Gangs receive guns via mail

Illegal guns went to Puerto Rican gangs, agent says "...ship the weapons to Puerto Rico. Marilyn Quinones-Burgos, one of two women arrested so far, is accused on March 6, 2007, of wrapping aluminum foil around five guns and hiding them in a cosmetic case, then taking the package to a U.S. Post Office and mailing it to ring members on the island...."
[Reference: www.orlandosentinel.com]

File Under: Found in the Mail

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USPS workshare mailer discounts excessive

PRC Ruling Exposes Unhealthy Relationship Between USPS and Influential Mailers "... The commission ruling reaffirms the APWU’s position that workshare discounts that exceed the postal costs avoided are not consistent with the standard of universal rates for all mailers, large and small. The 2008 PRC ruling is Exhibit #1 in exposing the unhealthy relationship between postal management and influential large mailers.

The Postal Regulatory Commission has issued a strong warning that it will not permit the continuation of arbitrary “sweetheart” deals for large mailers..."
[Reference: www.apwu.org Burrus Update]

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Postal Exam Spotlight

On occasion we will "spotlight" an area (or areas) of the country where the postal service (USPS) is taking applications for postal exams. In this case we are spotlighting Huntsville, Alabama, where the USPS is excepting applications for Exam 943 -Automotive Technician. The USPS Announcement Number is 232267. We recommend visiting "How do I get a job with the U.S. Postal Service?" which is a great site for explaining the process. There are numerous other places taking applications for different exams. For example, Florida has a variety of examination openings: Custodial Maintenance (229622), General Maintenance Positions (227888), and Electronics Technicians (223515).

File Under: Huntsville Employment
Florida Postal Employment

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Postal Mail Handler Wage Increase

This information comes to us from the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU).
COLA OF $479 TO BE ADDED TO BASE WAGES

The third of ten guaranteed cost-of-living adjustments to be paid to all mail handlers under the 2006 National Agreement has been set at $479, based on changes in the National Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the period running from July 2007 through January 2008. This COLA is being added to wages effective March 15, 2008, and will be reflected in paychecks on April 4, 2008 (P07-2008). The COLA of $479 represents an increase of 23 cents per hour.

To view the new Mail Handler Pay Wage Scale Chart click the following link: Mail Handler Pay Scale

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Disability Fraud Denied by Ex-Postal Employee

Ex-postal worker denies disability fraud charges "... In 1978 and 1979, she had two back surgeries and by 1981 had returned to work full-time as a mail processing clerk. ..."
[Reference: www.billingsgazette.net]

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Federal Retirement Calculator

Here is a great tool offered by the The United States Geological Survey (USGS.GOV) the Get a rough estimate of the Federal annuity you would be entitled to on the day of your retirement. Please note: this calculator is an estimate and should not be used as an exact calculation of your retirement benefits. For a more detailed and more precise estimate, please contact your agency's personnel office. Click the appropriate link below to visit your retirement category:

FERS Retirement Calculator

CSRS Retirement Calculator

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House Bill: No Penalty for CSRS Part-Time Work

House Committee Passes Bill to Allow Federal CSRS Employees To Work Part-time Without Penalty "... Enactment of this bill would enable Federal employees covered by the Civil Service Retirement System to work part-time prior to retirement without incurring penalties to the annuity they have so rightly earned ..."
[Reference: www.opm.gov]

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FedEx Not Immune From Economic Hard Times

FedEx Sees 'Limited' Growth Ahead "... "Our fourth-quarter earnings outlook has been impacted by higher-than-anticipated fuel prices and a weak U.S. economy," said Chief Financial Officer Alan B. Graf Jr. ..."
[Reference: Wall Street Journal]

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Thrift Savings Plan -v- Day Traders

Thrift Savings Plan Crackdown Is Working "... Efforts to discourage "market timers" in the Thrift Savings Plan are showing progress. Only 549 people last month defied a new policy limiting trades in the TSP ..."
[Reference: www.washingtonpost.com]

File Under: TSP Trade Limits

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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]