Georgia State Association
of Letter Carriers
Proud to serve the Letter Carriers of this great state
of Letter Carriers
Proud to serve the Letter Carriers of this great state
NEWS
Letter Carriers to Deliver Medicine in Case of Anthrax Attack, Obama Orders
The U.S. Postal Service would be responsible for delivering the medical countermeasures, such as antibiotics, to residents for self administration across all communities in the United States, according to the President's Executive Order issued today. The Order requires that a plan for supplementing local law enforcement personnel with local federal law enforcement officers as well as other appropriate personnel, to escort U.S. Postal workers delivering medical countermeasures must be developed within 180 days.
The Postal Service, the President, and the Budget
The Postal Service's negative budgetary impact should force the Obama administration to enter the debate about the future of the Postal Service in the budget documents submitted to Congress, and possibly as a mention in the State of the Union address. Now is the time for stakeholders who would like to see Presidential leadership in setting a future for the Postal Service, postal customers, and postal employees to ensure that this happens.
The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act: Overview and Issues for Congress (PDF) - CRS Report
In the three years since the enactment of the PAEA, some issues and questions concerning the law's provisions have arisen. These include, but are not limited to, possible executive branch concerns about the PAEA and the separation of powers; the cost of prefunding USPS future retiree health benefits; the role of the public in the closure of nonretail postal facilities; the USPS's authority to provide nonpostal products and services, and the viability of the USPS's business model.
Re-regulating the Postal Service?
A PRC decision that the Postal Service's rates are not in compliance with the ratemaking requirements and objectives of 39 U.S.C. could have consequences beyond a public embarrassment of the Postal Service. Private parties could take the PRC's ruling to court to deal with the conflict between the price cap design and the ratemaking requirements and objectives. It may be possible that a court could force the Postal Service to raise rates in order to comply with its ratemaking requirements and objectives.
Would a Lottery Bail Out the Postal Service
Running a national lottery could help the U.S. Postal Service close its multibillion-dollar budget gap, according to a Postal Regulatory Commission official. A Postal Service-run lottery "could offer the potential for substantial profits for the Postal Service and utilize its current retail infrastructure with its 36,000 retail outlets, claimed to be the largest retail network in the world," Kenneth E. Richardson, a public representative on the PRC's staff, wrote last month.
New OIG Study Estimates USPS Has Been Overcharged for the CSRS Pension Fund by $75 Billion
This marks the third time the Postal Service has been overcharged. In 2002 it was determined the Postal Service would overfund CSRS by $78 billion. Legislation in 2003 corrected this overfunding. Then it was determined the Postal Service was overcharged $27 billion for CSRS military service credits. In 2006 these funds were returned to the Postal Service by Congress, and the surplus was used to fund retiree health care liabilities.
NALC Wins Arbitration Decision On Misuse of DOIS
The grievances are sustained, The Postal Service improperly utilized the Delivery Operations Information System (DOIS) figures to set the carriers' leave and return times in violation of the M-39 Handbook. In addition, the improper DOIS figures created a hostile work environment for the carriers.
Is 5-Day Delivery Inevitable?
For mailers trying to plan for 5-day delivery, the following schedule seems realistic:
- March 2010: The USPS files a service change request with the Postal Regulatory Commission.
- March 2010 through November 2010: The PRC conducts the review.
- November 2010 - February 2011: Congress holds hearings.
- February 2011 - September 2011: Congress passes a law allowing the Postal Service to offer 5-day a week delivery.
- Summer 2011 or January 2012: Implementation of 5 day a week service.
- March 2010: The USPS files a service change request with the Postal Regulatory Commission.
- March 2010 through November 2010: The PRC conducts the review.
- November 2010 - February 2011: Congress holds hearings.
- February 2011 - September 2011: Congress passes a law allowing the Postal Service to offer 5-day a week delivery.
- Summer 2011 or January 2012: Implementation of 5 day a week service.