Junk Mail Debate

Efforts to Block Junk Mail Slowed "... the Direct Marketing Association has made $141,877 in contributions to federal candidates, including $6,610 to Sen. Thomas R. Carper (D-Del.), who chairs the subcommittee that oversees the Postal Service and does not face reelection until 2012. ..."
[Reference: www.washingtonpost.com]


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Postal Recycling Program

Postal service launches recycling program for electronics, ink cartridges "... Customers can pick up free envelopes for the Mail Back program at post offices nationwide ...>
[Reference: www.chicagotribune.com]


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Audit Concludes Postal Service Wasted Million's on FedEx Contract

Inspector General: USPS Wasted $17.8 Million on FedEx Contract "... the Postal Service’s Pacific Area incurred approximately $17.8 million in unnecessary costs by the use of "expensive" FedEx transportation to move mail that could have been moved on low-priced surface transportation or on less costly passenger airlines. “The Postal Service also paid FedEx to sort mail when they could have avoided those costs..."
[Reference: www.apwu.org]

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Placing Fliers on Mailboxes

Postal Service: No material in or on mailboxes without stamps "... "You can't put anything in or on a mailbox without postage," he said. "There's federal law to back it up."...>
[Reference: www.eagletribune.com]

File Under: Mailbox Regulations

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Postal Buyout Rumor Control

What's the latest news on the rumors of a postal buyout? The rumors run rampant, but the Federal Times reports there are no plans according to "Ask the Experts" (posted March 15, 2008.
[Reference: www.federaltimes.com]

Inaccuracy on Stamp Honoring Biochemist Gerty Cori

Postal Service goofs on stamp honoring St. Louis Nobelist "... The new stamp bares Gerty's photograph next to a sketch of the Cori ester. But if you know anything about chemistry, you'll see the formula is wrong. ..."
[Reference: publicbroadcasting.net]

File under: Gerty Cori Stamp, Cori ester, Stamp Error

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Introduction of Postal eCareer

The U.S. Postal Service is introducing the new eCareer Postal Job Application Tool. Postal Employee's have a new automated way of applying for internal EAS jobs. USPS will soon be mailing postcards to the workforce detailing how to log on the new online system that will replace the PS Form 991. With eCareer, an employee can create an online candidate profile, that will contain your experience, skills, education and training. To create a profile, sign in to LiteBlue with your employee ID and postal PIN. Next "click" on "My Life" and the eCareer link under the Internal Jobs heading on the right side of the page. Then, "click" on "Search and/or Apply for EAS Jobs". After that click on the Candidate Profile link on the Personal Page to complete the candidate profile. Some EAS jobs are being posted now. All EAS vacancies will be posted beginning April 1, 2008.

eCareer site

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FERS Sick Leave Bill Update

Bill Would Give Retirees Partial Pay for Unused Sick Leave "... FERS employees would be eligible for a lump-sum payment of up to $10,000 for their unused sick leave. The proposed benefit would apply to accrued sick leave exceeding 500 hours. ...">

[Reference: www.washingtonpost.com]

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TSP Frequent Trading Limit?

TSP To Limit Frequent Trading "... Apparently, some savvy traders in the Thrift Savings Plan are having a major impact on cost of TSP trades. According to the data provided in a Federal Register Document ..."

[Reference: The Postal News Network]

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Talented Nevada Postmaster

Nevada postmaster turns comedian "... Musick is not only a U.S. Postmaster in Nevada and a Bucyrus resident, he is a professional cartoonist, humorous illustrator, comedian, spokesperson and ghost writer..."
[Reference: www.bucyrustelegraphforum.com]

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Postal Plant Manager Firing Upheld at MSPB

The following is an excerpt from an MSPB ruling on the Postal Plant Manager firing. The document is in ADOBE ACROBAT format.

"... As Plant Manager, the appellant was expected to avoid any actions that might result in or create the appearance of using his position to give preferential treatment to any person and of losing impartiality as a Plant Manager, which affected the integrity of the agency’s operations. ..."

[Reference: MSPB.gov]

USPS Headquarters Hiring Freeze

Postal Service freezes hiring at headquarters "... announced the hiring freeze in a March 7 memo to postal executives. ..." [Reference: federaltimes.com]

File Under: post office march 11 announcement

Links to this post: USPIS Forum at http://forums.officer.com

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Postal Service May Process Mail-In Ballots

Mail-in ballot gathers steam for Florida Democratic primary re-do "... beginning to look as if the U.S. Postal Service could be the answer to the growing dispute over Florida's presidential primary.U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson on Sunday pressed for a do-over primary this spring by mail ...>

[Reference: www.orlandosentinel.com]



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Social Security Question and Answer

Postal employees under FER's may find the interesting. SOCIAL SECURITY Q&A: How does the SSA calculate my retirement benefits? "... What assumptions about my future earnings does the Social Security Administration use to calculate the retirement benefit estimates on my statement? ..." [Reference: www.grandforksherald.com]




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Abu Dhabi postal workers to get free accommodation

Abu Dhabi postal workers to get free accommodation "... Dubai: The Board of Emirates Post has proposed that those working in Abu Dhabi post offices who live in other emirates should be given free bachelor accommodation. ..." [Reference: www.gulfnews.com]


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Philatelist Passes: Harvey Karlen

Harvey Karlen: 1918 - 2008: Expert on city's postal history "... Among his books were "Chicago's Mail: An Anthology of Postal History Articles Focusing Upon the Community's Growth, Its Interests and Its Attitudes" and the playfully titled "Chicago's Crabgrass Communities: A History of the Independent Suburbs and Their Post Offices That Became Part of Chicago." ..." [Reference: www.chicagotribune.com]

Links for Harvey Karlen books:
Chicago postal history;: Selections that honor the collecting interest of Richard McP. Cabeen

Chicago's mail: An anthology of postal history articles focusing upon the community's growth, its interests, and its attitudes

Postal Service Announcement: Changes Ahead

Postal News - USPS to announce major shipping news March 11 "... will share with employees our new pricing strategies to compete in the shipping business. ..." [Reference: liteblue.usps.gov]


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Global Terrorist Incident Map

Although this may be considered a little off-topic for a website that provides postal news, we at The Postal Newsgroup are not above offering links and information to sites we see as beneficial to our readers. The Global Terrorist Incident Map is just one of those sites. There is some controversy as to whether the site, as a by-product, tends to inspire panic, especially since many of the incidents are hoaxes. However, we see it as a valuable tool in keeping informed.

A Postal Buyout Without the Cash!

Taking a look back to the Postal employee buyout of 2006, we find an article by Mike Causey dated April 10, 2006, from Federal News Radio. The article is titled, "Early-Outs Without a Buyout: Like Batman Without Robin?" As usual, Mr. Causey is right on the money when he writes, "Offering federal workers the chance to take early retirement, but without a $25,000 buyout, it's like offering your kids a banana split with no banana. Tiny Tyler, who will eat anything, may bite. But the rest of the brood will say thanks but no thanks!"






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Law Enforcement Records Names, Addresses on Outside of Envelopes Traveling through the mail

Here is an Orwellian story sure to make you go ...Hmmmm. Law enforcement request to record names, addresses and other information from the outside of letters and packages of suspected criminals every year since 1998, according to U.S. Postal Inspection Service data. Here is an article from USA Today: Law enforcement requests for postal info granted. Is sanctity of the mail limited only to internal contents?