Lawsuit alleges USPS, individual managers violated federal whistleblower protections

Department of Labor seeks back wages, damages from US Postal Service for allegedly firing a worker who raised safety concerns

From the article: "The U.S. Department of Labor has filed suit against the U.S. Postal Service and two of its managers for wrongly terminating a contracted employee who raised safety concerns about loading dock equipment at the Charleroi Post Office. ...the action follows an investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration that determined the U.S. Postal Service violated the whistleblower provisions of the Occupational Safety and Health Act by firing a worker who refused to unload bulk mail because of a broken loading dock lift at its Pittsburgh sorting facility.

OSHA investigators learned the worker − an employee of Red Diamond Trucking Co. Inc., a Mc Kees Rocks, Pennsylvania, company contracted by the USPS − was prevented from using small hampers to transport the mail safely because of the broken lift, which had almost injured the worker previously.

Aware of the unsafe conditions, the worker asked to use smaller mail hampers to transfer the mail. In response, USPS ..."

Article Reference: www.dol.gov
Whistleblower Protections,Safety,Wrongful Termination Cases (USPS),

Ernie Topness Retires | 91-year-old Cedar Rapids postal worker retires

91-year-old Cedar Rapids postal worker retires

From the article: "...Cedar Rapids postal worker is now officially retired.

Ninety-one-year-old Ernie Topness spent 65 years delivering mail to his community.

Over the weekend, he got a special honor from the city.

Cedar Rapids Mayor Tiffany O’Donnell proclaimed Nov. 29 “Ernest Topness Day” at a ceremony in his honor.

A ceremony in April recognized him as the second-longest tenured letter carrier in the country.

TV9 also spoke with Topness in August after he announced his retirement. ..."

Article Reference: www.kcrg.com
Ernie Topness,Retirements,Cedar Rapids, Ernest Topness Day,

Postal Service calls for election deadline changes to ensure ballots arrive on time

Postal Service calls for election deadline changes to ensure ballots arrive on time

From the article: "...The U.S. Postal Service suggested states change their election deadlines after 150,630 ballots weren’t mailed in time to be counted.

Out of the 3.37 billion pieces of political mail and election mail from 2024, the average delivery time was one day, according to USPS. That meant more than 97% of ballots got to local election officials in fewer than three days and that more than 99% got to them within seven days.

However, there were 150,630 ballots sent off between Oct. 31 and Election Day that didn’t make it to election offices in time to be counted. ..."

Article Reference: www.washingtonexaminer.com
Election deadline change request by USPS,USPS And the 2024 Elections,Elections, What do you do when elections don't go your way?,

Armed robbers steal keys to every apartment mailbox in Augusta, USPS offers $150,000 reward

Armed robbers steal keys to every apartment mailbox in Augusta, USPS offers $150,000 reward

From the article: "...two suspects who allegedly robbed a 24-year-old United States Postal Service (USPS) letter carrier at gunpoint and stole the keys to every apartment complex mailbox in the Augusta area. The robbery happened on Nov. 13 just before 5 p.m. at 3461 Jonathan Circle in Augusta, according to authorities. Two male suspects allegedly stopped the post office worker while he was passing out mail, holding a pistol to his chest, according to an incident report from the Richmond County Sheriff's Office...."

Article Reference: www.augustachronicle.com

Three mail carriers robbed in Louisville in less than an hour; US Postal Inspection Service investigating

Three mail carriers robbed in Louisville in less than an hour; US Postal Inspection Service investigating

From the article: "... USPIS Louisville spokesman Jeff Sagrecy told WHAS11 the robberies appear to be connected and "orchestrated by a group of suspects."

"The postal carriers were victims of a traumatic and stressful violent crime," he said. "Fortunately, none suffered any physical injuries. Make no mistake, the safety of our fellow Postal employees and the security of the mailstream are our top priority at the Postal Inspection Service."

Two of the robberies happened in Metro Councilwoman Tammy Hawkins' district. "The city of Louisville is in trouble," Hawkins said. ..."

Article Reference: www.whas11.com

DOL Petitions Court to Force Postal Service Compliance with Subpoenas

DOL Petitions Court to Force Postal Service Compliance with Subpoenas

From the article: "...OSHA issued two subpoenas in the New Salem investigation:

A subpoena to re-interview the manager, including making an audio recording of the interview, but the USPS refused to allow the audio recording unless OSHA also hired a court reporter to transcribe the interview.

A document subpoena to obtain relevant documents and information. The USPS refused to produce certain documents.

The DOL has asked the court to enforce both subpoenas.

“OSHA has the power to subpoena employers for necessary information to complete its investigative process,” Michael J. Rivera, OSHA’s Philadelphia regional administrator, said in an agency statement. “Employers cannot refuse to produce relevant documents and are not entitled to dictate the way in which OSHA conducts interviews.”..."

Article Reference: ehsdailyadvisor.blr.com
Enforcement and Inspection, Personnel Safety, Whistleblowers, Workplace Violence

An affordable 1879 United States Numeral postage due stamp

An affordable 1879 United States Numeral postage due stamp

From the article: "...In their use in the United States, postage due stamps were to be applied to any underpaid mail piece to show the amount collected from the addressee. ...The Scott Specialized Catalogue of United States Stamps and Covers values the 3¢ Numeral postage due stamp in very fine grade and unused, original gum condition at $100 and in mint, never-hinged condition at $280. A used example in very fine grade is valued at $6. Shade varieties noted and valued are pale brown, deep brown and yellowish brown."

Article Reference: www.linns.com
Stamp Collecting,1879 United States Numeral postage due stamp,

Malware spread through Swiss Postal Service

Malware spread through Swiss Postal Service

From the article: "...Swtizerland’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) has issued an alert about malware being spread via the country’s postal service. Mike Britton, CIO at Abnormal Security, said when discussing the increasing threat from QR code based phishing: “Delivering QR code letters physically via Switzerland’s postal service is an effective way for criminals to catch out unsuspecting victims. By pretending to be a trusted source, threat actors are banking on the lack of caution that recipients may have. “As a relatively new attack vector..."

Article Reference: www.intelligentciso.com

Workers at Canada's national postal service go on strike Friday, disrupting deliveries

Workers at Canada’s national postal service go on strike Friday, disrupting deliveries

From the article: "...The union issued a 72-hour strike notice earlier in the week, saying it’s been asking for fair wages, safer working conditions and other improvements over nearly a year of bargaining. “We still believe we can achieve negotiated collective agreements, but Canada Post must be willing to resolve our new and outstanding issues,” CUPW said in a statement. ..."

Article Reference: apnews.com

Armed robbery of postal workers prompts Mass. school to go on lockdown

Armed robbery of postal workers prompts Mass. school to go on lockdown

From the article: "Masked suspects held a postal worker at gunpoint in Billerica...approached a postal mail carrier and took out a gun..."

Article Reference: www.masslive.com

USPS Worker Retires Immediately After Fleeing A Hit And Run In His Mail Truck

USPS Worker Retires Immediately After Fleeing A Hit And Run In His Mail Truck

From the article: "...It took months and the intervention of a local news channel to get the USPS to take responsibility for the incident ...Muir checked the house’s Ring cameras. And that’s when he saw it; a mail truck slowly rolled down the street with no driver. The mail carrier ran up and hopped in the truck, but as soon as he hopped in, it appeared that he hit the gas, slamming into the back of Muir Jetta hard enough that it actually moved the sedan forward a few feet.

Rather than get out to survey the damage or tell Muir what happened, the mailman backed up and drove off. Muir immediately called his local post office to file a claim over the accident but got months of the run around from USPS."

Article Reference: jalopnik.com
Ring Camera Saves the Day From USPS Inaction,

Crime Infested NYC | Brooklyn Mail Theft: Crime caught on surveillance video leaves Crown Heights community on edge

Brooklyn Mail Theft: Crime caught on surveillance video leaves Crown Heights community on edge

From the article: "...A community in Crown Heights, Brooklyn is feeling uneasy after a video showed a man stealing mail from a postal box on a street corner. ..."

Article Reference: abc7ny.com
New York,The Crime Infested Democrat Years,Brooklyn Mail Theft,Crime,Mail theft,

Ballot Mail gets green tags, Political Mail gets red tags

Ballot Mail gets green tags, Political Mail gets red tags

From the article: "...The Postal Service wants employees to remember the differences between Election Mail, Ballot Mail and Political Mail — and to know the right tags to use.

Election Mail is any item mailed to or from authorized election officials that enables citizens to participate in the voting process. This includes ballots, sample ballots, voter registration cards, absentee ballot applications and polling place notifications.

Ballot Mail, a subset of Election Mail, is sent to or from an authorized election official and contains a ballot that may be used to cast a vote in an election.

Only Ballot Mail is permitted to use Green Tag 191, Domestic and International Ballots, and Ballot Mail service type identifiers. ..."

Article Reference: news.usps.com
Green Tag 191, Red Tag 57,Election Mail,Ballot Mail,

California brothers defrauded over $2 million from U.S. Postal Service in intricate scheme

Two Southern California brothers defrauded over $2 million from U.S. Postal Service

From the article: "...Anwer Fareed Alam, 36, and Yousofzay Fahim Alam, 34, both from Riverside County, carried out the yearslong scheme through an insurance fraud operation, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

From October 2016 to May 2019, the brothers purchased Priority Mail packages and postages that included $100 in insurance for lost or damaged parcel contents.

Anwer wrapped either empty packages or packages...

"

Article Reference: ktla.com
Intricate Scheme,Priority Mail,Fraud, Insurance Fraud (postal insurance), Insurance for lost or damaged parcel contents (USPS),

Call this number to get USPS facility information during an emergency

Call this number to get USPS facility information during an emergency

From the article: "The national hotline offers up-to-date information ...The toll-free number, found on the back of most USPS employee badges, is 888-EMERGNC ( 888-363-7462 ). After dialing the number, you will be prompted to enter the first three digits of the ZIP Code where you work. Information specific to operations in your work area will then be relayed. ..."

Article Reference: news.usps.com
NOTE: For the Postal Attendance Call in Number and Procedure

PSHB virtual seminar is October 31

PSHB virtual seminar is October 31

From the article: "...USPS employees and annuitants may participate in an upcoming virtual seminar on the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program. The session will be held Thursday, Oct. 31, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern and from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern. PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and will be administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management. ...Employees can also receive updates by texting “PSHBP” to 39369."

Article Reference: news.usps.com
PSHB virtual seminar is October 31,Postal Service Health Benefits Program (PSHB),

A carrier found a woman who had fallen while gardening

A carrier found a woman who had fallen while gardening

From the article: "...Letter Carrier Adam Benincosa was delivering mail recently in Roy, UT, when he spotted a customer in distress. The woman, Sherry Jarvis, was lying on the ground of her front yard and frantically waving and calling out for help. She had been stranded for hours but was unable to catch anyone’s attention...."

Article Reference: news.usps.com

OPM Issues Toolkit on Religious Discrimination

OPM Issues Toolkit on Religious Discrimination

From the article: "What should I do if I need a change in my work schedule to attend a religious ceremony?...Can my employer require me to remove religious items from my workspace? What do I do if someone makes fun of my religious belief? ... They also detail responsibilities of the employee and employer when it comes to religious beliefs and a reasonable accommodation. ..."

Article Reference: www.afge.org
Religious Discrimination, Reasonable accommodation, Religious accommodation,

Federal investigation underway as packages go missing at Hilo post office

Federal investigation underway as packages go missing at Hilo post office

From the article: "...HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Frustrated business owners say they’re out thousands of dollars after packages dropped off at Hilo’s main post office keep vanishing. HNN Investigates spoke to two small business owners who said it’s been a problem they’ve struggled with more than a year. Fed up with missing mail, the owner of Kahua Aina took to social media to see if anyone else was having trouble. Jordan Camara soon realized she was not alone. ..."

Article Reference: www.hawaiinewsnow.com

Postal Police frustrated by crimes affecting carriers

Postal Police frustrated by crimes affecting carriers

From the article: "...MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Postal Police officers say they want to help curb crime but are limited. The union president believes a recent robbery could lead to even more problems.

Frank Albergo leads the National Postal Police Officers Union.

“We can make a difference in a city where there are Postal Police like Memphis,” Albergo said.

Postal Police officers are the uniformed division of the postal service stationed at major postal facilities as security.

..."

Article Reference: www.aol.com
Postal Police Workforce,Crime,postal facilities as security,

Union Elementary students act as postal workers

Union Elementary students act as postal workers

From the article: "...On Sept. 25, students celebrated the kick-off of the 2024-25 school mail service. During the event, four students were honored as the winners of a stamp design competition. The winning designs will be featured on school stamps used by students and family members to send letters to Union Elementary students, faculty and staff. Winners Sarah Conrad, Catarina Godinho, Alana Russell and Addison True were awarded a certificate and will have their designs displayed in a gallery of previous years’ winners. During the celebration, second-grade students learned about the U.S. Postal Service and were sworn in as honorary mail carriers by school resource officer Joe Robinson. ..."

Article Reference: youarecurrent.com

The Flower Letters follow the romance of a fictional World War II couple

The Flower Letters follow the romance of a fictional World War II couple

From the article: "...A Utah couple has created a successful business using the mail to regale subscribers with a romance set during World War II.

Hannie and Michael Clark launched the Flower Letters in August 2020, telling the fictional story of Audrey Rose Drollinger and Cpl. Charlie Henderson Burke.

At first, there were 38 subscribers who followed the romance..."

Article Reference: news.usps.com
The Flower Letters

Oregon's Senators urge Postal Service to halt consolidation plan

Oregon's Senators urge Postal Service to halt consolidation plan

From the article: "...Oregon’s U.S. Senators are calling on the Postal Service to stop efforts to consolidate mail processing. Democrats Ron Wyden and Jeff Merkley rallied with workers in front of a Springfield post office Tuesday. Merkley, as well as union leaders, said they were concerned that sending mail to Portland instead of processing it locally was causing delays. “Mail has to go hundreds of miles to a processing center just to be reorganized and sent to your next door neighbor,” he said. ..."

Article Reference: www.klcc.org

Postal Workers Hold Nationwide 'Day of Action' Oct. 1 in 90 Cities to Promote Vote-by-Mail, Demand First-Class Service Year-Round

Postal Workers Hold Nationwide 'Day of Action' Oct. 1 in 90 Cities to Promote Vote-by-Mail, Demand First-Class Service Year-Round

From the article: "...On Tues., Oct. 1 postal workers who are members of the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) will be rallying with the public in front of postal facilities across the country to sound the alarm about the United States Postal Service’s substandard performance and service to communities. Rallies are planned in 90 cities..."

Article Reference: apwu.org
Unions,APWU,'Day of Action' Oct. 1 2024,postal news,