Postal Service freezes hiring, promotions

 
Postal Service freezes hiring, promotions
"...The freeze follows the Postal Service's decision last month to offer early retirement to up to 130,000 clerks, mail handlers and supervisors, and comes amid increasingly dire warnings about the agency's economic outlook. USPS froze hiring at its headquarters last March...."
Reference: www.govexec.com

 

Congressman, Postal Workers Protest BMC Privatization

 
Congressman, Postal Workers Protest BMC Privatization
"...“If they get away with privatizing the BMCs, they will go on to the next group,” said Vince Tarducci, president of the Philadelphia BMC APWU Local.

“The Postal Service has embarked on a strategy to undermine parcel post,” said APWU Eastern Region Coordinator Mike Gallagher. “They will privatize us incrementally, first the BMCs, then other work,” unless the American people put a stop to their efforts...."
Reference: www.apwu.org

 

Ink Jet Modification on the AFSM 100

 
Ink Jet Modification on the AFSM 100
"...By letter dated September 4, 2008, a copy of which is attached to this memorandum, the National Office of the NPMHU has been informed that USPS management plans to modify the AFSM-100 with an Ink Jet Canceller. This modification will eventually replace all of the existing flat cancellation operations within the 010 operations nationwide...."
Reference: www.npmhu.org

 

National Level Grievance: Lost/Stolen Laptops

 
National Level Grievance: Lost/Stolen Laptops
"...the Postal Service itself or its vendors and/or subcontractors either has lost or had stolen a laptop computer with personal information about mail handlers and other postal employees. Although to this point we have not heard about any identify theft resulting from these laptops, the issue has been discussed by union and management representatives at the National level without any resolution.

As a result, on August 25, 2008, the National Office initiated a Step 4 grievance on the issue, as reflected in the attached letter. It is the NPMHU’s position that the Postal Service should discontinue the practice of storing personal information on portable electronic equipment and should not allow such information to be physically taken off of Postal Service premises. In addition, such personal information should not be given to any vendor or subcontracted agent of the Postal Service. Further, the NPMHU believes that the Postal Service has an obligation as a responsible employer to provide credit monitoring service to the employees whose personal information may have been compromised..."
Reference: www.npmhu.org

 

VERA Early-out USPS Update

 
VERA UPDATE

"...The VERA website on Blue and LiteBlue now has detailed information and timelines on previously announced VERA programs for Motor Vehicle, Maintenance (excluding Electronic Technicians), Rural Carrier and City Carrier positions, as well as Headquarters and Headquarters-related EAS and PCES positions. Persons accepting a VERA for these positions will have an effective retirement date of Feb. 28, 2009...."   

::► Source: liteblue.usps.gov
 

Union Spotlight: Boeing

 
Boeing Union Walks Out on Strike
Revenue Lost To Strike May Hit $100 Million a Day
"...The company's final contract proposal included a pay raise of 11% over the life of the contract, as well as a boosting of pensions by 14% to $80 a month for each year of service. Under the proposed contract, the average union member would earn roughly $65,000 a year before overtime that averages $10,000 a year or more...."
Reference: online.wsj.com

 

 
Postal Service back to work in 6 parishes
"...U.S. Postal Service resumed normal delivery and post office operations Thursday in Orleans, Jefferson, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, St. Charles and St. John the Baptist parishes. Even post offices that did not have power were open for service, with some facilities running on generators..."
Reference: www.nola.com

Gustav
 

In Memory: NORMA L. MYERS, Mail Handler

Fallen Mail Handler
JERSEY CITY - NORMA L. MYERS
"... Myers was a mail handler for the U.S. Postal Service, Secaucus, for 18 years. She retired in 2002. She was a member of the U.S. Postal Workers Union. ..."
Reference: www.nj.com