,” according to the report, which cautions that any potential change must be studied carefully and the effects fully understood.

The report is available at http://www.usps.com/postallaw/universalserviceobligation.htm.

During hearings held earlier this year, the PRC also heard from mailers, mailing associations, and postal unions and management associations. Comments generally indicated that changes are not currently needed.

The Postal Act of 2006 requires the PRC to submit a report to the President and Congress on universal postal service and the postal monopoly in December 2008. The report must include any recommended changes. The Postal Service report supports the requirement that the PRC is to consult with and solicit written comments from the Postal Service. In addition, the Government Accountability Office is required to evaluate broader business model issues by 2011. Thus, the dialogue on universal postal service and postal monopolies, in many respects, is just beginning. Given the economy and significant dynamics in the marketplace, this dialogue may need to occur sooner rather than later.

 From USPS notice posted on Federal Biz Opportunities:

The USPS owns or leases approximately 35,000 properties and facilities throughout the United States that it wishes maximize the value of by being considered for use as commercial outdoor advertising signboards, billboards and displays. The USPS is seeking to contract with a commercial outdoor advertising management firm (the “Manager”) with the experience and capability of marketing and managing a large number of commercial outdoor advertising sites.

The Manager will fully develop commercial outdoor advertising as a source of revenue to USPS and work to make commercial outdoor advertising a positive element in the USPS’s facilities environment. The Manager shall use communication and a cooperative relationship between the USPS and the Manager to build and maintain a cooperative “co-development” approach to help provide the USPS with a viable source of income from the utilization of its facilities for commercial outdoor advertisement purposes. Commercial outdoor advertising sites shall be contingent upon compliance with all statutes and regulations governing such activity. Any contract developed as a result of this solicitation would be designed to cover properties controlled, in total or in part, through ownership, leases or other contracts or agreements by the USPS.

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Billboard RFP Questions & Answers

Q12: Will the USPS provide a list of USPS locations that currently have outdoor advertising structures, a description of the outdoor advertising structures and the identity of the lessee/licensee?

A: USPS billboard locations and lessees are proprietary information.

Q14: Is USPS currently a party to any contract with a third party for the provision of similar management services in respect of outdoor advertising? If so will USPS provide a copy?

A: The USPS is currently party to contracts with third party providers. The USPS agreements with those third parties are confidential and proprietary.

https://www.fbo.gov/spg/USPS/FP/DeFSO/072976-08-A-0039/listing.html