Royal Mail workers issue fresh strike threat

Union warns that it will push for industrial action unless Royal Mail gives assurances on the future of the business

"...The postal group halted its final salary pension for all employees in April, and replaced it with one based on career average earnings...."    

Source: timesonline.co.uk

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USPS Shipping of Live Animals

Animal cruelty or business as usual?

"...Since 1919, the Postal Service has retained statutes dictating the terms of shipment of live animals, including newborn and adult fowl, lizards, earthworms, snails, leeches, scorpions and even honey bees..."    

Source: www.malibutimes.com

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Stole gasoline from the U.S. Postal Service

Texas pair stole, sold postal gasoline

"...used postal service credit cards to buy gasoline for themselves, plus sell it to people in Texas, Arkansas and Louisiana. They have paid restitution of more than $47,000..."    

Source: www.chron.com

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How to retire in style

Neither rain nor heat nor gloom of night stops folks from living large at the unofficial retirement community of the National Association of Letter Carriers.

"...With an efficiency renting for under $75 in 1964, Nalcrest [Florida] was nirvana for postal retirees. It remains a bargain: A one-bedroom rents for only $305, and dinners at Jay Bee's II, the town's only restaurant, average $6. ..."    

Source: nationalgeographic.com

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Emergency Drill At Main Post Office

Workers Hold Emergency Drill At Main Post Office

"...The drill focused on response to a biohazard danger, including decontamination of volunteers...."    

Source: www.kypost.com

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Digital signage used by USPS to spark interest in kiosks

Digital Signage

"...focused on changing this customer behavior specifically by including a digital screen at the main entrance to each of the test sites. Nicknamed the “Stop and Turn” device, it is a 30-inch screen hung portrait fashion in a custom mount. The content on this screen is all very short (3-5 seconds), bright colors, and designed to catch the eye of customers as they walk into the post office. It’s also very direct in its messages. “Jump the line. Ship packages at the APC...."    

Source: www.selfserviceworld.com

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Favorite Fictional Postal People

Poll results - favorite postal character

"...Who is your favorite fictional postal character?..."    

Source: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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Mail Package Shipping Test:

FedEx, UPS, and the Postal Service - A shipping test

"...We sent three packages via Fed Ex, another 3 through UPS and the last
batch we handed over to the Post Office..."    

Source: www.abcactionnews.com

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Postal worker charged in jewelry theft at work

"...U.S. Postal Service worker was arrested Sunday night and charged with stealing thousands of dollars in jewelry from the mail while working at a distribution center in Bethpage,..."    

Source: www.newsday.com

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Early Retirements in Many Industries

While many postal workers speculate on a Voluntary Early Retirement offer, many are pondering if other industries are facing the same. Below you will find links to articles that will quench your thirst.

Taking a Buyout to Leave a Job You Love   Source: www.usnews.com

NYSE Offers Retirement to 450 US Workers, CEO Says   Source: www.bloomberg.com

St. Petersburg TimesTo Trim Staff   Source: www.theweeklychallenger.com

Continental to cut 3000 jobs, slash domestic flights   Source: www.tradingmarkets.com

Buyouts taken by 300 at GM Wentzville   Source: stcharlesjournal.stltoday.com

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Postal Technology

Connected: Postal Service technology can be helpful

"...the Postal Service has recently installed imaging equipment specifically to expedite the return of undeliverable checks -- and there was a picture of my check near the bottom of the page!..."    

Source: www.post-gazette.com

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A Look Back to June 8, 1959: Missile Mail

While the Post Office Department had no official mail rocket program, unofficial mail rocket launchings made occasional headlines

"...the postal service and defense department cooperated in an experiment using missiles to carry mail in 1959. On June 8 of that year, a missile carrying 3,000 letters was fired from Navy submarine U.S.S. Barbero to a Naval station at Mayport, Florida, one hundred miles away. On hand for the service was Postmaster General Arthur E. Summerfield, who boasted that missiles would be able to speed mail across the U.S. and oversees. Among the pieces of mail carried was a letter from President Dwight D. Eisenhower..."    

Source: www.postalmuseum.si.edu

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Saturday mail delivery

Langford, to save fuel, urges an end to Saturday mail delivery

"...Langford last week announced a four-day work week for 4,000 Birmingham city employees, effective July 1. That plan received national and international attention. Langford was featured on Fox News Channel and ABC World News Tonight in stories detailing how the nation is coping with near $4 a gallon gas prices..."    

Source: al.com

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U.S.P.S. earned its second consecutive Certificate of Excellence award

An Exceptional Encore

"...The U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS) international mail facility in Chicago has earned its second consecutive Certificate of Excellence award from an international organization dedicated to improving global postal services..."    

Source: www.usps.com

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Post Office: Mooresville, AL 35649

Mooresville Alabama Post Office

"...Oldest Post Office in Alabama still in the original building, circa 1840..."    

Source: www.postmarks.org

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Post Office: Hinsdale, NH 03451

* Hinsdale NH Post Office Claims to be the Oldest Continuously Operating PO in America-1816.

"...Around the turn of the century, the post office was robbed twice. Thieves blew up the safe both times, destroying valuable records. That's the reason to this day, no one knows who was Hinsdale's postmaster for a 19 year period. (1826-1845) Prior to 1905 people had to come to the post office to pick up mail that was put in "call" boxes. Then, in that year, a rural route was started..."    

Source: www.associatedcontent.com

Further Information:
Source: http://www.usps.com/communications/newsroom/postalfacts.htm
* Oldest Post Office is in Castine, ME. This office has been in continuous operation since 1814.
* Second Oldest Post Office is in Hinsdale, NH. This office has been in the same building since 1816.

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Rhinebeck Post Office

Post office forever linked to FDR

"...There is a great deal of history here with regard to President Roosevelt, who was very involved in the creation of our post office building," said Barton, a 42-year employee of the U.S. Postal Service who has been with the Rhinebeck Post Office since 1995...."    

Source: www.dailyfreeman.com

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Cozad, NE original Pony Express Station

Cattle Towns: Cozad, Nebraska

"...Malalley Ranch became not only a trading post for Indians but also a camping place for wagon trains because there was water available and wood for repairs and fuel. Later it became known as the Willow Island station and was used as a stage and Pony Express station during the Pony Express April 1860..."    

Source: www.cattlenetwork.com

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1976 Mail Bomb Mystery

Woman searches for grandfather's killer 32 years after death

"...It was May 13, 1976. Ivend Holen was assistant postmaster in Kimball, Minnesota. He was sorting through packages when one of them exploded. Holen was killed. No one was ever arrested. The explosion remained a mystery..."    

Source: www.kare11.com

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Canada Post paid pre-retirement leave

Canada Post and Canadian Union of Postal Workers have a great benefit:

"...a regular employee who attains fifty (50) years of age and completes twenty (20) years of continuous employment or, attains sixty (60) years of age and completes five (5) years of continuous employment, shall be entitled to be paid a pre-retirement leave of one (1) week..."    

Source: www.hrsdc.gc.ca

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What is a VSIP?

VSIP is an acronym for Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment. Sometimes a VSIP is called a buyout

"...Under VSIP, agencies may pay up to $25,000, or an amount equal to the amount of severance pay an employee would be entitled to receive, whichever is less...."    

Source: postal-edaily.blogspot.com

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Post Office Hours

"...Locate a Post Office and look-up the Post Office hours at USPS.COM..."    

Source: www.usps.com

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postal codes canada

Canada Postal Code Look-Up

"...Take a look at the Canada Postal-Code Lookup with a reverse search feature..."    

Source: www.canadapost.ca

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digital postal scale

Postage Scales Buying Guide

"... Postage scales can help increase mailing efficiency by reducing overpayment on outgoing mail, saving the typical business 10% to 15% on postage..."    

Source: ebay.com

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US Postal Service Contract

U.S. Postal Service Awards Rivermine Telecom Expense Management Contract

"...Rivermine will deliver its patent-pending solutions to automate the U.S. Postal Service's existing TEM processes..."    

Source: www.earthtimes.org

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The Next Mail Handler Cost of Living Adjustment

The effective date of the next Mail Handler COLA

"...the next adjustment will be effective the second full pay period after the release of the July 2008 Index..."    

Source: AGREEMENT between National Postal Mail Handlers Union, 2006-2011

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GPS Letter Tracking

Tiny gadget delivers a letter’s route

"...The U.S. Postal Service commissioned Burlingame-based TrackingTheWorld to create the world’s first letter-tracking GPS device that will ensure letters never again are lost in the postal Bermuda Triangle. Dubbed the Letter Logger, the device stores GPS coordinates throughout its journey and stores information on its micro-SD flash memory card so the post office can keep tabs on the letter’s location...."    

Source: www.examiner.com

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CFC Raises $273 Million in 2007

Federal Employees and Military Personnel Set Fifth-Consecutive Record Tally

"...praised federal and postal employees, and members of the United States military for their generosity. "The CFC is about people helping people," Springer said of the campaign now in its 47th year. "Federal employees feel good about the work they do for America, and I do believe their attitudes about work are part and parcel of their personal desire to support organizations that do so much good in their local communities or on a national basis..."    

Source: www.opm.gov

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NALC Food Drive

Food Drive tally breaks record

"...The nation's Food Banks are now breathing easier thanks to the efforts of 1,300 Post Offices and employees thanks to the 2008 NALC Food Drive...."    

Source: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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APWU Testimony Kicks Off Controversy

...about the Postal Service’s obligation to provide “universal service” to all Americans seems to have stirred up a controversy.

"...The PRC has hired contractors who favor privatizing essential USPS operations, Reid testified, noting that the individuals selected have expressed hostility to fundamental elements of universal service — the postal monopoly and uniform rates...."    

Source: www.apwu.org

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A site promoting the positive side of the postal service

Your Postal Blog is a production of the U.S. Postal Service Western Area Public Affairs and Communications team..."    

Source: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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Does the USPS provide information on early retirement or do I have to get my information from the OPM site?

The USPS has a link for information about early retirement

"...Questions and Answers on Benefits, Pay and Leave Under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (06/28/04)... Summary of Benefits and Leave Provisions Under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (06/28/04) ..."    

Source: www.usps.com

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USPS Intelligent Mail® Barcode Resource Download Site

Intelligent Mail

"... The Intelligent Mail® barcode (formally known as the 4-State Customer Barcode) is the next generation of USPS® barcode technology used to sort and track letters and flats. Intelligent Mail® barcode technology, among other things, combines the capabilities of the POSTNET barcode and the Planet Code® barcode into one unique barcode..."    

Source: http://ribbs.usps.gov/

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TSP Returns for May 2008

TSP Returns for May 2008

Source: tsp.gov

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Mailers Prefer Plastic Pallets To Wooden Pallets

"...Mailers were very happy to hear one MTAC report, regarding plastic pallets. Mailers have been facing challenges posed by the wooden mail pallets the USPS has been distributing. The wooden pallets can weigh up to 60-70lbs, skewing tare weights and posing safety problems for mail handlers. The USPS announced that they have purchased and are testing a half million new plastic pallets, that are both lighter and less expensive than the older plastic pallets. Real-world testing, including some pallets implanted with GPS devices, is being conducted with these pallets right now. ..."     [<- This entry was posted on Wednesday, May 28th, 2008 at 6:58 pm]

Source: plasticcontainerblog.com

Further Information: MTAC Notes - Plastic Pallets

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Stamp Collecting: The Inverted Jenny Stamp

Extra! Extra!

"...serious stamp collectors know that one of the rarest stamps in the world is the inverted Jenny. The Jenny stamp was issued by the U.S. postal office on May 10, 1918 in which the image of the Curtiss JN-4 airplane was accidentally printed upside-down, making this postal error one of the most famous of all time...."    

Source: www.canyon-news.com

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Postal Service's dispute with Eagan, Dakota County over mail-sorting facility escalates

USPS -v- Dakota County

"...The lines of communication between the principal players in Dakota County have reached a new low, with the latest impasse forcing the cancellation of a three-way meeting that had been scheduled for May 19. "We canceled it because of our deep frustration with the Postal Service," Dakota County Commissioner Tom Egan said. Egan has been speaking with Republican Sen. Norm Coleman's office, ..."    

Source: www.twincities.com

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Voluntary Early Retirement Authority

OPM Reduction in Force Portal

"...Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) allows agencies that are undergoing substantial restructuring, reshaping, downsizing, transfer of function, or reorganization to temporarily lower the age and service requirements in order to increase the number of employees who are eligible for retirement. The authority encourages more voluntary separations and helps the agency complete the needed organizational change with minimal disruption to the work force. By offering these short term opportunities, an agency can make it possible for employees to receive an immediate annuity years before they would otherwise be eligible..."    

Tags: VERA, RIF, Early Retirement

Source: www.opm.gov

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OPM to remove RetireEZ from the web

OPM suspends contract for electronic retirement system

"...One federal source said the prime vendor for the contract and OPM have had concerns regarding aspects of the program that the vendor says are out of the scope of the contract. A former OPM employee also said there has been problems with data cleansing for the system, noting that annuity calculations have not consistently been correct as a result...."    

Source: www.govexec.com

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spouses' federal retirement benefits

New CRS reports on spouses' federal retirement benefits

"...A state court can award a former spouse a share of the employee's retirement annuity, a survivor annuity, or both. A court also can award a former spouse of a federal employee a portion of the employee's Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) account balance as part of a divorce settlement...."    

Source: lawprofessors.typepad.com

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Postal Workers Protected from Retaliation for Age-Discrimination Complaints

"...This is an important victory for postal and federal employees,” APWU President William Burrus said. “The ruling makes clear that postal workers enjoy the same protection against retaliation as employees in the private sector..."    

Source: www.apwu.org

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Postal Buyout

What is the latest information on the possibility of a buyout or early retirement bonus from the postal service?

A quick search of the web offers numerous possibilities in this arena. However, all the sources verify that there is not a postal buyout offer on the table at this time. Rumors are purely speculation and wishful thinking on the part of many. It appears that the environment is ripe for such offers. Some think that the USPS feels they can reduce employment numbers adequately through attrition. Although many feel reduction through attrition will not be sufficient due to the harsh economic realities this country is now facing, therefore many postal employees are either delaying retirement or not even considering it anymore. With the economy in such bad shape and postal pay raises being so small under the latest union contracts, many feel there will have to be an early out retirement cash bonus before retirement will be considered. If you are seeking more information on this subject, a search of the web offers the following informative links:

Postal eDaily

Postal News Network

Federal Times

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Postal and Federal Special Retirement Supplement

How do I calculate my eligibility for the FERS Annuity Supplement?

According to OPM, the supplement is computed as if you were age 62 and fully insured for a social security benefit when the supplement begins. By law, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) first estimates what your full career (40 years) social security benefit would be. Then we calculate the amount of your civilian service under FERS and reduce the estimated full career social security benefit accordingly. For example, if your estimated full career social security benefit would be $1,000 and you had worked 30 years under FERS, we would divide 30 by 40 (.75) and multiply ($1,000 x .75 = $750). The result would be your special retirement supplement, prior to any reductions...."    

Source: OPM

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Court sides with Destin postal worker in white powder case

Court sides with Destin postal worker in white powder case

"...Earlier this month, the 11th Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the United States Postal Service broke the law when a Destin postal supervisor threatened an employee for filing a labor complaint..."    

Source: www.thedestinlog.com

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April 2008 COLA Update Released on May 14

COLA Update: APRIL INFLATION UP 0.7 PERCENT

"...The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 0.7 percent in April 2008 according to the Bureau of Labor and Statistics (BLS). Released on May 14..."   

Reference: www.narfe.org

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TSP and Taxes

TSP and Taxes

"...Do you know the circumstances under which you can withdraw funds from your Thrift Savings Plan account without a tax penalty? Are your heirs..."    

Source: www.govexec.com

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Memorial Day

Veterans talk about holiday's significance

"..."They wanted to amputate my legs, but I wouldn't let 'em. I still have the letter to prove it," said the 77-year-old retired postal worker...."    

Source: www.ocala.com

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Corporate cherry-picking isn't delivering the goods

"...of public service privatisation and commercialisation. Not for them the pickled nostrums of the past: if the corporate world could deliver the goods, it had to be given the freest of reins. The farce of their claims couldn't have been more clearly demonstrated than in the liberalisation and creeping privatisation of Britain's postal service...."

Source: www.guardian.co.uk

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New USPS Processing and Distribution Center Construction in Nashville

Postal Service to build massive center near airport

Nashville Post (subscription) -

"... Panattoni Development Co. will oversee construction and is working with the USPS on traffic studies of the area. The new facility is likely to employ more ...
The US Postal Service plans to build a 626000-square-foot processing and distribution center near Nashville International Airport..."

Reference: www.nashvillepost.com

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TSP Investing

Who's Investing What, and Where?

"...Do you ever ask, or wonder, how your coworkers invest in the TSP?..."

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com

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Potter at the National Postal Forum

Postmaster General Embraces Change

"...Potter spoke about new technologies that are providing these solutions — Intelligent Mail Barcode and the Flat Sequencing System (FSS). FSS is new technology that will speed the sorting and delivery of large envelopes, catalogs and magazines, quadrupling productivity. FSS machines also will be able to read the Intelligent Mail Barcode, allowing mailers and the Postal Service to track mail throughout the sortation process, improving service and reducing costs to mailers and consumers...."

Reference: www.usps.com

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Mail Network Protection Act

Support for Mail Network Protection Act Tops 100

"...The legislation, introduced last November by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA), would require the Postal Service to bargain with postal unions before it engages in significant contracting-out and protect inexpensive, trustworthy mail service for the American public..."

Reference: www.apwu.org

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Advanced Facer Canceller Systems 200 (AFCS 200)

Siemens wins $245M contract from US Postal Service

"...from the United States Postal Service (USPS) for 550 Advanced Facer Canceller Systems (AFCS) 200 to replace and modernize its existing fleet of AFCS. The AFCS currently being used has been in service for almost 20 years and is used by the Postal Service(TM) to cancel First-Class mail...."

Reference: siemens.com

More Related Resources: Siemens Postal Automation

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Federal Worker COLA -v- Retiree COLA

You Can't Take It With You

"...The horse race between a pay raise for workers and a COLA (cost of living adjustment) for retirees has some working feds thinking..."

Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com

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Baxter The Postal Cat Needs Home

Holland cat up for adoption after joyride under postal truck's hood

"...Baxter is in need of a good home, but keep him away from postal trucks...."

Reference: www.wzzm13.com

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TSP Rewards the Patient Investor

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TSP posts positive returns as interfund transfers drop

"..."Those people who stuck it out [and did not made withdrawals], they probably have come back to pretty much flat," FRTIB Chairman Andrew Saul said, suggesting that positive returns could begin to compensate for the market's decline earlier in the year..."

Reference: www.govexec.com

Resources: TSP investors should understand the concept of Dollar Cost Averaging.


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Netflix offers service alternative to Post Office shipping of DVD

Netflix to Sell a Device for Instantly Watching Movies on TV Sets

"...Netflix, which pioneered the business of offering DVD movie rentals by mail, is now offering its 8.2 million subscribers an option to watch movies easily on their televisions without involving the post office..."

Reference: www.nytimes.com

Other Resources: Netflix Ready Device

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Halma Post Office Closure

Minn. - Sen. Coleman fights to save Halma P.O.

"...has sent a letter to the U.S. Postmaster General to call attention to the closing of small-town post offices in Minnesota and the dwindling number of qualified postmasters in the region..."

Reference: www.grandforksherald.com

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More Post Office Closures

Some peeved by post office plans

"...“The boundaries you talked about far exceed Rockaway Beach — are you telling us you’re going to take our post office out of our city?” resident and business owner Carol Szabo asked...."

Reference: www.bransondailynews.com

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Encoding Center Closing

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Selma Postal Encoding Center Closing

"...About one hundred full-time workers will be offered transfers, while about three hundred part-time workers will loose their jobs..."

Reference: www.cbs47.tv

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Postal Service Faces Challenges

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Economy and Internet challenge U.S. Postal Service

"...This year, the Service expects about 10 percent growth in Priority Mail, Express Mail and related products that compete with Fedex Corp, United Parcel Service and other companies, Donahoe said. ..."

Reference: www.reuters.com

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PRICHARD, AL. -- Prichard postal worker shot

"...shot in the chest with a pellet gun while delivering the mail. Postal worker stated that he felt a sharp pain to his chest, it was later discovered he had sustained a minor injury to the chests and was not transported to a hospital..."

Reference: www.myfoxgulfcoast.com

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Postal Service remote-encoding center to close

Postal service to close East Pittsburgh facility

"..."We've closed 47 of these centers across the country already. Pittsburgh is one of the last eight of these sites," said Tad Kelly, a postal service spokesman for the Pittsburgh region..."

Reference: www.pittsburghlive.com

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Anger Over TV Series Titled Going Postal: 15 Shocking Acts of Violence

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William Burrus, President of the American Postal Workers Union recently wrote an article stating that the E! Television Series Is Offensive to Postal Workers. “The title of the series is an affront to more than 700,000 hard-working postal employees who are stigmatized by the cruel stereotype that suggests that postal workers are violent sociopaths,” APWU President William Burrus wrote in a letter to Brian L. Roberts, Chairman and CEO of Comcast [PDF], which owns E! “Of course, statistics show that postal employees are no more likely to engage in acts of violence than the public at large,” the union president said.

NOTE: We at The Postal Newsgroup understand this is television and the American people are intelligent enough not to lump all posties into the category of crazy. You can bet there will be as many postal employees watching this program as anyone else. I have my DVR programmed in that direction already! On that note, we thank Mr. Burrus for standing up for postal employees as he should, while at the same time we thank E! for the insight into these horrific events. Maybe this will help us identify the signs of people that are over the edge ...in all walks of life.

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RALEIGH, NC, USPS Telecommunication Services Office: Employment Opportunity

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While surfing the net for quality articles to provide our readers, we found an "Employment Opportunity" with the USPS.The position is in RALEIGH, NC, at the USPS Telecommunication Services Office. This looks like a great job. SPECIAL NOTE: Current career Postal Service employees are ineligible to apply to this posting. The closing date on this position is May 21, 2008. External Recruitment Announcement
Information Technology.

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Postal Early Out: VERA Information in case the rumors come to fruition

Are you contemplating a possible early retirement from your postal career? If you are, and you are reading this, then you are already one step ahead of the majority. You are obviously someone who is seeking information so you can make the most informative decision you can make. Anyone keeping up with the economics of the mailing industry can tell you there are changes going on in this industry. The leader in this industry is the United States Postal Service. The mailing industry has been seriously eroded by the internet. The USPS has been damaged not only from the internet, but by the corporate competition of large mailers and large mail movers. These groups have pressured congress to force the Postal Service to relinquish the monopoly it had once held. They have found success in convincing government and the masses, that the USPS should compete with large mailers. So unless the Universal Service requirement prevails, the postal service employment numbers will decline substantially. According to the USPS, mail volume has declined substantially. As we have been taught, "for every action, there is an equal..." or greater reaction. So the writing on the wall is this: Mail volume is rapidly declining, the postal service must reduce employees. The hopes are that this reduction will take place through attrition. However, it must be factored in that people are working longer than in the past due to a greater life expectancy, as well as the fact that cost of health care and energy have made retiring cost prohibitive. Therefore, as the rumors support, the USPS will more than likely have to convince employees to retire by offering some type of voluntary early retirement incentive. Most likely, since the USPS has been forced to compete with private industry, the employees of the USPS and their unions, will insist on buyout incentives equating to large cash offers, no early-out "age" penalties, and reasonable health insurance coverage. OPM has the basic starting point for this. The OPM website explains this as VERA or Voluntary Early Retirement Authority, which allows agencies that are undergoing substantial restructuring, reshaping, downsizing, transfer of function, or reorganization to temporarily lower the age and service requirements in order to increase the number of employees who are eligible for retirement. The authority encourages more voluntary separations and helps the agency complete the needed organizational change with minimal disruption to the work force. By offering these short term opportunities, an agency can make it possible for employees to receive an immediate annuity years before they would otherwise be eligible.

An agency must request VERA and receive approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) before the agency may offer early retirement to its employees. The approval from OPM will stipulate a period of time during which the option will remain available. Many agencies have been granted agency-specific VERA and are not required to seek OPM approval for their use of this option.

With this being said, as a postal employee or federal employee, you should familiarize yourself with VERA. Take a look at OPM's website at https://www.opm.gov/employ/vera/vera01.asp.

The website says, Voluntary Early Retirement offers apply to employees covered under both the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). When an agency has received VERA approval from OPM, an employee who meets the general eligibility requirements may be eligible to retire early. The employee must:

1. Meet the minimum age and service requirements -
* At least age 50 with at least 20 years creditable Federal service, OR
* Any age with at least 25 years creditable Federal service;
2. Have served in a position covered by the OPM authorization for the minimum time specified by OPM (usually 30 days prior to the date of the agency request);
3. Serve in a position covered by the agency's VERA plan; and
4. Separate by the close of the early-out period.

There is no annuity reduction in FERS for employees who retire on an early voluntary retirement under age 55. A FERS Transferee with a CSRS Component in his/her annuity, who retires before age 55, will have the CSRS portion of the payable annuity reduced by one-sixth of one percent for each full month he/she is under age 55. No reduction will be applied to the FERS component of the annuity.

A FERS Annuity Supplement is payable to an employee who has completed at least one calendar year of FERS service when he/she reaches Minimum Retirement Age (MRA). MRA is age 55 to 57, depending on date of birth. The annuity supplement is payable until eligibility for Social Security begins at age 62, subject to an earnings limitation.

The OPM VERA website is very informative and a "must" read for all postal employees considering retirement.

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Postal Service revoked Centralia's ZIP code

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Centralia Mine Fire

"...Centralia is a borough in Columbia County, Pennsylvania, United States. Its population has dwindled from over 1,000 residents in 1981 to 12 in 2005[1] and 9 in 2007,[2] as a result of a 46-year-old mine fire burning beneath the borough. Centralia is now the least-populous municipality in Pennsylvania..."

Reference: en.wikipedia.org

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Nalcrest Florida 33856 ...Postal Retirmement Community

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Nalcrest: A retirement that's union-made

"...Bill Doherty turned the first shovel of earth on July 1, 1962, and Nalcrest—it stands for National Association of Letter Carriers Retirement, Education, Security and Training—began to take shape in central Florida.

Down the road is one of only a handful of union-built communities in the country, but Fedhaven went bankrupt years ago. No so for Nalcrest, which remains nonprofit. In 2002, the Nalcrest Foundation made its final mortgage payment and is no longer under U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development regulations...."

Reference: www.nalc.org

Postal Service service must act more like a private company

Price of Stamps Not the Only Thing to Change for U.S. Postal Service

"...A new federal law mandates that the mail service must act more like a private company by showing profits. Also, it has not and will not receive government subsidization. "Tax payers aren't paying our wages. They haven't for years, and a lot of people still think that we're government subsidized and we're not," says Liz Snow, an Idaho Falls Post Master..."

Reference: www.localnews8.com

Postal Rate Change Tips

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USPS Rate-Change Tips for E-tailers

"...No Fuel Surcharge for USPS
While this may discouraging, Mike Colgate, of Endicia, said that one benefit of the USPS service is that there are no extra charges. "There are about 90 different surcharges you can get from private carriers, the top four being for fuel, rural addresses, incorrect addressing and residential status," he said. "Private carriers can cost up to three times as much as the USPS with these added to the bill."..."

Reference: www.ecommerce-guide.com

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Undelivered Mail Found at Former Postal Service employee's home

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100,000 Pieces Of Undelivered Mail Found At Postal Worker's Home

"...the mail was taken to the Raleigh distribution center where they are still going through the mail to determine what can and can not be delivered at this late date..."

Reference: www.nbc17.com

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Postage Stamps Rise 1 cent on Monday, May 12, 2008

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USPS Announces New Prices as of Monday

"...The restructured price list offers some savings, among which reduced Express Mail prices for items shipped to addresses closer to home, lower online postage prices for Express Mail and Priority Mail and Volume Express Mail price rebates for frequent shippers...." Reference: www.efluxmedia.com

From the Auderbach Collection

Posted: 05.11.2008 @ 10:00 PM Central

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2008 Federal SES Executive Pay Schedule

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OPM has posted the 2008 Salary Tables at their website.



Reference: http://www.opm.gov/oca/08tables/

OPM Issues Findings from the 2008 Survey of the Senior Executive Service

News Advisory

"...On Tuesday, May 13, the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) will issue the governmentwide results from the 2008 Survey of the Senior Executive Service. The Survey, which was administered on-line in January and February to all SES (career, noncareer and term), focused on the new SES pay-for-performance system, executive development and general attitudes toward work..."

Reference: opm.gov

Frank Sinatra Stamp

Postal Chairman of the Board to Deliver ‘The’ Chairman of the Board
"...Frank Sinatra Stamp to be issued May 13 Special Ceremonies in New York City, Las Vegas and Hoboken, NJ..."
Reference: www.usps.com

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Unions Attempt to Preserve Postal Universal Service for the American People

Postal Reform Act Is No Endorsement of Privatization
"...“The issue of the Universal Service Obligation is a public policy issue; it cannot and should not be driven solely by economists of any political stripe or of all political stripes,” Reid testified. “The Postal Service belongs to the American people. It is a fundamental service provided to the American people.”..."
Reference: www.apwu.org

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U.S.P.S. Post $707 Million Loss Quarter 2, 2008

U.S. Postal Service lost $707 mln in 2nd quarter

"...The Postal Service has cut costs and increased efficiency, reducing its work hours by more than 18 million during first two quarters of 2008 compared with same period in 2007..."
Reference: www.reuters.com

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FERS Special Retirement Supplement

QUESTION: Does the Special Supplement approximate the amount of Social Security I will get at age 62?

ANSWER: No. The Special Supplement approximates the portion of an estimated Social Security benefit that you would earn during civilian service that is creditable toward the FERS portion of your annuity. Since the formula for the Special Supplement assumes a working life of 40 years, each year of FERS service is worth one-fortieth of the estimated Social Security benefit.

This information and more on the FERS Social Security Supplement can be found at the U.S. Office of Personnel Management Online

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FERS Social Security Supplement

Under the Federal Employees Retirement System, what needs to be provided to receive the Social Security supplement for those retiring before age 62? "...meant to mimic the Social Security benefit (based only on your FERS civilian service), it actually is paid as part of the FERS basic retirement benefit from the Office of Personnel Management. Receiving the FERS supplement does not affect the amount of your Social Security benefit at 62...." Reference: www.govexec.com

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Mail Handler National Convention

OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL MEMBERS TO GET INVOLVED IN 2008 NPMHU NATIONAL CONVENTION "...The Credentials Committee is chaired this year by Local 321 (Colorado) Vice President Don Gonzales, and also includes (in alphabetical order) Mark Addington, President of Local 327 (Montana); Bob Blum, Vice President of Local 300 (New York metropolitan area); Don Chapman, President of Local 325 (Mississippi); Julio Figueroa, President of Local 313 (Puerto Rico); Lisa Greer, Recording Secretary and N. Metro Branch President of Local 310 (Georgia); Teresa Harmon, Virginia State Executive Board Member of Local 305 (Maryland, Virginia, West Virginia, North Carolina, and the District of Columbia); Jessie Leonard, President of Local 317 (Alabama); and Bruce Phillips, President of Local 329 (Arkansas and Tennessee).

Meeting in July will be several committees that will consider all proposals that are timely submitted to amend the NPMHU constitutions or for adoption as resolutions by the elected delegates. To become involved in this process, mail handlers who are members in good standing of the NPMHU are allowed to submit proposals for consideration first by these committees, and ultimately by the delegates meeting in Convention. To submit proposals, mail handlers must follow the requirements set forth in the NPMHU National Constitution...." Reference: www.npmhu.org

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Graffiti on USPS Mailboxes...

Painting graffiti on private or public property is a crime

"...U.S. Postal Service spokeswoman in Indianapolis, Kim Yates, said one postal employee is assigned to handle mailboxes damaged by graffiti. He uses a cleaner to remove the graffiti paint. If this doesn't work he paints the box on site or swaps it for another one. Yates said the Postal Service in Indianapolis averages graffiti removal on five boxes a week. Report such graffiti to your local post office..."
Reference: indystar.com


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Forever Stamp Humor

Now's the time to become a stamp collector
"...I am going to take my hoard of stamps, put them away in the safety deposit box like savings bonds, then one day when the rest of you are paying $4 to mail a water bill, I'll be doing the same at a tenth the cost. I shared this brilliant financial strategy with my wife, in hopes she might let me invest the government rebate check George Bush is mailing out this month..."

Reference: chronicle.augusta.com

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