Tuesday, April 29, 2008

schedules for economic stimulus payments

Below are the schedules for economic stimulus payments related to tax returns processed by April 15, 2008:

Letter Carriers Food Drive is May 10, 2008



ABOUT STAMP OUT HUNGER
On Saturday May 10th, letter carriers in more than 10,000 communities will collect food items and deliver them to local food banks to help some of the millions of Americans, including an estimated 13 million children, who face hunger every day.

Since 1993, families have donated more than a half-billion pounds of food to Stamp Out Hunger. You can help make this year our most successful ever.
Simply place bags filled with nonperishable food items like canned meats and fish, canned soup, juice, pasta, vegetables, cereal and rice next to your mailbox on Saturday, May 10th. *

Your letter carrier will pick up the bags and deliver them to your local food bank.

* Please do not include out-of-date items or those in glass containers.

Forever Stamp

Every Time a Bell Rings… Another Forever Stamp is Sold: Postal Service Customers Prepare for New Prices on May 12 "...The Forever Stamp, as the name suggests, can be used to mail a one-ounce First-Class Mail letter at any time in the future without additional postage, regardless of when the stamps are purchased or used and no matter how prices may change. Customers who buy Forever Stamps now at the current First-Class Mail stamp price of 41 cents will save a penny when the price of stamps — including the Forever Stamp — increases to 42 cents on May 12...."
Reference: www.usps.com

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Monday, April 28, 2008

www.fedexwatch.com References Book

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New York Times Reporter Writes About FedEx in New Book "...The New York Times is serializing parts of Greenhouse’s book. The April 20 Sunday Times had an extensive excerpt that focused on former FedEx Ground driver Jean Capobianco..."
Reference: www.fedexwatch.com

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Cookeville Postal Retiree Serves Online Radio To The Masses

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We always like to find articles about what postal employees do when they retire. Here's an article on Bill Barnes who is riding the waves ...internet waves that is. Surf on over. Support a retired postal worker by dropping by his website and requesting a song. Tell him "The Postal Newsgroup" sent you! Here is the article out of Cookeville, Tennessee.Cookeville man hits the Internet radio waves "...COOKEVILLE -- Bill Barnes of Cookeville has amassed thousands of songs in his years as a DJ for hire. Now he's going to share those songs with the whole community through a two-hour online radio show which airs from 3-5 p.m. every Monday through Friday at http://community.loudcity.com/stations/thebman38502-yahoo-com...."
Reference: www.herald-citizen.com

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TSP Snapshot

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Here is the April 2008 TSP SnapShot:
Click to enlarge image please



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The Juan Rodriguez Postal Collection

Postal collection reminds Juan Rodriguez of his years of service "...The pieces bring back memories of his time as a postal carrier in Miami, delivering mail to such places as residential neighborhoods and the Miami International Merchandise Mart..."
Reference: www.thevillagesdailysun.com

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Sunday, April 27, 2008

Classic Car Stamps

Postal Service provides ‘sneak peek’ at Classic Car Stamps "...Ever wanted to own a classic car but couldn’t afford one? Later this fall, 50 million Detroit classics will roll out of the nation’s 37,000 Post Office show rooms as the second issuance in the America on the Move commemorative stamps series. The 50s Fins and Chrome 42-cent First-Class stamps go on sale Oct. 3, and feature paintings by renowned automobile illustrator Art. M. Fitzpatrick—a ’57 Chrysler 300C, ’57 Lincoln Premiere, ’57 Pontiac Safari, ’57 Studebaker Golden Hawk and a ’59 Cadillac Eldorado. The stamps were modeled after cars still on the road today...."
Reference: www.usps.com

Friday, April 25, 2008

TSP Auto Enrollment?

Board to press for automatic TSP enrollment of new employees
"...draft legislation prepared by the board, new or rehired employees would have 3 percent of their basic pay automatically contributed to one of TSP’s L Funds as soon as they begin work, unless they specifically decline to participate. Employees would have 90 days to opt out of the program and receive a full refund. ..."

Source: www.federaltimes.com

Collection Box Blues

Postal Worker Finds $2,300 In Envelope

"... The owner accidently dropped the enveloped in the postal collection box instead of the bank's deposit box...

Source: www.newsnet5.com

CPI-W

Charting average weekly earnings for U.S. workers
"... ..."

Source: www.reliableplant.com

Wednesday, April 23, 2008

Provide public comment on universal postal service

Postal Regulatory Commission Initiates Public Outreach on Universal Postal Service Study "...The Postal Regulatory Commission today established Docket No. PI2008-3 and invited public comment on universal postal service and the postal monopoly in the United States. The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) requires the Commission to submit a report to the President and Congress on “universal postal service and the postal monopoly in the United States, including the monopoly on the delivery of mail and on access to mailboxes. The report is to be submitted not later than December 19, 2008...."
[Reference: www.graphicartsonline.com]

Reference Material:
  • Universal Postal Service: The obligation that everyone in every part of the country gets the same type of mail service for the same price.

  • Postal Regulatory Commission



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    United States Postal Service ‘Electronic Postmark’

    Striata Adds the United States Postal Service ‘Electronic Postmark’ to its Secure eDocument Delivery and eBilling Solutions "...This new offering guarantees email document delivery, increases inbox penetration, adds the legal protection of the United States Postal Service Electronic Postmark™ and significantly enhances consumer trust...."
    [Reference: www.emediawire.com]

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    Tuesday, April 22, 2008

    OPM Launches Enhanced Telework Website

    Does the postal service offer employees the opportunity to work at home via the internet/intranet? The postal service participate in telework. The telework website lists a telework cordinator.

    U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Director Linda M. Springer today announced the launch of an enhanced interagency telework website, www.telework.gov. The updated site features a series of user-friendly improvements designed to make telework information more accessible and understandable to Federal employees.

    The site: www.telework.gov/

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    Postal Carrier Lisa Harrell Saves Baby

    Postal worker saves infant who fell from second-floor window "...City police said Lisa Harrell was making a package delivery to 306 Second St. about 11 a.m. when she noticed the child in an upstairs window that was open and did not have the screen pulled down. Harrell started to walked to the front door when she was struck in the head, police said. Unsure of what hit her, she put her arms out and the child fell into her arms, according to police...."
    [Reference: www.dailygazette.com]

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    stamps were stolen

    Melcher Used Newspaper, Tin Foil To Trick Machines, Prosecutors Say "...and four other people allegedly stole $10,486 worth of stamps and other postal property between October and December 2006, according to the U.S. Attorney's Office. The stamps were stolen from vending machines inside the post offices, the paper reported...."
    [Reference: www.thebostonchannel.com]

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    New USPS Equipment

    New equipment to lower USPS costs as revenue declines "...Postmaster General John Potter said the agency’s quarterly revenue indicators were “bad.” “These are not normal times,” Potter said. “Economic problems have deepened … and they have been sending waves of turbulence through the Postal Service.”..."
    [Reference: www.federaltimes.com]

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    Sunday, April 20, 2008

    Postal Carrier Town USA: NalcRest, Florida

    Retired postal workers have town to call their own "...Located on 300 acres, about 7 miles east of Lake Wales in Polk County, Nalcrest contains 500 apartments. They are full, almost exclusively, with former carriers and their spouses. The village is meant to provide a safe, social and warm retreat for the mail veterans, most of whom completed their 25 to 30 years of service...."
    [Reference: www.palmbeachpost.com]

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    New American Flag Stamps Issued

    American Flag Never Looked So Beautiful "... Each of the four first-class stamps features a painting created by Laura Stutzman of Mountain Lake Park, MD. “I’m a huge fan of painted flags,” says Stutzman, who used gouache on illustration board to capture the “living, breathing force” of her subject.

    The Flags 24/7 stamps will be available for purchase in Post Offices, on usps.com, and by calling 800-STAMP-24 starting Friday, April 18, 2008..."
    [Reference: www.usps.com]

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    Saturday, April 19, 2008

    Postal Arbitration

    Profile: Qualified for Medicare and Still Works as Arbitrator-Mediator "...flying to Oklahoma City and, then, driving to Elk City, Oklahoma in order to arbitrate a dispute between the US Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union there over a staffing issue. In fact, Helburn has often arbitrated contract interpretation and discipline issues in the past at many other US Post offices in the Southwest and Southeast, as he has also done at Federal Express and Southwest Airlines too, among others...."

    [Reference: www.fedsmith.com]

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    Human Remains Lost in the Mail

    Lost in the Mail "...Now, postal officials from Texas to Virginia to USPS headquarters in Washington, who were alerted to the unfortunate set of circumstances late Friday by Inside the Beltway, are scrambling to find not only the remains, but also determine how something so horrific occurred in the first place..."
    [Reference: washingtontimes.com]

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    Postal Service Goes Green

    USPS launches "green" Web site "...promoting the agency's eco-friendly products and services, as well as recommended “green” practices for mailers. The new Web site can be accessed at www.usps.com/green. ..."
    [Reference: www.dmnews.com]

    Click Below to see a larger version of this screen capture

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    Jacksonville Beach post office finds new home

    The new site is at 1348 Beach Blvd. in a shopping center. "...The new post office at 1348 Beach Blvd. in a corner of the shopping center where two buildings join, will require four tenants to move to other space in the complex. Rosenberg said the agency will spend about $4.2 million to retrofit the 10,000-square-foot facility. The post office will make the move over a weekend so it won't disrupt service, he said..."
    [Reference: www.jacksonville.com]
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    Friday, April 18, 2008

    Union Donation

    [APWU] Union’s Big Contribution Helps Save Small-Town Post Office "...The APWU has given a one-of-a-kind gift to the people of McCausland, Iowa: a donation of $30,000 to help save their post office. The contribution will pay for renovations to a building the small town purchased in order to stave off threats by the USPS to discontinue regular postal service for its 300 residents...."

    Reference: APWU]

    Federal CSRS and FERS COLA

    Retiree COLA Gets Sweeter "...FERS employees get a reduced COLA (usually 1 percentage point less than the actual rise in inflation) starting at age 62...."
    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]


    File: 2009 COLA Forecast

    Postal Service Ends Tax Night Tradition in Some Areas

    Post office lacks customer service "...Joseph Breckenridge, the U.S. Postal Service's Alabama spokesman, tried to turn the situation on its head. The Postal Service didn't announce there would be extended hours on April 15, so customers shouldn't have expected them, he said...."
    [Reference: www.tuscaloosanews.com]

    File Under: Tuscaloosa, Alabama

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    Tuesday, April 15, 2008

    Post Office Extends Hours at Some Offices for Last Minute Tax Filers

    Huntsville Alabama Post Office Hours, April 15 2008 Tax Day:
    Drop your taxes at one of the following locations to get an April 15 postmark. The Following U.S. Postal Service Huntsville locations are open until midnight Tuesday night.
  • The Huntsville Processing & Distribution Facility, 3408 Wall Triana Hwy.

  • 615 Clinton Ave.

  • 645 Wynn Drive

  • 2501 Mastin Lake Road

  • 3605 Governors Drive

  • 8401 Whitesburg Drive


  • File Under: Post Office Extends Hours
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    Reference: Postal News Network

    Monday, April 14, 2008

    Post Office Extends Hours for Tax Filing Deadline

    Many Post Offices across the nation will accept Blue Box collection mail until midnight April 15, to accommodate all of us procrastinating the filing of our taxes. Check your local newspapers and television stations to determine if your Post Office has extended hours for collection of tax filing.

    File Under: Post Office Hours

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    Food Inflation, Riots Spark Worries for World Leaders

    IMF, World Bank Push for Solutions "...World Bank President Robert Zoellick warned in a recent speech that 33 countries are at risk of social upheaval because of rising food prices. Those could include Indonesia, Yemen, Ghana, Uzbekistan and the Philippines..."
    [Reference: The Wall Street Journal]

    File Under: Economy Worries World Leaders
    World Bank

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    Sunday, April 13, 2008

    Post Office Hours and Tax Time

    Postal Service tips for last-minute tax filers "...Postal officials are encouraging customers to send their mail early in the day to avoid expected crowds and remind mailers to affix correct postage. First-class, letter-size mail requires 41 cents for the first ounce and 17 cents for each additional ounce...."
    [Reference: deseretnews.com]

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    Friday, April 11, 2008

    National Center for Employee Development (NCED)

    What is NCED? NCED is an acronym for the National Center for Employee Development which is a training and conference facility, centrally located in Norman, Oklahoma. The website explains it as the "main NCED campus at NCED is a 72-acre, postal-owned site at 24th and Imhoff Road in Norman, Oklahoma. Although the Postal Service is still NCED's biggest customer, whose employees attend job skills and information training, we also welcome other businesses and groups."

    File Under: Postal Training

    USPS: Age Discrimination Suit

    Former letter carrier sues Postal Service "...After filing a formal complaint with the Postal Service's Equal Employment Opportunity Office in 2003, Marinelli says his boss refused to approve an incentive payment for buying a new personal vehicle, which rural carriers use to deliver mail; refused him leave and vacation time; demanded he show a doctor's note for a sick day; and unfairly increased his work load, among other complaints. Several of those disputes were settled in Marinelli's favor through his union, the suit says. Marinelli said he temporarily went on stress leave at the height of his problems...."
    [Reference: www.metrowestdailynews.com]

    More Sources: Age Discrimination (EEOC)

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    Postal employee rights: Religion in the workplace

    Circuit courts address religion in workplace "All four cases affect how much employees are protected in the workplace, and all four courts found in favor of the employer. In a final recent opinion that dealt with religion in the workplace, however (Sturgill v. UPS), a UPS employee prevailed over the delivery company that fired him for refusing to deliver packages after his Sabbath began on Friday evenings."
    [Reference: www.firstamendmentcenter.org]

    More Sources: Religious Accommodation (EEOC)

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    U. S. Postal Service charged expenses to government purchase cards

    U.S. Postal Service defends $13,500 dinner charge "...For this occasion, USPS paid for 81 dinners averaging over $160 per person for customers of the Postal Customer Council at an upscale steak restaurant. Further, USPS paid for over 200 appetizers and over $3,000 of alcohol, including more than 40 bottles of wine costing more than $50 each and brand-name liquor such as Courvoisier, Belvedere, and Johnny Walker Gold...."
    [Reference: usatoday.com]

    Thursday, April 10, 2008

    Promotional postcards prove profitable, popular

    A three-partner firm found a successful niche in offering ad and mailing expertise to small businesses "...they founded Minneapolis-based PostcardBuilder, a company that has accumulated more than 2,000 clients in virtually every state and has grown to nearly $4 million in annual revenue...."
    [Reference: www.startribune.com]

    File Under: Bulk Mail Services

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    Wednesday, April 9, 2008

    Lavish Postal Service Dinner Party

    Lavish $13,500 Postal Service Dinner Party Held At Orlando Restaurant "...At Ruth's Chris Steak House, the motto is, "You can have it all," and a new report from the Government Accountability Office says that's what the U.S. Postal Service tried to give 81 special guests who were attending a national conference in Orlando in 2006..."
    [Reference: www.wftv.com]

    File Under: Postal Service Pork

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    Tuesday, April 8, 2008

    Turkeys Go Postal on Postal Workers

    Postal Workers Attacked by Wild Turkeys "...the turkeys are attracted to the red, white and blue postal trucks...."
    [Reference: www.channel3000.com]

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    NAACP sides with Richmond-area postal workers

    It asks FBI to investigate claims of 'unrealistic goals' set by local management "...executive director of the NAACP's Virginia Conference, said the civil-rights group got involved "because the people came to us." "We have heard from others who are afraid of retaliation," he said. "They want an impartial investigation, so why not ask the Federal Bureau of Investigation to do that?" He wrote a letter to the FBI's Richmond office on April 1 seeking an investigation...."
    [Reference: www.inrich.com]

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    Where did the candidates get their money

    The amount raised by 2008 presidential candidates, according to www.whitehouseforsale.org, is $692,939,128. Where did that money come from? Much of the money comes from bundlers. Bundling is the practice of one donor gathering donations from many different individuals in an organization or community and presenting the sum to a campaign. This is a legal manner in which to give large sums of money, yet remain within the restrictions set by law. Go to www.whitehouseforsale.org to identify these bundlers.

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    Monday, April 7, 2008

    What is the best career for the future?

    If you are looking for a new career or assisting your children in career choices, you will find the Occupational Outlook Handbook (OOH), 2008-09 Edition might come in handy. The Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you:

    * training and education needed
    * earnings
    * expected job prospects
    * what workers do on the job
    * working conditions
    Example: Postal Service Workers

    Sunday, April 6, 2008

    Home Raided by Postal Inspectors

    Postal inspectors raid home in identity theft probe "...Postal service officials declined to reveal who they were looking for or what they discovered with the federal search warrant. No one connected with the investigation was arrested. ..."
    [Reference: www.theoutlookonline.com]

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    Postal Customers Not Happy With Removal of Stamp Vending Machines

    Postal Service fails us — again "...Private enterprise seems to be able to cope with the challenge of keeping vending machines, where everything from soft drinks to headache remedies can be bought, in operation. Why can’t the Postal Service?
    ..."
    [Reference: www.messengernews.net]

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    Friday, April 4, 2008

    Postal Employee Retirement

    Polled and Pushed on Diversity "...About 26,000 federal employees, who are paid through the General Services Administration, are in the first phase of RetireEZ. The U.S. Postal Service, with about 700,000 employees, will join the retirement modernization project next. The OPM expects that about 2,000 postal employees will file retirement claims every month and that will provide a better sense of how the new system functions, Springer said...."
    [Reference: www.washingtonpost.com]

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    Federal Pay Raise and COLAs

    Pay Raise & COLAs "...The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.5 percent in January 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (www.bls.gov/cpi or 202/691-6994). Released on February 20, the CPI-W for January is 206.7. For purposes of calculating the next COLA (cost-of-living adjustment) the index is currently 1.5 percent above the 2007 third quarter average base index of 203.6..."
    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]

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    Wednesday, April 2, 2008

    MILWAUKEE - Postal Workers Attacked

    Two Postal Workers Recovering After Attacks "... MILWAUKEE - Two letter carriers in Milwaukee are recovering after attacks in their neighborhoods...."
    [Reference: www.todaystmj4.com]

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    Photo Stamps

    Create your own real postage stamps with your photo of choice "...put your own picture on your stamps. Imagine sending a birthday card to your mother ...when she gets it in the mail, it has a stamp on it that is a picture of her holding you in her arms...."


    [Reference: postal-edaily.blogspot.com]

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    Chantilly Virginia Postal Employees Infected

    Chantilly Postal Workers Test Positive for Tuberculosis "...a worker at the post office had an active case of the disease. Fairfax County health officials found that 32 of the more than 120 employees had been exposed..."
    [Reference: www.washingtonpost.com]

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    OPM Issues Report On Its New RetireEZ Program

    New Program is permanently transforming retirement process "..."We are pleased to report the majority of cases that processed to date under RetireEZ matched the legacy calculation," said OPM Director Linda M. Springer. "In all Wave 1 cases OPM paid full retirement benefits at the payment commencement date. No longer are retirees under the new system receiving interim payments and waiting for months until their actual payment amounts are calculated. This success is directly attributable to the transformation of millions of paper records to automated data that underlies the modernization. All Wave 1 new retirees are getting better service because of RetireEZ."..."
    [Reference: www.opm.gov]
    www.retireez.gov

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