USPS default on Aug. 1 appears likely
"... The cash-strapped U.S. Postal Service is within weeks of defaulting on a legally required $5.5 billion payment into a health benefits fund for future retirees...." 
Source: www.federaltimes.com
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Arbitrator Das Sustains APWU Grievance on Denial of Retreat Rights
"...Arbitrator Das determined that the Postal Service’s unilateral determination to disallow the exercise of retreat right under these circumstances violated the Collective Bargaining Agreement. The issue of remedy was remanded to the parties and the arbitrator retained jurisdiction to resolve any remedial disputes.
The issue in the second case (Case #Q11C-4Q-C11322481) was the USPS conversion of PTRs and PTFs in August 2011 to unassigned regular status with temporary NTFT schedules. ..."
Source: www.apwu.org
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Postal Workers Start Third Day of Hunger Strike to Save USPS
"... “Corporate America is trying to steal your postal service,” said Jamie Partridge of Community & Postal Workers United, as the hunger strikers chanted, “We demand a refund, we demand repeal” of the congressional mandate forcing the USPS to prefund retiree health benefits 75 years in advance...."
Source: www.care2.com
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Turning up the heat: The DC Hunger Strike
"... On June 25th, a band of protestors will travel to Washington DC to stage a four-day hunger strike calling attention to the Postal Service’s plans to reduce service and cut jobs. That’s just days before the Postal Service implements the change in service standards that will end overnight delivery for about 20 percent of First Class mail, a prelude to further service reductions..."
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com
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U.S. Senate bill could save Quincy postal processing site
"... U.S. Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., inserted a provision into an appropriations bill that would require the U.S. Postal Service to conduct an audit that shows cost savings before closure or consolidation at the 11 postal processing centers. All of them were found to be efficient operations in recent years. Quincy and Rockford facilities are among those affected by the proposed rule. ..."
Source: www.whig.com
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Historic Post Offices: An Inventory of the Legacy
"... Among the Trust's main concerns is the way the Postal Service has been handling the sell-off. "The lack of a transparent and uniform national process from the Postal Service — one that follows federal preservation laws when considering disposal of these buildings — is needlessly placing the future of many historic post office buildings in doubt," says the Trust. Stephanie Meeks, president of the National Trust, says she hopes to work with the Postal Service to develop a process for adapting and reusing the historic buildings...."
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com
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Hunger strikers protest end of first class overnight mail delivery
"... “The Postmaster General is sending the service into a death spiral,” said Matt McAulifee, a postal mailhandler and hunger striker from Denver. “By slowing the mail, one to two days, the postal service will drive away customers. Businesses will switch to online billing and patrons will switch to online payment. Those most dependent on the mail - the elderly, the poor and rural communities - will be hit the hardest.” ..."
Source: www.lakestevensjournal.com
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The PRC wants your opinion on POStPlan, but does the Postal Service want the PRC's?
"... You can send your comments to the Postal Regulatory Commission, 901 New York Avenue NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC, 20268-0001. Mention the docket number, N2012-2. You can also submit comments online using the customer service form, here. If you want to suggest questions that might be put to the Postal Service about the plan, you could probably also contact the Public Representative assigned to the case, Emmett Rand Costich, at costicher@prc.gov...."
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com
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POStPlan: New lists, maps, financials, and more
"... Why 4,600 post offices needed to be upgraded — and their postmasters given at least a 2% raise — is not clear. ..."
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Mail Handlers to be offered retirement incentive
"... Mail Handlers who are eligible should be receiving a package in the mail from the Postal Service (these retirement documents will be mailed to the employee's address that USPS has on file; an employee can confirm or change his/her mailing address online by logging on to www.liteblue.usps.gov), but in general terms VERA offers apply to employees covered under both the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). ..."
Source: Mail Handler Union
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Social Security Benefits & Taxes
"... So after years of paying income taxes on your “contributions” you are ready to retire and collect the benefits—only to find out that they may be taxable..."
Source: socialsecuritynewsgroup.blogspot.com
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USPS Announces ‘Modified Consolidation Plan’
"... “The Postal Service is working with its unions regarding an employee incentive offer and will announce details when final decisions are made,” but the USPS and APWU have not been negotiating about incentives, Guffey said.
The talk for employees who interact with customers says, “Some consolidation activities will begin this summer, but there will be no facilities closures this summer.” The other talks do not include this language, nor does the letter to the APWU. (In fact, the stand-up talks for other employees refer to “closing facility.”)..."
Source: www.apwu.org
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USPS to offer buyouts to 21,000 postmasters
"... Postmasters that accept the buyout will receive $20,000, split equally between two payments. Exiting postmasters will receive the first $10,000 payment in December 2012 and the second payment in December 2013. Splitting the incentive payment in two will allow the agency to "better manage its cash flow..." 
Source: www.federalnewsradio.com
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Fox News, Wrong Again!
"... The piece is clearly designed to drum up support for a discredited House bill (H.R. 2309) sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL), and to undermine support for a bill approved by the Senate on April 25...."
Source: www.apwu.org
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Rockefeller, Manchin ask USPS to hold off on closures
"... "Despite our concerns about the legislation, we do believe that extending the existing moratorium while Congress continues to work on postal reform legislation will at least preserve services and jobs..."
Source: www.statejournal.com
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Manchin urges USPS to extend moratorium
"...He has also suggested cost-saving measures to the USPS to achieve savings in ways that would not affect services, “including eliminating excess rental space, cutting executive compensation, and reducing advertising expenditures on luxuries like sponsorship of a NASCAR team and a Tour de France team,” his release stated...."
Source: www.williamsondailynews.com
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Revised Estimates for Network Rationalization: Where have all the savings gone?
"... With the gross savings reduced by $500 million, the new gross savings number is $2.1 billion. Subtract the $500 million for the revenue losses, and we’re left with $1.6 billion in total savings. ..."
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com
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Postmaster general: No closing frenzy after May 15
"... The Postal Service, which has lost billions of dollars in recent years, could move forward with shuttering mail processing centers after May 15 and before the agency pauses its consolidation efforts later this year, Donahoe added. ..."
Source: thehill.com
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Senator Joe Manchin attempts to save the Postal Service others play politics as usual
Senate passes postal bill that would end Saturday mail
"...amendment that would have extended for two years the moratorium on closings. His amendment failed to obtain the needed 60 votes on Wednesday, and he voted against the final bill. "Without the inclusion of a two-year moratorium, I will not support the final passage of the Postal Reform bill," Manchin ..."
Source: www.chicagotribune.com
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Is Congress killing the USPS?
"... this appears as if some in Congress are actually trying to destroy the postal service. Heaven help us if they succeed and we try to use one of the other carriers to get a letter to someone in rural..."
Source: www.timescall.com
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Senate seeks to salvage U.S. Postal Service
"... Left out of the bill was a proposal to raise the price of a first-class postage stamp by 5 cents, to 50 cents, to help pay for the added cost of keeping low-performing post offices and mail processing centers open...."
Source: www.cbsnews.com
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Town for sale: Buy your own ZIP code
"... The town of Buford, Wyo., will be auctioned April 5, according to the Casper Tribune newspaper...."
Source: www.inman.com
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Expert: USPS pullout would jeopardize federal health insurance program
"... "Just to break even, the USPS will have to reduce benefits or increase premiums by about one-tenth," Francis said. "The costs of a pullout to the USPS will exceed $1 billion annually just to maintain current levels of benefits and premiums. And over time, as the postal workforce ages further, the costs will rise sharply."..."
Source: www.federaltimes.com
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Politics, Network Optimization and Early Retirement
"...As Senator Susan Collins’ speech on the Senate floor indicated, the Postal Service’s announcements that it is going ahead with its network optimization plan shortly after the moratorium expires on May 15th ..."
Source: cepobserver.com
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Closure of Frederick Mail Processing Facility 'utter disaster,' according to director of union organization
"...sent to Baltimore to be sorted, has been an “utter disaster,” overwhelming the Baltimore plant and leading to mail delays ..."
Source: http://articles.herald-mail.com/2012-03-10/news/31144429_1_postal-service-s-baltimore-mail-delays-zip
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US Postal Service Cutbacks May Impact Large Customers
"... Large customers entrenched in the mail system may soon have to conform to a new arrangement if the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) consolidates mail processing centers and eliminates most local "overnight" delivery of first-class mail service this year...."
Source: lbbusinessjournal.com
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USPS suspends plans to close processing plants
"... Postal Service has suspended plans to close more than 200 processing plants..."
Source: www.nbc12.com
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Nearly 900 postal service jobs on chopping block in New Orleans
"... "There is a contract provision that states that no one can be transferred more than 50 miles. That's a hurdle the postal service will have to find employment for employees within a 50-mile radius."..."
Source: www.wwltv.com
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Local mail impacted by closing of Bemidji processing center
"...will see is the loss of the overnight commitment of first-class mail..."
Source: www.ifallsdailyjournal.com
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A Civil Action: The People of the United States vs. The U.S. Postal Service
"...Another area of potential environmental impact is the socioeconomic impact on communities. During the Advisory Opinion process for the RAOI, the Postal Service was dismissive of concerns that losing a post office would have significantly negative impacts on a community. ..."
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com
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Postal Service again eyes buyouts, early retirements
"... early retirements and buyout offers as a way to slash its staff by 66,000 employees this year and another 51,000 next year. Combined, the planned cuts..."
Source: www.federaltimes.com
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PMG thanks President for recognizing need for reform
"... refunding to USPS over a period of two years, $10.9 billion in overpayments to the Federal Employees Retirement System;
allowing USPS to transition to five-day per week delivery starting in 2013;..."
Source: usps.gov
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House Panel Approves Bill To Cut Postal, Federal Pensions
"... “This bill is an outrageous attack on postal and federal employees,” said APWU President Cliff Guffey. “Some politicians are quick to cut benefits for middle-class workers, but they fight to the death to protect tax breaks for the super-rich.”..."
Source: www.apwu.org
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USPS announces job openings in Upstate
"... Harry Spratlin, spokesman for the USPS Greater South Carolina District, told GreenvilleOnline.com the jobs are open primarily because of attrition...."
Source: www.greenvilleonline.com
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Early out or disability retirement?
"...If the Postal Service offers early retirement, can I take the offer and retire while on workers’ comp? ..."
Source: federaltimes.com
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U.S. Postal Service celebrating Alabama's football national championship
"... Postal Service is accepting orders for limited-edition collectible commemorative envelopes at $10..."
Source: al.com
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Mail expected to slow as Postal Service deals with losses
"...Scheduled to begin this spring, the changes would virtually eliminate any chance of first-class mail arriving the next day, postal officials said, and also would mean delays for newspapers and magazines. ..."
Source: www.wpcva.com
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Papers feel the pinch: Postal Service cuts would disrupt weekly deliveries
"...If the U.S. Postal Service closes 252 mail processing centers, five in Wisconsin, and slows first-class service next spring, it could disrupt delivery of everything from mail shoppers to Netflix DVDs nationwide. ..."
Source:
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U.S. Postal Service ranked tops (yes, you read that right)
"...At the end of a dismal year for the U.S. Postal Service, let’s end on an upbeat note: For all its problems, the nation’s mail carrier is the best-performing among major developed countries. ..."
Source: federaltimes.com
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PRC Blasts USPS Retail Closure Plan
"... The Postal Service unveiled its list of more than 3,600 facilities post offices, stations and branches — about 11 percent of its retail network — targeted for closure studies on July 26, 2011 and its goal was to make final determinations by the end of 2011. Under pressure from legislators on Capitol Hill, however, the USPS announced a five-month moratorium on the closure of post offices and mail processing facilities. The delay until May 15, 2012, is intended to give Congress more time to adopt legislation that would address the USPS financial crisis without drastic cuts in service...."
Source: www.apwu.org
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