Young Praises Move to Protect Letter Carriers

(NALC Bulletin) Sen.Tom Harkin (D-IA) on May 23 introduced in the U. S. Senate legislation to protect city and rural letter carriers from having their work contracted out by the U.S. Postal Service to private firms and individuals.

The bill, S. 1457, is titled the “Mail Delivery Protection Act of 2007” and would forbid the Postal Service from entering into any contract “with any motor carrier or other person for the delivery of mail on any route with 1 or more families per mile.”

The only exceptions allowed are contracts in effect atthe date of enactment of the bill which could continue untilterminated under the terms of such contract, or could be renewed, and also service on a rural route may be converted to contract delivery service when such route no longer serves a minimum of 1 family per mile.

NALC President William H. Young said the Harkin bill would bring a halt to the Postal Service’s drive to privatize mail delivery.

“Every active and retired letter carrier in the nation, and their families, should thank Senator Harkin for taking this courageous stand against those forces that would destroy the U.S. Postal Service,” Young said.

“At the same time, it is now critical that the other members of the Senate hear one loud voice from our members—by letter, phone, email, personal offi ce visit —to bring about a groundswell of support for S. 1457 that will ensure its swift consideration in the Senate and eventual enactment by the 110th Congress,” Young said.

Joining Harkin as early co-sponsors of the bill were: Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Robert Casey (D-PA), John Kerry (D-MA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Patty Murray (D-WA).

In introducing the legislation, Harkin said outsourcing mail carriers jeopardizes the reliable and secure delivery of mail because independent contracting fi rms do not use the same extensive recruiting and screening processes the USPS does in hiring and training mail carriers.

“Outsourcing mail delivery to people who have not undergone the Postal Service’s extensive screening and training process leaves open the possibility that convicted felons, identity thieves, or other undesirable workers could have access to the sensitive materials that pass through the mail on a daily basis,” Harkin said.

The Iowa senator said that last year, when the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act became law, the House of Representatives explicitly and overwhelmingly rejected contracting out mail delivery. He said despite that clear Congressional guidance, the USPS has nonetheless begun an aggressive program of placing the responsibility for residential mail delivery in the hands of the lowest bidder in states across the country.

“We cannot allow the Postal Service’s management to jeopardize the safe and reliable delivery of mail to our homes.” said Harkin. “This bill will ensure that the quality mail service Americans depend on continues.”

163 Back H.Res. 282 In the House of Representatives, 163 Members of Congress have already joined Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) as co-sponsors of H. Res. 282, which would express the sense of the House of Representatives that the Postal Service “should discontinue the practice of contracting out mail delivery.

source: NALC Bulletin- May 24, 2007(pdf)

Young Praises Move to Protect Letter Carriers

(NALC Bulletin) Sen.Tom Harkin (D-IA) on May 23 introduced in the U. S. Senate legislation to protect city and rural letter carriers from having their work contracted out by the U.S. Postal Service to private firms and individuals.

The bill, S. 1457, is titled the “Mail Delivery Protection Act of 2007” and would forbid the Postal Service from entering into any contract “with any motor carrier or other person for the delivery of mail on any route with 1 or more families per mile.”

The only exceptions allowed are contracts in effect atthe date of enactment of the bill which could continue untilterminated under the terms of such contract, or could be renewed, and also service on a rural route may be converted to contract delivery service when such route no longer serves a minimum of 1 family per mile.

NALC President William H. Young said the Harkin bill would bring a halt to the Postal Service’s drive to privatize mail delivery.

“Every active and retired letter carrier in the nation, and their families, should thank Senator Harkin for taking this courageous stand against those forces that would destroy the U.S. Postal Service,” Young said.

“At the same time, it is now critical that the other members of the Senate hear one loud voice from our members—by letter, phone, email, personal offi ce visit —to bring about a groundswell of support for S. 1457 that will ensure its swift consideration in the Senate and eventual enactment by the 110th Congress,” Young said.

Joining Harkin as early co-sponsors of the bill were: Sens. Max Baucus (D-MT), Jeff Bingaman (D-NM), Robert Casey (D-PA), John Kerry (D-MA), Jon Tester (D-MT), Byron Dorgan (D-ND), Patrick Leahy (D-VT), and Patty Murray (D-WA).

In introducing the legislation, Harkin said outsourcing mail carriers jeopardizes the reliable and secure delivery of mail because independent contracting fi rms do not use the same extensive recruiting and screening processes the USPS does in hiring and training mail carriers.

“Outsourcing mail delivery to people who have not undergone the Postal Service’s extensive screening and training process leaves open the possibility that convicted felons, identity thieves, or other undesirable workers could have access to the sensitive materials that pass through the mail on a daily basis,” Harkin said.

The Iowa senator said that last year, when the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act became law, the House of Representatives explicitly and overwhelmingly rejected contracting out mail delivery. He said despite that clear Congressional guidance, the USPS has nonetheless begun an aggressive program of placing the responsibility for residential mail delivery in the hands of the lowest bidder in states across the country.

“We cannot allow the Postal Service’s management to jeopardize the safe and reliable delivery of mail to our homes.” said Harkin. “This bill will ensure that the quality mail service Americans depend on continues.”

163 Back H.Res. 282 In the House of Representatives, 163 Members of Congress have already joined Rep. Albio Sires (D-NJ) as co-sponsors of H. Res. 282, which would express the sense of the House of Representatives that the Postal Service “should discontinue the practice of contracting out mail delivery.

source: NALC Bulletin- May 24, 2007(pdf)

February 7, 2007 -- WASHINGTON, D.C. – The U.S. Postal Service has been notified that the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) membership rejected the tentative contract agreement that the Postal Service and NRLCA leadership reached on December 8, 2006. The parties will now meet to decide how to proceed.

The NRLCA represents approximately 66,000 career employees and 52,000 non-career employees who deliver mail to residences and businesses on rural delivery routes.

An independent federal agency, the U.S. Postal Service is the only delivery service that visits every address in the nation, 146 million homes and businesses, six days a week. It has 37,000 retail locations and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to pay for operating expenses, not tax dollars. The Postal Service has annual revenues of $73 billion and delivers more than 46 percent of the world’s mail volume.

Source: USPS

It's official. January 2nd is an official day of mourning. Heidi

       - Original Message

       -

Hello all: Attached is the MOU and guidelines for a day of mourning (Observance) if January 2nd is declared by the Postal Service. THANK YOU! RONNIE W. STUTTS DIRECTOR OF STEWARD OPERATIONS

703-684-5545

To all, As you probably are aware we will be conducting ratification meetings in California. The first will be held in the North at the Sacramento Hilton Arden West on January 13th from 10:00 to 2:00. The Financial Secretary will be sending announcements to all members of the CaRLCA of the upcoming ratification meetings. I look forward to seeing all of you in January.

It seems to improve the working conditions for the relief carriers.

We as regulars lose a little in health care, and much in the time standard for COA's and markups under the PARS system. We will lose big-time when DPSed flats arrive at all locations.

Then there is blended flats and letters coming next. We will now get only a 15 second time for all UTF bundled, and a 2nd bundle of all markups combined as one, even though we are sorting them into different locations as we leave the office. Many of us senior carriers are not likely to benefit from the vehicles coming in 2009, but the relief craft who make it to regular before then will.

We now have over 40,000 vehicles in the rural craft. If my estimate is correct, we will have 55,000 after the year 2009 when all vehicles are in place at 3,000 vehicles per year.

There is some improvements in requiring management to keep the Union notified of hires, changes and fired's.

How are your offices with a large number of routes handling the matrix? Management function, and I hope management is handling it well...

We will be voting on the New Contract in January so be prepared to travel, (in my case it might be as far as 600 miles or more,) but I'm hoping for a more central location in California.

Oh, something else, it looks like route bidding will go automated. By automated, there might be a 1-800 number to dial to bid on routes. That way you can bid from home during extended hours. I'd like to see it on computer just like ebay does it, um, let's see, you have one hour and 15 minutes until the route is awarded. Ooops, someone waited until the last 15 seconds and decided to trump your bid... Ouch...

Merry Christmas to All

George

WASHINGTON (AP) Congress has passed legislation that could delay future increases in the cost of mailing letters by relieving the Postal Service of billions of dollars in employee retirement expenses.

The measure, which cleared the Senate early Saturday before lawmakers adjourned for the year, now goes to President Bush. The bill, in the works since 1995, was feared dead for this session of Congress until the last-minute reprieve.

Unlike other government agencies, the U.S. Postal Service had been required to pay retirement benefits earned by its workers during any time they had spent in military service. That now will be a responsibility of the Treasury, lifting a burden that could amount to billions of dollars from the people who pay postage.

In addition, the measure eliminates a congressional requirement that $3 billion annually go into an escrow account where it would remain until lawmakers decided the money should be used. This requirement was the sole reason stamp prices rose 3 cents this year.

A further increase was expected next spring, but it was not immediately clear whether the bill's passage would affect that plan.

``We are grateful that the funding for USPS retiree military service obligations will be borne by the Treasury. This, combined with release of the escrow funds, will be used for retiree health benefits,'' Postmaster General John E. Potter said.

Michael Critelli, chief executive of Pitney-Bowes Inc. and a leader in the mailing industry, said the legislation will contribute to the long-term financial stability of the post office.

Especially important, he said, is a provision limiting postage rate increases to the rate of inflation or less for 10 years. That will be a major benefit for the magazine industry and other large mailers. Pitney Bowes makes hardware and software used to mail documents and packages.

Critelli also said the bill changes the way rates are revised, giving the post office more flexibility to offer discounts and make changes as long as it stays under the rate of inflation.

Currently, any rate changes require a monthslong process in which an independent board takes testimony and makes recommendations to the Postal Service.

That board, the Postal Rate Commission, will remain in place and be able to require the post office to concentrate on its core business a focus Critelli said will lead to better service at lower rates than would have been the case without the legislation.

Opposition by a union in September appeared to have blocked approval of the bill, but Senate and House leaders came up with an agreement late Friday that won approval of both chambers.

Congress last approved major changes in postal operations in 1970.

The legislation sent to the White House was developed following a report by a special commission established by the president to recommend a more efficient way to operate the agency.

More than 9 million jobs, $900 billion in commerce and 9 percent of the gross domestic product depend upon mail and package delivery.

The Office of Management and Budget initially opposed the shift of retirement costs to Treasury because the shift would increase the federal deficit.

The escrow account requirement was instituted in 2003, when an analysis concluded the post office was overfunding its retirement accounts. Congress voted to let it reduce retirement payments and use the money to pay off debt, after which the funds were to go into escrow until Congress decided that to do with them.

^ =

On the Net:

Information on the bill, H.R. 6407, can be found at http://
thomas.loc.gov/

George

On November 21, 2006, the USPS and all four unions, including the NRLCA, agreed to continue contract talks through 12 midnight on November 30, 2006. The 2000 National Agreement, as amended, remains in full force and effect. We have made substantial progress on work rules but there remain several important issues that must be resolved before an overall agreement can be reached. There will be a break in negotiations over the Thanksgiving holiday, and we will provide updates on the website next week as events dictate.

Posted November 21, 2006 at 4:20 p.m.

You know what that means to us all, but if you don't, it means our jobs will be downgraded by means of automation, and our worth as postal employees will be deminished while we will be carrying a heavier load and mandated to 2 pieces of equipment and required to carry dps flats and dps letters to the street.

By this time next year chances are we will be ramping up for a new system that eliminates jobs and increases work load for the average rural carrier.

Thinking about becoming a regular carrier soon? Look for offices in rapidly expanding area's of the country.

USPS revenue of $6.59 billion for March was $189 million (3 percent) over plan and $424 million (6.9 percent) more than for March 2005. Expenses were virtually on plan, totaling $6.3 billion.

Year-to-date (Oct. 1, 2005, to March 31, 2006) net income before escrow allocation was $1.57 billion, or $147 million over plan. The YTD net gain after escrow allocation was $74 million.

Total mail volume for March was 18.9 million pieces, up 1.5 percent from the year-ago period. Volumes in all major categories except Express Mail and International Mail surpassed their March 2005 levels. Most of the increase for March 2006 occurred in Standard Mail, which rose 2.3 percent to 9.2 million pieces.