Thursday, October 30, 2008

New Jersey BMC Workers Rally Against Privatization


"...Commenting on the rally, APWU President William Burrus said that the USPS has launched a program of “incremental” privatization. “The Postal Service’s drive to outsource and subcontract is undermining productivity and service to the public.”

“We must do everything we can to protect the service we provide to the American people and to preserve the Postal Service as a public institution.” ..."    



This Article is From: www.apwu.org

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National Arbitration Decision on FMLA Form Letters


"...The case originated on the NALC arbitration docket, and the NPMHU intervened in support. The Unions generally argued that the form letters imposed improper and unlawful burdens on affected employees, and that the Postal Service was seeking more medical and other information than the FMLA allows employers to demand. More particularly, we claimed that the form letters impermissibly ask employees to obtain additional medical information from their health care providers, when the FMLA only allows the USPS, with the permission of the employee, to have its postal doctor call the employee’s doctor; that the form letters seek too much information, by relying on general medical releases and by referring to the employee’s general medical history, rather than focusing these inquiries on the serious medical condition at issue in the FMLA leave; and that the form letters inappropriately suggest to the employee that he or she “must” sign releases or grant USPS access to his/her health care provider, when the employee can refuse (which will usually prompt the USPS to require a second medical opinion)...."    



This Article is From: www.npmhu.org

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BMC Task Force Meets in Washington, DC



"...heard presentations on a wide range of topics, and shared important information relative to staffing, operational, and other areas of concern and interest. The Task Force will develop and oversee implementation of a comprehensive Action Plan to address both the challenges and opportunities presented by the current state of affairs in the U.S. economy, and through actions being considered by the USPS...."    



This Article is From: www.npmhu.org

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Tuesday, October 28, 2008

What is GreenDimes?


"...With GreenDimes, you can stop up to 90% of your junk mail - guaranteed. We work with you and the largest group of marketers and catalogs — over 4,500 and growing — to make sure you get only the mail you want...."    



This Article is From: http://www.greendimes.com/

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IT’S TIME FOR VOE NEW SURVEYS ARE IN THE MAIL


"...The new Voice of the Employee (VOE) survey is in the mail. Randomly selected employees will soon receive the surveys from their supervisors. This VOE survey contains some new questions for your response. If you’re one of the randomly selected participants, it’s your way to give feedback to USPS..."    



This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov
VOE SURVEY
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380 jobs lost as NC direct mail plant closes


"...knew something was wrong at the plant, but that he and other employees expected layoffs instead of a closure...."    


IWCO DIrect
This Article is From: www.reflector.com

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Monday, October 27, 2008

S. Idaho police search for postal worker


"...Rachael Hitesman Walsh, a mother with four children, was last seen with her 2005 red Dodge Neon at a Falls Creek campground in southwestern Idaho...."    



This Article is From: www.fortmilltimes.com

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Sunday, October 26, 2008

USPS announces staff cuts at its headquarters


"...employees who currently occupied positions that were eliminated are still working, “doing generally the same work they were doing all along.” The USPS hopes to reassign those employees in the next few months..."    



This Article is From: www.dmnews.com

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Friday, October 24, 2008

USPS HEADQUARTERS TO REDUCE COMPLEMENT

RIGHTSIZING THE HEADQUARTERS WORKFORCE

"...As a result, complement in all Headquarters and Headquarters-related units has been reduced — some vacant positions have been eliminated, while other occupied positions are impacted. Starting this week, employees occupying impacted positions will be notified and given information and guidance. ..."    



This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov

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Wednesday, October 22, 2008

one-time mail handler here in Lima is now the postmaster general of St Louis Missouri


"...The one-time mail handler here in Lima is now the postmaster general of St Louis Missouri...."    



This Article is From: www.1150wima.com

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Developers urged to put mailboxes in clusters


"...Saving the letter carrier a few steps could help save the U.S. Postal Service a few million dollars. ..."    



This Article is From: www.charleston.net

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Monday, October 20, 2008

Postal service cutbacks could affect customers


"...postal service has lost people by attrition, instituted a hiring freeze and made it clear that 16,000 employees without six years on the job lack protection from layoffs. It also is offering voluntary early retirement to those who have reached the age of 55 with 20 years' service or anyone with 25 years on the job....."    



This Article is From: www.pennlive.com

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Thursday, October 16, 2008

COLA increase is 5.8%, biggest since 1982


"...The Dec. 1 cost-of-living adjustment for military and federal civilian retirees, disabled veterans and survivors will be 5.8 percent, with the increase first appearing in Jan. 1 checks. The same increase will go to Social Security recipients...."    



This Article is From: www.navytimes.com

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Tour 2, Early-Outs, Four-Day Workweeks


"...The termination of Tour 2 mail processing may be intended to force senior employees to retire or accept unfavorable hours of work: If that is the intent, my advice is to reject this insidious option. Layoffs continue to be a possibility..."    



This Article is From: www.apwu.org

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Wednesday, October 15, 2008

63 years and counting Postal carrier Elroy Fenner

Postal carrier Elroy Fenner recalls experiences delivering mail

"...Elroy Fenner had to come up with some clever ways to get the mail where it was supposed to go – especially when there were heavy rains; he would have to take a detour from his regular route in order to get the job done...."    



This Article is From: www.thecountywide.com

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Saturday, October 11, 2008

Next step for USPS: Layoffs?


"... Will there be layoffs at the U.S. Postal Service? That’s the buzz among the agency’s 670,000 workers as signs grow that the agency is sliding further into financial trouble. The Postal Service has already extended early-retirement offers to more than 156,000 postal workers — roughly 20 percent of its work force...."    



This Article is From: federaltimes.com

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Tuesday, October 7, 2008

Neither snow, nor rain, nor shootouts . . .

Pilot program offers Milwaukee postal carriers safe havens

"...Postal carriers were punched in the face, caught in shootouts and nearly run over in Milwaukee during recent months — all as they were trying to deliver the mail, officials said...."    



This Article is From: www.jsonline.com

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Monday, October 6, 2008

Postal Savings Bank ...a bit of Postal History

Mailing Our Way to Solvency

"...In 1910, Congress created a postal savings system. The Post Office offered small savings accounts to individual Americans. The system boomed during the Depression and World War II, with a balance of more than $3 billion in 1947 — almost $30 billion in today’s dollars. But F.D.I.C. insurance of private bank accounts removed the advantage of security from the postal savings system, and its fixed 2 percent..."    



This Article is From: www.nytimes.com

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Saturday, October 4, 2008

USPS Financial Difficulties And the Possibility of Layoffs USPS Financial Difficulties And the Possibility of Layoffs

USPS Financial Difficulties And the Possibility of Layoffs
"...Interest has been especially high about the reference to the possibility of layoffs – for the first time in postal history.

Let me be clear: The possibility that the Postal Service may exercise its authority to layoff career employees is real, but it would affect very few APWU-represented employees. The 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement guarantees that each employee who is employed in the regular work force as of Nov. 20, 2006, “shall be protected henceforth against any involuntary layoff or force reduction during the term of this Agreement.”

The agreement also provides that “upon completion of six years of continuous service in their regular workforce” APWU-represented employees are protected against any involuntary layoff or force reduction “during any period of employment in the regular work force with the United States Postal Service or successor organization in his or her lifetime.” To receive credit for the year, an employee must have worked at least one hour (or received a call-in guarantee in lieu of work) in at least 20 of the 26 pay periods during that anniversary year.

APWU-represented employees who meet the criteria listed above are protected for the life of the 2006-2010 National Agreement or for their lifetime, and are not threatened by layoffs resulting from the significant decline in mail volume or the USPS financial difficulties...."   

Reference: www.apwu.org

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Friday, October 3, 2008

Automobile Stamps: 50s Fins and Chrome stamp Series

America on the Move: 50s Fins and Chrome stamps

"...Featuring paintings by renowned automobile illustrator Art Fitzpatrick, the stamps showcase a 1957 Chrysler 300C, a 1957 Lincoln Premiere, a 1957 Pontiac Safari, a 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk and a 1959 Cadillac Eldorado. The stamps roll out today..."    



This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov

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Wednesday, October 1, 2008

16000 Postal Employees Unprotected from Possible Layoffs


USPS’ Bleak Financial Picture And the Presidential Election
"...In response to the financial crisis, the Postal Service has announced a hiring freeze. And, in a meeting with union leaders and management association presidents, the Postmaster General pointed out that 16,000 USPS employees lack the six years of continuous service required to achieve protection against layoffs. The PMG’s message was clear: For the first time in our history, postal employees may experience layoffs...."   
Reference: www.apwu.org

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