US Postal Service faces storm of protest over cutbacks

"..."The Postal Service cannot expect to gain more business, which it desperately needs, if it is reducing service," said Susan Collins, a Republican senator from Maine...."    

This Article is From: www.guardian.co.uk

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Excerpts from August 6, 2009, Senate Hearing

"The U.S. Postal Service in Crisis"

"..."Whether it is 5-day delivery, collection box removal or the closure of facilities, the Postal Service is intent on reducing its physical presence." - Ruth Y. Goldway, Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission

"By the year’s end, the Service most likely will run out of cash and not be able to make all of its year end payments, absent Congressional action." - Ruth Y. Goldway, Commissioner, Postal Regulatory Commission

Click Image Below to Enlarge

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This Article is From: senate.gov

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USPS PHASE 3 POSTINGS NOW OPEN

RIF-AVOIDANCE VACANCIES FOR IMPACTED EMPLOYEES

"...Phase 3 RIF avoidance vacancy postings for District Customer Service offices and Mail Processing organizational changes now are available online at eCareer. The deadline for submitting applications is Tuesday, Aug. 11...."    

This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov

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Excellent Suggestion Found on Online Postal Employee Community Forum

Below you will find the text of an excellent beneficial suggestion that a member of the FederalSoup community has offered. The actual post can be found at: FederalSoup. Here is the full text of the suggestion:
Suggestion for the Postal Service...

With so many USPS leaders posting to the FederalSoup message board here, from D.C. and Hyattsville, Maryland, might I make a suggestion?

Suggestion: Obviously, the USPS is going to continue to make VER [Voluntary Early Retirement] offers to reduce the numbers. Without an incentive, the numbers taking these early-outs, are minimal. Every time the postal service makes an offer it gives employees an extremely short period of time to make a finalized decision. A decision of this magnitude deserves intelligent thought and planning. I suggest that the USPS announce a VER that would take place in January 2010 and another approximately six (6) months after that. This would provide a more reasonable time-frame for employees to:
# Seek Employment: It would be a benefit to permit us to have reasonable time to secure another job. Additionally, USPS should offer some type of liberal leave policy, as well as permitting a liberal "Leave of Absence" program, both designed and published as a program coinciding with the VER. This would give adequate time to find a job, go through the hiring process, and begin the new employment in an effort to ease the transition into a new life. I understand not everyone wishes to go to work after retiring, but for those needing to do so for economic reasons would have a better opportunity to do so.
# Adjust to Retirement: Sometimes people simply need more time to determine if they can handle sitting at home in retirement or after doing so for a short period, determining that they need to find another job simply to stay active. Liberal leave and/or a liberal "Leave of Absence" program would again, give individuals the time they need to structure a retirement that would be positive for themselves, the family, etc.
# Adjust Short-Term Savings: The extended VER time-frames would provide a more reasonable time to garner savings toward an adjustment period.

What do my fellow postal employees think about this? Do you think this would help some?

   

This Article is From: Rollin-Harleys at FederalSoup

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Wynn Drive Station On Potential Post Office Closure List

"...for closure. On a recently released list the Wynn Drive branch in Huntsville was one of four Alabama branches making the list. ..."    

This Article is From: www.waaytv.com

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USPS Layoffs? That's a possibility...

"...U.S. Postal Service, then layoffs are a possibility, a top USPS official acknowledged to House lawmakers on Thursday.

"I can't say or guarantee that there wouldn't be layoffs," said Jordan Small, USPS acting vice president..."    

This Article is From: www.govexec.com

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Postal Employee Action Alert

Postal News Alert!

“If the bill passes as written, it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers.” Burrus said.

Click here to email your senators: http://www.capwiz.com/apwu/issues/alert/?alertid=13812926 ...help protect your benefits and pay!

"... Because a vote on the bill is expected early next week, before the Senate adjourns for its August recess, local and state activists must move quickly, Burrus said. The national union will hold a teleconference for local and state leaders on Monday, Aug. 3, at 2 p.m. EDT, to discuss the issue.

“I call on every APWU local to generate messages to their senators based on a 1 to 5 ratio of their members,” Burrus said. “If the bill passes as written, it will destroy collective bargaining for postal workers.”

The amendment would require arbitrators ruling on postal contracts to take into account the “financial health of the Postal Service.”

“Given the severity of Postal Service’s financial crisis, if this bill passes, we can anticipate that in the next round of negotiations, many of the things our members take for granted — such as cost-of-living increases, raises, and protection against layoffs — will be at risk.” Under current law, arbitrators must consider the “comparability” of postal wages to employees in the private sector who perform similar work.

“In fact, arbitrators routinely consider the Postal Service’s financial status as part of the context of negotiations,” Burrus said. “However, to attach this specific requirement to the law leaves workers at a severe disadvantage. ..."  
Source:

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Funny Mailbox...

"...Something tells me this box is NOT approved by the Postmaster General..."    

This Article is From: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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Free Premium Postcards

"...It's as simple as going to http://www.premiumpostcard.com/ and signing up with
the source code USPS09. Once you are at the Premium Postcard Website just..."    

This Article is From: suncoastscoop.blogspot.com

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GAO Puts U.S. Postal Service on 'High-Risk' List

"...Proposals currently on the table include cutting delivery to five days per week, consolidating branches and receiving relief from the government to fund future retirees' health benefits...."    

This Article is From: www.poynter.org

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Postal News: USPS BMC Name Change

Postal News Alert

"...APWU President William Burrus admonished the Postal Service for failing to officially notify the union that the Bulk Mail Center network has been renamed the Network Distribution Center network...."    

This Article is From: www.apwu.org

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USPS "High Risk" (Opinion)

USPS Hits GAO "High Risk" List (Opinion)

"...holding managers responsible for correcting the issues. The grievances are often paid, but the issues never corrected. The repeated violations center around Improper By-Pass Overtime, Crossing Crafts, and Casuals in Lieu Of, costing the USPS untold amounts of money. This is an area where the postal service Labor Representatives could invoke some trend analysis to determine which managers and facilities repeatedly propagate these costly violations. This would permit the USPS to either educate the poorly performing managers or shed themselves of the poorly performing leaders...."    

This Article is From: npmhu317.blogspot.com

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Postal Service added to GAO high-risk list for poor fiscal health

"...GAO urged the Postal Service to take more drastic measures to cut expenses, including having more employees retire, reducing their benefits and consolidating post offices. The USPS can’t rely on increased revenue through a rebound in mail volume, something that has happened after past recessions but is unlikely to happen this time because of the country’s increased reliance on newer technology, the GAO said...."    

This Article is From: thehill.com

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USPS Movers Guide

Online Change of Address

"...USPS - Change your address online
* Exclusive Mover Savings
Get instant access to over $300 in valuable coupons
* Safe and Secure
Safeguard your personal information with identity verification by a simple $1 charge to your credit or debit card
* Email Confirmation
Receive an immediate email confirmation of your Change of Address..."    

This Article is From: moversguide.usps.com

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Gulf Coast Lighthouse stamps

STANDING ROOM ONLY

"...Also attending the event were USPS Governor Katherine Tobin, Southeast Area Vice President Terry Wilson, Biloxi Historian Emeritus Murella Powell and Hal Pierce, president of the Alabama Lighthouse Association. ..."    

This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov

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FERS Sick-Leave Credit Removed from Senate Bill

"...amendment was withdrawn at the insistence of Sen. Tom Coburn (R-OK), who threatened to filibuster until the amendment removed. “Until this amendment is withdrawn, I will stay here, or I will have a colleague stay here...."    

This Article is From: www.apwu.org

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Free Postcards

"...And for now, the first 50 are free to new users. It’s as simple as going to..."    

This Article is From: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com
Link for the Postcard site:

Tags: Free Postcards, Free Postal Stuff, Free,
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No chance of the Postal Service missing its payroll

Fact-checking Congress

"...about not making payroll, so I checked in with the Postal Service. And the Postal Service tells me it never made that claim to Congress...."    

This Article is From: www.federaltimes.com

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Rumor Control: USPS Payroll

Rumors abound on the internet about the USPS being unable to make payroll in October of this year. The Postal Newsgroup, a leader in postal news, has been unable to confirm the validity of the postal service not being able to make payroll in October. The rumors are alleged to have come from a letter that was posted on the internet and has since disappeared.

This Article is From: postal-newsgroup.blogspot.com


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Postal Payroll Calendar

"...days off, holidays and paydays....a full calendar..."    

This Article is From: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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White House pressured to fix postal budget crisis

"...The unions who signed on to the letter were the American Postal Workers Union, the National Rural Letter Carriers Association, the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union...."    

This Article is From: thehill.com

Postal worker advised drug trafficker about mailing dope, prosecutors allege

"...A Kansas City area postal worker allegedly advised the leader of a wide-ranging drug trafficking conspiracy about the best way to send dope through the mail, according to indictments announced Thursday...."    

This Article is From: www.kansascity.com

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Biz Spotlight: Postal Pete - Postal Jeeps

Postal Pete ...#1 Postal Jeep Dealer in the World!

"...If you are looking for a postal Jeep there are many dealers specializing in this area. One dealer is Postal Pete at postalpete.com. ..."    

*SEE ALSO:*High-Performance Jeep Wrangler TJ Builder's Guide 1997-2006 (Cartech)

This Article is From: postal-edaily.blogspot.com

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The disappearing USPS union letter

"...The major postal unions — APWU, NALC, NRLCA and NPMHU — sent a letter on Tuesday to Jim Messina, the White House deputy chief of staff. They requested a meeting to discuss the Postal Service..."    

This Article is From: www.federaltimes.com

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Money Orders and Imprinting Machine Missing After Ucon Post Office Burglary

"...someone is printing their own money orders, then we need to make sure the public and banking facilities and post offices are aware of that." The inspector says Stang served seven years in prison in the 1990's..."    

This Article is From: www.kpvi.com

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USPS To Weigh Closing Hundreds More Offfices

PRC Initiates Docket to Review USPS Retail Network Optimization Plan

"...The Postal Regulatory Commission today issued Order No: 244 establishing Docket N2009-1 to provide a public hearing and issue an advisory opinion on the national service implications of a U.S. Postal Service “Station and Branch Optimization and Consolidation Initiative.” ..."    

This Article is From: www.graphicartsonline.com

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7 USPS Employees Arrested In Drug Investigation

"...Those arrested included USPS mail handlers, casual employees, and a motor vehicle operator. One non-USPS employee was also arrested...."    

This Article is From: www.newsnet5.com

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Consolidating Stations

"...At a meeting at USPS Headquarters on June 23, the Postal Service briefed APWU Clerk Craft officers about plans to consolidate operations in large stations and branches. Managers also provided the union with an updated list of 3,243 stations and branches in Level-24-and-above installations that are being reviewed. ..."    

This Article is From: www.apwu.org

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Postal carrier's letter ignites complaints

"...Councilwoman Lois Watkins said residents recently had complained to her about feeling “threatened” by postal officials with having their mail withheld unless they paid for and installed a curbside mailbox...."    

This Article is From: www.rockymounttelegram.com

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Eastpointe Postmaster to be Honored at All Star Game by MLB, People Magazine

"...Brooks has been pitching the benefits of joining the “Be The Match Registry” for the past two years, and as district coordinator for the Postal Service’s Delivering the Gift of Life campaign she led the Southeast MI postal team to the top of the nation in registered potential donors in 2008. With her team of fellow volunteers, Brooks has recruited more than 1,000 potential marrow donors for the National Marrow Donor Program’s Be the Match Registry...."    

This Article is From: www.usps.com

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Federal Employee Severance Pay

"...The basic severance pay allowance consists of—
* One week of pay at the rate of basic pay for the position held by the employee at the time of separation for each full year of creditable service through 10 years;
* Two weeks of pay at the rate of basic pay for the position held by the employee at the time of separation for each full year of creditable service beyond 10 years; and
* Twenty-five percent of the otherwise applicable amount for each full 3 months of creditable service beyond the final full year...."    

This Article is From: www.opm.gov

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BUFFALO EMPLOYEE GETS SATISFACTION FROM HIS ART

"...Noonan, who began his postal career in 1986, also has worked as a letter carrier and clerk. The Postal Service provided Noonan with a living, but painting feeds his creative soul...."    

This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov

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USPS Phase Two RIF avoidance

"...Phase Two RIF avoidance vacancy postings for District Customer Service Offices and mail processing organizational changes are available online at eCareer. The deadline for submitting applications is Wednesday, July 1...."    

This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov

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Postal Service marks 31 northern N.J. branches for possible closure

"...Amid a dramatic loss of business to email and a severe economic downturn, the U.S. Postal Service is reviewing 3,100 outlets nationwide to identify candidates for closure. According to the report, Jack Dougherty, president of the northern New Jersey local of the American Postal Workers Union, pointed to an internal Postal Service memo on the union's Web site..."    

This Article is From: www.nj.com
Tag: Postal News
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Downsizing the post offices

Letter To The Editor Indiana Daily Student

"...We have seen window clerk staff reductions, a loss of many blue collection boxes for the customer, earlier cutoff times for mail pickup and later box-mail commitments from the service. All of these are service reductions, and expect more...."    

This Article is From: www.idsnews.com

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Moorseville Post Office

"...the post office (1840) is the oldest still in operation in the state and features call boxes built prior to the American Civil War...."    

This Article is From: moorsevillepostoffice.blogspot.com

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Yours Free - Mystic’s New U.S. Stamp Catalog!

"...A free copy of America’s best U.S. Stamp Catalog is waiting for you! You’ll enjoy 128 pages of color photographs, valuable collecting tips, fascinating history, plus much more!..."    

This Article is From: Mystic Stamp

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CALL7 Investigation: Gov't Made Federal Case Over $78

U.S. Attorney's Office: We Had Obligation To Pursue Case

"...On June 2, the postal worker was found not guilty on all 20 counts...."    

This Article is From: www.thedenverchannel.com
Want to read more and follow the conversation related to this case? Check out the community conversation over at Federal Soup: http://community.federalsoup.com/4/OpenTopic?a=tpc&s=4944011921&f=7604055441&m=2251090191


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eBay's Bill Me Later allows buying postal products online

"...This new service will let users pay for postal products online without using a credit card, instead they are to be billed at a later date. It will help customers to manage their cash flow by receiving a monthly statement for the postage...."    

This Article is From: www.ecommerce-journal.com

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Senate kills amendment for FERS sick leave credit

"...The Senate yesterday struck down a measure that would allow employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System to get credit for unused sick leave when they retire...."    

This Article is From: federaltimes.com

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Postal Barbie

Click on over to the "Your Postal Blog" and check out the postal Barbie    

This Article is From: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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FedEx's Anti-Union Drive

"...Though many FedEx Express workers don't have a direct relationship with the operation or maintenance of the air fleet, they are still covered by the RLA. That law carries a difficult path to unionization that requires a national vote by every worker at a company, and doesn't allow for organizing at a local, terminal-by-terminal level. Since the late 1990s, UPS and the International Brotherhood of Teamsters have pushed to change this classification...."    

This Article is From: www.businessweek.com

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Public invited to participate in a Bob Hope trivia contest

"...The public is invited to participate in a trivia contest in honor of the 44-cent Bob Hope stamp now on sale at all Post Offices. All entries should be postmarked no later than June 30 and mailed to Customer Relations, USPS, 79 Mid Cape Ter Ste 8, Cape Coral, FL 33991-9998. Be sure to include your name, complete mailing address, and a local phone number. The individual with the most correct answers will receive a collectible Bob Hope stamp image print. In the event of a tie, a drawing will be held to determine the winner...."    

This Article is From: www.northfortmyersneighbor.com

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Trust me, I work for the Post Office

"...the public trusts postal workers. A broad international survey by the GFK group said that firefighters..."    

This Article is From: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com

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Consolidation of Large Post Offices

Hot News

APWU Responds to USPS Notice on Retail Operations

Article Title: Consolidation of Large Post Offices
Snippet from Article: "...In response to a USPS notice that “the Postal Service is considering consolidating operations in our larger stations and branches,” APWU President William Burrus has reminded management that a Memorandum of Understanding included in the 2006-2010 Collective Bargaining Agreement requires that “all existing retail operations will remain within the installation of which they are a part.” “I note that of the many factors that will be considered in your final decisions, you omit the parties’ negotiated agreements,” Burrus wrote..."
Source: www.apwu.org


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Summer Sale starts July 1 for eligible mailers

"...The Postal Regulatory Commission unanimously approved the US Postal Service's summer sale, formally known as the Standard Mail Volume Incentive Pricing Program, on June 4. The 30% rebate..."    

This Article is From: www.dmnews.com

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