Carper, Coons, Carney & Markell Write to PMG Urging Review of Hare’s Corner Proposal
Filed under: politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
Officials highlight concerns regarding USPS’s proposal to revamp Delaware’s only mail processing and distribution center
February 3,2012
WILMINGTON – Today, Sen. Tom Carper, chairman of the Senate Subcommittee that oversees the U.S. Postal Service, along with Gov. Jack Markell, Sen. Chris Coons and Rep. John Carney (all D-Del.) wrote to United States Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe urging him to review the U.S. Postal Service’s proposal that would revamp Delaware’s only mail processing facility, causing a significant negative impact on Delaware. Specifically, the Postal Service has proposed transferring the mail processing functions from the Delaware Processing and Distribution facility at Hare’s Corner in New Castle, Del., to another facility in Bellmawr, N.J.
The letter highlights several concerns with the proposal and the process the Postal Service has employed when considering revamping the Hare’s Corner facility. It includes statements from businesses and state and federal agencies noting that this proposal would negatively impact their operations. It also urges the Postmaster General to reconsider the Area Mail Processing study that led to the current proposal, explore the concerns raised regarding the proposal, and consider the possibility of consolidating other operations into the Delaware Processing and Distribution facility. Read more
For Ninth Straight Year FedEx Is USPS’s Largest Supplier
Husch Blackwell’s Postal Service Contracting practice group today released its list of the top 10 U.S. Postal Service suppliers for fiscal year 2011. For the ninth straight year FedEx claimed the No. 1 spot. Another air carrier, Kalitta Air, Inc., which transports military mail bound for Iraq and Afghanistan, claimed the second spot. The list is compiled by David P. Hendel, a partner in the firm who has served clients’ postal contracting needs for 30 years. A list of the top 150 postal suppliers can be found here. Read more
Senator Sanders said he hopes postal reform legislation will protect 100,000 jobs in jeopardy
Filed under: politics, postal, postal news, press releases, usps
Addressing the National League of Postmasters on Monday at a conference in Crystal City, Va., Sen. Bernie Sanders was greeted with a standing ovation from local officials who welcomed his effort to block widespread closings of post offices and processing plants.
Sanders said he hopes legislation slated to come before the Senate next week will protect 100,000 jobs that are in jeopardy under a plan to close facilities around the country, including 15 post offices and two mail sorting centers in Vermont. Sanders also wants Congress to preserve overnight delivery of first-class mail and maintain Saturday mail service, both of which could fall under the budget ax as a result of drastic cost-cutting measures the Postal Service is considering.
Under an agreement with the Postal Service worked out by Sanders and other senators, closures and job cuts under study by the Postal Service were delayed until May 15 to give Congress time to consider reforms. Read more
Postal Inspector Convicted of Perjury and Obstruction Of Justice
JANUARY 27, 2012
BOSTON – A former federal postal inspector was convicted yesterday in federal court of perjury and obstruction of justice.
Joseph M. McGonagle, III, 38, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Nathaniel M. Gorton to perjury and obstruction of justice. Had the case proceeded to trial the Government’s evidence would have proven that McGonagle knowingly and wilfully falsely testified under oath at a May 19, 2010, court hearing held in U.S. District Court in Boston. At the time the offenses were committed, McGonagle was an inspector with the U.S. Postal Inspection Service. He had been assigned to the prosecution team in United States v. Eric L. Levine, et al. Levine was tried and convicted by a jury in 2010. Read more
AFGE Statement on Federal Employee Retirement Hearing
WASHINGTON, Jan. 25, 2012 – American Federation of Government Employees National President John Gage today issued the following statement in response to the congressional hearing on federal employees’ retirement security before the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on the federal workforce, U.S. Postal Service and labor policy:
“Congress created the Federal Employees Retirement System in the mid-1980s to mirror leading private sector practices. The vast majority of a federal employee’s retirement income comes from personal investments in the government’s 401(k) plan and mandatory payments into Social Security. Federal employees also receive a very modest pension that provides an average of $939 a month when they retire. As NARFE Director of Retirement Benefit Services David Snell so eloquently stated in his testimony before the subcommittee, ‘federal employees are not retiring rich.’ Read more
PRC Announces Simplified, More Transparent Rules For Post Office Closure Appeals
Filed under: post office closings, postal news, press releases, usps
Washington, DC– The Postal Regulatory Commission today issued updated procedures for the review of Postal Service determinations to close or consolidate post offices (Docket RM2011-13).
The simplified rules will, among other things, ease requirements for persons who file appeals but do not or can not use the internet; allow interested persons to file comments without first formally intervening; and grant participants extra time to respond to Postal Service motions and briefs. The rules streamline the Commission’s review process as well.
Chairman Ruth Y. Goldway said, “It has been thirty-five years since the Commission first adopted post office closure appeal rules. As the Postal Service has moved forward to reduce its retail network, and the Commission has received an increasing number of appeals of post office closings, it is important to simplify the process and to make it easier for the public to participate in and to understand our decision-making process. The new rules will allow postal customers to submit their petitions and supporting documentation in plain language. In addition, these changes will save the Commission money.” Read more
Former NC Postal Worker Sentenced To 7 Months in Prison For Workers Comp Fraud
Filed under: postal, postal news, press releases, usdoj, usps
United States Attorney’s office, Western District of North Carolina
January 20, 2012
ASHEVILLE, N.C. –A former employee of the United States Postal Service was sentenced yesterday to serve seven months in prison to be followed by three years of supervised release for filing fraudulent documents in order to receive worker’s compensation benefits and related charges, announced Anne M. Tompkins, U.S. Attorney for the Western District of North Carolina.
U.S. Attorney Tompkins is joined in making today’s announcement by Paul Bowman, Area Special Agent in Charge of the United States Postal Services, Office of the Inspector General (USPS-OIG). U.S. District Judge Martin Reidinger also ordered Robin Knight Smith, 46, of Waynesville, N.C., to complete 100 hours of community service and to pay approximately $46,000 in restitution.
In January 2011, following a four-day trial a jury found Smith guilty of one count of aiding and abetting the submission of a false FMLA request, one count of making a false statement to the government, and four counts of submitting a false writing in connection with an application or receipt of worker’s compensation benefits. According to evidence presented at trial, Smith had allegedly suffered an on-the-job accident while working at a mail processing facility in Asheville. She then sought worker’s compensation and other employment benefits as a result of this incident and, through written documents and oral statements, she claimed that her injuries prevented her from returning to her regular job or an even less strenuous work assignment. Read more
Year of the Dragon: Lunar New Year Celebrated on Commemorative Forever Stamp
SAN FRANCISCO — Commemorating the Lunar New Year, the United States Postal Service today issued a new Forever Stamp featuring a dragon, the fifth of 12 animals associated with the Chinese lunar calendar.
This colorful stamp is the latest collectible in the Postal Service’s Celebrating Lunar New Year series, which began in 2008 with the Year of the Rat. The Year of the Dragon begins today and ends Feb. 9, 2013. The stamp goes on sale today at Post Offices nationwide, online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724.
“The Postal Service is proud to celebrate the Lunar New Year with the issuance of this magnificent Forever Stamp,” said USPS Vice President of Sales Cliff Rucker, who dedicated the stamp. “Dragons are regarded as magical or divine, welcome symbols of renewed hope for the future. With this new stamp, we hope that the year will bring the best to all of us, no matter what sign we were born under.” Read more
Statement on USPS Asking PRC to Accelerate Review of Network and Service Standard Changes
The U.S. Postal Service today asked the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to expedite consideration of the Postal Service’s plan to make its operations more efficient, reduce costs and ensure the long-term affordability of mail.
The request filed with the PRC calls on the Commission to issue its non-binding advisory opinion on planned Postal Service network and service standard changes by mid-April 2012. The current moratorium on the closing of any Post Office or mail processing facility expires on May 15, 2012. The Postal Service voluntarily agreed to the moratorium in response to congressional requests in the hope it would help facilitate the enactment of comprehensive postal legislation. Read more
Abaq.us Announces USPS Certification for myGeoTracking Cloud-Based GPS Location Service
Palo Alto, CA (PRWEB) January 17, 2012
Abaqus, Inc., the leading developer of cross-carrier cloud-based location services that enable high quality, low cost mobile workforce and asset management solutions , today announced it has been certified by the United States Postal Service (USPS) as a Transportation Location Service Provider. Abaqus’ “myGeoTracking©” solution now meets the USPS’ demanding location service requirements for transportation companies carrying USPS freight.
“We’re very pleased to have earned this certification,” said Shailendra Jain, CEO of Abaqus. “Not only does this enable us to meet current customer requirements, but positions the platform as a cost-effective solution for other transportation firms that need to become TLS compliant for their USPS contracts.” Read more