Federal and * Postal employees will soon be able to calculate full retirement income online

Model your retirement online "... OPM bought the retirement calculator for $290 million in 2006 from Hewitt Associates. Not only will it allow employees to calculate their own retirement income, but OPM will use it to calculate retirement checks for federal retirees. ..." [Reference: federaltimes.com]

The program is named RetireEZ

Visit the RetireEZ website at www.retireez.gov

* Subsequent rollouts of RetireEZ will cover the remainder of the Executive Branch, the U.S. Postal Service and the Legislative and Judicial Branches, with the fifth and final rollout scheduled for February 2009.

Postal Service Cost Cutting

U.S. Postal Service plans $1 billion in cost cutting "... by reducing more than 10.5 million work hours ..." [Reference: deseretnews.com]

.

Inmate Labor

Inmates to fix postal service transmissions "... inmates at the Pendleton Correctional Facility will repair the transmissions in a contract with Alabama-based Ready-Built Transmission. ..." [Reference: www.indystar.com]

Residents Attack Postal Carriers

[SAGINAW, Mich.] Postal Service Suspends Deliveries After Residents Attack Carriers "... "We've had rocks thrown at one of our vehicles, breaking the glass," said Sharon Adamczyk, secretary to Saginaw Postmaster Jacque S. Vican. "Our carriers get a lot of verbal abuse if they don't deliver [residents'] checks on the day they want it. "Out of each six-day work week, our carriers are hearing gunshots ..." [Reference: www.foxnews.com]

Need a Post Office Box? It's Only a Click Away

Finding a PO Box Only a Click Away "... U.S. Postal Service Post Office Boxes now can be found online at usps.com/poboxes. The new, online locator feature allows customers to find box availability, sizes and fees, as well as addresses, phone and fax numbers for each Post Office listed with available PO Boxes. ..."


[Reference] http://www.usps.com

Linked to this post: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

---

cocaine found in express mail package

2 Pounds Of Cocaine Found In Mail Package "... discovered in an express mail package in Polk County and a man was arrested after a postal inspector in Puerto Rico alerted authorities ..." [Reference: www.local6.com]

Need a Post Office?

Officials say post office process is long, complex "... That means a review by either the North Florida district office in Jacksonville or the postal officials in charge of the Southeast area, which encompasses Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Mississippi and Tennessee. ..." [Reference: www.thevillagesdailysun.com]

[DeKalb County] Recent explosions in two mailboxes

Mailbox investigation continues "... A postal inspector out of Birmingham was in DeKalb County on Tuesday inspecting mailboxes. ..." [Reference: times-journal.com]

St. Paul and Eagan Postal Facilities

Postal facility's move from St. Paul to Eagan stalls again over plan for traffic light "... Last week, a tense comment at the end of an e-mail from a Postal Service official had city and county staff worried that the project was finished, and not in a good way. The subject was whether a traffic signal would be installed near the building's entrance at Gemini Road and Lexington Avenue by the time the new mail hub is completed in 2010 or 2011. ..." [Reference: www.twincities.com]

Priority Flat Rate Box

Larger USPS flat-rate box now available "... The box is 12 inches by 12 inches and is 5½ inches thick. It is 50 percent larger than the previous flat-rate box ..." [Reference: www.stripes.com]

Linus Pauling stamp

Linus Pauling stamp to be released next week
"... a 41-cent stamp honoring the only man to win two unshared Nobel Prizes. ..." [Reference: www.oregonlive.com]


To learn more about Linus Pauling visit wikipedia

Private Contractor Use of USPS Property

APWU Requests Investigation Of Private Contractors’ Use of USPS Property "... APWU President William Burrus has asked USPS Inspector General David Williams to conduct an audit of the postal practice of permitting subcontractors to park trucks and store equipment on USPS property free-of-charge. The practice raises USPS operating costs and defers potential revenue, Burrus charged in a Feb. 22 letter [PDF] to the Inspector General (IG). ..." [Reference: www.apwu.org]

TSP Customized Statements

Check Your Mail. Seriously. '... One feature of the customized statements will show how much money you've put into the TSP. That's something most people don't know ...' [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]

Ancient Postal System

City of David Dig Reveals Information on Ancient Postal System '... Wet sifting and sorting through the soil revealed three fragments of clay stamps used to seal letters ...' [Reference: www.israelnationalnews.com]

Postal Employee Donates $2.2 Million for Scholarships

Two Guilford Collge Grads Give $2.2 Million For Scholarships '... Frank Werner graduated from Guilford College in 1934. He was a postal worker for 34 years. Ava Werner graduated in 1933, and worked for Blue Bell. ...' [Reference: www.digtriad.com]

Stamp Machines in Pensacola

[Pensacola, Florida] Post offices replacing stamp machines '... U.S. Postal Service is replacing older, cash-only, stamp vending machines with new, automated kiosks — Automated Postal Centers. However, the only Automated Postal Center in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties is at the Nobles Station post office on Tippin Avenue in Pensacola ...' [Reference: www.pensacolanewsjournal.com]

Stamp Machines in Huntsville

[Huntsville, Alabama] No stamps in stamp machine frustrate Huntsvillians '... "I went to the one on Wynn Drive, the one on Mastin Lake, the one on Clinton Avenue, then the one on Governor's Drive, then the one on Whitesburg." ... The Post Office tells us they only have two people certified to work the machines, and one of them is out of commission too. ...' [Reference: www.waff.com]

Note: You can order stamps by phone or over the internet:

Buy Stamps On the Internet at: www.usps.com

Print Postage from Your PC at: stamps.com

Put your photo or your favorite photo on your stamps at: photo.stamps.com

Updated Mailhandler Pay Scale / Schedule

The National Postal Mail Handlers Union has posted an updated pay scale that includes the cost-of-living adjustments to be paid to all mail handlers under the 2006 National Agreement. The new wages are effective March 15, 2008, and will be reflected in paychecks on April 4, 2008 (PP 07-2008). The COLA of $479 equates to an increase of 23 cents per hour.

NEW Mail Handler Pay Schedule

Mail Underpayments

U.S. Postal Service Undercharged Countries for Mail '... If auditors hadn't caught the errors, the facility would have undercharged foreign agencies $12.5 million over two years, the report said. ...' [Reference: www.bloomberg.com]

The Sick Leave Debate

Mike Causey from Federal News Radio writes an excellent article on the "sick leave" debate that rages on in the Federal workforce: CSRS -v- FERS.

Sick Leave: Insurance or Entitlement?

Dothan, AL: Woman Embezzles Money form APWU

Dothan woman pleads guilty to embezzling money from union "... A former employee for a Dothan-based postal union pleaded guilty to embezzling almost $11,000 of the union's money. ..." [Reference: www.al.com]

2008 USPS CPI Increase / Mail Handler COLA / APWU COLA

2008 USPS CPI Increase / Mail Handler COLA / APWU COLA / postal cola

The upcoming Cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment for NPMHU and APWU represented postal employees will be $479 annually. This calculates to $.23c per hour, and is effective March 15, 2008 (reflected in the April 4, 2008 pay check).

Visit the APWU and NPMHU articles:

APWU

NPMHU

reusable envelope approved ...Go Green

US Postal Service approves first reusable envelope "... Used for internal office mail for years, the reusable envelope is now set to make its debut nationwide in the US, after ecoEnvelopes announced this week that its reusable envelope has received official approval from the US Postal Service ..." [Article Reference: www.businessgreen.com]
[Product Reference: www.ecoEnvelopes.com]

Custodial Employees To Receive Arbitration Payment

Some Custodial Employees To Receive Arbitration Payment This Week "... The agreement, finalized on Jan. 29, settled the remedy portion of a national-level grievance. It is the culmination of a Nov. 16, 2006, arbitration victory in which Shyam Das ordered the USPS to rescind Handbook MS-47, Housekeeping Postal Facilities, issued in 2001, and to reinstate the 1983 version. The 2001 handbook had revised custodial staffing procedures. ..." [Reference: www.apwu.org ]

What makes a postage stamp valuable

Treasured for their flaws "... Much of coin, currency and stamp collecting, in fact, is based on glorious goofs — everything from inverted images to double and triple strikes in coins to misalignment, fold or crease errors with stamps, Holland says. Take the 1918 24-cent U.S. Airmail stamp with an inverted center showing an early biplane upside-down, for instance. The "Inverted Jenny" is one of the best-known examples of an "invert." ..." [Reference: www.capecodonline.com]

Rare invert stamp sells at record $1.2 Million

Philip Weiss Auction Sells Rare Invert Stamp From 1869 For Record $1.2 Million "... a rare "invert" American stamp from 1869 depicting the signing of the Declaration of Independence to a record $1.2 million at Philip Weiss Auctions this past Saturday, February 9 ..." [Reference: antiquesandthearts.com]

When can workers sue against acts of retaliation by employers? Two cases slated for hearing this week

Employer retaliation cases reach U.S. Supreme Court "... Tuesday, the high court will examine whether a US postal worker can claim retaliation in a lawsuit under the Age Discrimination in Employment Act because she says her supervisor refused to let her return to her old job because he didn't like her personally. Instead, he hired a younger, less experienced worker. ..." [Reference: www.csmonitor.com]

Federal Health Insurance, Buyouts, and retirees

Mike Causey at FederalNewsRadio.com tells us, "... One of the proposals in President's budget would trim the government's share of health insurance premiums for workers retiring in the future. He made the same pitch last year and Congress ignored it. Currently the government pays an average of 72 percent of the total health premium for both federal workers and retirees. ..." You can read the full article at Federal News Radio titled: Health Insurance Premiums: Who Pays What?

What's in store for large postal facilities from the Postal Board of Governors (BOG)?

A stack of issues for postal board chief "... The board has to have the political will to force management to close large facilities ..." [Reference: www.philly.com]

USPS Medical Records Suit

Unions Sue USPS and OIG over Medical Records Over Invasion of Medical-Records Privacy: "... The suit alleges that the OIG has routinely instructed medical providers that they must submit records to the OIG and that they should refrain from notifying affected employees that the records have been requested by the OIG.

In suing the Postal Service and the OIG, the unions’ suit asserts that these practices constitute an unlawful invasion of privacy; they extend beyond the authority of the OIG; they violate postal workers’ constitutionally protected right to privacy; and they amount to unreasonable searches and seizures in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the Constitution of the United States. ... [Reference: www.apwu.org]

Rumors of.... USPS Postal Buyout? Volunteer Early Retirement?

Plenty of rumors are floating around across the nation from postal facility to postal facility about postal early outs, USPS buyout programs and Volunteer Early Retirement (VERA). There are very few articles to be found on this subject. There is no doubt that the postal service is determined to reduce the numbers of employees substantially to justify the cost of automation as well as justifying the ridiculously low rates offered to big bulk mailers. Here are a couple of articles we have found on the subject. NOTE: None of this information has been verified, so take it with a grain of salt. The first article is from the Federal Times. This short article details the USPS' authority, or lack of authority, relative to offering a program to only CSRS and excluding FERS. The second article is from the PostalReporter.com. This article references a letter from the Los Angeles APWU detailing an upcoming Volunteer Early Retirement Authority (VERA) approved by OPM. Again, we have not verified the source. However, we speculate, if the letter is genuine, there would not be many APWU members that would take this offer, as it offers no monetary incentive. L.A., due to the size of the district, would be a great test ground to determine if the USPS would be successful without an incentive ...not going to happen for the majority since it would be costly to an employee not at Minimum Retirement Age (MRA). What do you think? If you have any paperwork that the reference can be verified, please share it with us!

2009 COLA Forecast -v- Seniors on Social Security

Newly Released 2009 COLA Forecast Would Keep Five Million Seniors Below Poverty Line "... lobbying for a change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) used to determine the COLA. The government currently calculates the COLA based on the CPI for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W), a slow-rising index that tracks the spending habits of younger workers who don't spend as much of their income on health expenditures. ..." [Reference: prnewswire.com]

Jury Scam Defrauds Postal Service

Jury Ruse Defrauds Postal Service "... At the time of the first hoax, the Postal Service was struggling with significant problems and employee anxiety at the mail distribution center. Anthrax contamination had led to the deaths in fall 2001 of postal employees Joseph P. Curseen and Thomas L. Morris. The building was shuttered and workers reported to a site in suburban Maryland. The original facility reopened in December 2003 and was renamed for those who died. ..." [Reference: www.washingtonpost.com]

Article from the APWU on USPS Payroll Software Programming Delay

USPS Notifies Union of Payroll Glitch "... There is absolutely no excuse for the Postal Service’s failure to complete this project on time,” said APWU President William Burrus. “The 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement was signed on March 29, 2007. It is unacceptable that the programming required to implement the terms of the agreement is incomplete more than 11 months later.

“I have expressed my dissatisfaction directly to the postmaster general. Apparently, his intervention was insufficient to correct the problem in the short time that remained.” ..." [Reference: www.apwu.org]

Postal Job Scams

Postal Job Scams In the paper, on the internet, and even infomercials, you see ads for postal employment. Often these ads give the impression that the Post Office is hiring right now. Of course, unless there is a hiring freeze of some type, the Postal Service is typically hiring on a regular basis, but it may not be in your area, or even your state. Additionally, it might not be the type of position you desire. For example, the positions that are open may be part-time, temporary, or low-paying casual work, etc. Not all positions offer benefits or the promise of sustained employment. Some ads are so bold as to give the false impression they are the U.S. Postal Service or they are affiliated in some respectable manner. The fact of the matter is that some of these ads are legitimate ...meaning they offer an above-board package of study materials they have assembled and they genuinely provide good exam practice materials, and information on the postal system of hiring.

However, be aware that if you are seeking postal employment, you do not have to pay for study guides, as they are available for checkout at your local library. Additionally, if you sign up for an exam and are sent a test date, typically, you will be sent an practice exam booklet by the Postal Service. The best way to know when, where, and what type of jobs are available with the post office, is to do what you are doing now ...searching the internet. That's right, go to the postal service on the web at www.usps.com. We also suggest sites that detail how to use the postal service site to find employment information, as the postal site is difficult to navigate to some. We like the site, aptly titled, How do I get a job with the U.S. Postal Service? If you want to learn more about the U.S. Postal Service from the perspective of those currently working for them, we suggest going to one of the websites ran by one of the postal union organizations or postal workers themselves. We found numerous sites like The Postal Newsgroup, www.npmhu.org, www.apwu.org, or the Rocket City Mail Handler.

Post office workers, mail to be rerouted

150 workers could be transferred to Edison, Trenton

"Come April, the affected employees, who now work at the Monmouth Processing and Distribution Center (Monmouth P and DC) located at 307 Industrial Way West in Eatontown and the main branch of the Red Bank Post Office, 171 Broad St., could instead be stationed at facilities either in Edison or Trenton, according to George Flood, a postal service spokesman." [Reference: atlanticville.gmnews.com]

Pension inequity

Feb. 10, 2008:   Pension inequity an issue for Congress to fix, judge says   "... Just under 17,000 federal workers and 3,000 U.S. Postal Service workers get the 25 percent salary adjustments in Hawaii, with the remainder in Alaska. ..."    [Reference: www.adn.com]

NPMHU Files a National Level Grievance on Weighing the Mail

This process for notification is wholly unacceptable, and a flagrant violation of the National Agreement. Read the NPMHU letter here: http://www.npmhu.org/Pubs/News/Weighing%20MAil%20Appeal.pdf

How do I get a job with the U.S. Postal Service?

Here is a great resource for seeking employment with the U.S. Postal Service:

http://employment-assistance.blogspot.com/

APWU Upgrades

[APWU] Upgrades Reflected in March 7 Paycheck "The March 7 paycheck for all APWU-represented employees will reflect an upgrade negotiated in the 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement.

“On Feb. 16, every APWU member in the Clerk, Maintenance, and Motor Vehicle Crafts will receive an upgrade to the next highest pay level,” said APWU President William Burrus. " [Reference: www.apwu.org]

Tornado Destroys Castalian Springs Post Office

Storm Destroys Post Office, Kills 6 In Castalian Springs "CASTALIAN SPRINGS, Tenn. - Mail service will continue in Castalian Springs even though storms destroyed the town's post office." [Reference: www.newschannel5.com]

MAIL HANDLER NEW WAGE SCALES, mail decline, dot-post

Feb. 4, 2008:   MAIL HANDLER NEW WAGE SCALES EFFECTIVE
ON FEBRUARY 16, 2008   "... All mail handlers will receive a general wage increase of 0.6% effective on February 16, 2008. ..."    [Reference: www.npmhu.org]



Feb. 4, 2008:   Postal agencies respond to mail decline   "... Sellers, 40, now pays most bills online and receives financial statements electronically. The owner of Sellers Photo in Huntsville, Ala., he also has cut down on mailing clients CDs, transferring images over the Internet instead. ..."    [Reference: www.businessweek.com]



Feb. 4, 2008:   Domain name in the works for post office   "... A new "dot-post" Internet address in the works aims to set apart the electronic services increasingly offered by postal agencies around the world. ..."    [Reference: www.businessweek.com]

Postal Service Board of Governors, TSP, Chicago Postal

Feb. 1, 2008:   TSP Current Returns   "... These returns are net of the effect of accrued administrative expenses and investment expenses/costs. The performance data shown represent past performance, which is not a guarantee of future results. Investment returns and principal value will fluctuate, so that investors' shares, when sold, may be worth more or less than their original cost. ..."    [Reference: www.tsp.gov]



Feb. 1, 2008:   Chicago mail service improving, but overnight service still among worst in U.S.   "... while the improvements narrowed the gap between Chicago and other regions, the overnight delivery rate continued to lag behind most of the markets ..."    [Reference: www.chicagotribune.com]



Feb. 1, 2008:   Alan Kessler Elected Chairman, Postal Service Board of Governors   "... substantial experience in the defense of class-action litigation, including securities, antitrust, toxic tort and civil rights cases as well as a government relations and counseling practice. ..."    [Reference: www.webwire.com]

the USPS is composed mainly of relatively low-paid "...clerks and letter carriers, its officer corps does fine."

Here is a very enlightening article by Mike Causey over at Federal News Radio: Don't Go Postal Over This. The article details the pay disparity between USPS hierarchy and the blue collar workforce.
Posted by: Technorati Profile

Postal News

Jan. 29, 2008:   Teens' explosive device injures postal worker   "... The postal worker found a second device inside the home's mailbox Saturday and suffered minor chemical burns and an inhalation injury, police said. The Clayton County police bomb squad detonated the device, and no other injuries were reported. ..."    [Reference: www.ajc.com]



Jan. 29, 2008:   Teen Accused of Shooting Postal Worker In Court   "... Omaha, NE - A teen accused of shooting at a postal worker last August asked a judge to transfer his case to juvenile court today. ..."    [Reference: www.action3news.com]



Jan. 29, 2008:   Nigeria: Union Members Kick Against Postal Reform Bill   "... The union members who are angry with the dwindling fortune of the Nigerian Telecommunication Limited (NITEL), and the Nigerian Mobiletelecommunication (MTEL) since they were sold to Transnational Corporation (Transcorp), urged the federal government to put the postal reform bill in abeyance ..."    [Reference: allafrica.com]

Mail Handler Pay Increase Reminder

February 16, 2008 (PP05-2008), is the date and pay period for the next general wage increase scheduled to be added to base wages for the Mail Handler craft. This pay raise was negotiated by the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU).

The future of buyouts

The U.S. auto market has typically been a pacesetter when it comes to union contract negotiations, collective bargaining agreements, and now ...buyouts. It is a fact that America's large unions keep their eye on the auto industry when it comes to comparative analysis for the purpose of wage, benefit, and buyout negotiations. UAW and Ford have set the stage for future buyouts in labor intensive industries where automation, subcontracting, illegal immigration, and foreign competition have taken a heavy toll on the U.S. blue-collar worker. Large unions that represent America's postal workers, like the American Postal Workers Union and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, continuously monitor the labor climate during these troubled times to garner equal or greater results. As the country snowballs into a recession, the auto industry, led by Ford and the UAW, are taking proactive steps to re-take the competitive lead in the global auto market by offering buyouts to each and every worker. The Detroit Free Press reports the buyout offer will look like this:

Elements:

• Under a special termination-of-employment program, retirement-eligible workers who volunteer to leave the company and forgo all benefits except accrued pension can receive a $140,000 buyout.



• For workers who have at least one year of employment with Ford, the special termination program calls for a payout of $100,000, with the worker forgoing all benefits except accrued pension.



• Under an educational opportunity program, workers with one year of service are eligible to receive up to $15,000 in college tuition for up to four years. Workers who take part in this program can receive medical benefits and half of their regular pay while enrolled in school.
  
  
• Workers also could opt to set aside $100,000 in a family scholarship program to be used for an educational program for spouses, children or grandchildren.



• Workers 55 and older who have 30 or more years of service are eligible to receive a $35,000 check and begin retirement immediately with full benefits.



• Workers 55 and older with 10 or more years of service will be provided a fixed level of income for life, which varies according to each employee's service with the company.



• Workers with at least 28 years of service are eligible to take a leave for two years until they reach 30 years of service, when they can retire as normal. During their leave, the workers will receive 85% of their pay.

File under "postal buyout" for reference

Thrift Savings Plan, FERS, APWU Suit, Postal

Jan. 19, 2008:   APWU, NALC Sue USPS and Inspector General
Over Invasion of Medical-Records Privacy   "... The suit alleges that the OIG has routinely instructed medical providers that they must submit records to the OIG and that they should refrain from notifying affected employees that the records have been requested by the OIG. ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]



Jan. 19, 2008:   [Thrift Savings Plan] Can You Risk Playing It Safe?   "... "FERS employees (the majority of people now working for Uncle Sam) have the most difficult situation," he said. Because they have smaller civil service retirement benefits, and get diet-COLAs which don't kick in until age 62 ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Jan. 19, 2008:   Study Finds Postal Service Gets No Edge   "... Indeed, federally imposed restraints on the post office's operations increase its costs to provide competitive products by an estimated $330 million to $782 million a year, the FTC said. ..."    [Reference: ap.google.com]

PostalPeople, FEEA Scholarship

Jan. 16, 2008:   [PostalPeople] USPS consolidates HR systems   "... Officials say the new platform, which was completed in October, will help employees and HR managers. Employees can access HR information and apply for USPS jobs online, and supervisors can use new online management and administrative tools. ..."    [Reference: www.fcw.com]




Jan. 16, 2008:   FEEA 2008-09 Scholarship Application
available now!   "... FEEA Scholarship Program is an annual, merit-based contest open to civilian federal and postal
employees, their spouses and college-age children. Awards range from $500-$2,500 for one year.
Applications are available January - March each year. ..."    [Reference: www.feea.org]

More Postal News: Are you overpaid? ...and more articles

Jan. 11, 2008:   Are You Overpaid?   "... At least three presidents - Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and Bill Clinton - thought so. They believed federal pay was out of line because the value of perks like retirements, holidays, and cradle-to-grave health insurance weren't considered as part of compensation. ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Jan. 11, 2008:   [Alaska] Former Kipnuk postmaster faces charges for assaulting workers   "... a postal employee in Kipnuk since December 2000, and became the officer in charge in September 2007. ..."    [Reference: www.adn.com]



Jan. 11, 2008:   U.S. Postal Service Gets Scientific With New Stamps   "... Due for self-adhesive glory are physicist John Bardeen, inventor of the transistor; astronomer Edwin Hubble ..."    [Reference: blog.wired.com]

2008 Federal Pay Scales, New Stamps, and TSP Investing...

Jan. 7, 2007:    2008 Federal Salary Tables and Related Information   "... General Schedule and Locality Pay Tables, 2008 Locality Payments and Total Pay Increases for General Schedule Employees, Senior Executive Service, Special Salary Rate Tables ..."    [Reference: www.opm.gov]



Jan. 7, 2007:   [TSP] Investing: How Safe Is Playing It Safe?   "... Last year (2007) the value of a single share of the international stock index fund, the I-fund, went up $2.32. That may not sound like much unless you have a lot of shares, or unless you compare it with the performance of the super-safe treasury securities G-fund. The value of a G-fund share you had in January of last year went up only 56 cents by the end of the year. ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Jan. 7, 2007:   New Stamp Series Will Observe Chinese New Year   "... In observance of the Chinese New Year, the U.S. Postal Service will
debut a new stamp series for the 12 different animals in the Chinese calendar.
The series will continue through 2019. The first stamp in the series is for
the Year of the Rat, which begins Feb. 7, 2008 and ends Jan. 25, 2009. ..."    [Reference: www.reuters.com]

Postal Service inspection office moves from Birmingham to Hoover

"...terrorist acts and an increasing number of identity theft crimes committed using the U.S. mail have changed the "silent service" to one that is more vocal, said Tony Robinson, a spokesman for the Alabama Postal Inspection Service Office. Around Thanksgiving, the office moved to 100 Corporate Parkway, off U.S. 280 in Hoover's Meadow Brook Corporate Park..."    

This Article is From: www.al.com

Read our latest posts!

.

December 31, 2007 ...buyout rumors for CSRS, etc

December 31, 2007:   Let the Rumors Begin   "... chances are you will be getting bogus reports - typically via e-mail and often disguised as a "news" story - saying the super buyout of CSRS folks is in the works. It isn't! ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]














December 31, 2007:   House ‘Mail Network Protection Act’ Gains
Seven Co-Sponsors Prior to Holiday Break   "... asked union activists to make the bill a priority. “It is imperative that union members contact their representatives and let them know that this legislation is important to the future of the Postal Service and to postal workers,” Burrus said. ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]



December 31, 2007:   USPS seeks comment on proposed uses of Intelligent Mail barcodes   "... The notice is expected to be published in the Federal Register sometime in January. Once published, a 45-day comment period will begin. ..."    [Reference: www.dmnews.com]

December 26, 2007

December 26, 2007:   New surveillance video released of postal service robbery   "... hid under the truck as he waited for the postal employee to return from his fourth pick-up of money ..."    [Reference: www3.whdh.com]



December 26, 2007:   Letters to Santa ... Merry Christmas   "... Leesville main USPS branch Sales and Service Associate, as she sorts letters headed to the North Pole. ..."    [Reference: www.leesvilledailyleader.com]



December 26, 2007:   How does your mail get from here to there?   "... FAMOUS POSTAL EMPLOYEES,

Benjamin Franklin,

Abraham Lincoln,

Harry Truman,

Bing Crosby,

Walt Disney,

Rock Hudson,

Charles Lindbergh,

Knute Rockne,

Noah Webster,

William Faulkner. ..."    [Reference: www.cantonrep.com]

December 21, 2007

December 21, 2007:    Postal truck hijacked, looted in Roxbury   "... The postal driver had stopped at the Roxbury Post Office on Malcolm X Boulevard about 7:30 p.m. and was walking toward his truck when a man appeared from underneath the trailer, grabbed him and pulled him into the cab. ..."    [Reference: www.bostonherald.com]



December 21, 2007:   A day in the life: U.S. Postal Service carrier   "... mainly I do it because people don't expect it," he said. "Their package is unexpected, and they give an unexpected smile. That's what makes it worthwhile. ..."    [Reference: www.pegasusnews.com]



December 21, 2007:   Postal Service removing stamp machines   "... “It was a decision made at the national level,” Field said. “The vending equipment is old, and they decided to go with the alternative of selling stamps at the convenience counters of retail outlets.” ..."    [Reference: www.timesnews.net]

December 17, 2007

December 17, 2007:    CHARLIE LANGFORD: Some trivia, facts and figures for the holiday season   "... The USPS is the only delivery service that claims to deliver to every address in the nation, 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. The Postal Service also delivers almost half the world's mail. ..."    [Reference: www.djournal.com]



December 17, 2007:   Thousands Of Postal Workers Not Paid   "... The United States Postal Service says 14 thousand rural route mail carriers across the country did not get a paycheck this week because of a glitch in the payroll system. ..."    [Reference: www.wcsh6.com]



December 17, 2007:   GAO to USPS: Address database errors   "... USPS developed the FDB in 2003 to capture and maintain data on the agency’s 34000 facilities nationwide, but five years later, the database is still not the ..."    [Reference: www.fcw.com]

December 10, 2007

۞ Dec. 10, 2007:   President Bush Delivers December 24 as a Day Off for Federal Employees   "... The day off does not affect Postal Service workers, nor does it include Executive Branch employees whose agencies determine they cannot be excused for reasons of national security, defense or other essential public need. ..."    [Reference: opm.gov]



۞ Dec. 10, 2007:   
USAJOBS Connects with Major Search Engines
Initiative raises visibility of Federal job postings   "... For example, someone who types in a job title on Google or other engines, such as "IT Specialist" or "Electrical Engineer", will now also see links to Federal vacancy announcements in those fields. ..."    [Reference: opm.gov]



۞ Dec. 10, 2007:   Netflix Deals with Ultimatum from U.S. Postal Service   "... Although the issue hasn’t been discussed by any of the Postal Service officials, Steve Swasey, a Netflix representative, stated: “"We're in full compliance with U.S. Postal Service regulations and specifications […] If the specifications of the post office were to change, we would change the mailer as necessary. We've already gone through 40 to 50 iterations of the mailer since Netflix started shipping DVDs a decade ago.” He also added: “We save them about $100 million a year. We pick up the returns from the post office. They are not delivered to Netflix, even though we're paying for it.” ..."    [Reference: www.efluxmedia.com]



۞ Dec. 10, 2007:   PTFs in Large Offices Eliminated as of Dec. 1
New Limits on Numbers of Casuals Also Go Into Effect

(APWU)   "... “Dec. 1, 2007, will be a historic day for postal labor,” APWU President William Burrus declared this week. “It marks the elimination of part-time flexible employment for the Clerk Craft in large offices. ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]

December 6, 2007

U.S. Postal Service to Netflix: You’re killing us on labor "... It’s a safe bet that Netflix will redesign its mailers ..." [Reference: zdnet.com]

Dec. 3, 2007: New security worries after Clinton hostage scare

New security worries after Clinton hostage scare:



The increased surveillance was ordered after workers in Democratic hopeful Hillary Clinton's New Hampshire office were terrorized Friday by a disturbed man who held them for several hours before turning himself over to police.

[Reference: www.newsday.com]

November 30, 2007

Nov. 30, 2007:   Royal Oak postal employee robbed at gunpoint   "... The two men popped up near the docking ramp in the back of the facility, located on West Second Street, and pointed guns at the man ..."    [Reference: www.candgnews.com]



Nov. 30, 2007:   
Is Netflix Costing the Post Office Millions?
A New Audit Suggests That the Postal Service Is Undercharging the DVD Service
  "... The mailers the customers use to return DVDs to the companies often jam in the Postal Service's automatic mail sorters. So instead, 70 percent or so of the DVDs need to be sorted by hand, costing the Postal Service roughly $21 million in extra labor costs each year. ..."    [Reference: abcnews.go.com]



Nov. 30, 2007:   RETURN TO SENDER: mail center complaints surface
Efficiency of LMU Mail Center in question.   "... USPS regarding his missing mail. "I have found documentation of them handing it over to LMU, but LMU says they have no records of it. I've done my research. I've called the head of the Westchester office and they have been more helpful than LMU," said Morales. ..."    [Reference: www.laloyolan.com]

Nov. 28, 2007: Santa Letters, APWU, USPS BlackBerry

۞ Nov. 28, 2007:   Postal Service has tips for sending letters to Santa   "... Many children eager for Christmas may have already written their letters to Santa. But where to send those letters? ..."    [Reference: www.bnd.com]



Nov. 28, 2007:   [APWU] Burrus Issues Stinging Rebuke
To USPS Inspector General:
Audit ‘Lacks Relevance, Ignores Legislative Mandate’ to Bargain   "... The APWU president also criticized the Inspector General for the OIG’s failure to address billions of dollars granted to major mailers in excessive worksharing discounts. “Despite the enormity of this loss of revenue, your office has failed to document and analyze this egregious violation of the integrity and accountability of the Postal Service.” ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]



Nov. 28, 2007:    AT&T Delivers 5,400 BlackBerry's to USPS Employees  "... deploying 5,400 BlackBerry devices, equipped with specialized mobile applications, to United States Postal Service (USPS) employees. ..."    [Reference: www.tmcnet.com]

November 22, 2007

Nov. 22, 2007:   Lawyers prompt Postal Service to tighten its Santa letter rules   "... On the advice of his legal counsel, Santa Claus is changing the way he does business. ..."    [Reference: www.tucsoncitizen.com]



Nov. 22, 2007:   Postal services   "... The US Postal Service is offering an online card and postage service enabling customers to purchase and send holiday cards from their home computer ..."    [Reference: www.sun-sentinel.com]



Nov. 22, 2007:   NCED by the numbers   "... 1969 — USPS began training operations in Norman on top two floors of OU’s Couch Tower with a staff of 50. They served 7,000 students in three training programs with a $4 million budget. ..."    [Reference:www.normantranscript.com ]

November 20, 2007

Nov. 20, 2007:    APWU-Backed Bill Introduced in Congress: Legislation Would Compel USPS to Bargain Over Subcontracting   "... “The requirement to bargain will enhance our ability to oppose wasteful, inefficient and detrimental subcontracting,” he said. “Too often contracting out ends up costing the Postal Service more than if the work were performed by postal employees, and too often subcontracting is ineffective and the contractors’ service to the public is poor.” ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]



Nov. 20, 2007:   AF postal squadron ready for for the coming holiday crush   "... The Air Force’s 2nd Air Postal Squadron handles all mail sent to and from the States to military members and their families in Europe. The center also processes mail sent from Europe downrange. ..."    [Reference: www.estripes.com]

The U.S. Public Service Academy...

Show your support for a U.S. Public Service Academy. Click on the image at left to read about it. Thanks for your assistance.

November 14, 2007

Nov. 14, 2007:   Job security still eludes some postal employees   "... "They (the Postal Service) say we have too many employees," American Postal Workers Union Local No. 469 President Angela Walters said by phone Tuesday. ..."    [Reference: www.southeasttexaslive.com]



Nov. 14, 2007:   Postal Service chili champion delivers a winner   "... Scott Crumrine may work in the U.S. Postal Service's maintenance division, but he "delivered" for the agency a couple of weeks ago.

Not mail -- but award-winning chili. ..."    [Reference: www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com]



Nov. 14, 2007:   UPDATED MAIL HANDLER WAGE CHARTS   "... The second of six general wage increases to be paid to all mail handlers under the 2006 National Agreement will be implemented effective November 24, 2007, and will be reflected in paychecks on December 14, 2007 (PP25-2007). ..."    [Reference: www.npmhu.org]



Nov. 7, 2007:   Panama City post office investigation under way   "... City’s postmaster has been replaced temporarily, pending the outcome of an investigation into the post office. The Office of Inspector General for the Postal Service began an investigation into the local office this week, said OIG Spokesman Dan Mihalko. ..."    [Reference: www.newsherald.com]

Nov. 8, 2007

Nov. 8, 2007: Slain deputy had left postal service at 55 to begin second career "... After retiring from the postal service, Rein decided to try for a badge and uniform. "He got very high marks at the academy," Meyers said of Rein, whom she described as a 5-foot 7-inch "little strong guy." Rein served as a Broward deputy from 1987 to 2000; the department lured him out of his second retirement in 2003. ..." [Reference: www.jacksonville.com]

Nov. 8, 2007: Rillito postal worker wins national award "... The Benjamin Award is a yearly award the U.S. Postal Service gives to employees who create the most outreach programs and news coverage. ..." [Reference: www.explorernews.com]

Nov. 8, 2007: Decatur Postal worker gets into the Halloween spirit "... Past postmasters frowned on Halloween costumes, but Horton said Roy Hill has been more flexible in letting him enjoy the festivities of the day. ..." [Reference: www.decaturdaily.com]

YokweOnline : Marshall Islands: Return to Domestic Mail Services a "Great Victory"

Marshall Islands: Return to Domestic Mail Service ... In September 2005, the United States Postal Service announced the change from domestic to international designation for the Republic of the Marshall Islands and Federated States of Micronesia, Within six months of implementation, the private sector, which relies heavily on letter and package service from the United States, reported that the loss of domestic services was causing severe hardship and confusion. ... [Reference: www.yokwe.net] Editor Note: For you military folks at the Kwajalien Reagan Test Site on Kwaj, this is a great thing for the holiday mailing season.



Posted by Kwaj Cat

Design your own stamps

You can design your own official postal postage stamps!!... Wow! here's something you might not know. You can create your own official photo stamps. Imagine sending your holiday cards and gifts with your own official stamps online. Wouldn't Mom & Dad be proud to see your picture on a stamp. USPS has given approval for a product that lets customers design their own stamps. Visit stamps.com at the sub domain photo.stamps.com ... {Reference: postal-newsgroup.blogspot.com]

What Postal stamps would you like to see? ... we would like to see Family Guy, Tom Perkins, David Hyde Pierce, Fred Thompson, Gas Prices, Adrian Peterson, New England Patriots, Postal Workers, Union, ... [Reference: postal-newsgroup.blogspot.com]

Nov. 4, 2007

Video Catches Brothers Faking a Robbery ... the brothers are contract drivers for the Postal Service. The elder brother told authorities he was robbed Monday while loading up his truck behind post office in Danville, a hamlet of fewer than 400 people about 100 miles south of Atlanta. ... [Reference: ap.google.com]

October 31, 2007

Does Federal Employment Equate to Military Service? probably a good idea to be able to prove that you actually did serve in the military. In Burnett v. Merit Systems Protection Board, C.A.F.C. No. 2007-3232 (nonprecedential), 10/22/07, a fired USPS mail handler from Houston, Texas, learned this the hard way. ... [Reference:
www.fedsmith.com]

October 30, 2007

Oct. 30, 2007:   How's Your Balance? Compared To What?   "... Most federal and postal workers, and many retirees, have accounts in the federal Thrift Savings Plan. A growing number have balances in excess of one million dollars. ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Oct. 30, 2007:    Postal Regulatory Commission:
USPS Could Lose Millions in Proposed Deal   "... Commissioner Ruth Y. Goldway agreed in part with Tisdale’s dissent: “First and foremost, through this NSA, the Postal Service will lose between $25 and $45 million and opens itself — if it is to be fair to other similarly situated mailers — to lose much more.” But Goldway ultimately decided to “go along with the majority” and voted to approve the NSA with the Bank of America. ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]

News Archive

Oct. 28, 2007:   Does MSPB Order Supersede Union Agreement?   "... contended that the Board's order superseded the national union agreement. The court disagreed: "We reject this view. …[W]e agree that an agency is not required, pursuant to the terms of a Board order, to assign an employee to a particular position when that assignment would violate the applicable collective bargaining agreement." ..."    [Reference: www.fedsmith.com]



Oct. 28, 2007:   Pay for Doorstep Delivery   "... New Homeowners Decry Cluster Boxes": Why doesn't the U.S. Postal Service offer the service of delivery to the homeowner's house but for a fee? ..."    [Reference: www.washingtonpost.com]



Oct. 26, 2007:   Beware Buddies Bearing Buyouts   "... The USPS yesterday advised employees that the "buyout offer" they've been reading about, with very official-looking documentation, is a fake. A fraud. ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Oct. 26, 2007:   UPDATED MAIL HANDLER WAGE CHARTS: Including November 2007 Wage Increase   "... The second of six general wage increases to be paid to all mail handlers under the 2006 National Agreement will be implemented effective November 24, 2007, and will be reflected in paychecks on December 14, 2007 (PP25-2007). ..."    [Reference: www.npmhu.org]



Oct. 26, 2007:   Montgomery County Neighbors: Postal Service Won't Deliver Mail   "... According to Rutland, they've tried to come to an agreement with the Postal Service, but he says they won't give any of their recommendations a stamp of approval. He says, "It's almost discriminatory. For $.41, they won't deliver my mail to the box in front of my house." ..."    [Reference: www.wsfa.com]



Oct. 18, 2007:   [Federal Employees] A Slightly Sweeter Diet COLA   "... The 2.3 percent adjustment will show up in your January annuity payment minus deductions for taxes and for higher (in some cases) health insurance. ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Oct. 18, 2007:    GlobalOptions Group Clarifies USPS Award   "... program is with the United States Postal Service’s Office of Inspector General. GlobalOptions Group will work with the Office of Inspector General’s Workers Compensation Analyst (WCA) program to investigate and combat workers compensation fraud. ..."    [Reference: businesswire.com]



Oct. 18, 2007:   USPS sells out on zip code   "... The U.S. Postal Service has allowed Saks Fifth Avenue to have its own vanity zip code - for the shoe department at its flagship Fifth Avenue store in New York. It was just rechristened "10022-SHOE." Saks is the first entity to receive such a customized code. The Postal Service maintains that these last four letters are just a fun, creative marketing strategy and that they have nothing to do with processing or delivery. ..."    [Reference: www.philly.com]



Oct. 7, 2007:   Falling Prices & Suspicious Minds   "... Mike Causey: While the prices of everything seem to go up, why would the "cost of living" go down? ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Oct. 7, 2007:   American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
2007 Unofficial Election Results
10/6/2007 15:00   "... Ballots for the APWU Election of National Officers are being counted by the American Arbitration Association, under the supervision of the APWU National Election Committee. The results are preliminary and unofficial, and will be updated frequentl ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]



Oct. 7, 2007:   BOG approves USPS 2008 financial plan   "... “The Board of Governors approved continuing to reduce costs by building on our automation effort and by expanding standardization in all functions, [which includes improving the] use of data to target service improvements and cost reduction opportunities, and to better align our workforce to a changing workload; ..."    [Reference: www.dmnews.com]



Sept. 30, 2007:   Mr. Lebron "DT" Bass, Huntsville, AL; Mail Handler  "... July 23, 1961 - September 20, 2007 ... Rest in peace ..."    [Reference: www.royalfh.com]



Sept. 30, 2007:   USPS revises standard for mailing medical waste   "... so that medical professionals as well as individuals can mail medical waste to disposal sites in larger containers. ..."    [Reference: www.dmnews.com]



Sept. 30, 2007:      "... The U.S. Postal Inspection Service is accepting online applications for Postal Inspector positions from October 1 through October 5. Click here to fill out an on-line application or visit our Employment site for more information. ..."    [Reference: www.usps.com]



Sept.24, 2007:   North Dakota Post Office closed due to tornado   "... The Northwood, ND, Post Office remains damaged after being struck by a tornado. ..."    [Reference: www.usps.com]



Sept.24, 2007:   Open Season. Make That Open Seasons   "... In less than two months (November 12), the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will start its annual federal employee "benefits" open season. The "benefits" open season will last through December 10, with any changes taking effect in the beginning of January 2008. ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Sept.24, 2007:   UAW to strike against GM if 11 a.m. deadline comes without deal   "... If no agreement was reached, bargaining committee members would clear the plant of unionized workers at 11 a.m., and many would head to the picket lines ..."    [Reference: www.mlive.com]



Sept. 17, 2007:   Prunes force evacuation of Sandy Springs post office   "... What kind of message can be divined from a bunch of jars filled with chopped prunes, a photo of President Bush, some Homeland Security pamphlets and a Santa Claus toy with a "New York" tag around its neck? ..."    [Reference: www.ajc.com]



Sept. 17, 2007:   2008 VEHICLES BUILT BY UNION MEMBERS
IN THE UNITED STATES & CANADA   "... his guide is prepared by the UAW to provide information for consumers who want to purchase vehicles produced by workers who enjoy the benefits and protections of a union contract. ..."    [Reference: www.uaw.org]



Sept. 17, 2007:   US Postal Truck Stolen and Set on Fire   "... taken into custody at a nearby rest stop, where he was sleeping in the cab of the truck, along with pieces of stolen mail. ..."    [Reference: www.katv.com]




Sept. 17, 2007:   NPMHU 2006 National Agreement   "... Copies of the Agreement booklet are in the process of being mailed to all NPMHU members. Please follow this link to review a PDF version of the contract. ..."    [Reference: www.npmhu.org]



Sept. 17, 2007:   XMED MAIL SYSTEM   "... Waste is conveniently transported to the XMED Disposal Facility by the United States Postal Service in compliance with all federal regulations. XMED received approval from the United States Postal Service on January 23rd of this year after almost 15 months in development and testing. ..."    [Reference: www.xmeddisposal.com]



Sept. 16, 2007:   UAW, GM negotiators break for the night; talks to resume Sunday   "... The union is looking for terms that will secure factory jobs and stem the outsourcing of work to nonunion labor. ..."    [Reference: www.detnews.com]




Sept. 16, 2007:   Postal worker moonlights as a diehard for diehards   "...Ask most people who deal with him, and they'll say Salazar is a different breed: aggressive, dedicated and persistent. ..."    [Reference: www.fresnobee.com]



Sept. 11, 2007:   Remembering 9-11   "... Never before seen Video of WTC 9/11 attack found here ..."    [Reference: 9-11memorial.rocket-city.us]




Sept. 10, 2007:   USPS Must Do More For Veterans   "... “The Postal Service has systematically eliminated or contracted out the six job classifications that, under the Veterans’ Preference Act are restricted to applying veterans.” ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]




Sept. 10, 2007:   COLA OF $686
TO BE ADDED TO BASE WAGES   "... will be reflected in paychecks on September 21, 2007 (PP19-2007). ..."    [Reference: www.npmhu.org]



Sept. 10, 2007:   Postal Truck Driver Killed At Mail Processing Center   "... A contract driver for the U.S. Postal Service, a single mother of three, was killed at the Dulles processing and distribution center when she was pulled under a tractor-trailer and dragged, authorities said yesterday. ..."    [Reference: www.washingtonpost.com]



Sept. 10, 2007:    Postal prizes: Kiosks give you shot at payoffs   "... "We liken it to automatic kiosks at banks or airports," Walton said. "When they were first introduced, people didn't go to them. They wanted to deal with a live person for every transaction. ..."    [Reference: www.news-record.com]




Sept. 10, 2007:   Man finds a lot of mail under some bushes   "... oel Leija says he was cleaning his parent's yard in northeast Houston when he found stacks of letters and packages. Some were certified letters, credit card bills and even child support checks. ..."    [Reference: abclocal.go.com]



Sept. 4, 2007:   July 2007 TSP Current Rates of Return   "... Rates of Return were updated on August 1, 2007. ..."    [Reference: www.tsp.gov]



Sept. 4, 2007:   Bridging Two Worlds, USPS Deaf Awareness Month   "... the Postal Service has approximately 4,000 deaf employees nationwide, including 95 in Colorado. Denver has the nation's highest population of deaf and hard-of-hearing postal employees with 65. ..."    [Reference: denver.yourhub.com]




Sept. 4, 2007:   ScanMyPhotos.com’s image raised by USPS flat-rate box   "... ScanMyPhotos charges a flat $99.95 to scan as many photos as can be packed into a single flat-rate box. Built into that fee is the $8.95 USPS flat rate for priority shipping. ..."    [Reference: www.dmnews.com]



Sept. 4, 2007:   Pay Raise, Tax Cut: What Are The Odds?   "... All of them would be possible - the pay raise, the annuity boost, the tax break - if Congress would get moving on three bills that have overwhelming support (in Congress) but can't get through Congress. Confused? Welcome to Washington, sometimes known as Disneyland East. ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



Sept. 4, 2007:   Ex-postal clerk guilty of mail theft   "... sentenced to three years on probation. ..."    [Reference: www.montgomeryadvertiser.com]



August 27, 2007:   UAW influence on national labor agenda fading   "... the public needs to realize that good pensions and benefits don't come automatically but must be earned through hard bargaining. "I think maybe it's taken for granted that that stuff is automatically given to employees," he said. "I don't think the public is really aware of the impact that it's going to have on retirements and ..."    [Reference: www.freep.com]



August 27, 2007:   Mail call: Local carrier celebrates 50 years on the job   "... "When I left for Alabama A&M, I had no intention of returning until I had graduated," he said. "My mom kinda got in a tight, so I took my tuition and helped her. I never went back and got what I really wanted, but never regretted what I did for my mother." ..."    [Reference: www.al.com]



August 27, 2007:   You've got mail!
When it comes to delivering DVDs, and guarding secrets, Netflix runs a tight ship   "... Netflix, the movie-rental company, a veritable postal service within the postal service. How does the right movie get to the right person on the right day with greater than 99 percent accuracy? ..."    [Reference: www.boston.com]




August 22, 2007:   2006 National Agreement   "...Copies of the Agreement booklet are in the process of being mailed to all NPMHU members. Please follow this link to review a PDF version of the contract. ..."    [Reference:npmhu ]



August 22, 2007:   A Conversation with Ronald Williams Jr. author of Deep Inside LiteBlue and Thinking Inside The LiteBlue Box.   "... I was motivated to write my books because forums for employee discussion are nonexistent in my working environment. Whenever anyone has an opinion, idea or plain old feedback we are barked at with the comments “that’s your perception or I’m not here to argue” and the discussion ends there ..."    [Reference: www.bookpleasures.com]



August 15, 2007:   Latest CPI Rise Will Yield $686 Annual Increase   "... The COLA will be effective Sept. 1, and will be reflected in Sept. 21 paychecks (Pay Period 19-07). The adjustment will amount to a 33 cents per hour increase, or $26.40 per pay period. ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]




August 13, 2007:   Postal workers battle the heat to deliver the mail   "They work harder than any of us realize,” she said. “They've got to be out there in temperatures of 102 and 103 and into a metal vehicle with no air conditioning and hotter than it is outside. It's hard work. It's risky. I think all the people would like to say thank you."    [Reference: www.rrdailyherald.com]



August 13, 2007:   Postal Service: Our building is not for sale   "... A snag developed last week in the plans to put Fernandina Beach City Hall on the second and third floors of the 1912 Post office building downtown: The Postal Service told backers of the plan the building isn't for sale."    [Reference: www.jacksonville.com]



August 9, 2007:   'Most improved' -- but still worst   "...according to Chicago postmaster Gloria Tyson. But mail delivery in city ZIP codes remains the nation's worst. In the most recent audit, Chicago lagged behind big cities including..."    [Reference: www.suntimes.com]




August 9, 2007:   Balchs have proud history of service here and abroad   "... Samuel and Joe Sr. were letter carriers for the post office. ..."    [Reference: www.al.com]



August 9, 2007:   Dogs rout delivery of mail to 639 addresses

BITES AND BOTHER: Mail carriers have reported 79 incidents this year.   "... Instead of delivering mail to each of the 639 addresses in the neighborhood, which is south of Beach Boulevard and east of Southside Boulevard, the mail will be delivered to the box units being installed in eight locations throughout the affected area ..."    [Reference: www.jacksonville.com]



August 7, 2007:   Lawsuit over personal data brings out postal workers   "... Four days after a Seattle law firm accused the U.S. Postal Service of selling the personal information of employees without consent, more than 100 postal workers have come forward saying they want restitution. ..."    [Reference: seattlepi.nwsource.com]




July 30, 2007:    Tennessee AMP Study Terminated   "... “After review, it has been determined that there are currently no significant opportunities to improve efficiency and/or service through consolidation of certain mail processing operations at the Jackson, TN Post Office into the Memphis, TN Processing and Distribution Center,” the Postal Service wrote ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]



July 30, 2007:   (UK) Postal worker stabbed by needle   "... A postwoman faces an agonising wait to see if she has contracted any diseases after she was stabbed in the hand with a hypodermic needle ..."    [Reference: bbc.co.uk]



July 30, 2007:   Postal Facts 2007   "... We …

* Process and deliver more than 213 billion pieces of mail — letters, cards, ads, bills, payments and packages — every year.
o Nearly 703 million pieces per day
o More than 29 million pieces per hour
o More than 488,000 pieces per minute
o More than 8,000 pieces per second
* Deliver mail to more than 300 million people at 146 million homes ..."    [Reference: www.usps.com]




July 26, 2007:   Buyout Rumor Appears to be False -   "... It is speculated that the rumors began to spread due to a FY 2007 buyout in another agency. ..."    [Reference: see FAQ from other agency]



July 26, 2007:   COLA's and the Federal Retiree: A Mid-Term Report   "...the COLA increase is determined by a formula that is automatically applied each year. A retiree wil not know until late in the year how much of an increase there will be in next year's retirement check. The Department of Labor calculates the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for urban wage earners and clerical workers from the third quarter average of the previous year to the third quarter average for the current year.
..."    [Reference: www.fedsmith.com]



July 26, 2007:   Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) Update   "... In June, the Consumer Price Index (CPI-W) rose to 607.374. After the fifth month of the six-month measuring period, and assuming the adjustment was made based on the June index point, the second COLA under the 2006-2010 National Agreement would be $728, which works out to $28.00 per pay period or 35 cents per hour. However, the adjustment will be made based on the July 2007 index and will be effective Sept. 1, 2007 (pay period 19-2007, pay date Sept. 21, 2007). ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]




July 26, 2007:   Too Sick To Work at One Agency But Not A Second One   "... The court points to the USPS Employee and Labor Relations Manual which states at Section 513.312 that "[a]n employee who is in sick leave status may not engage in any gainful employment unless prior approval has been granted by appropriate authority." The court finds reasonable and defers to the agency's interpretation of this policy that outside employment is not permitted "during any day for which an employee has taken sick leave" unless specifically approved by USPS. (p. 2) ..."    [Reference: www.fedsmith.com]



July 24, 2007:   Carlsbad man powerful ally for superheroes stamps   "... As one of six art directors for the U.S. Postal Service, the Carlsbad resident coordinated the design of a new Marvel Super Heroes commemorative stamp series. ..."    [Reference: www.signonsandiego.com]



July 19, 2007:   Postal carrier shot in Cal City   "... The gunman had drawn his gun when the mailman got out of the vehicle, and the man shot him in the leg with a small revolver, Krenn said. The gunman appeared interested in robbing the mailman, not stealing mail ..."    [Reference: www.thetimesonline.com]




July 19, 2007:   Postal service to offer Flight 93 postmark   "... I’ll start getting calls as soon as it’s out,” she said. “Some people collect them. Some people just want keepsakes. ..."    [Reference: www.tribune-democrat.com]



July 19, 2007:   NALC - Tentative Agreement Highlights   "... Under proposed terms, the average letter carrier salary would increase $4,200 over the life of the contract solely from general wage increases. ..."    [Reference: www.nalc.org]



July 18, 2007:   Postman who vanished is charged in federal court   "... Police in Columbus discovered Jordan at a coin-operated laundry Saturday after a customer reported seeing a handgun in a man's travel bag. They arrested Jordan on a charge of unlawful possession of a handgun. ..."    [Reference: www.indystar.com]




July 14, 2007:   NALC-USPS Negotiators Settle On Five-Year National Contract   "... The agreement, retroactive to November 21, 2006, provides general wage increases of 8.85 percent over five years along with regular cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and a single lump-sum COLA payment of $686 for the period between July 2006 and May 2007. ..."    [Reference: www.nalc.org]



July 14, 2007:   Mail Man Disappears
  "... His truck was found by co-workers in downtown Greenfield with the mail still inside. Jordan usually parks his truck in the morning and walks his route.

..."    [Reference: www.wlky.com]



July 11, 2007:   Ex-postal exec enters guilty plea to years of graft   "... A former supervisor of more than 75 post offices in New Jersey yesterday admitted steering contracts to private businesses in return for cash and other favors and also to getting an employee to do work at his home. ..."    [Reference: www.nj.com]




July 11, 2007:   U.S. Compiling Suspect List in Goldman Mail Threats   "... investigators are probing whether 31 letters sent to media outlets threatening an attack on Goldman Sachs Group Inc., the world's biggest securities firm, were mailed by disgruntled employees, a federal official said. ..."    [Reference: www.bloomberg.com]



July 11, 2007:   OPM modifies rules for figuring certain employees' retirement benefits   "... According to an OPM benefits administration letter, federal employees on workers' compensation who hold a full-time appointment but are able to work only part-time now will be credited for full-time service. ..."    [Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com]



July 9, 2007:   [Fairbanks, AK] Postal changes aim to thin lines   "... Local postal leaders said they have not been allowed to replace employees lost over the past few years to relocation or retirement, leaving large gaps in operations. The current realignment aims to fix this staffing shortage by combining and shifting job duties. ..."    [Reference: newsminer.com]




July 9, 2007:   Postal service facing change   "... "I think within the next six to eight months the Congress of the United States is going to decide an issue that's going to determine whether or not we have a reliable, efficient postal service in the future," said William H. Young, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers. ..."    [Reference: www.dailybulletin.com]



July 9, 2007:   $525,000 house, no mailbox?   "... The National Association of Home Builders is lobbying against communal delivery. A.J. Holliday, a lawyer for the Washington-based interest group, called the new postal strategy "discrimination" against people buying new homes. ..."    [Reference: www.indystar.com]



July 5, 2007:   Chain-linked deception: Letters raise red flags   "... her daily mail, there was an offer in it that supposedly allowed the prospective participant to make as much as $250,000 in just a few weeks time. ..."    [Reference: www.oanow.com]



July 5, 2007:   Despite Majority Support, ‘EFCA’ Blocked in Senate   "...The Employee Free Choice Act (S. 1041) would give American workers greater freedom to make their own choices about joining unions. EFCA would stiffen penalties for harassment, intimidation, and other illegal tactics employers often use to prevent workers from having a voice at work and being able to bargain for better wages, benefits, and working conditions.

The legislation would also recognize workers’ freedom to form unions when a majority of employees sign forms designating a union as their bargaining representative. ... ... Voted Against EFCA: Sessions (R-AL),
Shelby (R-AL) ..."    [Reference: www.apwu.org]



July 5, 2007:   Jail time for postal carriers   "... sentences of four U.S. Postal Service workers arrested for selling cocaine and marijuana, at times from their post office vehicles. ..."    [Reference: www.bostonnow.com]




July 1, 2007:   "(AP) Postal Service fined for violation at building with asbestos" - OAK RIDGE, Tenn.   "... dust from crumbling old floor tiles at a U.S. Postal Service building in Oak Ridge "could cause health hazards," a federal report states. ..."    [Reference: www.wkrn.com/nashville/]




July 1, 2007:   Trainee signatures are not required to verify training; U.S. Postal Service is covered by the OSHAct   "... There is no OSHA standard that requires "the signatures of all employees in attendance for all safety stand up talks." However, certain OSHA standards, such as our Personal Protective Equipment standard, 29 CFR 1910.132, require verification, through a written certification, that each affected employee has received and understood the required training. The written certification must contain the name of each employee trained, the date(s) of training, and identify the subject of the certification. It is a common industry practice to take attendance of all employees who attended training sessions, however, OSHA does not require signatures from employees who have attended training sessions. ..."    [Reference: www.osha.gov]




July 1, 2007:   Ex-postal employee confesses to crime   "... pleaded guilty in US District Court to felony money handling charges for issuing herself a money order she did not pay for to pay off a traffic ticket. ..."    [Reference: www.wmcstations.com]