"...Arbitration of contracts is common in the postal service and for other public-sector contracts. Currently, employers often stall negotiations on a first..."
This Article is From: www.kansascity.com
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Tuesday, April 14, 2009
A crucial bill that helps protect workers' rights
Employee Free Choice Act
This Article is From: www.kansascity.com
Read our latest posts!
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This Article is From: www.kansascity.com
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CONDUCT ON POSTAL PROPERTY REGULATIONS APPLY
TAX DAY REMINDER
This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov
Read our latest posts!
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"...permissible activities at postal facilities. Customers should not block entrances or impede public access to postal property. Collecting contributions or signatures on petitions is prohibited under Code of Federal Regulations, Part 232, as are leafleting and distributing literature in lobbies or other interior areas of postal buildings...."
This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov
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Monday, April 13, 2009
Your next bank: The Postal Service?
"...It’s a distant possibility. The Postal Service would need congressional approval. And Postmaster General John Potter said the Postal Service hasn’t decided whether getting into banking is a good idea; he said it was a hypothetical option, one of several possible new sources of revenue...."
This Article is From: federaltimes.com
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Postal Inspector General audit reveals delays and damage to USVI mail
"...The Delegate asked the Inspector General to look into the following complaints: The extraordinary length of time for packages or periodicals to reach St Thomas and St Croix; Priority mail regularly taking more than a week to get to the islands; mail and packages damaged or not delivered; lack of communication between the Postal Service and US Customs and Border Protection; Inadequate staffing levels in the USVI; and inadequate delivery service standards for the USVI...."
This Article is From: www.caribbeannetnews.com
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Notice of Proposed Rulemaking on Application of Workshare Discount Rate Design Principles
"...interested persons, including the Postal Service, may submit alternative workshare discount rate design and cost avoidance calculation methodologies. Alternative methodologies must address the legal, factual, and economic bases underlying them. The foregoing presentations are due no later than 60 days after publication of this Order in the Federal Register...."
This Article is From: www.prc.gov
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Summer “Sale” for Catalog Mail?
"...According to the DMA, mailers would be offered 20% to 30% discounts from June 15 to September 15 for mail volume over and above that mailer's past mailing. How does USPS track the volume? The Postal Service would establish a base mail volume for each mailer derived from its mailings from June 15 to Sept. 15, 2008, adjusted downward ..."
This Article is From: multichannelmerchant.com
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US Postal Service Changes Insurance Claims-Processing
"...The USPS said online claims processing service will be available to customers who purchase domestic insurance through any retail channel (i.e., USPS.com, Automated Postal Center kiosks, local Post Office facilities, or authorized PC Postage providers. In addition, Express Mail customers may file online claims, even if no additional insurance was purchased...."
This Article is From: www.auctionbytes.com
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Still waiting to finish your taxes? The clock is ticking …
"...“We recommend mailing your return as early in the day as possible to avoid that last-minute dash to the post office,” Kim Yates, spokeswoman for the USPS..."
This Article is From: www.tribstar.com
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Dropping day of mail a 'last resort,' local USPS man says
"...Earlier this year the United States Postal Service's postmaster general caused a stir when he told Congress the USPS may temporarily drop one day of mail delivery. But the likelihood of going from six-day delivery to five days is slim..."
This Article is From: www.lemarssentinel.com
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Sunday, April 12, 2009
Last-minute tax filers, beware: The IRS is waiting
"...Go to www.usps.com to find the location and hours of a post office near you, or call toll-free 1-800-ASK-USPS (275-8777). The post office near Tampa International Airport, at 5201 W Spruce St., is open until 11:58 p.m...."
This Article is From: www.tampabay.com
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Saturday, April 11, 2009
Want information on yourself or other postal employees?
The CourierPostOnline has a Public data source that will identify salary, facility location, Title/Position and year hired ...all you have to do is supply the name.
Editor Note: I checked my name and it was accurate to date.
This Article is From: courierpostonline.com
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Follow the Early Out Conversation..
Make a click and jump over to the FederalSoup community and join in on the USPS Voluntary Early Retirement conversation. There is a lot of good information that might answer some of your questions or calm some of your fears on accepting the early out offer. Be careful to take what is said as fact unless it is backed up with a cited reference from a valid source. In other words, some of the participants may unknowingly pass on information that is not factual or gossip while others cite solid references to support their comments.
This Article is From: Federal Soup
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Thursday, April 9, 2009
Former postmaster indicted in theft
"...obtained power of attorney and wrote two checks in August, one for $105,000 and one for $1,500. She then sent the money to a daughter through the U.S. Postal Service..."
This Article is From: www.recordonline.com
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Public asked to vote on favorite Simpsons stamp
"...vote early and often for their favorite among the five new stamps honoring the nation's funniest dysfunctional family...."
This Article is From: www.google.com
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Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Post office cancels late postmarks for tax deadline day (Hampton Roads)
"...Postal Service employees will collect mail outside the Hampton Roads General Mail Facility in Norfolk until midnight, but post offices in the region will close at 5 p.m.,..."
This Article is From: hamptonroads.com
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Faribault woman charged for bomb threats on post offices
"...According to the criminal complaint, it’s alleged that on Feb. 2, Reineke mailed letters containing bomb threats to kill or injure postal customers and workers of the post offices in Mankato, North Mankato, Lake Crystal, Maddia, New Ulm, Sleepy Eye, Le Center and St. James...."
This Article is From: www.wasecacountynews.com
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Monday, April 6, 2009
Latest postal casualty: wilderness airmail
"...the Postal Service says it can no longer afford to make the deliveries. That’s cold comfort to the residents, of course, who pay extra to get necessities such as food and medicine delivered along with the mail...."
This Article is From: www.federaltimes.com
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VA announces stimulus spending
"...The $250 payments will be issued as early as June..."
This Article is From: www.federalnewsradio.com
VA stimulus payment
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Saturday, April 4, 2009
US Postal Service Closing Charleston Center, 334...
"...According to a spokesperson for the USPS, the Remote Encoding Center (REC) on Lee Street will close in October. The center employs 82 career employees and 252 temporary employees. "It was always considered a temporary facility," Freda Sauter, Corporate Spokesperson in Charleston said. ..."
This Article is From: www.wsaz.com
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Friday, April 3, 2009
Woman charged with punching out postal worker
"...attacking a 50-year-old male postal worker as he delivered mail on Wednesday morning.
Rosemarie Santos..."
This Article is From: www.midhudsonnews.com
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Wednesday, April 1, 2009
Third Annual Scholarship Awards on Postal History Granted
"...Two prizes acknowledging excellence in those who publish works involving American postal history have been awarded to a university professor and a college student. ..."
This Article is From: www.foxbusiness.com
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U.S. Postal Service to issue stamps featuring 'Simpsons' characters
"...The stamps will be available for preview April 9 at www.usps.com. That's also when the Postal Service is slated to announce a sale date for the stamps, The Associated Press reports. ..."
This Article is From: www.chicagotribune.com
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COLA NOTICE
"...there will be no cost-of-living adjustment added to base wages in March 2009 (which is based on changes in the Consumer Price Index from July 2008 through January 2009). ..."
This Article is From: www.npmhu.org
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USPS Cutting Management Positions, 70 in Indiana
"...Kim Yates with the Greater Indiana District of the Postal Service says several administrative positions are being eliminated in Indiana, affecting 70 employees...."
This Article is From: www.wibc.com
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Postal Employees Win Important Legal Victory Judge: Unions’ Privacy Lawsuit May Proceed
"...The APWU-NALC complaint, filed Jan. 17, 2008, asserts that since 2006 the OIG has been surreptitiously seeking and obtaining the medical records of postal workers directly from doctors and hospitals that have provided medical services to postal employees. The suit alleges that the OIG has 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...."
This Article is From: www.apwu.org
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Sunday, March 29, 2009
VER Offering for: National VER - July 31, 2009
ALL EMPLOYEES except Electronic Technicians (ET); Maintenance Mechanics, Mail Processing Equipment (MPE); Part-time Postmasters.
This Article is From: https://liteblue.usps.gov
Read our latest posts!
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"...Those employees identified as tentatively meeting eligibility requirements for this VERA will receive annuity estimates and a separate notification package via U. S. Mail at their address of record beginning April 6, 2009...."
This Article is From: https://liteblue.usps.gov
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USPS Releases VERA Info, Fails to Notify Union
"...“I am extremely disappointed that the Postal Service neglected to give official notice of this information to the APWU,” said President William Burrus. “This is a violation of management’s obligation under the Collective Bargaining Agreement. “In addition,” he said, “in this era of financial uncertainty, when the USPS management is asking employees for cooperation and understanding, management must set an example. Unfortunately, they failed to do so...."
This Article is From: www.apwu.org
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Friday, March 27, 2009
U.S. Postal Service Details Economic Viability Strategy
March 25, 2009
This Article is From: www.usps.com
Read our latest posts!
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"...ongoing elements of the Postal Service’s strategy to help close the budget gap – a “chasm, widening each day,” he said – created by the agency’s revenue shortfall. These include:
* A new process for evaluating and adjusting city delivery routes
* Reduction of employee work hours and overtime by pursuing even greater efficiencies throughout the organization
* Halting construction of new postal facilities and directing funds to the sites with the most critical needs (i.e., buildings badly damaged or destroyed by natural disasters)
* Improved fleet management and delivery routing to reduce fuel usage
* Expanded energy efficiency to reduce energy use throughout Postal Service facilities
* Reductions in employee travel budgets through the use of web and video technology to conduct meetings and conferences
* Renegotiations of supplier contracts to reflect reduced needs
..."
This Article is From: www.usps.com
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Wednesday, March 25, 2009
Postal employee shot dead in drinking brawl
"...other four co-workers in the postal office had a get-together at the victim's residence when an argument ensued...."
This Article is From: newsinfo.inquirer.net
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NAPS document details changes to be made by USPS
"...the remaining 74 districts across the country, there will be a 15% reduction in administrative staffing. •More than 1400 mail processing management positions are also being eliminated in nearly 400 facilities around the country.
..."
This Article is From: http://naps.org/
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U.S. Postal Service to offer early retirement
"...The service will offer early retirement to 150,000 workers across the country. In addition the agency said it will eliminate 1,400 management jobs...."
This Article is From: www.ohio.com
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Tuesday, March 24, 2009
Will Proposed S.F. Anti-Junk Mail Measure Be Death Knell of Post Office? Environmental Group Says USPS Is Already Dead.
"...approved of a proposed "Do Not Mail" registry that would, in theory, spare city dwellers from the acres of junk mail that clog our post boxes yearly..."
This Article is From: blogs.sfweekly.com
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Postal Service Cuts, Chief's Compensation Getting Closer Look
"...Given the sad shape of the Postal Service, tough questions certainly should be raised about Potter's compensation, particularly the bonus and 40 percent raise...."
This Article is From: www.washingtonpost.com
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Monday, March 23, 2009
Postal District Closings, Voluntary Early Retirement, and Reductions
On March 20, the US Postal Service announced District Closings, Voluntary Early Retirement, and Reductions. The announcement reads as follows:
USPS ANNOUNCES ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE CLOSINGS, EARLY RETIREMENT OFFER AND
STAFFING REDUCTIONS
Today the Postal Service has announced it will close six of its 80 district offices. USPS is also
eliminating positions across the country and offering another round of voluntary early retirements.
These actions are expected to save the Postal Service more than $100 million annually.
The six offices closing — located in Florida, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey,
Pennsylvania and Washington State — house administrative functions and will not adversely affect
customer service, mail delivery, Post Office operations or ZIP Codes. The functions of these offices will
be assumed by 10 surrounding districts.
The Postal Service’s districts are being re-aligned as follows:
�� The Boston and Connecticut districts will assume the operations of the Massachusetts District.
�� The Northern New England (formerly Maine) District will assume the operations of the New
Hampshire/Vermont District.
�� The Western Pennsylvania (formerly Pittsburgh) District will assume the operations of the Erie
District.
�� The South Florida and Suncoast districts will assume the operations of the Central Florida
District.
�� The Seattle and Salt Lake City districts will assume the operations of the Spokane District.
�� The Northern New Jersey and Southern New Jersey districts will assume the operations of the
Central Jersey District.
USPS will reduce administrative staff positions at the district level nationwide by 15 percent. In addition,
more than 1,400 mail processing supervisor and management positions at nearly 400 facilities around
the country will be eliminated, and nearly 150,000 employees nationwide are being given the...
The Mandatory Stand-Up Talk reads as follows:
Mandatory Stand-Up Talk
District Closings, Staffing Reductions and VER Announced
With the economic recession resulting in the Postal Service ending fiscal year 2008 with a loss of nearly $3 billion, we
are facing an extremely difficult financial challenge.
Streamlining operations and improving efficiency throughout the Postal Service is a constant, ongoing process. Over
the past year, we have refined this process by modifying networks, consolidating functions, adjusting delivery routes
and restructuring administrative and processing operations. Today, Postmaster General Jack Potter announced new
steps to further our efforts. These actions are expected to save the Postal Service more than $100 million annually.
First, the Postal Service is closing six district offices.
These six administrative district offices were chosen based on their proximity to other districts that could absorb the
additional workload without compromising the delivery, retail and mail processing functions of the Postal Service.
Today, more than 500 employees were notified by their area vice president and/or district manager that their district
offices were closing.
An opportunity for voluntary early retirement (VER) also is being offered.
This nationwide offer is open to nearly 150,000 employees who meet the Office of Personnel Management (OPM)
conditions, and who are at least 50 years of age with 20 years of creditable federal service, or any age with 25 years
of creditable federal service. An annuity estimate will be mailed to all VER-eligible employees starting April 6, 2009.
Another step being taken is instituting a 15% administrative staffing reduction of positions in all remaining 74
district offices.
Postal headquarters already has reduced its employee complement by approximately 15% and the area offices are in
the process of a similar staffing reduction.
At nearly 400 of our mail processing facilities around the country, more than 1,400 supervisor and
management positions are being eliminated.
Reduction in force (RIF) avoidance strategies will be in place for employees impacted by district closings and staffing
reductions.
There are no signs of an early economic recovery. Financial projections call for a continued decline in mail volume and
revenue.
Now, more than ever, we all must look for ways to do our jobs more efficiently and help to continue the service
performance and customer satisfaction improvements we have gained in recent years.
By doing so, we can help ensure that the Postal Service will continue to deliver for America now and in the future.
Additional information — and questions and answers — about all of these new changes can be found under the Hot
Topics section on Blue. VER information can be found under the Hot Topics section on LiteBlue.
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Sunday, March 22, 2009
U.S. Postal Service offering early retirement to 150,000 workers
"... would reduce management staff by 15%, which would eliminate more than 1,400 processing, supervisor and management posts at nearly 400 facilities...."
This Article is From: www.latimes.com
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Saturday, March 21, 2009
USPS to close 2 New England district offices
"...U.S. Postal Service district administrative offices in North Reading and in Manchester, N..H. will be among the six to be closed across the nation under the postal service cutbacks announced today...."
This Article is From: www.boston.com
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Thursday, March 19, 2009
Arizona City News - important information regarding the Postal Service's decision to proceed with residential delivery
This Article is From: www.zwire.com
Read our latest posts!
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"...important information regarding the Postal Service's decision to proceed with residential delivery..."
This Article is From: www.zwire.com
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New Threats To Postal Service
"...another group of threatening letters.It's the second round of threats to area post offices this year...."
This Article is From: www.keyc.com
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Does your mailbox need an extreme makeover?
By Anne Murray, Postmaster Fort Myers/Cape Coral
This Article is From: www.northfortmyersneighbor.com
Read our latest posts!
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"...The Fort Myers/Cape Coral Consumer Advisory Council will judge the entries for creativity and compliance with postal regulations. Two winners will be announced on April 16-one each from Fort Myers and Cape Coral. The winning photos will be on display in the Page Field and Cape Coral Central Post Offices during May. The winning mailboxes will be featured on postage stamps and the owners will receive two sheets of First-Class mail customized postage stamps...."
This Article is From: www.northfortmyersneighbor.com
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APWU Presidents Make a Difference From Legislative Conference to Capitol Hill
"...The Employee Free Choice Act, which would give workers greater freedom to choose to form unions and bargain for a better workplace, was introduced in the Senate (S. 560) and the House (H.R. 1409) on March 10. Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA) and Rep. George Miller (D-CA) introduced the bill, which is the top legislative priority of the APWU and the labor movement. It currently has 222 sponsors in the House and 39 in the Senate...."
This Article is From: www.apwu.org
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Tuesday, March 17, 2009
Bronx Letter Carrier Arrested in $90 Million Tax Refund Scam
"...OIG Special Agents, along with Postal Inspectors, FBI and IRS agents, arrested a Bronx letter carrier and two accomplices, in the crack-down of a massive tax-refund scheme to defraud the IRS out of more than $90 million. At the time of arrest, the carrier had 75 bogus refund checks in his possession. The scam worked like this..."
This Article is From: www.uspsoig.gov
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Early outs, again?
"...There is a strong rumor out there that there will be another VER coming soon. At this point it is just that, a rumor, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Postal Service, in an effort to continue downsizing in response to reduced volumes, announces another VER...."
This Article is From: www.postmasters.org
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Monday, March 16, 2009
CATALOGS BY MAIL A BIG HIT WITH GARDENERS
"...It’s likely the presence of these catalogs in the mailstream will increase. According to USA Today, gardening is on the rise. The number of people growing vegetables in 2009 will jump more than 40 percent compared to two years ago. Vegetable seed sales are up by double digits at the nation’s largest seed sellers...."
This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov
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Monday, March 9, 2009
Collecting stamps of Ottoman and Turkish vintage
"...Postal services have existed for millennia as part of the need to provide communications for the rulers of countries or empires so large that it took days to cross. Systems were set up with horses kept at various stages somewhat like the famed Pony Express in the United States in modern times and men would ride as fast as possible over a set route..."
This Article is From: www.hurriyet.com.tr
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Heavy smoke at Westfield Post Office
"...The United States Postal Service has an investigative unit on the scene, and the local fire department is assisting in the investigation. The post office is open for business, the roof is okay, but the basement is closed to employees...."
This Article is From: www.mycentraljersey.com
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Post office to cut jobs, operations in Athens
"...The U.S. Postal Service plans to cut 17 positions and move some operations out of the Athens post office, which has been without a postmaster since the end of January. The post office will hold a public meeting in two weeks to explain its plan to move mail-processing operations from Athens to a postal service processing and distributing center in Duluth, post office spokesman Michael Miles said..."
This Article is From: onlineathens.com
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Sunday, March 8, 2009
Postal Hike To Favor Direct Mailers, Disadvantage Newspapers
"...the NAA filed comments with postal regulatory commission. The NAA expects the commission to determine if the rates are illegal in a few weeks. If the commission declines to comment, the NAA plans to file a complaint, explained Boyle.
..."
This Article is From: www.editorandpublisher.com
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Saturday, March 7, 2009
Seabiscuit Stamped Envelope
Famous racehorse memorialized by USPS on stamped envelope
This Article is From: www.willitsnews.com
Read our latest posts!
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"...The United States Postal Service has announced that concurrently with the standard postage stamp increase to 44 cents, they will also release, on May 11, a Seabiscuit Stamped Envelope showcasing the champion racehorse printed on a 44-cent stamped envelope commemorating his win against the Triple Crown Winner, War Admiral. ..."
This Article is From: www.willitsnews.com
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J.P. Morgan and U.S. Postal Service Expand Cash Management Relationship
"..."The USPS cash collection and concentration system is one of the largest and most complex in the world," said Robert Pedersen, Treasurer, USPS. "By consolidating our cash management service, we have greater insight into our daily working capital and have improved cash forecasting capabilities."..."
This Article is From: www.finchannel.com
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Friday, March 6, 2009
US Postal Service Says Winning Share Amid Shipping Decline
"...Market share for USPS' priority mail service registered about 15% as of Sept. 30, the close of the agency's 2008 fiscal year. Reblin contended that the percentage has gone up since then, although he added that the gains haven't been quantified yet...."
This Article is From: money.cnn.com
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