APWU Wins 5-Year Contract at Detroit MTESC

Workers at the privately-operated Mail Transportation Equipment Service Center in suburban Detroit overwhelmingly ratified a five-year contract Feb. 24. The APWU membership at the Pittsburgh MTESC will vote on a separate and similar agreement on Feb. 28.
APWU News

USPS releases January financials

postalnews blog

Counterfeit Postal Keys Found In Man's Car

KXAS TV Dallas

Post office waits on relocation from St Paul to Eagan

St. Paul Pioneer Press

Postal service will conduct service audit in Sioux City

Sioux City Journal

Massachusetts Letter Carrier Convicted of Workers Comp Fraud

Press release

The Borowitz Report: bin Laden to run U.S. Postal Service

The Borowitz Report

New Orleans post office delays plans to relocate mail carriers

WWL TV New Orleans

Department of Labor and USPS Reach $6.5 Million Back Wage Agreement

The USPS will pay more than $6.5 million in back wages to almost 900 pilots, co-pilots and flight engineers who worked on several USPS contracts and subcontracts to transport mail by air between January 1996 and August 2001.
DOL Press release

Girl, 4, struck and killed by postal truck

Stockton (CA) Record

Mailers Look to Sidestep Sales Tax on Postage

DMNews.com

Mailers Question Response If Flats Address Shifts

DMNews.com

New Mexico Senator says Post Office is making progress

Las Cruces Sun-News

USPS detains journalist, keeping his videotape

"The U.S. Postal Service last week detained a Washington, D.C.-based journalist for a German television network, releasing him only after he agreed to turn over his videotape of news footage taken at a New Orleans mail pick-up center for victims of Hurricane Katrina."
Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press

Postal workers asked to relocate out of town, say not enough time given

WWL TV New Orleans

New NAPUS leader to take on short staffing

Federal Times

APWU victimizes family of Goleta victim

"The postal union established a memorial fund for five employees killed in Goleta -- but gave a cold shoulder to the sixth worker slain there. To the American Postal Workers Union, Maleka Higgins is apparently a nonperson."
Santa Barbara News-Press

PRC sets dates for consideration of USPS realignment plans

The Postal Rate Commission has set March 17 as the deadline for interested parties to intervene in the USPS request for an advisory opinion on service changes resulting from its proposed network realignment plans.
Federal Register
Click here to go directly to the PRC's index for docket N2006-1.

Postal Service Says Late Mail A Temporary Problem

KCAL TV Los Angeles

Opening the can of worms?

The APWU tries to widen the focus of the PRC's review of USPS service changes.
postalnews blog

Postal service completes Aberdeen survey

"Clem Felchle had the tall task Thursday of trying to convince community leaders that possible changes to local postal service will largely benefit the Aberdeen area."
Aberdeen (ND) American News

DMA Allies With Postcom Against Do-Not-Mail Bills

DMNews.com

USPS Headed for $1.8 Billion Loss This Year

DMNews.com

Reform May Be Decided by Summer, Postal Official Says

DMNews.com

USPS: We're Working on Fixing Service Problems

"A postal official acknowledged yesterday that there have been several service problems around the country but said the agency is working to fix them."
DMNews.com

Poor Attendance Can Result in Removal- And Withstand Court Review

"The U.S. Postal Service fared well in a pair of decisions reviewing its personnel actions which were just issued by the Federal Circuit Court of Appeals."
FedSmith.com

Justices Allow Postal Customers to Sue

"The Supreme Court ruled Wednesday that the Postal Service can be sued by a woman who tripped over mail left on her porch."
Associated Press

Stamp hike puts squeeze on some organizations

Arizona Republic

New Orleans' main post office reopens

New Orleans Times Picayune

Postal Service says bill to fix finances is unworkable

Cox News Service

Postal Service a no-show as Mayor, reps meet to discuss Waterbury pullout

"APWU local President James Conway, who lobbied for the meeting, was the sole postal employee at the session."
Waterbury Republican

Former APWU local officers arrested in New Jersey

Asbury Park Press

National telecon discusses consolidation plans

USPS Network Management VP Paul Vogel conducted a national press conference yesterday via telecon to discuss plans for network and plant consolidations- here's some of the press reaction:
- Mail center move is focus of study
Springfield Republican (link corrected)
- Mail study moves ahead; residents will have a say
Rockford Register Star
- Still not known if postal work moving to Memphis
Jackson (TN) Sun

APWU Posts Consolidation Documents and Resources

APWU web site

Postal Service Outlines Plans for New Network

DMNews.com

Postal Reform Conference Awaiting House Conferees

also: NAPUS Intervenes On Network Realignment
eNAPUS Legislative and Political Bulletin

USPS Briefs APWU on Plans to Realign Network

APWU News

USPS seeks advisory opinion on possible service changes after plant consolidations

"The [USPS] hereby requests that the [PRC]... issue an advisory opinion on changes in the application of current service standards... These changes are expected to result from a system-wide review and realignment of the Postal Service's mail processing and transportation networks."
Also filed with the PRC yesterday:
- Area Mailing Processing Guidelines, USPS Handbook PO-408
- USPS OIG Audit Report on Area Mail Processing Guidelines
- Ten October 2005 Amp Consolidation Decision Packages (includes Pasadena, Olympia, Waterbury, Bridgeport, Greenburg (PA), Monmouth, NW Boston, Kinston (NC), Marysville (CA) and Mojave.)
- USPS Area Mail Processing Communications Plan
Postal Rate Commission web site

Postal Service says union spreading misinformation

Sioux City Journal

USPS starts magazine for small business customers

DMNews.com

White House veto threat looms over postal bill negotiations

"Postal lobbyists and aides predicted the White House would ultimately convince lawmakers to use at least part of the escrow account to pre-fund health benefits and expected the Postal Service to pick up the tab for part of its military pensions obligations... lobbyists and aides say [the Postal Service] relinquished a good portion of its negotiating posture when it came out against the bill last month."
Government Executive

'Cathy', 'Dilbert' shill for postal service

Advertising Age

Postal workers worry about jobs going to Akron

Canton Repository

Postal Service slammed with Valentines

Bozeman Daily Chronicle

Ask President Burrus: When was penalty overtime negotiated and why?

APWU web site

Manpower hiring counters for National Rural Mail Count

Monster.com

'We will never forget you'

Santa Barbara News Press
Six Slain Postal Workers Honored
Los Angeles Times

Hartford Courant puzzle pokes fun at postal murders

"Postal workers were shocked and outraged by the Cryptogram published in your newspaper on Feb. 5. The offending [Cryptogram solution] was: 'Postal employees grab your gun, shoot fellow workers one by one, look you got them on the run, tell N.R.A. about your fun.'"
Letter to the Editor of the Hartford Courant from APWU President Bill Burrus
If you'd like to share your reaction directly with the Courant, you can send a letter to the editor, or email the Courant NE Magazine editor, Jenifer Frank, at jfrank@courant.com.

A Stranger In Your Queue

If your Netflix movies take too long to arrive, you may be sharing your subscription with your mail carrier.
New York Magazine

Presidential Commission members question provisions of reform bills

From Postcom- Seven members of the Presidential Commission on the Postal Service have signed a letter to the House and Senate leadership voicing two major concerns with the current legislation:

- "... the bills call for a rate ceiling tird to the CPI... but do not give the Postal Service any additional flexibility or authority to reduce costs."

- "... the proposed legislation goes too far in transforming the regulator [i.e. the current PRC] by giving it powers that will limit even further, rather than increase, the ability of the postal service to operate like a business"

Commentary: Value added? (Or just robbing the cookie jar)

Gene Del Polito commentary for DIRECT

Bush Budget Proposal Addresses Postal Reform

"The two proposals the administration opposes [the 'escrow' and military pension provisions] are among the few that were embraced by all the major stakeholders in the postal reform debate. They are supported by labor unions, large business mailers, and the Postal Service."
APWU News

Postal endgame

also: 2007 Budget Spares Postal Employees
e-NAPUS Legislative & Political Bulletin

Senate Passage Sends Postal Reform to Conference

"Rep. John M. McHugh, R-NY, the main sponsor of the House bill, said the differences lie not between the House and Senate, 'the bigger challenge lies with resolving the issues raised by the administration.'"
DMNews.com
also:
It's Unanimous: Senate Passes Postal Reform Bill
It "remains to be seen how the Postal Service itself will factor in the ongoing legislative process- if at all. With its Jan. 24 letter to the Senate opposing S.662, [Lobbyist Ben] Cooper says, 'they all but closed the door to the negotiating room and locked the door behind them.'"
Multichannel Merchant
Senate Passes Long-Awaited Postal Reform Bill
DIRECT

Mailhandlers get jobs on modified AFSMs

Mail Handlers Union web site

Nighttime deliveries highlight postal woes

Santa Cruz Sentinel

APWU: "Our struggle now moves to a new stage"

APWU News

NALC: Young Praises Senate Passage Of Postal Reform Legislation

NALC Press Release

Postal overhaul bill finally passes Senate, heads to conference

Government Executive

Senate passes S. 662

Conference Committee Must Reconcile House- and Senate-Passed Bills
DMA Press Release

Senators lift holds on postal reform bill, paving way for vote

Government Executive

Goleta victims thought to be random, not targeted

Santa Barbara News-Press

First class volume down by a billion pieces in first quarter

postalnews blog

Postal Service reform called vital for Maine

Waterville Sentinel

USPS Proceeds on New Flat Sorting Technology

DMNews.com
see also the story in USPS News Link

Letter Carrier Held Up In Dayton

WHIO-TV Dayton

Stamps.com 4Q Profit More Than Doubles

Associated Press

UPS Expands 2nd Day Air Options

Guaranteed Delivery Time Now Earlier, Saturday Delivery Option Introduced
Press Release

FedEx agrees to penalize companies that ship cigarettes

"FedEx... agreed to take disciplinary action against companies that violate FedEx policy and ship cigarettes directly to consumers... New York state Attorney General Eliot Spitzer called Tuesday for the U.S. Postal Service to follow suit."
bizjournals.com via Yahoo

New Mexico's laws allowed killer to buy gun

"... as ever-more stories of [Jennifer Sanmarco's] odd behavior surface- and evidence of a potential grudge against her former workplace emerges- people are asking how she ever got a gun. The answer lies between two states, California and New Mexico, separated by some 800 miles on a map but worlds apart when it comes to gun laws. In California, she could not have bought one legally, but in New Mexico she could- and did, easily."
Santa Barbara News-Press

Mourners recall woman's passion for diversity

Santa Barbara News-Press

S. 662 to pass the Senate today?

From Postcom: "The U.S. Senate is expected to pass S. 662 some time today."
Postcom.org

A Billion Dollars a Week

Postal payroll stats from the PRC
postalnews blog

San Francisco: Ex-postal worker accused of making threats

San Francisco Chronicle

Briefing on the Future of Mail

The Postal Rate Commission will host a presentation
by Pitney Bowes on the future of mail on February 22.
Federal Register

Chicago Post Office Among Federal Buildings Sitting Empty

Senator Says Building Costs Millions
CBS2 Chicago

Memorial for Goleta victims set for Sunday

Santa Barbara News-Press

Senators Keep Postal Reform Bill on Hold

DMNews.com

The USPS In the Bush 2006 Budget

postalnews blog

Postal Customers Adjust to Schedule

The Bartow post office needed to get the mail in sooner to get it out on time.
Lakekand (FL) Ledger

Late Deliveries in West, Southwest Trouble Mailers

DMNews.com

Woman remembered for kindness

Santa Barbara News-Press

A woman driven to kill

Santa Barbara News-Press

N.M. postal problems headed to Congress

Santa Fe New Mexican

New Orleans mail delivery slowly improving

New Orleans Times Picayune

Waco officials still uncertain about postal distribution center status

Waco Tribune-Herald

Postage Is Due for Companies Sending E-Mail

"Companies will soon have to buy the electronic equivalent of a postage stamp if they want to be certain that their e-mail will be delivered to many of their customers."
New York Times

Gun used in killings traced to pawn shop

also:
- 911 tape provides chilling record of horrific night
- Offices shut down for workers' funerals
- Funeral service draws hundreds
Santa Barbara News-Press

Sessions and DeMint 'holding' S. 662?

According to Postcom, "Sens. Sessions and DeMint are maintaining their hold on S. 662. Both, we are told, are demanding that S. 662, either in the bill or in conference, be budget neutral. In other words, the Senate must accede to the Administration's position on the treatment of the released CSRS escrow money and the payment of the military obligation."

Postal Service: Burlington postmark could soon be history

Burlington (VT) Free Press

Iowa delegation keeps pushing to retain Sioux City postal distribution center

Sioux City Journal

Postal Groundhog Day in DC

eNAPUS Legislative and Political Bulletin

Jobs Resume After Postal Carnage: Funds Set Up To Help Families

South Coast Community Federal Credit Union is accepting donations for all six families. Checks may be made out to Families of Goleta Postal Center and sent to the credit union at 5784 Calle Real, Goleta CA 93117.

Community West Bank has set up the Goleta Post Office Memorial Fund, which will funnel money to the families through Hospice of Santa Barbara. Checks may be mailed to the bank at 5827 Hollister Ave., Goleta CA 93117. Friends of Charlotte Colton, one of the victims, may also send checks to the Community West address for the Charlotte Colton Memorial Scholarship Fund, set up on behalf of her three sons.

Los Angeles Times

New Mexico postal worker pins hopes on new hires, long-term changes

Santa Fe New Mexican

Postal workers return to plant where tragedy unfolded

Santa Barbara News-Press

Town knew killer as 'the crazy lady'

Santa Barbara News-Press

Memorial services planned for deceased postal workers

KSBY TV Santa Barbara

The mail may get through, someday

A letter carrier shortage, equipment problems and closure of a Marina del Rey mail processing facility are responsible for a spate of late and misdirected mail deliveries in the South Bay, Postal Service critics contend.
Daily Breeze

Congressmen seek data on Los Angeles Mail Problems

Letter from House Government Reform Committee Chairman Tom Davis and Ranking Member Henry Waxman to PMG Jack Potter

Alito's final appeals court decision upholds postal worker's sex discrimination suit

Law.com

The media didn't 'go postal'

postalnews blog

Ruling: Mockery at work led to postal worker's suicide

Denver Post

Postal Service fighting attempt to regulate price of Disney letter sheets

Linn's Stamp News

Counselors, extra security provided

Santa Barbara News-Press

Emerging portrait: Spiral into insanity

Santa Barbara News-Press

'Blame game' unfair, postal authority says

Santa Barbara News-Press

For Postal Reform, It's Hurry Up and Wait

multichannelmerchant.com

Postal Killer's Rampage Began With Ex-Neighbor's Slaying

also: Mass Murder Stuns Friends of Victims
Los Angeles Times

Employees gather to mourn co-workers

USPS News Link

Burrus: An Expression of Solidarity

APWU News

Sixth shooting victim dies

"The wounded survivor of an ex-postal worker's shooting rampage died Wednesday, bringing the total death toll to seven, and authorities were trying to determine if a one-time neighbor also was a victim."
Associated Press

Friends, family mourn victims in California shooting

"A new mom, a widow, a beloved wife, a Vietnam veteran and a basketball-loving New York transplant."
Associated Press

Mass Killer Had Been Put on Leave by Postal Center

Los Angeles Times
Alleged killer had history of odd behavior
"The woman was well-known to authorities in western New Mexico, where she moved after leaving her job at the postal center. In July 2004, she applied for a business license to start a publication called 'The Racist Press'..."
Associated Press
Mail Service Delayed by Shooting Spree
KCOY TV Santa Barbara

Postal meeting to be private

"A public meeting between Las Cruces residents, city officials and the U.S. Postal Service isn't going to happen as city officials had expected."
Las Cruces Sun-News