Monday, September 22, 2025
USPS, union extend contract talks
Negotiations with the NPMHU will continue
USPS and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) have agreed to extend contract negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Although the contract with the NPMHU expired at midnight on Sept. 20, the Postal Service and the union mutually agreed to extend negotiations.
The NPMHU represents more than 50,000 mail handlers nationwide.
USPS honors Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel
The stamp is 18th in the Distinguished Americans series
The Postal Service dedicated its stamp honoring humanitarian and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel in a ceremony in New York City on Sept. 17.
Wiesel (1928-2016) was a voice for victims and survivors of the Holocaust and fought for human rights throughout his life. In 1960, he wrote “Night,” a powerful personal account of his experience in the Nazi death camps.
“Elie Wiesel survived the unthinkable, determined to make sure the world would never forget the horrors of the Holocaust — that it would never again turn away from suffering,” said Ronald Stroman, a member of the USPS Board of Governors, during the ceremony. “He understood something that too many of us forget: that indifference — not hate — is the true enemy of justice. Silence in the face of injustice helps the oppressor, never the oppressed.”
Throughout his career, Wiesel published dozens of works that focused on the Holocaust and the Jewish experience. His goal was to ensure that future generations will never forget one of the darkest chapters in human history.
Wiesel was born in Romania and became a U.S. citizen in 1963. He was appointed chairman of the President’s Commission on the Holocaust in 1978, which led to the opening of the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum in 1993.
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded him the Nobel Peace Prize in 1986, calling him a “messenger to mankind.” With his wife, Marion, he established the Elie Wiesel Foundation for Humanity with the prize money.
Other participants in the stamp dedication ceremony included Seth Pinsky, chief executive officer of the 92nd Street Y, where the event was held; Rabbi David Ingber; Elisha Wiesel, son of Elie Wiesel and chairman of the Elie Wiesel Foundation; and Lee Goldberg, a meteorologist for WABC-TV in New York City, who served as emcee.
The stamp is the 18th release in the Distinguished Americans series. Past honorees include virologist Albert Sabin, author Harriet Beecher Stowe and military leader Joseph Stilwell.
Ethel Kessler, an art director for USPS, designed the stamp with a black-and-white photograph taken by Sergey Bermeniev in 1999.
The 2-ounce Forever stamp is available in sheets of 20 at Post Offices and on usps.com.
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Heroes
She came to the aid of a stranded customer
This employee found a 96-year-old man who had fallen on the ice
Rural Carrier Patricia “Patti” Durrell was delivering mail last winter in Pomfret Center, CT, when she spotted an older man lying on the ground.
The 96-year-old customer had slipped on ice while taking his garbage out to the road to be picked up. Unable to lift himself, he was stranded in bitterly cold temperatures.
Durrell called 911 and gave the man her hand warmers and a blanket.
“I truly believe this man would not be here today if wasn’t for Patti — considering the temperature, his age and the fact that this road is rarely traveled,” said Caroline Gardiner, the local postmaster.
Durrell was recognized by the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program in 2016 after she reported a fire that had been sparked by a downed tree limb hitting a power line.
Employees featured in “Heroes” receive letters of commendation through the Postmaster General Heroes’ Program. The nomination form is available on Blue.
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Sept. 14-20
New stamps and the kickoff of USPS Operation Santa made news
It’s that time of year, when summer shifts into fall and the Postal Service gears up for the holiday season.
Last week, Link covered the dedication ceremony and debut of a video for the new Holiday Cheer stamps, recommended holiday shipping dates, the kickoff of USPS Operation Santa, and the release of the Winter Landscapes stamps.
In other celebratory news, we looked at National Hispanic Heritage Month and wrote about the latest stamp in the Distinguished Americans series, a 2-ounce release honoring Elie Wiesel.
“Elie Wiesel survived the unthinkable, determined to make sure the world would never forget the horrors of the Holocaust — that it would never again turn away from suffering,” Ronald Stroman, a member of the USPS Board of Governors, said during the dedication ceremony in New York City.
We also told you about the importance of updating emergency plans and complying with environmental regulations, and the appointment of Dave Webster as Eastern Processing Region’s vice president.
Finally, “Heroes” told the story of Patricia Durrell, a rural carrier in Pomfret Center, CT, who came to the rescue of a 96-year-old customer who fell on ice while taking out the trash in bitterly cold temperatures.
Durrell gave the man her hand warmers and a blanket and called 911 to get him much-needed help.
“I truly believe this man would not be here today if wasn’t for Patti — considering the temperature, his age and the fact that this road is rarely traveled,” said Caroline Gardiner, the local postmaster.
Email us your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.
New postcard features PMG message to employees
A postcard with a greeting from Postmaster General David Steiner was recently mailed to employees’ homes.
The card highlights Steiner’s initial priorities — including a renewed commitment to service excellence and employee safety — as he begins his tenure as the nation’s 76th postmaster general.
It also has a QR code linking to a video message from him.
In addition to being sent to employees’ homes, postcards about USPS transformation efforts can be downloaded from LiteBlue.
Each card addresses a different topic and features information that employees can reference when discussing the transformation plan with co-workers and customers.
View past printouts
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What's included
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USPS, union extend contract talks
Negotiations with the NPMHU will continue
-
USPS honors Nobel laureate and Holocaust survivor Elie Wiesel
-
Heroes
She came to the aid of a stranded customer
This employee found a 96-year-old man who had fallen on the ice
-
Week in Review
Here’s what Link covered Sept. 14-20
New stamps and the kickoff of USPS Operation Santa made news
-
Brief
New postcard features PMG message to employees