USPS Freezes Hiring, Promotions at Headquarters, Areas and Districts
From the National League of Postmasters:
We are in receipt of a July 28, 2010, letter from Postal HQ stating effective immediately, all hiring, promotions and placement of non-bargaining employees at Headquarters, Areas and Districts are suspended until further notice. Selections received by COB 07/30/2010, will be processed by HR Shared Services but the postings have been placed on hold. We are communicating with Headquarters for more information, updates will be provided as they become available.
see National League of Postmasters
Former Oklahoma Postmaster Charged With Embezzlement
A Fort Gibson woman was charged late Monday with embezzling nearly $1,200 while employed as postmaster at the U.S. Post Office in Hulbert.
Prosecutors allege Galvan converted money orders and cash totaling $1,199.84 to her own use between April 1 and July 20.
An affidavit filed by Investigator David Hill states a money order for $450 cleared the Federal Reserve Bank in St. Louis, Mo., on June 30, when postal records showed the money order had not yet been sold by the Hulbert post office.
full story Tahlequah Daily Press
Oldest Postmaster In Nation Dies At Age 94
Postal Service spokesman David Walton said [Verna] Naylor became the agency’s oldest employee following the June 30 retirement of Chester Reed, a 95-year-old mail handler and forklift operator in San Bernardino, Calif.
Naylor had been postmaster in Bentonville [Ohio] since 1968, taking over the job from her husband, who died that year
read strory via Columbus Ohio Dispatch
Senator, Congressman Introduce Bills To Address Postal Managers Unreasonable Workload
Filed under: Postmasters, politics, postal, postal managers, postal supervisors, usps
From the Postmasters.org website:
“Senator Akaka (D HI) and Congressman Gerald Connolly (D VA) have both introduced a bill that would add language to title 39 that puts into law that postmasters and other supervisory personnel shall have a reasonable and sustainable workload and schedule. These bills both address the unreasonable overload that the Postal Service has placed on managers over the last several years. The bills would also clarify certain provisions concerning consultation and changes or terminations in certain proposals.- The League, along with Napus and Naps, supports these bills.”
South Dakota Postmaster Pleads Guilty to Theft
US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that Colleen K. Mouw,age 52, of Elk Point, SD, appeared before US Magistrate Judge John E. Simko on March 25, and pled guilty to an Information that charged her with theft of government funds. The maximum penalty upon conviction is one year in prison and/or a $100,000 fine, plus restitution. Mouw was the postmaster at the Jefferson, South Dakota, Post Office. Between May 2007 and May 26, 2009,she made application to the United States Postal Service and received reimbursement for expenses she indicated were incurred on behalf of the Postal Service, which expenses were not reimbursable. The amount stolen was less than $1,000. The investigation was conducted by the United States Postal Service Office of Inspector General. The case is being prosecuted by Assistant US Attorney Connie Larson. A presentence investigation was ordered, and a sentencing date will be set. The defendant was released on bond pending sentencing.
The League takes Postmasters working condition issues to Congress
Issue:The Abusive Treatment Of Postmasters And The Inefficient And Ineffective Post Office Management Practices Of Upper Level USPS Managers
Mr John Potter
Postmaster General
US Postal Service RM 10022
475 l’Enfant Plaza, SW
Washington, DC 20260
Dear Mr. Potter,
This letter will serve to inform you of our intention to take our Postmaster issues to Congress. These are the
same issues over which the National league of Postmasters has been unsuccessfully attempting to positively
engage the Postal Service for the last 3 X years. You know the issues; they include Postmasters putting in
horribly long work weeks due to the Postal Service’s failure to properly staff supervisors, clerks and carriers
and to properly budget work hours, the caustic workplace environment in many districts, a failed pay for
performance system, and the Postal Service’s failure to fill level 16 and below Postmaster positions. Manyof
your Postmasters have reached the point of physical and mental exhaustion, their health and personal lives
jeopardized. These are dedicated, loyal, professional Postmasters who deserve better from the organization to
which they’ve given their all. We are hopeful that we can get to a place with the Postal Service where we can make some meaningful progress on our Postmaster issues.
The league of Postmasters knows full well of the financial challenges that continue to face the Postal Service,
but that cannot be used as an excuse for the poor treatment of your Postmasters, especially in light of the fact that most of our issues began before the Postal Service fell into the economic downturn..
read remainder of letter here
Appeals Court Upholds Demotion of California Postmaster
Robert Di Paolo appeals a decision of the Merit Systems Protection Board (“MSPB” or “Board”) sustaining his demotion from the position of Postmaster to Supervisor in the Lincoln Post Office, Sacramento District, Pacific Area. The demotion was based on four charges: (1) inappropriate stamp purchases, (2) receipt of alcohol on postal property, (3) failure to follow instructions, and (4) inappropriate use of information technology.
In his brief to this court, Mr. Di Paolo raises several challenges to each of the four charges. Although some of Mr. Di Paolo’s arguments are persuasive as to the severity of each charge individually, they do not refute the administrative judge’s ultimate conclusion that all four charges, when considered together, justify the penalty imposed. Because the penalty imposed was demotion, as opposed to removal from service, the U.S. Postal Service (“USPS”) need not show that Mr. Di Paolo was unfit to serve or supervise. The USPS need only show that the totality of the four charges establishes that Mr. Di Paolo’s performance did not comport with the exemplary level of responsibility associated with the position of Postmaster. Because the USPS met this burden, we agree that Mr. Di Paolo’s demotion promotes the efficiency of the service. We therefore affirm the decision of the MSPB.
US Court of Appeals For the Federal Circuit
Mr. Di Paolo has served in the USPS for over twenty-eight years. He acquired the position of EAS-21 Postmaster of the Lincoln Post Office in 2005. After around two years of service as Postmaster, Mr. Di Paolo was demoted to EAS-17 Supervisor of Computerized Forwarding Operations Services. Mr. Di Paolo challenged this adverse action before an administrative judge. Although the administrative judge accepted some of Mr. Di Paolo’s arguments, he sustained at least in part the four charges against Mr. Di Paolo and found that demotion was an appropriate penalty. Mr. Di Paolo then petitioned for review before the MSPB. The Board agreed with the administrative judge and affirmed the USPS action. Mr. Di Paolo now appeals to this court. We have jurisdiction over the appeals from the MSPB pursuant to 5 U.S.C. § 7703. Read more
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
Postmasters Request A "Me Too" On USPS Retirement Incentive
NAPUS Letter sent to Postmaster General Jack Potter
August 25, 2009
Honorable John E. Potter
Postmaster General, Chief Executive Officer
United States Postal Service
475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW Room 10022
Washington, DC 20260-0010
Re: Your Letter of August 25, 2009
Dear Jack:
Earlier today, I was advised that the U.S. Postal Service will extend to employees represented by the American Postal Workers Union and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union a $15,000 retirement incentive. The USPS projects that the offer will reduce operating costs by $500 million.
I urge you to make a similar offer to Postmasters. Equity demands that Postmasters be offered the same retirement incentive as the individuals whom they manage. In fact, at NAPUS’ May consultative with the USPS, I asked for such a Postmaster retirement incentive, but was advised by your representative that there were no funds available for my request. Apparently, funds are now available for clerks and mail handlers. Jack, NAPUS’ request must be revisited in light of to day’s news. Failure to provide Postmasters with a meaningful retirement incentive will further degrade Postmaster morale, and will confirm an incalculable level of disrespect.
At the same time, I am alarmed about the operational implications of the clerk and mail handler retirement incentive. Currently, postal operations are compromised by grave staffing inadequacies. These complement deficiencies yield late-arriving mail at destination Post Offices, and letter carrier scarcity that results in Postmasters performing after-hour delivery functions. Managers cannot safeguard quality customer service, while also filling processing, window and carrier vacancies. Among the situations that confront my members are: too many Postmasters work ten and twelve hour work days, six and seven days a week; and an increasing number are forced to violate the Fair Labor Standards Act. Consequently, the clerk/mail handler retirement incentives, as rolled-out, will intensify staffing problems – not increase operational efficiencies. Please recall the misguided reductions implemented by your predecessor, Marvin Runyon.
In sum, simple fairness requires that Postmasters be extended a financial retirement incentive, and the clerks and mail handler incentive may degrade postal service, rather than improve it.
Sincerely,
O Dale Goff, Jr.
National President
source: President Goff’s Request For Incentive Package, 8/26/09
House GOP Leadership Proposes Federal Retirement Cuts
From the National Association of Postmasters of the US
Last week, House Republican Leaders John Boehner (R-OH) and Minority Whip Eric Cantor (R-VA) sent President Obama a budget proposal outlining approximately $375 billion in cuts over the next five years. Among the proposed reductions was changing the formula for calculating Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) annuities from the average of the highest three salaried years to the highest five years. The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) projects that this change would save about $1.2 billion over a five-year period. Another recommendation proposed by the House Republican Leadership is to increase the retirement age of certain members of the federal workforce. Boehner and Cantor recommend no retirement benefits be available for federal employees until they reach age 62. CBO estimates that this proposal would save approximately $1.3 billion over the next five years. These misguided proposals have been considered and rejected, in a bipartisan way, in the past. Moreover, it is highly doubtful that the GOP plan has support either at the White House, or can get any traction on Capitol Hill.
NAPUS is maintaining an eagle-eye on budget shenanigans that may directly or indirectly impact postal employees and retirees. As referenced in the FERS sick leave article, it appears that federal and postal employees were milked, through the creation of the TSP Roth IRA, to help pay for a piece of legislation that has absolutely nothing to do with the federal or postal workforce; and the federal workforce’s financial contribution to the tobacco to bill was greeted with the elimination pro-employee provisions in the bill – first by the Senate Health Committee, and second by Sen. DeMint. In addition, we need to be attentive to H.R. 22, the pending postal relief legislation, to ensure that it does not morph from providing temporary relief to becoming a revenue stream for deficit reduction, or simply a venue for postal cost-cutting.