FedEx competing with UPS for USPS transportation contract

  FedEx says it could lose lucrative postal contract

"...The amount is large, but it's still a relatively small portion of FedEx total revenues, which reached $42.7 billion in fiscal 2012, which ended May 31, analysts said. "The loss of that business would be a significant interruption, but I think there's a relatively low likelihood they would lose it," said Donald Broughton, analyst with Avondale Partners LLC...."

Reference: www.knoxnews.com 

"Apologies for theft" order given to ex-mail handler

Ex-RI mail handler told to apologize in card theft

"...must also repay the money he stole from the cards, which he took in September and October while working at the U.S. Postal Service's processing center in Providence...."

Reference: www.boston.com

Councilman Richard Showers shows support for Huntsville Mail Handlers

Councilman Richard Showers shows support for Huntsville Mail Handlers

The National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 317 held their quarterly union meeting today. In attendance were Huntsville City Councilman Richard Showers. Mr. Showers again reiterated his support for the employees at the Huntsville Processing and Distribution Facility. The facility is slated to close in early 2014. Mr. Showers questioned why the Postal Service would close a facility that is owned by the Postal Service in favor of the Birmingham annex facility which is costing the USPS untold amounts of money in lease payments. Additionally, he questioned the removal of the Huntsville postmark and how the postal service thought it would save money by sending mail to Birmingham to be processed, only to be returned to the Huntsville plant, often unprocessed, to be distributed locally. Postal advocate Jasper Curry was present to update the group on actions being taken to return the historic Huntsville postmark back to the rocket city and prevent the closure of the much needed facility.

Reference: National Postal mail Handlers Union Local 317

Impact on Mail Handler contract arbitration relating to other union settlements

Arbitrators to decide terms of three postal union contracts

"...Now that the U.S. Postal Service and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union are officially arbitration-bound, it seems time for an overview of the state of USPS labor negotiations that will affect both the mail carrier’s bottom line, not to mention the incomes and working conditions of tens of thousands of postal workers...."

Reference: federaltimes.com

Rural Letter Carriers Arbitration Award Issued

Arbitration Award Issued to Resolve Bargaining Dispute Between Rural Letter Carriers and Postal Service

 (July 5, 2012) The three-member arbitration panel established to determine the terms of the 2010 National Agreement between the National Rural Letter Carriers Association and the U.S. Postal Service issued its long-awaited decision on July 3, 2012. The panel was headed by neutral Arbitrator Jack Clarke.

While many of the details of the July 3, 2012 decision are unique to the NRLCA’s evaluated route system, the panel’s award also mirrored many of the wage and benefit provisions that were established in the negotiated 2010 National Agreement between the APWU and the Postal Service. In particular, the award called for a two-year freeze on general wage increases, a one-year freeze and a one-year deferral on cost-of-living adjustments or COLAs, and a continuation in the one percent per year increases in employee contributions toward health insurance premiums. The award also included three general wage increases totaling 3.5% and the eventual reinstitution of COLA payments based on the historical index.

Arbitrator Clarke’s decision squarely rejected the Postal Service’s argument that “this interest arbitration is ‘akin to a restructuring in Bankruptcy.’” To the contrary, the Arbitrator noted, “[o]nly Congress can address the USPS’s overall mission, associated business plan and regulatory framework. This Board of Arbitration can only address one, albeit critically important area -- the wages and benefits of Rural Letter Carriers.”

On the issue of wages and benefits, the Board of Arbitration had much to say, and therefore warrants more extensive quotation. The Board started by noting that it “was impressed by the most recent collective bargaining agreement between the USPS and the American Postal Workers Union (“APWU”) that became effective November 21, 2010 and runs through May 20, 2015 (hereinafter “2010 APWU-USPS Agreement”). That agreement . . . contains a two year wage freeze, no COLA in year one, a deferral of COLA until 2013, a revised COLA base to July of 2011 and modest general wage increases starting in FY 2013 through FY 2015. In addition, the agreement included labor cost changes that should reduce unit labor costs over the course of the agreement. These changes include a two tier wage rate for new hires substantially below the current scale and an increase in non-career employees with lower wage and benefit packages. The Board of Arbitration is well aware of the labor cost savings that will likely flow to the USPS from this collective bargaining agreement and has referred to it in rendering the Award set out below.”

The arbitration award continued with the following language: “The USPS has argued in this proceeding that the Board of Arbitration should not be bound by the pattern established in the 2010 APWU-USPS Agreement and should not be concerned with internal equity. While the Board of Arbitration is not bound to adopt the wage and benefit pattern set out in that agreement, it is appropriate that it do so in this particular case. The USPS, principally through the testimony of its CFO, argued that the USPS’s financial condition has deteriorated since the 2010 APWU-USPS Agreement was entered into and now must make even more drastic reductions in Rural Delivery labor costs in order to stave off insolvency. The Chairperson of the Board of Arbitration was not persuaded by this testimony. Wholly apart from whether the USPS’s finances have deteriorated since May of 2011 (and the evidence on that point was less than persuasive), the Board of Arbitration, as noted above, is not a bankruptcy court and lacks the power of such a court to virtually completely restructure the USPS’s business. Rather, the jurisdiction of this Board of Arbitration is limited to resolution of the issues presented to it by the USPS and the NRLCA. In addition, the evidence presented during this hearing convinced at least the Chairperson that the major problem faced by the USPS is not the inadequacy of concessions in the 2010 APWU-USPS Agreement but rather the failure of Congress to address the overall mission and financing of the Service in a time of deteriorating mail volumes and reduced public demand for hardcopy postal services. The Chairperson is convinced that no restructuring of a single labor contract can address all of the USPS’s financial challenges created, in large part, by the recession and the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act with its retiree health benefits prefunding obligations.”

More details about the NRLCA-USPS award, and its potential impact on NPMHU arbitration proceedings, will be shared in future communications.

VIEW THE JULY 3, 2012 NRLCA INTEREST ARBITRATION AWARD

Reference: www.npmhu.org 

Mail Handler Buyouts: Not many takers on small buyout offer

  Postal Service: More than 7,000 postmasters, mail handlers could take buyouts (but clerks are still waiting)

"...the early-out option has been a much better sell among the nation’s 21,000 postmasters than its roughly full-time 43,000 mail handlers..."

Reference: Postal Newsgroup 

Mail Handler Contract Update

 Contract Update #13 -- 2011 Contract Headed for Interest Arbitration

(June 27, 2012) Collective bargaining between the NPMHU and the Postal Service over the terms of the 2011 National Agreement has reached a new stage in the implementation of dispute resolution procedures adopted by the parties – that is, the parties have initiated the process for starting interest arbitration under Section 1207(c) of the Postal Reorganization Act (PRA), as amended in 2006.

The upcoming arbitration will be conducted under the supervision of a three-member panel, with a neutral arbitrator serving as chair of the panel. The parties are currently discussing selection of the neutral arbitrator; if no agreement is reached, the parties will ask the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) to produce a list of potential arbitrators, and the parties will strike names from that list until one remains.

The arbitration phase of the dispute resolution process follows an attempt at mediation which proved unsuccessful. In March 2012, FMCS Director George Cohen announced the appointment of Herbert Fishgold as the mediator for the NPMHU/USPS dispute. Previously, Mr. Fishgold has served as a third-party neutral for more than 30 years, during which time he has mediated and arbitrated bargaining disputes in a wide range of industries at the national, state, and local levels.

Mediator Fishgold held several meetings with the parties and their representatives. Because he already was familiar with many of the basic facts and issues presented by the Postal Service, the mailing industry, and postal employees generally – based on, among other things, his service as an interest arbitrator in the 2006 dispute between the National Rural Letter Carriers Association and the Postal Service – Fishgold was able to jump into the mediation process quickly, without expending a lot of time and effort to familiarize himself with the unique industry that is the Postal Service. That also allowed the mediator and the parties to have frank discussions about their differences, and about possible ideas for narrowing or eliminating those differences.

While both parties held out hope for success during the mediation process, the success of that effort was more likely than not to depend on whether Congress acted timely to support the long-term financial well-being of the Postal Service as an ongoing institution and government agency. The current prospects for legislative action remain unclear, and that inaction certainly presented an obstacle to resolving the current bargaining dispute during mediation. The mediation effort continued for more than sixty days, and ultimately concluded when the parties determined that the process was unlikely to result in a negotiated settlement.

Several other factors also have come into play as the NPMHU dispute resolution process unfolds. First and foremost, the American Postal Workers Union and the Postal Service reached a comprehensive agreement in March 2011, and that agreement has been held out by some as a pattern or a baseline for future negotiations. Second, the National Association of Letter Carriers is also currently involved in interest arbitration, and has recently announced the selection of Arbitrator Shyam Das as the neutral arbitrator on that panel. Third, and perhaps of most importance, the Postal Service and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association have finalized their interest arbitration hearings, which began in December 2011, and are awaiting the decision from their panel, which is headed by Arbitrator Jack Clarke. The status of the bargaining agreements for our three sister postal unions clearly could have an effect on what is already an exceedingly complicated process regarding the NPMHU-USPS contract dispute.

With history as a guide, it likely will take several months to schedule, implement, and conduct the NPMHU arbitration process. To the extent possible, the National Office will keep all mail handlers informed of developments through the various modes of NPMHU communications, including monthly bulletins, Contract Updates, and website postings (at www.npmhu.org). Please continue to read these communications as they are distributed.

Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union 

Mail Handler goes on hunger strike over delivery standards change

  Hunger strikers protest end of first class overnight mail delivery

"...“The Postmaster General is sending the service into a death spiral,” said Matt McAulifee, a postal mailhandler and hunger striker from Denver...."

Reference: www.lakestevensjournal.com 

Charges added to postal employee killer

  Man charged in postal killings gets added charges

"...According to The Commercial Appeal (http://bit.ly/MLyX7V ), prosecutors said the bank jobs came in the weeks after the killings in which Chastain Montgomery and his teenage son were later implicated. Police fatally wounded 18-year-old Chastain Montgomery Jr...."

Reference: www.wdef.com 

Retirement buyout incentive and Voluntary Early Retirement for Mail Handlers

 

Mail Handlers to be offered retirement incentive

Opportunity for voluntary early retirement or separation: Incentives up to $15,000

Under the terms of a Memorandum of Understanding signed by both parties on May 22, 2012, eligible Mail Handlers who choose to leave employment with the USPS on or before August 31, 2012 will each receive incentive payments totaling up to fifteen thousand dollars (for full-time employees).  The MOU also provides a moratorium on excessing in all facilities until at least August 11, 2012 (unless excessing was already scheduled).  This provision should eliminate excessing in some facilities that will now have vacancies due to retirements, and may provide vacancies closer to home for other employees who have to be excessed after August 11.

The monetary incentives included in the MOU will be available (with certain restrictions) to all Mail Handlers who are currently eligible for regular retirement, voluntary early retirement, and all other employees who may wish to separate from the Postal Service.  Any Mail Handler wishing to participate in this retirement incentive offer must do so no later than July 2, 2012 -- which date, as detailed in the MOU, is the deadline for accepting this incentive offer, and also is the deadline for revoking a submitted acceptance.

Those Mail Handlers who are eligible should be receiving a package in the mail from the Postal Service (these retirement documents will be mailed to the employee's address that USPS has on file; an employee can confirm or change his/her mailing address online by logging on to www.liteblue.usps.gov), but in general terms VERA offers apply to employees covered under both the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).  More specifically, to be eligible the employee must:

*   Meet the minimum age and service requirements:

*   Be at least 50 years of age with at least 20 years of service, or any age with at least 25 years of service, and

*   Have at least five years of creditable civilian service, not military service.  Employees may use military service to meet the balance of service required for eligibility.

*   The above criteria MUST be met by the VERA effective retirement date, which in this case is August 31, 2012.

*   CSRS employees must have been employed under CSRS for at least one year out of the last two years, but the service need not be continuous.

In addition, certain retirement videos are available on the "lite-blue" network.  An employee needs his/her Employee Identification Number (EIN) and Personal Identification Number (PIN) to log on at www.liteblue.usps.gov .  Once logged on, the employee can go to "My HR," then to "Browse By Subject," then to "Retirement," and then to "Watch Retirement Videos."  Both the regular and VER retirement videos are available at this site.

The agreement with the Postal Service is intended to provide a financial cushion, and added peace of mind, for Mail Handlers who might be prepared to move on to the next chapter of their lives by leaving the Postal Service – a decision that could be particularly trying during these difficult economic times.  In addition, with many closings and consolidations expected to be implemented at mail processing facilities in August 2012 and February 2013, the MOU also will benefit remaining Mail Handlers to the extent that some Mail Handlers choose to retire because of this incentive.  More specifically, remaining Mail Handlers will experience less excessing and will benefit from more landing spots if excessed, more bidding opportunities, and other results of reduced staffing.   

Please understand that none of the information in this bulletin should be considered as official retirement advice, and the NPMHU National Office is neither recommending retirement or separation nor assuming any responsibility for decisions that you may make about your retirement or separation from the USPS.  We recognize that retirement or separation from the Postal Service is a very personal decision, based on each individual’s own finances and circumstances.  Therefore, the National Office cannot provide individual retirement advice.

Moreover, you may want to seek advice from the USPS at retirement counseling sessions that will be scheduled, and you also may wish to consult with your own financial advisor on this important decision.  There are many personal and financial factors to be considered if you are thinking of accepting this incentive offer.  For just some examples, you need to consider your personal family and health situation; how your health, life insurance, and other benefits may be affected; what your future sources of income will be; and whether you have alternative plans and opportunities.

Again, any Mail Handler who may be considering this incentive-based retirement or separation option should closely review the terms of the Memorandum of Understanding that are printed below, do the necessary research on the liteblue webpage, and participate in a USPS retirement counseling session to ensure that any and all questions are answered prior to applying for this retirement or separation option.

VIEW THE SIGNED MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING REGARDING THE RETIREMENT INCENTIVE

 

USPS ALSO HAS MADE AVAILABLE THE FOLLOWING RELATED DOCUMENTS:

USPS LINK EXTRA - May 24, 2012

USPS NEWSBREAK - May 24, 2012

USPS Mandatory Stand-Up Talk - Mail Handlers - May 24, 2012

NPMHU VERA INCENTIVE - FAQs - May 24, 2012

Reference: www.npmhu.org 

Phase 1 Closure or Consolidation List for Mail Processing Facilities

  USPS Releases its Phase 1 List of Mail Processing Facilities Slated for Closure or Consolidation

With Moratorium Expired, USPS Releases List of Closures and Consolidations (Updated May 17, 2012 web post - 7:00 pm Eastern)

(May 17, 2012) Posted on the USPS website today is a presentation outlining the Postal Service’s new “modified network plan” (click here for a copy of that presentation). The USPS also has posted a “news release” that is linked here for your convenience.

This afternoon, the Postal Service issued its list of 140 mail processing facilities to be impacted during Phase 1 under its amended closure and consolidation plan. Today’s public announcement by USPS details the phased-in plan for several dozen closings or consolidations this August, as well as a plan for additional closings or consolidations beginning early in 2013. An earlier moratorium on closures and consolidations adopted by the Postal Service expired on May 15, 2012, and absent any final Congressional action to intercede in the process, the Postal Service has decided to move forward with its first round of consolidations. The original listing of 252 potentially impacted mail processing facilities (as announced by USPS on February 23, 2012) has now been pared down to a total of 229 facilities: Phase 1 includes 48 facilities this summer and 92 facilities in 2013. Phase 2 will include another 89 facilities in 2014.

Click here to view the May 17, 2012 listing of the 140 facilities impacted during Phase 1 of this amended closure and consolidation plan.

Click here to view the May 17, 2012 listing of the 48 Phase 1 facilities (to be impacted during Summer 2012)

USPS provided NPMHU Headquarters with its formal notification of this plan yesterday afternoon. View the notification letter here. Mail Handlers and other workers in mail processing facilities were to be notified via employee stand-up talks (beginning late yesterday) of the status of their individual facility. Attached to this web posting are copies of the various stand-up talks that management was to deliver to employees.

NPMHU officers and representatives have been discussing and preparing for the eventuality of this closure and consolidation plan, and are prepared to enforce all NPMHU contractual provisions relative to the excessing of employees that will take place under this plan. “We intend to work closely with those Locals affected by the August closings and consolidations” said President John Hegarty, “and, as always, it will be imperative that we enforce the contract to ensure that all Mail Handler rights are protected.”

Talks have resumed between the NPMHU and USPS regarding the terms of a possible early retirement incentive (VERA), and details will be announced if and when those talks reach a successful conclusion.

Please visit the NPMHU website again for the latest information.

View the list of 140 facilties impacted under Phase 1 under this May 17, 2012 Amended Closure and Consolidation Plan

Click here to view the May 17, 2012 listing of the 48 Phase 1 facilities (to be impacted during Summer 2012)

View the USPS May 17, 2012 Overview

View the May 16, 2012 USPS Notification Letter

Stand Up Talk 1 – Post Offices and Non-Processing Facilities

Stand Up Talk 2 -- Gaining Site and Others With Changes

Stand Up Talk 3 – Phase 1 2012

Stand Up Talk 4 – Phase 1 2013

Stand Up Talk 5 -- Phase 2 Site

Reference: www.npmhu.org 

Anniston Customer Service Mail Processing Center and the Tuscaloosa Customer Service Mail Processing Center to Consolidate With Birmingham in August

 Postal Service delays closing of Huntsville processing center

"...Two Alabama facilities - the Anniston Customer Service Mail Processing Center and the Tuscaloosa Customer Service Mail Processing Center - will consolidate with the Birmingham Processing and Distribution Center in August...."

Reference: al.com 

Huntsville Mail Processing Facility to Remain Open Until at Least 2014

  Huntsville's mail processing center is safe for now

"...The U.S. Postal Service said Thursday that the General Mail Facility on Wall-Triana Highway will remain in operation until at least February 2014...."

Reference: al.com 

Postal Buyout Incentives, Early Retirements, and Consolidations

  Postal Service to announce new downsizing plan Thursday

"...While no wholesale closures are immediately in the works, Donahoe said, "we'll have some consolidations in the summer, the majority after the first of the year."

USPS spokesman Dave Partenheimer declined comment Wednesday on whether the cuts will be accompanied by buyouts or early retirement incentives for affected employees. But the American Postal Workers Union, which represents many plant employees, was notified late Wednesday that the Postal Service is working on an "employee incentive..."

Reference: www.federaltimes.com 

Closing of postal facilities prior to postal reform legislation being enacted would be devastating to communities

  Postal Closures Likely To Start This Summer

"...Postal Service intends to close or consolidate parts of some 223 postal plants to shrink its network and save $2 billion. The closing and consolidation plans have yet to be reviewed by postal regulators...."

Reference: Postal News  

Postal Regulatory Commission Address and Contact Info

  Postal Regulatory Commission Address and Contact Info

"...Contact the Postal Regulatory Commission..."

Reference: www.prc.gov  

S. 1789, 21st Century Postal Service Act, as adopted by Senate

  S. 1789

"...April 26, 2012, the Senate completed its debate on amendments and passed S. 1789, “The 21st Century Postal Service Act.” A total of twenty amendments were added to the bill prior to adoption. Bill has yet to be approved by House...."

Reference: S1789.blogspot.com  

Senate OKs early outs, buyouts for 100,000 in postal overhaul

  Senate OKs buyouts, early outs for 100,000 in postal overhaul

"...In all, the measure would remove $34 billion worth of current and future pension and health care obligations that the agency can redirect to other priorities, such as employee buyout and early retirement packages...."

Reference: www.federaltimes.com  

Wholesale destruction of the value of First Class mail

  Why Postal Reform Will Fail

"...Congress will do nothing to stem the slow evisceration of the network. It will do nothing to prevent the wholesale destruction of the value of First Class mail...."

Reference: The Postal Daily Banter  

Mail delays have begun in Huntsville

  Closing mail facility in Huntsville will hurt service, officials say

"...government plan to close a regional mail-processing facility in Huntsville next month is already causing mail delays, collection changes and other issues across North Alabama that the public doesn't realize...."

Reference: al.com 

Where is the smallest U.S. Post Office?

  Smallest Post Office in the United States

"...closet-sized, 7x8-foot building used to be an irrigation pipe shed for a tomato farm..."

Reference: www.roadsideamerica.com 

Would Postal plan destroy the FEHBP for all federal employees?

 Democrats skeptical of USPS push to sponsor own healthcare program

"...“In destroying the FEHBP, the USPS would disrupt the health insurance of 8 million Americans,” Walton Francis, an independent consultant, told Tuesday’s hearing in his prepared testimony. ..."

Reference: thehill.com 

Will it hurt me to take a buyout if they offer one?

  Early retirement

"...I plan on retiring at 62 in October 2013. Will it hurt me to take a buyout if they offer one?..."

Reference: federaltimes.com 

Postal Service set to purposely slow First-Class Mail Delivery, causing huge losses

  Postal Service closing plans panned by lawmakers

"...Postal Service stands to lose billions of dollars in the first year after it closes 200 mail processing facilities and slows the delivery of first-class mail..."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com 

USPS Mail Handler Union Contract Bargaining Moves To Mediation

  Bargaining Moves To Mediation

"...The mediation will continue for at least sixty days, unless the parties agree otherwise, either because they have reached a tentative agreement or because they and the mediator believe that an extension of the mediation process would be appropriate. ..."

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

What the hell is going on in L'Enfant Plaza?

  Secret market survey reveals USPS plans would cost over $5 billion in lost revenue

"...These new numbers provide circumstantial evidence that when the Postal Service saw the results of what we now know as the Phase-1 research back in late September or early October, it realized the numbers were devastating to their case for the consolidation plan...."

Reference: www.savethepostoffice.com 

Mail Processing Facility Closure an "utter disaster", according to...

  Closure of Frederick Mail Processing Facility 'utter disaster,' according to director of union organization

"...Kohl’s department store’s Black Friday ads in the mailboxes on his route. “Dec. 28 I was casing these, and it was clearly marked on the pieces that they should have been in homes Nov. 19, 21 or 22..."

Reference: Postal Newsgroup 

Tags: delay of mail, Frederick Mail Processing and Distribution Facility, Kohl’s department store, mail consolidation, Mail Processing Plant AMP study list, why is the Post Office going broke?

Postal consolidations causing severe delay of mail

 A Mess in Maryland: Mail delayed and workers call for an investigation

"...as of January 19, "We have packages to this date that were mailed maybe a week or two before Christmas that are just now being delivered. The sheer volume of late mail is ridiculous."..."

Reference: www.savethepostoffice.com 

USPS RELEASES AMP STUDIES ON CLOSURES AND CONSOLIDATION

  USPS RELEASES AMP STUDIES ON CLOSURES AND CONSOLIDATION

"...The USPS has now released to the NPMHU copies of the completed AMP Studies to date. A link to that list is attached below. The Service has redacted certain information from the studies in accordance with their standard practice. They have also redacted mailer names, companies, and titles that were notified of the study. Volume numbers associated with service standard changes have also been redacted. The Postal Service states this data is commercially sensitive and could be advantageous to their competitors. In order to protect market share, the Postal Service insists it must protect the confidentiality of this information...."

Reference: www.npmhu.org