Daily printout: Oct. 8

The Postal Service has filed plans with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to improve mail processing and transportation and explained how these improvements will align with proposed refinements within its existing service standards for mail and package products.

Last month, the Postal Service held a virtual conference about the proposed changes, soliciting feedback from the mailing and shipping community as well as members of the public. Comments received during the virtual conference have been considered and USPS has now filed its formal request for a PRC advisory opinion. 

After receiving an advisory opinion from the PRC, the Postal Service will consider the PRC’s opinion and finalize its decision.

“As we integrate our transportation, processing, and delivery network to logically sequence the flow of mail and packages by deploying improved operating practices in our redesigned facilities network, we expect to improve service reliability, reduce cost and grow our business,” Postmaster General Louis DeJoy noted earlier in the filing process.

“Despite the many improvements we have made since the release of the Delivering for America plan, our service requirements, facilities infrastructure, business rules and operating practices have continued to reflect a Postal Service designed for three decades ago,” he continued.

DeJoy pointed out that since 1997, there has been an 80 percent decline in single-piece First-Class Mail volume, a significant expansion of delivery points, growth in the percentage of mail obtaining discounts through workshare programs, and growth of the USPS package business.

“Our 10-year Delivering for America plan is transforming our network to better reflect today’s market demands and the current volumes and product mix,” he said. “This revamped, integrated network, designed for a more unified, logically sequenced movement of mail and packages, combined with modifications to our service standards, but still within the current day ranges, will enable us to operate more efficiently and reliably, grow our business and give us a chance for a viable future.”

The Postal Service’s Oct. 4 news release has additional information.

The Postal Service will not act on the proposed changes any sooner than 90 days after this PRC filing. As such, the proposed changes will not impact Election Mail for the upcoming election or the Postal Services preparedness for the 2024 peak holiday mailing season.

The Postal Service wants employees to remember the rules surrounding the Hatch Act as the election approaches.

The Hatch Act is a federal law that governs the political activity of all federal government employees, including USPS employees.

A political activity is one directed at the success or failure of a partisan candidate, partisan political party or a partisan political group.

Under the Hatch Act, USPS employees are prohibited from engaging in partisan political activity while on duty, while wearing a uniform, while on government property or while inside a vehicle owned or leased by the government.

Additionally, under the law, federal employees may not be a candidate in a partisan election.

The Office of Special Counsel, an independent agency, investigates Hatch Act violations and takes disciplinary action.

The Postal Service’s Ethics Blue page and the Office of Special Counsel’s website have additional information about the Hatch Act.

The latest Combined Federal Campaign, or CFC, kicked off Sept. 1. Here are 10 facts about the annual charity drive:

• 5,000 charities are participating in this year’s campaign, which is spotlighting several cause areas to help focus giving. These include disaster relief, global health, child and family support, the arts, community improvement, ending poverty, and food and nutrition, among others.

• The CFC is the longest-running official federal workplace giving program.

• Pledges can be made through payroll deduction, credit card or on paper.

• The online donation portal provides 24/7 security and manageability of pledges.

• The CFC Giving mobile app can be used to make unlimited one-time donations to CFC charities during the solicitation period.

• Employees can donate time as well as money by pledging volunteer hours.

• Pledges are anonymous.

• The CFC system provides instant records for federal income tax purposes.

• Minimum contribution amounts via payroll deduction are $1 per pay period per charity. The minimum credit card donation is $10.

• Federal retirees are welcome to give.

For more information, go to givecfc.org or email the Postal Service’s CFC team.