USPS Puts Hold On Proposal To Expand Ability To Subcontract Rural Routes
The U.S. Postal Service has withdrawn a proposal that “would have expanded its ability to subcontract rural routes to contract delivery service,” according to an announcement this week by the National Rural Letters Carriers’ Association. The decision “came after extensive discussions” between the NRLCA and Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, as well as other postal officials, according to the release on the union’s web site.
“We have tabled the issue while we are in the process of resolving a labor contract,” Postal Service spokesman Mark Saunders said via email, when asked for confirmation of the union’s claim.
full story: Federal Times
USPS, Rural Carriers Union Contract Talks Reach Impasse
Filed under: APWU, contract, postal, postal news, press releases, rural carriers, usps
USPS Press Release
WASHINGTON — Contract negotiations with the American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO (APWU) and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association (NRLCA) expired at midnight Sat., Nov. 20. While negotiations with the NRLCA resulted in an impasse, the Postal Service and the APWU agreed to extend the negotiation deadline until Tue., Nov. 23 at noon ET.
Should APWU negotiations fail as they have with the NRLCA, a process begins which could result in a third party determining contract terms and work rules for more than 324,000 employees whose wages and benefits exceeded $20 billion last year.
Unlike the private sector, when negotiations come to an impasse, Postal employees are not permitted to strike. That’s because Congress designated the Postal Service as an essential service to the nation. An arbitrator determines the final outcome and is not legally required to consider the Postal Service’s financial obligations when rendering a decision.
The drop in the economy coupled with the shift to digital communications has created the greatest loss in mail volume since the Great Depression. Mail volume peaked at 213 billion pieces in 2006 and plummeted to 170.6 billion in the fiscal year (FY) ending Sept. 30. Revenues shrank from $72.6 billion in 2006 to $67.1 billion. The 2010 FY net loss was $8.5 billion. By 2020, mail volume is projected to drop to 150 billion pieces.
To remain strong into the future, the Postal Service needs to control costs through a flexible workforce to adapt to the nation’s changing mailing trends.
The Postal Service operates solely from the sale of stamps and related services without taxpayer subsidy. As a quasi government agency, it deals with the challenges of the private sector while continuing to operate under federal regulations and Congressional oversight.
Reasonable wages and benefits are just one element needed to help the Postal Service fully meet its financial obligations and remain strong in the future.
- Survey data reflects that the public favors 5-day delivery over using taxpayer funds and other alternatives. Adjusting delivery days to better reflect current mail volumes and customer trends can save the Postal Service $3.1 billion annually. The Postal Regulatory Commission is expected to announce its recommendation within the next month. Congress has yet to consider this concept.
- Created in 2006 under stronger economic conditions, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act requires the Postal Service, unlike the private or public sector, to prefund retiree health benefits. This equates to an average of $5.6 billion in cash flow every year through 2016, in addition to the $2 billion it annually pays for current retirees. The Postal Service has asked Congress to restructure retiree health benefits payments to “pay-as-you-go,” comparable to what is used by the rest of the federal government and the majority of the private sector.
- According to an audit conducted by the Postal Service Office of Inspector General, the Postal Service has been overcharged $75 billion to its Civil Service Retirement System pension fund.
The APWU represents 209,000 employees who work as clerks, mechanics, vehicle drivers, custodians and in some administrative positions. Employees represented by the NRLCA primarily deliver mail in rural and suburban areas. The NRLCA represents 67,000 career employees and 48,000 non-career employees who substitute for career employees on their days off.
Two other unions represent most other postal employees. More than 205,000 employees represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers, AFL-CIO (NALC) deliver mail in metropolitan areas and 48,000 employees represented by the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, AFL-CIO (NPMHU) work in mail processing plants and Post Offices.
The NALC and NPMHU begin negotiations next year approximately 90 days prior to the midnight Nov. 20, 2011 contract expiration date. For additional background information on labor negotiations and the Postal Service’s workforce, please click on these links: Labor Negotiations and Workforce.
Postal Rural Carrier Guarantee Period For 2010
All Post Offices With Rural Delivery Service: Rural Carrier Guarantee Period
Postal Service managers must effectively manage rural carriers who work under the provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) section 7(b)(2). Those carriers are paid overtime for all hours actually worked in excess of 2,080, up to 2,240, within the 52-consecutive-week guarantee period.
If a carrier works more than 2,240 hours within the guarantee period, the agreement under FLSA, section 7(b)(2), is considered void, and the carrier must be compensated for all hours worked during the guarantee period in accordance with FLSA, section 7(a).
Local management must track and validate regular carrier work hours throughout the guarantee year to avoid and/or minimize the number of carriers exceeding 2,080 or 2240 actual work hours.
The current 2009–2010 guarantee period in effect for the past year began Saturday, October 24, 2009, and goes through Friday, October 22, 2010. The new 2010–2011 guarantee period will begin on Saturday, October 23, 2010 and continue through Friday, October 21, 2011.
source: Postal Bulletin: Rural Delivery, Delivery and Post Office Operations, 10-21-10
Louisiana Postal Worker Critically Injured In Crash While Delivering Mail
Filed under: postal, postal news, press releases, rural carriers, usps
Rural Carrier was not wearing a seatbelt – but Postal Workers are exempt from wearing seat belts in the performance of their duties.
Bossier Parish – On October 16, 2010, at 9:47 a.m., Louisiana State Police Troop G responded to a two vehicle crash on LA 527, east of LA 157, in Bossier Parish. The crash critically injured a 59-year-old United States Postal Service worker from Castor.
According to investigating troopers, two Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Deputies were traveling east on LA 527 while responding to an ATV accident. Both deputies were traveling in fully marked patrol units with their overhead light bars activated. While traveling east on LA 527, both units approached Deborah B. Wood, United States Postal Service worker, who was stopped partially in the roadway and on the right shoulder in her 2007 Jeep Wrangler, delivering mail.
The lead Sheriff’s unit steered safely around the Jeep Wrangler and continued east. The trailing Sheriff’s unit, a 2008 Ford Crown Victorian, operated by 68-year-old Deputy Joe Young, struck the Jeep Wrangler from behind causing it to veer right into the ditch area and overturn ejecting Mrs. Wood.
Mrs. Wood, who was unrestrained at the time of the crash, was air lifted to LSU Medical Center in Shreveport with life threatening injuries. According to Louisiana’s seatbelt law, United States Postal Service workers are exempt from wearing their seatbelts in the performance of their duties.
Deputy Young, who was restrained at the time of the crash, was transported to Willis Knighton Bossier Medical Center in Bossier City with minor injuries.
Although impairment is not suspected to be a factor, routine toxicology test results are pending and the crash remains under investigation.
Louisiana State Police News Release
source: Louisiana State Police News Release
All Rural Carrier Postings, Bids and Awards Available Online
Filed under: postal, postal news, rural carriers, usps, USPS News Link
AUTOMATED RURAL JOB BIDDING
ALL RURAL CARRIERS CAN REVIEW AVAILABLE JOBS ONLINE
Last week, the Postal Service reached an important milestone in its initiative to reach out to employees using technology. Now, all rural carrier postings, bids and awards are available online.
Previously, not all rural carriers had access to the online bidding process. But now, all 120,000 rural carriers will have access to the automated bidding system, 24/7.
Craft employees can use any of the following ways to access the automated job bidding systems:
On LiteBlue:
• Go to the employee apps carousel at the center of the home page, or
• Click on the “My HR” tab at the top navigation bar of LiteBlue and then on the “Find Employee Apps” section, or
• Click on the employee apps button at the bottom of every My HR Page.
At HR kiosks, Web–bidding computers, or Interactive Voice Response and TDD/TTY for hearing–impaired employees.
Employees need their Employee ID number and USPS PIN to log on to LiteBlue and automated bidding systems.
source: USPS News Link
South Dakota Rural Letter Carrier Sentenced To Probation for Mail Theft
July 26, 2010
Sioux Falls, SD
US Attorney Brendan V. Johnson announced that a Yankton man charged with mail theft was sentenced on July 26, 2010, by US District Judge Lawrence L. Piersol. Brandon G. Novak, age 42, was sentenced to three years of probation and 40 hours of community service. Brandon G. Novak was indicted for five counts of theft of mail by postal employee by a federal grand jury on February 2, 2010. Novak was a full-time United States Postal Service employee, having been so employed since 1996. Novak was a rural mail carrier assigned to deliver mail on Rural Route 7 in Yankton, South Dakota. Between July 1, 2009, and October 15, 2009, Novak came into possession of correspondence and other mail items intended to be conveyed by the United States mail. Included within this correspondence and mail were items containing gift cards and coupons. On several occasions, Novak would take out store coupons and gift cards from mail and use them to buy personal items for himself. He pled guilty to one count of theft of mail on May 5, 2010. This case was investigated by the Office of the Inspector General – United States Postal Service. Assistant US Attorney Dennis H. Holmes prosecuted the case.
source: United States Attorney’s Office for the District of South Dakota
No Accidents, No Sick Leave in Over 50 Years For Nebraska Rural Carrier
82-year-old Nebraska Rural Carrier has no plans on retiring
Brainard, NE, Rural Carrier Dwayne Raskey has delivered mail for 50 years without an accident. For that achievement, he has been named the recipient of the prestigious Joseph M. Kaplan USPS National Safe Driver of the Year award by the National Safety Council (NSC). Raskey was among 10 regional finalists for the award.
Raskey — the longest-serving rural carrier in the Central Plains District — was recognized at an NSC awards ceremony in Orlando, FL. The national award represents the “best of the best” for safe driving by professional drivers.
“I enjoy the people and enjoy the driving, that’s why I stay with it,” said Raskey of his job. His safety record behind the wheel has already been well documented. Earlier this year, he earned a rare 2 million mile safety award from the NSC.
Raskey says the keys to driving safely include being observant and driving according to the conditions. “If it’s muddy or snowy, you’ve got to slow down,” cautioned Raskey, whose route covers 96 miles on mostly gravel roads.
Brainard Postmaster Sherri Helman uses words like “dedicated, loyal, friendly, honest, and conscientious” to describe Raskey — who also hasn’t used a day of sick leave. “There’s never a day that he doesn’t come in with a smile on his face and a warm good morning greeting,” she said.
National Safety Council Honors Brainard’s Dwayne “Oley”Raskey (11/19/09)