Rural Mail Carriers Face Changes in a Potential Overhaul of USPS
Washington Post
Friday, December 31
Thursday, December 30
Study says lack of postal reform would be bad for federal budget
'In contrast with the critics of postal reform who have charged that the proposed postal reform legislation would increase the deficit by as much as $1 billion per year, this new analysis shows that not passing postal reform could result in a loss of tax revenues in the $2 billion to $3 billion range.'
Institute for Postal Studies of the Envelope Manufacturers Association's Foundation
Institute for Postal Studies of the Envelope Manufacturers Association's Foundation
Wednesday, December 29
USPS Issues October, November Financials
'Year- to- date, Total Mail Volume is 7.5% or 2.7 billion pieces above SPLY. The most significant mail volume increase above SPLY for November FY 2005 YTD is in the lower revenue- per- piece Standard Mail category, which increased 2.0 billion pieces or 11.4%. YTD, First- Class Mail volume is 4.0% more than SPLY, generating $139 million or 2.3% more revenue than SPLY.
Total workhours for November, 2004 YTD are 2.4 million hours or 1.0% above SPLY. This increase in workhours is a reflection of the growth in mail volumes. YTD, the largest contributors to the workhours growth to SPLY were in City Delivery and Rural Delivery workhours. Combined, these operations were 3.5 million hours above SPLY.'
USPS web site
Total workhours for November, 2004 YTD are 2.4 million hours or 1.0% above SPLY. This increase in workhours is a reflection of the growth in mail volumes. YTD, the largest contributors to the workhours growth to SPLY were in City Delivery and Rural Delivery workhours. Combined, these operations were 3.5 million hours above SPLY.'
USPS web site
Tuesday, December 28
Monday, December 27
Sunday, December 26
Friday, December 24
Thursday, December 23
Wednesday, December 22
Tuesday, December 21
NAPS President Vincent Palladino Dies
'It is with profound regret and deep sorrow that we announce the passing of President Vincent Palladino. Vince passed away suddenly this morning, December 20, 2004, at his home in Arlington, VA.'
NAPS web site
NAPS has also announced that calling hours will be from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Wednesday and Thursday at Colonial Funeral Home, 2819 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Mary's Church, 1101 Bay St., Staten Island, with burial to follow at Moravian Cemetary.
NAPS web site
NAPS has also announced that calling hours will be from 2-4 and 7-9 PM on Wednesday and Thursday at Colonial Funeral Home, 2819 Hylan Blvd, Staten Island, NY. A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at St Mary's Church, 1101 Bay St., Staten Island, with burial to follow at Moravian Cemetary.
Monday, December 20
Sunday, December 19
Saturday, December 18
Is History Repeating Itself?
'In the mid-1980s and early 1990s, the nation experienced extraordinary budget deficits... The Presidents of that era, Reagan and George H.W. Bush, in concert with a Democratic controlled House enacted legislation that had a devastating affect on the USPS... Currently, the postal community fears that history is about to repeat itself... The question is: Will deficit reduction hold postal reform hostage?'
NAPUS Legislative Newsletter
NAPUS Legislative Newsletter
Friday, December 17
USPS Releases Financial & Operating Statements for Fiscal Year 2004
Adobe Acrobat file. Click here for Excel spreadsheet version.
USPS web site
USPS web site
Thursday, December 16
Preparing to take a licking
As 1st-class mail ebbs, Postal Service says it will need help to compete
Newark Star Ledger
Newark Star Ledger
Psychiatrist attacks carrier's claims in Fargo harassment trial
Fargo Forum
More on the story from the AP
More on the story from the AP
Wednesday, December 15
'Postal Plus' really wasn't...
Some Kingman area postal customers were left high and dry recently when some 300 packages were not shipped from a local business.
Kingman (ID) Daily Miner
Kingman (ID) Daily Miner
Tuesday, December 14
Monday, December 13
USPS issues final RPW reports for FY 2004
First class mail was down 1.1% for the year, while standard was up by 5.2%. There was almost as much Standard Mail (95.6 billion pieces) as First Class (97.9 billion) in the system for the year. Express Mail dropped 3.1%, Priority was down 1.3%. Package services were about the same as the prior year. Overall, domestic mail revenue increased by $59 million, on a volume increase of 3.9 billion pieces, or about a penny and a half revenue for each additional piece of mail.
Saturday, December 11
Friday, December 10
Thursday, December 9
DHL Starts Program With Independent Shipping Stores
DMNews.com
More on the story from The St Petersburg Times
More on the story from The St Petersburg Times
Wednesday, December 8
USPS Issues strong financial report for FY '04; Issues cautionary note
Press release
Click here to download a copy of CFO Richard Strasser's presentation to the USPS Board.
Click here to download a copy of CFO Richard Strasser's presentation to the USPS Board.
Tuesday, December 7
Monday, December 6
Saturday, December 4
Friday, December 3
Rate hike impacts would be far-reaching
'The postal service is big business,' said Maynard Benjamin, president and CEO of the Envelope Manufacturers Association (EMA). 'It is 7 percent of the GNP and it accounts for 9 million jobs. Now we want to put 1.6 million jobs at risk because we want the rate payer to fund things not directly related to postal service.'
Chicago Business Ledger
Chicago Business Ledger
NAPUS Legislative Newsletter
The E-NAPUS Legislative Newsletter includes a concise discussion of postal cost allocation- sounds boring, but it's critical for the USPS and its customers.
NAPUS web site (Adobe .pdf file)
NAPUS web site (Adobe .pdf file)
Thursday, December 2
Wednesday, December 1
Tuesday, November 30
Monday, November 29
Saturday, November 27
Friday, November 26
Thursday, November 25
Town receives a special delivery flag: Letter carrier sends Stars and Stripes from Iraq
MetroWest (MA) Daily News
Working: Each day is casual to some U.S. Postal Service folks
'There's no mail today because it's a federal holiday. But Ricky Hurt will be working. He's a 'casual' or temporary U.S. Postal Service worker and he doesn't get holidays off... Even though he's a so-called 'casual' worker, Hurt has been working for the Postal Service since July 2002 handling and sorting mail.'
Houston Chronicle
Houston Chronicle
Wednesday, November 24
Tuesday, November 23
USPS seeks approval of experimental premium forwarding service
Postal rate Commission web site (Adobe pdf document)
Monday, November 22
Looking to recharge the Postal Service
Technology provides a blessing and a curse for the U.S. Postal Service's future
Federal Computer Week
Federal Computer Week
Sunday, November 21
Saturday, November 20
Friday, November 19
News from the NEC: Officers retiring...
According to Postcom.org: 'From the USPS Executive's Conference: Retiring effective January 1, 2005 will be: John Rapp, VP Operations; John Wargo, Vice President, Service and Market Development; Francia Smith, Consumer Advocate; and Donna Peak'
Thursday, November 18
Anthrax attack site bustling with construction activity
'More than three years after becoming a focal point of the nation's first bioterrorist attack, the cavernous mail processing and distribution center in Hamilton, NJ, has evolved into a bustling construction site.'
Trenton Times
Trenton Times
How Bush sees 'postal reform'
Postcom.org has posted what it says is a copy of what 'the White House told the House and Senate postal leaders it expected to see in a postal reform bill'. Most puzzling statement in the document is this:' The Administration believes that the Postal Service, not ratepayers, must continue to be responsible for its pension costs connected with military service credit for postal employees under [CSRS]'. (If the money doesn't come from ratepayers.....?) And given the ballooning federal deficit, the White House will apparently try to keep the USPS's overpayment of it's CSRS retirement liability.
Wednesday, November 17
Tuesday, November 16
Monday, November 15
USA Today
Sunday, November 14
Friday, November 12
Thursday, November 11
Wednesday, November 10
Tuesday, November 9
Postal Revamping Returned to Senders
Without a Bill Soon, a Double-Digit Rate Hike Is Likely in 2006, Advocates Say
Washington Post
Washington Post
New postal rule eases restrictions on use of personal data in standard mailings
Association of Fundraising Professionals
Monday, November 8
Sunday, November 7
Saturday, November 6
What the election results mean for Postmasters
"This flexing of regional electoral power was key for Republicans and included a strong message for Postmasters. The red areas, those counties that decided the election, are postal reliant. NAPUS will remind our elected leaders about the importance of guaranteeing universal mail services to rural America. Voters and businesses that send or receive mail in these areas have little choice other than the USPS."
"On the day that President Bush declared victory, he made two 'recess appointments' to the Postal Board of Governors. As anticipated, the President appointed Carolyn Gallagher and Louis Guilano. The two new Board members would serve for one year, pending Senate confirmation for a full term. Governor Jim Miller is approaching the one-year anniversary of his recess appointment, which means that he will be off the Board unless the President renominates him and the Senate confirms him."
E-NAPUS Legislative Newsletter
"On the day that President Bush declared victory, he made two 'recess appointments' to the Postal Board of Governors. As anticipated, the President appointed Carolyn Gallagher and Louis Guilano. The two new Board members would serve for one year, pending Senate confirmation for a full term. Governor Jim Miller is approaching the one-year anniversary of his recess appointment, which means that he will be off the Board unless the President renominates him and the Senate confirms him."
E-NAPUS Legislative Newsletter
Friday, November 5
Windy Weather Blamed for New Jersey Postal Worker's Death
"A large tree fell Friday on a postal service truck, killing the driver. The 50-foot maple tree was apparently rotting at the base. The victim is identified as Julio Cruz, a 44-year-old postal worker. Cruz, a father of three who lived in West New York, New Jersey, was employed out of the post office in nearby Ridgewood. Police say a doctor appeared on the scene immediately after the tree fell, but it was too late to save the Cruz. The fatal accident was reported at 11:40 a.m. at 402 Godwin Avenue, near Maltbie Road in Midland Park, Bergen County."
WNBC TV New York
Thursday, November 4
Mailers Unsure About USPS Reform in New Congress
"Despite the likely return of key members of Congress, mailer groups were unsure how much this would translate into postal reform in the next session. They were also unsure about the depth of the White House's commitment to reform."
DIRECT
DIRECT
South Carolina Postal Workers Hospitalized after Becoming Ill; 25 More are Quarantined
"As many as nine postal workers were transported to Oconee Memorial Hospital today after they became sick at work. Authorities don't know if their illnesses are connected to a leaking package that was removed earlier in the day by a hazardous materials team and turned over to the FBI."
FOX Carolina TV
FOX Carolina TV
Commentary: It's Time to Attend to the Nation's Postal Business
Gene Del Polito commentary for Postcom.org
Wednesday, November 3
Tuesday, November 2
Postal Service and Postal Service Make Nice
'When the behemoth U.S. Postal Service found out that a young rock band had named itself "Postal Service," executives weren't happy. They sent a cease-and-desist letter to the band's label, Seattle-based independent Sub Pop Records. But what began as an argument over name rights turned into the mail-delivering institution's first cross-promotional music deal.'
Advertising Age
Advertising Age
ACLU Sues Over Late Absentee Ballots
Absentee ballots mailed by Florida elections supervisors too late for possibly thousands of voters to return them on time should still count, the American Civil Liberties Union argued in a federal lawsuit filed Tuesday. (See below for more on Florida's late-mailed ballots)
Associated Press
Associated Press
9/11 Postage Overdue
"Federal bureaucrats are sitting on more than $10 million raised over the past 21/2 years through the sale of "Heroes" postal stamps for families of rescuers killed or permanently disabled on 9/11."
New York Post
New York Post
Iowa: Postal Service Swamped With Political Mail
"Candidates are having no trouble when it comes to filling your mailbox but the letter carriers sure are. In some cases you may have noticed your mail arriving late for the last two weeks. The postal service now handles up to three times the amount of daily mail all because of politics."
KCRG TV Cedar Rapids
Postal Service Receives about 8,000 Absentee Ballots Over The Weekend from Broward and West Palm Beach Counties Days Before the Election
"Many Ballots Unsealed and Some Destined for Out-of-State Addresses" click here for video footage of ballots being mailed on Saturday, provided by the USPS.
Monday, November 1
Postal Service tinkers with managers' salaries
"Postmasters' incentive pay - the amount they earn above their base salary for exceptional performance - will soon be subject to slightly different standards."
Government Executive
Government Executive
Commentary: Pony Express Rides Again
"The Postal Service, utilizing enhanced CDs and hardcopy delivery, is the best way to reach targeted consumers with interactive multimedia."
Todd Butler, CEO, Butler Mailing Service, on Postcom.org
Todd Butler, CEO, Butler Mailing Service, on Postcom.org
USPS works through the weekend to deliver election mail
Statement of Azeezaly Jaffer, USPS VP, Public Affairs and Communications
Sunday, October 31
Friday, October 29
USPS posts employee statistics
The Postal Rate Commission web site has the latest 'On Rolls and Paid Employees' (ORPES) report, summarizing the USPS career workforce. This report is to be posted bi-weekly on the site in the future. The USPS last week posted a more detailed report, the 'Active Employee Statistical Summary'.
UPS Raises Shipping Rates
"Rates for UPS Ground, UPS Next Day Air, UPS 2nd Day Air, UPS 3 Day Select and U.S. international services will rise 2.9 percent."
DMNews.com
DMNews.com
Internal e-mail reveals Postal Service may have mishandled ballots
"The same day postal officials publicly denied responsibility for 58,000 missing absentee ballots, an internal e-mail sent by the South Florida District Manager to his employees expressed concern that his staff was not handling ballots within the region properly."
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
South Florida Sun-Sentinel
Florida County Plays Down Missing Ballots Scare
Fears that thousands of absentee election ballots had gone astray in a hotly contested Florida county appear to have been allayed on Thursday when officials said a far small number were missing.
Reuters
Reuters
Thursday, October 28
U.S. Postal Service selects Israeli scanning and tracking systems
"The USPS has selected Motorola Israel from among nine competitors to provide $300 million in scanning and tracking systems over the next three years."
Arutz Sheva
Arutz Sheva
ICANN approves .post domain
"The Universal Postal Union in Bern, Switzerland, wants ".post" for national postal services, local post offices, business partners and stamp collectors around the world. Private companies that provide postal services, such as Federal Express and UPS, also would be eligible."
Domain Times
Domain Times
Florida postal inspectors hunt for missing ballots
An update on the missing absentee ballots in Broward County, from the Jurist weblog at the University of Pittsburgh Law School... and click here to read the USPS press release denying any "backlog of absentee ballots in Postal Service facilities".
Mailer Groups Mixed on New USPS Standard Mail Rules
"Mailing industry observers gave mixed reactions to the U.S. Postal Service's new rules for standard mail eligibility and centralized structure for making pricing and classification decisions. In a press conference Wednesday, USPS VP Stephen Kearney unveiled new rules governing what mailings qualify for standard mail (as opposed to the more expensive first class)."
DIRECT
DIRECT
USPS Board Accepts PRC's Decision on Discover NSA
DMNews.com
click here to view the text of the Board's decision.
click here to view the text of the Board's decision.
Wednesday, October 27
USPS publishes new Standard Mail eligibility standards
The revised standards clarify the circumstances in which mail containing 'personal' information may be eligible for Standard Mail, rather than First-Class Mail, rates. The USPS also published yesterday a proposed rule 'to require an endorsement requesting forwarding or return on certain mailpieces containing checks sent at Standard Mail postage rates.'
Federal Register
Federal Register
Broward officials blame U.S. Postal Service over missing ballots
Broward County officials blamed the USPS Tuesday for misplacing nearly half of the absentee ballots requested in the county, as frustrated voters trying to find out what happened overwhelmed phone lines at the elections office.
Associated Press
Associated Press
Postal unions address cutbacks
Budget cutbacks are accomplishing what neither rain nor snow nor gloom of night could do: making the mail late and a mailbox harder to find. That's according to officials with three unions, who charged yesterday that Postal Service cutbacks have led to slower deliveries and fewer collection boxes on Manhattan sidewalks.
New York Daily News
New York Daily News
Delayed Maine plant project restarting
A sprawling mail-processing plant planned for the Scarborough-South Portland line is moving forward after a two-year delay.
Portland Press Herald
Portland Press Herald
Tuesday, October 26
USPS faces first USERRA appeal
"In the Postal Service case, the reservist alleged that his military duties were the motivating factor in his dismissal from a 16-week associate supervisory training program. The Labor Department's Veterans' Employment and Training Service - which is the first office to see veterans' employment cases - determined that the complaint had merit, but the agency could not reach a settlement with the Postal Service. The case was then turned over to OSC."
Government Executive
Government Executive
Postal managers may face tougher performance-pay standards in ’05
"The U.S. Postal Service and leaders of postal management organizations are considering tougher standards for pay-for-performance raises in fiscal 2005. ... [NAPS President Vince] Palladino said that under draft goals, higher percentages of second-day Priority mail, overnight, second-day and third-day first-class mail must be delivered on time. The number of sick days and accidents in fiscal 2005 must be lower than the previous year. There would be no change in the next-day Express mail delivery rates, Palladino said."
Federal Times
Federal Times
Monday, October 25
Saturday, October 23
NALC responds to Bush accusations against letter carriers
The Bush campaign has accused carriers of "failing to deliver election mail in Florida and other states 'from homes that appear Republican'". NALC President Bill Young responded "It is a shame the Bush-Cheney campaign chose to denigrate the reputation of hard-working letter carriers across the nation by publicizing these unsubstantiated rumors without any evidence of their validity. The Bush-Cheney campaign owes every letter carrier in America an apology."
Click on comments to read the text of the Bush letter.
Click on comments to read the text of the Bush letter.
Is time right for bulk-mail pictorial permits?
"If the photo-stamp experiment is not revived, Vermont stamp collector John A. Lutz thinks his idea for a form of personalized postage could be a likely replacement, especially for bulk mailers. The photo-stamp project, which was operated experimentally by Stamps.com of Los Angeles, ended Sept. 30 after seven weeks. The United States Postal Service is evaluating the program. For three decades, Lutz, publisher of a line of high-priced stamp albums, has been championing the use of pictorial bulk-mail permits."
Postal Employees Invited to Join Class-Action Suit on 'Clock Rings'
"Postal employees have been invited to join a lawsuit against the Postal Service if their clock rings were arbitrarily deleted by management in order to avoid overtime pay. Private attorneys representing four postal employees – including two APWU members – have filed a lawsuit against the USPS, and are seeking to establish the suit as a nationwide class action."
APWU News Bulletin
APWU News Bulletin
Railway mail clerk witnesses end of an era
Retired RPO clerk reminisces about the end of the Railway Post Office service, thirty-seven years ago this month.
Wytheville (VA) Enterprise
Wytheville (VA) Enterprise
Friday, October 22
Deputy PMG Says Agency Working on PhotoStamps Decision
The U.S. Postal Service is evaluating whether it will let Stamps.com continue offering PhotoStamps, according to deputy postmaster general John Nolan, speaking at the Direct Marketing Association's fall conference.
DMNews.com
DMNews.com
UPS Net Income Rises 20% in Q3
"United Parcel Service reported solid third-quarter growth yesterday, with revenue rising 7.7 percent and net income increasing 20.4 percent. For the three months ended Sept. 30, worldwide average daily volume rose by 445,000 packages to 13.7 million, or 3.4 percent."
DMNews.com
DMNews.com
Thursday, October 21
NALC preparing national grievances on DOIS and COR
"I have asked the CAU to prepare national level Interpretive Step grievances protesting the use of the DOIS and the COR programs," Young said. "I am deeply troubled that the Postal Service is making a number of important decisions on the basis of information contained in these two systems that I think is flawed."
NALC President Bill Young in the NALC Bulletin
NALC President Bill Young in the NALC Bulletin
Advo 4Q Profit Falls 10 Percent
"Direct mail company Advo Inc. reported Thursday that fourth-quarter earnings fell 10 percent because of start up costs at new facilities in Southern California and Pittsburgh and minor losses from Florida hurricanes, but still beat analysts' estimates for the quarter."
Press release
Press release
Clerk Delivers Joy to Berkeley (CA) Post Office Regulars
When Tom Citron says he'll buy you dinner if you catch him in a bad mood, it's not an idle promise. "I mean a nice dinner," Citron explains, "I know some excellent chefs in San Francisco. We're not talking McDonalds."
North Gate News Online
North Gate News Online
Wednesday, October 20
Commentary: Postal Reform: There's More Work to Do
"The good news in the fight for postal reform is that there has been more legislative progress during the current session of Congress than there has been since John McHugh started the crusade in 1995."
DMA Government Affairs committee chair John Van Horn writing in Catalog Age
DMA Government Affairs committee chair John Van Horn writing in Catalog Age
Decision Time
"You need to dig deep to determine whether a second George W. Bush presidency or a John Kerry presidency would be best for catalog businesses. The key political issues of concern to catalogers — use taxes, postal affairs, privacy regulation — obviously aren't commanding the same attention as the war in Iraq, terrorism, or unemployment rates."
Catalog Age
Catalog Age
Getting better at going postal
"Pitney Bowes is using new technology to take the mailroom to places where it's never been."
Reuters
Reuters
What Can We Expect With The Next Rate Case Filing?
"Current projections point to increases that will average between seven percent and 12 percent across all classes of mail. Obviously, if those are the average numbers, some rates will increase more while other rates will experience smaller increases. Unfortunately, it looks like Periodicals and Standard Mail will be hit the hardest."
Commentary by Joe Schick, Director of Postal Affairs, Quad/Graphics
Commentary by Joe Schick, Director of Postal Affairs, Quad/Graphics
You've got political mail: facing the campaign flood
"One piece looks like an express envelope sent overnight, complete with a tracking number and the signature of the sender: Democrat John Kerry. Another has a voter-registration application folded inside a card featuring an image of Ronald Reagan, the popular Republican president who died this year after a long battle with Alzheimer's...."
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Cleveland Plain Dealer
Stamps.com Q3 Financials Conference Call Tomorrow
The call will be webcast via the the Investor Relations website.
Press release
Press release
Tuesday, October 19
USPS International VP to Lead Group in Global Postal Congress
USPS Vice President of International Business, James Wade, has been elected chairman of the Postal Operations Council of the Universal Postal Union
Press release
Press release
Backlog at border delaying international mail: Canada Post
"As many as 150,000 packages – about 45 tractor-trailer loads – are waiting to clear customs at the Vancouver processing plant. Post office officials say they understand the need for tight security, but say a five week delay is just too much."
CBC
CBC
Why FedEx Is Flying High
"Take one eerily prescient CEO. Stir in some savvy acquisitions. Execute like no one else. Result: returns that soar above the pack."
Fortune
Fortune
Military post office workers help build morale in Iraq
"In a deployed environment, morale is very important and comes in many forms, shapes and sizes, but often by mail."
Air Force Link
Air Force Link
Monday, October 18
Phone, e-mail Get Top ROI in New DMA Survey
Call it a study in contrasts. Americans have signed up for the Do Not Call List in droves, but people are still responding to the ring. A Direct Marketing Association response rate survey released yesterday put telephone marketing at the top of the chart for ROI, with a 5.78% average response rate.
DIRECT
DIRECT
Charities protest Combined Federal Campaign rule for employee "terrorism" checks
One of the largest national nonprofit associations in the United States on Oct. 12 condemned the Combined Federal Campaign’s requirement for participating charities to check their employees against terrorist watch lists.
Federal Times
In a related story, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported last month that "The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has warned 12 big charity coalitions that raise money through the Combined Federal Campaign that they have violated federal regulations and must fix problems in their operations or risk getting kicked out of the drive."
Federal Times
In a related story, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported last month that "The U.S. Office of Personnel Management has warned 12 big charity coalitions that raise money through the Combined Federal Campaign that they have violated federal regulations and must fix problems in their operations or risk getting kicked out of the drive."
Saturday, October 16
Friday, October 15
Direct marketers feeling the pressure from spam filters and the do not call list are going back to traditional direct mail
Crain's B to B magazine reports in the October issue that DM spending is up, "but the real excitement is centered around good old-fashioned direct mail". The article cautions that "The key factor that could slow down direct mail's growth is a postal rate increase. Postal reform, which made significant progress last year because of the work of a presidential commission, has stalled in both chambers of Congress."
FBI increases reward in ricin case
"The FBI has increased a reward to $120,000 for information leading to an arrest of anyone responsible for leaving a package containing the deadly poison ricin at a South Carolina postal facility a year ago."
Charlotte Observer
Charlotte Observer
Leaking insecticide sickened postal workers
"A chemical that sickened several postal workers and closed a mail annex for several hours Wednesday night was identified as Diazinon, an insecticide banned from residential use."
Rocky Mountain News
Rocky Mountain News
White Powder Still Making News 3 Years Later
"It has been three years since anthrax infiltrated the U.S. mail system, and it's still on the minds of many as reports of white powder close offices, newspapers, postal facilities and mail firms around the country on a weekly basis."
DMNews.com
DMNews.com
Thursday, October 14
Police, postal workers and worried wife watch carrier deliver mail
"The worried wife of a postal employee drives down Clanton Street. U.S. Postal Service officials canvas one block, Shreveport police patrol the other. All to ensure that the letter carrier is out of harm's way while delivering mail in the 1400 and 1500 blocks of the Caddo Heights street."
Shreveport Times
Shreveport Times
PRC OKs Priority Mail Flat-Rate Box Test
The Postal Rate Commission approved the U.S. Postal Service's proposal for a two-year experiment to test two flat-rate Priority Mail boxes. The rate for the boxes is $7.70, regardless of package weight and destination. The USPS chose the rate for customer convenience: Two Priority Mail $3.85 stamps will cover the postage exactly, with no need to look up zone charts or weigh the parcel. Consumers or businesses, however, can put any type of stamps or meter strips on the boxes.
DMNews.com
DMNews.com
PRC Backs Discover NSA
The Postal Rate Commission approved the U.S. Postal Service's proposal for a three-year negotiated service agreement with Discover Financial Services Inc.
DMNews.com
DMNews.com
Trashing this program means everybody loses
A local Postal Service program that salvaged books, merchandise and CDs from piles of dead mail has been killed by a new manager. The program, created in 1998 by employees at the Tacoma Processing and Distribution Center, generated thousands of dollars in donations to nonprofit agencies and saved thousands of dollars in landfill fees.
Tacoma News Tribune
Tacoma News Tribune
Wednesday, October 13
Postage Behind New Mexico Voter Ballot Scam
The Albuquerque Journal reports in its print edition that voters casting absentee ballots are receiving telephone calls "telling them the postage is wrong, then offering to pick up the ballots in an attempt to make sure votes for their respective candidate or interest get in". The USPS and the county clerk's office say the calls are some kind of scam, and that the postage on the ballots is correct- the newspaper was unable to track down the callers.
Postal plant closures mean delays for parcel delivery in Canada
The Calgary Herald reports that "a change in how the U.S. Postal Service routes packages into Western Canada means it's probably a good time for Calgary Christmas shoppers to buy Canadian." The story says that "Calgary is in for its first holiday season without a postal clearing house that handles American parcels". It quotes a spokesman for the Canada Border Services Agency as saying that the USPS opted not to ship parcels to Calgary or Winnipeg, so incoming mail centers there have been closed.
Calgary Herald (subsciption site)
Calgary Herald (subsciption site)
Hamilton P&D slowly recovering from anthrax attack, cleanup
"Three years after Mercer County learned it was the starting point for the nation's first bioterrorism attack, the Route 130 mail facility where at least four anthrax-laced letters were processed slowly is returning to life. The first-known anthrax letters were postmarked Sept. 18, but it wasn't until three years ago today that officials announced the letters passed through the U.S. Postal Service's Route 130 mail distribution and processing facility in Hamilton."
Trenton Times
Trenton Times
Postmasters to Connect with Local Businesses
"USPS is launching a new program that will reward Postmasters for connecting with their local businesses. The effort is an extension of Customer Connect and seeks to educate local businesses on USPS.com and how it can serve all business segments. The new program intends to use Postmasters and station managers to create awareness of USPS.com with businesses and business leaders."
Postmasters.org
Postmasters.org
Lawmakers doubt Bush's commitment to postal reform
"Lawmakers of both parties are frustrated by the White House’s inaction on legislation to overhaul the way the U.S. Postal Service operates. House Government Reform Chairman Tom Davis, R-Va., is frustrated that the White House does not appear to recognize the urgency of reforming the Postal Service and has not lent its clout to advance the bills, said Davis spokesman David Marin."
Federal Times
Federal Times
ADVO Declares Quarterly Dividend
ADVO announced today that its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly cash dividend of $0.11 per share of common stock payable on November 5, 2004, to stockholders of record on October 22, 2004.
Press release
Press release
Tuesday, October 12
Royal Mail could be privatised during next parliament
"Any sell-off of the Royal Mail would be contentious, sparking a clash with trade unionists. The Communication Workers Union is looking for assurance that there will be no sale. Allan Leighton, the Royal Mail chairman, is said to favour a partial sell-off with workers getting shares as part of a motivation package."
DMBulletin
DMBulletin
Monday, October 11
Armed robbers hit Tennessee Post Office: $25,000 reward is offered
A reward of $25,000 is being offered for information leading to the arrest and conviction of two men who robbed a Tennessee Post Office at gunpoint last Wednesday.
Tullahoma (TN) News
Growing Global Mail: Opportunities and Obstacles
Commentary by Michael J. Critelli, Chairman/CEO of Pitney Bowes Inc for DMNews.com
Saturday, October 9
Postal carriers aid search for child
Postal carriers distributed nearly 60,000 fliers as the search continued yesterday for 3-year-old Tyreek Davis, who was last seen with his mother's boyfriend more than a week ago.
Richmond Times Dispatch
Richmond Times Dispatch
Customers say good bye to letter carrier/reservist being deployed overseas
Residents give a temporary good-bye to McKeesport postal worker Francis Rozgonyi who's set to be deployed by the military.
McKeesport (PA) Daily News
Commentary: Did PhotoStamps Have to be Cancelled?
"At a time when first-class mail use has been declining, and is facing further declines in the years to come, if a few miscreants want to spend more than twice the cost of a stamp to put controversial figures on 'em, power to them."
DIRECT
DIRECT
Friday, October 8
Wales: Panic-attack postman hid 110 mailbags
A postman who delayed almost 25,000 postal packets when he could not cope with the job was sentenced to eight months in jail suspended for two years today.
ic Wales
ic Wales
Appropriations Shortage Could Hurt USPS
"Most mailers are aware that the size of a postage rate increase in 2006 could grow heavily if postal reform legislation is not signed into law during this session of Congress. What they might not know is that the current lack of funding in both the House and Senate postal appropriations bills could force postage rates to rise even higher."
DMNews.com
DMNews.com
Ex-Postal Official Admits Taking Nearly $800,000 in Bribes
A former purchasing specialist for the U.S. Postal Service pleaded guilty yesterday to accepting nearly $800,000 in bribes from businesses that received preferential treatment on printing contracts.
Washington Post
Washington Post
Merck will pay UPS costs to return Vioxx
"Merck had instructed buyers to return unused pills in the original pharmacy packaging, along with the receipt, by U.S. mail for a refund. But USPS rules allow only manufacturers, pharmacies and licensed vendors to mail prescription drugs. Merck spokeswoman Anita Larsen said the company had gotten complaints about mailing problems, and, starting today, will change its refund instructions."
St Louis Post Dispatch
St Louis Post Dispatch
Thursday, October 7
Wednesday, October 6
APWU posts election updates
The APWU is posting results of their national election as ballots are counted: "Unofficial results are being posted and will be updated frequently. Official results will be posted as soon as they are certified by the Election Committee, and will be published in the November/December edition of The American Postal Worker."
Letter carriers overtake clerks
According to the August payroll report of the Postal Service, dated September 6, there were 228,016 city letter carriers on the rolls and 226,984 clerks, making city carriers the largest USPS craft.
NALC Bulletin
NALC Bulletin
Tuesday, October 5
UPS to Acquire Menlo Worldwide Forwarding
UPS acquires the CNF subsidiary that formerly operated the USPS Priority Mail Processing Centers.
Press release
Press release
USPS publishes August Financial Results
The USPS reported net income of $32 million in August. With one month left to report for the fiscal year, net income for the year stood at $2.8 billion, with revenue virtually flat compared to 2003, and expenses up by 2.1%.
Lockheed Martin Wins Big U.S. Postal Service Contract
Lockheed Martin has been chosen by the U.S. Postal Service to provide managed network services in a potential $6 billion deal. Under the program, the postal service will integrate all postal data communications networks including the wide area network (WAN) and local area networks (LAN) into a single network service.
Washington Business Journal
Washington Business Journal
Monday, October 4
Stamp has Utahn on cloud 9
Deseret News
Click on the stamp image for more information on the Cloudscapes series from USPS.com
Click on the stamp image for more information on the Cloudscapes series from USPS.com
Saturday, October 2
Friday, October 1
Thursday, September 30
BOG Changes quorum rules
Yesterday's Federal Register contained a notice that the USPS Board of Governors has changed its rules for determining a quorum, lowering the number of governors required for voting on rate decisions from five to four. The Board is intended to have nine members (in addition to the Postmaster General and Deputy PMG, who serve ex officio, and are not included in votes on rates). The board currently has only six members, one of whom, James C. Miller III, is a "recess" appointee, whose term will expire at the end of this year's Senate session unless he is confirmed. Chairman S. David Fineman's term actually expired last December, but was, in the absence of a confirmed successor, extended for a year.
Without the change, the BOG ran the risk of being unable to make rate decisions after December.
Without the change, the BOG ran the risk of being unable to make rate decisions after December.
Postcom plans Washington ''Tea Party'
Gene Del Polito in war paint? In a follow up to yesterday's call to mailers to lobby Congress for postal reform, Postcom.org today has this:
CALL TO ACTION!
POSTAL PATRIOTS
COME TO A “WASHINGTON TEA PARTY”
HELP PREVENT AN UNNECESSARY RATE INCREASE!
YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET FLEECED!!
"Time is running out, and Congress may leave town before considering the issues causing upward rate pressure. Don’t let it happen! An unnecessary, capricious postal rate taxation looms on the horizon if we remain complacent. Postal ratepayers will be forced to pay an onerous, discriminatory tax in excess of $6 billion for no good reason.
This is wrong! Plan to attend this emergency meeting on Friday, October 1, 2004 at 1:00pm at:
The Carmen Group Offices 1301 K Street Eighth Floor East.
PostCom Chairman Vince Giuliano and President Gene Del Polito will outline the challenge and steps that need to be taken by us now!"
Stay tuned!
POSTAL PATRIOTS
COME TO A “WASHINGTON TEA PARTY”
HELP PREVENT AN UNNECESSARY RATE INCREASE!
YOU'RE ABOUT TO GET FLEECED!!
"Time is running out, and Congress may leave town before considering the issues causing upward rate pressure. Don’t let it happen! An unnecessary, capricious postal rate taxation looms on the horizon if we remain complacent. Postal ratepayers will be forced to pay an onerous, discriminatory tax in excess of $6 billion for no good reason.
This is wrong! Plan to attend this emergency meeting on Friday, October 1, 2004 at 1:00pm at:
The Carmen Group Offices 1301 K Street Eighth Floor East.
PostCom Chairman Vince Giuliano and President Gene Del Polito will outline the challenge and steps that need to be taken by us now!"
Stay tuned!
Wednesday, September 29
PhotoStamps to cease taking orders
Stamps.com was asked today by the U.S. Postal Service to conclude its market test and to cease taking customer orders for PhotoStamps(TM) as of October 1, 2004 "We are disappointed with this outcome as it puts the PhotoStamps program into a state of limbo as the holiday season approaches, however we acknowledge the Postal Service's request to evaluate the program before additional orders are taken," said Stamps.com president and CEO Ken McBride.
An estimated 100,000 sheets, or 2,000,000 individual PhotoStamps, ordered during the approximately seven weeks of the market test which began with the public launch on August 10.
Press release
An estimated 100,000 sheets, or 2,000,000 individual PhotoStamps, ordered during the approximately seven weeks of the market test which began with the public launch on August 10.
Press release
Report: Postal reform too expensive for Bush?
According to the Postcom.org web site, "Word has it that the Administration has told the House government reform committee chairman that it would strongly oppose his postal reform bill -- that it does not provide enough reform to justify the budget cost."
Postcom has also posted this suggested letter for mailers to send to Congress, with the admonition: "Unless Congress acts quickly to prevent it, the stage will soon be set for the Postal Service to propose and pass on to postal ratepayers one the most needless and punishing postal rate increases in American postal history. It's time to act. The business you save could be your own."
Postcom has also posted this suggested letter for mailers to send to Congress, with the admonition: "Unless Congress acts quickly to prevent it, the stage will soon be set for the Postal Service to propose and pass on to postal ratepayers one the most needless and punishing postal rate increases in American postal history. It's time to act. The business you save could be your own."
Tuesday, September 28
Monday, September 27
Under the Radar Screen
"There should be no doubt that under Postmaster General Jack Potter's leadership the U.S. Postal Service has learned how to spot and cut out some of its own fat. Potter's USPS is much leaner than it's been under any PMG before him."
Gene Del Polito in DIRECT
Gene Del Polito in DIRECT
Hurricane Impacts Mail Service in Florida
"Hurricane Jeanne is working her way through Florida resulting in plant and customer service facility closures along her path. As Jeanne moves through the state, this site will be updated with closure information. Mailers are advised that drop shipment appointments into most plants and customer service facilities in Florida are suspended and that drivers should not attempt to deliver a drop shipment without telephone confirmation."
USPS.com Service Updates web site
USPS.com Service Updates web site
View From the DM Right
"Richard Viguerie, one of the most conservative thinkers in this country, has performed an important service for Howard Dean and John Kerry. No, he hasn't become a liberal at this late stage. But he did develop the direct mail art that elected Ronald Reagan and enabled the GOP to take Congress in 1994. And he feels that liberals have since caught up."
DIRECT
DIRECT
Sunday, September 26
Nation's largest direct mail company seeks even greater growth
Advo Inc., the largest direct-mail marketer in the United States, sends out half a billion pieces of mail a week, 27 billion a year.
Associated Press
Associated Press
Saturday, September 25
Postage Experiment Faces Cancellation
More on the shaky future of PhotoStamps, from the Washington Post.
Friday, September 24
IG questions workers on Postal Service VP’s involvement in contract
The U.S. Postal Service’s inspector general has questioned witnesses about whether an agency vice president improperly aided a company bidding on a $635 million contract to manage seven call centers.
Federal Times
Federal Times
Thursday, September 23
Galligan is new VP for Delivery
Postmaster General Jack Potter announced the selection of Bill Galligan Vice President, Delivery and Retail. Galligan has been acting in the position since November 2003. He has held a variety of USPS positions in Connecticut throughout his career, most recently serving as Connecticut District Manager.
APWU Publishes Potential Excessing Impacts
Click on the headline for a brief explanation from the APWU on Article 12 Impact Statements, and links to the actual documents covering the Northeast and New York Metro Areas.
Click these links for impact statements for the other regions:
Central
Eastern and Cap Metro
Western
Click these links for impact statements for the other regions:
Central
Eastern and Cap Metro
Western
Wednesday, September 22
USPS Financial Plan for 2005
The Postal Service's Financial Plan for fiscal year 2005 (beginning October 1) was presented at the National Postal Forum
Tuesday, September 21
Are losses permanent for postal jobs?
Posts worldwide have shed a million employees in the last decade- more from the UPU meeting in Bucharest, courtesy of the International Herald Tribune
French postal staff strike against post offices closures
Expatica.com
Meanwhile, in Israel, .postal workers have joined other government employees in a general strike
Meanwhile, in Israel, .postal workers have joined other government employees in a general strike
Mail Should Be in Every Company's Marketing Mix, Potter Says
DMNews.com
Also at the forum, marketeer Howard Draft told attendees: "It used to be 'The customer is King. Well, nowadays the customer is a dictator."
Click here for Draft's presentation, or here for the text of his remarks.
Also at the forum, marketeer Howard Draft told attendees: "It used to be 'The customer is King. Well, nowadays the customer is a dictator."
Click here for Draft's presentation, or here for the text of his remarks.
Neither rain nor sleet but, ouch, the Net!
More from Bucharest and the Universal Postal Union meeting
International Herald Tribune
International Herald Tribune
Monday, September 20
A room divided
"The sorting room in south Fargo’s Prairiewood Station Post Office became a miserable place to work. That much letter carriers on opposite sides of a federal lawsuit seem to agree on when describing their workplace environment."
Fargo Forum
...more on the story from the Associated Press
Fargo Forum
...more on the story from the Associated Press
Sunday, September 19
UPU: Postal sector forecasts mail growth over next five years
The Universal Postal Union says postal operators are optimistic about mail volume trends despite a drop in volumes in 2003. Click the headline for the press release, or here for the UPU report 'Postal Market 2004 Review and Outlook. Also released at the UPU's meeting in Bucharest were background papers on 'The Global Postal Market Past Present and Future', and 'The worldwide postal network in figures'
What's Getting Lost in the Mail
Bill McAllister writes in the Washington Post that "the Postal Service, that semi-independent federal agency with a civilian workforce almost as big as the Pentagon's and a mission that predates the Constitution, may be in more trouble than its leaders recognize."
USPS Launches Third Phase of Small Business Campaign
DIRECT reports on a USPS direct mail campaign to encourage small business to use Priority Mail and the Click-N-Ship online service.
Saturday, September 18
USPS Could Benefit From Thinking Small
In a commentary for DIRECT, Postcom's Gene Del Polito suggests that the USPS should pay some more attention to small business customers.
USPS sets overseas holiday mailing dates
The Postal Service today made available its 2004 Holiday Season recommended mailing dates for delivery to military overseas APO/FPO addresses and international destinations by Saturday, Dec. 25.
Mailer Groups Question Timing of Potter Remarks
DIRECT reports that mailers are upset about PMG Jack Potter's renewed commitment to hold rates steady until 2006: "They fear it could delay passage of reform legislation that's now before Congress."
Friday, September 17
Hurricane Ivan update
Hurricane Ivan: The latest mail service updates
USPS web site
Postal service delivers most mail until 1 p.m. in Birmingham area
Birmingham News
Ivan shuts down access to TSP
TSP web site
USPS web site
Postal service delivers most mail until 1 p.m. in Birmingham area
Birmingham News
Ivan shuts down access to TSP
TSP web site
Subscribe to:
Comments (Atom)