Alabama community finally gets mail service
Filed under: mail delivery, postal, postal news, USPS News Link
An industrial area near Mobile, AL, now has something it’s never had before — mail service.
Pinto Island, home to shipbuilder Austal USA and other manufacturers, is located across the Mobile River from the city of Mobile. Until now, it’s been the most industrialized area in the lower 48 states without mail service. That ended when Mobile, AL, Letter Carrier Alan Green made the Postal Service’s first delivery to the island last September.
Postmaster Veronica Johnson, U.S. Senator Richard Shelby (R-AL), and officials from Austal USA worked together to make mail service a reality. To celebrate the first day of mail delivery, the Mobile Police Department escorted Green and his vehicle to the island, where he was greeted by manufacturing employees, postal officials, congressional representatives, and reporters.
The island is home to some of Mobile’s largest employers, including Austal USA, which opened its shipyard in 2001 and began pursuing postal delivery on the island. Before September, the company had a PO Box in Mobile and paid a courier to bring mail to the shipyard.
Now manufacturers no longer worry about critical, time-sensitive documents on bids and pricing being received on time. Also, since most GPS systems rely on postal information, customers find it easier to navigate now that mail delivery officially has come to Pinto Island.
source: USPS News Link
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.
Postal Inspection Service renews violence-prevention efforts
Filed under: postal, postal inspectors, postal news, USPS News Link
The Postal Inspection Service’s Safe and Secure Initiative continues to educate employees on avoiding violence in the workplace.
Postal Inspector Robert Diaz — the initiative’s program manager — said Inspectors will visit approximately 400 postal facilities over the next two months to address the issues of workplace violence, employee security and carrier safety.
Inspectors will hold face-to-face discussions with employees and distribute safety brochures about violence prevention. Key points include:
- Take every threat seriously and report it immediately.
- Behave in a way that promotes a positive work environment.
- Act in a professional manner, even if you’re having a bad day.
- Report all threats to management officials, your Threat Assessment Team or the Postal Inspection Service.
The Safe and Secure Initiative is a key element in the Postal Service’s zero-tolerance policy for workforce violence. Employees who feel threatened also should contact the Employee Assistance Program — which provides crisis counseling, referral and short-term counseling — at 800-327-4968 (TTY, 877-492-7341).
via USPS News Link
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
USPS Introduces 3rd Priority Mail Regional Rate Box Designed for Commerical Mailers
The Postal Service is giving customers a big reason to ship regionally with USPS. It’s called the “Priority Mail Regional Rate Box C.”
At 15-by-12-by-12 inches, the new container is the largest USPS-produced box for commercial use, with a 25-pound maximum weight limit. It makes its debut in conjunction with the Jan. 22 price change. Box C joins Box A and Box B in the Priority Mail Regional Rate lineup. The boxes are designed for commercial mailers.
“Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes are similar to Flat Rate Boxes and provide ‘if it fits it ships’ convenience but have modest weight restrictions,” said Gary Reblin, vice president, Domestic Products. “We expect the new box to be a big a hit with shippers.”
Since the introduction of Box A and Box B in January 2011, more than 17 million Priority Mail Regional Rate Boxes have been ordered.
While Box A and Box B come in both top- and side-loading versions, Box C will be only top loading.
The boxes offer value for high-volume shippers, like e-tailers and local and regional-based businesses, when they’re shipping shorter distances. And they get free boxes, too, available for order online at usps.com.
Although it’s designed primarily for commercial shippers, customers who bring a Priority Mail Regional Rate Box to a retail office will be charged 75 cents more than the Commercial Base price.
source: USPS News Link Story – Multiple choice.
USPS: Letter Carrier Positions Are Available
Letter carrier positions available
Employees can apply through eReassign.
The Postal Service has a limited number of city letter carrier positions available, and current employees are encouraged to apply.
What are the advantages of becoming a city letter carrier?
- Base salary ranges from $44,292 to $57,704 per year
- Daytime work hours
- Interaction with customers
- Outdoor work
- Typically off on Sundays and holidays
- Uniform allowance
Why become a city letter carrier now?
- Taking advantage of this option will provide the greatest selection of jobs and job locations, and increases the chances of finding a job near the applicant’s home.
- Letter carrier seniority begins as soon as the applicant starts.
For more information, employees should contact their local Human Resources office or visit eReassign on LiteBlue to review job listings and locations.
USPS shoots for $1 billion in annual Every Door Direct Mail sales
USPS shoots for $1 billion in annual EDDM sales
Last year’s sales figures from Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) were so encouraging the Postal Service has set far grander plans for the product this year.
Introduced by the Postal Service last April, EDDM already has grown to a $270-million-a-year product. Vice President, Sales, Cliff Rucker has stated USPS is aiming for $1 billion in 2012 EDDM sales. Rucker said the $1 billion mark would be reached by focusing on the following sources:
- Sales to national and regional franchises
- Alliances with printers
- New product development, including new mail sizes to appeal to businesses who don’t want to print new menus, and new route options, such as delivering only to commercial customers.
- New strategies, such as targeting political campaigns and local businesses
- New sales generated by 100 additional sales associates who will contact new customers
Rucker stressed that USPS can reach its EDDM sales goal only if employees remain committed through training and engagement with the product.
source: USPS News Link
USPS Issues Clarification On Public Disclosure Policy and Lobbying Restrictions
Last week, Link published an article regarding the federal anti-lobbying statute as it relates to USPS employees. It’s important to note that the law only applies to the “use of postal resources.” The law prohibits employees — acting in their official capacity — from encouraging stakeholders to intercede with Congress. source: USPS News Link
Here is what USPS originally posted:
It’s nobody’s business
Public disclosure policy and lobbying restrictions Read more
Updates to USPS Express Mail refund policy begin on Jan. 22
Major changes are coming to the Postal Service’s Express Mail refund policy.
For Express Mail sent on or after Jan. 22, customers requesting a postage refund for a service failure must submit that application within 30 days of the mailing date. Previously, a mailer could request a postage refund for an Express Mail service failure up to 90 days after the mailing date. Read more
USPS Warns Employees About Disclosing Non-Public Postal Information
USPS has rules — designed to protect both the Postal Service and employees — that prohibit the communication of confidential, proprietary, and non-public information, as well as information that would violate anti-lobbying laws. These rulers are important, in times such as these, when legislative action has dominated discussions concerning the Postal Service. USPS wants its employees to understand the parameters of anti-lobbying laws and public disclosure.
Employees should not discuss non-public aspects of their work, or any other postal work with anyone other than those directly involved. Sales or cost data, and unreleased financial statistics are examples of such information.
The “Anti-Lobbying Act,” 18 US Code 1913, prohibits the use of postal resources to influence others to speak with Congress about postal issues.
The Government Relations office manages communication to Congress on the Postal Service’s position on issues and legislation, and postal employees may respond to Congressional inquiries through authorized channels. This information may be discussed with USPS stakeholders ― including members of the public. However, employees are prohibited from urging these stakeholders to intercede with Congress.
Anti-lobbying law violations are punishable by civil penalties and are investigated by the Government Accountability Office, which refers cases to the Justice Department for possible enforcement.
via USPS News Link Story – It’s nobody’s business