The Postal Service will release a Drug Free USA stamp in October 2020 to focus attention on the nation’s drug abuse crisis. USPS announced the stamp Oct. 31 in conjunction with Red Ribbon Week, the nation’s oldest and largest drug abuse prevention campaign. The planned release next year will coincide with National Substance Abuse Prevention […]
The Postal Service has announced some of its planned 2020 stamp releases. Here’s what’s coming: Year of the Rat, the first of 12 stamps in the Postal Service’s third Lunar New Year series Made of Hearts, a continuation of the Postal Service’s tradition of stamps that celebrate love Gwen Ifill, the 43rd stamp in the […]
Postal Service facilities should fly the U.S. flag at half-staff to honor U.S. Rep. Elijah Cummings, who has died. Cummings served as chairman of the U.S. House Committee on Oversight and Reform. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset Friday, Oct. 18. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak […]
The Postal Service has announced that Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan is retiring, effective Jan. 31, 2020. “Megan Brennan is a devoted public servant who has helped lead the United States Postal Service through some very challenging circumstances. The governors greatly appreciate her leadership and devotion to the Postal Service,” said Robert M. Duncan, chairman […]
The Postal Service is a government agency that operates like a business. The organization provides a vital delivery service that fosters commerce, serves every address in the United States and binds the nation. USPS receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations. […]
The Postal Service is working with business customers to drive changes in the way mail is used, the organization’s top executives told industry leaders last week. Two examples are Informed Delivery, a free feature that provides consumers with a digital preview of their incoming mail, and Informed Visibility, a platform that allows businesses to use […]
Callers to the 800-ASK-USPS help line are being offered more ways to receive assistance, part of the organization’s efforts to improve customers’ experiences. All calls go to one of four Customer Care Centers that the Postal Service operates nationwide. Under changes that took effect recently, callers can now choose to receive text-based assistance through an […]
Charities and nonprofit groups are using Informed Delivery to expand their fundraising capabilities. The free feature allows users to digitally preview their incoming mail and manage their packages from computers, tablets and other mobile devices. The Informed Delivery email digest and dashboard displays “grayscale” images of recipients’ incoming mail. Nonprofits conducting direct mail campaigns can […]
The Universal Postal Union’s member nations agreed Sept. 25 to improve its payment system for the international exchange of letter post packets. The international organization, also known as the UPU, has established a system that determines the amount a country will be paid for delivering international letter post products that originate in another country. This […]
The Postal Service is offering an update on negotiations with two labor unions. On Sept. 21, negotiations on a new labor contract between USPS and the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) came to an impasse. The NALC represents more than 210,000 letter carriers nationwide. The Postal Service and the union will continue to follow the […]
The Postal Service will introduce an application this fall to make it easier for employees using personal computers or mobile devices to see their time clock entries. The Virtual Timecard app will provide employees with near-real-time, secure access to their Time and Attendance Collection System clock entries and accrued work hours. Additionally, employees — including […]
President Donald Trump has ordered flags flown at half-staff Wednesday, Sept. 11, to honor victims of the 9/11 terrorist attacks. USPS facilities are required to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff this day, which is also known as Patriot Day. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant […]
The Postal Service is making changes within its Operations structure to better serve the organization and its customers. Under the changes, which Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan announced Aug. 22, the Network Operations group will be divided into two organizations: Logistics, and Processing and Maintenance Operations. Robert Cintron will serve as logistics vice president. He […]
To help restore USPS to financial stability, the organization’s leaders for many years have called for Medicare to be fully integrated into postal retiree health plans. To help you understand what this means, here are some things you should know: • Integrating the Postal Service’s Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB) plans with Medicare would benefit […]
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.83 percent during the week ending Aug. 16, up from one week earlier. Western (98.14 percent) led the areas, while Dakotas (99.21 percent) topped the districts. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To see […]
Delivering the mail involves open communication and a lot of moving parts. That’s par for the course at the Spruce Vehicle Maintenance Facility (VMF) in Denver. From staff cars to tractor trailers, the facility oversees the repairs and maintenance of more than 2,000 postal vehicles. For VMF Manager Mike Valdez, the mechanics are the backbone […]
The Postal Service is reminding you about a new method to provide the organization with your current contact information. USPS requires you to keep your mailing address and other information up to date so you can receive communications about payroll, health benefits, tax changes and other important topics. You can use the new Life Changes LiteBlue […]
The recent dedication ceremony for the Frogs stamps is highlighted in a new Postal Service video. The 1-minute, 9-second video features remarks from Victoria Runroe, conservation education supervisor at the MK Nature Center in Boise, ID, where the event was held. “We feel that nothing could be more appropriate for celebrating frogs — these creatures […]
When Concord, MA, Postmaster Raymond White saw outdated information on his employee earnings statement envelope, he turned to IdeaSMART to bring it to someone’s attention. White used the employee idea sharing platform to alert USPS to a promotional item for an employee Visa credit card program that no longer exists. “The website link printed on […]
Roy Sipe knows a thing or two about avoiding heat-related illnesses. “It’s important to be proactive in hot weather,” says Sipe, a Fairfax, VA, letter carrier who’s been delivering mail for more than 30 years. Sipe, who often trains new employees during the summer months, says preventing heat-related illnesses requires preparation. To protect himself, he […]
The Postal Service has reported its financial results for fiscal 2019’s third quarter (April 1-June 30). Here are some highlights: • Revenue. Total revenue was $17.1 billion, essentially flat from the same period one year earlier. First-Class Mail revenue declined 1.6 percent, while Marketing Mail revenue declined 3 percent and Periodicals revenue declined 11.2 percent. […]
The National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association (NRLCA) membership has ratified a new three-year labor contract with the Postal Service. The contract covers approximately 131,000 employees represented by the union. Highlights of the agreement include annual general wage increases, a reduction in the employer share of health premiums, additional operational flexibility to use rural carrier associates, […]
The nation’s military war dogs were hailed as four-legged heroes during a ceremony last week to dedicate stamps honoring their service. “The bravery, loyalty and service of all military working dogs — past and present — will never be forgotten,” said David C. Williams, vice chairman of the USPS Board of Governors, who led the […]
President Trump has ordered U.S. flags flown at half-staff to honor the victims of the recent mass shootings in El Paso, TX, and Dayton, OH. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset Thursday, Aug. 8. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it […]
The U.S. Senate confirmed three nominations to the Postal Service Board of Governors on Aug. 1. The Senate confirmed John Barger, a California resident; Ron Bloom, a New York resident; and Roman Martinez IV, a Florida resident. President Trump nominated Bloom and Martinez last year, while Barger was nominated this year. “The U.S. Postal Service […]
The Postal Service is introducing a tool to help managers and supervisors identify unsafe behaviors in the workplace and to work with employees to correct them. Current USPS policies require employees to be observed at regular intervals so the organization can ensure they are working safely. These employee observations are currently conducted using paper. The […]
The Postal Service is giving employees more time to audition for this year’s holiday advertising campaign. The deadline to submit audition videos for the campaign, originally set for this week, has been extended to Friday, Aug. 23, at 5 p.m. EDT. The USPS Holiday 2019 Employee Casting site has instructions on creating and submitting audition […]
The Postal Service intends to deliver packages for United Parcel Service (UPS) on Sundays. The arrangement is part of the Postal Service’s broader efforts to expand its shipping and packages business, a key component of the organization’s revenue growth strategy. The parcels that the Postal Service would deliver are for UPS SurePost and Mail Innovations. […]
Angela Yoshikawa believes versatility is a virtue. The Manassas, VA, retail associate wears many hats each day. Sometimes she serves customers at the Post Office counter; other times, she’s behind the scenes, sorting mail or working with business customers. “I work where I am needed,” Yoshikawa says. Whether she’s doing “back of the house” work […]
I’m postal proud of Neal White, the Kansas City, KS, letter carrier who noticed smoke coming from the roof of a customer’s home. Thank you for taking time to lead the home’s teenage occupant and her dog to safety. […]