Experts See Dim Future for U.S. Postal Service

 
Experts See Dim Future for U.S. Postal Service
"... this raises serious public policy implications. In rural America, the post office is the face of the American government. Closing post offices brings out very parochial concerns. It's an area where they could save money, but it's an area that will receive a lot of political attention."..."
Reference: www.foxnews.com

 

Postal Hearing of Jan. 28, 2009

The following links relate to today's Hearing and the future of the Postal Service. You must read carefully and completely to understand the dynamics of the situation in full.

STATEMENT OF POSTMASTER GENERAL/CEO JOHN E. POTTER BEFORE THE SUBCOMMITTEE ON FEDERAL FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT, GOVERNMENT INFORMATION, FEDERAL SERVICES AND INTERNATIONAL SECURITY OF THE COMMITTEE ON HOMELAND SECURITY AND GOVERNMENTAL AFFAIRS UNITED STATES SENATE JANUARY 28, 2009
"...Contracts with the two unions that alone represent almost 75 percent of our 652,000 career employees – the American Postal Workers Union and the National Association of Letter Carriers – do not expire until late 2010 and late 2011. We cannot wait until then to address what are pressing needs today. So I am proposing to union leadership that we begin talks now to create needed levels of workforce flexibility. ..."
Article Reference Source: www.intelisent.com

Key Points Made By Witnesses before the
Senate Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services and International Security "... Senator Susan Collins:

* Enactment of PAEA was an arduous process.
* We need to continue the nation's universal postal services. Mail is still a key part of the nation's economic infrastructure.
* The current recession has placed the Postal Service back on the congressional agenda.
* The question has been raised as to whether the Postal Service is trying to use this crisis as a way of pulling away from PAEA.
* The PAEA retiree payments were a key part of the negotiating to make PAEA possible.
* A rwo-year reprieve is doable. Beyond two years make take too much pressure off the USPS to respond to its other challenges.
* GAO has been disappointed with the USPS' responses. GAO expressed frustration with the USPS' lack of transparency.
* Very disappointed that the proposed solution is the elimination of the six-day a week delivery requirement. Service cutbacks also can impact mail volume adversely.
* Already received many complaints from publishers in Maine. Service has been compromised.
* I don't know how you can ask for relief while proposing cutbacks in service that could precipitate further losses.
* I'm very concerned about the lack of the Postal Service's financial transparency. You're coming to Congress for relief with the needed transparency. This is unacceptable.
..."
Article Reference Source: www.postcom.org

Video: Title: The Impact of the Economic Crisis on the U.S. Postal Service
"... U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs
Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security ..."
Article Reference Source: hsgac.senate.gov

Area offices to reduce staffing levels
"... With this action, complement at Area Offices has been reduced – some vacant positions have been eliminated, while other occupied positions are impacted. Starting this week, employees occupying impacted positions will be notified and given information and guidance...."
Article Reference Source: www.postalnewsblog.com

Postal Announcement, Big Meeting ...No, it's a Hearing on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the U.S. Postal Service

 
Postal Announcement, Big Meeting ...No, it's a Hearing on the Impact of the Economic Crisis on the U.S. Postal Service
"...examine how changes in the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) could improve Postal Service operations so it can better weather the current economic downturn. Talk around the coffee pot and on workroom floors across the nation are concentrated on scenarios taking place during the hearing that would additionally focus on five day delivery, the universal service obligation, workforce reductions that are more employee-friendly, consolidations, Voluntary Separation Incentive Payments, and an emergency rate increase...."
Reference: The Postal eDaily

 

APWU to members

 
Significant Changes Expected; Sacrifices Must Be Shared, Burrus Says
"...when work-hour reductions are implemented, they should not be applied disproportionally to bargaining unit employees. Staffing is based on workload and responsibility, so if the number of employees must be reduced, reductions should be made across-the-board, including all craft employees, supervisors, postmasters, managers and contract employees...."
Reference: www.apwu.org

 

President Obama and NPMHU National President Hegarty

 

President Obama

 

Martin Luther King Jr. Day

All post offices will be closed, and only express mail will be delivered
 

"In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies but the silence of our friends."
...MLK

"We must learn to live together as brothers, or perish together as fools."
...MLK
Read More on Martin Luther King Jr.

 

COLA Update: December 2008 CPI-W (Released Jan. 2009)

 

"...The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers
(CPI-W) decreased 1.2 percent in December, prior to seasonal adjustment.
The December level of 204.813 (1982-84=100) was 0.5 percent lower than in
December 2007...."
Reference: www.bls.gov

 

Does the Mail Handler COLA figure in food and energy prices?

 
The Mail Handler COLA is calculated using the Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers known as the CPI-W. The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) is limited to the spending patterns of younger consumers. Many argue that this index measures only 1/3 of the U.S. population, excluding real spending by seniors. Currently the CPI-W "market basket" contains the following: rent, some medical costs, high tech consumer items such as computers, big screen televisions, cell phones, DVD players, food, gas and oil among other items.

Further Reading and Sources:
1) Bureau of Labor Statistics
2) Senior Citizens League

 

MTE Roundup

 
MTE Roundup
"...The program is intended to round up flat tubs, letter trays & sleeves, rolling stock (including hampers & cages), pallets, and mailbags that are not in use and return them to USPS inventory. ..."
Reference: www.usps.com

 

Federal authorities release sketches of suspects in robbery at Fairfield post office

"...Robinson said the U. S. Postal Service is offering a reward of up to $50,000 for information and services that lead to the arrest and conviction of the suspects..."  
Source: blog.al.com

 

Mail Transport Equipment
"... Mail Transport Equipment (MTE) consists of containers that USPS uses to carry or hold mail during processing or transportation within or between facilities. It includes sacks, pouches, trays, wheeled containers, pallets, and other items ..."   
Reference: www.usps.com
 

Announcement Update

"...Rumors are flying about a “Big Announcement” from the United States Postal Service to be announced this Friday, January 16. On several blogs covering Postal Service issues, the topic is hot...."   

::► Source: blog.shoeboxed.com

 

More on alleged USPS announcement on Jan. 16, 2009

 
More on alleged USPS announcement on Jan. 16, 2009
"...The prospect of some grand announcement by the USPS on January 16 appears to be purely speculative at this point. A quick search of the web offers a plethora of commentary on the subject ...some of it makes for truly hilarious reading over at PostalMag.com. At the same time, the FederalSoup community continues a dialog on the subject of the highly anticipated announcement. Unfortunately there appears to be little information supported by referenced evidence. We will continue to listen to the scuttlebutt around the coffee pots across the nation to provide you with the latest ..."
Reference: postal-edaily.blogspot.com

 

Notasulga, Alabama Post Office Cat Eviction

 
Cat evicted from Notasulga, Ala. post office
"...Alabama town rallies around cat evicted from U.S. Post Office for not paying taxes. ..."
Reference: www.nbc13.com

 

USPS Meeting on January 16, 2009?

 
As many of you may have heard through the grapevine, there apparently is going to be a "big" announcement/meeting of the "powers that be". Who exactly that is, is unknown to this writer. If you want to follow or talk about this meeting, we have located several resources to keep up to date on the subject of the meeting. (1. FederalSoup 2. FederalSoup 3. Postal eDaily ). We will attempt to keep you informed as we learn more about this meeting.

 

Postal Service offers early retirement

 
Postal Service offers early retirement
"...Meanwhile, the Post Office is having a hard time finding employees who want to work in Bush Alaska. “We offer openings to our employee pool first, but there is not a whole lot of interest by workers to move to places like Barrow, so we have to advertise the jobs and are having a hard time finding replacements when they leave,” she said...."
Reference: www.alaskajournal.com,

 

 
Winter warriors: Earning a living means braving the elements
"...Sherry Fabian, a Saratoga Springs Post Office supervisor, has done just about every job possible during her postal career. "For rural drivers, if people don’t clear out their mailbox it makes it really tough on us," she said. ..."
Reference: www.saratogian.com

 

2009 VA Disability Compensation Rates

 
2009 VA Disability Compensation Rates
"...tables show the 2009 VA compensation rates for veterans with a disability rating 10 percent or higher. These rates are effective as of 1 December, 2008..."
Reference: www.military.com

 

TSP Rates of Return for December 2008

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USPS Data On Postal Employees Approved For VER

 
USPS Data On Postal Employees Approved For VER
"...VER Group 1 includes clerks, mail handlers and initial level supervisors of mail processing and customer service. The group has 72,000 eligible employees. The application deadline was Sept. 30. USPS has approved the applications of 3,685 employees, whose retirement date is Dec. 31, 2008...."
Reference: www.postalreporter.com

 

USPS Obama Inauguration Commemorative Souvenir

 
USPS Obama Inauguration Commemorative Souvenir
"...Pre-orders are now being accepted for this exclusive presidential inaugural commemorative souvenir at www.usps.com/shop and will be shipped starting Jan. 20, 2009. Official sales of this exclusive product begin on Jan. 20, 2009 at select Post Offices, usps.com, and by calling 800-STAMP24...."
Reference: www.usps.com

 

Obama Stimulus ...Instead of mailed checks

 
Tax cuts a big part of Obama's $775B plan
"...Under Obama's plan, the key tax provision would be $500-per-individual or $1,000-per-couple rebates for most taxpayers. Instead of mailed checks — the rebate method that the Bush administration used in a failed bid to spark the economy last year — the amount would be distributed by withholding less from paychecks over a period of months...."
Reference: seattletimes.nwsource.com

 

2009 USPS Payroll Schedule

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE PLEASE

Union Busting (Opinion)

 
OPINION: UAW busting, Southern style
"...Senate Republicans from some Southern states went to work trying to do just that, on the foreign car companies' behalf. Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.), Sen. Bob Corker ( R-Tenn.) and Sen. Richard C. Shelby (R-Ala.) -- representatives from states that subsidize companies such as Honda, Volkswagen, Toyota and Nissan..."
Reference: www.latimes.com

 

Destruction of the American Working Class and the American union?

 
Reluctance to Help Detroit Reeks of Class Bias
"... Implicit in the criticism of UAW compensation packages is that union-represented automobile workers are being paid above their social class. Greedy, bad people. They are supposed to be satisfied with wages that cover only the basics -- food, acceptable clothing and housing. They are not supposed to receive pay that allows them to aspire to or dream of more...."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.com

 

Why are we seeing a shift from plastic pallets to wood?

Here is an article that explains the decrease in plastic pallets and the increase in the difficult to handle wood pallets.
The Case of the Pilfered Pallets
"...The demand for plastic resin has driven the price of reground material to as high as 60 cents per pound. A trailer load can fetch as much as $10,000. "I was recently contacted by a postmaster in a small, rural town in Oklahoma," says Vogel. "He had found hundreds of our pallets in a company's yard, waiting to be shredded... His other piece of advice is to decline to buy or use a pallet if it's stamped Property of USPS." Unless you are an authorized user, you will be breaking a federal law. ..."
Reference: www.mhmonline.com -

 

Bail-out Deal Forces Wage Cuts on Union Auto Workers

 
Historic $17.4b Detroit bailout
"...Bush said that the United Auto Workers must agree to make wages competitive with those paid by foreign-owned auto companies that have plants in the United States. But Bush sidestepped the contentious issue of defining a competitive wage. ..."
Reference: www.boston.com

 

Labor Secretary will be Hilda Solis

 
Unions praise Labor Dept. choice
"...Solis, 51, is the daughter of immigrants who were blue-collar, union workers. Her Mexican-born father was a shop steward in the Teamster's union, and her Nicaraguan mother belonged to the United Rubber Workers...."
Reference: www.sfgate.com

 

Postal Service Helps Customers Beat Rush With Online Services

 
Postal Service Helps Customers Beat Rush With Online Services
"...HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAAY) - The Christmas rush is on, and getting those presents to your loved ones can take a lot of time and money. But there are things that the United States Post Office is doing to help you save money...."
Reference: www.waaytv.com