Hawaiian Rain Forest Stamp Pane Issued Today

  HAWAII’S FLORA AND FAUNA — ON STAMPS "...Featuring a Hawaiian rain forest, the 2010 collectible stamp pane — the 12th and final in the educational Nature of America stamp series — focuses on the beauty and complexity of major plant and animal communities in the nation’s 50th state...." Reference: liteblue.usps.gov  

Mail Handler COLA

  COLA STILL AT ZERO "...The eighth of ten guaranteed cost-of-living adjustments to be paid to all mail handlers under the 2006 National Agreement has been set, and once again the next COLA will be $0. This is because the changes in the National Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) for the period running from July 2008 through July 2010 are still in negative territory. Mail handlers received the largest COLA in the history of collective bargaining with the Postal Service in September 2008, in the amount of $1,477, but there has been no COLA since that adjustment...." Reference: www.npmhu.org  

Lost in the mail: Wrong woman signs for $5,000 ring

  Lost in the mail: Wrong woman signs for $5,000 ring "...Joseph Breckenridge, media relations representative for the post office in Northern Florida and Alabama, explained that USPS gave Broccoli the benefit of the doubt and sent him a partial payment of $400, because the carrier who delivered the package failed to get the printed name..." Reference: www.waltonsun.com  

Detroit police officer critical after being struck by postal service vehicle

  Detroit police officer critical after being struck by postal service vehicle "...officer was driving a motorcycle on Cass near Fort about 4:25 p.m. when the postal carrier, who was traveling in the opposite direction, struck her, said Sgt.

From The Detroit News: http://www.detnews.com/article/20100823/METRO01/8230403/1361/Detroit-police-officer-critical-after-being-struck-by-postal-service-vehicle#ixzz0xdEZCFwx ...  

Contract Negotiations

  APWU Contract Negotiations

Although the APWU represents different crafts than our own and is a completely separate entity from the Mail Handler union (NPMHU), we should all follow the negotiations closely. Negotiations are set to begin within a couple of days of their national convention, currently taking place as we write this.

Following the negotiations will better arm our union for our own negotiations coming in 2011. Additionally, following the APWU Contract negotiations will permit craft-members of our own union to determine the tone the United States Postal Service will take relating to the working class backbone of this great organization. Will they reward us as they have rewarded themselves (management)? ...or will they make an attack on the American working class? Stay tuned and we will keep you informed.

While digging through the internet, we have found what appears to be a promising site to provide information relating to the upcoming APWU Contract Negotiations: APWU Contract Negotiations


Reference: contractnegotiations.blogspot.com  

Postal employee admits to massive mail theft

  Postal employee admits to massive mail theft "...Court documents indicate Schmauder would give the stolen lingerie to his wife, while reselling the CDs and DVDs to Angelo's Movies, Music and Gifts, which bills itself as the largest independent music store in the Denver area. ..." Reference: www.9news.com  

National Mail Handlers Union Building Carjacking?

Newark woman carjacked outside Kearny postal facility "...A 49-year-old Newark woman was carjacked and punched in the face upon showing up to work at the National Mail Handlers Union, 1200 Harrison Ave., in Kearny on Monday morning, according to Kearny police...." Reference: www.nj.com

...Potential Excessing of Mail Handlers

 Focus on Network Changes and Potential Excessing of Mail Handlers

The NPMHU magazine The Mail Handler has an article titled Focus on Network Changes and Potential Excessing of Mail Handlers. This is recommended reading for anyone in the Mail Handler craft considering the current Postal Service climate. The article can be found in a two-part PDF document as follows:

• Network Changes 1 of 2 (177 Kb)


• Network Changes 2 of 2 (177 Kb)
  

The article covers items such as "(e.g., veteran preference versus seniority; retreat rights versus voluntary assignments; part-time employees versus employees from other crafts). Given the immense amount of excessing, withholding, and reassigning that is taking place, many issues are arising for the first time, and the contract language simply is unclear. But the Article 12 Task Force continues to be a useful forum for discussing all of these issues, settling some, and setting up
methods for resolving the others." The article also references "the NPMHU's production and distribution of a comprehensive paper on the "Rights and Benefits of Mail Handlers Upon Reassignment To Other Installations Under Article 12." This paper was circulated to all Local Unions, and was included in a recent issue of Union Time. The paper covers a host of topics, including how to seek annuity or severance benefits, and how to obtain relocation benefits."

Reference: NPMHU