Friday, September 6, 2024
USPS proposes temporary rate changes
The adjustments are for the holiday shipping season
The Postal Service has announced a temporary price change for some package services for this year’s peak holiday season.
The adjustment is to help cover extra handling costs.
The planned pricing, which was approved by the Postal Service governors on Aug. 8, would affect prices on these commercial and retail domestic competitive parcels: Priority Mail Express, Priority Mail and USPS Ground Advantage. No other products or services would be affected.
Pending favorable review by the Postal Regulatory Commission, the temporary rates would go into effect on Sunday, Oct. 6, and remain in place until Sunday, Jan. 19.
The seasonal adjustment will bring prices for the Postal Service’s commercial and retail customers in line with competitive practices.
As a strategic part of the Delivering for America 10-year plan, these temporary changes will support USPS in achieving the organization’s public service mission — providing a nationwide, integrated network for the delivery of mail and packages at least six days a week — in a cost-effective and financially sustainable manner over the long term.
The Postal Service’s Sept. 5 news release has a list of the planned changes, while the Postal Explorer website has the full list of commercial and retail pricing.
People
Star ‘Warrior’
A supervisor competes on a reality show and a Post Office receives a surprise visitor
Ahmed Amin, a USPS distribution operations supervisor in Orlando, FL, recently competed on NBC’s “American Ninja Warrior.”
The episode aired in July.
Amin appeared on the show after trying for three years to win a spot in the competition, but didn’t advance to the semi-finals. He plans to try again.
“Ninjas normally do better the second time,” Amin said.
He began training and applied to compete on the show in December 2020 as a way to grieve the loss of his mother to leukemia earlier that year.
“You’ve got to have a good story,” said Amin, who had to submit photos and a video to the competition. “What’s good about ‘Ninja’ is it helps you overcome life’s obstacles.”
Amin lost 40 pounds to get in shape for the show. He has shared workout tips at the Orlando Processing and Distribution Center and has helped co-workers with their physical training.
For Amin, helping others is a rewarding part of his career.
After moving to the United States from his native Egypt, he joined USPS as a casual employee in 2018, eventually moving into a supervisor role four years later.
“It was challenging to balance between work, family and working out,” he said.
Oh deer
The Vicksburg, MS. Post Office had a surprise visitor during a recent career fair: a baby deer that paced outside the building.
“We all joked that the baby deer was there to apply for a position to guide Santa’s sleigh during peak season,” said Melessa Sanders, an Alabama-Mississippi District Post Office operations manager.
Employees called local police, who dispatched a wildlife control officer to help the deer find its way home.
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us.
New video celebrates fall’s palette
Autumn Colors stamps showcase season’s vibrant hues
The Postal Service has released a video about its new Autumn Colors stamps.
The Forever stamps capture the drama of trees in a biochemical blaze of glory as they get ready for winter. The stamps use 10 images by the late photographer Allen Rokach, who is known for a technique called the “Rokach effect,” which gives the images an impressionistic cast.
The video, about four minutes long, features Heather Dyer, the USPS chief information security officer; Ellen Powell of the Virginia Department of Forestry; and Joe Yogerst, a National Geographic author.
News Quiz
Who needs to know?
Test your recall on Freedom of Information Act exemptions
“News Quiz” is a weekly feature that lets you test your knowledge of recent Link stories. The correct answers appear at the end.
1. True or false: In some cases, USPS and other federal agencies are exempt from disclosing information under the Freedom of Information Act.
a) True
b) False
2. Where did content from the HERO online learning platform recently move?
a) Blue
b) LiteBlue
c) MyHR
d) None of the above
3. Fill in the blanks: USPS uses Green Tag 191, Domestic and International Ballots, for (blank), while Red Tag 57, Political Campaign Mailing, is used for (blank).
a) Ballot Mail, Political Mail
b) Political Mail, Ballot Mail
c) All of the above
d) None of the above
4. About how long does it take to complete the Postal Pulse employee survey?
a) 1 to 3 minutes
b) 3 to 5 minutes
c) 5 to 7 minutes
d) 7 to 9 minutes
5. Where in California do the Penas — a family that has three generations of members with Postal Service careers — work?
a) Chula Vista
b) El Cajon
c) San Diego
d) None of the above
Answers: 1) a. 2) c. 3) a. 4) c. 5) a.
Postal Bulletin covers Election Mail, Political Mail
Postal Bulletin’s latest edition, published Sept. 5, provides in-depth information about Election Mail and Political Mail.
Updates to the organization’s policies, procedures and forms are also included.
Employees can go to usps.com to read and download the latest Postal Bulletin, along with past issues.
View past printouts
Printout details
What's included
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USPS proposes temporary rate changes
The adjustments are for the holiday shipping season
-
People
Star ‘Warrior’
A supervisor competes on a reality show and a Post Office receives a surprise visitor
-
New video celebrates fall’s palette
Autumn Colors stamps showcase season’s vibrant hues
-
News Quiz
Who needs to know?
Test your recall on Freedom of Information Act exemptions
-
Brief
Postal Bulletin covers Election Mail, Political Mail