Union’s opposition to excessive workshare discounts

A Clear Picture

"... For 1,000 automated letters, which cost the USPS $6.17 to process in delivery sequence, the Postal Service “forgives” $105 in discounts for a portion of the work required to sort the mail into delivery seuqence, resulting in a loss of $98.83 per 1,000 automated letters. That amounts to a loss of $98,830 for every 1 million letters.

I have repeatedly expressed the union’s opposition to excessive workshare discounts that shift the costs of postal services from large mailers to individual users. And I have frequently pointed out that the law governing the USPS stipulates that discounts must not exceed the postal cost avoided.

Despite the outrageous USPS giveaways to major mailers, our critics suggest that the Postal Service’s financial crisis can be addressed by reducing employee wages!!!..."    

This Article is From: www.apwu.org

Read our latest posts!

.

USPS' Santa ready to hang up the red hat

"...Santa Claus is better known within the U.S. Postal Service as Doug Fischer. The 28-year USPS veteran has donned the red suit and the snow-white beard for the last 12 years to help deliver Express Mail packages on Christmas Day...."    

This Article is From: www.9news.com

Read our latest posts!

.

USPS mail collection box stolen in Phoenix

"...collection box was recovered with most of the outgoing still inside...."    

This Article is From: www.kswt.com

Read our latest posts!

.

Affidavit: Anger at government motivated Wytheville post office suspect

"...made a decision to 'end it' at a Post Office in Wytheville, Virginia. Taylor admitted to firing one of the handguns he was carrying numerous times in the post office and also admitted to holding the hostages..."    

This Article is From:

Read our latest posts!

.

Post Office Hostage Standoff in Virginia is Over

Police say Va. post office hostage standoff over

"...WYTHEVILLE, Va. -- State police say a daylong standoff at a small-town Virginia post office has ended with three hostages being released and a suspect in custody...."    

This Article is From: wvgazette.com

Read our latest posts!

.

Wytheville, Virginia Post Office Hostage Situation Taking Place Now

"...There also are reports that the man has a "device" and it appears the man's car, parked outside the office, is equipped with some type of device, Crewe said. He did not elaborate on what the device could be...."    

This Article is From: www.cnn.com

Read our latest posts!

.

U.S. Post Office warns of email scam

"...Chief Postal Inspector William R. Galligan, notifies the recipient that a “parcel from DHL courier service has been stopped for security reasons” and “Our scanning system has detected that your parcel contains a confirmable ATM card to the tune of $1.5 million dollars.” ..."    

This Article is From: www2.counton2.com

Read our latest posts!

.

Sylvia Writes Santa A Disturbing Letter Concerning Mice

"...“Santa Claus is accepting mail again,” Sylvia informed me.

“I didn’t know that Santa wasn’t accepting mail. After all, that’s his job,” I said. “Kids write to him asking for Christmas presents and, if they’ve been good, Santa brings them what they want on Christmas Eve. That is, if their requests are reasonable and have been properly processed with the correct postage.”..."    

This Article is From: www.stpns.net

Read our latest posts!

.

Express Mail Can Get it There on Time

"...Customers searching for reliable overnight delivery of holiday gifts can look to Express Mail from the U.S. Postal Service to get it under the tree in time.

Express Mail service offers reliable, affordable next-day delivery to most locations, plus free tracking and proof of delivery. The last recommended day for mailing holiday gifts by Express Mail is Dec. 23...."    

This Article is From: www.melodika.net

Read our latest posts!

.

Post Office hours Dec 24 & 31, 2009

POST OFFICES CLOSING EARLY ON CHRISTMAS EVE AND NEW YEAR’S EVE

"...Post Offices will be open on Christmas Eve, December 24, and New Year’s Eve, December 31, however, many will shorten retail lobby hours and close at 12:00 noon. Regular mail delivery will take place though Collection Box pickup times scheduled after noon on these days will be moved to 12:00 noon.

Customers needing service after 12:00 noon on either December 24 or December 31 should contact their local post office for information on locations of post offices that will maintain normal retail hours and lobby collections on these days. Post Office phone numbers can be obtained from our Find a Post Office tool or by calling 1-800-ASK-USPS.

Post Offices will be closed on Christmas Day, December 25, 2009, and New Year’s Day, January 1, 2010. No delivery service (except for Sunday and Holiday Premium Express Mail) is scheduled for these holidays. Regular retail service and mail delivery will resume on the days following the holidays, December 26, 2009 and January 2, 2010...."    

This Article is From: United States Postal Service

Read our latest posts!

.

Canada Post's cheaper service pays off with Christmas parcels

"...cheaper usually pays off when it comes to sending Christmas parcels with Canada Post. On Dec. 10, the Star sent eight identical..."    

This Article is From: www.thestar.com

Read our latest posts!

.

Sick leave credit for FERS employees

"...Postal employees who retire under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) will receive credit for their unused sick leave when they retire. The new provision — which became effective Oct. 28 with the president’s signing of the fiscal year 2010 National Defense Authorization Act — will be phased in over four years.

FERS employees who retire between now and Dec. 31, 2013, will receive a 50-percent ..."    

This Article is From: liteblue.usps.gov

Read our latest posts!

.

Pittsfield Mail Concerns Return to sender Trying to get answers from Postal Service frustrating

"...the reputation of the Postal Service -- traditionally one of the most reliable and trustworthy institutions in the land -- continues to come under fire from critics who are unhappy with allegedly sluggish, hit-or-miss service bordering on indifference. ..."    

This Article is From: www.berkshireeagle.com

Read our latest posts!

.

$190 postage for gifts paid by mystery man

Yes, Memphis, there really is a Santa Claus

"...He was there to open a post office box, Bethes said, and after he'd finished his paperwork, he asked about the package...."    

This Article is From: www.commercialappeal.com

Read our latest posts!

.

Will USPS Flat Rate Boxes Save You Money?

"...if it fits, it ships for one rate to any state in the country. But are you really saving money with the boxes? When Carole Willisch heard about the Flat Rate boxes, she thought she could save some money sending her Christmas gifts...."    

This Article is From: www.localnews8.com

Read our latest posts!

.

Monday is Busiest Mailing Day of the Year for the Post Office

"...The Monday two weeks prior to Christmas is the busiest mailing day each year, as people finish their cards and packages over the weekend and drop them in the mail to make sure they arrive before the holiday...."    

This Article is From: www.fayobserver.com

Read our latest posts!

.

The 10 industries with the largest wage and salary employment declines, 2008-18

According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the Postal Service will have lost 98,000 jobs by the year 2018. That is a decline of 13%! The data is from the National Employment Matrix.
   

Reference: www.bls.gov

Read our latest posts!

.

APWU, Other Federal Unions Assail Senate Bill’s Excise Tax on Healthcare

"...“This tax would result in huge benefit cuts, and increased co-pays and deductibles for federal and postal employees,” Burrus said. “It is absolutely the wrong way to pay for this legislation. Health insurance reform simply should not be financed by burdening workers and the middle class with an excise tax.”

The two reports conclude that the “average” plans would try to avoid the excise tax, and would shift costs to employees...."    

This Article is From: www.apwu.org

Read our latest posts!

.

GAO Report:: U.S. Postal Service: U.S. Postal Service Relatively Limited Results from Recent Revenue-Generation Efforts

"...USPS debt increased at the end of fiscal year 2009 by the annual statutory limit of $3 billion, bringing outstanding debt to $10.2 billion. At this rate, USPS will reach its total $15 billion statutory debt limit in fiscal year 2011. (4) USPS projects annual deficits over $7 billion in fiscal years 2010 and 2011, and continuing large cash shortfalls. PAEA and implementing regulations gave USPS more flexibility to set prices, test new postal products, and retain earnings. USPS has broad latitude to set rates that take effect unless the Postal Regulatory Commission finds the rates would violate legal requirements, such as a price cap that generally limits rate increases for most mail to the rate of inflation. Except for annual rate increases, USPS revenue-generation actions since PAEA was enacted have generally achieved limited results compared to USPS's deficits...."    

This Article is From: www.gao.gov

Read our latest posts!

.

Federal Times Gregg Carlstrom ask: USPS employee? Filed a grievance?

 
Federal Times: USPS employee? Filed a grievance?
"...Time for one of my periodic “I’m looking for postal employees…” posts. I’m working on a story about the Postal Service’s labor grievance process, and I’m looking for postal employees who have filed grievances against USPS. Don’t care what the outcome was — whether you won, you lost, or the complaint is still pending.

If you’re interested in talking — anonymously, of course — e-mail me here...."
Reference: federaltimes.com

Read our latest posts!

.