Alabama community finally gets mail service
Filed under: mail delivery, postal, postal news, USPS News Link
An industrial area near Mobile, AL, now has something it’s never had before — mail service.
Pinto Island, home to shipbuilder Austal USA and other manufacturers, is located across the Mobile River from the city of Mobile. Until now, it’s been the most industrialized area in the lower 48 states without mail service. That ended when Mobile, AL, Letter Carrier Alan Green made the Postal Service’s first delivery to the island last September.
Postmaster Veronica Johnson, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), and officials from Austal USA worked together to make mail service a reality. To celebrate the first day of mail delivery, the Mobile Police Department escorted Green and his vehicle to the island, where he was greeted by manufacturing employees, postal officials, congressional representatives, and reporters.
The island is home to some of Mobile’s largest employers, including Austal USA, which opened its shipyard in 2001 and began pursuing postal delivery on the island. Before September, the company had a PO Box in Mobile and paid a courier to bring mail to the shipyard.
Now manufacturers no longer worry about critical, time-sensitive documents on bids and pricing being received on time. Also, since most GPS systems rely on postal information, customers find it easier to navigate now that mail delivery officially has come to Pinto Island.
source: USPS News Link
Can Letter Carriers deliver mail in the dark?
Filed under: letter carriers, mail delivery, NALC, postal, postal news
From NALC Branch #1100 in California
Well winter is here and it is getting dark early. Which means you could be expected to work in the dark. This causes issues every year. The rule to keep in mind is that if it is safe you are to deliver the mail. So what is safe? Safe depends on you and your route.
Arbitrator’s have ruled that darkness in and of itself is not unsafe. Darkness can contribute to an unsafe situation. For example you are on a walking route, it is not well lighted, you trip over a crack in the side walk and a few feet later you stumble over something else. You may want to declare that swing as unsafe and move to the next swing. As you deliver on the next swing the same rule applies. If it is well lighted then deliver the mail. If you stumble due to poor lighting then stop. Move to the next swing.
There are several things you can do to keep safe while delivering when it is dark. If you are on a walking route and it is not well lighted then you don’t cut lawns. You want to walk where it is safest. This is normally the driveway and sidewalk. If the area is not well lighted then you probably can not finger the mail while walking since you may not be able to see the addresses well enough. Additionally if it is not well lighted you cannot see where you are walking with your peripheral vision so you actually need to watch where you walk.
With FSS everyone is delivering in the dark and too many hours. Everyone needs to case in the dog warning cards. It becomes more difficult to tell where the barking dog is when it is dark. If you choose to bring back the mail let your manager know. At some point it is unsafe to be out late, it may be unsafe to be on someone’s porch at 8 or 9 pm. Remember with the exception of the month of December, Letter Carriers cannot be required to work in excess of 12 hours per day. Regardless of the month, Letter Carriers cannot be required to work in excess of 60 hours per week. You are the only one that can keep yourself safe. This article is not to supersede any past practices in your city nor any local agreements. Several of our cities have agreements regarding delivery cutoffs.
See full article from NALC Branch #1100 -California
NALC opposes end of Saturday and door-to-door mail delivery In Postal Reform Bill
Filed under: mail delivery, NALC, postal, postal news, postal reform, press releases, usps
NALC responds to the Senate postal proposal,
21st Century Postal Service Act; supports comprehensive reform but opposes the end of Saturday mail delivery and the phase-out of door delivery
Statement by Fredric V. Rolando, president of the National Association of Letter Carriers, on the proposed 21st Century Postal Service Act:
Although the National Association of Letter Carriers acknowledges a number of positive provisions in the bipartisan postal reform bill unveiled today by Senators Lieberman, Collins, Carper and Brown, we are very disappointed with the overall thrust of the legislation. It seems to embrace the view that we must drastically downsize the Postal Service in order to save it.
While NALC fully supports comprehensive postal reform and is working on practical alternatives, the Senate bill could end Saturday delivery in two years and would phase out most door-to-door delivery by 2015. This would negatively affect tens of millions of Americans – particularly senior citizens, rural residents and small-business owners – who depend on the Postal Service’s commitment to high-quality service.
We acknowledge the need to reinvent the U.S. Postal Service for the 21st century, but we urge postal management and our country’s leaders to do it in a way that preserves jobs and encourages growth at a time when the economy is struggling. Saturday delivery is essential to the Postal Service’s ability to profit from the rising number of deliveries of items ordered online by consumers.
Slashing service and inconveniencing customers will only drive more business away and will do serious damage to the $1.3 trillion mailing industry and its 7.5 million private-sector workers.
Carry the Rally Cry and protest PMG’s proposed changes to service standards
Filed under: APWU, Federal Register, mail delivery, politics, postal, postal news, usps
The following alert was released by Omar M. Gonzalez, APWU Western Region Coordinator:
FIGHT THE PMG’S QUEST TO UNDERMINE SERVICE TODAY!
The Postmaster General’s dastardly plan to close mail processing plants and postal facilities REQUIRES him to change service standards.
Management is “selling” these proposed changes as a good thing. But the documentation required and posted in the Federal Register clearly reveals the impact: [Federal Registry/Vol 76. No. 183 ] Read more
Twin Falls, ID Mail Operations move will change service standards from overnight to 2-day
Filed under: consolidations, delivery, mail delivery, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
As a result of the consolidation, service between ZIP Code areas 832, 833 and 834 will change from overnight to 2-day
TWIN FALLS, ID – As a result of a study begun April 13, the Postal Service has made the decision to move mail processing operations from the Twin Falls, ID, Customer Service Mail Processing Center to the Boise, ID, Processing and Distribution Center. Read more
PRC Chair: No Five-Day Postal Delivery Anytime Soon
“Five-day mail delivery, if it ever happens, is a few years down the road, according to the chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission.
PRC Chairman Ruth Goldway commented on five-day delivery as a guest on an April 11 podcast with Gene Del Polito, the president of the Association for Postal Commerce.
“It’s not likely Congress would act to remove the six-day requirement in 2011 or 2012,” Goldway told Del Polito. “It’s possible farther down the road.”
Admitting that she is no expert when it comes to Congress, Goldway said it appears that outside of Sen. Thomas Carper (D-DE), there isn’t strong support for five-day delivery on the Senate side. The House side also seems to favor six-day delivery, she said.”
Full story via MultiChannel Merchant
Republican Congressman Re-Introduces Resolution to Continue 6-Day Delivery
Congressman Samuel Graves (R-MO) re-introduced a resolution yesterday calling for the continuation of 6-day delivery. Rep Graves introduced the same resolution , H. Res 173, in February 2009 to continue 6-day delivery. Although adoption of the measure would not create new law, it would send a strong signal that lawmakers oppose the elimination of Saturday delivery. The House resolution is a non-binding measure.
IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
March 2, 2011
Mr. GRAVES of Missouri submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Oversight and Government Reform
——————————————————————————–
RESOLUTION
Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-day mail delivery service.
Whereas the United States Postal Service has announced that it may need to reduce the frequency of its mail delivery service from 6 days a week to 5 days a week;
Whereas 6-day mail delivery service is an essential service that the American people have relied on since 1912, particularly working families that depend on the Postal Service for the timely delivery of their paychecks;
Whereas Social Security is the primary or sole source of income for many senior citizens, and any delay in the delivery of their Social Security checks would make it difficult for them to purchase even essential items, such as food and medicine; and
Whereas reducing mail delivery service to 5 days a week would inevitably cause not only delays in the delivery of mail, but higher postal costs, due to the many hours of additional overtime that the Postal Service would require in order to handle the resulting back-up of mail: Now, therefore, be it
Resolved, That it is the sense of the House of Representatives that the United States Postal Service should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-day mail delivery service.
USPS Resumes Mail Service To Egypt
Filed under: mail delivery, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service has resumed international mail service to Egypt effective Feb. 22. All international mail services are now being provided to Egypt , including Global Express Guaranteed, Express Mail International, Priority Mail International and First-Class Mail International.
On Feb. 3, the Postal Service temporarily suspended acceptance of Global Express Guaranteed (GXG) service to Egypt . All other international mail services to Egypt were temporarily suspended on Feb. 7.
Service updates for international mail are posted online at usps.com/international/serviceupdates.
Video: USPS contractors say they don’t have enough trucks to run all the mail
Filed under: mail delivery, postal, postal news, usps, videos
Postal Service Contractors are scrambling to deliver all the mail before Christmas:
Every year at Christmas, the Post Office schedules extra runs for their local highway contractors. Last year, they had to cancel many of those runs, but this year, contractors say they’ve added so many they can’t keep up with all the mail. Highway contractors, like retailers, make their profit at the end of the year so Christmas time is crucial. If people don’t buy presents, they don’t mail them and if they don’t mail the packages, contractors can’t move them.
Contractors say between the snow and the economy, last year was a real struggle. However, this year, they say they don’t have enough trucks to ship all the mail. The weather has cooperated so far except for last Saturday’s blizzard. Contractors say for your mail to make it by Christmas, the weather has to cooperate.
More from Who-TV
Sen. Akaka: Impact of Eliminating Saturday Delivery In Hawaii
Senator Daniel K. Akaka Prepared Remarks To Postal Regulatory Commission
The Impact of Eliminating Saturday Delivery Service on the People of Hawai‘i
October 4, 2010
Chairman Goldway, thank you for inviting me to submit written remarks providing my views on behalf of my constituents on the impact of the Postal Service’s proposal to eliminate Saturday delivery to the people of the State of Hawai‘i. I understand the difficulties in holding field hearings throughout the country. Although it is unfortunate that you were not able to visit Hawai‘i and Alaska, I do appreciate the Commission visiting a diverse selection of regions that, while not exactly the same, reinforce some of the concerns that I will express as well.
One of the unfortunate truths already facing the people of Hawai‘i is that the mail simply moves slower because of a combination of logistical, physical, and financial barriers. The service standards enacted by the Postal Service in 2007 reflect these challenges, establishing a delivery standard of nine to ten days for standard mail from the contiguous United States to Hawai‘i. The need to distribute mail to six islands further slows mail delivery. In addition, because all of Hawai‘i’s mail is processed at the Honolulu Processing and Distribution Center, including inter-island mail, all classes of mail are subject to further delay.
Another disadvantage is the shipment of non-first class mail over water on cargo vessels. Unlike USPS trucks or rail contracts, inter-island and island-mainland shipping is not always a daily service, and the Postal Service has fewer options to achieve efficient delivery. These inherent inefficiencies are unique to Hawai‘i mail service, and decrease service. I urge the Commission to take this into account as it develops an advisory opinion.
For the people of Hawai‘i, the Postal Service is a government service that is extremely important and integral to daily life. With ocean waters separating us from friends, family, and business partners on neighbor islands and the mainland, the Postal Service provides important links within Hawai‘i and to other places. Residents do not have the luxury of getting in a car and delivering items to another island. The same goes for courier services for important personal business items. Residents must rely on the Postal Service.
Prescription drug delivery is a particularly important service in Hawai‘i. Many residents in Hawai‘i rely on mail-order pharmaceuticals provided through employer plans, including the Employer-Union Trust Fund Health Plan. These prescriptions often come from the mainland, and a delivery delay at processing facilities could prove dangerous to consumers. As Keith McFalls, Vice President of Operations of PrimeMail and Triessant Prime Therapeutics, testified at a Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee hearing in June, timely delivery is especially important for pharmaceuticals.
Even Hawai‘i’s elections could be impacted by the proposed delivery changes. Earlier this year, Hawai‘i, like some other states, performed a vote-by-mail election, where all residents would cast their ballots through the Postal Service. This is possible around the country because of the protections afforded by sending mail securely through the Postal Service. Cutting a day of delivery would decrease the likelihood that a ballot will be delivered on time to be counted.
Small, local businesses in Hawai‘i, such as community newspapers that rely on the Postal Service for delivery would be greatly impacted as well. Hawai‘i is unique in that we rely on our local businesses for services and goods to a higher degree than our mainland counterparts. In turn, those businesses often rely on the Postal Service to deliver those goods. Cancelling a day of service would limit options and will severely impact many businesses in this already dire economic environment.
Perhaps the most important issue facing Hawai‘i is the lack of alternatives for important Saturday deliveries. The Postal Service offers a predictable, low-priced Priority Mail service throughout the State of Hawai‘i. Sending a one pound Priority Mail package from Hilo to Honolulu costs less than $5.00, and it can be delivered on a Saturday. FedEx and UPS do not offer Saturday delivery service in Hawai‘i, so customers would be left with just one option, USPS Express Mail, costing approximately $15.00. Express Mail is, in many cases, more expensive than FedEx and UPS for weekday delivery. Moreover, Express Mail is a competitive product, meaning USPS could halt Saturday Express Mail delivery in Hawai‘i if the service is losing money.
Should Saturday delivery be eliminated in Hawai‘i, the alternative suggested by the Postal Service is renting a Post Office Box at a local retail facility. Unfortunately, in many areas in Hawai‘i, P.O. Boxes are already scarce. Requiring those who want Saturday service to rent a P.O. Box that they only need one day a week will further increase existing shortages and force residents to pay more just to retain the services they have come to rely on. Postal facilities in Hawai‘i are already understaffed, stretching Postmasters, Supervisors, and other employees. The Postal Service says that in order to make Saturday Express Mail delivery, post office staff may be required to make special deliveries, calling in to question how many staff will be available at retail facilities on Saturdays.
I have broader concerns about imposing five-day service to the entire United States. Cutting a day of delivery could cost up to 40,000 postal jobs, according to the Postal Service. As Chairman of the Federal Workforce Subcommittee in the United States Senate, I am concerned about the impact on federal workers in these challenging economic times, as well as the dedicated postal workforce in the State of Hawai‘i.
The Postal Service has told us that reducing service could save $3 billion per year. However, there are differing estimates, and not enough sound, independent analysis. If such a dramatic shift in delivery service is to take place, policy-makers need to see a thorough analysis of the true savings and costs of reducing mail delivery to five days. I strongly encourage the Commission to gather more information before forming its final opinion.
It is important to also note that cutting one day of delivery would eliminate 17 percent of delivery service, for a projected five percent savings. This is a heavy trade-off, and one that could further reduce customer demand for postal services. Furthermore, it leads me to question at what point would cutting delivery frequency start to violate the Postal Service’s universal service obligation?
One of the important reasons that we created an independent regulator for the Postal Service was to provide an independent voice to ensure sound policy decisions. I look forward to the input that we expect from the Postal Regulatory Commission in the coming months, and I think that your advisory opinion will be invaluable to Congress as we weigh the future direction and role of the United States Postal Service.
I am concerned about the impact of such a change on Hawai‘i, as well as to the Postal Service and its employees. I urge the Commission to take these considerations into account, along with concerns raised by others in the Hawai‘i and Alaska delegations.
DANIEL K. AKAKA
U.S. SENATOR