From USPS Newslink:

The outcome of the binding arbitration process between USPS and the National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association has resulted in a contract.

The agreement is effective July 3, 2012 and lasts through May 20, 2015.

The Postal Service is facing a critical financial situation that requires both substantial cost savings from within, as well as substantive legislative reforms from Congress. The arbitrator’s decision includes important cost-savings provisions that will benefit the Postal Service over the life of the contract. However, it does not go as far as the Postal Service believes is necessary to address its financial challenges.

The results of the Interest Arbitration Award include the following provisions:

• A 2-year wage freeze, followed by modest increases
• A lower wage scale for new career employees (more than 10 percent lower)
• Lower wages for new non-career employees (more than 20 percent lower)
• An increase in the employee share of health insurance premiums (the same phased-in schedule as the American Postal Workers Union agreement)
• An agreement to reopen health insurance negotiations if Congress or another union acts on a proposal for new health insurance package other than the Federal Employees Health Benefit plan.
• Work standard changes that will improve productivity and lower costs

The NRLCA statement on the award is available at ruralinfo.net

Click here to download the award directly from the NRLCA web site

Rural Carrier Contract Award

From USPS News Link:

Los Angeles, CA, Mailing Solutions Specialist Kimberly Ingram turned a pizza contact into nearly $5 million in new postal revenue.

While meeting with the store manager of a local Domino’s Pizza store, Ingram was given the contact information for the company’s district manager. She scheduled follow-up meetings with the district manager, 50 Domino’s franchise owners and a corporate marketing representative for the western U.S., pitching them on the benefits of Every Door Direct Mail.

The pitch worked, and a test campaign saw a substantial increase in pizza orders.

Domino’s officials then decided to launch a 268-store Every Door Direct campaign throughout the western U.S. — generating $4.8 million in new USPS revenue.

via USPS News Link Story – A slice of success.

July 3, 2012 — Last week, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected efforts to invalidate President Obama’s historic health care law that will extend health insurance coverage to nearly 30 million Americans between now and 2014. Right-wing opponents of the legislation asked the Court to throw out the law enacted in 2010 as an unconstitutional use of power by the national government.  By a 5-4 vote, the Court upheld the legislation, preserving reforms that are already benefiting NALC members, including a provision that allows children to stay on their parents’ health plan until the age of 26 and a provision that eliminates the so-called ‘donut hole’ in the Medicare Part D program that saves seniors thousands of dollars on prescription drug costs. Read the rest of this entry »

WASHINGTON, July 3, 2012 — Spectacular photographs of 10 of America’s most beautiful landscapes are now available for purchase on premium Forever stamped cards.

The new cards are sold in a booklet of 20 cards with 10 designs. Forever postage is pre-printed, so mailing is easy — or the cards may be saved as a unique collectible set. Customers can purchase them from the online Postal Service store at www.usps.com/shop, by calling 800-STAMP24 (800-782-6724) or by mail order via the USA Philatelic catalog.

The 10 scenic designs depict 13 Mile Woods, New Hampshire; Glacier National Park, Montana; Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming; Hagatna Bay, Guam; Lancaster County, Pennsylvania; Niagara Falls, New York; Nine-Mile Prairie, Nebraska; Okefenokee Swamp, Georgia/Florida; Rio Grande, Texas; and Voyageurs National Park, Minnesota. The designs were originally featured on Scenic American Landscapes stamps, issued 1999-2012.

How to Order the First-Day-of-Issue Postmark

Customers have 60 days to obtain the first-day-of-issue postmark by mail. They may purchase the new stamped cards from the Postal Store website at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-STAMP-24 or 800-782-6724. They should address the cards to themselves or others, and place them in an envelope addressed to:

Scenic American Landscapes Premium Stamped Cards (Set 2)
Postmaster
1400 Harrisburg Pike
Lancaster, PA 17604-9998

After applying the first-day-of-issue postmark, the Postal Service will return the cards through the mail. Customers may also provide a self-addressed stamped envelope for returning the postmarked card(s). There is no charge for the postmark. All orders must be postmarked by Aug. 23, 2012.

How to Order First-Day Covers

The Postal Service also offers first-day covers for new stamp issues and Postal Service stationery items postmarked with the official first-day-of-issue cancellation. Each item has an individual catalog number and is offered in the quarterly USA Philatelic Catalog, online at usps.com/shop or by calling 800-782-6724. Customers may request a free catalog by calling 800-782-6724 or writing to:

U.S. Postal Service
Catalog Request
PO Box 219014
Kansas City, MO 64121-9014

Philatelic Products

There are two philatelic products available for this card issue:

• 989263, First-Day Cover Set of 10, $9.10.
• 989267, First-Day-of-Sale Set of 10, $9.10.

WACO – The United States Postal Service plans to start their consolidation of processing centers around the country this week, but contrary to early reports the Waco Annex sorting center will survive those cuts.

According to a USPS spokesperson from Austin, the Waco facility, on Imperial Dr., will stay open and not be amongst the 48 centers closing because of a new system for managing overnight mail.

More: Despite early reports local USPS center will remain open – KXXV-TV News Channel 25 – Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen |.

KXXV-TV News Channel 25 – Central Texas News and Weather for Waco, Temple, Killeen |

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. WOOD – Ed Sattler’s dog, Zelda, grabs the mail as the postal carrier pushes it through the mail slot on the front door of his house Turner Street NW in Grand Rapids.”The dog’s doing what it’s trained to do and has to be trained to do,” he told 24 Hour News 8. Sattler, in his 30s, is confined to a bed and a motorized chair in his home.But the US Postal Service suspended delivery to his house in mid-April after a substitute mail carrier complained.

via Mail-grabbing dog draws USPS ire | WOOD TV8.

Mail-grabbing dog draws USPS ire: woodtv.com