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
Scammers Use USPS Online Change of Address To Steal Woman’s Identity
A local woman says someone from Nigeria stole her identity, opened multiple accounts in her name and took out a big loan, all things she says she probably would’ve caught except she stayed in the dark for weeks because scammers managed to stop her mail.
The culprits used a free online change of address service known as “Updater, Inc.” That website then forwarded the information to the postal service. 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
USPS: ‘Black Women in American Culture and History’
February is Black History Month — a time to pay tribute to the achievements of African Americans throughout the nation’s history. More than 133,000 African Americans currently work for the Postal Service.
Harriet Tubman was one of the African-American women featured in the Black Heritage Stamp Series.
This year’s national theme is “Black Women in American Culture and History.” Since 1978, the Postal Service has honored African Americans through the Black Heritage Stamp Series. Of the series’ 34 stamps, 12 have been women — including abolitionist and Underground Railroad leader Harriet Tubman, education and civil rights leader Mary McLeod Bethune and journalist Ida Wells.
This month, USPS also is recognizing the accomplishments of black women employees such as Minnie Cox, the first African-American female Postmaster. Cox was appointed Postmaster in 1891. USPS also is recognizing the 885 women of the 6888th Central Postal Directory Battalion during World War II, the only battalion of African-American women to go overseas. The battalion is featured in the National Postal Museum’s “Mail Call” exhibit.
Click here to learn more about “Black Women in American Culture and History.” You may also visit the Postal Store to order collectible items related to Black History Month.
Video: Senator Sanders: Modernize the Postal Service
Sen. Bernie Sanders on Tuesday urged Congress to modernize the U.S. Postal Service to avert the closings of post offices and processing centers and the elimination of more than 100,000 jobs. Read more
CRS: The USPS’s Financial Condition: Overview and Issues for Congress
Below is a summary from The Congressional Research Service’s report on “The U.S. Postal Service’s Financial Condition:Overview and Issues for Congress”
This report provides an overview of the U.S. Postal Service’s (USPS’s) financial condition,legislation enacted to alleviate the USPS’s financial challenges, and possible issues for the 112th Congress. It also includes a side-by-side comparison of two of the postal reform bills, H.R. 2309 and S. 1789.
Since 1971, the USPS has been a self-supporting government agency that covers its operating costs with revenues generated through the sales of postage and related products and services.
In recent years, the USPS has experienced significant financial challenges. After running modest profits from FY2004 through FY2006, the USPS lost $25.4 billion between FY2007 and FY2011.Were it not for congressional action, the USPS would have lost an additional $9.5 billion. Read more
Mail Handlers Contract Update: Impasse Declared, Dispute Resolution Procedures Forthcoming
As previously announced, National negotiations between the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the U.S. Postal Service over the terms of the 2011 National Agreement stalled late last week, on January 20, 2012. At that point, representatives of the Postal Service made clear that they would not agree to extend the expiration date for the current National Agreement for a fourth time, and thus the parties had no choice but to declare impasse in the negotiations.
Although progress was made during bargaining on certain issues, including Articles 12 on seniority and reassignments and Article 15 governing the grievance-arbitration procedure, the parties remain at loggerheads on issues concerning wages under Article 9, health insurance under Article 21, employee complement under Article 7, and subcontracting under Article 32. The Postal Service also has been working in Congress to undermine the bargaining process, seeking legislative changes in the Federal Employees Health Benefit Program, as well as changes in the binding arbitration provisions that ultimately control collective bargaining. Read more
USPS honors late Pioneering Publisher John H. Johnson with Forever stamp
Filed under: postal, postal news, stamps, usps, USPS News Link
Rising from poverty to the pinnacle of society, the late trailblazing entrepreneur and publisher John H. Johnson today is honored on this year’s Black Heritage Forever stamp by the Postal Service.
Johnson — the founder of Johnson Publishing Company, which publishes “Ebony” and “Jet” magazines — is the 35th honoree in the Black Heritage stamp series.
“I’m immensely proud that my father and his life’s passion are being recognized in such a high honor as the Black Heritage Stamp,” said Linda Johnson Rice. “His legacy lives on in all whom he touched and in the work we continue to do daily.”
Johnson was born in Arkansas City, AR, where schools were segregated and there were no high schools for black students. By the time of his death at age 87, he had created a business empire encompassing magazines, cosmetics, radio stations and book publishing. In 1982, he became the first black person to appear on “Forbes” magazine’s annual list of the 400 wealthiest people in America.
The John H. Johnson stamp can be bought at Post Offices nationwide, online at usps.com and by phone at 800-782-6724.
source: USPS News Link
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
NPMHU Responds to USPS City Letter Carrier Position Job Posting
The Postal Service recently solicited all Mail Handlers with a message to consider transfering to a city letter carrier position. The message outlined how you could transfer to carrier and enumerated the advantages. USPS letter and NPMHU response Read more