Postal News - January 2008

Kenneth Jones vs. US Postal Service, illustrates why postal employees should think twice before appealing their discipline to the Merit Systems Protection Board.

New Book: Beware of Cat: And Other Encounters of a Letter Carrier

Postal Worker Fired After Second Violation of USPS Zero Tolerance Policy

Bush Plan Would Cut Tax-Free Employer-Provided Health Insurance

MSPB Overturns Postal Worker’s Removal for $45,000 Stamp Stock Shortage

Postage Rate Hike in 2008?

Postal Service: ‘Intelligent Mail’ Fully Operational By 2009

Video: Signed, Sealed and Delivered- Labor Struggle in the Post Office

USPS: New Postal Law-The Financial Impact

Can Bush Open Mail Without Warrant?

Former Postal Worker Charged in FEHB Scheme to Defraud USPS and NALC

Un-Merry Christmas
Postal Service Terminates Disabled Iraq War Veteran for Unacceptable Attendance

Letter to the Editor - Mismanagement at Royal Oak Carrier Unit

FedEx and DOT at Stalemate in Dispute Over Disclosure of Postal Contract Data -

USPS, APWU Reach $5.3 Million Agreement in Anthrax Travel Grievance

Postal Worker Fired for Refusing to Work on DBCS Machine

Postal Nurse Charged With Defrauding USPS

Five-Year Postal Employees Stats At a Glance

Big Win For APWU in MS-47 Maintenance Case - "Custodial Jobs Protected"

Emery Agrees to Pay $10 Million for Submitting Fraudulent Billings to USPS -

USPS to Sell Segway Scooters to General Public

Former Postmaster jailed for stealing over $50k

Postal Worker Sues USPS – Denied Permission to Work Off-the-Clock?

USPS OIG Paper: Postal Officers Travel Expense Guidelines

USPS Mail Processing Facility Faces $44,250 in Fines for Safety Violations

Man Pleads Guilty in Kickback Scheme to Pay Postal OWCP Specialist

APWU Initiates Dispute Over Changes to USPS Computer Security Rules

Postal Worker Injured in Iraq Wins Job Back Under USERRA

USPS to Conduct Search for Sex Offenders on Postal Payroll

Postal Supervisor Fired for Rewarding Employees With Non-Worked Overtime Pay

Reader Raises Concern Over USPS Revised Emergency Salary Authorization Policy

USPS OIG Audit Report: Pasadena P & DC Consolidation

MSPB Upholds Removal of Postal Worker Videotaped Abusing FMLA

USPS to remove stamp machines by 2010

Postal Service Plans for More Than $1 Billion in Cost Reductions

Carrier Fired for Gambling Signed Last Chance Agreement

Mystery Shopper Evaluations Should Not Be Used to Discipline Window Clerks -

National Dispute Initiated Over USPS’ Improper Use of Casuals

Postal Service Lists 139 Facilities As Potential Candidates for Consolidation

Postal Worker Fired for Violating USPS Zero Tolerance Policy

Court Backs USPS in Stamp Trademark Lawsuit

January 31, 2008

Update: Drinking, Driving and Delivering Your Mail

(Milwaukee, Wisconsin) "TODAY’S TMJ4’s Senior Investigative Reporter John Mercure found mailmen hanging out in a local bar…day after day, oftentimes in the middle of the afternoon. Some of them drank beer, and some of them drank liquor, and some of them then got into their postal trucks and drove off. Wait until you see our unscheduled accountability session with one of these mailmen, and what they’re embarrassed boss is telling us." |

McCausland, Iowa: Town has only few months to find new post office
Tallahassee post office responds to downtown mail complaints
Alabama Letter Carrier Charged With Delaying, Destroying Mail
Chicago mail delivery here 'most improved' -- but still worst

Pipe Break Floods Post Office

Mailings to Scientology sites probed

January 30, 2008

APWU Wins $48 Million Settlement In MS-47 Handbook Grievance
The APWU and the Postal Service have finalized a $48 million payout to “remedy” the USPS violation of staffing procedures for custodial employees. The settlement will be in the form of lump-sum payments of $2,700 to more than 17,000 employees occupying custodial positions, with payments to be made by April 18. MS-47 Handbook- 1983 |

Postal Service First-Quarter Results Reflect Drop in Mail Volume

First-Class Mail volume decreased 3.9 percent and Standard Mail decreased 2.6 percent in the quarter ending Dec. 31, 2007. Chief Financial Officer and Executive Vice President H. Glen Walker attributed the declining mail volume to “disturbing trends” in the overall U.S. economy. “Unfortunately, two key sectors of the economy — finance and housing — suffered a downturn in the first quarter, and they’re both heavy users of the mail,” said Postmaster General John Potter. Postal Service revenue dips with economy's downturn |

Don't Go Postal Over This

Mike Causey: "while the USPS is composed mainly of relatively low-paid clerks and letter carriers, its officer corps does fine." See Big Pay Increases Approved For Top Postal Service Officers. |

Mail Handlers: Potential Changes At Bulk Mail Centers

In the past few days, there have been recent web postings and other communications concerning possible subcontracting or other changes at the Bulk Mail Centers, most of which have been generated by one of our sister postal unions. Although NPMHU officials have received similar information from USPS Headquarters, we saw no need to post such information on the NPMHU website, or to circulate it more widely, precisely because nothing has been finalized, and everything is still subject to change. Quite frankly, we are not interested in confusing the situation with conjecture, thereby creating unnecessary and unwarranted panic on the workroom floor. Also see NEW WAGE SCALES EFFECTIVE ON FEBRUARY 16, 2008 |

Democrat Elected Chairman Of USPS Board of Governors

"Philadelphia attorney Alan C. Kessler was elected chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors and Austin, TX, businesswoman Carolyn Lewis Gallagher was elected vice chairman during today’s Board meeting. Kessler was appointed to the Board by President Clinton in 2000 for a term that expires December 2008. He has served as vice chairman since 2005 and succeeds James C. Miller III as chairman. Miller was appointed to the Board in 2003 for a term that expires December 2010." |

Second anniversary of Goleta postal shooting

Postal worker rescues man and dog from pit bull attack

Volunteers clean up mailboxes vandalized with graffiti

USPS Makes Premium Forwarding Service Permanent

Bryant has more postal complaints

Carl Weaver will deliver his last letter this week

January 29, 2008

Deal Reached On Bill To Compensate FERS Employees For Unused Sick Leave

A draft bill that would compensate some retiring federal employees for unused sick leave is getting sweetened. Retiring employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System would get up to $10,000 in compensation under the latest version of a bill drafted by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va., the Federal Managers Association said Monday. Moran’s previous draft bill had capped that at $5,000. |

APWU, USPS Sign Agreement For Offices Without a Local Union Structure

Teens' Explosive Device Hurts Mail Carrier
Postal worker finds powder -- Substance not hazardous, but carrier falls ill
Express Mail to launch Sunday/Holiday Premium
DMNews: How can the USPS better serve mailers?

January 28, 2008

Bush Administration Seeking Changes To FMLA Regulations

Labor Department officials said on Thursday that they had proposed new regulations that address some corporate complaints that workers are abusing the Family and Medical Leave Act. Under the proposals, workers would generally have to call in to request a lea