From the article: "Working behind the scenes, Ricci Roberts, branch president of the Cheyenne mail handling unit...No forum has yet been set for answering any of the questions that the public has. “I have more questions than answers about what operations will be transferred to Denver,” Lummis wrote. ..."
From the article: "...At the center of the floor is a large conveyor belt that has already boosted processing by 15 percent since it came online in September. The Chula Vista Sorting and Delivery Center, as it’s now called, is processing an average of 3,100 packages an hour or up to 18,000 a day for three ZIP codes that cover most of Chula Vista and Imperial Beach: 91910, 91911, 91932. ..."
From the article: "...A text, acting as the USPS team, saying your package can’t be delivered due to incomplete address information. ..."
From the article: "...The plan would eliminate the evening collection at thousands of the country’s post offices — almost all of them in rural areas — and slow down a significant portion of single-piece First Class mail and parcels. While Amazon packages may be getting priority in many post offices, single piece First Class is some of the most important mail the Postal Service handles. It includes bill payments, business and legal correspondence, election ballots..."
From the article: "...On the United States Postal Service website, it says that employees cannot accept your tip, no cash or anything like cash, say a check or a gift card they can exchange for cash. The post office calls that a violation of ethics. But they can accept what the postal service calls noncash gifts — a Christmas card, maybe a retail gift card, but it must be less than $20, food or a cup of coffee. How about tipping someone from UPS or FedEx..."
From the article: "Postal carriers say they've been warned against attending the meeting and barred from even saying the word “Amazon.”...In addition to being banned from saying “Amazon,” postal workers have also been told their jobs could be at risk if they speak publicly about post office issues. Staffers were told they could attend Tuesday’s meeting only..."
From the article: "...D.C. Circuit judges quizzed the US Postal Service over how it accounts for the cost of delivering packages and priority mail during peak season in December, as the federal agency faces fresh accusations from rivals including United Parcel Service Inc. Judges Bradley Garcia and Sri Srinivasan of the US Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit on Tuesday probed the Postal Regulatory Commission for more clarity on the methodologies used for measuring its peak season costs. The regulatory commission oversees the Postal Service. Rival UPS wants the court to reverse and remand a postal order that it says ...UPS says USPS doesn’t account for $500 million in costs ..."
From the article: "...Both armed robberies happened back in September in the Tampa area. ... "Robbing a postal carrier is not a path to riches," Handberg warned. "It is a path to investigation, arrest, indictment, conviction and prison." The first armed robbery of a USPS mail carrier happened on Sept. 5 at a Temple Terrace apartment complex."
From the article: "...A Postal Service timekeeping error will prevent a couple thousand rural carriers from receiving their regular paycheck on time this week. ..."
From the article: "The 86-year-old Federal Building in downtown Mesa officially has begun a new life as an event space called The Post after languishing largely unused for two decades. ...The completed renovation of The Post is a win for city officials and historic preservationists, who see the adaptive reuse of Mesa's first 1st class Post Office as a model for preserving other historic structures in Mesa. ..."
From the article: "...The United States Postal Service letter carrier was delivering mail on Arden Road around 11:40 a.m. when the three went after him. Police said he was punched in the head and ended up with injuries to his face. The mailman, who has not been identified, was rushed to the hospital with what police described as "serious injuries." "The injuries, while significant, are not believed to be life-threatening..."
From the article: “This sweet woman took our girl to the vet and left us a note on her phone in our camera to see,” Kelsey Proctor wrote on Facebook of the postal worker's impromptu rescue...
From the article: "...The men and women who deliver mail are under attack. In 2022, mail carriers were victims of a surge in armed robberies in Tampa and across the country as thieves turned stolen checks into cash. ..."
From the article: "...A mail carrier with the U.S. Postal Service was robbed at knifepoint in Brooklyn, police said Tuesday. The 26-year-old postal employee was making deliveries on Hendrix St. near Pitkin Ave. in East New York on Sept. 30 when a man approached her just before 3 p.m., cops said. “Give me the keys,” the crook demanded as he pressed a knife against the victim’s stomach, police said. ..."
From the article: "The man accused of shooting and carjacking a mail carrier in Madison County last month is now facing federal charges, according to reports from WLOS. Investigators said 24-year-old Jaden Isaiah Garay is facing several charges, including attempted murder, carjacking, and assault. ..."
From the article: "...The United States Postal Service (USPS) completed its second round of route counts under its new Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System (RRECS) last week. The hated compensation system was first launched this spring to disastrous effects for rural letter carriers, resulting in massive pay cuts for around two-thirds of the rural workforce, in some cases by $10,000 or even $20,000 a year. Rural letter carriers at USPS work under a de facto piece rate system. Instead of being paid by the number of hours worked..."
From the article: "...Biden has ordered U.S. flags flown at half-staff to honor U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California, who died today. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of interment. ..."
From the article: "Authorities have ruled a man's death "suspicious" after he was found with a stab wound. ...The Montevideo Police Department said a postal worker found the man's body around 6:30 a.m. ..."
From the article: "...Letters for USPS Operation Santa Now Being Accepted... Write a letter to Santa! It may seem too soon, but he starts early. USPS Operation Santa is now accepting letters. Send yours today! The earlier the better. USPS Operation Santa is the beloved 111-year-old program run by the U.S. Postal Service. Letters are accepted from everywhere in the country and can be adopted by anyone who has successfully registered. The letters travel to Santa's U.S. satellite workshop, where they are opened and reviewed, personal information is redacted, and the letters are uploaded to the USPSOperationSanta.com website. USPS Operation Santa provides an online channel where people can safely and securely help children and families have a magical holiday when they otherwise might not — one letter to Santa at a time. Letters need to include first and last names and a complete return address: street address, apartment number (if applicable), city, state and ZIP Code. The regular or business-size envelope must have a First-Class Mail postage stamp to travel through the Postal Service processing systems. The envelope needs to be addressed to: SANTA CLAUS, 123 ELF ROAD, NORTH POLE 88888. Letters received without last names and correct return addresses cannot be uploaded. Also, letters should be legible and include specific gift details — Letters to Santa need to be postmarked by Dec. 11. The website will open for letter adoption on Nov. 20. For more information, visit USPSOperationSanta.com. "
Article Title: In Memorial to the Saudi Attack on America Sept. 11, 2001
From the article: "...Just a few weeks ago, the USPS warned that certain customers in Alabama would be experiencing a disruption to their postal service. On Jan. 13, the agency announced that it had temporarily suspended operations at its post office in Jack, Alabama. The Postal Service decided to close this facility because it had "sustained structural damage due to recent tornadic activity," according to a local news release. ...The USPS has not provided any additional information about the Jack Post Office since, and it's still listed as "temporarily closed" online. Now, another Alabama facility is being shut down."
From the article: "...While it's now common to pay your bills online or sign up for autopay, some of us still prefer to mail checks. With whichever approach, though, there are always some associated risks: Hackers can gain access to your information online, but thieves can also swipe physical checks right from the mail. If you're paying checks the traditional way, you'll want to pay attention to new tips from a U.S. Postal Service (USPS) Postal Inspector, namely those that will help keep your hard-earned money safe and sound. ..."
From the article: "..."Requesting postal unscheduled leave with the postal call in number is by use of the usps Interactive Voice Response system (IVR) at 877-477-... Simply use and answer the prompts for your postal call in/out number request. This is the official means of how to call in sick at the post office. The postal service often reminds employees that the sick call number through the Interactive Voice Response system is the official and preferred method of sick leave unscheduled call in and call out for reporting unsceduled absences at the post office for employees. Be responsible with your sick leave. "
From the article: "HOUSTON - Rural letter carriers in Houston are frustrated after learning many of them will not be receiving their full paychecks this Friday. In a memo sent to them through their National Rural Letter Carriers Association app, the organization stated they learned of a Postal Service payroll error this pay period affecting more than 45,000 rural carriers across the country. In an emailed statement, the union said it was 54,000 workers. ..."
From the article: "...can be seen early Friday morning methodically checking each of the six mail slots and taking out the mail before closing it back up. Saturday night CBS 2 spoke with a woman who lives there. She says her building and neighborhood are now on high alert. ..."
From the article: "First, to clarify something the article said: the president doesn’t appoint the Postmaster General, nor can he remove him. Only the governing board can do this. ...We can’t keep new hires. They find out how hard the work is Some were able to retire as they had the age and time in. ...This is not a place to make a career like it used to be. And let me not forget: the union does not take care of us! Complaints are ignored and union reps nearly always side with management! Everything the union does is kept in secrecy."
From the article: "...Last month, the United States Attorney for the Middle District of Florida announced 17 people were charged with drug trafficking after allegedly shipping thousands of kilograms of methamphetamine and fentanyl across the country, including by mail. 19 News requested a synopsis of any similar incidents over the last year in the Cleveland area, but the United States Postal Inspection Service would not divulge any information without a formal records request...."
From the article: "...“NAPS will be monitoring the RIF Timeline to ensure that [impacted employees] are getting every opportunity to be placed prior to the RIF date of September 9, 2023,” the group told its members earlier this month. USPS called NAPS' allegations "not accurate," saying it first notified the association of its plan in February. At the time, the Postal Service said only its staffing changes "may result in employee impacts requiring a reduction in force to be administered." ..."
From the article: "USPS Disability Retirement (also known as Federal Disability Retirement) is a benefit available to career FERS employees with at least 18 months of service and a medical condition that prevents them from fully performing their job. This benefit has completely changed the lives of so many postal workers– if you are struggling in your job, keep reading to see if you qualify for this benefit. ..."
From the article: "The Postal Service has notified stakeholders about the locations of seven more Regional Processing and Distribution Centers (RPDCs). While not identified as such, this is the second wave of RPDCs. The first wave of twelve RPDCs was announced months ago (as discussed in this post), so we now know the locations of 19 RPDCs — about a third of the ultimate number. The new RPDCs are:..."
From the article: "We learned that the Postal Service intends to solicit volunteers from Electronic Technician (ET), Mail Processing Equipment Mechanic (MPE), and Maintenance Mechanic (MM) employees with the goal of getting individuals to participate on the MPE machine removal/ relocation teams. Participation will be strictly voluntary, and selection will be based on geographical location and training. Volunteers will be expected to work 10 hours a day and six days a week, maximum, and overtime will be paid in accordance with Article 8 of the National Agreement. The volunteers will first be solicited from those facilities scheduled to have a machine removed and/or relocated by the local facility. If additional volunteers are needed, solicitation will be expanded to other facilities. ...The removal and/ or relocation of machines is set to begin in August 2023 in Atlanta, GA, followed by Charlotte, NC. It is anticipated that additional sites will be identified where the subject machine’s removal/relocation teams will be utilized."
From the article: "Retired postal worker Genine Plummer took nearly a year to claim a $1,000 A Week For Life prize she won playing New York Lottery’s CASH4LIFE. The Islip woman purchased her winning ticket back in May 2022. But she didn’t realize she had..."
From the article: "...The Postal Regulatory Commission is currently conducting a Public Inquiry into the Delivering for America plan, and the Postal Service is preparing its response to the Commission’s first information request. The response was due June 28th, but the Postal Service asked for, and was granted, a three-week extension, so we’ll have to wait until July 19th to see what the Postal Service has to say. ..."
RE: U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Groff v. DeJoy (pdf)
On Thursday, June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in the lawsuit Groffv. DeJoy.
The case was brought by Gerald Groff, who delivered mail as a Rural Carrier Associate (RCA) from 2012 to 2019 in central Pennsylvania. Groff is a Christian who observes Sunday as the Sabbath. Citing those religious beliefs, Groff consistently refused to work on Sundays. For several years, Groff and the Postal Service attempted to find workarounds, such as having volunteers take over his Sunday slots. Eventually, however, the Postal Service began disciplining Groff for his refusal to work on Sundays, and in 2019, Groff resigned. After resigning, Groff sued the Postal Service. He argued that under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act , the Postal Service was required to reasonably accommodate his religious beliefs by exempting him from Sunday work.
Before turning to the specifics of the Court's decision, we note at the outset that the Court's decision leaves in place the longstanding recognition that it would be an "undue burden" to provide an accommodation that would violate a seniority system in a collective bargaining agreement, like the National Agreement between the NPMHU and the Postal Service.
The Court's decision did proceed to answer two principal questions:
On the first question - whether the Court should disapprove the "more than de minimis cost" test for determining whether a religious accommodation was an undue hardship - the Court disapproved of the "more than de minimis cost" language. In its place, the Court held that an employer can show that a religious accommodation creates an undue hardship under Title VII if that accommodation causes a substantial burden in the overall context of the employer's business. The Court held that this is a fact specific inquiry. "Courts must apply the test to take into account all relevant factors in the case at hand, including the particular accommodations at issue and their practical impact in light of the nature, size, and operating cost of an employer."
As to the second question - whether an employer may demonstrate undue hardship under Title VII by showing burdens on co-workers - the Court held - using language consistent with the position the NPMHU took in its amicus brief to the Supreme Court, that impact on coworkers is relevant to the extent those impacts affect the conduct of the business. The Court acknowledged that "an accommodation's effect on co-workers may have ramifications for the conduct of the employer's business, but a court cannot stop its analysis without examining whether that further logical step is shown in a particular case."
The Court concluded by sending the case back to the lower court to consider Groff's claim in Iight of the standard described above.
As we wrote to you previously, the NPMHU supports employees' rights to receive reasonable accommodations for their religious beliefs and practices, and will continue to urge the Postal Service to provide those accommodations consistent with the terms of the National Agreement.
If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the National CAD.
From the article: "...Similar letters containing a note and a powdery substance were sent to prominent figures such as former president Donald Trump and Supreme Court justice Clarence Thomas. However, before reaching their intended recipients, these letters were intercepted by the US Postal Inspection Service, sources told ABC news. The letters were found to be harmless by postal inspectors, sources said. One of the recipients of the compromised letter told ABC Kansas City affiliate KMBC that the note with the letter was intended to threaten...."
From the article: "CLEVELAND, Ohio— A former U.S. postal worker in Brooklyn was sentenced to one month in prison for stealing high-end shoes and phones from the mail. Brandon Williams, also known as Brandon Trotter, worked as a processing clerk in the Brooklyn post office when he stole the items, according to federal prosecutors. ..."
From the article: "Canal Street denizens did not know what fueled the fury, but several, like gift shop employee Kamal said they saw the elderly man sprawled out on the pavement in the aftermath.
A woman selling fruit alleged the postal worker shoved the man to the ground.
Other vendors on the block said the 75-year-old is a regular street vendor, who sells masks and knockoff items on Canal Street..."
From the article: "...“This type of alleged behavior within the Postal Service is not tolerated and the overwhelming majority of Postal Service employees, which serve the public, are honest, hardworking, and trustworthy individuals who would never consider engaging in any type of criminal behavior,” the spokesperson said in a statement. “Hopefully they can track this down because I thought it was really strange when they told my wife he was also investigating another check made payable to Florida Blue..."
From the article: "...Corey McFadden, 33, was recovered off the coast on May 22 after being spotted by a fisherman, according to State Police. McFadden’s family said Saturday he had been found, but they declined to say where. ... authorities previously said. He had contact with Manasquan police that evening, but wasn’t reported missing until the next morning when didn’t show up for for work in Cape May, where had worked as a mail carrier for years. "
From the article: "...A resident called police at 2:53 p.m. May 3 asking them to check on the local Post Office employees. He said he had been trying to call that office since 12:05 p.m. but no one answered. An officer was in the post officer earlier and said they only had one employee working. ..."
From the article: "...The review is being called for based on feedback from unnamed “stakeholders” concerned about the impact of the plan on postal operations and costs, and the need for more of a forum to address different components. In particular, concerns were raised in an April report to the PRC about costs and processing changes for so-called “flats” or large envelope mailers at new regional sortation and delivery centers. The first one opened in Athens, GA in November. The PRC said the public review is not intended as way for it to offer an advisory opinion on the overall Delivering for America plan. However, it will be “beneficial to the interest of transparency to provide a forum to learn more about these strategic plan initiatives that may have a significant impact on the postal community,” the PRC wrote in its order. ..."
From the article: ""Our mailbox has been broken into about 10 to 15 times over the last two to three years," Jones said. ...Jones says over the past year or so, he's often times come home to find the doors on his mailbox either broken into or tampered with. ..."
From the article: "...26-year-old Kori Ann Moreno has pleaded guilty to theft of mail. Moreno faces up to five years in prison and payment of restitution to the victims in the case. A sentencing date has not yet been set. Moreno was arrested on November 29, 2022..."
From the article: "Anthony Fernandes, 37, of Douglas, Massachusetts, was charged with one count of theft of government money. ...Authorities say Fernandes, who works in Buzzards Bay, Massachusetts, is alleged to have fraudulently used the U.S. Postal Service supervisor’s travel authorization account..."
From the article: "...Deputies arrested Ronald Washington Jr., 27, after the postal worker reported the encounter near Labadieville, deputies said in a statement Friday. The postal worker had been on her regular mail route along La. 1014 when the man, later identified as Washington, jumped in front of her postal truck and demanded she deliver his check, deputies said...."
From the article: "James Belardo, 41, the third person taken into custody in the probe, was arrested Wednesday by the Hudson County Prosecutor’s Office’s Narcotics Task Force and charged with second-degree conspiracy to distribute cocaine in a quantity greater than one-half ounce. ..."
From the article: "...Postal officials say these attacks now happening almost every week. "Well just in the last several months, from the locks being shot out of the back of the LLVs [long-life vehicles] to people jumping out of cars and putting guns in our letter carriers faces..."
From the article: "A federal grand jury has indicted two more employees of the U.S. Postal Service from Champaign County for fraud related to COVID-19 relief funds. On Wednesday, Tasheena White, 32, of the 2400 block of Goodfield Drive, and Uniqua Whitaker, 26, of the 1200 block of Clifford Drive, Urbana, were each charged with wire fraud in connection with Paycheck Protection Program loans. The indictments allege that the women submitted false loan applications and supporting documents..."
From the article: "The post office closed in June 2021, and services moved to the Northcross Station in north Austin, according to the U.S. Postal Service. The original building at 4300 Speedway was built in 1967, Travis County appraisal records show. Tiny Grocer will be one of the tenants in the redeveloped space. Owner Steph Steele..."
From the article: "...the Waccabuc Post Office, which delivers the mail for the 500 or so homowners. It came as a surprise to many Westchester residents when the United States Postal Inspection Service posted a $50,000 reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of the suspects who robbed the Waccabuc post office on Jan. 10 at 430 pm. The Lewisboro Police Department reported that they responded on 1/10 to the Waccabuc Post Office, located at 2 Post Office Road, on reports of an armed robbery. While there were no injuries, the incident had Post Office employees and residents, in disbelief. ..."
From the article: "A postal worker in Corpus Christi said she dropped off a package, moved to another street, then noticed this dog running with something familiar in its mouth. ....."
From the article: "A woman in Kershaw, South Carolina was arrested for having about six and a half pounds of cocaine worth around $180,000 sent to her house, officials say. ...Lancaster County Sheriff’s Office said that the package had two large bricks inside of compressed powder that was addressed to Quanisha Lashay Manago, 28. An agent who was undercover delivered the package...The weight of this Cocaine was 3,014 grams, and Cocaine sells for about $60.00 a gram, making the street value of this parcel over $180,000.00. This was a lot of Cocaine"
From the article: "The post office on 321 Main Street in Wakefield, Massachusetts...The post office at 421 Jenks Avenue in Panama City, Florida...This month two historic post offices are being put at risk, but it’s only the beginning."
From the article: "...The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) announced on Friday that a federal judge sentenced Zachary Rashad Humphrey, 31, of Huntsville to 18 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release for stealing mail between March and April of 2022. ...stole checks from the mail meant to be delivered on his route and sold them on the dark web. "
From the article: "...Now, the USPS is facing a fine of $13,840 after OSHA inspectors investigated the facility in August 2022. “Employers must ensure a safe and healthful workplace by making sure workers have access to water for drinking and sanitation,” OSHA Norfolk area director Brian Rizzo said in a statement. “U.S. Postal Service management responsible for this facility should have acted more quickly to protect employee health.”..."
From the article: "...The Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program, administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) which will provide health insurance to eligible Postal Service employees, Postal Service annuitants, and their eligible family members starting in 2025. The PSHB Program coverage will replace Federal Employees Health Benefit (FEHB) Program coverage for these groups. ..."
From the article: "The Postal Service has revised package shipping labels to include two new barcodes. The labels now incorporate two-dimensional Intelligent Mail matrix barcodes, or QR codes. They appear on shipping labels above and below the one-dimensional Intelligent Mail package barcode and contain the same tracking number. “Some packages from mailers — usually clothing, pill bottles and similar items — can result in distortion of label barcodes while being processed on automated equipment..."
From the article: "...The indictment says Alexander Dockery destroyed, detained and delayed letters, postcards, packages and other mail over a six-month period in 2018. Dockery was working as a mail handler at the Huntsville facility at the time. ..."
From the article: "...The admission comes almost a week after Royal Mail first said it was hit by an unspecified “cyber incident” that left the British mail service unable to dispatch items to overseas destinations. “We’ve confirmed that we’ve had a cyberattack...the postal service continues to experience disruption to its international export services following the cyberattack. Royal Mail has yet to confirm when this disruption is likely to end "
From the article: "...Dilma Spruill, 71, was walking home, as she usually does, around 12:30 a.m. after sorting mail at a post office and distribution center in West Oakland, her son, Miles Spruill, told KTVU FOX2. "Three houses away," Miles Spruill said. "She was almost home, but she's not coming home."..."
From the article: "...On Sunday, January 15, the USPS is deploying the MFA (Multifactor Authentication) solution for LiteBlue as an additional security measure to protect employees’ IDs, passwords, and other personal data from unauthorized access and misuse. At this time, employees are required to sign up for MFA to obtain access to LiteBlue. As a part of the MFA implementation, there are a few steps employees must complete. These steps includ..."
From the article: "...In Florida, the Postal Service initially shut down the Auburndale Post Office, Balm Post Office, Downtown Fort Myers Station, Downtown Naples Station, Everglades City Post Office, Fort Myers Beach Post Office, Nocatee Post Office, Pineland Post Office, and the Sanibel Main Post Office on Sept. 27. These nine facilities were just a few of those affected at the time, but they're all still closed. ..."
From the article: "...CHICAGO (CBS) -- A postal truck was caught in gunfire near a high school in the West Town community Tuesday afternoon. ...A U.S. Postal Service truck ended up being peppered with bullets. ..."
From the article: "...The Postal Service and a labor union have begun a pilot program for a new career bargaining unit position to transport mail in vehicles that do not require commercial driver’s licenses. The new postal vehicle operator (PVO) level 6 position and qualification standards were created under a memorandum of understanding between USPS and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU). PVOs will be assigned to the motor vehicle services in Oklahoma City, which is currently designated a nonpostal vehicle service site..."
