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Postmasters Feel Budget Crunch
In a memo sent out by Doug A. Tulino, Labor Relations, Postmasters will have all 'convention leave' suspended. Convention leave is granted to Postmasters to use for the purpose of attending Postmaster conventions. As of May 31, 2009 through 2010 Postmasters must now use annual leave to attend such functions.
Tulino stated facts such as the current postal budget and cuts that lead to this decision. However, the National Association of Postmasters perceive this as 'tantamount to a breach of faith', according to President O. Dale Goff Jr. "
"Under the existing benefits schedule, Postmasters are entitled to five
paid days of leave to attend the annual state or national convention of
NAPUS,” Goff explained. “Existing law limits altering such benefits to
statutory pay consultations; consequently, the Postal Service has run afoul of
the law and NAPUS has so advised Congress,” he added.
Read memo
Read Full NAPUS Press Release
May 22, 2009
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USPS Urges 5-Day Delivery
According to an article in The Washington Post, Postal Officials again urged legislature to reduce the postal delivery work week from six days to five. Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform subcommittee on the federal workforce, Representative Stephen F. Lynch (D-Mass) stated, "The only way we'll embrace it is if we have no other choice, and we're getting to that point."
Due to the loss of mail volume the Postal Service finances have plummeted. Which led to several cost cutting measures. Among which are the closing of some administrative offices and hiring freezes. All of which have failed to help reduce the massive budget loss.
Though the overall tone was against the cutting of delivery days, the legislature concurred that cutting a delivery day may be an viable option. As of now the postal service receives no tax payer money. Some feel that cutting delivery days and a form of 'bailout' may not be beyond possibility.
Read the Full Article
Read statements from the actually hearing.
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Branch 245 (Rockford, IL): Take Your Breaks
Jerry Pyfer, of NALC Branch 245 wrote on article in Feb. 09 that seems to have baring on some recent issues that were brought up about comfort stops and breaks. Many letter carriers give up their breaks for one reason or another.
The following is taken from the NALC Branch 245 Newsletter:
"Management is predicting the mail volume will continue to fall off as time goes by. This whole review process is an ongoing process. It will probably last the remainder of the current contract. The same review will be repeated in the autumn of 2009 using the accumulated information of the months of May and September 2009. I will remain the Branch representative for IRAP at the New Towne Station as long as President Kelly Pruka feels you are getting proper representation from me. Between New Towne and Kilburn Station’s workload on this process, Belinda Anderson and John Abate represent Kilburn.
Here then are a few things you need to be mindful of. One thing that I heard
more than once during the consultations was the fact that some letter carriers did not take any breaks at all. These carriers just wanted to get it done and get out of there. The problem is that in doing so makes your route appear nearly an hour short and it will show-up in our review of the route information. There are several types of breaks. Lunch breaks are 30 minute breaks during which you are technically off the clock. That is why when you take your lunch, you have an eight and a half hour day. Some offices allow letter carriers to take a “No Lunch”. If you elect to take a “No Lunch”, make sure this fact is notated in your daily report by the supervisor.
Two 10-minute break periods are allowed for you to break away, refresh and
then go again. These breaks are on the clock and will not add or detract from your eight -hour day. However, if you work through these breaks you have shortened your route by 20 minutes. I don’t know of any authorizations to work through these breaks as some do with the lunch break. Management couldn’t care less if you work through the 10-minute breaks because they gain on your productivity by making your work day appear 20 minutes less. When we look at your route’s information next fall, you will appear to be able to take a 20 minute route addition. For those carriers that took a 10-minute break during office time, we made notations on the evaluation work sheet which gave you 43 minutes Fixed Office Time.
Personal needs time is neither an authorized nor unauthorized break. The M-39 puts it this way, “Reasonable comfort stops will not be denied.” I believe the term today is Personal Needs. A manager cannot suggest nor deny reasonable comfort stops. This covers bathroom needs as well as other bodily needs such as but not limited to; removing a pebble from your shoe, tying a shoelace, blowing your nose, changing clothing to meet changing weather conditions, etc. There are limits as to what can be considered reasonable comfort stops, so please don’t over do it just to extend your route. If the manager has a problem with your personal needs let your steward know.
Since John Abate and Belinda have been monitoring Kilburn Station’s progress, during this process, I will defer to them on that station’s progress."
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2009 National Postal Forum
The 2009 National Postal Forum is is being held May 17-20, 2009 - Washington, DC. It's held every spring goal it to help educate business mailers with the services provided by the Postal Service. It is also a trade show where companies go to show new technologies in mail processing.
In the current economic climate, this may be a good chance for the Postal Service to ensure confidence and build revenue for the coming year.
The following is an excerpt from The National Postal Forum website.
"The National Postal Forum (NPF) a not-for-profit educational corporation, was established in 1968 by a group of major postal customers/mailers who were committed to an ongoing partnership with the United States Postal Service. The Forum's goal then-as now has been to provide education to business mailers and communication/feed-back between the USPS and its business customers for a more responsive and efficient mail communications system.
NPF's mission is "To assist the United States Postal Service in building relationships with and educating mailers in the most effective and efficient use of the products and services offered by the United States Postal Service."
The Forum is the mailing industry's premier educational venue, trade show and networking event for industry professionals. It provides business mailers with ongoing training and education, and helps them keep pace with the mailing industry's rapid progress. Held once a year in the spring, the Forum is a combination educational conference/trade show offering a wide range of opportunities for attendees.
The Forum works as a partner with the U.S. Postal Service with the ultimate goal of a more efficient Postal Service thereby benefiting the entire USPS customer universe. To accomplish this goal the NPF facilitates educational opportunities by bringing the USPS together with its customers, suppliers and business partners. The NPF is the only industry organization that works directly with Postal Service managers to provide the most comprehensive educational and networking platform possible for meeting the needs of mailing industry and postal customers.
National Postal Forum events are financed on a break-even basis and are funded by attendee registration fees and exhibit booth rental fees. The USPS contributes a limited number of staff resources for management of the event and even pays registration fees for postal participants
"
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Letter Carrier Rescues Senior Citizen
Bowmansville letter carrier Tina Mederski helped to rescue a 81 year-old resident on her route.
Bowmansville, who used to be an Assistant Chief for the Bowmansville Fire Department, was delivering mail to the elderly resident when she heard a call for help. The resident, Pearl Rosenthal, had fallen in her room and was not able to reach a phone for help. Rosenthal had been there for five hours.
Bowsmanville called 911 and ambulance rushed Rosenthal to the local emergency room for treatment. As of Thursday night, Rosenthal was in the Intensive Care Unit having tests run.
Read Full Story
As many carriers check in on residents on their route as 'just part of the job.' For every Bowmansville there are hundreds if not thousands of letter carriers everyday that do some sort of helping. From letting residents know they left the lights on in their cars to taking back small children who have wandering off on their own.
Letter carriers can be proud of themselves for being heroes everyday.
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