April 17, 2013

Lawmaker: Postal reform bill coming ‘very soon’

A key lawmaker plans to introduce comprehensive postal legislation soon, with hopes for final passage by October." I think we’re close,” Rep. Darrell Issa, R-Calif., said at a Wednesday hearing of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee. Asked afterward when he would proceed with a bill, Issa, the committee’s chairman, said only “very soon.” While lawmakers’ previous predictions of progress on a comprehensive bill have not panned out, one mail industry representative said the four-hour hearing left him optimistic.  Comments (Count) 

PMG Urges Congress to Provide Delivery Schedule Flexibility to Address Broken Business Model Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe told a House committee today that the Postal Service is currently operating with a broken business model and the gap between revenues and costs will only get worse in the coming years unless the laws that govern the Postal Service are changed. Video: U.S. Postal Service Reform hearing – April 17th, 2013 | NALC President Rolando testifies before House committee | Donahoe Trades Blame With Congress Over Postal Finances Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe today blamed Congress for not helping to stem billions of dollars in losses while the top House member [Issa] overseeing the service pointed back, saying management is responsible. Issa to USPS: No more excuses  Comments (Count) 

USPS Assures APWU They Will Get Update On Ricin Incidents

Postal officials have assured APWU President Cliff Guffey that they will update union officials today, April 17, about incidents involving mail that tested positive for ricin, a deadly poison, in preliminary tests on April 16 - APWU Learns of Ricin Incident Through Media Reports

APWU officers learned through the news media on April 16 that a letter that may have been contaminated with a deadly poison had been found in the mail Preliminary tests performed at the Maryland mail facility where the letter was found were positive for ricin, according to published reports. Additional tests will be performed at an FBI laboratory, with results expected within 24-48 hours. The letter was addressed to Sen. Roger Wicker (R-MS). PMG: No sick employees from poisoned letters | Postal Service Warns Employees at Three Facilities After Ricin Scare | Another Ricin Letter Found in Washington, This Time Targeting Obama   Comments (Count) 

Letter carrier makes lifesaving delivery

Loretta Medve prides herself on getting through life on her own despite multiple sclerosis and having to use a walker, but when she needed it, help came because postal carrier Kim Base thought to check on her.On March 18, Base called 911 after discovering while delivering mail to Medve's Privet Lane home that Medve had been lying on her living room floor for about 20 hours after falling the day before. Comments (Count) 

German postal workers walk off the job for higher wages

Postal Service mailer sent to La Jolla merchants raises suspicions

April 16, 2013

Envelope tests positive for ricin at Washington mail facility

CNN - An envelope that tested positive for the deadly poison ricin was intercepted Tuesday afternoon at the U.S. Capitol’s off-site mail facility in Washington, congressional and law enforcement sources tell CNN. Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid said he was told the letter was addressed to the office of Sen. Roger Wicker, R-Mississippi. After the envelope tested positive in a first routine test, it was retested two more times, each time coming up positive, the law enforcement source said. The package was then sent to a Maryland lab for further testing.Sen. Claire McCaskill told reporters after a briefing for lawmakers that a suspect has already been identified in the incident. "Sally Davidow, a spokeswoman for the American Postal Workers Union, said in an interview last night that “we haven’t been notified by the Postal Service about anything.” “We have learned about this incident entirely through the news media, and we are not amused,” she said. “If it’s been in the mail, there’s a potential it may have been handled by APWU Workers.” NY Times: Letter Mailed to Senator Tests Positive for Ricin   Comments (Count) 

Lawmakers to explore options to keep USPS in business

Following the collapse of plans for ending Saturday mail delivery, the U.S. Postal Service will explore the possibility of an emergency rate increase and seek additional cost-cutting concessions from its employees. But as both options quickly came under attack, the odds of success on either front seemed dim. Postal Service’s finances in the spotlight |  Issa schedules hearing : Options to Bring the Postal Service Back from Insolvency   Comments (Count) 

NAPS declines Postal Service’s request to return to Pay Consultations

Due to hiring freezes resulting from the financial crisis, we are understaffed by as many as 5,000 supervisory and managerial positions. Our members have performed admirably under these trying conditions, moving the mail everyday throughout the country and have given back more than their fair share.  Comments (Count) 

USPS says Editorials, opinion columns back reform efforts

USPS has received significant national media coverage due to its financial challenges and the steps it has taken — including its proposed new delivery schedule — to address them. This coverage has included support from journalists and editors who praise the Postal Service for its accomplishments   Comments (Count) 

USPS launches program to further secure customer data

Flint postal worker indicted on federal fraud charges over workers’ compensation payouts

Post office flags to be flown at half-staff in memory of Boston victims

Postal Worker Allegedly Steals Customer's iPhone

Electronic filing means smaller crowds on tax day in New York

The Worst Postal System in the World, Except . . .

APWU: More Jobs, Better Jobs, Career Jobs

How Congress undercuts the Postal Service

April 15, 2013

House Rejects Bill That Would Allow Uncle Sam to Fire Federal Tax Cheats

The bill (H.R. 249) would have applied to executive and legislative branch employees as well as Postal Service workers who are delinquent on their taxes and have not entered into an agreement with the government to repay the debt. The legislation also would have prohibited the government from hiring job applicants with seriously delinquent tax debt. The measure defined seriously delinquent tax debt as outstanding debt to the federal government for which a public lien has been filed  Comments (Count) 

USPS May Not Have Cash to Meet Payroll in October

"In a series of tweets, Scott MacFarlane has reported  that a presentation by Jim O’Brien, VP Distribution and Postal Affairs of Time Inc indicated that the USPS may run out of cash next October.   The presentation was made at a recent “Industry Focus Group. A Postal Service spokesperson confirmed to him that the Federal Government will be responsible for payroll as of that date if the Postal Service runs out of cash and the Postal Service is expected to continue to provide service. US Postal Service tells macfarlanenews : “possibility the American taxpayer will be on the hook” for postal worker paychecks come October   Comments (Count) 

Congress Refuses to Allow USPS to Fix Its Budget Woes

House Oversight Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-CA) has been fighting to cripple the USPS under the guise of "reform" for years. Issa first went to war with the USPS soon after the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and the Postal Service reached a collective bargaining agreement that would have guaranteed USPS over $4 billion in cost savings on employees over the life of a contract. At the time, Postmaster Patrick Donahue hailed the deal as a victory for the Postal Service, its employees and the people they serve. But then, as the union was preparing to vote on the agreement, Issa called a hearing on the contract — a completely unprecedented move. Here was a Republican chair of the Oversight Committee grilling the postmaster general about an agreement upon which a union was currently voting. Issa has had it out for the Postal Service and its union from day one, he consistently heaps the blame for failed negotiations on the USPS. Issa has largely been successful in villainizing the Postal Service precisely because the USPS serves the poor and marginalized. Mail call: Congress ignores the pleas of the Postal Service  | Editorial: Mailing it in: Congress must be helpful with the Postal Service   Comments (Count) 

APWU Honors Achievements Of Older Americans

Post office a friend of late tax filers

West Virginia: Two pitbulls shot after attacking postal worker, city police say
Barstow woman's mail-forwarding gig possibly fraudulent

April 14, 2013

Union Leadership Meeting in USPS Suncoast District - April 9, 2013 [PDF]

Some of the issues discussed: Premier Post Offices- This would be approximately 3100 sites, representing approximately 40% of all Post Offices. The Premier Post Offices would re rated by “Bronze, Silver, and Gold.” Netflix has gone from $700 million in revenue down to $300 million mostly due to the shift in online streaming. As of 2013 the USPS is behind on the mandated pre-payment to the retiree’s health plans by $16.7 billion  Comments (Count) 

Editorial: I Believe In America

by Florida Letter Carrier Paul Gereffi - when people like Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Tom Coburn (R-OK) and John McCain (R-AZ) propose legislation to destroy the Postal Service as we know it, LISTEN TO THEM! Be aware of who they are and what they can do TO us.  Comments (Count) 

USPS cuts continue, Delmarva sees rise of village post offices

America's Quirkiest Post Offices

Does Congress really want to cut spending? Not if its rebuke of USPS is any indication

The 5-Day Delivery Saga Continues

April 13, 2013

When public infrastructure goes private

LA Times - The U.S. Postal Service is based on the notion that essential infrastructure should be available to all. But you can kiss that notion goodbye, because today’s model of building public infrastructure is to let private companies like Google do it  Comments (Count) 

Kalamazoo postal worker charged in home invasion of co-worker

The postal worker faces first degree home invasion and possession of burglary tools after he was caught hiding in her Texas Township home by her boyfriend, a Public Safety Officer. The postal worker reportedly had a knife and duct tape with him when he was captured.  Comments (Count) 

Video: Postal Worker Discovers Mail Bomb Sent to Arizona Sheriff

Postmaster hopes third time's a charm with latest letter on curbside mailboxes

USPS Continues Attack on Postal Workers Despite Pulling Back on Saturday Deliveries

Mixed Reaction to Postal Service Decision

April 12, 2013

The Post Office’s Biggest Problem Isn’t Saturday Delivery — It’s Congress

It may seem like the United States Postal Service is unwilling to adapt to a world of declining mail volume and increased digital communication. But the real obstacle in the way of true reform aren’t the folks running the postal service itself. It’s their bosses in the U.S. Congress. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe is like a man waiting for a package that never arrives. Donahoe, who has led the U.S.P.S. since 2010, has over the past few years made numerous proposals to get the money-losing postal service back in the black. He’s suggested closing post offices, modernizing post offices, “village” post offices, increased postal rates, decreased services, a reduced workforce, and a number of digital approaches involving tracking packages, QR codes, and mobile solutions. Editorial: Retreat at the Post Office    Comments (Count) 

Video: Colorado Letter Carrier pinned under vehicle in crash

USPS issues two new stamps for weddings & special occasions

Take That Austerity! Outcry and Activism Save Six-Day Mail Delivery

April 11, 2013

Congress Starting Bipartisan Postal Talks, Carper Says

Bloomberg- Congressional leaders will begin negotiating next week on bipartisan legislation to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service, toward a goal of sending President Barack Obama a bill by August, a Senate committee chairman said. Postal Reform Still At Least Several Months Off    Comments (Count) 

Issa schedules hearing for "Options to Bring the Postal Service Back from Insolvency" House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., today announced that he would convene a full committee hearing next Wednesday to examine the future of the United States Postal Service.   Comments (Count) 

APWU Calls on USPS to Postpone Consolidations Until Congress Acts

Guffey called on the Postal Service to postpone any consolidations until Congress acts, and he called on lawmakers to move quickly to prevent the USPS  from implementing the devastating cuts in service the closures would cause.    Comments (Count) 

AFGE official criticizes health insurance proposals in Obama budget

The proposals include charging more for federal employees who are ill or overweight, charging more to families with more than two persons, worsening the FEHBP’s already severe problems with risk segmentation by introducing regional PPOs, and making changes to prescription drug coverage.   Comments (Count) 

UK’s Royal Mail Faces Similar Woes as USPS.

USPS admits community mail box master key recovered after theft

Rochester, NY: Postal Service Hiring More City Carrier Assistants

Business Mailers Need Mail Planning Sunshine, Not A Cloak Of Fog

Maloney 'outraged' at USPS moving up consolidation

Future uncertain for Corpus Christi-area post office lost to fire

Police flush out postal pooper

April 10, 2013

USPS Board tells PMG to delay implementation of 5 day delivery until Congress gives authority “The Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service met April 9^th and discussed the Continuing Resolution recently passed by Congress to fund government operations. By including restrictive language in the Continuing Resolution, Congress has prohibited implementation of a new national delivery schedule for mail and packages, which would consist of package delivery Monday through Saturday and mail delivery Monday through Friday, and which would have taken effect the week of August 5, 2013.Board has directed management to seek a reopening of negotiations with the postal unions and consultations with management associations to lower total workforce costs, and to take administrative actions necessary to reduce costs Congressman Issa “Disappointed” USPS Backs Away | Senator Sanders Welcomes Decision | Senator Collins Statement | Congressman Connolly Applauds USPS Decision | Sen. Carper Reacts   Comments (Count) 

'Congress is Killing the Postal Service,' APWU President Guffey Declares

While Saturday mail delivery has dominated recent discussions, little attention is being paid to other drastic measures the USPS is taking that will significantly delay mail and permanently damage the nation’s mail system,” he said. Since 2012, the USPS has closed 114 mail processing plants, one third of the nation’s mail processing capacity. Comments (Count) 

Obama Budget Calls for Postage Rate Hike, Other USPS Reforms

President Obama outlined an overhaul to the U.S. Postal Service as part of his budget proposal Wednesday, calling for more flexibility to adjust to the agency’s “changing marketplace.” The proposal includes a change to USPS’ retiree health benefits prefunding requirements and allows for a one-time postal rate increase, to be proposed by the agency’s board of governors. The plan includes a provision to allow the Postal Service to eliminate Saturday mail delivery. Obama’s plan calls for the Postal Service to make payments into its retiree health benefits fund based on actuarial calculations, rather than the fixed amounts paid through 2016 currently required by law. It also would provide temporary relief to the agency by reducing payments into the funds by $10.6 billion over the next two years.  Comments (Count) 

NALC: BOG’s call to reopen and renegotiate labor contracts is sign USPS needs new executive leadership - NALC President Fredric Rolando issued the following statement today, in response to the USPS Board of Governors’ announcement. Asking the NALC to renegotiate a contract that was just settled in January is insulting and unnecessary. NALC: PMG has created a straw man with less than 5 day delivery talk -the Postal Service should focus its efforts on growing the business first, rather than cutting it to the bone and hope something good happens afterward,” the president said. “And it should join us in calling on Congress to repeal its 2006 pre-funding mandate, which is the real source of the Postal Service’s financial problems. Burrus Journal: Return to Sender on reopening labor contracts   Comments (Count) 

NAPS Hails Postal Employee Appeal Rights Bill

National Association of Postal Supervisors President Louis M. Atkins today applauded Sen. Mark Pryor (AR) and Rep. Gerald E. Connolly (VA-11) for their leadership in introducing legislation that assures fairness to all mid-level managers in the United States Postal Service.  (4/10/13)  Comments (Count) 

10 things the post office won’t tell you

Postal Service will be cutting hours at 21 small post offices in Lancaster County

April 9, 2013

Mailing Experts Hit Capitol Hill as Lawmakers Negotiate Postal Reform

A House oversight subcommittee was set to hear from a wide variety of U.S. Postal Service business partners at a hearing Wednesday, as lawmakers continued to negotiate an overhaul to the agency. Highlights of testimony at today's postal subcommittee meeting  | House Subcommittee : Ahead of Postal Reform – Hearing from USPS Business Partners  Comments (Count) 

House hearing will scrutinize federal employee health plan

A House Oversight subcommittee will debate possible changes to federal employee health benefits in a hearing Thursday, two months after Congress approved a pay freeze for federal workers. The upcoming event will review the administration of the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and include testimony from Jonathan Foley, OPM’s director of planning and policy analysis. The Federal Employees Health Benefit Program: Is It a Good Value for Federal Employees?  Comments (Count) 

An AARP Survey: Americans’ Use of the U.S. Postal Service

The purpose of this brief Bulletin Poll was to examine the extent to which adults 18 years of age and older use the services of the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) and whether or not they would support various options geared towards helping the USPS reduce or offset its expenses  Comments (Count) 

Postal Worker sentenced to prison for stealing mail, assaulting USPS OIG Agents

TSP wants to know why so many young workers stay in ‘super safe’ G Fund

USPS: Report says digital media to boost growth in direct mail

Depression-Era Post Office Murals Imperiled

Postal Worker Sentenced After Stealing Mail

April 8, 2013

USPS launches Inside Sales program

The Postal Service’s Inside Sales program will consist of a group of 200 professional telesales agents who will tout the convenience, affordable prices and service USPS offers.  Comments (Count) 

Mid-Hudson APWU Local files a Complaint with the PRC to halt the plant consolidations - The Mid-Hudson Local of the APWU filed a Complaint today with the Postal Regulatory Commission requesting that the Commission order the Postal Service not to proceed with the consolidation of 55 mail processing plants that were previously scheduled for 2014.  The Mid-Hudson P&D in Newburgh, New York, is one of those plants.    Comments (Count) 

Postal Service Loses Money Despite Customer Growth
NPR — What business gets more customers every year, yet keeps losing money? The U.S. Postal Service delivers mail to 11 million more homes, offices and other addresses than it did a decade ago, even as the amount of mail that people in . The cost of delivery is the agency's largest fixed expense. It takes tens of billions of dollars a year and 300,000 people, or 60 percent of the agency's workforce, to handle deliveries, says Postal Service spokeswoman Sue Brennan. The service isn't losing money on delivery, but adding addresses while losing volume is an issue, she says. Comments (Count) 

More Postal Workers are retiring and dropping out of the work force

 In March, nearly 12,000 Postal Service workers left their jobs, according to the Department of Labor. In February, more than 14,000 U.S. postal workers filed the paperwork to retire, according to Postal Service records. In March, about 5,000 more were expected to file the paperwork, which could show up in the April labor report.  Comments (Count) 

Prominent NARFE member quits over pension concerns

Tom McKinney, a 20-year NARFE member who has been raising the alarm about the unfunded liability in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, will be resigning from the organization. Since 2007, McKinney has been raising the alarm about the unfunded liability in the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund, which hit $761.5 billion in fiscal 2011. That three-quarters of a trillion dollars is an astounding amount for the nation’s pension system to be underfunded, McKinney said in an interview with Federal Times, and the cost of current federal retirees will inevitably be borne by generations of taxpayers to come.  Comments (Count) 

Postal board faces tough decision on five-day mail delivery

Federal Times - The U.S. Postal Service’s board of governors is set to meet tomorrow, according to a spokesman, and a thorny choice will likely dominate the agenda: Let Postmaster General Pat Donahoe proceed with a previously announced plan to end Saturday mail delivery this August, with a projected savings of $2 billion annually. Or back off—at least for now—to avoid antagonizing members of Congress whose help is needed to pass any long-haul fix for the Postal Service’s finances. Among some observers, the betting is that the board will opt for door number two.   Comments (Count) 

Lexington becomes first Kentucky city to offer shut-ins new postal carrier alert program

The “Chained CPI” and Your Federal Retirement Package

Deadlines for mail delivery moving up at Columbus, NE Post Office

April 7, 2013

The Postmaster General clears up some mixed messages

Postmaster General Donahoe gave one of his  State of the Postal Service talks earlier this week.  The PMG wanted clear up what he characterized as “mixed messages."  Apparently there are folks out there — the media, the unions, postal workers, someone — saying things that are incorrect and misinformed.  Fortunately, the PMG was ready and willing to straighten out his employees on these mixed messages.  Comments (Count) 

Postal Worker Bitten By Dog

April 6, 2013

Postal Supervisor Fired for Acting In Self-Defense Gets Job Back

The appellant was a Supervisor of Distribution Operations.  On June 7, 2010, she was involved in a violent altercation with a subordinate employee.  The subordinate employee had a history of aggressive and abusive behavior that was well known to Patty Edwards, the appellant's immediate supervisor, and to Carolyn Davis, the Plant Manager.  Following an investigation and report by the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, Edwards determined that the appellant acted in self-defense and therefore should not receive any discipline.  Although Davis agreed that the appellant acted in self-defense, she believed that a stronger message needed to be sent that anyone acting contrary to the agency's zero tolerance policy should be subject to discipline Comments (Count)

Let’s Have A Vote- What is Congressman Issa waiting for?

Burrus Journal - A review of the financial status of the Postal Service reveals a balance sheet that must be improved if it is intended to have nationwide service long term. They can limp from quarter to quarter, but a $60 billion a year institution needs a new start. Draft legislation has been on Issa’s desk for two years and he has failed to move it out of Committee. It is obvious that he does not have the votes for the specifics in his draft but is that what democracy is about, his way or no way?      Comments (Count)

Issa, Miller want to shutter House side Post Offices to help overhaul Postal Service, save money On April 4, House Oversight and Government Reform Chairman Darrell Issa, R-Calif., and House Administration Chairwoman Candice S. Miller, R-Mich., formally requested that the Postal Service close three post offices on Capitol Hill.“We believe that, given the Postal Service’s deteriorating financial condition, it is time to reduce the level of postal services provided to the House of Representatives,” Issa and Miller wrote in a letter to Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe. “Congress should not treat itself to such privilege at the expense of the taxpayer.”   Comments (Count)

Postal processing relocating to Richmond, 450 jobs "reassigned"

Enjoy Your Local Post Office… NOW!

Senator Manchin co-sponsors Postal Service Protection Act

Could social media stamp out the post office?

Englishtown Police Arrest Postal Employee Under Federal Investigation

No Saturday delivery, and the loss of the handwritten letter

April 5, 2013

OIG Recommends USPS Fill 412 Vacant Supervisor Positions

Fill vacant supervisor positions up to the appropriate span of control level and reduce supervisor replacement workhours accordingly.   Comments (Count)

White House FY 2014 Budget to Include Cuts to Federal Benefits

The Washington Post is reporting that the President will propose to increase employee contributions towards retirement. A recent White House proposal suggested raising the retirement contribution by 1.2% over a 3-year period. In addition, it is reported that, as part of a “grand bargain” with the GOP, the White House budget will propose a less generous consumer price index formula for calculating cost-of-living-adjustments (i.e., the chained-CPI) for federal programs, including Social Security Obama to propose $35 billion in federal retirement program savings.  Comments (Count)

USPS Reminds Employees About Limited Personal Use Of Postal Resources

Postal Service resources should not be used to check personal email accounts (for example, Gmail, Hotmail, Yahoo, AOL, Excite, MSN or other webmail programs). Other prohibited activities when using Postal Service email include, but are not limited to, sending or arranging to receive the following:     Comments (Count)

Latest USPS gopost unit opens in New York City

April 4, 2013

Postal Service to shift Norfolk processing to Richmond

The U.S. Postal Service will begin to shift processing of local mail from Norfolk to the Richmond area over the summer, increasing delivery times by a day, a union leader said Thursday. More than 450 jobs will be lost at the Norfolk Processing and Distribution Center with employees "involuntarily reassigned," said Michele Wright, president of the Norfolk local of the APWU. They include 211 clerks, with Wright among them; 150 mail handlers, and 92 maintenance employees, she said. Latest Consolidation List.- The USPS has targeted following postal facilities for consolidation or for an Area Mail Processing (AMP) study to evaluate them as potential targets for consolidation.   Comments (Count)

Rude Staff, 'Horrible' Service Plague Bed-Stuy Post Office, Locals Claim

Staff at a Bedford-Stuyvesant post office infamous among locals for its lousy service and rude staff have been caught munching on chicken during their shifts and regularly deliver mail to the wrong address, locals complained at a recent community meeting.   Comments (Count)

California: Local leaders vow to buy La Jolla post office if necessary

Video: PMG Visits Jay Leno To Talk About USPS Muscle Car Postage Stamps

Postal Service turns to data to deliver IT results

Understanding Your TSP Options

U.S. Postal Service hunting for patent infringers

5,000 Post Offices

Postal service's problems won't fix themselves

Deferred annuity

Congress stepping in to help USPS, some say for the wrong reasons

US Govt Doesn’t Agree With Postal Service Objections To .Mail

Man dead, postal worker hurt in York Co. wreck

April 3,, 2013

Updated with Video: PMG clears up misconceptions surrounding state of USPS

The PMG then clears up misinformation employees may hear on postal issues, such as fears that a move to six-day package, five-day mail delivery will result in massive layoffs. “We have made major changes in this organization without having to lay anyone off,” says Donahoe.  Comments (Count)

Quad/Graphics Makes Multimillion-Dollar Investment in Direct Marketing Platform - Quad/Graphics, Inc. (NYSE: QUAD), is strengthening its direct marketing platform and solutions this year with multimillion-dollar investments in mail processing, including creating two regional commingling centers to drive greater postal savings and efficiencies for direct mail marketers; investing in a new custom web press and other equipment upgrades in its Effingham, Ill., plant; and adding print capabilities to its Westampton, N.J., plant.   Comments (Count)

Lawyer argues for 6-month sentence in Ohio Postal worker theft, assault case

Hundreds turn out to wish their long-time letter carrier good-bye

U.S. Postal Service Celebrates La Florida’s 500th Anniversary

New Orleans mail processing facility not on 2013 closure list
USPS will quit shredding children's books

Bronx politicians rally to save landmark Bronx General Post Office targeted for sale

Sequester Cuts Hit Federal Workers; Members of Congress Exempt

April 2,, 2013

APWU: Privatization Merits ‘Serious Consideration,’ Panel Says

While the NAPA report is supposed to provide an independent review of the privatization proposal, it was financed in part by a contribution from Pitney-Bowes, one of the largest pre-sort companies in the country. Pitney-Bowes owns more than 40 mail processing centers and stands to be a major beneficiary if mail processing operations are contracted out to the private sector. It's worth noting that NAPA conducted a similar study in 1982 and came to a very different conclusion: Breaking up the Postal Service “is not in the national interest,” NAPA wrote at the time.  Comments (Count)

Burrus: Turmoil

In the short span of several years, postal employment has been altered dramatically for APWU represented employees.  Forced reassignments to the letter carrier craft or distant vacancies, excessive overtime, discipline for minor infractions and consolidations have shaken the normalcy of daily employment.  These changes are exasperated by financial challenges brought on by the continual decline of first class single piece mail, the health care payment and the refusal to refund the retirement overfunding.  While daily contract enforcement is a continual challenge, employees need stability and a return to normalcy where each day does not bring more changes. Comments (Count)

USPS Awards Advertising Contract To McCann Erickson

USPS Gets Early Delivery of Budget Cuts

Postal Service seeks input on plans for Columbia mail processing center

Postal cuts start to come into effect

Company Puts Stamp on USPS Downsizing