Buyouts: Post office needs money to buy out employees

Distruptive Technology Hobbling Postal Service

"...The post office needs money to buy out those 220,000 employees. It thought it would get it from over-payments to its pension plan, but that has been ruled as money that cannot be pried out of the federal retirement system...."    

This Article is From: www.whchronicle.com Read our latest posts! .

Most Expensive Zip Codes in America

America's Most Expensive Zip Codes

"...thanks to posh pads and ranches belonging to the likes of comedian Jerry Seinfeld and former Goldman Sachs CEO ..."    

This Article is From: Rocket-City.US Read our latest posts! .

Postal Service delivers for FedEx with SmartPost

FedEx sees record holiday volume, adding workers

"...One beneficiary will be the beleaguered U.S. Postal Service, which partners with FedEx for FedEx SmartPost deliveries. With SmartPost, FedEx delivers to post offices, which in turn make final delivery to residential customers.

Read more: http://www.portfolio.com/business-news/reuters/2011/10/24/fedex-sees-record-holiday-volume-adding-workers#ixzz1biRY36rL
..."    

This Article is From: www.portfolio.com Read our latest posts! .

Drug distribution network used Postal Service

Western NY Drug Distribution Network Busted

"...According to the indictment, the Puerto Rican-based leaders of this narcotics distribution organization would send the cocaine in packages through the Postal Service to..."    

This Article is From: www.northcountrygazette.org Read our latest posts! .

'Privateers' prepare to plunder postal service

'Privateers' prepare to plunder post office

"...privateers have turned their guns on the U.S. Postal Service, charging it with inefficiency while trying their damndest to hamper it legislatively. The USPS was created in the original U.S. Constitution..."    

This Article is From: www.theithacajournal.com Read our latest posts! .

Letter Carriers pose for calendar to help the Muscular Dystrophy Association

Postal pin-ups pose for a cause

"...letter carriers are featured in two separate $10 calendars. The proceeds will go to the Muscular Dystrophy Association and to Committee on Letter Carrier Political Education - the political action committee of the National Association of Letter Carriers. ..."    

This Article is From: www.krqe.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Destruction Bill Heads to Floor

Oversight Committee Approves Issa-Ross Postal Reform Bill

"...No-layoff clauses are prospectively barred in Postal Service collective bargaining agreements. For employees who might lose their job, they will receive a hiring preference at Postal Service contractors. Postal employees would be subject to the same Reduction-in-Force authority as the rest of the federal workforce...."    

This Article is From: insurancenewsnet.com Read our latest posts! .

Are Postal Service problems a manufactured crisis?

Bogus Postal Service crisis deserves to get a Return to Sender

"...Union leaders and consumer advocates like Ralph Nader insist this is all a "manufactured crisis" to drive down wages and break the unions. At least two recent postal audits seem to back up those claims ..."    

This Article is From: www.nydailynews.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Service early retirements like auto industry could save USPS

Carper, Carney confident Postal Service will be saved

"...Carper says one thing the Postal Service wants to do to cut costs is offer eligible workers early retirement, similar to what's been done in the auto industry...."    

This Article is From: www.wdel.com Read our latest posts! .

Issa accepted money from unions, then turns against them

Darrell Issa Turns Against Postal Unions That Once Backed His Campaign

"...Issa is one of the wealthiest members of Congress, worth between $300 million and $450 million, according to research by the Center for Responsive Politics.
..."    

This Article is From: www.opensecrets.org Read our latest posts!

U.S. Postage Stamps to Honor Living People for the First Time in History

Living People to Appear on US Stamps

"...The U.S. Postal Service announced Monday that it is ending its longstanding rule that stamps cannot feature people who are still alive..."    

This Article is From: www.time.com Read our latest posts! .

Congressional plans to cut service, plants and employees are suicide for Postal Service

Ralph Nader: cutting postal services is “suicidal” for USPS

"...Nader said such a move, along with the prospect of postal rate increases, would prompt a “suicidal” further decline.

“What is the sense in closing such a large number of post offices and cutting back on the service and the sense of community to millions of U.S. citizens in exchange for such a pittance of cost savings..."    

This Article is From: postandparcel.info Read our latest posts! .

Postal Bill Would Authorize Layoffs, Force Out Senior Employees First

Issa's 'Postal Destruction' Bill Passes House Subcommittee

"...Prior to the vote, Rep. Issa amended the bill, which he first introduced on June 23, to include numerous provisions that are even more controversial than those contained in the original version: The amended version includes a provision to grant authority to a newly-established control board to carry out layoffs, in spite of any provisions in collective bargaining agreements that might limit them. In addition, it says that employees who are eligible for retirement must be laid off before employees who are ineligible, and dictates that retirement-eligible employees with the longest service must be separated first. The new language also forbids the payment of severance pay..."    

This Article is From: www.apwu.org Read our latest posts! .

Give more incentives for employees to retire, says Sen. Carper

Senator thinks USPS should encourage retirement

"...Sen. Carper suggested that Congress give the Postal Service the means to "give more incentives for employees to retire."..."    

This Article is From: yourpostalblog.blogspot.com
Read our latest posts! .

How do unions fare in contract negotiations in other industries?

GM's workers offered $12,500 in bonuses in tentative UAW contract

"...GM's factory workers will get a $5,000 contract signing bonus after ratification of contract..."    

This Article is From: autoindustrynewsgroup.blogspot.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Service may offer early retirement and buyouts

Republicans blast White House plan to revive Postal Service

"...The administration isn't calling for a reduction of workers; it instead wants the agency to offer early retirement and buyouts..."    

This Article is From: thehill.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Service help on the way

Obama plan delivers help to USPS

"...increasing postage rates and dropping a day of delivery — likely Saturday...."    

This Article is From: www.politico.com Read our latest posts! .

Fixing the Postal Service and lowering the Federal deficit at the same time

President Obama deficit plans back ending Saturday mail

"...The White House said its proposals would provide USPS with more than $20 billion in savings in the next few years and cut the federal deficit by more than $18 billion over the next decade...."    

This Article is From: www.washingtonpost.com

More Reading: H.R. 1351 Fact Sheet [PDF] Read our latest posts! .

NPMHU, APWU, and NALC nationwide television advertisement

"...seek to enlighten the public that it is far more than declining mail volume that has created this postal financial crisis – and to reinforce the message that Congress helped create this problem, and that Congress can take action now to fix it...."    

This Article is From: Mail Handler Contract Negotiations Read our latest posts! .

Huntsville Mail Processing on the chopping block

U.S. Postal Service studying closing Huntsville's mail facility on Wall Triana Highway

"...HUNTSVILLE, Alabama -- In a change from an announcement just two months ago, the Postal Service said Thursday it is considering moving all of the operations at the Wall Triana mail facility to Birmingham...."    

This Article is From: al.com Read our latest posts! .

Proposed post office closures concern residents who lack Web access

Postal cuts loom over Detroit

"...In a city with one of the nation's highest unemployment and poverty rates, many residents rely on post office branches for money orders and to mail bills because they lack Internet access, officials say...."    

This Article is From: Read our latest posts! .

Florida's oldest working post office could be axed

Postal service cutback could kill a piece of Florida history

"...Florida's oldest working post office has creaked in the wind in summer, smelled of orange blossoms in winter and transacted business in three different centuries. Since 1882..."    

This Article is From: www.tampabay.com Read our latest posts! .

Huntsville, Alabama: Huge Economic Growth Area Could be Stripped of Mail Processing Facility

Huntsville mail processing facility, four others in Alabama studied for closure

"...The U.S. Postal Service could close five mail processing facilities in Alabama, including the one in Huntsville that already is being downsized..."    

This Article is From: al.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Service wants to shutter California Mail Processing Facilities

Postal Service lists California processing facilities to look at for elimination

"...Processing facilities in Eureka, Petaluma, Stockton, Burlingame and Redding are on the list. Others are: Bakersfield, Herb Peck annex in Los Angeles, City of Industry, Long Beach, San Diego, Modesto, Pasadena, San Bernardino and Van Nuys. The USPS is..."    

This Article is From: Read our latest posts! .

North Alabama may take huge hit in postal closures

Some Alabama mail facilities could close

"...will be reviewed over the next three months for possible closing.

They are in Anniston, Dothan, Huntsville, Mobile and Tuscaloosa...."    

This Article is From: www.chron.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Service to Lower Service Standards in Order to Close Mail Processing Facilities

Hundreds of postal facilities could close

"...The financially troubled Postal Service said Thursday it might close more than 250 mail processing facilities across the country and plans to reduce service standards for first-class mail in an effort to cut costs...."    

This Article is From: www.yorkdispatch.com Read our latest posts! .

H.R. 1351 - Best Bill to Save the Postal Service

H.R.1351 -- United States Postal Service Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act of 2011 (Introduced in House - IH)

"...To amend the provisions of title 5, United States Code, relating to the methodology for calculating the amount of any Postal surplus or supplemental liability under the Civil Service Retirement System, and for other purposes...."    

This Article is From: thomas.loc.gov Read our latest posts! .

Postal Announcement relating to Area Mail Processing Feasibility Study List expected Sept. 15, 2011

Area Mail Processing Feasibility Study List (September 14, 2011)

On September 15, 2011, the U.S. Postal Service has reported it will release to the media an announcement identifying a list of Area Mail Processing Feasibility Studies for approximately 400 plants nationwide in an effort to shutter or consolidate approximately 300 plants across the nation. The 21st Century Postal Worker has released the Area Mail Processing Feasibility Study List on their site.    

This Article is From: The Postal Newsgroup Read our latest posts! .

Saturday is Passport Day at a Post Office near you

Saturday is Passport Day at a Post Office near you

"...On Saturday, September 17 only, apply for your U.S. passport at a Regional Passport Agency without an appointment. You will be able to apply for standard processing (4-6 weeks) or pay an additional $60 for Expedited processing (2-3 weeks, door-to-door). Passport Day in the USA also means passport-themed events for adults and children at Regional Passport Agencies and many passport Acceptance Facilities across the country in communities like yours. If you’ve been waiting to get your passport, this is the time!..."    

This Article is From: state.gov Read our latest posts! .

H. R. 1351: Restore the USPS budget to financial soundness with zero taxpayer involvement

Lloyd Rollins: In defense of the postal system

"...House Resolution 1351 provides light at the end of the tunnel. It would allow an internal transfer of pension surpluses, surpluses of $75 billion, to be transferred to meet the obligation of the 2006 congressional law..."    

This Article is From: www.craigdailypress.com Read our latest posts! .

Safe Transport of Dangerous Goods by Air and Lithium batteries

USPS Puts Lithium Battery Limits on Hold

"...new limits that would have taken effect Oct. 3 for U.S. mail containing equipment with lithium metal or lithium-ion batteries that is bound for international, APO, FPO, or DPO locations are now on hold. ..."    

This Article is From: ohsonline.com Read our latest posts! .

Tuesday's hearing on the Postal Service’s financial crisis

White House to Propose Plan to Help Postal Service

"...one of the four postal unions, denounced the post office’s proposal to lay off 120,000 workers. The agency has asked Congress to pass a special law overturning no-layoff provisions in its union contracts...."    

This Article is From: www.nytimes.com Read our latest posts! .

PMG Donahoe goes to congress for authority

Postal Service warns it could lose $10 billion this year

"...the Postal Service wants congressional authority to break its agreements with labor unions so it can lay off about 120,000 workers. The Service also hopes to ..."    

This Article is From: www.washingtonpost.com Read our latest posts! .

Collective Bargaining Begins between the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the USPS

Collective Bargaining Begins between the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the USPS

"...The National Postal Mail Handlers Union bargaining team met with representatives of the U.S. Postal Service on August 30, 2011 to mark the official start of the collective bargaining process for a successor agreement to..."    

This Article is From: npmhu317.blogspot.com Read our latest posts! .

FYI: Severance pay for usps employees

Severance pay for usps employees

"...Any career Postal Service employee who is involuntarily separated and who has been employed continuously by the Postal Service and/or other federal agency for at least 12 consecutive months (without a break in service of 3 or more consecutive days) immediately prior to the separation is eligible for severance pay, except..."    

This Article is From: usps.com Read our latest posts! .

Mail Carrier Robbery Attempt

Police investigate robbery attempt on U.S. mail carrier

"...suspect then jumped into the truck and began fighting with the mailman over the package...."    

This Article is From: northhuntsville.waff.com Read our latest posts! .

Define: Postalgeddon

Post-al-ged-don Noun /ˈpōstəlˈgedn/

1. The figurative last battle between the labor movement, who are fighting for just wages and benefits for the American working-class versus the current day Robber Barons, who wish to dismantle the U.S. Postal Service in an alleged attempt to lower the wages of the American working-class for profit.

Post Office been here before, but survived the doom and gloom of postalgeddon

The Postal Service Means Business

"...if you figure for inflation and convert those 1975 numbers to 2011 dollars. The 1974 deficit of $2.3 billion would come to $9.7 billion in today’s dollars — over a billion dollars more than the $8.5 billion the Postal Service lost in fiscal year 2010. Yet somehow the Postal Service survived without closing all those post offices...."    

This Article is From: www.savethepostoffice.com Read our latest posts! .

USPS not utilizing labor contract provisions to reduce employees

What Postal Service can’t win from labor unions it hopes to get from Congress

"...the Postal Service doesn’t need to cut staff by circumventing agreements because it has thousands of career and non-career employees who are not covered by the no-layoff provisions. A spokesman for the letter carriers said his union alone has between 17,000 and 30,000 career employee members who are not covered...."    

This Article is From: www.washingtonpost.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Employee Layoff Protections -vs- Strikes

U.S. Postal Service Braced for Massive Cuts

"...Many of the gains that postal workers received – including the right to collective bargaining – arose in the wake of a 1970 strike which started in New York and spread to the rest of the country...."    

This Article is From: www.ibtimes.com Read our latest posts! .

National Postal Mail Handlers Union Contract Negotiations coming soon!

"...the U.S. Postal Service has yet to exhaust every avenue relating to reduction of the workforce. For example, the USPS would be remiss in their efforts to reduce the workforce without offering another Voluntary Early Retirement offer that provides the maximum Voluntary Separation Incentive Payment (VSIP) as a buyout to Mail Handlers. ..."    

This Article is From: mailhandlercontract.blogspot.com Read our latest posts! .

The bulk mail industry says hands off our profits

Don't touch my junk: The bulk mail industry says hands off our profits

"...The big guns in the room are going to be the bulk mail companies, and they have already made their position clear. They have been fighting against the rate increase since it was initially proposed last year, and they have already come out in favor of the proposed cuts to labor and the post offices. On August 12, within hours of hearing the USPS plan, the Direct Marketing Association— the leading association of businesses using direct marketing (junk mail) — “applauded” the proposed cuts. ..."    

This Article is From: www.savethepostoffice.com Read our latest posts! .

National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) to defend postal employees and service

NALC to Defend Members, 'America's Postal Service' in 2011 Contract Talks

"..."Despite the Postal Service's outrageous show of bad faith at the start of these negotiations, we are prepared to negotiate a fair, responsible, and innovative labor agreement to reward our members and to position the Postal Service for a stronger and better future," Rolando said. ..."    

This Article is From: einnews.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Service wants to layoff and hire at the same time!

Things that make you go, huh?

Just a question to ponder.

How can the Postmaster General propose breaking union contracts to layoff 120,000 craft employees, while at the same time hire PSE employees at half the pay and no benefits? It sounds to us that it's not about the need for less craft employees, but simply union busting and a desire to lower wages and benefits. Post your thoughts

Why is the postal service so important to us all?

Why We All Have a Stake in the U.S. Postal Service

"...permanent staff. The US Postal Service has more than the two largest telecommunication companies combined, plus Microsoft and Apple, 574,000 workers, of whom 120,000 will be dismissed under a new emergency plan...."    

This Article is From: www.theatlantic.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal Service wants to break labor agreements to layoff employees and...

Postal Service proposes cutting 120,000 jobs, pulling out of health-care plan

"...The layoffs would be achieved in part by breaking labor agreements, a proposal that drew swift fire from postal unions. The plan would require congressional approval..."    

This Article is From: www.washingtonpost.com Read our latest posts! .

Where is Kevin Costner when you need him?

USPS plan should be returned to sender

"...Remember "The Postman?" It's 2013. Global society has collapsed. America is a wasteland. A group of people fights to resurrect the postal service as a way to restore civilization. Where is Kevin Costner when you need him?..."    

This Article is From: washingtonexaminer.com Read our latest posts! .

Heat doesn't stop postal carriers

Postal workers brave blistering temperatures

"..."The bad part is that we leave right in the heat of the day," said the 12-year postal employee whose route is in South Bethany and Middlesex Beach. "This summer has been a bad one...."    

This Article is From: www.delmarvanow.com Read our latest posts! .

Postal reform and the wealthy

Robber Barons Plunder the Post Office

"...Two of the six richest men in the country are Charles and David Koch, with combined assets of over $40 billion. Some of that money gets funneled to Tea Party politicians like Darrell Issa and Dennis Ross, who are co-sponsoring a Postal Reform Act that is all about attacking unions and closing down post offices. ..."    

This Article is From: www.savethepostoffice.com Read our latest posts! .

They want to close the Post Office?

‘They want to close what ?’

"...Hain said there has to be something the quasi-governmental agency can do besides close post offices. The solution is more sales, not cutting. If they cut off one finger, then another ... pretty soon they’ll not have any...."    

This Article is From: Read our latest posts! .

H.R. 2309 would provide the right to unilaterally renegotiate labor contracts

APWU to Washington Post:
Destroying Unions Won’t Fix USPS

"...In a letter to the editor published Aug. 1, the union president disputed a July 28 Washington Post editorial that endorsed H.R. 2309 — a bill introduced by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Rep. Dennis Ross (R-FL) that would mandate massive service cuts and give an unelected “solvency authority” the right to unilaterally renegotiate labor contracts...."    

This Article is From: www.apwu.org Read our latest posts! .