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, […]
Walking for hours each day isn’t always easy, especially when doctors said you’d probably never walk at all. Just ask Elgin, IL, Letter Carrier Shawn Skau, who was born with clubbed feet and spent the next 12 years undergoing surgeries at Shriners Hospital for Children in Chicago. Skau never doubted his abilities and became a […]
The Postal Service is improving the way employees’ leave data is displayed on their pay stubs to make the information clearer and easier to understand. Leave data includes the amount of annual leave and sick leave available to employees with leave-earning status. Improvements include the addition of new information, including the line “Earned AL Balance.” […]
A British girl who wrote a letter to Google’s chief executive officer received an unexpected surprise in her mailbox recently. Andy Bridgewater told his daughter Chloe about the company’s workplace amenities, including beanbag chairs, slides and go-carts. This sounded like fun to the 7-year-old, so she wrote a letter to Sundar Pichai — addressing her […]
Benjamin Franklin Bailar, Postmaster General from 1975-1978, died Feb. 20. Bailar, who was 82, led the Postal Service in the early years of its formation, after enactment of the Postal Reform Act of 1971. He was a proponent of ongoing postal reform, focused on mail service quality and cost controls. “Benjamin Bailar was a pioneer […]
“It’s important to be knowledgeable about our products and services and to fit them to each customer’s needs.” […]
Read More… from Prairie, MS, Retail Associate Cathy Robinson
A typical day at the Whittier, NC, Post Office was recently interrupted by an atypical customer problem: A woman came into the office and said she couldn’t remember how to get home. Retail Associate Susan Thayer printed out directions and went over them verbally, too. But at closing time, Thayer found the woman in the parking […]
I love the addition of the Link “News quiz.” It’s a fun little extra on Friday mornings. […]
A Postal Service retail associate is making news after marking his 50th year on the job. Washington, DC, Retail Associate David Gaskins was honored with a surprise party this month after a customer found out about his golden anniversary. “I appreciate being appreciated,” Gaskins said. “I just try to follow the golden rule and treat […]
Two USPS managers recently completed a master black belt certification program from Ohio State University, joining a growing list of employees who are deepening their knowledge of Lean Six Sigma process improvement principles. Enterprise Data Management Manager Lek Udomsawat and City of Industry, CA, Acting Plant Manager Michelle “Mia” Alfonso completed the four-week program, which […]
During American Heart Month, the Wellness team reminds you that knowing your cholesterol numbers can help you manage your overall health. The terms “good” and “bad” are commonly used when referring to cholesterol. Experts say your high-density lipids (HDL), or good cholesterol, should be higher than 60 mg/dL, while your low-density lipids (LDL), or bad […]
The “Cold front” picture was almost Rockwellian. […]
Mail delivery time turned out to be a critical moment recently for a customer in Lincoln, NE, who was having complications from surgery. When Letter Carrier Zachary Paremske saw the man on his porch, he was clearly in pain and whispered two words: “Help me.” Paremske called 911 and stayed with the customer until emergency […]
“Engaged employees experience lower stress levels, lower levels of anxiety and depression and even lower bad cholesterol. From an organizational standpoint, absenteeism and accidents decline, retention rate goes up and productivity improves.” […]
Read More… from Capital Metro Area Employee Engagement Ambassador Rosemary Martin-Fountain
The Postal Service has renewed its Air Cargo Network contract with FedEx. The four-year renewal extends the contract through Sept. 29, 2024. The contract began Oct. 1, 2013, and provides domestic air transportation for U.S. Mail, Priority Mail and Priority Mail Express. This contract modification aligns capacity with postal demand, provides operational flexibility and service […]
To help mark African-American History Month, “The list” looks at five notable African-American postal workers from the 19th century. 1. William Cooper Nell. Nell was a civil rights pioneer and the first published African-American historian. He’s also the earliest known African-American civilian employee of the federal government, having been appointed a clerk at the Boston […]
Knowing your BMI, or body mass index, helps you manage your overall health, experts say. A healthy BMI is between 18.5 and 24.9 for adults. A BMI over 25 puts you at higher risk for developing weight-related conditions such as heart disease and diabetes. To mark American Heart Month, the Postal Service is encouraging you […]
Here’s Link’s latest “News quiz,” a new feature that invites readers to test their knowledge of recent stories. The correct answers appear at the end. 1. Who among the following did not speak at the recent Oscar de la Renta stamp dedication? a) Michael Bloomberg b) Anderson Cooper c) Hillary Clinton d) Tim Gunn 2. […]
USPS boosted both its overall participation rate and national score on the most recent Postal Pulse survey, according to data released Feb. 15. More than 292,000 employees — or about 49 percent of the postal workforce — participated in the survey, which was conducted last fall. This is up from the previous survey, which was […]
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union membership has ratified a new 40-month labor contract with the Postal Service. The contract covers approximately 45,000 employees represented by the union. “This agreement is fair and responsible, and it’s in the best interest of our employees and customers,” said Labor Relations VP Doug Tulino. The new agreement, announced […]
Customers received tens of millions of holiday mailpieces Dec. 22, which was expected to be the Postal Service’s busiest delivery day of the year. The deliveries included an estimated 30 million packages — a significant chunk of the 750 million parcels that USPS expects to deliver during this year’s peak season. Throughout the holidays, employees […]
Customers across the nation turned to the Postal Service to handle their holiday needs Dec. 19, which was expected to be the year’s busiest mailing and shipping day. Approximately 611 million cards, letters and packages were expected to be processed, and about 12 million customers were expected to visit the nation’s 31,000 Post Offices and usps.com. […]