Postmasters lives turned upside down at the whim of the PMG

Rural postmasters face ‘life-changing' decision

From the article: "..."I can't afford to take retirement unless I would have another good job out there," he said in a phone interview. But in an area with one of Ohio's highest unemployment rates, he said, "there's absolutely nothing."

Others are in similar circumstances, he added.

"I've got postmasters calling me, bawling and squalling, actually throwing up," Sampson said. "They haven't slept for a week."..."

Article Reference: www.federaltimes.com

Sen. Tom Carper is using Facebook to get House to save the Postal Service

Carper Using Facebook to Push House on Postal Service Reform Bill

From the article: "...Sen. Tom Carper (D-Del.) has a new Facebook timeline page up today dubbed "Priority Fail" that tracks how the House has yet to take up a bill that supporters say would reform the struggling U.S. Postal Service. The USPS has lost $1 billion since April when the Senate passed its version of the reform bill, according to Carper. ..."

Article Reference: influencealley.nationaljournal.com

Postal Service still moving forward with plans to close mail processing centers

USPS moving forward with plans to close mail processing centers

From the article: "...The United States Postal Service has announced that it will move forward with plans to close up to 229 mail processing facilities nationwide. ..."

Article Reference: golackawanna.com

Early Retirement Buy Out Incentives Offered to USPS Postal Mail Handlers

Mail Handlers to be offered retirement incentive

From the article: "...Mail Handlers who choose to leave employment with the USPS on or before August 31, 2012 will each receive incentive payments totaling up to fifteen thousand dollars ..."

Article Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union
Early retirement incentive, Mail Handler Buyout, Postal Buyout Incentives, Postal Retirement Incentive, Voluntary Early Retirement (VER)

Postal Service to Offer Early Retirement Incentives

Postal Service to announce new downsizing plan Thursday

From the article: "...USPS spokesman Dave Partenheimer declined comment Wednesday on whether the cuts will be accompanied by buyouts or early retirement incentives for affected employees. But the American Postal Workers Union, which represents many plant employees, was notified late Wednesday that the Postal Service is working on an "employee incentive," according to a union spokeswoman...."

Article Reference: www.federaltimes.com

$20,000 buyouts for Postmasters

USPS offers buyouts to postmasters, drops plan to close post offices

From the article: "...Under heavy pressure from Congress, the U.S. Postal Service is shelving plans to close up to 3,700 post offices and instead will offer $20,000 buyouts to 21,000 postmasters as a way to save money. As a result, some 13,000 communities will be able to keep their local post offices, but with reduced customer service hours..."

Article Reference: www.federaltimes.com
buyouts

Republicans will largely ignore S. 1789

GOP lawmaker calls Senate postal bill a '$33 billion bailout'

From the article: "...Bartlett's comments are the latest sign that Republicans will largely ignore the Senate-approved bill, S. 1789, and take up their own bill from House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chairman Darrell Issa (R-Calif.), possibly as early as next week.
..."

Article Reference: thehill.com
S. 1789

Postal buyout incentives possible but plant shutdowns still a fear to communities

Postal crisis delayed

From the article: "...voted to stave off Draconian cuts and retool the nation's mail-delivery system with nearly $11 billion for buyouts and early retirement-incentives for thousands of postal workers, as well as for paying off a lot of the Postal Service's debt...."

Article Reference: www.toledoblade.com
plant shutdowns, Postal buyout incentives, Postal early retirement,

Wholesale destruction of the value of First Class mail

Why Postal Reform Will Fail

From the article: "...More likely than not, the bill will facilitate the destruction of a national treasure by strangling the principles that support its existence. Postal reform is going to fail because Congress cannot understand the fundamental role of a national post as essential infrastructure. Congress will do nothing to stem the slow evisceration of the network. It will do nothing to prevent the wholesale destruction of the value of First Class mail. ..."

Article Reference: www.savethepostoffice.com
First Class mail, destruction of the postal service,

Spiders Go Postal

Recluse Spider infestation closes Louisville Post Office branch

From the article: "...The United States Postal Service closed its Fairdale location because of recluse spiders, which can be poisonous. "They've only seen a few, but spiders like dark places so no telling how many are out there," said USPS spokesman David Walton...."

Article Reference: www.wkyt.com
Postal Employee Dangers,

Postal Buyout On The Way Soon...

Congress preps to tackle postal reform

From the article: "...The measure would tap most of an estimated $10.9 billion overpayment in the Federal Employees Retirement System to pay down postal service debt and use up to $2 billion on buy-out packages to entice long-time employees to retire...."

Article Reference: www.wisn.com
buyouts, buyout incentives, Postal early retirement,

Where is the smallest U.S. Post Office?

Smallest Post Office in the United States

From the article: "...Ochopee, Florida -This closet-sized, 7x8-foot building used to be an irrigation pipe shed for a tomato farm. It was pressed into service after a fire destroyed the Ochopee general store..."

Article Reference: www.roadsideamerica.com
Where is the smallest U.S. Post Office?, Smallest Post Office, 34141-9998,

Senate defers Postal work

Senate Defers Work on Post Office Overhaul

From the article: "...“We hope senators will now use this extra time to carefully analyze the service’s financial problems, so that when the Senate resumes consideration of the bill, it will be prepared to work on real reform designed to strengthen the agency, not dismantle it,” Mr. Rolando said...."

Article Reference: nytimes.com

Postal Executives make out like fat-cats

It was a very good year: The salaries of USPS executives

From the article: "...postal management would probably prefer if the public did not know very much about their compensation packages, and they’ve fought the APWU’s effort to find out more about performance bonuses. But as the salary finder FAQ page explains, government workers aren’t entitled to the same kind of privacy as workers in the private sector..."

Article Reference: www.savethepostoffice.com

Closure of mail-processing facilities could be detrimental to broad segments of the country

Postal union blasts closings plan in new ads

From the article: "...Maine-based firm that relies on a nearby processing facility to quickly deliver shipments. Bazinet says he might have to lay off workers if his firm can no longer guarantee speedy mail deliveries...."

Article Reference: www.washingtonpost.com

Postal consolidations delay mail in Maryland

A Mess in Maryland: Mail delayed and workers call for an investigation

From the article: "...claim about trucks parking on the roadside is verified by the fact that the Postal Service purchased a $2,000 permit, valid Dec. 21 through Feb. 1, allowing use of curb lanes for parking near the Baltimore plant. That was after Baltimore's Department of Transportation issued several citations for illegally parking on the road...."

Article Reference: www.savethepostoffice.com
delay of mail, Postal Consolidation, USPS AMP, Why is the Postal Service going broke?,

First round of postal closures and consolidations will begin May 15

Postal Service puts some closures on hold during elections

From the article: "...The first round of closings and consolidations will begin May 15 and be completed by the end of August. USPS will meet with states holding primaries during the closures..."

Article Reference: www.govexec.com
postal closures, Mail Processing Plants,

Buyouts are most cost-effective for Uncle Sam during these months

Everybody's got a price: What's yours?

From the article: "...Last year (2011), 21 federal agencies offered buyouts to more than 30,000 federal and postal workers. They ranged from major offers..."

Article Reference: www.federalnewsradio.com
Postal Buyouts, Federal Employee Buyouts,

Postal early retirement and buyout incentives on the table

Postal Service again eyes buyouts, early retirements

From the article: "...Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett on Feb. 16 outlined for reporters the Postal Service's ambitious plans to pare down its workforce in the next five years by 155,000 employees — ultimately leaving a workforce of 402,000 by the end of fiscal 2016...."

Article Reference: www.federaltimes.com

Contact your reps now to prevent destruction of the postal service

Haven’t Contacted Congress? All It Takes Is a Few Clicks

From the article: "...“The House is expected to vote soon on a bill that would cut retirement benefits for postal and federal employees and increase the amount we must pay for them.” The retirement bill (H.R. 3813) has been merged with a Highway Transportation bill (H.R. 7).

“The Senate is expected to vote in the next few weeks on a bill (S. 1789) that would inflict severe, long-term damage on the Postal Service, and lead to the closure of hundreds of mail processing centers and thousands of post offices,” Reid said. The APWU is asking lawmakers to support amendments to the bill.

The House could vote at any time on H.R. 2309, Reid added, a bill sponsored by Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) that would “destroy the Postal Service as we know it.” ..."

Article Reference: www.apwu.org