POSTAL NEWS

...from various sources.

7.02.2014

Great comments from the postal affairs blog on the deconstruction of the postal mail processing facility network

Rationalization of our Network of Mail Processing Facilities…and a Deconstruction

"... The Postal Service will provide detailed information about its network rationalization planning in the coming weeks. One of two things could be in play here…They don’t know and don’t actually have a plan, or it’s a big secret. Or they will blame the unions or that old favorite standby scapegoat SOX.

The Postal Service expects the completion of this phase of network rationalization will generate an additional $750 million in annual savings.
Unfortunately USPS estimates are always overstated, with service implications understated...."   
Source: postalaffairsblog.intelisent.com


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7.01.2014

PMG: Mail processing plant closures announced again

PMG: Mail processing plant closures announced again

"...After recently announcing a two year moratorium on plant closures, the PMG has recanted that idea and has again announced a return to shuttering hundreds of much needed mail processing facilities. The PMG cited a three year decline in first class mail volume as well as exigent price increases or a lack thereof as the reasoning. In a short video to employees, the PMG OFFERED NO DETAILS on what impacts the new closures will have on employees. It appears the postal service is unsure of what it is going to do, but they are going to do it anyway.

via The Postal Newsgroup: PMG: Mail processing plant closures announced again. ..."

   
Source: postalaffairsblog.intelisent.com

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5.20.2014

CPI-W for April 2014

CPI-W for April 2014

COLA adjustments for craft employees are tied to the CPI-W figures put out by BLS. Even though the cost of living seems to be hitting us all much harder than is identified by the manipulated figures of CPI-W, it does identify the rise in the cost of living. Yet with the wages of postal workers becoming nearly stagnant over the past several contracts, the COLA's do at rare times and add tiny increase in wages. It appears that may be the case this upcoming COLA period, but we still have a couple of months to go. Here are the latest figures:

"... The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 2.0 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 233.443 (1982-84=100). For the month, the index rose 0.4 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. ..."   
Source: www.bls.gov

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5.13.2014

Postal APC kiosks in some areas may have skimming devices attached by credit/debit fraudsters

Postal Service: Beware Stamp Kiosk Skimmers

"...It is not clear what type of skimming devices may be used in this fraud scheme, but the APC kiosks appear to be custom-made by Wincor-Nixdorf, a major ATM manufacturer. As such, many types of skimming devices sold in the cybercrime underground and made for Wincor ATMs may work just as well with this kiosk. ..."   
Source: krebsonsecurity.com

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5.08.2014

To Hell in a Handbasket; Welcome to the New Postal Service

We don’t care, we don’t have to, we’re the Postal Service

"...The plant consolidations have resulted in delayed mail, late delivery, and countless other service problems. Under POStPlan, service has declined due to reducing hours at post offices and replacing experienced postmasters with poorly trained and underpaid personnel. The shift from door and curb delivery to cluster boxes has confused and angered thousands of customers. When customers try calling to complain, they can’t even get hold of their local post office. ..."   
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com

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4.29.2014

FedEx Shooting

Kennesaw FedEx shooting suspect dead

"...Police say the suspect in a shooting at a Kennesaw FedEx facility... At 9 :20 a.m. Fiedler issued a new statement saying: "We can confirm that an incident occurred early Tuesday morning at a FedEx Ground facility in Kennesaw, Georgia. Our thoughts and prayers are with those affected, and with their families and friends. We are grateful for the assistance of law enforcement. The situation is now stabilized..."   
Source: www.13wmaz.com

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4.22.2014

Historic Post Offices being sold, some with extensive art works of historic value

Preserving Historic Post Offices

"...Despite continued public outcry, post offices around the country remain slated for closure, placing many historic buildings and community anchors at risk. ..."   
Source: www.laconservancy.org

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4.13.2014

Robert Neumann: One of the Postal Service's longest-serving employees retires

Postal worker retires after 61 years

"...Sixty-one years after Robert Neumann began sorting mail while trying to keep his balance in a fast-moving train car, he retired Friday as one of the U.S. Postal Service's longest-serving employees. ..."   
Source: www.chicagotribune.com

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4.11.2014

What caused FedEx tractor-trailer to cross a grassy center divide and kill 10 people?

Authorities Seek Cause of Deadly California Bus Crash

"... The authorities on Friday were investigating what caused the driver of a FedEx tractor-trailer to cross a grassy center divide and slam into a chartered bus carrying high school students..."   
Source: www.nytimes.com

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USPS begins 'Load Leveling' in spite of PRC advisory opinion against immediate implementation

PRC tells USPS Load Leveling not ready for prime time

"... possibility is that mailers might simply change their mailing practices to preserve desired delivery dates. If the mailers feel a need for Monday delivery and alter their operations so that they can enter the mail on Thursday instead of Friday, the peak loads on Monday will continue. ..."   
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com

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4.08.2014

Why protectors of America's Postal Service Don’t Trust Paul Ryan

The Real Reason Postal Workers Don’t Trust Paul Ryan

"...“Considering Ryan’s privatization zeal and his wife’s UPS lobbyist connection,” Brinkley wrote, “it’s clear he will not act in a way that’s in the best interest of the Postal Service.” That sums up the way worried postal workers still feel today. ..."   
Source: www.businessweek.com

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4.01.2014

'Corrected' Inverted Jenny stamp is a rare opportunity


'Misprinted Stamps Escape Postal Vault'

"... Unique to this stamp issuance, all sheets were individually wrapped in a sealed envelope to recreate the excitement of finding an Inverted Jenny when opening the envelope and to avoid the possibility of discovering a corrected Jenny prior to purchase. "We are leveraging the incredible story behind the rare collectible as a creative way to generate interest in stamp collecting ..."   
Source: www.prnewswire.com

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3.28.2014

Hector Asselin, postal clerk passes


Hector Asselin – a very Vineyard life

"... In November 1958, Hector was hired to work in the Vineyard Haven Post Office as a postal clerk. The post office at that time was in the building which now houses Rainy Day. Hector became a familiar face behind the counter for many years. He retired in 1983, after 25 years, finishing at the relocated site at Five Corners...."   
Source: www.mvtimes.com

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3.25.2014

USPS releases its February financial statement: First impressions of the rate increase?

Postal Service releases its February financial statement: First impressions of the rate increase?

"... While it is way too soon to say how mailers will ultimately respond to the rate increase, it looks as though higher rates are not driving away vast amounts of mail, and overall, the Postal Service looks to be doing okay for fiscal year 2014. Year to date, five months into the fiscal year, the Postal Service has made a profit of $1.1 billion in controllable operating income. ..."   
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com

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3.16.2014

New Hyde Park residents angered over Postal Service failures

NHP post office starts to sort out delivery problems

"... “It’s not the mailman. It’s the management,” he said last week. “The management all should be canned.” In late February, state Sen. Jack Martins (R-Mineola) said his office had alerted Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand about the problem and was steering complaints about sporadic mail delivery to her office...."   
Source: www.theislandnow.com

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3.03.2014

Postal carrier crashes, mail flies everywhere

USPS truck crashes near Ollala, mail flies everywhere

"... A US Postal Service driver in South Kitsap was hurt Monday morning when her mail truck went off the road and into the water...."   
Source: q13fox.com

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2.23.2014

Purposeful non-delivery of mail ordered by postal managers?

Residents Say No Mail Delivered for 7 Days; Carriers Blame Shorter Hours

"...Local mail carriers told the TV station that management recently began ordering them to clock-out by 6 p.m., which has forced many carriers to leave work with piles of mail undelivered. ..."   
Source: patch.com

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2.21.2014

Postal employee arrested in alleged 'Fabricated Robbery'

Springfield Police Arrest Two in Connection with Fabricated Robbery

"...Springfield Police say they arrested the Springfield Post Office employee, who originally claimed to be the victim, as David Allen Rice, 20, and his sister Courtney Diane Goines, 20. ..."   
Source: www.wmbb.com

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2.13.2014

Postal Supervisor Indicted for embezzlement of mail (Cocaine package)

Postal Supervisor Intercepted Cocaine-Containing Package, Took It Home

"...Authorities say the federal grand jury in Hartford returned the indictment Wednesday on the charge of embezzlement of mail by a postal service employee. ..."   
Source: cbslocal.com

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2.03.2014

Huntsville Mail Processing Center and Area Post Offices open during Alabama snow disaster

BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- Pearl Jackson expected to get her pain and arthritis medication Wednesday, but it never came.

Waiting on a package to be delivered in the snow? It might not arrive until next week

"... Post offices with ZIP codes that start with 356, 357 and 358, which are in the Huntsville, Decatur and Muscle Shoals areas, did not close and were open for regular hours, she said...."   
Source: al.com

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1.31.2014

Postal Reform Bill Would Create a Horrible New Health Plan For Postal Workers - A plan You Would Not Want To Be Forced To Have

Postal Reform Bill Would Create New Health Care Plan for Agency

"...The revised language would require the Office of Personnel Management to create a Postal Service Health Benefits Program, and to administer it within FEHBP. Any company currently offering an FEHBP plan that contains more than 5,000 postal enrollees would be required to offer the same plan within the new postal-specific system. About 90 percent of all postal enrollees would be covered by this provision, while the remaining 10 percent would be exempt from making the switch. ..."   
Source: www.govexec.com

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1.26.2014

Beware of use of Postal Service kiosk machines: a skimming device was discovered at a Salt Lake County post office machine

Police say man installed skimmer in post office kiosk to steal bank information

"... Salt Lake City police are looking for a man they say installed a skimmer in a post office kiosk to steal bank information, then began withdrawing money from victims' accounts...."   
Source: www.deseretnews.com

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1.22.2014

PMG Donahoe said privatization “would be a crazy idea..." as he gives postal jobs to Staples' stores

Staples’ selling postal products without USPS workers stirs fears of privatization

"... Donahoe said privatization “would be a crazy idea. I think the Postal Service as structured is a great service provider. . . . Why would we ever put anything like that at risk?”..."   
Source: www.washingtonpost.com

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1.17.2014

Class Action Suit: Some Postal Employee Life Insurance Beneficiaries May Be Due Additional Payments

Life Insurance Beneficiaries May Be Due Additional Payments

"... a private class action lawsuit on behalf of beneficiaries of certain deceased postal employees. The lawsuit covers the beneficiaries of deceased..."   
Source: www.apwu.org

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1.12.2014

Postal Uniforms


United States Uniform Company

Click image to go to www.usuniforms.com

"There are numerous uniform companies to use your U.S. Postal Service uniform allotment. One such vendor is www.usuniforms.com. We suggest shopping numerous vendors before using your allowance as pricing, shipping and discounts vary greatly. www.usuniforms.com is just one example of the many uniform vendors. "   
Source: www.usuniforms.com

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1.09.2014

Safety and security of postal mail may be compromised by allowing commercial retailers to handle your mail, says union

Union: Don’t Fill Staples Jobs with Non-Postal Employees

"... supports the expansion of postal services. But we are adamantly opposed to USPS plans to replace good-paying union jobs with non-union low-wage jobs held by workers who have no accountability for the safety and security of the mail. Postal workers deserve better, and our customers deserve better.”..."   
Source: www.govexec.com

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1.08.2014

Mail Carriers Braving Dangerous Weather to Deliver Your Mail

Mail carriers on the job despite sub-zero temps

"...All they ask is for a little courtesy from the homeowner. One thing that would really help them out is if you shovel your sidewalk, so they can get to your mailbox, and not have to walk through the snow...."   
Source: www.620wtmj.com

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1.05.2014

Darrell Issa must really be upset over the Postal Service outperforming private firms over the holidays

Darrell Issa’s Cruelest Cut: A Seriously Cynical Attack on the Postal Service

"...Ending mail delivery of the weekend would dramatically undermine the ability of the postal service to meet the demands of modern shipping and communications. The likely result would be a rapid shift of traffic to private firms, which contribute heavily to politicians but which do not provide the universal, low-cost service that is the hallmark of the postal service. ..."   
Source: www.thenation.com

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12.30.2013

Alabama mail delays are not workers fault; Mail delays apear to be logistical and managerial issues

LETTER: A chain of events leads to late mail

"... We have a truck that brings our mail every morning and sometimes it doesn’t run until 8 or 9 o’clock. If the truck brings the mail late, more than likely the carrier isn’t getting out on time, which leads to your mail being delivered late. As a matter of fact, just this morning (Dec. 17), our truck didn’t bring mail until 11 o’clock. ..."   
Source: www.tuscaloosanews.com

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12.18.2013

Will you have to travel to a postal cluster box to get your mail?

Canada gets cluster-boxed: Why it can’t happen here

"... The news that Canada would get cluster-boxed was greeted with applause by Congressman Darrell Issa, whose Postal Reform Act (H.R. 2748) mandates a similar conversion for the U.S., with some thirty million residences and businesses being required to shift to cluster boxes over the next ten years...."   
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com

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12.15.2013

Higher than normal mail volume expected by the U.S. Postal Service

U.S. Postal Service plans Sunday delivery to get ahead of Monday holiday shipping rush

"...Anderson said the U.S.P.S. is expecting a higher than normal mail volume on Mondays during the holidays ..."   
Source: www.newsnet5.com

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12.12.2013

Proposal to relocate retail services at Harlem Post Office

The Postal Service tries to pull a fast one in Harlem

"...What Mr. Mulvey didn’t count on was community leaders, elected officials, and the union working together to stop his less than honorable attempt to sneak one by. What he has accomplished instead is galvanizing the community to work to save its historic College Station Post Office. We will more than ready for Mr. Mulvey when he comes after Harlem’s post office next time. ..."   
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com

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12.10.2013

Mail processing consolidations not making sense

Future of Mail Processing in WNY

"..."The burden of proof is on them. Tell us why. If it makes sense, it makes sense. If it doesn't, it doesn't. And right now it just doesn't," he said. Last year, Congressman Higgins fought to secure an extension from the Postmaster General ..."   
Source: www.wkbw.com

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12.08.2013

Postal mail carriers concerned about dangers of delivering mail in the dark

U.S. Postal workers voice concerns about delivering mail at night

"... Polly Gibbs, spokesperson for the United States Postal Service said: "Letter carriers have always delivered mail in the dark in standard time zones..."   
Source: www.firstcoastnews.com

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12.06.2013

Big mailers to get First Class mail discounts

USPS Confirms 2014 Direct Mail Promotions

"... a lot of marketers used First Class as a marketing medium because it results in higher response,” says Tom Foti, manager of direct mail ..."   
Source: www.dmnews.com

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12.03.2013

OIG to probe late mail delivery

Inspector general to probe late mail delivery

"... launching an investigation into the shift in mail delivery to evening hours, a change that’s alarmed letter carriers and customers...."   
Source: www.washingtonpost.com

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11.27.2013

Where can I get 'Harry Potter' stamps?


Where you can get Harry Potter stamps — and where you can’t: A list, map, and complaint

Harry Potter stamps
store.usps.com

"... The stamps are for sale at usps.com/stamps, at the Postal Store on eBay at ebay.com/stamps, and by calling 800-STAMP24. But if you want to buy the stamps at a post office, you have to go to one of the 3,100 Premier Post Offices. The Premier Post Office program, which was announced in May 2011..."   
Source: www.savethepostoffice.com

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11.24.2013

Postal carrier shot and killed during night mail delivery

U.S. Postal Service worker fatally shot in Prince George’s County

"... well after sunset when the shooting occurred. Residents of the area said mail is not usually delivered there so late. “It was mighty late,” the neighbor said. ..."   
Source: www.washingtonpost.com

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11.19.2013

Any Publicity is good publicity! ... the Harry Potter stamps

Postal Service Officially Taken Over By America Haters

"...Stamp collectors are up in arms over their latest venture, and you do not want to ..."   
Source: www.motherjones.com

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11.15.2013

Postal Service package service volume increases have cut losses tremendously


Postal Service posts $5 billion loss, but it's lower than prior year

Ship a package with the U.S. Postal Service
Ship a package with the U.S. Postal Service

"... Package services have remained a promising business as more people shop online and need carriers to deliver the goods. Package volumes grew by 210 million pieces this year. ..."
   
Source: www.nbcnews.com

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