OIG: USPS Should Consider Eliminating 32 or More District,Area Offices

One option is to “Eliminate duplicative staff positions and better position area management to work strategically with headquarters by relocating all area offices to headquarters.” A recent audit report issued by the USPS Office of Inspector General: Since 1992, the Postal Service’s workforce has decreased by almost 106,992 employees (13 percent); the cumulative total factor […]

USPS May Be Undercharging House Of Representatives For Official Mail

USPS Office Of Inspector General Audit Report – Revenue for Official Mail from the House of Representatives Mailroom Title 39, U.S.C Chapter 32, establishes the franked mail privilege for the vice president and members of Congress. The Postal Service accepts, processes, and delivers franked mail sent under an authorized individual’s signature, or facsimile signature, without […]

USPS to Deploy Retail Discontinuance Model in FY 2011

The nationwide effort to consolidate stations and branches is NOT over. 156 Stations and Branches Remain Under Review For Possible Consolidation Under the Stations and Branches Optimization and Consolidation Initiative as of March 2010. 144  Stations and Branches were reported by USPS in February 2010.   PostalReporter note: Top five states with facilities on possible consolidation list: […]

OIG Says USPS Overfunded Its FERS Retirement Obligations By $6.8 Billion

A new audit report from the Office Of Inspector General says that the USPS over-funded its FERS retirement obligations by $6.8 billion. The OIG reported several months ago that USPS overfunded its CSRS retirement obligations by $75 billion. Excerpts: Consistent with other retiree benefit obligations, the Postal Service is being unfairly burdened for its share […]

OIG: USPS Takes Average Of 2.2 Yrs. To Process Employees Ideas Instead of 7 Days

The following are excerpts from a USPS Office Of Inspector General review of the eIDEAS program. According to the USPS OIG, “When an idea is approved, management can award noncash and cash awards up to $10,000. The complainant and surveyed employees expressed concern about management’s commitment to the eIDEAS program.” This management advisory presents the […]

USPS OIG Audit Report – Flats Sequencing System: Program Status and Projected Cash Flow

This report discusses the Flats Sequencing System (FSS) program status and its projected financial impact and addresses both operational and financial risks (Project Number 09YG052DA000). The objective of this audit was to assess procedures for reporting of FSS performance and program savings shortfalls. See Appendix A for additional information about this audit. In December 2006, […]

OIG Criticizes USPS Oversight Of Grievance Settlements And Questions Payments to Union Officials

Recent audit report from the USPS Office of Inspector General : Most Postal Service bargaining unit employees are represented by one of the four major unions. The national agreements signed by senior-level management and the four union presidents include grievance-arbitration procedures that Postal Service management, bargaining unit employees (also referred to as craft employees), and union […]

USPS OIG: Fixing CSRS Overpayment and pre-funding requirements would fully fund pension and retiree health benefits

The economic downturn and the continued electronic diversion of mail, coupled with an aggressive retiree health pre-payment schedule have combined to put the Postal Service in financial crisis.  A recent analysis of the future of the mail conducted on behalf of the Postal Service showed that mail volume may not recover along with the economy […]

OIG Audit: USPS could save $342 million By Replacing Some Vehicles Instead of Repairing Them

In a recent OIG audit report  on USPS delivery vehciles: The Postal Service has approximately 189,000 delivery vehicles made up of minivans, sport utility vehicles (SUVs), flex fuel, and long-life vehicles (LLVs). The majority of the Postal Service’s delivery fleet are nearing the end of their 24-year life expectancy. Because of limited capital resources, the Postal […]

OIG Report: Postal Service’s Progress In Reducing Workhours

This report presents the results of the Postal Service’s progress in reducing workhours based on recommendations in a prior report.1 Our objective was also to assess the overall efficiency of the processing and distribution network for fiscal year (FY) 2009 (Project Number 10XG017NO000). This is a cooperative effort with the Postal Service and addresses operational […]