Postal news for those interested in the mailing industry, postal employees, stamp collecting, etc... This site is not affiliated with the U.S. Postal Service
"...The Postal Service is providing a preview of its 2016 stamp program that is sure to attract the interest of fans of Sarah Vaughan, Star Trek, NASA’s New Horizons mission, Trucks, Shirley Temple, flowers, soda fountain fans and the holidays — just to name a small handful..."
South Florida P&DC goes for $5.8 million more than the USPS sold it for, just two months ago
"...The City of Pembroke Pines thus made a quick and hefty profit of $5.7 million, pretty much at the expense of the Postal Service.
One has to wonder why CBRE, the Postal Service’s exclusive real estate agent, wasn’t able to get more for the property. How was the City of Pembroke Pines able to find a buyer willing to pay $5.8 million more than the City had paid the Postal Service, just two months earlier? ...Postal Service has maintained a retail post office on the property by leasing space from the City of Pembroke Pines ..."
US Intel: ISIS May Have Passport Printing Machine, Blank Passports
"...“Since more than 17 months [have] passed since Raqqa and Deir ez-Zour fell to ISIS, it is possible that individuals from Syria with passports ‘issued’ in these ISIS controlled cities or who had passport blanks, may have traveled to the U.S.,” the report says ..."
"...Richard McDonald celebrated his golden anniversary Wednesday at the Belle Meade post office where he delivers mail.
When he started, stamps were..."
NPMHU Prevails in First Phase of National Arbitration Challenging Proposed Closings and Consolidations
"...The NPMHU has prevailed in the first phase of its National arbitration against the Postal Service challenging many of the proposed closings and consolidations of mail processing plants under the Area Mail Processing guidelines found in Handbook PO-408..."
IG Taps Valbridge To Bring Transparency to USPS' Real Estate Portfolio
"...Valbridge's award of this contract follows a series of reports by the OIG this past year that have identified what the OIG perceives to be failures by the Postal Service to properly manage its real estate holdings.
Earlier this month, a report by the OIG determined that the Postal Service did not know how many vacant properties it owned or leased..."
Federal employees must now be extra careful about what they tweet at work
"...Outside of work hours, employees may identify their political views on Facebook in the appropriate field and even post photos of themselves with candidates for office..."
American Postal Workers Union Executive Board Endorses Bernie Sanders for President
"...The American Postal Workers Union announced today that its National Executive Board has voted to endorse Bernie Sanders for president. The vote follows Sanders’ rousing speech to more than 2,000 activists at the union’s All-Craft Conference, held in Las Vegas, in late October, where he displayed a deep understanding of postal issues and workers’ concerns..."
Postal Police Officer Shot by Fake Cops in Newark: Sources
"...police impersonators got out of their car, a white Ford Crown Victoria, and attempted to rob the officer. The sources say that the officer reached for his gun and..."
Colorado secretary of state warns against mailing ballots
"...Williams says that several county clerks have expressed concern that the U.S. Postal Service didn't deliver their ballots in a timely manner. So he suggests voters either drop off their ballots with their county clerk or use another county drop-off location..."
Canada’s Postal Agency Puts Restructuring Plans on Hold
"...Canada’s government-owned postal agency said Monday it has put a temporary halt to plans to phase out door-to-door mail delivery in urban areas, about a week before a new Liberal government that promised to restore regular mail service comes to power..."
Private post office rises in place of shuttered facility
"...A private post office — the U.S. Postal Service-contracted post office closed about three weeks ago amid an investigation into complaints of slow mail delivery — will be up and running as soon..."
"...Late Thursday, August 13, 2015, the NPMHU National Office filed a federal lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service, claiming that the USPS breached its binding contractual obligations when it unilaterally announced a reversal of its earlier determination that the primary craft for operating the Small Parcel Sorting System is the Mail Handler craft. The NPMHU is seeking a declaration that the Postal Service has breached the tripartite agreement on jurisdictional craft assignments, as well as injunctive and monetary relief to remedy this breach. The APWU also has been named in the suit, as a required party to any litigation on this subject. ..."
Head Of Local Post Office Shows Up At Guy’s Door To Personally Apologize For USPS Package Tracking Mix-Up
"...there’s a happy ending in this case at least: Tony says the new postmaster in charge of his local office showed up on Wednesday to personally apologize to him for the mix-up..."
USPS to Gain Large Fleet of 2016 Ram ProMaster Vans
"...Last year, the U.S. Postal Service processed 155.4 billion pieces of mail, and it did so with a fleet of over 211,000 vehicles. Now, the USPS is upgrading its fleet with 9,113 model-year 2016 Ram ProMaster 2500 cargo vans, which should be suitable alternatives for delivering larger packages that the current Long Life Vehicle (LLV) can't handle..."
USPS Says It Tried To Deliver My Package, But Home Security Video Shows Otherwise
"...waiting around at home all day, only to check the tracking later and find that a carrier attempted delivery when you finally left the house. That’s what happened to Consumerist reader Tony — only he had video to prove that no one from USPS ever showed up, despite what the tracking information said online..."
"...complaints of slow mail delivery at the Settlers Bay contract post office, a situation that came to a head on Saturday when local residents found the office had been closed...."
"...To avoid addressing the complaint, the PRC concluded that service regulations are unenforceable. Contrary to all past pronouncements, the commission declared that service standards couldn’t be “violated” in any legally meaningful sense.
“This is an unauthorized revision of the law,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein, noting that the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) addresses USPS service standards.
“Until the commission’s rule of unenforceability is corrected..."
Proposed Remedy Would Restore Work to APWU Bargaining Unit
"...In a major blow to the Postal Service’s deal with Staples, Region 5 of the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) issued a complaint on June 26 charging that the USPS illegally subcontracted work to the office-supply chain and ordering the agency to return the work that existed on July 31, 2014, to the APWU bargaining unit...."
10 mobile tools that will bring the post office to the phone, according to the USPS OIG
"...In anticipation of a second wave of digital disruption, the U.S. Postal Service's Inspector General released a report outlining 10 mobile-focused efforts..."
Criminal gangs infiltrated postal delivery services to intercept drugs, say officials
"...Subcontracted drivers working for Parcelforce – the parcel delivery arm of the Royal Mail – are under investigation after delivery vans were suspected to have stopped outside addresses without dropping off packages, said officials at the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)..."
Is Bernie Sanders Holding Back the Postal Board of Governors?
"...Sanders had implored Brennan to end organizational changes that had slowed the delivery of mail.
Yet last December, the board of governors called upon a federal statute to establish a temporary emergency committee with special powers to make decisions in the absence of a quorum ..."
Bomb squad destroys packages addressed to 'specific young women' at Murrysville post office
"...Police said the packages were all addressed to specific female recipients. The postal service has been tracking packages to those people recently..."
U.S. Postal Worker indicted for role in tax fraud scheme
"...Alabama town of Seale, has been indicted by a Montgomery grand jury on one count of conspiracy to defraud the United States, 14 counts of mail fraud, 14 counts of aggravated identity theft and 14 counts of embezzling mail..."
"...a $1.2 billion controllable operating profit for the year.
“This quarter is generally, from my understanding, on track with what we expected,” said Sarah Ninivaggi, USPS public relations representative. “We’re still on track to see a controllable income for the year.”..."
U.S. Postal Service to review government email use for Ashley Madison site
"...The U.S. Postal Service and its internal watchdog plan to review whether or not some of the agency’s employees may have violated federal policies by using their government email on the infidelity website Ashley Madison..."
Postal Service finalizes new standards for curbside mailboxes
"...Under the new rule, new locking and non-locking curbside mailboxes must be able to accommodate the insertion or removal of a new minimum-sized mail item 7 inches high by 13 inches wide by 16 inches deep..."
10 fascinating facts on the Postal Service’s birthday
"...On July 26, 1775, the Continental Congress created the Post Office, naming Benjamin Franklin as the first Postmaster General. Here’s a look at 10 fascinating facts about a unique American institution...."
"...USPS administration decided unilaterally to change delivery standards and at the same time close many of the large processing centers in the best postal service in the world...."
"...The Rural Postal Act of 2015, introduced by Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-ND) on July 9, aims to improve mail service by restoring stronger service standards and placing a two-year moratorium on the closure of additional mail processing plants. It also would make the requirement for six-day mail delivery..."
"...Bernie Sanders has been an outspoken champion of postal customers, postal workers and the public Postal Service — demanding expanded services for all Americans, an end to mail delays, and an end to the closure of postal facilities,” Dimondstein said in a statement...."
Hillary Clinton to huddle privately with top labor leaders
"...“It’s a meet and greet, he’s an important candidate,” Dimondstein said of Bernie Sanders. “He’s not in the pocket of the corporations, and wants corporate money out of politics. We hope to hear from him, to go into some of what his platform and program is, and how it relates to working folks. I have not officially endorsed Bernie, but I’m happy to be a co-host so he can meet with other labor leaders.” He said he is expecting a group of between 30 and 40 labor leaders to attend..."
Was Postal Worker Mauro Pennini Planning to Go Postal?
"..Specifically, Pennini was told not to contact, stalk, harass or injure any member of this trio — but on June 8, he sent one of them a text message anyhow.
Shortly thereafter, Pennini was arrested by members of the Aspen Police Department at the post office, located at a benign sounding address: 235 Puppy Smith Street..."
Police: Aspen mail sorter had pistol at post office
"...(Officer Kirk) Wheatley opened the pack and observed a Sig Sauer semi-automatic handgun in the pocket,” the report says. “Wheatley later confirmed the pistol to be fully loaded with 14 rounds of live ammunition, was accompanied with 28 additional rounds of ammunition, two sets of handcuffs, three folding knives and one multi-tool.”
Pennini is out of jail on bond..."
Landrith: U.S. Postal Service standards keep declining
"...Recently, a bipartisan group of senators, including Gary Peters, D-Bloomfield Township, met with Postmaster General Megan Brennan to discuss a long list of Postal Service complaints. At the top of the list was lagging delivery times that are continuing to get worse. As part of the evaluation process, Peters and the group maintain that declining postal standards and the consolidation of mail processing facilities is negatively impacting rural communities across their states..."
Gyrocopter pilot says no plea deal if prosecutors insist on long prison term
"...The Florida postal worker who landed a gyrocopter at the U.S. Capitol this spring said Monday that he opposes any plea deal with prosecutors that requires a prison term of “several years,” saying his actions were a “pure act of civil disobedience.”..."
House Appropriations Committee Approval of Amendment to Restore Postal Service Standards an 'Important Step Forward'
"...Today’s vote by the House Appropriations Committee to approve an amendment to restore postal service standards is an important step forward for postal employees and our customers – large and small. The bipartisan vote was 26-23.
Postal workers have been fighting the drastic cuts in service that USPS management implemented unilaterally..."
Former postal supervisor investigated for mail theft strikes deal, may not serve jail time
"...the plea agreement states that because Galapo has accepted responsibility for her actions and saved the government the time and expense of a trial by pleading guilty, probation will be recommended to the judge..."
USPS needs to be more transparent about plant closures, IG says
"...Guidelines don't include a time frame for implementing the consolidation of any given mail processing facility that's on the chopping block. Because of that, any feasibility study that was done to determine if the facility should be closed could be outdated by the time USPS actually starts the closing process...."
Doug Hughes: Postal Service Firing Me, but Letters Will Get to Congress (Updated)
"...“He alleges a “coordinated effort at the top to really nail me,” despite the lack of property damage, injury or intent to do either with his protest.
The letters Hughes carried may still reach Congress, with the help of a 70-year-old man named Joe Lane. Beginning on June 10, the Connecticut-based thriller writer will walk the halls of Capitol office buildings hand-delivering Hughes’ letters to members of Congress. ... urgent need to reform our campaign finance laws. ..."
Mail processing plant consolidations to resume in 2016
"...The decision to defer the next phase of the initiative was based upon operational considerations, and was made to ensure that the Postal Service will continue to provide prompt, reliable and predictable service consistent with the published service standards. The planned consolidation activities will resume in 2016..."
"...05/28/2015 - Contract negotiations between the American Postal Workers Union and the U.S. Postal Service ended without an agreement on May 27.
The USPS scuttled any prospect of reaching a deal by insisting on severe cuts in pay and benefits, despite the fact that progress had been made on many non-economic issues, President Mark Dimondstein reported. “Management’s economic demands and proposed changes to the workforce structure were completely unacceptable,” he said...."
Nearly all remaining closures and consolidations put on hold
"...With the exception of the Houston P&DC and Queens P&DC, the USPS has suspended all remaining closures and consolidations to a date to be determined. ..."
USPS Plan to Replace Entire Truck Fleet at Once Under Fire
"...The USPS "also chose to not refurbish the vehicles, which would have cost about $3.5 billion."
The latter option would have added as much as 15 years to the life of the vehicles...."
Contract Talks Extended One Week to Focus on Economic Package
"...Postal Management scuttled the prospect of reaching a deal before the deadline by insisting on a permanent, new lower pay scale and reduced benefits for future career employees as well as givebacks in pay and benefits for current career workers..."
New USPS service performance reports show significant delays in delivering the mail
"...The Postal Service has released its service performance reports for the second quarter of the fiscal year, January 1 to March 31, 2015. They show that it's not just your imagination — the mail has been slowing down, and in some cases, by a lot. The reports can be found on the..."
Congressional Delegation "Outraged" USPS To Close Stamford, Wallingford Facilities Early
"..."We remain committed both to reversing this decision, preventing further closures, and to ensuring that Connecticut residents do not experience delays in mail delivery," the statement reads...."
"...“We will not be closing that facility this year,” said Ruiz. “The center will still be used for all incoming mail to Petaluma, as well as all parcels. No jobs will be lost.” ..."
USPS investigating happenings at Arsenal branch post office
"...Tony Boyd, president of the union's local chapter said he knows two postal employees are on administrative leave after he and a union steward brought irregularities in postal employees "ring times" to the attention of the local postmaster and regional director...."
When Complement Managers Make Contact, Union Calls Foul
"...Everything from the bogus figures in the reports – that haven’t changed since they were first issued two to three (some four) years ago – is wrong. The numbers weren’t correct then, and couldn’t possibly be correct now. The misrepresented findings are clearly “rationalized.”
Management is using AMPs to rationalize their actions, with little basis in fact. They are moving equipment, knowing there is no place to reassign all of the impacted employees. Postal workers are constantly bombarded with realigned schedules and tour changes.
A few years back, management decided to practically eliminate Tour 2 in most plants, and forced employees on standby time, so work could be saved for the evening. Now, we have “four walls,” 24-hour clock, and employees are being moved back on Tour 2 with plans to work around the clock. Go figure...."
"...there was no one available to cancel their return so that it is postmarked on April 15. According to one witness, some people were ringing a bell and banging on the counter at the customer service desk. ..."
Secret Service Well Aware of Doug Hughes "Freedom Flight"
He Was Visited By Secret Service Agents About His Plan Last Year "...Hughes wrote about the planned gyrocopter flight on his website, The Democracy Club: 'Let me say first – this is a non-violent demonstration. I have no intention of hurting anyone – I have taken every precaution to prevent any injury to anyone, including me. There is no way I can prevent over-reaction by the authorities, but I have given them as much information and advance warning as my fuel supply allows. When I took off, I was over an hour away from the no-fly zone.
The demonstration is about restoring democracy. Corruption in Washington DC has robbed the US citizens of the representative government that is our birthright. Polls show that the public is aware of the problem and VERY concerned, but they are largely uninformed that there is a solution and there are organizations prepared to make reform a reality'..."
"...A spokesperson for the USPS Southern Area provided the following response to our inquiry about the OIG audit report on the Dallas, TX MTESC:
"You asked whether shippers or other customers should know anything about this matter. I would like to stress that this was a localized event, limited to the Dallas MTESC, and is not representative of the country as a whole. ..."
"...Police say the men identified themselves as postal workers. After the victim opened her front door, the men reportedly forced their way into the apartment.
That's when one of two men threw the woman to the ground and pointed a gun at her. ..."
U.S. Postal Service releases Limited Edition Forever stamps featuring work of Mexican artist MartÃn RamÃrez
U.S. Postal Service image
"...The U.S. Postal Service is honoring the work of Mexican artist MartÃn RamÃrez by placing five of his drawings and collages on Limited Edition Forever stamps..."
A federal statute that restricts mailboxes to
properly paid U.S. Mail. In 1934, Congress
enacted a law known as the “mailbox
restriction” that prohibits anyone from placing
mailable matter without postage into any
mailbox.
Glossary of Postal Terms. Publication 32. United States Postal Service. July 2013. Web. 24 March 2015. Read our latest posts!
.
Epic Fail for the Postal Service: The wrong model and the wrong BOG
"...From top to bottom, the management culture of the Postal Service is seriously problematic, and it has rightly come in for significant criticism. I’ve discussed the issue in several posts, here and here, and there are no end of articles about the subject, like this one by Jess Stoner that details the abuses that everyday postal workers encounter from local managers. Steven Musacco's "Beyond Going Postal: Shifting from Workplace Tragedies and Toxic Work Environments to a Safe and Healthy Organization describes the long history of a failing postal management culture..."
Mayor Holds 11th Hour Town Hall to Reverse USPS Plant Closure "... There is still a little time before the Flandro Drive Processing Plant closes for good. Mayor Blad listed the phone numbers and addresses that residents can call or write to appeal to them to change the post office’s mind.
Postal Board of Governors:
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260
Phone: 202-268-4800
Postmaster General:
475 L’Enfant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260
Phone: 202-268-4264
President of the United States:
1600 Pennsylvania Ave. NW
Washington, DC 20500
Phone: 202-456-1414 ..."
Mysterious spy cameras collecting data at post offices
"...Within an hour of FOX31 Denver discovering a hidden camera, which was positioned to capture and record the license plates and facial features of customers leaving a Golden Post Office, the device was ..."
America needs Congress to act now for real reform of Postal Service
"...What America needs is real postal reform and we need Congress to act now. We need Congress to stop cuts to service, closures and consolidation of processing facilities and restore the overnight service standard. Congress must repeal the mandate to pre-fund future retiree health benefits and return pension over-payments back to the USPS. Reform must include maintaining six-day delivery as well as home delivery. Postal reform must preserve the collective-bargaining process. Collective-bargaining has been in effect since the creation of USPS and ensures good, working-class jobs that support thousands of American workers and their families. ..."
A big day in the history of the United States Postal Service
"... The Articles of Confederation, which preceded the Constitution, also made it clear that the government “shall also have the sole and exclusive right and power of … establishing or regulating post offices from one State to another, throughout all the United States, and exacting such postage on the papers passing through the same as may be requisite to defray the expenses of the said office.” ..."
About 200 US Postal Service jobs moving from Roanoke to Greensboro
"...will affect 105 clerks, 70 mail handlers and 25 maintenance workers. Some employees will remain in Roanoke, where packages and express and priority mail will still be handled...."
Disposable Camera Captures Its Own Trip Across the United States
Image via petapixel.com
"...Five years ago, web designer Matthew McVickar decided to give one lucky disposable camera a free vacation, sending it through the mail from Cape Cod, Massachusetts to Honolulu, Hawaii with the instructions “Take a photo before you pass it on!”. When he got the camera back, there were seven photographs taken by various workers in the United States Postal Service that show the cameras journey (and the inner workings of the USPS!).
..."
"... sent a disposable camera through the mail in a way that allowed postal workers to document its journey. I decided I would finally do it myself, and fashioned a camera to some cardboard with tape and the appropriate cut outs. I sent it out to my friend Olivia in Chicago and waited. ..."
Postal Service moves to close Erie mail-sorting facility
"...The building will remain open, housing garage facilities, bulk mail receiving and a retail postal location.
What's changing is that most of the sorting would be moved to Pittsburgh or Rochester, N.Y., Kelly said. ..."
Postal Service dealing with national computer outage — hackers not involved
"...Delancey said the outage is not the result of a cyber attack. She could not immediately provide details on the hardware installation that triggered the problems.
The Postal Service fell victim to a cyber attack last year..."
U.S. Postal Service will end sorting operation in Toledo
"...Delivery trucks will then run to Toledo’s main post office, Mr. Van Allen said, and from there the mail will be transferred into other trucks for local delivery as occurred before. Toledo’s main post office will still need truck drivers, mail handlers, retail clerks, and custodial staff, he said. ..."
"...The proposal is for some 180,000 “next-generation delivery vehicles,” which would over time replace the 163,000 right-hand-drive, light-duty mail-delivery trucks now in use. The service says the trucks would ideally cost between $25,000 and $35,000. ..."
SEEING DOUBLE -- Post office twins provide stellar service with a smile
"...'They take care of the customer. They are two of the most pleasant people I ever met. They greet everybody. They're friendly and very knowledgeable. If they don't know the answer, they go get it. They don't leave a customer upset. They take care of the problems. I don't have to worry about the window with those two and Judy Hooper and Paul Russomanno.' ..."
Can the Postal Service cling to hope that people still want paper bills?
"...“Research shows that consumers value the physical mail-piece as a record-keeping tool and reminder to pay,” the report said. “In general, customers value having options for bill delivery and payment.” ..."
..."What Bubby Everson really wants is mail. People across the country are starting to deliver, according to dad Thomas Everson....If you'd like to send Bubby a letter, the address is: Bubby Everson, P.O. Box 1142 Graham, WA 98338..."
"... Over the past four decades, many feds have come to see Republicans as anti-government, anti-bureaucrats out to get them, and you can see why.
On the other hand, it seems that Democratic politicians have realized they have a permanent hall pass with many feds, and most unions. They can support sequestration and three years of a pay freeze then ..."
In the black? Postal Service has a 'fantastic quarter'
"...The Postal Service saw an operating profit of $1.1 billion in the first quarter of fiscal 2015, fueled by record numbers of package deliveries, according to financial information released by the agency Feb. 6. ..."
USPS plant closures would halt under Keystone XL bill rider
"...The USPS inspector general says, in an Oct. 6 memo, that the Postal Service hasn't analyzed the impact of closing and consolidating processing plants or informed stakeholders of changes to the consolidation plan. ..."
Michigan Sen. Debbie Stabenow trying to stop closures that could slow down Michigan mail
"...The amendment she introduced and joined 12 other senators in authoring would also re-establish overnight delivery standards for first-class mail. ..."
USPS Delays Scheduled Consolidations at Many Facilities
"...When the U.S. Postal Service announced it would shutter 82 mail processing facilities in 2015, it planned to start closing many of the plants in January. But for at least 10 of the facilities, USPS has now moved back that timetable to April or later. ..."
U.S. Postal Service: Problems noted in rural areas
"...It happens to be the first invoice I pay every month, and according to my records, it had been mailed Jan. 2. In a phone call to the headquarters in Great Falls, they said they had received my check a day after they had mailed me the notice. Where had this check been for 10 days?..."
IG pushes USPS to create a more flexible workplace
"...the following efforts:
Establish annualized work hours, as opposed to a standard 40-hour workweek.
Create work or job sharing processes, allowing more collaboration between employees and the ability for some employees to cover absences of others.
Allow employes to self-schedule or trade shifts.
Establish a roster of supplemental employees, or recalled retirees, to be used during peak times of year and absences.
Allow employees to maintain reduced work hours in order to deal with issues in their personal life. ..."
"...Houston post office employees say they are not getting paid on time. It's happening at a Houston mail processing facility that has been the center of customer complaints about slow mail delivery. ..."
"...Charles Jackson and Kendrick Watkins were convicted in August of robbing the truck in Conley shortly before Christmas in 2013, the time of year when postal volume is at its highest. They conspired with a third defendant, former postal employee Latonya Evans, to plan the robbery; Evans gave Jackson and Watkins non-public information to help them commit the crime...."
Postal Service poised to begin controversial plant closures next week
"...The Postal Service said it could not complete the statutorily required analyses because it had not yet finalized its new processing guidelines, which will scale back delivery standards starting on Monday. The agency does not plan to update its impact studies before the consolidation plan begins, Ninivaggi said. ..."