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Is The OIG Issuing "Tickets"? Is The OIG Issuing "Tickets"?
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
Is The OIG Issuing "Tickets"?
It is apparent the OIG is issuing "tickets" in some parts of the country to postal employees. The clerk craft is aware of three instances of tickets being issued as follows:
After the APWU won a removal case at Palatine, IL, the OIG issued a $125 ticket to the union steward for allegedly lying at the hearing. The APWU law firm represented the steward in the matter and before she was scheduled to appear before the Federal Magistrate Judge, the U.S. Attorney dismissed the charges.
Also at Palatine, IL, a clerk was alleged to have been selling bootleg DVDs and CDs at work. The OIG gave the employee a $50 ticket, which he paid. I understand a removal is now in the works. The local was advised against filing an Article 28 case as this is not a demand for money. It is a citation and an associated fine.
An employee in Hawthorne, CA was issued a ticket for allegedly selling bootleg DVDs.
We wanted to make you aware of this since it looks like it may be spreading. Obviously the union should intervene to represent our employees in cases similar to the first one. The grievance procedure; however, is not the appropriate venue in the APWU's opinion. Since these "tickets" would have to go in front of a Federal Magistrate, there is serious doubt that an arbitrator would consider them substantively arbitrable.
Please advise the NBA Office if you are aware of any of these tickets being issued in our area.
Russ Bugary, NBA, Clerk Craft, APWU
NOTE: PEN cannot confirm the validity of the above information at this time.
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- 1 year ago
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Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie - French Quarter Home
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
We just got back from New Orleans. While there we found the home of Brad and Angelina - thought some of you may want to read about it - or, maybe not. Also see photos in the Photo Section. Rick Owens
BRAD PITT and ANGELINA JOLIE's FRENCH QUARTER HOME
Governor Nicholls Street - New Orleans French Quarter 2008Purchase Price: $3,750,000
Bedrooms / Baths: 6 / 4.5
Square Feet: 7435French Quarter Palace
Nestled in a prominent section of the French Quarter, this home was designed in the popular Parisian style of the 1830's with an eye towards opulence and secluded wonder.
In more recent years, the residence was converted into a recording studio. Among its frequent inhabitants were local legends Fats Domino, Little Richards, Al Hirt, Pete Fountain, and others.
Two years ago, an impeccable renovation restored this old world gem to its original grandeur...and added a few state-of-the-art amenities along the way.
At its south end, the home is only steps away from the vibrant French market, Cafe du Monde, and a host of the oldest and finest restaurants in New Orleans. At its north is lush Esplanade Avenue, border of the Faubourg Marigny, an enchanting historic neighborhood resplendent in Creole architecture, galleries and music halls.
The home occupies over 33 feet of French Quarter side walk, and its lot extends deep into the block, allowing for a vast courtyard that is impeccably landscaped and not to be surpassed elsewhere in the Vieux Carre.
Every room is enhanced with a host of lighting options, ideal for art collectors and entertainers alike. Oak wood floors coupled with contoured carpets create a polished path throughout. THe large foyer is accented with a multi-hued cloud mural and a cheerful harlequin tile floor.
The first floor bedroom opens onto the courtyard appointed with a marble bath and floor-to-ceiling windows.
The library boarsts custom display shelves along every wall, the first of five fireplaces throughout the home, a built-in wide and flat screen television, and an adjoining marble powder room.
The second-floor landing is crowned with two oriental silk lamps and is bordered by a bank of French door opening onto the courtyard balcony.
The formal dining and living rooms are anchored by magnificent fireplaces with marble mantles and ornate wood columns. Both rooms are finished in rich paint tones with a textured faux finish. Gauzy silk drapes frame two floor-to-ciling windows in the Living Room.
The master suite is entered via French doors which can be shaded for privacy, or opened, villa-style, to the landing and gardens beyond. Silk drapes, crystal chandeliers, antique sconces and subtle gold undertones add to the suite's indulgent ambiance. A custom four-faceted entertainment center in a picled finished blends in beautifully with the rest of the room's Italianate decor. The marble bathroom includes a frameless glass shower, oversized but, and His and Hers vanities.
The gourmet kitchen is fully decked out with cutting edge amenities, including a Viking Professional stove and hood, two ovens, a moisture-controlled warming tray, a Viking wine cellar, and a sub-zero refrigerator. Iron sconces with hand-blown glass hang above the large butcher's block island, with an undermount porcelain basin. A cappuccino machine with an attached water line provides posh beverages.
Even the pantry is designed with an artisan's touch, including windowed drawers, wine racks and a marble counter. A ceramic tile splash back, wide slate hard wood floors and three windows over-looking the French Quarter rooftops complete the look. A chef's dream!
The first floor of the Guest House has three French doors opening onto the gardens - perfect as a bar area for outdoor entertaining.
The second and third floors serve as a guest suite with two bedrooms, a fully equipped kitchen, marble full bath, powder room, and a large living room with another set of French doors opening onto the balcony.
ADDITIONAL FEATURES:
Wired for stereo throughout interior and exterior.
Elevator in the main house to all three floors.
Five separate AC/heating units.
Walk-in attic accessed via third floor
Gated carriage-style driveway offers parking for two vehicles, illuminated by gas lamps.
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- 2 years ago
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USPS 2009 Changes - True or Fa USPS 2009 Changes - True or False?
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
I am posting following USPS information that can be found here:
http://pages.citebite.com/h9x2f4n2akof
I cannot tell you whether or not any of the statements are actual fact or just rumor - you will need to make that decision for yourself. Here's the information:
The following are some of the notes taken during a recent Area Manager’s Meeting as were submitted on a member’s-only-forum:
The Postal Service has borrowed to the maximum against the debt ceiling already for FY 09. We are in danger of not making payroll. PCES (Postal Career Executive Service) pay is frozen for FY 08. They will get no pay increase. No word about our pay being frozen. There will be a reduction of 4,000 EAS positions nationwide.
Staffing in the District Marketing offices must be cut by 10 – 15%. The plan has been finalized and submitted to NAPS and there will be an official announcement in 2-3 weeks. We are supposed to let the clerks know about the upcoming reductions.
7 out of 9 VPs of Area voted yes to keep Marketing. Marketing has been given a six (6) month reprieve.
Awaiting more details about cuts to clerks, Area level positions, employees at Headquarters, and carrier routes. It is going to be ugly.
There will be a reduction of 14,500 carrier routes nationwide. 59,000 positions are to be eliminated in FY 09.
Eliminating all Pool Clerks. Anybody with less than 5 years in the USPS will be gone next year.The BMC may be totally outsourced. NPA is up in the air. BME added functions.
Article 7 will be invoked, which means that clerks can be converted to carriers.
All our functions may go to Finance and be incorporated into new positions, and we may have to bid on them.
Reductions at Headquarters – Down 15%
Reductions at District Level – Down 10 – 15%
Reductions at Area Level – Down 20%Eliminate all T-2 positions in the plant that begin tour between 6:30 am and 12:30 pm. Only Maintenance personnel will work those hours.
They are studying the possibility of working the clerks four (4) ten-hours days instead of five (5) eight-hour days.
Eliminate 1st Pass DPS on Saturday night. 10 – 15 of the work is done on Sunday. They are looking at eliminating Sunday work.
All stamps will be distributed via Priority Mail to reduce the amount through the Registry. A spot inspection of the Denver Registry section found 3 clerks sleeping.
USPS is the majority user of Registered Mail.
Areas and Districts will be compressed.
We hear there is no MERLIN training being conducted in Norman for MPEs.Mailing Standards Specialist will be responsible for negative balances, inactive accounts, late postage statements. Will also be responsible for BRM and Postage Due accounts. There is no early warning system for BRM or postage due. There will be an early warning for PI accounts. Sixty (60) days before they become inactive, we will be warned.
All travel will be curtailed to only critical travel.
All meetings must be shortened and be done on Meeting Place.In FY 2009 Sox Compliance may become BMEs only job. Although there was some talk about BMEU Proficiency being added to the NPA of Finance.
- - END OF INFORMATION REPRINT - -
Again, I cannot tell you whether or not any of this is true. You may find this posted information here:
http://pages.citebite.com/h9x2f4n2akof
Rick Owens - PEN
The Eagles Den - Blog post
- 2 years ago
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USPS VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMEN USPS VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT UPDATE
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
USPS VOLUNTARY EARLY RETIREMENT UPDATE
The Postal Service has released additional details on the voluntary early retirement (VER) offer recently authorized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for USPS employees in clerk, mail handler, supervisor of distribution operations, and supervisor of customer services positions.
The offer is open to employees in positions that meet the OPM conditions and who are at least 50 years of age with 20 years of creditable federal service or any age with 25 years of creditable federal service.
VER Group 1 includes clerks, mail handlers and initial level supervisors of mail processing and customer service. The group has 72,000 eligible employees. The application deadline was Sept. 30. USPS has approved the applications of 3,685 employees, whose retirement date is Dec. 31, 2008.
VER Group 2 includes headquarters and headquarters-related employees, as well as rural and letters carriers. This group has 67,000 eligible employees. The applications deadline was Nov. 21. USPS has approved the applications of 4,049 employees, and their retirement date is Feb. 28, 2009.
Finally, VER Group 3 consists of field EAS and Postmasters — 17,000 eligible employees. The application deadline for this group is Feb. 9, 2009. Their retirement date is March 31, 2009.
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- 2 years ago
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USPS Hiring Freeze USPS Hiring Freeze
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
On Feb. 4, 2009 PostCom.org said the following has been sent to all USPS headquarters officers regarding new hires and the hiring freeze:
"We continue to be under a hiring freeze for Headquarters and Headquarters Field Units. The freeze includes position upgrades, additions to complement, laterals, reassignments and requests for new positions. All current requests to announce a position vacancy will be returned to the requesting manager. Any job posting announcement which is contained in the vacancy package with an issue date of February 3 with a closing date of February 18 will be canceled and those employees who have submitted an application will be notified. Bargaining unit position vacancies will be filled in accordance with the applicable agreement. If a formal job offer was extended prior to today. please provide the specific details to Manager. Corporate Personnel Management."
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- 1 year ago
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USPS Monday Morning Meeting USPS Monday Morning Meeting
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
The following was submitted to PEN March 5, 2009. We cannot confirm nor deny any of the statement within the message.
(Message Quote)
Larry has started a weekly Monday morning meeting to discuss current events: Below are the notes from the meeting. Larry attended a telecom last week with Terry Wilson, these items were discussed:1.There are upcoming changes which will be revealed in about 2 weeks. Districts will be consolidated and District staffing will be reduced. No particulars are known or were discussed at thist ime. If you have not already done so, it is recommended that you update eCareer with your information.
2. Sick leave abuse is at an all time high - take corrective action for those employees abusing SL.
3. The Memphis BMC is closed now on Sundays effective 3/1/09 as a result of reduced mail volume.
4. Chattanooga REC site is now closed.
5. Minimal tour 2 staffing at plants.
6. Service scores /performance are down.
7. USPS realized a $750 M revenue shortage to plan in January.
8. Letter volume is down 32%, periodical volume is down 13.5%.
9. Volume projection for 2018 is being realized now. (Meaning we're 9 years ahead of what was projected for volume decline.)
10. USPS has a $3B borrowing cap - we are above that now.
11. Fed Ex/UPS is using the USPS for "last mile" deliveries, they're giving us mail to deliver that is not profitable for them to do so.
12. Administrative staff will be cut (no specifics given) / supplies request are severely restricted.
13. USPS looking at "rapid re-negotiations" with unions.
14. Share with your employees - the USPS is sound, however we need to take action to ensure it's longevity.
15. Space consolidation may occur - get out of leased space - which means those in offices may be working in cubicles.
16. USPS is converting PVS routes to HCR routes.
17. USPS is still pursuing 5 day delivery.
18. Statement personally from Terry Wilson - "There are some things that will be fatal to Managers who do not perform in the future." Larry did not expound much on this statement.
19. Have hope. Work diligently to save the company.
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- 1 year ago
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UPS CEO Scott Davis On The Eco UPS CEO Scott Davis On The Economy and USPS
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
UPS CEO Scott Davis On The Economy and USPS
Speaking before the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Thursday UPS Chief, Scott Davis, had a couple of things to say regarding the stimulus bill and the United States Postal Service.
He said that he has a feeling that the stimulus bill will help but he added "If somebody said you have $800 billion to stimulate the economy, I might have spent it differently."
Mr. Davis was asked what his thoughts were regarding recent talk about the postal service possibly reducing the number of delivery days due to financial problems - he said that while the Postal Service has some real challenges, it has been doing a better job running itself like a business.
He suggested that it was unlikely that UPS would get into the business of delivering first-class mail. "That would be a real challenge for our company to accept," Davis said, noting that UPS charges based on cost of service while the Postal Service will deliver a letter requiring one stamp anywhere in the country.
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- 1 year ago
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USPS Closing Charleston Remote USPS Closing Charleston Remote Encoding Center
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
April 2, 2009
CHARLESTON, WV - The U.S. Postal Service today announced that the Charleston Remote
Encoding Center (REC) will be closed as part the next phase of a nationwide consolidation plan. The
facility, located at 1002 Lee Street E, Charleston, WV will close in October, 2009. In addition, the
centers located in (Ft. Wayne, IN and Glendale, AZ) will be closing also.“The Remote Encoding Centers were designed as a temporary solution to automate and expedite
the processing of handwritten and poorly printed addresses,” said Michael Thompson, Manager Remote
Encoding Center for the U.S. Postal Service. “The plan from the start was to phase out the REC
operation as technology enhancements enabled us to automate more mail.”When the Charleston REC and 54 others were established, postal computerized sorting equipment
could only read two percent of addresses on handwritten envelopes. Since that time, with new
technology improvements, postal computers are currently able to read and process 95 percent of the
mail electronically.Thompson said the decision about which facilities to close was based on a variety of business
factors, including operating costs, facility costs, lease expiration dates and the ability of other RECs to
absorb the workload. Since the consolidation process began in 1999, 50 sites have been closed. The
closing of the three centers will reduce the number of RECs to two, located in Salt Lake City, UT, and
Wichita, KS.The Postal Service is providing the REC employees with a minimum six months’ notice of the
closings. The 82 career postal employees at the Charleston REC will be reassigned to available
positions in accordance with employee union collective bargaining agreements. The 252 part-time
temporary employees will receive outplacement counseling to help them find new employment.The remote encoding process involves transmitting electronic images of handwritten mail from mail
processing plants to RECs where operators view them on computer screens and key in address
information. This information is transmitted back to the postal processing plant where a barcode
corresponding to the address is printed on the envelope so that it can be processed on automated
equipment. With ever-increasing improvements in optical character recognition technology, the volume
of images sent to RECs has diminished significantly and the Postal Service has gradually consolidated
them. As technology evolves, the Postal Service will continue to look for opportunities to reduce
operating costs. This could lead to the remaining centers being phased out at some point in the future.Source: USPS
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- 1 year ago
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USPS Will Announce District , USPS Will Announce District , EAS Staffing Changes Friday March 20th
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
USPS Announcement March 20, 2009 - District Changes and EAS Staffing Changes
NAPS Headquarters was advised today that the announcements that we have been anticipating for some time on District changes will be made formally at 12:00 noon on Friday (tomorrow).
This morning NAPS Headquarters participated in two meetings with the USPS at L’Enfant Plaza. The first meeting dealt with tomorrow’s announcement of changes in EAS staffing in Plant operations. The full details of Function One changes will be provided tomorrow in a USPS Newsbreak.
The second meeting was with the Postmaster General and all of the unions and management associations. The discussion centered on current legislation which would modify the pre-funding of retiree health benefits. All of the unions and management associations are supporting this legislation. 03-19-09
Source Link: http://www.naps.org/index.shtml
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- 1 year ago
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Criminal Convictions for NALC Criminal Convictions for NALC and APWU Officers
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
Criminal Convictions for NALC and APWU Officers
The U.S. Department of Labor's Office of Labor-Management Standards (OLMS) today, December 17, 2008, announced its criminal enforcement data for November 2008. Including in these reports were:
Guilty Pleas
Former Letter Carriers Branch 272 Secretary-Treasurer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling $45,000
On Nov. 6, in the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey, Kevin Sherlock, former secretary-treasurer of the National Association of Letter Carriers Branch 272 (located in Newton, N.J.), pleaded guilty to embezzling union funds in the amount of $45,000. The plea follows a joint investigation by the OLMS New York District Office and the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspection General.Former APWU Officer Pleads Guilty to Embezzling More Than $18,000
On Nov. 17, in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Ohio, Tina Curtis, former secretary-treasurer of American Postal Workers Union (APWU) Local 232 (located in Columbus, Ohio), pleaded guilty to one count of embezzling union funds in the amount of $18,283. The plea follows an investigation by the OLMS Cleveland District Office.Source: U.S. Department of Labor Office of Labor-Management Standards
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- 2 years ago
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USPS: EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY USPS: EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY KEY TO USPS SUCCESS
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
STATE OF THE BUSINESS
EFFICIENCY, PRODUCTIVITY KEY TO USPS SUCCESSThe state of the American economy has changed drastically in the last year. And the outlook for financial recovery anytime soon dwindles as the recession that began in late 2007 continues.
Outlining trends that led to the current economic crisis, Deputy Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and Budget and Financial Analysis Manager Tony Morrow on Friday presented a “Budget Overview” webinar to explain how the Postal Service will meet the challenge.
Donahoe praised all postal employees for their efforts to improve efficiencies and reduce costs over the past several years, adding that without their hard work, the economic situation facing USPS would be even worse.
He also urged employees to continue their efforts. “We cannot count on growing our way out of the crisis when the economy isn’t growing,” he said. “We have to look inward, making changes to become leaner and control costs. The more we improve productivity, the better we will be positioned when the economy improves.”
According to Donahoe, a financially healthy Postal Service is dependent upon a healthy U.S. economy, but the various crises among the retail, banking, credit and housing markets continue to deepen. Companies are scaling back their operations to weather the storm, and consumer spending — the driver of advertising mail volume — has dropped to a 30-year low. And mail-volume trends paint a gloomy picture.
The 9.3-percent drop in mail volume during the first quarter of FY 2009 marked the eighth consecutive quarter of accelerating volume declines. First-Class Mail volume decreased by 1.8 billion pieces and Standard Mail volume was down 3 billion pieces — a trend that began to gather speed three years ago.
After peaking at 213 billion pieces in 2006, total mail volume dropped to 203 billion in 2008, and preliminary projections show it could drop a further 12 billion to 15 billion pieces in 2009 — unprecedented in postal history. This 22 billion piece drop in mail volume would hit levels last recorded in 1996, according to Morrow.
“Not only that, but — if current trends continue — revenue this fiscal year will be lower than in FY 2008,” said Morrow. “If that occurs, it will mark the first year-over-year decline in revenue since 1946.”
While legislative changes adjusting the Postal Service’s current payment schedule to fund retiree health benefits would offer some short-term financial relief, it would not by itself be enough, according to Donahoe.
“In the near term, a continued focus on efficient service and customer value will strengthen our ability to meet the challenges we face,” said Donahoe.
Source: USPS
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- 1 year ago
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2009 Postal Rates for Federal 2009 Postal Rates for Federal Employees Health Benefits
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
According to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), enrollees with self-only coverage will pay, on average, $4.83 more each pay period (about $125 per year) next year. Family coverage will cost an average $11.12 more per pay period. FEHB enrollees pay - on average - 30 percent of the total cost of a plan's premium, while the government pays 70 percent.
Choose your preference to check your 2009 insurance rates: FFS: Fee For Service Plans | HMO: Health Management Organizations
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- 2 years ago
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PMG Says Congress May Have to PMG Says Congress May Have to Help
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
Postmaster General, Jack Potter met today with the leadership of the three management associations and craft unions representing all craft employees and EAS employees of the Postal Service.
The meeting was scheduled to brief the leadership of the employee organizations on the current situation in the Postal Service and to request the cooperation from all of the representative organizations in working together to get through this difficult period.
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.
Potter advised that there are meetings this week with the Board of Governors of the USPS followed by a meeting with the Postal Service Area Vice Presidents. Potter added that it was his intention to increase the frequency of meetings with the association and union leadership to keep everyone informed of future plans.
NAPS will keep our members updated on information that is received from the Postal Service.
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- 2 years ago
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Oakland APWU Seeking Congressi Oakland APWU Seeking Congressional Investigation Into USPS Practices
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
The APWU in Oakland, CA, via the petition below, is seeking Congressional investigation in USPS practices
The Honorable Senator Diane Feinstein
United States Senate
331 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Senator Barbara Boxer
United States Senate
112 Hart Senate Office Building
Washington, DC 20510
The Honorable Representative Barbara Lee
United States House of Representatives
2444 Rayburn House Office Building
Washington, DC 20515
Dear Senators/Representative:We, the undersigned Oakland Post Office P&DC bid cluster Postal Service employees, union officials, customers, concerned citizens, and constituents of the 9th Congressional District, over the years have stood by helplessly and dismayed as the Postal Service deteriorated. The methodical decline of the Postal Service has been primarily caused by a conspiracy involving special interest groups, Postal Service Headquarters, and some members of Congress, with the objective of privatizing the Postal Service. We have watched as Postal Service Headquarters pandered to large mailers to the detriment of the public, small businesses, non profit organizations, Postal Service employees, and the Postal Service.
For years, management has falsified figures regarding the volume of mail processed and delivered at the Oakland Post Office P&DC bid cluster; understaffed postal operations, used inept managers to run these operations, and used outdated equipment that is seriously in disrepair. This has caused mail delivery to be delayed, the closure of facilities, hiring freezes, unsafe working conditions, blatant violations of Federal laws and the employees’ Collective Bargaining Agreement, and the loss of numerous Postal Service jobs.
It is time for the new leadership in Congress and the new administration to take a serious and sincere look at the Postal Service business practices. We urge Congress to conduct a comprehensive and thorough investigation of the Oakland Post Office P&DC bid cluster, that will include interviews with craft employees and visits to all facilities.
If the Postal Service is privatized this will devolve into private industry a responsibility that it cannot handle adequately and mail would not be under the protection of Federal law. People living in remote areas would be denied mail service or it would become very expensive for mail because of delivery cost and volume.Moreover, many jobs would be lost.
Yes, it is true, the Postal Service has its problems just as other businesses; however, the United States Postal Service moves more mail more cheaply and efficiently than any other government or private systems in the world.
The Postal Service is a vital public service. It connects citizens like nothing else. You can be at the bottom of the Grand Canyon, in prison, or even homeless, yet you still get your mail. Now it’s time to revive the Postal Service for the common good and to protect a service that citizens need and deserve. - Blog post
- 1 year ago
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NAPS Legislative and Regulator NAPS Legislative and Regulatory Update
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
This article courtesy of PostCom: www.postcom.org
National Association of Postal Supervisors Legislative and Regulatory Update
October 28, 2008 - Courtesy of PostCom - www.postcom.org/
In This issue:- Pay Concessions for Postal Supervisors and Postmasters?
- FERS Sick Leave Bill Stalls in Senate
- USPS to PRC: Don't Mess with the Universal Service Obligation and the Mailbox
- Several Postal Gems Worth Reading ...
... And Four Great Election GuidesPay Concessions for Postal Supervisors and Postmasters?
Several reports in recent days on the web have noted that USPS PCES managers were told by USPS top management that they will not receive pay raises this year because of the deteriorating financial situation.
Building on that development, USPS labor relations officials recently asked the postal management associations to consider similar concessions by supervisors and postmasters. NAPS and the postmaster organizations will give their response to USPS on Thursday.
FERS Sick Leave Bill Stalls in SenateThe FERS sick leave bill has stalled in the Senate and appears to be dead for this year. Some experts believe on and off the Hill that the measure could pass in 2009.
The House in July passed legislation that would give FERS-covered employees the same retirement credit for unused sick leave as already applies to workers covered under the older Civil Service Retirement System.
The FERS sick leave provisions were part of a larger measure that would grant the Food and Drug Administration authority over tobacco products.
The Senate left Washington in late September for the election recess without bringing the measure up for a vote and is unlikely to do so even if lawmakers return after the election, primarily to pass a second economic stimulus package < http://www.usnews.com/articles/news/politics/2008/10/27/democrats-in-congress-push-for-a-new-stimulus-package-to-jumpstart-ailing-economy.html >
The bill passed the House this summer with overwhelming support, but a threat from Sen. Richard Burr (R-NC) to block it and a veto threat from the White House helped stall it in the Senate.
The bill, the Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act (H.R. 1108), was approved by a 326-102 vote in the House. It would require the FDA to regulate the labeling and advertising of tobacco products and ban flavored cigarettes excluding menthol. Though tobacco regulation is a hot button issue on Capitol Hill, both presidential candidates John McCain and Barack Obama strongly support giving the FDA the authority to restrict tobacco marketing and set standards for nicotine levels in cigarettes.
In addition to the FERS sick leave provisions in the tobacco bill, the measure also would authorize the Federal Thrift Retirement Investment Board to establish a Roth contribution plan and self-directed investment options within the TSP. The addition of the Roth contribution plan option, under Congressional budget scoring rules, provided the additional federal revenue that made possible the more generous, CSRS-like FERS sick leave formula. The Roth revenue also offsets the loss of federal tobacco taxes from an anticipated decline in smoking.
How would the FERS sick leave work? Under the measure, FERS employees who retire within three years of the bill's enactment would receive service credit in the computation of their pension for 75 percent of their accrued sick leave at the time of retirement. Those who retire three years after enactment would receive 100% credit for all of their unused sick leave.
The conferral of FERS sick leave credit has been a legislative goal of the National Association of Postal Supervisors. NAPS will push for the reintroduction of the FERS sick leave provisions early in the next session of the 111th Congress.
USPS to PRC: Don't Mess with the Universal Service Obligation and the Mailbox RuleThe Postal Service in recent comments has urged the Postal Regulatory Commission to not recommend any changes to the Universal Service Obligation and the mailbox monopoly, at least for now. And the RAND Corporation in a recent report < http://www.rand.org/pubs/monographs/MG800/?ref=homepage&key=t_mailbox > requested by the Postal Service has pointed to increased mail theft, mail-related financial crimes and explosives-related incidents as a likely result of widening mailbox access to private couriers.
Those views line up with the position that NAPS and other groups urged the PRC to take during hearings earlier this summer and could be decisive in the way the PRC approaches the question in its much awaited report, due in December.
The PRC is required by the Postal Act of 2006 < http://www.usps.com/postallaw/ > to submit a report to the President and Congress on universal postal service and the postal monopoly by mid-December 2008. The Government Accountability Office is also required by 2011 to make a broad range of recommendations and to include experiences of other countries.
Surveys and hearings indicate that the American public and mailing industry do not want any changes to the universal service obligation or the mailbox monopoly, the Postal Service told thePRC . Compared to other posts, the Postal Service provides a high level of service and does so at low, affordable prices. Especially right now, the Postal Service needs flexibility to be increasingly responsive in serving Americans; a rigidly defined USO would unduly restrict the Postal Service and ultimately harm the American public and businesses.
USPS also said that the postal monopoly (including the Private Express Statutes and mailbox access rule) must be preserved since it is the current funding mechanism to ensure the American public continues to receive affordable, universal service. Any potential change to the monopoly would require identification and implementation of new USO funding mechanisms, USPS pointed out.
During a PRC hearing in July, NAPS President Ted Keating urged the Postal Regulatory Commission to preserve the universal service obligation and the postal monopoly. Keating called upon the Commission to affirm the well-established principle that all Americans, no matter where they live, are entitled to secure, efficient and affordable postal service.
Several Postal Gems Worth Reading ...Why Did the Post Office Throw the Clock Out the Window?
Over the past two years, as part of a program to modernize and standardize the appearance of the nation's 37,000 post offices, the U.S. Postal Service has been quietly removing the clocks from customer waiting areas. Why?The Customer Is At the Center
A new roadmap to 2013 lays out the Postal Service's strategic vision and commitment to embracing change, innovation and collaboration on an unprecedented scale, with the customer at the heart of everything that gets done. The proof will be in the pudding, as they say.FSS: Still the Right Stuff?
The Flats Sequencing System initiative is currently the largest Postal Service mail automation investment, with 100 FSS machines to be deployed to 100 sites. In fact, USPS expects FSS to generate operational savings of between $593 million and $677 million annually, without the need for mail carriers to manually case flat mail. But an Office of Inspector General report < http://www.uspsoig.gov/foia_files/DA-AR-08-006.pdf > suggests that declining mail volumes are making it more difficult to test FSS operational assumptions and savings forecasts.In the Spirit of "Openness"
In an “open letter” < http://www.apwu.org/dept/presvp/index.htm > to Postmaster General Jack Potter, APWU President William Burrus says the current USPS business model isn't working, that subcontracting, outsourcing, work-hour reductions, workshare discounts and an "unhealthy level of cooperation with major mailers and their agents" have led to the Postal Service's troubles. His prescription: evict the Mailers Technical Advisory Committee from L'Enfant Plaza.... And Four Great Election Guides
For information about the candidates in all House and Senate races, check out this part of the NAPS website: http://naps.capwiz.com/election/home/
For the best coverage of the daily Presidential and Congressional polls: Pollster.com: http://www.pollster.com/
For the best election maps and analysis, go to CQ Politics: http://www.cqpolitics.com/wmspage.cfm?parm1=2
And the daily political "must read" is found here: Real Clear Politics: http://www.realclearpolitics.com/
Bruce Moyer
Legislative Counsel to NAPS - Blog post
- 2 years ago
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New Jersey Postal Manager Jail New Jersey Postal Manager Jailed 33 Months for Bribery/Kickback Conspiracy
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
New Jersey Postal Manager Jailed 33 Months for Bribery/Kickback Conspiracy
Source: USPS OIGOn September 4, 2008, a former Post Office Operations Manager (POOM) was sentenced to 33 months in prison and ordered to pay approximately $25,700 in restitution to the Postal Service. This conviction and sentencing are the result of multiple OIG investigations into an 8-year conspiracy involving several New Jersey businesses, other postal employees, and the former POOM. The former Manager supervised the operations of more than 75 post offices in three New Jersey counties and influenced some managers he supervised to engage in fraudulent activities.
Our investigation determined the POOM steered postal contracts to the owner of an automobile repair shop and mobile car wash in exchange for money and gratuities. Additionally, he influenced at least 11 postal managers of associate offices to use exclusively the services of this business owner for postal vehicle repairs and car washes. In return, the POOM accepted from the business owner free car repairs for himself, relatives, and associates; $2,500 to pay for a relative’s wedding; and an agreement to allow another relative to become part-owner of the car wash portion of the business. The value of the services provided to the Postal Service is estimated at $600,000. However, our investigation determined the Postal Service paid $184,300 for excessive services and inflated billings. On September 9, 2008, the business owner was sentenced to 4 months’ home confinement and 3 years’ supervised release and ordered to repay $184,300 to the Postal Service.
The OIG further determined that between 1998 and 2002, the former POOM and a Postmaster received $100 to $400 in kickback funds per postal contract awarded to the owner of a refrigeration service company. On July 23, 2008, the owner of the refrigeration service company was sentenced to 5 months’ incarceration, 5 months’ home confinement, 2 years’ probation, and fined $3,000 in connection with the bribery/kickback scheme.
Our investigation revealed the former POOM directed an on-duty City Letter Carrier to perform extensive, unauthorized construction for building offices, plumbing, and electrical work. The work was performed at postal facilities and private homes, including the homes of two of the POOM’s ex-wives, with the POOM altering records so it would appear the Carrier was performing his normal postal duties, with inflated travel expenses.
The POOM also referred the Carrier to the subordinate Postmaster (mentioned earlier), who directed the on-duty Carrier to perform construction work at his ex-wife’s residence. Additionally, the Postmaster directed other postal employees to donate leave through the Annual Leave Sharing Program to his ex-wife, a Postmaster, and then caused the employees’ time records to be falsified, indicating they were working, when in fact, they were not. The subordinate Postmaster will be sentenced January 2009.
Our investigation uncovered numerous other schemes, in which the POOM defrauded the Postal Service, including: Submitting documents to the Postal Service containing false statements and/or omissions of material fact; conducting certain transactions in cash to eliminate an audit trail; and threatening and intimidating postal employees, who wished to report the fraudulent conduct to postal management.
- Blog post
- 2 years ago
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Bush Pardons Postal Employee Bush Pardons Postal Employee
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
Before leaving office former President Bush, as does all Presidents, handed out a few pardons.
Bush limited his pardons, for the most part, to cleansing the records of those who long ago had served their sentences.
Among his pardons was a Jehovah's Witness minister convicted in 1957 for not reporting for the military draft, a man convicted in 1969 of stealing $32 worth of 8-track tapes, a postal employee convicted of stealing $11 from the mail.
Charles McKinley, was pardoned in Bush's first term at the age of 75. McKinley served a two-year sentence in 1950 for Tennessee moonshining. Mr. McKinley lived to see his record expunged - Charlie Winters received a posthumous pardon for transporting B-17 bombers to Israel-- illegal at the time -- during the War of Independence in 1948.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
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USPS Managers Meet in Chicago USPS Managers Meet in Chicago
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
PLEASE NOTE
The information below cannot be verified by PEN or The Eagles Den.
Source: http://www.lettercarriernetwork.info/This is what was discussed at a meeting of all District Managers and Plant Managers held in Chicago last week:
- 7000 to 9000 routes have to be removed in FY 09.
- Two rate increases in FY 09 packages will go up 5% in January, 1st Class will go up 4.8% in May.
Base pay will be frozen. - If we stop Saturday delivery it will be a savings of 3.5 - 5.0 billion, but we can't do that by ourselfs, has to go through congress.
- DPS goal will be 95% in FY09.
- Mail will have to be finished in processing by 0600AM.
- FSS orders have been cut, so if your district was getting 4 or five you will be getting only three now.
- The volume we are working now is the same as it was in 1977.
- Letters are going out this week informing clerks they are now going to be carriers.
- We need to cut our compliment by 64,600 employees this FY.
- Only 8,500 took the VERA, the goal was 40,000.
- HQ will be reduced by 1,200 positions.
- Registry jobs will not be posted as registry only jobs, they will have other duties including registry.
- Pay is frozen for all executive positions.
- Blog post
- 2 years ago
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The Two Tour Initiative The Two Tour Initiative
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
I received notice of the following via email. At this time I cannot verify the information.
Rick Owens - PENSubject: RPG Two Tour Initiative
Importance: HighPlant Managers,
On this week's MOS telecon, it was stated that the two tour initiative to "close the GAP" must be given top priority.The entire nation is expected to move to a 2 tour operation, while still protecting service.
Given the continued workload decline and recent RPG scenarios, the NYMA agrees with moving towards a 2 tour operation because of the economies of scale that it would provide. The first step in this process is moving to a 2 8-hour tour automation operation (AFSM and APPS/SPBS operations to follow). For the month of October, the weekly RPG telecons will be focused on your efforts to make this move. Every plant needs to be progressing on this initiative along the following timeline:
October 3rd - Validate all of the volumes used in your 2 tour automation RPG model (AVG heavy weekday); ensure that you have contingency machines for your operation so that service is protected; ensure that your PM schedule for all machines can be supported by your maintenance staff,
October 10th - Present your overall staffing impact to clerk craft and EAS (net reduction in employees),
October 17th - Present your new bid package for clerk, maintenance, and EAS,
October 24th - Present your overall implementation plan, including timeline and transition plan.
We are working towards an early January 2009 implementation date. Each week we will be providing suggestions and tools on how to effectively develop your plan.
- Blog post
- 2 years ago
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POSTAL EMPLOYEE AND CONSPIRATO POSTAL EMPLOYEE AND CONSPIRATOR INDICTED IN SCHEME TO STEAL STAMPS WORTH OVER $682,000
- From: RickOwens
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Description:
April 14, 2009
POSTAL EMPLOYEE AND CONSPIRATOR INDICTED IN SCHEME TO STEAL STAMPS WORTH OVER $682,000
Baltimore, Maryland - A federal grand jury indicted Marvin Lamont Foster, age 54, of Rosedale, Maryland, and Kyle Mathias, age 23, of Joppa, Maryland, today for conspiracy to steal from the United States Postal Service (USPS), announced United States Attorney for the District of Maryland Rod J. Rosenstein.
“Anyone who buys stamps at a discount should be on notice of the risk that they are purchasing stolen property,” said U.S. Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein.
According to the indictment, Foster was a window clerk at the Elkridge Post Office, having been employed there since 1998. First class postage stamps are provided by USPS to local post offices packaged in “bricks” which consist of 2,000 stamps valued at $840 per brick and “coils” which consist of 100 stamps valued at $42. The indictment alleges that from June 2008 through March 2009, Foster stole “bricks” and “coils” of stamps from the post office, which he provided to Mathias and others to sell. Mathias sold the stamps through an account he set up on E-bay. The indictment seeks forfeiture of $682,809.11, alleged to be the proceeds of the scheme.
Foster and Mathias face a maximum sentence of five years in prison.An indictment is not a finding of guilt. An individual charged by indictment is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty at some later criminal proceedings.
United States Attorney Rod J. Rosenstein thanked the U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the U.S. Postal Service - Office of Inspector General and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement for their investigative work. Mr. Rosenstein commended Assistant United States Attorneys Sandra Wilkinson and Rachel M. Yasser, who are prosecuting the case.
- Blog post
- 1 year ago
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