New employee deal
Southern New Hampshire University offers tuition discount

5/8/12 at 3:35 p.m.

Thinking about pursuing a college degree or enrolling in a certificate program?

Postal employees and their families receive a 10-percent tuition discount off more than 120 undergraduate, graduate and certificate programs through Southern New Hampshire University, an accredited institution offering both online and brick-and-mortar courses.

Employees can select from areas of study such as human resources, terrorism and homeland security, cybersecurity, organizational leadership, project management and social media.

Employees can call 888-607-8374 or visit www.snhu.edu/usps.

Explaining the change, Southern Area Vice President Jo Ann Feindt notes, “With territory that spans the entire Gulf Coast and other southern states, we felt Southern Area was our most accurate description.”

Southern Area will use the acronym “SA.” Employees working in Southern Area should order new stationery and business cards only after existing supplies are exhausted.

Postal Bulletin 22334
4.05.2012

Effective April 5, 2012, the Postal Service™ will revise Postal Operations Manual (POM) subchapters 61, 63, 64, and 65 in selected subsections to provide updated and revised information and procedures regarding modes of delivery and delivery equipment. The POM sets forth the policies, regulations, and procedures of the Postal Service governing delivery and vehicle operations.

The revised procedures apply to new deliveries added to the delivery network; however, the revisions also provide updated language on centralized delivery equipment that may apply to current delivery points as well. This revision provides the Postal Service with autonomy in determining the modes of delivery when adding new deliveries, thereby enabling the Postal Service to provide services adequate and necessary to meeting its basic function in the most effi­cient manner. Controlling future costs begins with good base decisions whenever new deliveries are added to the delivery infrastructure. These include the mode of delivery and location and type of equipment, as well as the safety and convenience of both carriers and customers. Updated equipment references may be interchangeable such as replacing Neighborhood Delivery and Collection Box Unit (NDCBU) with Cluster Box Unit (CBU) to replace obsolete nomenclature.

It is important to note that Postal Service representa­tives are still required to meet with builders and developers early in the process to ensure the best choices are made and to assess if the mode of delivery directed to be put in place conforms to the policies of the Postal Service. There are no changes in the current modes of delivery available as an option for the Postal Service in establishing neces­sary and adequate services.

Read This Postal Bulletin

This year’s NAPUS Leadership Conference is being held concurrently with Senate consideration of S. 1789, the Leiberman-Collins-Carper-Brown postal relief legislation. Consequently, the over 850 NAPUS members attending the Leadership Conference, and who will be on Capitol Hill next week will play a vital role in helping to influence the outcome of the Senate deliberations.

Last Thursday, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) filed two procedural motions that will bring to the Senate floor S. 1789, on Monday. The motion to proceed to take up S. 1789 was partnered with a preemptive cloture motion on the motion to proceed. Over the past few years, such tandem motions are routine. The effect of the Senate procedure means that the Senate requires a super-majority of 60 votes (not a simple majority) to begin debate on the legislation. Also, such a vote would overcome a “hold” placed on the bill by Sen. Barbara Mikulski (D-MD), who is concerned about the closure of the Easton, MD mail processing plant. The cloture vote is scheduled for Monday evening, at about 5:30 PM EDT.

Assuming the requisite number of votes is reached, the Senate will begin opening statements on the bill. After the statements, it appears likely that a number of, or all of sponsors of the postal bill will file an amendment to S. 1789, which would address many of the concerns raised by Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT) and his allies. (The actual text of the amendment may not be released until Monday). A vote on his amendment would be the first substantive vote on the legislation. Moreover, we can expect many of the same amendments that were defeated at the Committee level to be offered on the Senate floor, including an amendment to substitute H.R. 2309 for S. 1789. In addition, other amendments may be offered. It is important to remember that Senate procedures promote debate, sometimes protracted debate — unless cloture is invoked. NAPUS will carefully monitor Senate floor activities and ensure that our conference participants will be able to share NAPUS positions on each amendment with their Senators. It is unclear when votes will take place, although it is reported that the Majority Leader wants to complete Senate action on S. 1789 by the close of business on Friday, the beginning of the two-week Easter Recess period.

On Tuesday morning, NAPUS legislative activists will be addressed by key Senators who were deeply involved in crafting the key amendment, including Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee Chairman Joseph Lieberman and Senator Bernie Sanders. Other Senators and members of the House will also address the Postmasters.

(WASHINGTON, DC) – Congressman John Carter (R-TX31) is reaching out to Congressional offices around the country in an effort to build a coalition to reverse the shutdown of the South Temple Post Office and similar facilities nationwide.

“At a time when the U.S. Postal Service desperately needs to cut its losses, the shutdown of these privately-owned contract post offices appear to be adding to the red ink, based on the documentation we have received to date,” says Carter. “These specific shutdowns are occurring across the country and are opposed by everyone except the postal unions.”

Carter met with USPS officials and other House members last week to determine the facts on the case and develop potential remedies to the closings of select contract post offices nationwide by the end of March.

According to USPS, the closings are not part of national cost-cutting efforts to close unprofitable postal offices, but instead are mandated by the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement, ratified between the USPS and the American Postal Workers Union on May 23, 2011. The May 23, 2011 labor contract requires the closure or seizure of twenty specified privately-owned postal facilities designated as Contract Postal Units (CPU), including the South Temple facility by March 30 of this year, and the eventual closing of all CPUs. The initial 20 shutdowns were determined on the basis they are located within close proximity of a Main Branch Post Office and offer full-service.

The South Temple Post Office opened in 1992 and averages over $1 million a year in profits for USPS. The facility was built with a million dollar private-sector investment.

USPS is projected to run a $5.1 billion deficit in 2012, and is $14.1 billion in debt. Congressional sources find that union-staffed USPS facilities average 23 cents cost per retail transaction, while CPUs average just 13 cents per transaction using non-unionized labor.

Carter is actively working with U.S. Rep. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) to build a coalition of House Members to oppose the closings, and to determine whether USPS can reverse the decision or legislative action is needed.

2012 Criminal Enforcement Actions Against Postal Union Officials

On February 6, 2012, in the Kandiyohi County, Minnesota District Court, Cherity Perez, former Secretary-Treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 631 (located in Willmar, Minn.), pled guilty to theft, in violation of Minnesota State Statute 609.52.2(1). The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Minneapolis Resident Investigator Office. Reposted here by PEN.

On January 25, 2012, in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Georgia, Tommy Harris, former Treasurer of National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Branch 1230 (located in Griffin, Ga.), was sentenced to four years of probation, 11 months of electronically monitored home confinement, 200 hours of community service, and was ordered to pay $24,646.82 in restitution (of which $4,646.82 was outstanding) and a $100 special assessment. On November 17, 2011, Harris pled guilty to one count of embezzlement totaling $24,646.82, in violation of 29 U.S.C. 501(c). The sentencing follows an investigation by the OLMS Atlanta District Office. Reposted here by PEN.

On January 11, 2012, in the United States District Court for the District of Connecticut, Michael Martin, former President of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 3093 (located in Norwalk, Conn.), pled guilty to one count of embezzlement of mail by an employee of the United States Postal Service (USPS) in the amount of $11,320.61, in violation of 18 U.S.C. 1709. In addition, Martin admitted to embezzling $8,880.78 in union funds. The guilty plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Boston District Office and the USPS’s Office of Inspector General. Reposted here by PEN.

Criminal Enforcement Actions 2012

• An indictment is a formal accusation or charge based on a finding by a Grand Jury that it is likely that the person charged committed the criminal offense described in the indictment and is the means by which an accused person (defendant) is brought to trial. An indictment raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
• An information is a formal accusation of a crime by a government attorney rather than a Grand Jury. An information raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
• A charge is an accusation of criminal activity and raises no inference of guilt. As in all criminal cases, each defendant is presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.
• Each count is a separate and distinct offense charged in an indictment or information.
• A guilty plea is a defendant’s admission to the court that he or she committed the offense charged and an agreement to waive the right to a trial.
• A conviction is a judgment based on a jury’s verdict, judge’s finding, or the defendant’s admission that the defendant is guilty of the crime charged.
• A sentence is a judicial determination of the punishment to be imposed on an individual who has plead guilty or has been convicted by a jury or judge of a criminal offense.

Information above posted by Postal Employee Network as information for our readers.

Announcement on Pay Consultations
March 2, 2012

The National Association of Postal Supervisors and the United States Postal Service concluded Pay Consultations on February 29, 2012 without reaching an agreement. The resident officers participated in a teleconference with the national executive board where the executive board was briefed on the offers presented by the Postal Service and the subject was discussed at length.

In accordance with provisions of Title 39, NAPS will file their intention to exercise their rights to Fact Finding. NAPS believe that we presented reasonable proposals for pay and benefits. The proposals by the Postal Service did not address important issues for our members.

We will provide further information to our membership when it becomes available. The resident officers appreciate the feedback and words of support that have been sent to us through phone calls and emails from our members.

March 01, 2012

Lately there has been much written about the ‘death’ of the postal service has we know it. Article after article tells us that maybe it is time for USPS to go private – maybe it is time for the postal service to cut delivery days from 6 to 5 days – or less – maybe it is time for USPS to drastically reduced the number of post offices, and P&DC’s, across our nation.

Almost all news tells us that the culprit behind the trouble USPS is experiencing is lower mail volume, but mostly the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 (PDF) that requires USPS to pay huge sums of cash into the U.S. Treasury to cover future health and retirement benefits. In fact, here is a list of required payments by USPS covered  by this bill:

POSTAL SERVICE RETIREMENT AND HEALTH BENEFITS FUNDING
The United States Postal Service shall pay into such Fund–

• $5,400,000,000, not later than September 30, 2007;
• $5,400,000,000, not later than September 30, 2008;
• $5,400,000,000, not later than September 30, 2009;
• $5,500,000,000, not later than September 30, 2010;
• $5,500,000,000, not later than September 30, 2011;
• $5,600,000,000, not later than September 30, 2012;
• $5,600,000,000, not later than September 30, 2013;
• $5,700,000,000, not later than September 30, 2014;
• $5,700,000,000, not later than September 30, 2015; and
• $5,800,000,000, not later than September 30, 2016.

Not later than September 30, 2017, and by September 30 of each succeeding year, the United States Postal Service shall pay into such Fund the sum of–

• the net present value computed under paragraph (1); and
• any annual installment computed under paragraph (2)(B).
  Read these here: http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/query/F?c109:1:./temp/~c109qSHvYU:e164244:

The P.A.E.A. bill was introduced by Rep. Thomas Davis [R-VA11] and had three cosponsors:

1. Danny Davis [D-IL7]
2. Henry Waxman [D-CA30]
3. John McHugh [R-NY23]

See sponsors:
http://thomas.loc.gov/cgi-bin/bdquery/z?d109:HR06407:@@@P

So, both republicans and democrats sponsored this bill. The bill passed in the House of Representatives by voice vote. - a record of each representative’s position was not kept. The bill passed in the Senate by Unanimous Consent and a record of each senator’s position was not kept of this either.

You may re-read this bill here:

http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/pkg/BILLS-109hr6407ih/pdf/BILLS-109hr6407ih.pdf

Congressman Brings Message to Top, Prepares To Take Legislative Steps

Late Monday Congressman Brian Higgins (NY-27) met with United States Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe to make the strongest case to keep the United States Postal Service (USPS) mail processing facility in Buffalo open.

“From the onset the Postmaster has indicated that the closing list was ‘fairly set’ and over the last several months we’ve become increasingly frustrated with the lack of justification and transparency in the USPS process,” said Higgins. “But, we don’t ever give up on Western New York. Buffalo deserves to be heard and we took our fight to the top.”

Higgins believes a legislative strategy may be the best way to address USPS budgetary issues leading to the postal facility closings nationwide. Last week Higgins, along with his Western New York Colleagues Congresswoman Slaughter and Congresswoman Hochul, sent a letter to the Speaker of the House urging swift action on legislation to remove the pension prefunding requirement. Congressman Higgins is also working on other legislative means to protect the American public from unilateral action by the USPS that negatively impacts residential and business Postal Service customers. The Congressman plans to introduce legislation requiring Congressional approval for USPS changes to service delivery standards and facility closings.

Springfield, PA – U.S. Rep. Patrick Meehan (PA-07) today called for an independent review of the United States Postal Service (USPS) decision to consolidate the Southeastern Pennsylvania Processing and Distribution Center. The center, located in Wayne, is set to be consolidated into the Philadelphia distribution center.

“The Southeastern PA facility has consistently been ranked among the top ten most efficient mail processing centers in the country,” said Meehan. “I appreciate the need for the Postal Service to make consolidations to reflect the changing nature of its business. But I think in this case, key questions have gone unanswered. If the goal of the consolidation process is to promote efficiencies for customers and improve the Postal Service’s fiscal situation, then it defies common sense to close down this highly efficient and productive facility.”

In a letter to the USPS, Meehan urged the Office of the Inspector General to review the Postal Service’s decision to consolidate this distribution center.

Meehan noted that he has heard from local business leaders who worry that the consolidation will jeopardize their ability to serve their own customers, and that threatens jobs in our region.

Click here to read the letter in its entirety (PDF)