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Postal News - October 2005

October 31, 2005 - NALC, USPS Reach Agreement On Reassignment of Carriers Impacted by Katrina -NALC News Bulletin - The MOUs, signed October 21 and 26, provides rules for permanently reassigning the impacted employees, first on a voluntary basis and subsequently involuntarily. There will be a “Voluntary Transfer Period” during which impacted letter carriers who wish to exercise a preference for permanent relocation may submit a voluntary request for transfer indicating the specific office or offices to which they wish to be transferred. These requests must be submitted by midnight on November 15. Also Calif.  NALC Opposes Prop 75, COLA |

October 31, 2005 - The Smokes Are in the Mail - For more than a year, Mr. Spitzer and his colleagues have been trying to close this remaining channel (on mailing cigarettes). The Postal Service, however, argues that the law requires it to provide one type of mail that is "sealed against inspection." The post office has agreed to make a few changes.....clerks are being asked to advise the post office inspection division when they suspect that tax-free smokes are slipping into the mailrooms. |

October 29, 2005 - Postal Workers Want Station Manager Returned to Sender - (video) Neither clouds nor rain or traffic kept San Antonio (Texas) Postal Workers from staging a protest. Postal Workers (clerks and carriers ) allege Laurel Heights station manager Yvonne Lopez is rude, condescending and disciplines workers for petty infractions. However, USPS spokesperson said workers are upset because station manager is making them work harder. see photo  |

October 29, 2005 - NPMHU: Labor Prevails on Davis-Bacon Issue

- Thanks in large part to pressure applied by Mail Handlers and other representatives of organized labor on the White House and its pro-business supporters in the U.S. Congress, the Bush Administration has announced that effective November 8, 2005 it will be reversing its backward-thinking order which had rescinded Davis-Bacon wage protections for federal rebuilding projects along the devastated Gulf Coast. The Davis-Bacon Act requires that workers employed on federal projects be paid prevailing wages for the area in which they are employed. |

October 29, 2005 - Letter: Postal Service Phases Out Christmas
Each year since 1962, the Postal Service has created a commemorative stamp for the Christmas season. That first 4-cent stamp depicted a green wreath with a red bow and the words "Christmas 1962" on the lower half of the stamp. This brings us to 2005, when you no longer will find traditional Madonna and Child Christmas stamps or the word "Christmas" on any stamps at your post office. For the first time in 43 years, the Postal Service has not issued a traditional Christmas stamp.  |

October 28, 2005 - Senators Meet to Discuss Hold on Postal Overhaul Legislation
Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Susan Collins, R-Maine, and Sen. Christopher (Kit) Bond, R-Mo., met Thursday to discuss Bond's hold on sweeping postal overhaul legislation that Collins' committee cleared earlier this year. Bond is trying to persuade Collins to include language from the House version of the measure that would allow ratepayers to challenge individual rates, such as the price of first class mail, if they do not see them as "fair and equitable."  E-NAPUS Newsletter- Trick or Treat – Senate Opening for S. 662-The time vacuum created by the Miers withdrawal permits the Senate Leadership to schedule legislation that has widespread bipartisan support. S. 662 is one such measure. |

October 27, 2005  -Postal Workers From Former Brentwood Mail Facility Seeking Reinstatement of Lawsuits --A three judge panel from the Circuit Court of Appeals is being asked to reinstate a pair of lawsuits brought against the postmaster general and postal managers. The suits contend that Brentwood employees were deliberately kept on the job after officials knew they'd been exposed to weapons-grade anthrax. The appellate court decisions on whether to reinstate the lawsuits could come within months.

 Judicial Watch Press Release: | Appeal |

October 27, 2005 - ELM Revision: Sick Leave for Dependent Care
"Effective October 27, 2005, Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) 513.1, Purpose, and 513.32, Conditions for Authorization, are revised to differentiate sick leave taken for employee incapacitation from sick leave taken for dependent care, and then to clarify that leave taken for care of a qualifying family member, after a maximum of 80 hours of sick leave, will be charged to annual leave, or to leave without pay, at the employee's option."  |

- Postal Bulletin: Open Season, Hazmat, more...

October 26, 2005-‘Katrina’ Employees Who Transfer Voluntarily To Get Relocation Expenses -Employees affected by Hurricane Katrina who request voluntary transfers will be eligible to receive the same relocation expenses as those granted to employees who are involuntarily reassigned. The new policy is the result of an Oct. 26 Memorandum of Understanding signed by the APWU and USPS. |

October 26, 2005- Detroit Postal Worker Robbed Of Mail At Knifepoint - Authorities said the postal worker was removing mail from the back of her truck  when a man dressed in black approached her. He allegedly pulled a knife on her and ordered her to hand over mail. |

October 26, 2005 - Postal Worker Convicted of Stealing $25 Money Order

 A former Dakota City, Nebraska postal employee was convicted of theft and sentenced Monday to spend 30 days in jail. |

October 26, 2005 - Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period Set -For this year, the time period during which the penalty overtime regulations are not applicable begins Dec. 3, 2005, (Pay Period 25-2005, Week 2), and ends Dec. 30 (Pay Period 01-2006, Week 1).

October 26, 2005 - Interest Arbitration Next for Supervisors' Pay Package?
According to Mailer's Council director Robert McLean via Postcom.org: the National Association of Postal Supervisors' rejection of the USPS pay package could lead to  nonbinding interest arbitration 'third-party mediation for the first time since Congress approved legislation allowing for such intervention'. NAPUS and  National League of Postmasters accepted the one-year agreement. |

October 26, 2005 - ‘Katrina’ Employees Who Transfer Voluntarily To Get Relocation Expenses -Employees affected by Hurricane Katrina who request voluntary transfers will be eligible to receive the same relocation expenses as those granted to employees who are involuntarily reassigned. The new policy is the result of an Oct. 26 Memorandum of Understanding signed by the APWU and USPS. |

October 25, 2005- Postal Worker Awarded Religious Day of Rest, Lost Wages

A case involving a United States Postal Service (USPS) employee who was not allowed Saturdays off for his day of rest was settled Oct. 11 when the organization awarded him U.S. $65,000 for lost wages and grievances endured, and granted him his Sabbath off. |

October 25, 2005 - Civil Rights Pioneer Rosa Parks Dies

Rosa Parks, the Alabama seamstress whose soft-spoken refusal to give up her bus seat to a white man triggered the Montgomery bus boycott, the first great mass action in the civil rights movement of the 1950s and 1960s, died yesterday. She was 92. In August 2005 USPS released a pane of 10 postage stamps (including the Montgomery Bus Boycott) entitled 'To Form a More Perfect Union' honoring the Civil Rights Movement  |

October 25, 2005 - 'Postal' Game Set to Shoot Up Big Screen
The controversial video game "Postal," which has sold more than 1 million units despite being banned in 13 countries and publicly condemned by U.S. Sen. Joe Lieberman, is heading to the big screen. Producer-director Uwe Boll has optioned the game from developer Running With Scissors with plans to film the $10 million-$15 million feature in late 2006 for a 2007 theatrical release." Gary Coleman (from Different Strokes TV series) is set to make an appearance in the film version
-  "Postal" Video Game Victorious Over USPS in Lawsuit |

October 24, 2005 - APWU: Locals Threatened with Consolidation Are Urged to Take Action to Protect Jobs, Service - APWU President William Burrus has written to 17 local presidents, notifying them of USPS plans to consolidate some mail processing operations in facilities represented by their locals, and providing them with material to help protect jobs and service in their communities." Any attempt to deter management from closing facilities or consolidating operations will require a grass-roots effort by members of your local, in concert with other postal unions and labor organizations, as well as with community organizations,” Burrus wrote on Oct. 24. USPS to Consolidate Certain Mail Processing Operations -USPS has notified APWU on plans to consolidate certain processing operations of nine facilities in Connecticut, Massachusetts, New Jersey, California, North Carolina, and Pennsylvania. |

- Kinston postal operation to move | Mojave mail to get new postmark

- First-class mail processing to move from Youngwood

October 24, 2005 - PRC Gives No Decision on Periodicals Rate Overhaul -A proposal by a coalition of large commercial publishers for a radical revamping of the rate structure for Periodicals will get no recommended decision by the Postal Rate Commission to be acted on by the USPS Board of Governors. The PRC said last week it won't get involved in a dispute between the U.S. Postal Service and five large publishing companies involving a request to revamp the postal rate structure for Periodicals mail. In the Jan. 12, 2004, filing, publishers Time Warner, Condé Nast, Reader's Digest, Newsweek and TV Guide wanted the USPS to create a stripped-down basic rate structure. In general, large Periodicals mailers would benefit more than smaller ones under this plan. |

October 24, 2005 - USPS: Hurricane Wilma Service Update
Suncoast District: There will be no retail or delivery in ZIP Code areas 339 and 341 on Monday Oct. 24. The Fort Myers P&DC (339) will be closing tonight (Oct. 23) at 9 p.m. ET in advance of Hurricane Wilma's projected Monday morning landfall. South Florida District: There will be no retail or delivery in ZIP areas 330 - 333 on Monday Oct. 24. |

October 22, 2005- New Postal Vehicle via Indiana State NALC

From PR Injured Workers Forum: "Check out the new USPS delivery vehicle ."

Is it the G3 Next Generation Carrier Route Vehicle? (gif) "

October 21, 2005 - Ask President Burrus

Question: Why don’t the postal unions merge into one? Wouldn’t we (all the workers) be stronger with only one union? Why do the unions let the USPS play the divide-and-conquer game? Answer: As an industrial union, the APWU endorses the basic principle that workers employed by a single entity are better served when they are united as a single force. As president of APWU I embrace these principles, and I have attempted to initiate the dialogue necessary to achieving this significant goal. Regrettably, I have received no response to my written requests. |

October 21, 2005 - Woman Crashes Through Post Office Injuring 3 Postal Workers

The car crumpled part of the fence of a Head Start Center, but no children were injured. It then barreled into the post office's personnel room, striking two postal employees and another man. One of the postal employees was pinned under the vehicle. He was taken to the hospital for moderate injuries to his legs. A female employee and the other man sustained minor cuts and bruises.|

October 20, 2005 -USPS Pursues More Efficiency in Five-Year Plan

The Postal Service now spends $1 billion a year to return or otherwise process undeliverable mail, and the plan calls for halving that cost, Linda Kingsley , USPS VP said. "The agency will also continue to rationalize its mail processing facilities and the transportation network to increase efficiencies, and it will continue to introduce technologies to reduce delivery costs. Arranging mail for the carrier according to the arrangement of his delivery addresses — called delivery point sequencing — will be further emphasized for magazines and catalogs. About 77 percent of such “flat” mail is now sequenced, and the transformation plan goal is to get that figure to 95 percent by 2010, Kingsley said. Finally, the postal work force — cut by 100,000 positions in recent years and now at about 703,000 — will continue to shrink, though no exact figure has been established for that, Kingsley said. |

October 20, 2005 - The U.S. Postal Service: A Mailbox of Skills and Certifications - The IT department of the U.S. Postal Service employs a little more than 1,300 people. That’s not terribly big in comparison to the total number of Postal Service workers (700,000), but the impact these busy souls have on the organization and the country is huge. Consider that the U.S. Postal Service runs the third largest infrastructure in the world, and probably the largest intranet as well. Now consider that in this $69 billion operation, IT must do every job role imaginable, from operations to business portfolios, developing and maintaining applications, and running two large data centers with literally thousands of servers and hundreds of thousands of workstations.

October 20, 2005 - USPS refuses request for information on AuthentiDate contract -The United States Postal Service has denied a Times Union request for details of its troubled contract with Schenectady firm AuthentiDate Holding Corp., provider of its electronic postmark service. In a letter to the newspaper dated Oct. 14, the agency said the files contain AuthentiDate trade secrets, and therefore are not available under the federal Freedom of Information Act  |

October 19, 2005 - OIG Audit Report on City Letter Carrier Operations in San Diego District (pdf) -An audit of city letter carrier operations in the San Diego District found that supervisors and managers did not:  adequately utilize programs such as DOIS and MSP; did not adequately match workhours with workload when approving PS Form 3996, Carrier -Auxiliary Control and did not always properly document letter carriers' unauthorized overtime.  |

October 19, 2005 - PRC Most Likely to Issue Decision on Rate Increase By Halloween - The Postal Rate Commission will most likely offer its recommended decision by Halloween to implement a 5.4 percent across-the-board rate increase, according to Jerry Cerasale, senior vice president, government affairs at the Direct Marketing Association.  |

October 18, 2005 - Ex-Postal Official Target Of Criminal Probe

John Walsh, 78 who served on the governing board for the U.S. Postal Service is under federal criminal investigation for allegedly using his position for personal gain. Walsh had been on the nine-member board for six years and had been its vice chairman since 2003. He resigned in August as a separate investigation by the U.S. Postal Service's Office of Inspector General was winding down. That investigation substantiated claims by a whistleblower that Walsh misused postal service cars, cellphones and credit cards, according to a 22-page report released to The Courant Tuesday. He allegedly received up to $10,000 in inappropriate benefits."   |

- U.S.: Attorney: John Walsh Won't Be Prosecuted

October 18, 2005 - Postmaster, Supervisor Pay Consultations Concluded- Pay consultations between the Postal Service and NAPUS and the National League of Postmasters have concluded, resulting in a one-year compensation package that will remain in effect through FY 2006. In addition, pay consultations with the National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS) have concluded covering the same time frame. Effective January 6, 2007, the maximums to the salary structure for EAS Level 11-26 Postmasters will increase by 2.25 percent. The pay package announced this date by the Postal Service was not accepted by the National Association of Postal Supervisors |

October 18, 2005 - EEOC Certifies Class Action Case for Rehab Postal Employees

From PR Reader: "An EEO  filed involved 861 Rehab postal employees from the Colorado/Wyoming District. On August 19, 2005 EEOC Administrative Judge Dickie Montemayor certified the Edmond Walker, et, al v John E Potter class action in Denver CO. The USPS is appealing the certification decision to the EEOC Office of Federal Operations--this may take a year or longer. The class action certification sought by the Walker case consist of: "All permanent rehabilitation employees whose duty hours have been restricted, from January 1, 2000 to the present, in violation of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973." |

October 18, 2005 - Postal Service Offers Explanation for Controversial Artwork
A painting that has caused tempers to flare in Linden, Texas apparently will be hanging around for years to come. The mural, entitled "The Last Crop," hangs above the doorway inside the lobby of the Linden post office. It depicts barefoot African Americans picking cotton in a field. Protestors took to the streets this past summer, calling for the postal service to remove the painting because they found it to be racist. On Monday, the postal service put up an on-site exhibit and issued brochures explaining the history of the artwork. The postal service has now replaced the painting's nickname--cotton pickers--with its original title. see video  |

October 18, 2005 - Getting Tough On Workers' Comp: Increased Oversight Tames Rise in Costs, Claims -Ron Henderson, manager of health and resource management at USPS, argues that reducing costs ultimately boils down to one thing: workplace safety. “When the accidents don’t happen, the injuries don’t occur,” he said.  In sheer numbers, the Postal Service has by far the most injuries and workers’ compensation cases. By focusing on safety improvements and training, the agency has cut reported injuries 27 percent since 2000, when workers’ compensation claims were at an all-time high there. Henderson said it’s taken “tremendous effort” from employees, managers and supervisors to make it happen. |

October 18, 2005 - I.D. Systems Receives Additional $2.6 Million in USPS Orders Under National Contract to Deploy Wireless Vehicle Management Systems - The Wireless Asset Net consists of intelligent wireless devices installed on powered industrial vehicles , a patented communication infrastructure, and client-server software for access control, utilization analysis, real-time location tracking, and many other functions. The system is designed to improve industrial workplace safety and security by restricting vehicle access to trained, authorized operators and by providing electronic safety inspection checklists." Vehicle Asset Communicator (pdf) |

October 17, 2005 - APWU: Employees Improperly Denied Early Outs To Be Granted Retirement in December - Under the terms of the one-year contract extension ratified in August, eligible employees who were improperly denied Voluntary Early Retirement in 2003 and/or 2004 will be granted opportunities for early outs, with the retirements taking effect Dec. 31, 2005. Eligible employees will be mailed offers on or about Oct. 31. Employees’ early-retirement decisions will be irrevocable at 5 p.m., Friday, Dec. 2. This is not a new opportunity for early retirement, but the resolution of a dispute arising out of the 2003 early-retirement offering.  |

October 17, 2005 - USPS Introduces 'Mailing Resources for Election Officials'
'The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied'  - As more states turn to the mail box for help with the ballot box, USPS has developed an online resource to help election officials navigate rules and regulations that allow citizens to vote by mail. The Postal Service plays no role in how elections are carried out in the United States, although it is fully authorized to inform and educate election officials about USPS products and services available.  |

October 15, 2005 - A Postal Strain - The development of thousands of new homes in northern Hillsborough and southern Pasco (Calif.) in the coming months will put major stress on the postal service. The demand is putting a strain on postal carriers, post office facilities and the availability of PO boxes in some locations.USPS Spokesperson Gary Sawtelle said post offices use a computer automated system to set up new addresses, but the work to sort mail and resolve delivery issues is done by hand. |

October 15, 2005 - Editorial: USPS Volume, Revenue Gains Fail to Deliver Profits -

USPS may be using innovation and entrepreneurial strategies to make inroads against private carriers but it doesn't appear to be making inroads on the bottom line. |

October 14, 2005 - APWU Questions Transition of Work from Postal Inspection Service To OIG -.. in March 2005, the Postal Service informed the APWU that the responsibility for investigating certain types of employee misconduct (internal crimes) is being shifted from the Postal Inspection Service to the Office of Inspector General (OIG).  APWU is questioning whether this change is proper because it has been the past practice that Postal Inspection Service agents are the law enforcement officers who conduct interrogations of bargaining unit employees regarding an internal crime investigation. ".. the Chief Postal Inspector reports directly to and is under the general supervision of the Postmaster General . Whereas, the Inspector General reports directly to the Board of Governors, and does not report, nor is under the PMG supervision. Our contractual relationship is with the PMG, not with the Board of Governors." |

October 14, 2005 - USPS Recruiting Recent Retirees, Others for Non Full-Time Employment - To help keep the mail moving during these times, the U.S. Postal Service is looking for substitute rural carriers and postmasters, a job perfectly suited for retirees, "empty nesters," and others who want to meet new people, get exercise, serve their community, make good money and still have time to do other things.  |

October 14, 2005 -Postmaster Put on Administrative Leave
For reasons that have yet to be released, Eureka (Calif.) Postmaster Ed Stoner has been placed on administrative leave. Officials within the post office were mum on the reasons and other details. ”I’m not at liberty to say at the moment,” said Stoner when reached at his home Thursday morning and asked why he had been put on leave. Eureka Main Post Office has recently been the subject of some criticism by some postal employees who say the conditions there have been stressful and that the place is understaffed for the flow of third class mail that comes through the building.  " |

October 13, 2005 - Over 100 Clerks to be Reassigned from Monmouth P & DC -According to Bill Lewis, Trenton APWU President, "The Postal Service has notified the APWU at the regional level of their decision to consolidate mail processing operations at the Monmouth P&DC with those of the Trenton & Kilmer P&DCs.   The Postal Service is reporting that only the outgoing mail is being moved.   Within 6 months both incoming and outgoing will be processed at the Trenton P&DC. The Postal Service is preliminarily reporting that 116 level 5 clerks and 6 level 6 clerks will be excessed out of the Monmouth P&DC. |

October 13, 2005 - Postal Worker Convicted of Attack

Federal jury rejects self-defense claim against co-worker - "A federal jury took about 90 minutes Wednesday to convict a Mobile County postal worker of attacking a co-worker with a metal pipe earlier this year. Assistant U.S. Attorney Michele O'Brien noted during her closing statement Wednesday that Charles Rodgers had admitted on the witness stand that he stashed three pipes by his work area at the U.S. Postal Service's processing and distribution center in Tillman's Corner. He told jurors that he was hot and stressed that day." |

October 12, 2005 - APWU: Vacancies for Katrina-Impacted Employees
"The APWU has been provided with lists of residual vacancies that may be available to employees displaced by Hurricane Katrina. A Sept. 27 Memorandum of Understanding [PDF] between the APWU and USPS stipulates that impacted employees may request voluntary transfers to post offices throughout the country. If practicable, such requests will be approved." |

October 12, 2005 -  Killer of Tulsa Postal Carrier Will Go Free -He killed a postal carrier in broad daylight. But, now, he's about to go free. Jason Weed was found not guilty by reason of insanity in the December 2001 shooting death of Robert Jenkins. Jenkins was gunned down while delivering mail at a midtown apartment complex. Weed has been in custody ever since. But, Tuesday, a judge ordered Weed can go free.  |

October 11, 2005-MSPB Reaffirms Hatch Decision; Restores Full Retirement Annuity -

(NALC News Bulletin) - The United States Merit Systems Protection Board has reaffirmed its landmark decision in Hatch v. OPM that an injured full-time postal employee who returns to limited duty, but cannot work 40 hours per week, is still entitled to have his or her retirement annuity calculated as if he or she had been in full-time status. NALC President Young praised the latest MSPB ruling in a case brought by retired letter carrier David Hatch of Lynn, Massachusetts Branch 7 who challenged an action by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM). Young said it should set a precedent for similarly situated retirees. |

October 11, 2005- Arbitrator Rules LMOU Allows Changes to Carrier Route from "Fixed" to "Rotating" Days Off -National Arbitrator Shyam Das has rejected NALC’s position that the Postal Service violated the National Agreement when it unilaterally changed 19 letter carrier route assignments at the Fort Point station in Boston from fixed to rotating days off. In an award issued September 28, Das held that management’s action was justified by the provisions of a Local Memorandum of Understanding (LMOU) in Boston that management contended provided for rotating days off  |

October 09, 2005- Letter Carrier Tackles Suspected Robber -ANCHORAGE, Alaska -- A letter carrier who heard the cries of "Stop! Thief!" tackled a suspected bank robbery suspect and helped detain him until he was arrested by police. The robber, clutching wads of cash, ran from a downtown bank Thursday and was knocked off his feet by a letter carrier, Jonathan Higgins, 43. Higgins fought with the suspect until he was detained by two police recruits. After the suspect was handcuffed, the letter carrier ran back to his unattended mail in the pony cart and finished his route. "He gets the carrier of the week award," Higgins' supervisor, Jeanie Halpin, said."|

October 09, 2005 - Linn's U.S. Stamp Yearbook 2004 is now available - The book includes complete production details and design credits for each new stamp, including proposed and preliminary designs. Some of the information discussed in the 2004 yearbook includes: Why controversial singer-actor Paul Robeson was finally honored on a Black Heritage stamp, how the 2004 contemporary Christmas stamps can be traced to a little workshop in Germany, how a grudge against the U.S. Postal Service by John Wayne's son almost spoiled plans to honor the actor with the 2004 Legends of Hollywood commemorative, and what prompted Disney officials to grant approval to feature Disney characters on U.S. stamps. Amick also tells how complaints from brides and their mothers resulted in a decision to issue new stamps with what the Postal Service calls "pretty, soft and feminine" illustrations specifically for wedding invitations.

October 07, 2005 - NAPUS, USPS Discuss Pay, Mystery Shopper LOWs -NAPUS anticipates final details of the 2006 pay program to be announced soon. NAPUS leaders met with USPS officials this week to discuss letters of warning being given to Postmasters who received failing scores during Mystery Shopper visits. |

October 07, 2005 - Arbitration Award in 5-7-9 Case Sets Principles for Skilled, Semi-Skilled Work -"After multiple hearings and a lengthy briefing period, Arbitrator Shyam Das has issued an arbitration award (PDF) that establishes principles for differentiating between semi-skilled and skilled maintenance work. Although the union's grievance was sustained in part, denied in part, and remanded in part, union officers generally believe the award will benefit Maintenance Craft employees." |

October 07, 2005 - USPS, Unions Deliver a Partnership For Safer Workplace
Since 2001, reported injuries and illnesses at USPS have decreased by 36 percent, or 28,000 incidents. The Postal Service's four major unions-APWU, NALC, Mail Handlers, and NRLCA--participate in the USPS Voluntary Protection Program (VPP), an OSHA-based initiative to recognize the safest workplaces in the nation. These partnerships have reduced accidents and injuries and have allowed USPS employees to work smarter, not harder. Thomas Molanick, National APWU Rep for VPP and ERRP said, "The programs are really working to reduce injuries in the workplace." |

October 07, 2005 - Press Release: Brentwood Exposed Meeting (pdf)
The D.C. District Court denied  lawsuit filed the by Postal Workers in April 2004. Judicial Watch (the Postal Workers representatives) appealed the decision to D.C Court of Appeals in December 2004. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit will hear oral arguments on lawsuit – “Briscoe, Et al., v. Potter. Et al.,” on Thursday, October 27, 2005 at 9:30 A.M. Postal Workers are urged to attend a meeting on October 20th to discuss the upcoming hearing on the case. |

October 07, 2005 - Postmaster Loses Job, Placed Under Internal Investigation

 The postmaster of the Watertown, NY Post Office has been relieved of his duties and is under internal investigation for undisclosed reasons. Maureen D. Marion, a spokeswoman for USPS, confirmed Thursday that Theodore Poleto was fired about a week ago and that Walter Whalen has been named temporary officer-in-charge at the post office. Mrs. Marion also confirmed that there is an investigation of Mr. Poleto, but declined to say the nature of the action.|

October 05, 2005 - FedEx to raise shipping rates in 2006 -  FedEx Corp. on Wednesday said it would increase shipping rates for its FedEx Express service by an average of 3.5 percent effective Jan 2. The rise comprises an average increase in standard list rates of 5.5 percent, offset by a decrease in its fuel surcharge of 2 percent. The company will also raise a delivery surcharge for certain postal codes by up to 10 cents per package. |

October 04, 2005 - APWU: USPS Seeks to Thwart Landmark FMLA Ruling
The Postal Service has filed a petition seeking to overturn a recent court ruling that invalidated USPS return-to-work requirements for employees with absences of more than 21 days. The APWU had hailed the July 19 ruling as a major victory in the fight to preserve workers’ rights under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA). The USPS motion, filed Sept. 6 in the U.S. Court of Appeals, requests “reconsideration and rehearing” before the full Seventh Circuit Court, contending that a three-judge panel “erred” in a July 19 decision overturning a Postal Service return-to-work policy. The petition for a rehearing is being supported by the Bush Administration, with Secretary of Labor Elaine L. Chao filing a brief in support of the USPS petition.  |

- APWU Files Dispute Over USPS Return-to-Work Requirements (PDF) 

October 04, 2005  - 24-Hour Post Office Will Close -A trend toward automated shipping is prompting the closing of the last Omaha post office that is staffed 24 hours a day. The retail window  will close in January, Postmaster Eva Jon Sperling said Monday. The office is currently a retail facility in front and a processing center in back; only the retail portion will be closed. The seven full-time employees will have the opportunity to bid on other Postal Service jobs, Sperling said. The closing is due to a decline in customer visits. "We're providing access in other ways," Sperling said.  |

October 04, 2005 - Postal Worker's Assault Case Gets New Court

- The assault case against Elizabethton Postmaster Bruce Range was removed from Carter County Sessions Court and transferred to U.S. District Court . The federal case stems from an incident at the Elizabethton Post Office on the morning of July 20, when postal employee Gary White said he was seeking payment for advanced sick leave. White said Range slammed the top half of a Dutch-style double door on his arm. In his brief for the court, M. Neil Smith assistant U.S. attorney said even if White’s arm was injured when Range closed the door on it, Range would have been acting properly “in closing and securing the door to prevent a disruptive and disorderly employee from entering a secured work floor.” |

October 04, 2005 - Former Postal Worker Pleads Guilty To Misappropriation Of Funds - A  former South Carolina postal worker has admitted taking more than $100,000 in postal money orders. The U.S. Attorney's Office said Amanda Gail Bennett  is accused of converting about 140 postal money orders to her own use while she was in charge of the Wellford post office in 2003 and 2004. Prosecutors says some of the money orders were posted to her personal checking account and some were sent to people in California, Pennsylvania and New York. Postal officials in Saint Louis detected the problem in an internal check. All told, officials said Bennett took $117,463.83. |

October 04, 2005 - Book Excerpt: Breaking Down at the Post Office - The "going postal" phenomenon began with U.S. Post Office massacres. In the popular mind, these post office murder sprees still have no context. They were too bizarre, too ridiculous. Post offices are quiet, colorless places in the public eye. Nothing could be more dull, even comically bland, than a United States Post Office. And no one could be more harmless than the mailman in the blue-gray shorts, driving his white delivery truck or power-walking in his pith helmet." |

October 03, 2005 -Postal Worker, family survive blast in Bali restaurant - Duke Ha Ly, a 47-year-old mechanic for the U.S. Postal Service, and his  family were awaiting their meals at a seafront restaurant in Bali when a huge explosion shattered their Saturday evening. Parts of the roof of Nyoman's Café fell on their heads. Ly suffered only scratches from the flying debris. |

October 02, 2005 - Possum Found Near Honolulu Mail Processing Facility
For the second time in three months, a live possum was discovered in the Honolulu International Airport area. A postal worker found the possum Sunday night in a trash bin near the airport post office. The Department of Health is checking to see if it had rabies. From Reader: "It was found in a garbage can by the boat container mail. There are no possums in Hawaii. Everyone on T(our)2 and T(our)1 went to take a look at it. We were kind of sorry when it was euthanized as it was very cute." |

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