Postal Worker Exposed To Anthrax Facing Different Dilemma Over Transfer Request
Filed under: anthrax, letters to editor, postal, postal news, usps
Patrick O’Donnell was one of the postal workers infected in October 2001 when anthrax showed up at the Hamilton, New Jersey regional distribution center in mail headed for the U.S. Senate. Now 10 years later, O’Donnell is facing a different dilemma. Read more
Senator Carper Responds To Washington Post’s Editorial On USPS
Filed under: letters to editor, postal, postal news, postal reform
Here is a letter to the editor of the Washington Post from Senator Tom Carper, (D-Delaware)
Postal Service’s problems are many, but there are solutions
While I welcome The Post’s interest in the financial crisis facing the U.S. Postal Service, I was disappointed that the Dec. 7 editorial “Failure to deliver” did not mention the numerous hearings I’ve held on this issue as well as the comprehensive legislation to address this crisis that I introduced this fall.
My bill, the Postal Operations Sustainment and Transformation Act, would fix the Postal Service’s broken retiree benefits system, streamline operations and allow the Postal Service to offer additional products and services that can make money. It would require all parties – postal management, employees and customers – to make sacrifices. It also would get Congress out of the way by providing the flexibility and tools necessary to address the problems plaguing the Postal Service in an effective way.
I agree with the editorial that leadership and shared sacrifice are needed to fix the Postal Service’s financial problems. But to say there’s been no congressional leadership on this issue is flat-out wrong.
Tom Carper, Washington
NAPUS President: Washington Post Editorial Misdiagnosed Cause Of USPS Challenges
Filed under: letters to editor, NAPUS, postal, postal news, usps
In a letter to the editor of the Washington Post, Robert Rapoza, President of the National Association of Postmasters (NAPUS) wrote:
The “Failure to deliver” editorial misdiagnosed the cause of the Postal Service’s challenges and suggested treatment that makes matters worse.
The $8.5 billion Postal Service loss that the editorial mentioned stems primarily from a law that foists a $5.6 billion annual payment on the USPS to prefund retiree health costs. Also, the government raised the Postal Service’s payment to the workers compensation fund by $2.5 billion. Ironically, two nationally recognized actuarial firms determined that the USPS had been required to overfund its pensions by $50 billion to $75 billion.
The Post, however, recommended that Congress extort the USPS to secure its surplus pension contributions. In part, The Post recommended weakening a statute, enabling the USPS to close “unprofitable” post offices. This recommendation is problematic. First, post office profitability is meaningless, because offices deliver and distribute mail – inherently “unprofitable” services. Second, many “unprofitable” offices serve rural communities and are the communities’ sole commercial and communications access points.
Third, closing all small post offices would save only 0.7 percent of the USPS’s budget. Before cutting services, Congress should treat the “most trusted agency” fairly, and the Postal Service must trim its administrative overhead.
Postmaster Tries to Explain Why Pittsburgh PO Has Long Lines
Letter: A Postal Retiree’s Plan To Save Six Day Mail Service
The Postmaster General won the public relations battle on March 2 in regard to five day delivery when he announced proposed changes to the postal service over the coming decade, changes that appeared as the main story on all major news networks that evening.
He continues to enjoy the advantage of a well planned orchestrated media campaign.
Taxpayers Might Have to Fund the U.S. Postal Service – Washington Whispers (usnews.com)
USPS News Release: Post Office Boxes Face Competition
Changing an Institution: The U.S. Postal Service | The Kojo Nnamdi Show
Reprinting outdated articles from the national media on the APWU’s web site is simply not enough, I propose the following:
The next congressional break is March 25 through April 11.
- Monday April 5: Make calls, send e-mails, write letters and send faxes to congressional offices to support six day delivery.
- Tuesday April 6: APWU Members take senior citizens, parents to congressional offices to stress need for six day delivery as it pertains to needed prescriptions, government checks and medical supplies.
- Wednesday April 7: Veterans visit congressional offices to stress the importance of six day delivery necessary to receive much needed medications mailed from the VA, medical supplies, correspondence as it relates to years of service and other related matters and that all important retirement and disability check.
- Thursday April 8: Locals hold informational rallies at congressional field offices to support six day delivery.
- Friday April 9: National, State and Locals rally in Washington D.C to preserve six day delivery and visit congressional offices.
” Postal Pete ”
Pete Countryman
Elizabethown, Kentucky 42701
USPS Retired 30 years of Service
Proud APWU Member of 30 years
Reply to Postal Pete from the national APWU Communication Department
Thank you for your recent e-mail. I appreciate your concern about promoting the union’s message regarding USPS proposals to reduce mail delivery to five days per week and to implement other major changes to the nation’s mail system.
Unfortunately, despite our best efforts, the mainstream media often is simply not interested in the union’s views. Even when the media expresses interest, it frequently treats our views in a perfunctory manner, if at all.
Please rest assured that the national union is making a concerted effort to tell our side of the story.
On March 2 and in the days immediately following the USPS announcement, APWU President William Burrus was interviewed by the New York Times and the Washington Post.
We also provided statements and background to other mjor news outlets, including the Los Angeles Times, CNN Radio, the Wall Street Journal and Reuters.
In addition, we were interviewed by lesser-known news outlets that focus on government, such as the Federal Times, Government Executive, Federal Employee News Digest, the Bureau of National Affairs, as well as numerous local general-interest newspapers.
Ironically, the editorial writer for the Washington Post conducted a second, lengthy interview with President Burrus before writing an anti-labor editorial that excluded any mention of the union’s concerns. The response we submitted was not published.
In addition to our “public relations” efforts, we will continue to wage our fight in the political arena. The APWU Legislative and Political Department has encouraged union members to contact their U.S. representatives in support of House Resolution 173, which urges the Postal Service to continue six-day delivery. (See www.apwu.org/news/webart/2010/10-019-h_res_173-100308.htm) Our legislative efforts will continue and will evolve as the battle develops.
We also have posted “talking points” for use by locals in support of their efforts to oppose five-day delivery and other cutbacks. (They are posted in the Members Only section of www.apwu.org. Our records indicate you are no longer a union member, so unfortunately you will not be able to view them there.)
I commend you for your continued commitment to postal workers, and encourage you to participate in efforts by your local to win support from legislators in your area.
Sally Davidow
American Postal Workers Union Communications Department
Letter From Concerned Postmaster to PMG Potter
Here is a letter from a concerned Postmaster:
Dear: Mr. Potter
From: Dedicated Postmaster
Subj: Financial State of the Postal Service
Recently, I learned that there were no NPA bonuses for any EAS employees in most cases. In addition, Postmasters were no longer allowed convention leave. I agree and applaud you for these actions but there are a few problems. I have learned that a few people on detail in District Positions are getting bonuses. This was achieved by bumping their score up by having the TOE budget adjusted for their office at the end of the year. No one in management in good conscience should be receiving a bonus or pay raise considering our present financial situation.
I am a working Postmaster with two clerks in my office. I would like to be able to shorten the hours of the window and perform the daily operation by myself. However, the paperwork and computer burden that I have to perform is creating and administration position. I work in the Northeast Area and we have logs, check offs, computer check offs, mail measurements, and the list goes on. If I were able to do what was mandated by Headquarters or I could eliminate both of my clerk positions and save $130,000 a year in salary and benefits. I’m amazed that every District and every Area has their own way of doing things. We should have one business model, like McDonalds.
EXFC Measurement
This is a total waste of money because we don’t honestly achieve these scores. In the Northeast, we isolate our raw letters and flats from collection boxes and then when it comes back in the morning, we again isolate the mail flowing back to us. We segregate our red trays (originating mail) and have clerks and carriers sort it before anything else. How much is it costing us to have this mail measured externally? Our company is on the verge of bankruptcy, we can’t afford to do it. UPS wouldn’t spend that kind of money.
Mystery Shopper Program
We’ve just renamed the program and it’s something else that we can’t afford. We need to sell up and help our customers make informed decisions. The Postal Service can’t afford to be spending that kind of money on the program. Realistically, we have removed our foot traffic from the retail window and customers are printing and selecting their own options.
Closing Small Post Offices
We need to look geographically and start consolidating. Yes, politically it’s a hot spot but we need to push forward. I know of one town that has six post offices and a customer base that only supports one. I know Nationally, we are consolidating branches but we need to get down to the Post Offices.
Saturday Delivery
It’s a great idea to eliminate it. The volume is dropping and never coming back. How fast and how long it takes is the question. At some point, we will have to consider even cutting delivery to three or four days.
I honestly believe that you need to work closely with the OIG and find common sense solutions to these problems.
Sincerely,
Concerned
USPS bars NIOSH from returning to the Denver P & DC?
Editorial by Loyd Reeder
Postal employees in Denver requested NIOSH to investigate the flat mail sorting machines in Denver and NIOSH initiated an investigation in April, 2009. NIOSH is the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, a federal agency which is part of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention of the Department of Health and Human Services. It is widely considered to be the very best occupational health expertise in the country.
Denver FSM 100 flat sorting machine workers have recently had an extremely high rate of injuries. The machines are poorly designed and ergonomically unsafe. There has been severe understaffing of the machines causing stress and overwork. Employees are pushed to work too fast. Machines are set to overload mail containers, causing excessive strain on workers. Repetitive motion injuries are prevalent due to doing the same tasks thousands of times each day. Workers were not supplied sharp cutting knives daily, causing excessive hand and wrist strain. Injured workers are harassed. There is a culture of intimidation. Workers have been required to work involuntary overtime. The flats sorting unit has less than 8% of the building’s workers but the USPS reported that these flats machine workers had nearly half (47%) of all Musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) injuries in the two-thousand-employee facility.
125 Denver flats workers asked NIOSH to come to the facility to study the situation and suggest changes. Two NIOSH professionals came in early April to evaluate the situation. They interviewed dozens of employees and made video tapes of workers working at the various tasks on the flats sorting machines. The US Postal Service brought in over a dozen of its own safety, health, maintenance, specialists and managers from the local, area, and national levels for the NIOSH investigation. At the end of the visit, the NIOSH investigators gave some preliminary conclusions, said they may return for a second visit, and would issue a final report in one to two years.
In the summer, NIOSH contacted a lead representative of the workers who had originally asked NIOSH to come to the facility. The NIOSH investigators wanted to return to the Denver facility and bring with them an industrial psychologist who wanted to do a job satisfaction survey of the workers. The worker representative gave permission for this project. NIOSH also contacted the local union representative for the mail handler craft who also gave permission for this visit. NIOSH sought permission for the survey from the local safety officer of the USPS in Denver. There has been a long wait for a reply from the USPS management.
In September NIOSH informed the workers that the USPS Western Area Safety Manager Karen Keuter, is “opting not to participate in the survey that we had suggested.” So much for all of the USPS claims that it wants to hear the “voice of the employee”. The USPS spends millions of dollars for its own employee surveys but refuses to let an independent federal agency do its own survey. What is the Postal Service trying to hide?
Postal Retiree Not Happy About New Retirement Incentive
From PostalReporter Reader:
My name is Fredric ****. I was a data collection technician in Houston, Texas. I took the early out and retired on July 31, 2009. We were sent a memo(which I still possess) that the post office would not be offering early outs in the near future. The memo stated that they would lengthen the time needed to June 30st to be eligible to take the July 31st offer. Postmaster Potter also indicated before a congressional hearing that there wouldn’t be any incentives offered. Three weeks after retiring I find out that the memo and statement from the postmaster were all lies. I took them at their word and retired at the age of 49 with 26 years of service. I had to incur a 12% penalty (2%for every year under 55). I feel totally used and would like to know if I and the other recent retirees can dispute what is now happening. Thank you
Boston Postal Workers Goodbye To 84-Year-Old Retiring Co-Worker
Herbert Baron [pictured at left] retired at Boston P&DC on November 7,2008. He had 50 years of service.
A story of dedication
Herbert Baron retired at the P&DC in Boston after 50 years of service. His favorite job was the loop mail to which he was very dedicated in getting to the right address. He performed this task for 16 years.
Herbie was a true gentleman in every sense of the word. He had many lessons to each to anyone willing to learn.
One day, I asked Herbie what was the correct zip code for Brigham & Women Hospital. His reply was “I think today, you will learn all the zip codes for all the hospital in Boston today.” A few weeks later I again went to Herbie to ask what the zip code for Towanda St. in Dorchester was, His reply “Today is the day I’m going to teach you how to look streets up.
Over the years, Herbie taught me many lessons. He was always kind, gentle and helpful.
Herbie will be sadly missed not only by those he worked with, but also by the countless unseen customers he helped. His job has been replaced by a machine which will mark the mail “Return for better address.”
Herbie has two goals. The first is to see 90 years old,(at present he is 84). His second goal is to spend quality time with his lovely wife.
Our wish to you,Herbie, is that you attain your goals and enjoy a well deserved healthy and happy retirement.
Written by Sandy & Alex
USPS Threatening To Discipline Postal Employees Over Failure to Pay Local Tax ??
From PostalReporter.com reader:
Local taxes: The USPS is threatening to discipline employees that don’t follow local tax codes. States affected include Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Missouri, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia.
If you are subject to any of these local taxes, you must be proactive and complete and submit the proper taxation paperwork. Frequent contact between the Postal Service, Treasury, the Internal Revenue Service, and these taxing authorities indicates that many employees are not having the appropriate amounts withheld from their pay. You are reminded that, as a Postal Service employee, you are personally responsible for ensuring that the correct local taxes are deducted from your pay.All Postal Service employees are reminded that they are bound by the materials contained within the Code of Ethics, Principles of Ethical Conduct for Government Officers and Employees. This includes Principle 12, which states: “An employee shall satisfy in good faith their obligations as citizens, including all just financial obligations, especially those — such as federal, state, or local taxes — that are imposed by law.”source:Postal Bulletin 10/11/07 Issue
Archive: Deadline Up for Postal Workers to Pay Off City Payroll Tax -[note: link is not active] (Paducah, Kentucky) 200 Postal Workers face prosecution over non-payment- Tuesday was the last day that Paducah postal workers could pay off payroll taxes they owed dating back to 2000 . Because Paducah has less than 500 Federal employees– Federal agencies are exempted by law from withholding Paducah payroll taxes. According to one clerk,” the local newspaper and TV reports made us all look like a bunch of “crooks & cheat’s”! They are expecting us (Postal employee’s) pay upon short notice.” The local APWU has hired an attorney and may work out some agreement with the city. (6/4/05)|