Hurricane Irma was no match for the nation’s smallest Post Office. The Ochopee, FL, office survived the storm despite being in one of the hardest hit areas. At about 62 square feet, the office has been housed in a former toolshed since 1953. Retail Associate Shannon Mitchell sorts mail and provides retail services for the […]
Shelia Womble checks her mailbox every day for coupons. “It’s one of the easiest ways to save money,” said Womble, a Charlotte, NC, resident who recently used coupons she received in the mail to save $2,000 on a new car. “I use coupons to buy cleaning supplies, housewares, all sorts of things,” she said. Womble […]
The Postal Service is in recovery mode after Hurricane Irma, which was downgraded to a tropical depression Sept. 12 as it moved away from the southeastern coastal areas. Although some operations remain affected, USPS is open for business where it’s safe to do so for both customers and employees. Irma struck the Caribbean last week […]
The Postal Service is continuing to update employees and customers in the aftermath of Irma, which was downgraded from a hurricane to a tropical storm Sept. 11. The storm brought rain and strong winds to several southeastern states, including Georgia and South Carolina, where dangerous flooding has been reported. The USPS Service Alerts and USPS […]
The Postal Service is responding to Hurricane Irma, the massive storm that is expected to move into Georgia Sept. 11 after battering Florida and the Caribbean islands. In Gulf Atlantic District, which includes portions of northern Florida and southern Georgia, USPS is advising customers that normal service operations will be interrupted due to unsafe conditions such as […]
The woman’s hands trembled as she approached the USPS booth. It was a Tuesday afternoon, just days after an Army rescue boat pulled the woman and her sister out of their flooded home. The Postal Service employees at the booth inside the NRG Center, Houston’s largest shelter, had been assisting people like this for days. […]
In the midst of major hurricanes, PMG Megan J. Brennan is thanking employees for their recovery efforts and encouraging them to stay safe. “The safety of our workforce is paramount,” the PMG said. “We want every employee to stay out of harm’s way whether on-the-clock or off.” USPS is continuing to restore service in the […]
The Postal Inspection Service is playing a crucial role in the efforts to restore mail and package delivery after Hurricane Harvey. Inspectors are assessing Post Offices and other facilities for damage, checking delivery routes to make sure they’re accessible, and protecting property from being stolen. “We’re here to help minimize the risks to our employees while helping […]
Flag notices. The Postal Service is reminding managers and employees about flag display requirements for two days in September: • Patriot Day, when the nation pauses to remember the 9/11 terrorist attacks, is Monday, Sept. 11. USPS facilities are required to fly the flag at half-staff this day, which is also known as the National […]
A variety of information, aid and other resources are available to Postal Service employees in Hurricane Harvey’s aftermath: • News and information. USPS has introduced an interactive map that shows the operational status of postal facilities across the nation, including sites affected by Harvey. Employees can also check the USPS Service Alerts site for updates, while […]
USPS has suspended service at several facilities in the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey, the devastating storm that is causing historic flooding across Texas and Louisiana. Dozens of Post Offices have been affected by Harvey, which made landfall Aug. 25 and was later downgraded to a tropical storm. Some facilities where service was suspended during the […]
The first coast-to-coast total solar eclipse in almost a century swept across the United States Aug. 21, a cosmic experience that brought together millions of people and cast the Postal Service in a unique role. In towns and cities of all sizes, USPS employees sold commemorative stamps, offered special postmarks and joined excited customers in […]
Thank goodness for small Post Offices like the one featured in “Radio fame.” I have worked in many small offices during my 30-year career. We can be the anchor in a small community, providing the best service while sharing in the lives our customers. […]
“We know what our goals are and we achieve those goals, in part because this is not a negative environment.” […]
Carrier Technician Michael Richards was delivering mail recently in a Gilbert, AZ, neighborhood when he noticed a customer working on a specialized dune buggy in his driveway. Nothing seemed out of the ordinary at first, but screams soon pierced the air. “Mailman! Mailman! Come help me!” Seeing that the dune buggy had suddenly pinned the […]
Flowers From the Garden, four stamps that honor the beauty of floral arrangements, were dedicated Aug. 16. “The Postal Service has a long tradition of showcasing flowers and floral artwork on stamps. Flowers have been a perennial favorite, with hundreds of floral stamps released over the years,” said Employee Resource Management VP Simon Storey, who […]
The Postal Service has a message for its managers: If you want to know what’s happening in your workplace, go where the action is. In other words: Take a “gemba walk.” This Japanese leadership technique encourages managers to move throughout a workroom, observing employees and asking them questions to understand how they do their jobs. “The […]
The National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) membership has ratified a new 40-month labor contract with the Postal Service. The contract covers approximately 211,000 USPS employees represented by the union. “This is a fair, responsible agreement that serves the best interests of our employees, customers and other stakeholders,” said Labor Relations VP Doug Tulino. The […]
Meyers Chuck is having a moment. The tiny Alaska town — and its Post Office, which plays a central role in residents’ lives — was the subject of a recent NPR report. While on assignment in the state, Melissa Block, an NPR special correspondent, noticed Meyers Chuck on a map. The town was shown as […]
Disney Villains, new stamps that honor the legacy of Walt Disney Studios’ trailblazing Ink & Paint Department, were dedicated July 15. “The Postal Service is highlighting the Disney villains and the pioneering spirit of the Ink & Paint Department that brought many of these characters to life,” said PMG Megan J. Brennan, who dedicated the […]
The Andrews Sisters’ hit “Rum and Coca Cola” might have been playing on the radio in 1945 when Virginia Christofferson wrote a love letter to her husband Rolf, a sailor in the Norwegian Navy. Pregnant with their child, she wrote about doctor visits and how much she missed her “favorite pin-up boy.” “Please be a […]
The Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) have reached a tentative agreement on a new labor contract. The 40-month contract covers approximately 213,000 employees represented by the union. “This agreement is responsible, fair to our employees and in the best interest of our customers,” said Labor Relations VP Doug Tulino. “This […]
Postal Service employees were quick to respond in several instances recently where customers needed a helping hand. Letter Carrier Nathaniel Andrade had just delivered mail to an El Paso, TX, apartment complex when a resident fell near the cluster box unit. Andrade helped the man up, walked him home and checked on him the following […]
The Islesford, ME, Post Office is continuing to go full force with recycling. The office, along with seven others on Maine islands, helped Northern New England District earn a Postmaster General Sustainability Excellence Award a few years ago. Recycling remains a way of life on Islesford, according to Postmaster Florence Joy Sprague. “Trash used to […]
The number of customers flocking to Post Offices on Tax Day has decreased, but not the assistance they receive. Employees across the nation stepped up to help last-minute filers April 18, this year’s deadline. “All the customers ask when they drop off their tax letters, ‘Will my letter go out today?’” Royal Oak, MI, Retail […]
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. Which female philatelist graced her own 20-cent stamp in 1994? a) Amelia Earhart b) Ayn Rand c) Maria Sharapova d) Virginia Apgar 2. Robersonville, NC, postal employees helped deliver […]
President Trump has ordered flags flown at half-staff April 6 to honor the late astronaut and U.S. Sen. John Glenn, who will be interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Glenn died late last year. 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. The flag […]
When mail began piling up recently at the home of an older customer who lived alone, Cheektowaga, NY, Letter Carrier James Klein knew that someone should check on her. He notified a neighbor, who contacted police. “Unfortunately, the customer had died, but without the carrier’s care and action, no one would have known,” said Customer […]
USPS is offering comments on the 10-year pricing system review being conducted by the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). Under a 2006 postal law, the PRC must review the system used for regulating rates and classes for market-dominant products, including First-Class Mail, USPS Marketing Mail and other mail categories. The goal is to determine if the […]
To celebrate the new stamps honoring Oscar de la Renta, “The list” looks at five fashion statements from postal history. 1. First uniforms. Letter carrier uniforms were authorized in 1868 — a single-breasted coat, pants, vest, cap and cape, all in cadet grey. 2. Women’s uniforms. Before specially tailored clothing was introduced in the 1960s, […]