Seattle attorney who sent suspicious letter to GOP senator sentenced

  Seattle attorney who sent suspicious letter to GOP senator sentenced "...On May 8, a mail handler examining a letter sent to Sen. Jim DeMint, R-S.C., was hit in the face by a blast of white powder emanating from the envelope. Concerned that the powder could be anthrax -- the biological agent that killed five in a string of attacks beginning in 2001 -- the mail handler was decontaminated and the substance analyzed. ..." Reference: www.seattlepi.com  

Mail Handler Inducted into Cambridge Who's Who

  Danita L. Bialek Inducted into Cambridge Who's Who
"...Ms. Bialek has served the United States Postal Service as a mail handler; she was attracted to this position by the benefits that it offered her. On a daily basis, she is responsible for processing and scanning mail, printing placard and unloading mail trucks. ..."
Reference: www.einnews.com  

Post office will sell Iron Bowl logo envelopes

  Post office will sell Iron Bowl logo envelopes
"...There will be 500 with Alabama stamps available in Tuscaloosa on Friday and 250 that feature two stamps for people who live in a “house divided,” said Carol Brekle, manager of retail for the postal service’s Alabama division. Five hundred envelopes with an Auburn stamp..."
Reference: www.tuscaloosanews.com  

Union dues increase ($.50 per pay period)

  DUES INCREASE TO BE IMPLEMENTED WITH NEGOTIATED WAGE INCREASE "...Of this amount, forty cents ($.40) per pay period will be sent to the Local Union, and ten cents ($.10) per pay period will be retained by the National Office in the form of increased per capita tax...." Reference: www.npmhu.org  

Remember! It's Open Season for Health Benefits

  Open Season Simply go to USPS LiteBlue and log in to make changes to your FEHB, Dental and Vision. Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 317  

USPS Answer: More job cuts?

  More USPS red ink to lead to bloodletting "...Chief Financial Officer Joseph Corbett is predicting growth in mail volume next year. He says the Postal Service will have to handle it with fewer people.

The announcement of impending job cuts comes as the Postal Service is in contract negotiations with two of its unions, with two more scheduled to be negotiated next year. ..." Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com  

Issa to Push for Postal Service Changes

  Rep. Issa (R-CA) to Push for Postal Service Changes "...He has cited the need to downsize the labor force and reduce costs..." Reference: nytimes.com  

November 20, 2010 Mail Handler contract salary increase

  Mail Handler contract salary increase "...Effective November 20, 2010 – the basic annual salary for each grade and step shall be increased by an amount equal to 1.2% of the basic annual salary for the grade and step in effect on September 2, 2006...." Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union  

USPS Priority Rates Rise January 2011

  USPS to Raise Priority Mail Rates in January "...The U.S. Postal Service said prices for Priority Mail and other Shipping Services would increase overall by 3.6 percent effective January 2, 2011..." Reference: Auction Bytes  

Postal Service studies consolidation of Huntsville facility with Birmingham

  Postal Service studies consolidation of Huntsville facility with Birmingham "...The Postal Service is soliciting the public's input as part of the study process. Comments may be submitted to: Consumer Affairs Manager, U.S. Postal Service, P.O. Box 395, Birmingham AL 35203-0395..." Reference: The Postal Newsgroup  

Union Stewards: An example of the 'Douglas Factors' in action

  DLA supervisor blames Italy for harassment "...12 factors and said the agency should" weigh and balance them in deciding what an appropriate penalty is. In order to make sure the penalty is appropriate for the misconduct. They include the "nature and seriousness of the offense, lack of prior discipline, performance record, how long you've been on the job, whether other employees have received the same treatment for similar behavior," among other mitigating circumstances. ..." Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com  

Parcel bomb plotters 'used dry run', say US officials

  Parcel bomb plotters 'used dry run', say US officials "...official has told the BBC that suspect packages from Yemen were intercepted in September, in what may have been a dry run for last week's foiled parcel bomb..." Reference: www.bbc.co.uk