Postal Service employees and contractors can play a vital role in protecting the organization by identifying potential insider threats. An insider threat occurs when an individual — such as an employee, contractor or vendor — intentionally or unintentionally misuses his or her access to an organization’s resources to steal information or disrupt operations. Here are […]
USPS is working with the Federal Bureau of Investigation to test fingerprinting services at two Washington, DC, Post Offices. The program allows the offices to provide fingerprinting services to customers applying for an identity history summary check (IdHSC), which lists certain information taken from fingerprint submissions kept by the FBI. An IdHSC can be required […]
The new year will bring stamp releases, annual events and other Postal Service activities you should know about. USPS has announced several planned stamp releases for 2019, beginning with Hearts Blossom on Jan. 10. Other early releases include Lunar New Year: Year of the Boar (Jan. 17), Black Heritage: Gregory Hines (Jan. 28), Cactus Flowers […]
Negotiations on a new labor contract between the Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) came to an impasse Dec. 21. USPS and the union will continue to follow the current agreement until a new contract is reached through the dispute resolution process. The APWU represents more than 192,000 employees, including clerks, mechanics, […]
The Postal Service always delivers for its customers during the holidays — and this year is no exception. USPS will be open for business and mail delivery will continue as usual Monday, Dec. 24. Post Office retail counters will be open until noon. However, some retail offices may be open later due to customer needs. […]
USPS has adjusted the postage refund policy for Priority Mail Express one-day shipments sent from Dec. 22-25. Under the adjusted policy, Priority Mail Express one-day shipments sent during this period are not eligible for postage refunds unless the package is not delivered or delivery is not attempted within two days of the mailing date. The […]
Rochester, PA, Letter Carrier Lea Siget is an alert, engaged Postal Service employee. She helped avoid a potential tragedy when she rescued a 17-month-old toddler wandering alone at an intersection. […]
Ruben Hernandez is perfect. The Fresno, CA, letter carrier hasn’t missed a single day of work since joining the Postal Service in December 1987. “When you know others are depending on you, like your customers and co-workers, you show up,” he said. Hernandez said he’s motivated to maintain his perfect attendance record by never forgetting […]
USPS quickly restored service in Alaska last week after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake threatened to interrupt deliveries to the Northern Hemisphere’s most famous resident: Santa Claus. The earthquake struck Nov. 30 near Anchorage, knocking out power to homes, schools and businesses. The Postal Service suspended mail delivery and retail operations, although everything was back to […]
USPS is reviewing the recommendations of the Trump administration’s task force on the nation’s postal system. The task force, which was announced in April, issued its report Dec. 4. “The recommendations contained in the report should be evaluated together with legislative and regulatory reforms to address our urgent financial challenges. Reforms are necessary to enable […]
The Postal Service will suspend regular mail deliveries, retail services and administrative office activity Wednesday, Dec. 5, which President Donald J. Trump has proclaimed as a national day of mourning to honor former President George H.W. Bush. In a statement announcing the suspension, USPS praised Bush for his “vast contributions to our country during his […]
I enjoyed “Show Some Love,” the new Combined Federal Campaign video featuring postal leaders. […]
All Postal Service facilities should fly the U.S. flag at half-staff to honor former President George H.W. Bush, who died Nov. 30. Flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset Dec. 30. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it to the half-staff position. […]
Here’s Link’s latest “News quiz,” a weekly feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Fill in the blank: Effective Jan. 27, the First-Class Mail letter single-piece additional ounce price will be reduced to (blank). a) 15 cents b) 50 cents c) 55 cents […]
The Postal Service has announced some of its planned stamps for 2019, including releases that honor poet Walt Whitman, entertainers Marvin Gaye and Gregory Hines, Post Office murals, and the nation’s scenic rivers. Here’s what’s coming: Hearts Blossom, the latest stamp in the Love series Year of the Boar, the 12th and final stamp in […]
The Postal Service and the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) have agreed to further extend contract negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. Although the contract with the APWU expired at midnight Sept. 20, USPS and the union have mutually decided to extend negotiations to Dec. 7. The APWU represents more than 192,000 employees, including clerks, […]
The Postal Service has reported its financial results for fiscal 2018 (Oct. 1, 2017-Sept. 30, 2018). Here are some highlights: • Revenue. Total revenue was $70.6 billion, up 1.5 percent compared to the previous fiscal year. The higher revenues were driven largely by continued growth in shipping and packages, where revenue reached $21.5 billion, a […]
Employee deals update. Postal Service employees can further their education through the organization’s new arrangements with University of Maryland University College and Peirce College. Both colleges now offer USPS employees and their immediate family members a 25 percent discount on tuition. The discounts are part of the Postal Service’s core strategy to engage, empower and […]
Flag notice. Sunday, Nov. 11, is Veterans Day, one of six days each year that Postal Service facilities are required to fly the POW-MIA flag. Because Veterans Day is a designated USPS holiday, facilities should raise the POW-MIA flag on the last business day before the holiday. The flag honors the sacrifices made by members […]
Rural Carrier Lisa Matthews was recently delivering mail in Knightdale, NC, when she heard a customer yelling for help. Matthews discovered that the woman had fallen while walking her dog and was unable to get up. The customer asked to use Matthews’ phone to call for assistance, and asked her to take the dog inside. […]
The “postal pooch” picture in the Oct. 29 “Need to know” column made my day. […]
Scanning snapshot. The Postal Service’s national scanning rating was 97.73 percent during the week ending Oct. 26, up from one week earlier. Dakotas (99.1 percent) topped the districts, while Western (97.89 percent) led the areas. Scanning allows customers to track their packages and mail, and it helps USPS improve efficiency and network management. To see […]
Native American Heritage Month, which honors American Indians and Alaska Natives, begins Nov. 1. The observance is held each November to celebrate the cultures, histories, traditions and contributions of American Indians and Alaska Natives. USPS employs more than 4,000 individuals who identify themselves as American Indian or Alaska Native. The American Indian and Alaska Native […]
Postal Service employees who want to save money for future medical expenses have several options during this year’s open season, which runs from Nov. 12-Dec. 10. If you enroll in a high-deductible health plan (HDHP), you may be eligible to contribute to a health savings account (HSA). An HSA allows you to pay for current […]
October is one of the seven months that has 31 days. Except for the year when it had 32 days — at one Post Office in the middle of the Pacific Ocean. That office was the Kwajalein, Marshall Islands, branch of the Honolulu Post Office, which was located on an island of the same name. […]
Postmaster General Megan J. Brennan is praising USPS and Postal Inspection Service employees and calling for continued vigilance following the Oct. 26 arrest of a suspect in connection with the suspicious packages sent to high-profile figures this week. Brennan issued the following statement: Over the past week, the men and women of the U.S. Postal […]
I ordered three each of the Alzheimer’s and Save Vanishing Species semipostal stamp T-shirts highlighted in Link this week. […]
Tuscola, IL, Rural Carrier Patricia Wilson was recently delivering mail in an Amish community when she spotted flames shooting out of a barrel near a customer’s home. Wilson stopped to investigate and found that the fire was spreading to a nearby shed and the house itself. She pounded on a door but got no answer, […]
Here’s Link’s latest “News quiz,” a weekly feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Fill in the blank: The American Postal Workers Union represents more than (blank) USPS employees, including clerks, mechanics, custodians and some workers in administrative positions. a) 1,920 b) 19,200 […]
Extended deadline. Postal Service employees have more time to order a USPS-approved shirt to promote the Alzheimer’s semipostal stamp. The new deadline is Sunday, Oct. 28, at 11:59 p.m. Eastern time. The vendor is slated to ship orders before Friday, Nov. 9. A shirt to promote the Saving Vanishing Species semipostal stamp is also available […]