Monday, March 30

APWU Urges Locals with DBCS Machines to File OSHA Complaints

APWU - Industrial Relations

Bill to Limit Postal Subcontracting Introduced in House

APWU News

Southwest Area wasted $9 million using FedEx instead of cheaper alternatives

USPS OIG report (*.pdf file)

Former postmaster pleads guilty to embezzelment charges

KSDK TV St. Louis

Video: Fiscal Stability of U.S. Postal Service

PRC Chair Dan Blair appearance on CSPAN's Washington Journal
postalnews.tv (alternative link here)

PMG Speaks to NAPS meeting

NAPS Branch 202

DMM Advisory: USPS cancels mandatory tray-based preparation for First-Class Mail automation flats

DMM Advisory

A dying breed: the neighborhood mailbox

Muskegon News

Mold forces rural Missouri post office to close

Fort Mill (SC) Times

Bigger Buyouts = Fewer Employees

"The issue is what would it take to get you to go?"
Federal News Radio

Editorial: The shrinking post office

Deseret News

Friday, March 27

DMM Advisory: Standard Mail Move Update Postponed – Confirm Service Prices Adjusted

USPS DMM Advisory

Postal Worker Seriously Injured in Parma (NY) Accident

WHAM TV Rochester

Maine Soldier/Postal Worker Killed In Iraq Is Being Honored In Baghdad

WCSH TV Portland (ME) click here for video -

Study: Wilkes-Barre consolidation would save millions

Wilkes-Barre Citizens' Voice

Junk Mail Ban Adds to Postal Woes

Graphic Arts Online

Postal Service offers $100,000 reward for Minnesota bomb threats

Associated Press

USPS Releases VERA Info, Fails to Notify Union

APWU News

Comics for troops program hurt by postal rates

Boston Herald

House Oversight Sub-Committee Hearing video archive

Videos of Wednesday's House Oversight hearing on USPS finances
postalnews.tv

Postal penalties? Nobody knows.

What if the USPS doesn't make the $5 billion contribution to RHBTF?
Federal Times

Connecticut letter carrier pleads guilty to theft

Danbury News Times

Postal inspectors investigating parcel tracking notices in mailboxes

Cleveland Plain Dealer

Postal Ponzi Scheme

postalnews blog

Thursday, March 26

Paid Parental Leave For Federal Employees Moving Forward

FedSmith.com

Chaffetz questions postmaster general's sweet home deal

Salt Lake Tribune

Arbitrator Rescinds ELM 546 Changes Agreed to in APWU-USPS 2006 MOU

Changes dealt with "Limited Duty and Rehabilitation Assignments Within APWU Crafts Involving Workers from Other Crafts."
APWU Industrial Relations Dept. web site

Letter Mailers Want Same Postal Break as Catalogers

multichannelmerchant.com

Oakland APWU petitions Congress to investigate USPS

Oakland APWU web site (.pdf file)

The Biggest Loser: the postal service

"Like the human contestants [on the reality show], the USPS needs to downsize to stay in the game and stay alive."
Federal News Radio

Should Potter get a bonus?

Federal Times Fedline Blog

Postmaster defends compensation, wants help on deficits

Government Executive

Video: Postmaster General dodges CNN reporter’s question on relocation costs

postalnews.tv

In Special Delivery to Lawmakers, U.S. Postmaster Signals SOS

Washington Post

Video: Rep. Mark Souder Breaks Down OGR Postal Subcommittee Hearing

postalnews.tv

Teamsters respond to FedEx "blackmail" threat

Memphis Business Journal

Finding the Postal Service's Yellow Brick Road

Commentary by Postcom's Jessica Lowrance and Gene Del Polito
update: the Yellow Brick Road gets rockier every day- see this postscript -

Wednesday, March 25

Call for Help: Postal chief says agency crashing

"Our situation is critical."
Associated Press - click here for the prepared statements of participants at the hearing -

Live webcast of postal oversight hearing

House Oversight Committee web site

Heads to roll at Headquarters??

"PostCom has learned that postal staff at headquarters have been told it would be a good idea if they 'spiffed up' their resumes. An ax could fall on more than a few heads."
Postcom.org

USPS to Face Tough Questions from Congress

NAPS Legislative & Regulatory Update

Former postal worker sentenced

He was opening other people's mail
WLUC TV Marquette MI

Postal Service seeks changes in law to help it cope with financial troubles

Seattle Times

NALC: Postal workers latest victims of economic crisis

Federal News Radio

House subcommittee hearing on postal finances today at 10 AM

Press release

Boulder County post offices adjust to declining volumes

Boulder Daily Camera

Tuesday, March 24

National VER Offering July 31, 2009

"ALL EMPLOYEES except Electronic Technicians (ET); Maintenance Mechanics, Mail Processing Equipment (MPE); Part-time Postmasters"
liteblue.usps.gov

USPS and the Economic Gloom

USPS COO Pat Donahoe interview on Federal News Radio this morning (8 minute .mp3 file)

Will City Delivery Route Consolidation Benefit the USPS?

USPS OIG Blog

Senator Snowe calls on PMG to consider small businesses when reviewing six day delivery options

Press release

Higher postage hits mailing services

El Paso Inc.

Postmaster General to face Congress over compensation

Government Executive

Postal Service Cuts, Chief's Compensation Getting Closer Look

Washington Post

Father says postal worker unfairly told son to remove turban for passport photo

Dallas Morning News

Saturday, March 21

Friday, March 20

Press release on today’s announcement of USPS organizational changes

postalnews blog

USPS announces organizational changes: Six districts to close, 1,400 supervisor jobs cut

postalnews blog

BOG sets three day closed meeting starting March 30

postalnews blog

APWU Files Dispute Over USPS Failure to Create Bargaining Unit Jobs at Greensboro HRSSC

APWU - Industrial Relations

Time Exec says USPS periodical pricing promotes inefficiencies

Postcom.org

Mail carrier aids fallen tree trimmer

Woodland (CA) Daily Democrat

FedEx, UPS brace for slowdown

Associated Press

USPS seeks contractors for Change of Address program

Federal Business Opportunities

Dog bites postal carrier near eye

KYTV Springfield MO video via postalnews.tv

Pay Protection for Mobilized Feds

Federal News Radio

Thursday, March 19

NAPS: Announcements tomorrow on District changes, EAS staffing changes in plants

postalnews blog

No pets allowed in the PO- especially Jeffrey's "squealing, whiny" little dog...

Burbia.com

Mail handlers union receives notification of pending BMC network changes

NPMHU web site (.pdf file)

Get angry? or just laugh...

What's a customer to do when the USPS asks you for inspiration?
Cary Baer commentary for Postcom.org

DA: Man stole $1,000 in fuel from USPS

Newsday

Is the Postmaster General Overpaid?

Paper by Murray Comarow for the National Academy of Public Administration

Podcast: USPS VP Bill Galligan discusses plans to reorganize the USPS distribution network with Postcom's Gene Del Polito

Postcom.org

Flying through his route

Letter carrier has a few tricks to get through his daily eight-mile trek
Evansville Courier Press

APWU takes CPU and maximization disputes to arbitration

APWU - Industrial Relations
Click here for details of the CPU appeal, or here for the maximization dispute.

USPS seeks vendors for Mystery Shopper Program

Federal Business Opportunities

Tuesday, March 17

Post office delays new stamps, citing weak economy

Associated Press

Postal carrier called a hero

Rescues woman trapped in burning house
Fox 59 Indianapolis

Appeals court upholds manager’s demotion for violating contract

Failure to provide information to union cost USPS $28K
postalnews blog

Direct Mail to Become More Targeted

MediaPost Publications

Jury convicts bulk mail clerk in fraud case

Employee conspired with mailer who was also convicted
Saginaw News

NAPUS Guide for Postmasters: "Preventing the Closing or Consolidation of Your Post Office"

NAPUS via Postcom

PRC Commissioner Goldway compares USPS finances to the banking industry

postalnews blog

Modernizing Mailings

New regulations drive adoption of new software, and co-mail initiatives
Graphic Arts Online

Alaska bypass mail rate increase reduced

Anchorage Daily News

Sunday, March 15

Lack of handicapped access at Taunton post office disturbs disabled

Brockton Enterprise

ID theft soaring as woes worsen

"Most of the investigators who deal with identity theft in the Utah Attorney General's Office no longer get mail delivered to their homes..."
Deseret News

Post office keeps its workers coming back

USPS "has several employees who still are working well into their 80s and 90s, including a 90-year-old custodian in Queens and an 89-year-old letter carrier in Birmingham"
South Jersey Courier-Post

Editorial: 'Closed, come back in an hour and 15'

Schenectady Gazette

Thursday, March 12

Facilities optimization: balancing retail, delivery facility space against projected needs

USPS Newslink

Congressman calls for probe of Canton/Akron consolidation plans

Canton Repository

Editorial:Fat paycheck for U.S. postmaster general

Lancaster (PA) New Era

Window clerk pleads guilty to stealing money orders

Helena Independent Record

Commentary: Service shouldn't slip with the higher cost of a stamp

Kansas City Star

When E-Mail Marketing Works And When It Doesn't

Do small businesses still need the post office?
Forbes

Intelligent Mail Readiness Alert

"Meeting critical dates this month will determine whether you will be ready for Intelligent Mail Full Service by November 2009."
Window Book press release

The USPS Still Matters

The Nation

U.S. Postal Service investigation into Amazon continues

Seattle Tech Report

Wednesday, March 11

Detroit APWU sues over involuntary reassignments

Claims union wasn't notified, that light duty carriers continue to do clerk work despite arbitration decisions to the contrary.
US District Court via law360.com

Post Office Betrays Tenderloin; Buys Mansions for Executives

BeyondChron: San Francisco's Alternative Online Daily News

Mailers Council defends PMG's compensation package

Mailers Council press release

Alleged post-office killer tried to cash stamps

San Francisco Chronicle

Mail delays likely as Postal Service cuts routes

Chicago Daily Herald

Clerk: Postal changes will impact voting

Elko (NV) Daily Free Press

Capitol Heights post office cuts hours

Gaithersburg (MD) Gazette

Through rain, sleet, snow — flood?

Holland (MI) Sentinel

Saturday, March 7

Loveland postal carrier faces federal investigation

Fort Collins Coloradan

More on the SC Postmaster's Million Dollar Mansion

The State (Columbia SC) see also:

A Modest Proposal For The United States Postal Service

"To be successful, the USPS needs to bring in new leadership with a renewed focus on service, employee morale, and an efficient operating model."
Mark Fallon, the Berkshire Company

Wednesday, March 4

Ask President Burrus: "Please enlighten us regarding the MVS Memo that has everyone outraged."

APWU web site

Commentary: Congress has more important things to worry about than Potter's pay

Gene Del Polito commentary for Postcom.org

Arkansas OIC pleads guilty to theft of money from local ministry

DOJ Press release

Reader's Digest considers possible bankruptcy

Brand Republic

Massive fire engulfs Ohio PO

Elyria (OH) Chronicle-Telegram

Temp letter carrier dumped mail, stole prescription medications

St. Petersburg Times

USPS releases preliminary financial results for January

confirms $1.1 billion YTD loss as volume decline worsens
postalnews blog

APWU: Dispute Over VER and Severance Pay Appealed to Arbitration

APWU - Industrial Relations
click here for a copy of the appeal documents (pdf file) -

Man sentenced to 13 years for assaulting postal worker

KTAR FM Phoenix

Direct Mail Spending Down in 2008 and Still Falling

Advertising Age

Sunday, March 1

Virginia residents fight to keep rural post office

Richmond Times-Dispatch

Blood Mail

Are you allowed to send your bodily fluids through the post?
Slate Magazine

Study to weigh mail-processing consolidation

Binghamton work could go to Syracuse
Binghamton Press & Sun-Bulletin

Postal Service, museum in dispute over photos

USPS seeks to charge for use of images of taxpayer funded artworks
Philadelphia Inquirer