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TOP NEWS STORIES |
Burrus: USPS' Bleak Financial Picture and the Presidential
Election
"In response to the financial crisis, the Postal Service
has announced a hiring freeze. And, in a meeting with union
leaders and management association presidents, the Postmaster
General pointed out that 16,000 USPS employees lack the six
years of continuous service required to achieve protection
against layoffs. The PMG's message was clear: For the first
time in our history, postal employees may experience layoffs.
This looming crisis is the reason that the 2008 election for
president and Congress is so important to postal employees."
- Hard Times -
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Who should make the first call to Congress?
"Who'da thunk that after seven successful years of
cost-cutting and after the enactment of a new postal law, the
U.S. Postal Service (USPS) once would again find itself stuck
between a fiscal rock and hard place? Of course, this time,
it's different. This time, no one can blame the leadership of
the USPS for not doing their mightiest to trim postal costs to
reflect rapidly changing postal realities. So what's the cause
of the current fix? Very simply, the largest part of the
Postal Service's current financial woes can be found within
the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006." -
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Filling in the Gaps (on Postal Finances)
"The fourth quarter is clearly one of the most difficult
periods that the Postal Service has faced in its history. The
release of the Postal Service's revenue and expenses accounts
through August shows that the Postal Service's loss so far
this year is how challenging this period is. So far this
quarter, revenue is$11.850 billion and expenses are $13.025
billion, producing a two month loss of $1.176 billion. The
loss so far in the fourth quarter is driven by a 4.7% decline
in revenue, a 1.3% increase in expenses, and a $329 million
workers compensation adjustment. Extrapolating this trend
through September would result in a quarterly loss of $2.168
billion and a fiscal year loss of $3.326 billion." -
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Junk Mail Keeps the Post Office Alive
"These are tough times for the U.S. Postal Service. It's
being pummeled by high fuel costs. The soft economy is
crimping the overall volume of mail, which fell 5.5 percent in
the past year. Its business is also falling as Americans opt
for e-mail over birthday cards and thank-you notes. Now comes
another threat: consumers like Colleen Plimpton of Bethel,
Conn. Earlier this year Plimpton became tired of the
credit-card offers, catalogs and advertising fliers that
clogged her mailbox. So in February she paid $20 to GreenDimes,
a firm that helps consumers reduce their inflow of "junk mail"
by contacting businesses on their behalf. "[Junk mailers] are
cutting down trees willy-nilly, and that has got to stop,"
says Plimpton." -
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Federal health premium to rise 7 percent in 2009
"Premiums for the federal employee health plan will rise
by an average of 7 percent in 2009, a sizable increase from
the previous year. The government's portion of the overall
premium for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program will
rise 6.5 percent while the increase for employees will average
7.9 percent. On average, that translates to an extra $4.83
every two weeks for employees with individual plans, while
those with family plans will pay an additional $11.12. Premium
hikes will vary, depending on which health plan an employee
has enrolled in." -
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Challenging Economic Conditions Continue to Reduce Mail Volume
"As the current economic climate continues to contribute to a
decrease in mail volume, and with no reversal in the trend in
sight, the Postal Service reported today it expects to end the
current fiscal year with a volume decline of nine billion
pieces. At today's Board of Governors meeting, Postmaster
General John Potter said the magnitude of the loss in mail
requires the Postal Service to take steps now to shore up its
business, which it is doing by reducing work hours. "While we
deal with the economic challenges, customers and service to
our customers will always be number one on our agenda, it is
why we exist, it is our franchise," said Potter." -
Forever Stamp Responsible for $230 Million in
Revenue Loss? -
Financial Update
(BOG Open Session) -
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Postal Service to Announce $2.5 Billion Yearly Loss
"The United States Postal Service will announce a $2.5
billion dollar yearly loss tomorrow, ABCNews.com has learned.
But postal officials say it is unlikely to result in any
increase in the cost of mailing a first class letter. Postal
service officials say the loss this year, and the year before,
was due largely to a Congressional mandate requiring the
Postal Service to pre-pay $5 billion in retirement benefits
for postal workers. But for that requirement, say officials,
the Postal Service would have posted a $2.5 billion profit
this year." -
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PMG Briefs Employee Organizations on Financial Situation
"While the members of all our organizations are well aware of
the lack of mail in the system, we were briefed on the
dynamics of the revenue losses and the impact that it is
having on our ability to operate. PMG Potter advised the
association and union leadership that the financial condition
of the Postal Service was poor with revenue falling
considerably short of our objectives due to the overall poor
U.S. economy. Potter added that the Postal Service would need
the help of the unions and associations in working with the
Congress as the Postal Service attempts to develop solutions
to our problems that will involve discussions and
Congressional approval. Specific plans were not discussed at
the meeting." -
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NAPUS: USPS Freeze On All Organizational Structure Changes
"On September 17, 2008 the Postal Service faxed a notice to
the NAPUS office from Anthony J. Vegliante, Senior Vice
President Labor Relations USPS. It states in part; that due to
the current financial situation a more controlled approach in
managing the complement is needed. Therefore, a freeze on all
organizational structure changes is effective immediately. The
freeze includes position upgrades, additions to complement,
position neutral exchanges, and requests for new positions and
their related position evaluations. President Dale has a
meeting with Jack Potter, Postmaster General on Monday,
September 22, 2008." -
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USPS to Deploy Video Surveillance to 40,000 Postal Sites
"The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) plans to deploy an
IPv6-capable video surveillance system to 40,000 postal sites
across the country. In addition to providing high-quality
video, the system is expected to provide the USPS with
enhanced mobility, security and network management
capabilities. The new video platform will be integrated into
the existing USPS network. Video surveillance is critical for
USPS to prevent and investigate burglaries and other security
incidents that occur inside and around USPS facilities. An
IP-based system offers features unavailable in traditional
closed circuit television (CCTV) systems, such as the ability
to view live video from remote locations through an Internet
connection." -
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Postmaster General Cautions of Perfect Economic Storm
"Postmaster General John E. Potter challenged the mailing
industry today, cautioning mailers about the severity of the
current economic climate and urging them to create new growth
opportunities. Citing fluctuating oil prices, inflation in
paper prices and the strife in the financial markets, Potter
described challenging economic conditions as the most
difficult time since the 1960s. The additional move of
hardcopy messages to the Internet and questions about mail's
environmental impact have led to a volume decline of 9 billion
pieces this year." -
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Postal Service vs. Aliso Viejo: Who has facts on proposed
plant?
"Claim: "A big distribution center processing junk mail is not
going to bring in the kind of high-creative/talent jobs we're
trying to bring here." - Phillips What the EIS says: While
frequently referred to as a "junk mail" processing facility,
the USPS facility will "process all letter, flat and package
mail for delivery in the 926 zip code, as well as flat mail
for the 927 zip code," according to pages 2-10 of the EIS.
Comment: Cave acknowledged that all kinds of mail will be
processed at the facility, but maintained that characterizing
the facility as a "junk mail processing center" was "fair." -
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Postal union leaders fight outsourcing
"American Postal Workers Union leaders are fighting a
U.S. Postal Service proposal to outsource processing work at
the nation's 21 bulk mail centers, saying it could hurt
service and result in lost union jobs. "We believe that if
they get away with this, they could go after the next group
[of public postal employees]," said Vince Tarducci. He's
president of the APWU Local 7048, which covers the
Philadelphia Bulk Mail Center on Philadelphia's Byberry Road."
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APWU: Congressman, Postal Workers Protest
BMC Privatization - US Rep Murphy Joins Postal Protest -
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APWU: Early-Retirement Info
Wrong, Burrus Tells Postal Service
"APWU President William Burrus has notified the Postal Service
of significant errors in information the USPS provided to
employees eligible for Voluntary Early Retirement (VER), and
has requested management's "immediate attention to these
matters" so that employees do not suffer irrevocable harm as a
result." -
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NALC President Young: Stand up, be strong for a better America
"So, NALC will do all in its power to help elect Senator
Obama, a charismatic young leader who has demonstrated both
vision and the power to inspire by mobilizing millions of
Americans to join his campaign for change." (NALC Postal
Record). -
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Postal Service offers early retirements
"Fred Jones, a data collection clerk in Houston, has worked
for the U.S. Postal Service for nearly 26 years. Last month,
the 49-year-old divorced father of two grown daughters got a
letter from the agency asking him to consider retiring six
years ahead of schedule. He did the math: Taking the early-out
offer would cost Jones 12 percent of his annuity - 2 percent
for every year he's under 55, under Civil Service Retirement
System rules. And since the calculation also would be based on
a lower salary and fewer years of service, Jones figured he
would be left with a monthly annuity that amounts to roughly
42 percent of his base salary - instead of 62 percent if he
waited until he was 55. Jones' response: Thanks, but no
thanks." -
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USPS Announces VER Timeline for
HQ EAS and PCES;
Motor Vehicle; Maintenance and Carriers
"For your convenience, a timeline of activity related to this
VERA can be found by clicking on VER Steps
At-a-Glance. Read through this timeline carefully and
consider your retirement options. It's important to note that
November 21, 2008 is the date when an employee's voluntary
choice to retire becomes irrevocable (cannot be withdrawn)
under this VERA." Timeline for Clerk;
Mail Handler; Supervisor, Distribution Operations; Supervisor,
Customer Services -
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Burrus to Maintenance, Motor Vehicle Employees: Don't Go!
"With news that the Postal Service will offer Voluntary
Early Retirement (VER) to Motor Vehicle Services and
Maintenance Craft employees - except Electronic Technicians -
APWU President William Burrus is reiterating his advice to
union members: DON'T GO! "My reasoning is simple," he said.
"Every APWU-represented employee who leaves early will save
the USPS hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet the Postal
Service is refusing to offer cash incentives." -
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Work slowing at mail plant in Hampden
"For the two dozen employees at the U.S. Postal Service's
Eastern Maine Processing and Distribution Facility, things
have slowed a little in recent weeks. "We've got guys standing
around not doing anything; that's a bad sign," said Richard J.
Reed, president of the Bangor Area Local 536 of the American
Postal Workers Union, which represents 21 of those workers." -
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Postal service adjusts to 'snail mail'
"Crystal Bush used to pay her bills the old-fashioned way, but
the envelopes often would linger on the table." Getting to the
mailbox, with a stamp -- it's something I always forgot," said
Bush, who lives in Wilshire in Brandywine Hundred. She began
paying bills online in January, and rarely misses a payment.
She said she's sent only two letters all year." -
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