The 1980s called — they want their IRTs back.

From USPS NewsLink:

The last fully functioning Integrated Retail Terminal (IRT) recently was removed from the New Florence, PA, Post Office.

When first introduced in the 1980s, the IRT replaced calculators, manual scales, cash registers and ZIP Code directories. The IRT provided cutting-edge technology — for the 1980s — used for sales transactions, weighing and rating parcels and, eventually, barcode scanning.

The Postal Service initially deployed 36,000 IRT’s nationwide. Their life expectancy was 10 years; however, the reliable machines supported retail operations for a quarter century.

In the 1990s, USPS began replacing the IRTs with Point of Sale (POS) terminals. The new technology made the IRT virtually obsolete, except in smaller postal retail units, Contract Postal Units and mobile retail units, where they continued to operate until this month.

According to New Florence Officer in Charge Shauna Warner, “POS will provide New Florence Post Office customers easier, faster transactions and help us better serve the community.”

via USPS News Link Story – End of an era.

The APWU and USPS have reached an agreement that will preserve Maintenance Craft duties for employees in the craft, Maintenance Director Steve Raymer has announced.

The June 8 agreement [PDF] stipulates that opening of the DBCS-EC machine stacker panel doors to clear jams, etc. should remain the duty of the Maintenance Craft, despite the fact that there is no longer a lock and latch on the rear panel doors.

The agreement was reached as a result of the union’s objections to the Postal Service’s May 22, 2006, issuance of Maintenance Work Order (MWO) 014-06.

The Step 4 settlement provides that, “This alleged directive is no longer in effect.” Local grievances held pending the outcome of the dispute are remanded to the grievance-arbitration procedure for resolution including regional level arbitration if necessary.

[explanation of the agreement - PDF]

The APWU assailed a “modified” USPS consolidation plan at a hearing before the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) on June 7, and notified the panel that the union will file a complaint seeking to stop the Postal Service from consolidating mail processing facilities and reducing service until after the PRC issues an advisory opinion on the plan.

The USPS intends to implement the plan July 1. Federal law requires the USPS to seek an advisory opinion from the PRC when it plans to make nationwide changes in service. Read the rest of this entry »

MINNEAPOLIS, MN — One of the nation’s most popular outdoor activities gets its stamp of approval today from the U.S. Postal Service with the issuance of the Bicycling Forever stamps. The four stamps feature a young child just learning to ride with training wheels, a commuter pedaling to work, a road racer intent on the finish line and an airborne BMX rider.

Available nationwide today, the stamps can be purchased online at usps.com/shop, by calling 1-800-STAMP-24 (1-800-782-6724) or by visiting Post Offices. Read the rest of this entry »

The White House has announced the nomination of Stephen Crawford of Maryland to the US Postal Service Board of Governors. If approved by the Senate, Crawford would fill the vacancy created by the departure last July of Alan C. Kessler, who resigned after the USPS OIG raised questions about his actions on behalf of an associate who had business dealings with the USPS.

Stephen Crawford is a research professor at the George Washington Institute of Public Policy at George Washington University.  From 2009 to 2011, he served as Vice President for Policy & Research at the Corporation for Enterprise Development, and from 2008 to 2009 as Deputy Director of the Metropolitan Policy Program at the Brookings Institution. Previously, Mr. Crawford was the Director of Social, Economic and Workforce Programs at the National Governors Association from 2002 to 2007 and Vice President, Treasurer, and Board Secretary of the National Policy Association from 2000 to 2002.  Earlier in his career, he served as Executive Director of the Governors’ Workforce Investment Board for the State of Maryland from 1997 to 2000.  Mr. Crawford served in the U.S. Army, including as an infantry officer in Vietnam, and he was awarded a Bronze Star. He holds a B.A. from Cornell University, a M.G.A from the Wharton Business School at the University of Pennsylvania, and a Ph.D. from Columbia University.

Crawford has advocated reducing delivery days as well as a number of other initiatives for changing the USPS business model. See below for a 2009 paper he authored entitled “Toward a New Business Model for the United States Postal Service”: Read the rest of this entry »