POSTAL NEWS
...from various sources.8.25.2022
How Retirees Can Keep Federal Employee Health Benefits – FEHB
"...No, you don't need to purchase a Medigap policy since FEHB and Medicare will coordinate benefits to provide comprehensive coverage for a wide range of medical expenses. The Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and Medicare FastFacts (PDF file) [67 KB] ..."
Visit Our Homepage8.18.2022
NPMHU | Last of Six Possible COLA Increases (Current Contract) Set at...
"Effective August 27, 2022, all career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive a cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2019 National Agreement. This is the last of six possible COLA increases under the terms of the current agreement. This COLA increase is based on the upward change in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) following release of the July 2022 Index, using the July 2019 CPI index as a base. The increase will appear in paychecks dated ..."
Source: NPMHU
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8.09.2022
APWU: After Pressure, Management Sets Retroactive Pay Date!
"The retroactive payments will be processed on October 11, 2022. They will appear as a pay adjustment on paychecks received October 28, 2022.
“Those in management responsible for overseeing these payroll changes had so little respect for postal workers that they apparently thought a May 2023 date for the retroactive payments would somehow be acceptable. This was outrageous,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein ...We will keep members updated on the grievance process regarding this unacceptable delay. ..."
Source: apwu.org
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5.08.2022
How to vote in Alaska's first all-mail election
"The special election for Alaska's lone U.S. House seat is unprecedented in many respects. It's the first all-mail election in the state, it's the first under Alaska's new election laws that put all candidates on a single primary ballot regardless of party affiliation, and the field encompasses 48 candidates, more than in any other primary in the state.
It's no wonder voters have a lot of questions..."
Source: yahoo.com
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4.13.2022
Health benefits -- New law creates Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program for employees, others
"The Postal Service reform legislation that President Biden signed into law on April 6 will involve changes to employees’ health and retirement benefits.
USPS understands that employees have many questions, so here are a few things to know..."
Source: NPMHU LOcal 317
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4.12.2022
DeJoy says USPS will expedite midterm ballots
"... Will the Postal Service commit to using the same “extraordinary measures” — dedicated ballot-expediting procedures — in the 2022 midterm elections that it used in elections in 2020 and in 2021?..."
Source: www.washingtonpost.com
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2.11.2022
Another Biden Fail: Postal Service has only been able to ship around 10 million of the 60 million household requeted covid test
"... According to the agency, the shipment of these tests was expected to occur within seven to 12 business days. If you ordered your set right away, you should have received your delivery by Feb. 4, CBS-affiliate WUSA 9 in Washington, D.C., reported. But many households still have not received their tests nearly a week later. ..."
Source: www.yahoo.com
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2.08.2022
Mailbox and Postal Blue Box Users: Check Washing Crime Reduction
" ... Many postal blueboxes and residential mailboxes are being robbed of handwritten checks. Thieves steal these checks and wash them. Check washing is the erasing of the written amount and altering that amount..."
Source: npmhu317.blogspot.com
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2.03.2022
Amazon settles with Washington state AG over price-fixing allegations
"... Amazon.com Inc. (Nasdaq: AMZN) has agreed to a multimillion-dollar settlement with Washington state over price-fixing ..."
Source: www.bizjournals.com
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1.19.2022
Today You Can Order Your Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Today You Can Order Your Free At-Home COVID-19 Tests
Every home in the U.S. can soon order 4 free at-home COVID-19 tests The tests will be completely free—there are no shipping costs and you don’t need to enter a credit card number.
Ordering begins today, January 19.
Reference: www.covidtests.gov
1.18.2022
U.S. Postal Service Reveals New Stamps for 2022
"...This is a partial list of the 2022 stamp program, with more to be announced in the weeks and months ahead. All stamp designs are preliminary and subject to change. ..."
Source: www.prnewswire.com
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1.14.2022
No More Surprise Medical Bills: 5 Things To Know about the No Surprises Act Taking Effect
No More Surprise Medical Bills: 5 Things To Know about the No Surprises Act Taking Effect in 2022
New Year. New Law. Beginning January 1, 2022, new federal protections will shield millions of consumers from surprise medical bills. Surprise medical bills – unexpected bills from an out-of-network provider, out-of-network facility or out-of-network air ambulance provider – is common among those with private insurance. Nearly one in five patients who go to the emergency room, have an elective surgery, or give birth in a hospital receive surprise bills, with average costs ranging from $750 to $2,600 per episode.
Learn about how the No Surprises Act can protect you from surprise medical billing. U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
1.08.2022
Most Popular Commemorative 'Saved' Stamp
"...Elvis: The most popular (in terms of number saved, not sold) commemorative stamp issued by the USPS is the 1993 Elvis stamp. Over 124 million of this colorful 29-cent stamp featuring the famous singer have been saved, nearly half again the number of the next most popular, Wonders of America, issued in 2006. ..."
Source: www.saltlakemailing.com
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1.02.2022
Santa Claus computer-vended stamp is Scott official
"... Included in this month’s listing is the Scott number for the nondenominated (58¢) Santa Claus, Sleigh and Reindeer in Flight computer-vended postage stamp.
What do these Scott numbers signify? In short, each stamp’s listing in an upcoming edition of the 2023 Scott catalogs. ..."
Source: www.linns.com
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12.27.2021
Top stamp stories of 2021
"... Reports of new U.S. errors were covered by Linn’s throughout the year and even included a new find on a 1967 stamp. This tagging-omitted 20¢ George C. Marshall stamp (Scott 1289b) was discovered by Henry Gitner and was one of two new errors he found this year.
Late in the year, the mainstream media began reporting endlessly on supply chain issues with products coming into the United States. This unfortunately has affected the importing of stamp hobby supplies..."
Source: www.linns.com
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...and more from the WTF
Judges in the United Kingdom advised to say 'postal operatives' instead of 'postmen'
"... Judges in the United Kingdom have been advised to refer to postal workers as "postal operatives" instead of postmen in a bid for the court system to move towards inclusive, gender-neutral language. ..."
Source: nine.com.au
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A Year After A Postal Worker Crashed Into Their Car, West Garfield Park Couple Still Waiting For USPS To Pay For Their Damages
"... It was caught on camera: a postal worker damaged a car on the West Side, and simply drove away. One year later, the owners of the car still haven’t been reimbursed, so they turned to the Morning Insiders for help.
CBS 2’s Jim Williams reports it was bad enough that a postal worker..."
Source: cbslocal.com
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US postal workers’ union proposes tentative agreement with cuts to real wages, keeps two-tier system
"... Postal workers have seen their real wages, benefits, job security and work conditions deteriorate over the past two decades, with major concessions included in each successive contract. A two-tier system was established in 2011, creating a section of Postal Support Employees (PSE) who are paid significantly less and do not receive a number of benefits. Thousands of post offices and warehouses have shuttered, while workers have been forced to take on greater volumes of work at risk to their health and safety. ..."
Source: www.wsws.org
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Postal worker admits in court to delaying mail in New Orleans
"... several customers on his route complained to the Bywater post office station manager that their mail was delayed or missing. Court records indicate the offenses took place from July 2019 to Jan. 21, 2020. ..."
Source: www.msn.com
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Postal Service’s backdoor bailout
"... What we do know is revenues on packages climbed $3.9 billion this year over last thanks to the pandemic-induced online shopping. But the Postal Service still lost $6.9 billion and expects to lose $160 billion over the next decade. It faces still more spending, for new trucks, mail-handling centers and equipment, and new employees, to accommodate its emphasis on packages.
Volume on first-class mail, the Postal Service’s most profitable product, has declined by about half since 2006. But rather than downsize to reflect this, the Postal Service has decided to..."
Source: www.washingtonexaminer.com
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12.02.2021
USPS issue alert about scam that could impact your personal information
"... A warning tonight from the U.S Postal Service and area law enforcement to stay alert for a new scam that’s sweeping the nation. It’s a scam aimed at stealing your identity and your money.
It’s called the “change of address scam”..."
Source: www.pahomepage.com
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11.27.2021
Retired mail carrier shares his postal stories
"... Bill Crabtree, 93, has many stories to tell from his service as a mail carrier for almost 39 years. ..."
Source: www.fultonsun.com
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11.17.2021
Where is the oldest operating post office in the United States of America?
"... The clapboard post office in Hinsdale, N.H., celebrated its 200 th birthday in 2016. It’s the oldest continuously operating post office in the United States. Nathan Babbitt appointed himself Hinsdale’s first postmaster in 1815 and had the building constructed the next year. ..."
Source: www.newenglandhistoricalsociety.com
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9.23.2021
New Postal Service mailbox rules anger homeowners