PRC Issues Order Denying Postmasters Complaint Over Management Of Post Offices
Filed under: NAPUS, post offices, postal, postal news, Postmasters, PRC, usps
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) issued a decision to deny a complaint by NAPUS and the League of Postmasters to renew an expedited complaint or a request a stay to prevent the Postal Service’s Final Rule from going into effect on December 1, 2011. The PRC did grant the Postmaster associations the right to re-file a complaint.
The Postal Regulatory Commission Issues Order Denying Motion for Renewal and Alternative Request for a Stay of the Effective Date.
Effective December 1, 2011, this change will allow the Postal Service to convert a Post Office into, or replace it with, another type of USPS-operated retail facility (including changing it to a station or branch) without following the discontinuance process. The change would also make it possible to change the staffing of a Post Office such that it is staffed only part-time by a Postmaster, or not staffed by a Postmaster at all, but rather by another type of USPS employee, and it would not be a discontinuance action.
The other “final rule” change would also allow a Post Office to be operated or managed by a Postmaster or by another type of postal employee at the direction of a Postmaster, including when the Postmaster is not physically present.
Leaders of both Postmaster organizations will confer with legal counsel next week to consider their options. Additional information on this very important issue will be provided as it becomes available.
read full story from NAPUS
Postmasters To Manage More Than One Post Office In Changes To USPS Manuals
Filed under: post offices, postal, postal news, Postmasters, usps
USPS revises manuals and handbooks: Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), Handbook PO-101, Administrative Support Manual (ASM) and Postal Operations Manual (POM)
ELM Revision: Management of Post Offices by Postmasters
Effective December 1, 2011, Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), Part 113, Definitions, is revised to clarify that a postmaster may be responsible for the management of more than one Post Office™ facility, and that the postmaster may assign duties to subordinate personnel, including when the postmaster is not physically present. Read more
Post Office Facilities Group Fighting USPS Real Estate Program Delegating Lease Renewals To Contractor
AUSPL Advises Lessors NOT to Pay CB Richard Ellis Group Commission Fees for Leases on Post Offices
By now, most AUSPL lessors have received a “Dear Landlord” letter in which the Postal Service introduced its real estate program delegating lease negotiations to CB Richard Ellis (CBRE). We are vigorously challenging this program because we believe it unfairly targets lessors and favors CBRE.
Many members are concerned about being forced to deal with CBRE because it subjects our members to negotiating with less qualified, third party contractors who have no prior experience with the property with the expectation we pay the real estate commission.
What’s more, postal buildings are unique. Nearly all postal buildings were constructed according to standard plan documents developed by USPS. The facilities include specialty equipment, materials, specialized interior space and configuration, accessibility and security features that would be difficult and very costly to duplicate in a generic commercial facility. Without understanding that, CBRE agents may well recommend the Postal Service relocate to lower priced, alternate quarters, which would be detrimental to our lessors and USPS.
At AUSPL, we believe lessors should NOT enter into an agreement to pay CBRE a commission. While the “Dear Landlord” letter obligates lessors to negotiate with CBRE, it does NOT obligate them to pay a commission. Indeed, the “Dear Landlord” notification is an “agency notice,” which requires lessors to negotiate with CBRE. However, a USPS real estate contracting officer must ratify and sign any lease renewal; CBRE is not authorized to sign any (new) lease or lease renewal agreement. Do not be bullied or pressured by a CBRE agent. If an agent CBRE “threatens” to withhold recommendation of the negotiated lease terms to the Postal Service real estate contracting officer, contact us immediately. Call 800-572-9483 or E-mail auspl@auspl.com. We will continue to fight this program and we keep you posted. Stay tuned.
source: Association of United States Postal Lessors
Military Post Offices in Iraq to Close Nov. 17
Filed under: post office closings, post offices, postal, postal news, usps
WASHINGTON, Oct. 26, 2011 – Because U.S. forces are coming home from Iraq by the end of the year, the U.S. Postal Service will stop accepting mail addressed to military post offices in Iraq starting Nov. 17, Defense Department officials said today.
Military post offices in Iraq also will stop processing mail Nov. 17, and service members there should begin now to advise those who send them mail about the Nov. 17 deadline.
Mail still in the postal system through Nov. 17 will be processed and delivered to service members in Iraq, officials said.
In November, U.S. military postal service responsibilities in Iraq will transition to State Department embassy or consulate post offices for service members assigned to Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq.
These sites will provide letter and parcel mail services to service members assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq.
The transition will be closely coordinated with the U.S. Postal Service Agency, which will delete ZIP codes for Iraq military post offices from the USPS database to prevent undeliverable mail from entering the postal system after Nov. 17, according to defense officials.
If APO mail arrives in Iraq after a service member departs, mail will be redirected to the new mailing address provided or, if no mailing address was provided, returned to sender.
Any mail mistakenly accepted by a USPS post office after Nov. 17 will be returned to sender once it reaches the International Gateway in New Jersey.
Service members in Iraq or returning from Iraq who do not receive a requested absentee ballot from their state can complete a back-up federal write-In absentee ballot at the Federal Voting Assistance Program’s Web portal. The form wizard will provide a PDF document for printing, including the completed ballot and instructions for returning it to their local election official. Contact installation and unit level voting assistance officers for additional assistance.
Service members who are remaining in Iraq after Nov. 17 and who are there on behalf of or are assigned to the Office of Security Cooperation or the Chief of Mission in Iraq should coordinate with their chain of command and the servicing State Department mail location to receive a new mailing address.
According to defense officials, conditions and situations in the Iraq transition change often. Officials recommend that service members check the Military Postal Service Agency website and USPS Postal Bulletins frequently for updates.
source: U.S. Department Of Defense – Military Post Offices in Iraq to Close Nov. 17
OIG Audit Of USPS Web-Based Program Used For Closing Post Offices
Filed under: audits, oig, post offices, postal, postal news, usps
USPS OIG audit report of the web-based application, the Change Suspension Discontinuance Center (CSDC) program, used for the discontinuance of Postal Service-operated retail facilities. According to OIG: “The CSDC program’s discontinuance process follows applicable federal law and Postal Service policies. By law, the Postal Service cannot close small POs solely for operating at a deficit.” Read more
USPS Reducing Window Hours At Post Offices Nationwide
USPS spokesman Richard Watkins in explaining why window hours were being reduced in the Chillicothe, MO. area said:
As part of a nationwide program to reduce costs to their consumers, the U.S. Postal Service is shuffling some of its mail carriers around to different offices and condensing window hours at select locations.
Watkins went on to explain that nearly 75 percent of post offices across the nation are leased buildings. Because of the driving high number the economy has put on lease prices (well above the fair market value for these locations), the postal service must up its rates for those who ship through their specified windows to meet costs. By moving carriers to other offices and, therefore, using less space in certain locations, as well as by using buildings less with minimized window hour times, the postal service could be able to then ask for a lesser lease rate from the building’s owner (or force a move to another leasable location within the town that offers a lower price), in turn driving down the price of shipping for the customers.
source: Chillicothe Constitution-Tribune
PMG expects nearly half of all US post offices to close by 2017 or 2018
Postmaster General Patrick R. Donahoe told attendees at the National Catalog Forum on June 21, 2011 that he predicted that half the number of postal offices will be closed by 2017 or 2018:
source: multichannelmerchant.com
What’s more, Donahoe predicted nearly half of the roughly 32,000 postal facilities currently in the U.S. will be closed in the next six or seven years. “We have to look at our labor structure and figure out how to merge hard copy with digital.
The PMG’s remarks were cited in document (Attachment B) filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission by the NAPUS and National League Of Postmasters . The Postmaster organizations were filing in response to USPS’ motion to dismiss their complaint on proposed changes to CFR.
The Postal Service has been gradually closing post offices across the nation for years, purposefully suspending post offices and electing not to replace postmasters as they retire and choosing not to renew building leases in order to close the vacant post offices. The systematic closings occurring year after year create a conundrum when attempting to pinpoint precisely when the number of closings becomes “nationwide”: There appears to be a de facto, but nonetheless clear policy of closing post offices wherever possible.
Many post offices closing early for Fourth Of July weekend
Due to the holiday weekend, many Post Offices around the country will either be closed on Saturday, July 2 or have a closing time of 12 Noon on July 2nd. Post Offices will be closed Monday, July 4 in observance of the national holiday. Express Mail will be delivered on the 4th and regular mail delivery will resume Tuesday, July 5.
According to USPS:
Pennsylvania – All Post Offices will be open Friday and Saturday, July 1 & 2, throughout the Western PA District, encompassing 150-159, 160-168 & 260 ZIP Code areas, however many will shorten retail lobby hours for the unofficial first days of the Fourth of July holiday weekend. Regular mail delivery for July 1 & 2 will be unaffected by the lobby service schedule changes. P.O. Box mail access will only be available until 12 p.m. in those Post Offices where retail counters and access to Post Office Boxes are co-located and are affected by early retail closings on July 1 & 2. Customers may call 1-800-ASK-USPS for information about specific Post Offices. Commercial customers are asked to check with their Bulk Mail Acceptance Unit for hours of operation.
Greater Boston, MA—The Fort Point Post Office located at 25 Dorchester Ave. Boston will be open on Sunday, July 3, 2011 from 8:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., and Monday July 4, 2011, from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. for all your postal needs.In observance of the July 4, 2011 Holiday, all other Post Offices in Greater Boston will be closed on Sunday, July 3, 2011 and Monday, July 4, 2011. There will be no mail distribution to Post Office Boxes, and no mail will be collected from collection boxes.
Alabama- The U.S. Postal Service is adjusting retail hours of operation for the July 4th holiday weekend; 370 Alabama Post Offices regularly open on Saturday, will be closed on Saturday, July 2. A sign is posted at each location.
BALTIMORE, MD – Post Offices in the Baltimore District (comprised of ZIP codes beginning with 210 – 219) will be operating on adjusted retail hours Friday, July 1, 2011 and Saturday, July 2, 2011 in observance of the Independence Day holiday. Revised hours will be posted at each Post Office. Regular mail delivery for July 1 and July 2 will be unaffected by the lobby service schedule changes. Post Office Box customers will have access to their Post Office Boxes on July 1 and July 2 according to the retail units’ scheduled hours of operation (hours will be posted at each Post Office). All collection box pick-up times will remain as indicated on collection box. Commercial customers are asked to check with their Bulk Mail Acceptance Unit for July 1 and July 2 hours of operation.
Post office hours may vary in each city.
Valley Falls Post Office supporters rally
Protesters turned out in force Tuesday morning for a rally designed to create more support in preventing the Valley Falls Post Office from closing on July 8. Town resident Derrick Watson, who heads an organization named “The Concerned Citizens of Valley Falls – Save Our Post Office, indicated last Thursday that he had sent an approximate 34-page appeal to the Postal Regulatory Commission in Washington, D.C. on Sunday, May 22.
full story: The Pawtucket Times
Update: Smithville Post Office Destroyed by a Tornado
JACKSON – On Wednesday, April 27, at 5:40 PM CDT, a tornado came through the area under an extreme weather warning and completely destroyed the Smithville, MS Post Office. No employees or customers were injured in this extreme weather. The tornado tore all but one wall down with its destruction.
The Smithville Post Office 38870 was located at 63437 Highway 25 North and will not be operational in the near future. Read more