March 2011 COLA of $20 and New Wage Chart

  March 2011 COLA of $20 and New Wage Chart "...the new wage charts – effective beginning on March 12, 2011 – reflecting the March 2011 COLA of $20. The next COLA adjustment is scheduled for September 2011...." Reference: www.npmhu.org  

Anthrax Redux: FBI Admits to Holes in Its Biggest Case Ever

  Anthrax Redux: FBI Admits to Holes in Its Biggest Case Ever "...By mid-October, four more people had been diagnosed with anthrax, and Leroy Richmond, a postal worker at the Brentwood Road mail facility in Washington, DC, was doing his best to convince his coworkers to relax. Mail handlers had little to fear as long as they took precautions, according to talking points distributed by the government,..." Reference: www.wired.com  

March 25 Postal Announcement

This post is courtesy of The Postal Newsgroup

The highly anticipated March 25 USPS announcement is referenced below as found on the USPS' website. The largest majority of the information was put out yesterday (March 24, 2011) detailing the district closings, the Voluntary Early Retirement (VER), The financial incentive programs being offered to eligible career non-bargaining employees in targeted groups at Headquarters, Headquarters-related Field Units, Area Offices and Customer Service District Offices (Administrative). However, the additional information provided in the following announcement that stands out boldly is 'additional staff reductions will occur as the Postal Service makes necessary changes to its network and retail operations. The full scope and financial impact of these personnel actions should be realized in one calendar year — by March 2012.' Read below to see the official release. Stay tuned and we will provide further internal information as it trickles out.

March 25 Postal Announcement

The Announcement
PMG ANNOUNCES CLOSING OF SEVEN DISTRICTS
I am confident we have developed a strong plan that takes a key step toward a leaner and less bureaucratic structure.

As part of the ongoing redesign of the Postal Service, PMG Pat Donahoe yesterday announced USPS will close 7 of its 74 district offices. This reflects continuing alignments within the organization to achieve core business strategies and, when fully implemented, will help realize approximately $750 million of annual cost savings (Link Extra, 3/23).

The district offices scheduled for closure — Columbus, OH, (Eastern Area); Southeast Michigan in Troy, MI, and Northern Illinois in Carol Stream, IL (Great Lakes Area); Southeast New England in Providence, RI (Northeast Area); South Georgia in Macon, GA, and Albuquerque in Albuquerque, NM (Southwest Area); and Big Sky in Billings, MT (Western Area) — house only administrative functions that will be assumed by surrounding district offices. The closures will not affect customer service, mail delivery, Post Office operations or ZIP codes.

“I am confident we have developed a strong plan that takes a key step toward a leaner and less bureaucratic structure. One that is fair to our employees and one that will meet the future needs of our customers and the mailing industry,” said Donahoe.

This organizational redesign builds on previous PMG announcements that include a 16 percent reduction in officer ranks, realigning revenue-generating business units, closing the Southeast Area Office, and further reducing the employee complement by about 7,500 positions.

While yesterday’s announcement focused on the administrative and executive corps, additional staff reductions will occur as the Postal Service makes necessary changes to its network and retail operations. The full scope and financial impact of these personnel actions should be realized in one calendar year — by March 2012.   

Reference: usps.gov
emphasis (bold-print) added by The Postal Newsgroup


March 25 Postal Announcement, USPS March 25 Announcement,

USPS to close 7 district offices

  7,500 workers, $20,000 buyouts "...The seven offices that are closing are Columbus, South East Michigan, Northern Illinois, South East New England, South Georgia, Big Sky and Albuquerque...." Reference: cnn.com  

PMG Donahoe looking for a 400,000 (+/-) workforce

  U.S. Postal Service Cutting 7,500 Jobs, Closing 7 Offices "...The Postal Service has a workforce of almost 575,000 after cutting about 230,000 jobs through attrition since 2000. Donahoe told a congressional subcommittee earlier this month that the agency will eventually have a workforce in the “400,000 range.” ..." Reference: www.bloomberg.com  

$20,000 buyout offer, but not for you

  2011 Special Incentive Offer for targeted non-bargaining employees "...What are the basic details of the 2011 Special Incentive Offer?

On March 23, 2011, the Postal Service announced a Special Incentive offer for the following targeted groups:

Career non-bargaining employees assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Field Units, including PCES and attorneys
Career non-bargaining employees assigned to Area Offices, including PCES
Career non-bargaining employees assigned to District Customer Service Offices (the offer includes PCES in closing districts only)..." Reference: usps.gov  

Highlights of the New APWU Contract (Tentative Agreement of the Collective Bargaining Agreement)

  Highlights of the New APWU Contract (Tentative Agreement of the Collective Bargaining Agreement) "...key components of the tentative agreement between the U.S. Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union for the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement. The four-and-half year contract, which will expire at midnight on May 20, 2015, must be ratified by members of the APWU.
Wages: There will be across-the-board pay increases of..." Reference: contractnegotiations.blogspot.com  

APWU Agreement

  "...visit http://contractnegotiations.blogspot.com/ to read about the APWU Tentavive Agreement..." Reference: contractnegotiations.blogspot.com  

National Postal Mail Handlers Union Pac Expenditures (2010 Election Cycle)

  National Postal Mail Handlers Union Pac Expenditures (2010 Election Cycle) "...Top Vendors/Recipients...Issa For Congress, Friends Of Jason Chaffetz, ..." Reference: www.opensecrets.org  

Daylight Saving Time

  Daylight Saving Time: Spring ahead, stay on track "...Sleep problems triggered by Daylight Saving Time, which kicks in at 2 a.m. Sunday, when clocks are moved forward an hour, can occur for a week or two and are greater for "morning larks and night owls," says Dr. Anita Valanju Shelgikar, a U-M sleep medicine specialist...." Reference: usatoday.com  

From the wartime '40s, two letter eye-openers

  From the wartime '40s, two letter eye-openers "...A retired Iowa farmer receives a letter sent by his brother from California's Camp Roberts in 1943. Shortly later, the camp gets a missive postmarked in Alabama in 1944 and addressed to a woman who had worked at the Red Cross hospital there...." Reference: latimes.com  

Yes, the Postal Service intends to cut 30,000 positions this year

  Yes, the Postal Service intends to cut 30,000 positions this year "...Donahoe said his goal is to downsize the Postal Service by 30,000 people this year, mostly through attrition. He added that if further reductions-in-force or buyouts..." Reference: federaltimes.com  

March 25, 2011 Announcement:: Retirements, Incentives, Buyouts, Management Reductions

  Postal Service to cut 7,500 positions this month, 30,000 by end of year "...Postal Service resorts to using a buyout offer, it will be ..." Reference: postalearlyretirement.blogspot.com  

Montgomery postmarked letter arrives 66 years later

  Postmarked letter arrives in California 66 years later "...A letter postmarked Montgomery, Ala., apparently left the post office just fine, but by the time it arrived in California 66 years later, the Red Cross hospital named in the address had long since been torn down..." Reference: usatoday.com  

Mail Truck Headed to Birmingham and Vehicle Collide, Killing One

  Woman killed in collision "...a truck contracted to haul U.S. mail. Officials said the truck was heading south to Birmingham to make a delivery, while the Toyota SUV was traveling north. Bowen was pronounced dead at the scene by Colbert County Coroner Carlton Utley...." Reference: www.timesdaily.com  

Postal jobs in Huntsville are safe but city may lose its postmark

  Postal jobs in Huntsville are safe but city may lose its postmark "...Responding to a question from Lynn Pratt, a postal employee in Hazel Green whose husband also works for the postal service, Mitchell left no doubt about job security.

"Everyone who has a job right now will continue to have a job," Mitchell said. "We don't anticipate anyone losing their job. I guarantee you that."..." Reference: al.com  


Comments:
"For casual employees and other temporary employees, this is great news. Reading the National Labor Contracts signed by the U.S. Postal Service, it would normally make a casual or temporary employee fear for their jobs, as it appeared if there were any excessing from the facility, casual and temporary employees would either have to be removed or not hired back. It is so refreshing to hear Bill Mitchell put his job on the line by 'guaranteeing' that "Everyone who has a job right now will continue to have a job." Thanks sir!"

Video of meeting concerning moving outgoing mail operations from Huntsville

 Postal Worker Meeting to Discuss Future

Clicking the title link above will take you to the WHNT news story of the Community Meeting concerning moving outgoing mail operations from Huntsville to Birmingham. Reference: www.whnt.com  

Job cuts coming for the Postal Service?

  Congressmen call for job-cutting priority at USPS "...For Republicans on the subcommittee in particular, this meant significant reductions in the USPS workforce...." Reference: postandparcel.info