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Postal News from July 2005

July 31, 2005 -- The Asbury Park Press has reported that "Members of the American Postal Workers Union will picket the Contract Postal Unit in the Silverton Pharmacy — which was lauded by politicians when it opened in mid-July — between 9 a.m. and noon Sunday. Bob Romanowski, the clerk craft director for the union's Jersey Shore Local, said workers will hold an informational picket to tell customers their mail is not being handled by professional postal clerks."

July 31, 2005 -- The Sunday Independent has reported that "POSTAL services around the country could be slashed under recommendations currently under consideration by the board of An Post, the Sunday Independent can reveal. A report endorsed by the Labour Court proposes giving "low priority" to some postal routes and "collapsing" others in the event of staff absences. A technical group seeking a resolution to a row over wages at An Post wants to close some offices, limit the collection of undelivered mail to a three-hour period, cease the already minuscule number of Saturday deliveries, and prevent postmen from leaving early to do their rounds. The 63-page document, seen by the Sunday Independent, recommends stopping the sorting of mail on Saturdays and says collections on Sundays and public holidays should cease. It also suggests "commercial customers" should be "prioritised" for early deliveries."

July 31, 2005 -- According to The Telegraph, "Paul Carvell, the chief executive of Business Post, the UK's only quoted postal services operator, is anticipating the New Year as eagerly as a child looking forward to Christmas. Carvell is desperate for the liberalisation of the mail market, due in January, which is when any mail handler will be able to offer postal services to any customer. That right is restricted to the Royal Mail at the moment."

July 31, 2005 -- The Observer has reported that "The Communication Workers' Union is warning of industrial action in Scotland and across northern England over changes to Royal Mail workers' pay and conditions."

July 31, 2005 -- The Daily Mail has reported that "HARD evidence that Royal Mail could lose swathes of Government business to private contractors has emerged with the revelation that two major Whitehall departments are planning trials of rival postal services. Could the Royal Mail lose lucrative Government contracts? The Department for Work & Pensions, with responsibility for a range of benefit payments, and the tax-collecting Revenue & Customs are the two biggest Government users of postal services. Both are to test new systems within weeks. The moves will add urgency to demands from Royal Mail chairman Allan Leighton that it should be freed from price controls and allowed to partprivatise the national postal system so it can raise funds to compete.

July 31, 2005 -- The Indo-Asian News Service has reported that "A day after President A.P.J. Abdul Kalam asked Kerala politicians to inculcate a new work culture, the state's chief postmaster Saturday lashed out at the unions playing spoil sport in the postal department. Addressing reporters here, Chief Post Master General K.N.K. Karthiyani, who is laying down office, said she is leaving with a heavy heart, as she was unable to do anything constructive during her three years in office. "There is opposition to every move we tried to make in the department from the unions. The entire time was spent addressing their demands. Never in my thirty-five years of service was I so disheartened."

July 30, 2005 -- The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online. Among the news in this issue:

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July 30, 2005 -- The U.S. General Accountability Office (GAO) has released a follow-up to the 1999 USPS Data Quality Study entitled U.S. Postal Service: Improving Ratemaking Data Quality through Postal Service Actions and Postal Reform Legislation (GAO-05-820) and dated July 28, 2005. [The pdf file is over 10 MB.]

July 30, 2005 -- Business Times has reported that "MINISTER of Energy, Water and Communications Datuk Seri Dr Lim Keng Yaik has proposed that postal service operators within the Association of South-East Asian Nations (Asean) region to band together and co-own an express delivery hub to better compete with bigger players from other regions. Postal operators within Asean could leverage on economies of scale through integration of postal facilities in the region."

July 30, 2005 -- The Peninsula has noted that "All Nippon Airways (ANA) said yesterday it will order three Boeing 767 aircraft in a near $360m deal, with one plane designated for freight as it pursues a cargo business. ANA regards the cargo and postal business as its third pillar, in addition to the international airline business and the domestic airline business."

July 30, 2005 -- Japan Today has reported that "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi looked prepared Friday for a make-or-break vote as early as next week on his contentious bills to privatize Japan Post, although his party deputies said he seems uncertain."

July 30, 2005 -- AMEInfo has reported that "Empost, the UAE's national courier company, has launched 'Litedox', an innovative courier service for the delivery of light documents to India as well as within the UAE. The door-to-door courier service is designed to cater primarily to the need for sending original documents, certificates, statements and letters to India, whose expatriate community is the largest in the UAE. The service will be expanded to other international and regional countries at a later stage."

July 30, 2005 -- As the Chicago Tribune has noted, "Zazzle.com, based in Palo Alto, Calif., sells T-shirts, posters, cards and stamps that can be customized with digital artwork. Founders Robert Beaver, and his sons, Bobby and Jeff, developed printing and automated manufacturing technologies allowing them to sell customized products at relatively low costs. T-shirts and sweatshirts, for instance, sell in the range of about $15 to $35. A sheet of 20 2.5-by-1.5-inch first-class stamps costs $16.99, plus shipping. The firm has a database of hundreds of thousands of digital images from artists. Contributors earn royalties when their creations are purchased. Customers can also upload their own photos--of weddings, babies, relatives--to create customized U.S. postage stamps. Zazzle, which does not provide its revenue numbers, also has a partnership with Pitney Bowes, a provider of integrated mail and document systems."

July 30, 2005 -- The Washington Post has reported that "Rep. Gary Ackerman, a Democrat who represents the New York City borough of Queens, was upset over a proposed rule from the Federal Emergency Management Agency for distributing some $10.5 million raised by a special Sept. 11 stamp. The money is to go to the families of emergency workers killed or permanently disabled in the 2001 terror attacks. The 9/11 Heroes Stamp Act, passed in 2001, established a "semipostal" stamp, and the Postal Service sold about 133 million between 2002 and 2004. The stamp sold for 45 cents, eight cents above the normal cost of a first class stamp, with the extra money going to the fund."

July 29, 2005 -- BrazzilMag has reported that "The hearings are live on TV. They begin at 10 am and sometimes they last as much as twelve hours. Everybody has seen at least a few minutes of Brazil's new combined reality show and soap opera. Welcome to the Parliamentary Investigation Commission (CPI) hearings on corruption in the Post Office; aka "The Post Office CPI." It is the popular name for the hearings ("The Post Office CPI") that has upset the director of the Federation of Postal Workers (Federação Nacional dos Trabalhadores da Empresa de Correios e Telégrafos) (Fentect), Roberto Prado. He is threatening to sue TV networks that have associated images of mailmen with the corruption. According to Prado, pictures are shown of mailmen carrying sacks of money. "This is terrible for the mailman's image. It looks like the mailman is making millions through corruption. In reality the mailman is a person who brings people happiness," said Prado. The president of the Post Office, Jânio Pohren, seconds Prado's complaints saying that the company's 108,000 employees have been uncomfortable with the use of the corporate name in such a general sense. Pohren reports that he has sent a message to Congress requesting a name change."

July 29, 2005 -- In an editorial, the Yomiuri Shimbun wrote: "The House of Councillors has reached the final stages of discussions on the postal privatization bills. The ruling coalition of the Liberal Democratic Party and New Komeito hopes to put the bills to a vote on Aug. 5. No one can tell whether the legislation will be written into law by clearing debate at the upper house. No matter what it takes, lawmakers must avert the political confusion that could arise from a tug-of-war over the fate of the bills designed to privatize Japan Post. We believe the postal reform legislation should be passed by the Diet. The bills' failure to clear parliamentary debate would not only mean that efforts to reform the postal system will have been thwarted, but it also could adversely affect efforts to lay the foundation for stable economic growth."

July 29, 2005 -- KSL-TV has reported that "Help is on the way for Taylorsville residents who have plagued with problems with their mail. The help is coming from House Government Reform and Oversight Committee chairman Tom Davis from Virgina. He made the promise to Utah Congressman Chris Cannon during floor debate this week on a bill designed to help modernize the U-S Postal Service. Cannon told the House that the mail is plagued with unwarranted delays and sporadic delivery. He said it's partly because Taylorsville has four different ZIP codes and because all post offices that serve the area are located outside the city."

July 29, 2005 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that "DHL International has invested almost €1.3 million in developing its logistic network in Romania."

July 29, 2005 -- Traffic World has reported that "The United States, Canada and Mexico on Sept. 16 will start enforcing an international standard that requires heat treatment or fumigation of wood pallets, crates and other packing material to prevent the spread of a host of wood pests and diseases."

July 29, 2005 -- The latest copy of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. electronic governmental affairs newsletter is available on the NAPUS web site.

July 29, 2005 -- The Wall Street Journal has reported that "The Commerce Department said Friday that its advance reading on gross domestic product showed the economy expanded at a 3.4% annual rate in April through June. Consumer spending, which accounts for about two-thirds of economic activity, rose 3.3%, slightly lower than the 3.5% gain in the first quarter. Business spending increased 9.0%, after rising 5.7% in the first quarter. Inflation gauges in the report were mixed. The price index for personal consumption rose at a 3.3% rate after climbing 2.3% in the first quarter, while the price index for gross domestic purchases, which measures prices paid by U.S. residents, rose at a 3.2% rate. The chain-weighted GDP price index increased at a 2.4% rate after rising at a 3.1% pace. The employment-cost index rose 0.7% in the second quarter of 2005, the same rate as in the first quarter, the Labor Department said. Wages and salaries also grew moderately -- at the same 0.6% rate recorded in the first quarter. But benefit costs, which have been nudging up overall compensation costs for years, rose just 0.8% -- the slowest rate in more than three years." If postal reform is enacted, following the rates of growth and inflation will be an important part of postal life.

July 29, 2005 -- As Forbes has noted, "According to a study by the Pew Internet and American Life project, barely 5% of American teens aged 12 to 17 prefer e-mail over instant messaging as their digital communications method of choice. Teens view e-mail as a way to talk to "old people" or institutions like companies. Kids, it seems, prefer the immediacy and mobility of instant messaging and text messaging to e-mail, which they might some day refer to as snail mail, the same way most people over 30 refer to the U.S. Postal Service. Why care? Because American teens, an astonishing 87% of whom are online, are what's helping drive the consumer electronics industry, including development of new products. Pew says that 89% of Internet users use e-mail daily, about the same percentage as 2000, but that the "popularity of e-mail and intensity of its use is waning" in favor of IM."

July 29, 2005 -- On Monday, August 1, the USPS Pricing and Classification Service Center (PCSC) will be moving into its new office. The new address is: Pricing and Classification Service Center 90 Church Street, Suite 3100 New York, NY 10007-2951; Phone number: (212) 330-5300; Fax number is: (212) 330-5320. Its hours of operation are 8:30 AM - 8:00 PM Eastern Time.

July 29, 2005 -- The Fuel Surcharge Coalition has reported that the fuel surcharge language has been expunged from the Highway Transportation Bill. Congratulations and many thanks to Randal Mullett, Vice President of Government Relations for CNF Inc. who spearheaded the coalition.

July 29, 2005 -- The Tampa Tribune has reported that "Ed Silverberg marched out of his jewelry empire's executive office this month, ready to battle the U.S. Postal Service. Justice must be served, Silverberg thought. The post office owed him. A $2,670 white gold and diamond bracelet that his company mailed - and insured - was lost en route to its new owner overseas. But the post office rejected his insurance claim. Silverberg stood in line for about an hour waiting for a court clerk to accept his lawsuit paperwork. When he reached the counter, the case was closed. "Sovereign immunity,' the clerk told me. I can't sue the post office because they have sovereign immunity,'' Silverberg said. Under federal law, federal entities are protected from lawsuits unless sovereign immunity is waived."

July 29, 2005 -- As Dow Jones put it, "Just when Koizumi had enough problems with his post bill reform efforts, non-binding prosecutor review panel says his ally, and senior member of Lower House post reform panel, Taku Yamasaki improperly reported Y30 million contribution from dentists' lobby, ought to be indicted."

July 29, 2005 -- According to The Register, "Merseyside Police are appealing for information following the theft of thousands of pounds of mobile phone and consumer durables in a burglary at DHL's depot in Aintree, Liverpool, last weekend. Thieves made off with five lorries loaded with a substantial amount of property including sports clothing, mobile phones and electrical goods. One of the stolen lorries was recovered in Bootle. The four outstanding lorries are bright yellow and marked with the DHL logo, so they shouldn't be too hard to spot."

July 29, 2005 -- China Knowledge has reported that "The China State Post Bureau has announced its plans to cut down the delivery time of newspapers and magazines to no longer than 10 hours. This new service ensures that readers get their newspapers and magazines at least six to 24 hours earlier than before."

July 29, 2005 -- The Appeal-Democrat has reported that "U.S. postal officials are considering whether to shift mail processing for the Yuba-Sutter area to West Sacramento as a cost-cutting measure. The proposed changes would send all outgoing mail to Sacramento for sorting, then truck local mail back to the Marysville Processing and Distribution Facility on Arboga Road in Olivehurst, which sorts the mail for ZIP codes beginning in "959." Under the plan the Olivehurst facility's sorting equipment would be moved to West Sacramento and replaced with added distribution equipment for the 10-county service area."

July 29, 2005 -- Market Watch has reported that "Dutch postal and logistics company TNT N.V. has posted a flat second quarter net profit, but said it would take a pretax charge of EUR140 million in the full year due to restructuring of its loss-making French operations. Dutch postal and logistics company TNT NV doesn't have any plans to buy back shares."

July 29, 2005 -- Japan Times has reported that "The decisive moment for the administration of Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi is approaching, and it is one that the Liberal Democratic Party's elders fear may shatter its decades-long grip on power. The LDP's in-house battle over Koizumi's pet project has developed into more than just a battle to reform the state-run postal services. It is a struggle to cripple -- if not oust -- Koizumi's Cabinet, which has defied immense pressure from LDP lawmakers since his inauguration in April 2001 to pursue budgetary austerity and reform of inefficient government-linked corporations." See also Reuters.

July 29, 2005 -- Kantipur Online has reported that "The Government [of Nepal] is all set to introduce Private Sector Postal Service Operating Regulation 2005 to monitor all private postal and courier service providers in the country. The regulation is being enforced as per the policy of Department of Postal Services (DPS) that envisages to monitoring and enhancing the services of the private operators. Private postal and courier service providers currently operate with licenses issued by Company Registrar under Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies (MoICS). Although the certificate gives legality to the business, it fails to spell the terms and conditions for their operations."

July 29, 2005 -- Business Mailers Review has reported that:

Business Mailer's Review is an award-winning, independent biweekly newsletter covering issues of importance to the business mailer. It is regularly cited as among the best sources of postal information. For subscription information, check the BMR web site.

July 29, 2005 -- First Coast News has reported that "The price of stamps may not be going up thanks to a bill passed by the U.S. House of Representatives. The U.S. Postal Service proposed a two-cent increase in stamp prices in April. They say its due to a law that requires $3.1 billion be put in an escrow account annually for retirement benefits. Tuesday night the U.S. House overwhelmingly passed a bill that would ease that requirement and allow the postal service to set more competitive rates to compete with FedEx and UPS." Is this one to be filed under "in your wildest dreams?"

July 29, 2005 -- According to the Lexington Institute's Sam Ryan in the latest National Review, "The postal-reform legislation that passed overwhelmingly in the House on Tuesday has been hailed as a much-needed repair to the ailing United States Postal Service. Unfortunately it doesn't fix the postal service's biggest problem. In the face of falling mail volumes and massive liabilities, the USPS has claimed for years that greater pricing flexibility would solve its financial woes. Free of existing regulation, its managers argued, the USPS could respond quickly to market opportunities and thereby increase earnings. It looks like the USPS is finally getting what it wanted: At the core of the new bill are measures that free up the pricing system. To really mend itself, however, the postal service needs not so much flexibility on pricing as the flexibility to cut its massive labor costs. And the new legislation doesn't give it that."

July 29, 2005 -- The Bangor Daily News has reported that "As part of a labor settlement, DHL contractor Rydbom Express has agreed to pay a total of $76,000 in back wages to 12 unionized drivers, who accused the company of violating federal labor laws, according to a union official. The drivers joined the International Brotherhood of Teamsters in January when they worked for Black Bear Courier of Orono, an independent contractor that delivered packages for DHL in eastern Maine for more than a decade. DHL hired Rydbom Express in March after Black Bear Courier failed to renew its contract with the global shipping giant. The 12 Teamsters drivers initially were not rehired by Rydbom but in June were allowed to return to their old DHL delivery routes after federal officials found credence to Teamsters' complaints that Rydbom had violated the National Labor Relations Act when it interviewed prospective employees."

July 29, 2005 -- According to the Journal of Commerce, "German mail and logistics company Deutsche Post said on Thursday second-quarter operating profit rose 21 percent, boosted by its DHL express and logistics units, and reiterated its annual goals."

July 29, 2005 -- From the Business Wire: "O.P.S.I, an authorized service contractor of UPS in Israel today announced that it has chosen CoSign, Algorithmic Research's (ARX) electronic-signature solution to enable the migration from paper-based invoices to electronic invoicing. With CoSign, UPS can now prepare, digitally sign and send electronically thousands of electronic invoices, to their customers, eliminating the high costs associated with paper printing, handling, posting and archiving."

July 29, 2005 -- AFX has reported that "Greek betting technology company Intralot said its Intralot Egypt unit has agreed to invest 10 mln eur in setting up a new company with the Egyptian Post Office, that will be produce the office's new IT infrastructure."

July 29, 2005 -- Electronics Supply & Manufacturing has reported that "the World Customs Organization in Brussels, Belgium, with 166 member nations representing 99 percent of world trade, in June adopted the "Framework of Standards to Secure and Facilitate Global Trade." The framework sets the worldwide rules for moving goods across borders. The Global Express Association (Brussels) fully supports the framework, said GEA director general John Simpson. The association represents such courier companies as DHL International GmbH, Fedex Corp., TNT NV and United Parcel Service Inc."

July 28, 2005 -- Reuters has reported that "E-mail is for grown-ups and U.S. teenagers now prefer instant messaging to communicate with each other online, according to a survey released on Wednesday. Internet users from 12 to 17 years old say e-mail is best for talking to parents or institutions, but they are more likely to fire up IM when talking with each other, the nonprofit Pew Internet and American Life Project found. E-mail is still used by 90 percent of online teens. But the survey found greater enthusiasm for instant messaging."

July 28, 2005 -- The Associated Press has reported that "SurferQuest, a Philipsburg, Pa.-based supplier of about 1,000 computer kiosks throughout the United States, is donating screen space to disseminate photos and information provided by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The kiosks provide public access to the Internet for a fee at places such as hotels and cafes. When a kiosk is unoccupied, pictures of missing children appear on the screen in space normally reserved for advertising. Passersby can request more information about a missing child or report a sighting without charge." Well...it worked with the mail. Should work here.

July 28, 2005 -- From the U.S. Postal Service: "Postal Explorer is your complete online resource for business mail, and now it’s even easier to use. We redesigned the site with new menus and an enhanced search engine, and added a second video tutorial to walk you through its many features and interactive tools. Under "Additional Links" in the bottom-right corner of the homepage, click “Tutorials,” then “Overview—Postal Explorer.” Postal Explorer houses all of our business mailing publications, with powerful search capabilities to help you quickly find the information you need. It includes the rate calculators, postage statements and other business mailing forms, and the Quick Service Guides. The tutorial explains what is available and demonstrates the new DMM menu and navigation system. You’ll see the many new features of Postal Explorer, including DMM Advisory and the DMM archive. Postal Explorer can answer all kinds of mailing questions. Take a look at the new design, and let the tutorial take you on an audio and video tour."

July 28, 2005 -- Bloomberg has reported that "China will reorganize the State Post Bureau to create the nation's fifth-biggest lender by deposits holding a tenth of all household savings in the world's seventh- biggest economy, the China Banking Regulatory Commission said. The new China Post Savings Bank will hold 1.23 trillion yuan ($152 billion) of deposits and continue to offer financial services through 36,000 outlets after the breakup of the nation's post bureau, the regulator said in a statement today. ``The existing post savings"

July 28, 2005 -- Il Sole 24 Ore has reported that "The board of directors of the Italian post office, Poste Italiane, has been presented with the organisation's development plan for 2006-2008. More generally, Poste Italiane is aiming to develop its financial services to the point where its BancoPosta subsidiary becomes Italy's biggest 'bank' by customer numbers and to increase its share of Italy's express parcel service market."

July 28, 2005 -- CNN Money has reported that "The U.S. union movement split apart this week over how to best organize workers at non-union companies. Two of the largest unions left the AFL-CIO this week, and others are threatening to follow. But even without the defections, the battle for new recruits is an uphill one. From talking to professors, union officials and other experts, here are the companies that are on the top of organized labor's wish list." Near the top of the list: Fedex.

July 28, 2005 -- According to DM News postal commentator Cary Baer, "Most of us thought it would be “all quiet on the postal front” this summer. Though a lot is going on, specifically the rate case and reform legislation, both these items were expected to be resolved, one way or another, before the summer doldrums began. However, neither is going away quietly."

July 28, 2005 -- The Telegraph has reported that "Royal Mail lost more than £200m last year on post that weighed under 100g, the company's regulatory accounts showed yesterday. This is the category of mail that is regulated by the government-appointed regulator, Postcomm, and represents the organisation's monopoly area, which is about to be removed completely. Chairman Allan Leighton said that the figures illustrated Royal Mail's problem. "Ninety percent of what we do loses money" he said. Mr Leighton is fighting a Postcomm price control proposal that would cap first and second class stamps at a level he says is unsustainable. He said yesterday that the prices need rebalancing, because customers sending heavy parcels are subsidising lighter mail."

July 28, 2005 -- Bernama has reported that "Pos Malaysia Bhd is looking at business alliances and collaboration with postal organisations of Asean nations to strengthen its competitiveness and enhance its postal delivery service. Chairman, Datuk Ikmal Hijaz Hashim said projects planned with the Asean postal organisations included joint marketing strategies on express mail services, promotion of parcel services and joint stamp and philatelic products among the Asean countries. "Pos Malaysia is also upgrading its international remittances services to speed up payment transaction," he said at a press conference after the launch of the 12th Asean Postal Business Meeting. Ikmal said Pos Malaysia non-postal services such as payment of utilities and remittance services were growing as a significant contributor to group's turnover."

July 28, 2005 -- The Edmunton Sun has reported that "While Canada Post is not usually counted as an arts organization, it can be instrumental in shaping culture much like the CBC, the National Gallery or the Canada Council. Canada Post has announced an increase in postal rates for magazines mailed in Canada, effective in January. For heavier magazines like Flare or Cottage Life, the hike will amount to between 5% and 8%. Magazine publishers are alarmed. According to Mark Jamison, chief executive officer of the trade association Magazines Canada, the cumulative increases in magazine postal rates in the past six years amount to a 70% rise in costs."

July 28, 2005 -- The Hindu has reported that "The Department of Posts today opened four Finance Marts in Delhi and is in the process to open 150 such outlets in the country by 2005-end for selling investment schemes of banks, insurance companies and mutual funds."

July 28, 2005 -- The Baltimore Sun has reported that "Mayor Martin O'Malley made good yesterday on a year-old pledge to hire an inspector general to investigate allegations of fraud, corruption and mismanagement in city government. O'Malley introduced Andrew S. Clemmons, a former top U.S. postal inspector, as Baltimore's first inspector general at a City Hall news conference."

July 28, 2005 -- From the PR Newswire: "RR Donnelley & Sons Company applauds the House leadership for its passage last night of postal reform legislation, HR22. The bill passed with an overwhelming majority 410-20. "That vote was an important step toward ensuring that we have a healthy, viable and affordable postal service that is designed to last well into the 21st Century," said RR Donnelley CEO Mark Angelson. Mr. Angelson continued, "We are pleased to see language in the bill that encourages worksharing as well as language that would tie future rate increases to the rate of inflation. Affordable, stable and predictable rates are essential to the USPS's and our customers' success. Comprehensive reform as outlined in HR22 should enable the USPS to cover the costs of universal service and achieve financial stability without unacceptable rate increases." See also the press releases from the office of Rep. Tom Davis, Rep. Candace Miller, the National League of Postmasters, American Business Media, and the American Forest and Paper Association.

July 28, 2005 -- DM News has reported that "Paper and packaging manufacturer MeadWestvaco said yesterday that it would slash another $200 million in costs in an ongoing effort to make the company more responsive. The cuts, aimed at reducing administrative costs and streamlining warehouse operations, are part of a new business model to let MeadWestvaco react faster to market changes."

July 28, 2005 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that:

July 28, 2005 -- Here are two new papers you really should check out on the PostInsight web site:

Why deal with hearsay when you can learn something from the facts?

July 28, 2005 -- The Journal of Commerce has reported that "FedEx Corp. has entered into a $1 billion five-year credit agreement with a syndicate of banks that includes Bank of America Corp."

July 27, 2005 -- PostCom would like to welcome four of its newest members:

July 27, 2005 -- The DM Bulletin has reported that "Royal Mail has released profit and loss figures to support its case for introducing size-based pricing, which it argues is necessary for it to compete on a 'level playing field' after the introduction of full competition to the postal market. The state-owned firm says the figures, submitted to Postcomm, show it has been unable to make much progress in rebalancing postage prices to reflect its real costs."

July 27, 2005 -- CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

The draft for a new postal act for Austria, which was presented last week, has encountered widespread criticism. According to the draft, complete postal market liberalisation "will not happen before 1.1.2009 but in harmony with the EU". The controversial draft contains a veto right for the government on the issue of further post office closures.
Established in May, Germany's Brief-Union eG based in Gutersloh represents yet another co-operative providing its members with mail dispatch discounts. The customer co-operative is backed by the Bertelsmann group, arguably one of Germany's largest dispatchers with around 1.5 billion items every year.
The Chinese National Council took the - expected - decision to restructure the country's postal system. In future, a regulatory body will operate separately from the post; the State Post Administration will supervise the activities of China Postal Group, which will operate in four business areas: logistics, express and Freight Post Airline will be joined by a post bank, still to be set up.
China's post is not the only one to discover the attraction of banking and money transactions. This week, the French La Poste is apparently submitting an application to the regulatory authority CECEI for the opening of a post bank.
Posten Norge A/S says its system is suffering increasing abuse from drugs smugglers. Norway's daily, Aftenposten, reported that 65% more consignments had been confiscated this year than the year before. According to the customs authorities, the problem is caused by a growing internet trade which allows the ordering of medicines and drugs which are illegal in Norway.
Private postal service providers in Switzerland demand that access to the mail market also include access to the post's infrastructure. In principle, the post intended to treat private operators as large customers and grant them discounts according to the preparatory services they provided.
The future ownership of Britain's Royal Mail remains uncertain. Royal Mail has made an urgent request to the government for a loan of around 2.9bn euros in order to stay competitive in the short term despite a pension fund deficit of almost 6.5bn euros and a pending price freeze imposed by the regulatory authority.
The DPD parcel service, which belongs to the French La Poste, is heading for strong international expansion. In an interview with the Financial Times Deutschland, GeoPost Holding chairman Claude Begle again confirmed his company's ambitious global growth targets.

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in the German speaking area, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News.

July 27, 2005 -- From the PR Newswire: 

July 27, 2005 -- The decade-long odyssey known as postal reform has cleared its most significant hurdle to date. The House of Representatives late on Tuesday passed H.R. 22, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, by a vote of 410-20.  All proposed amendments were defeated. For the first time in more than 35 years, the House has passed a bill to overhaul the U.S. Postal Service. The House Government Reform Committee unanimously reported H.R. 22 to the full House back in April. The Senate is not going to vote on its companion piece of legislation, S. 662, this week. It will have to wait until Congress returns to work after Labor Day. See also the press release from the office of Rep. John McHugh and the report by the Associated Press.

July 27, 2005 -- In his comments in support of H.R. 22, governmental reform committee chairman Tom Davis (R-VA) acknowledged that there still are differences between the House and the White House regarding certain aspects of postal reform. He said he wanted to assure the White House that there would be continuing efforts to iron out these differences as the bill proceeds through the legislative process. He also noted the great concern over the classification of single-piece parcels within the competitive services category. He said this would be worked on also.

July 27, 2005 -- The Executive Office of the President has published its Statement of Administration Position on H.R. 22. In part, it said: 

"The Administration strongly supports efforts to enact comprehensive postal reform legislation, and appreciates the progress toward that goal made in drafting H.R. 22. The Administration appreciates the opportunity to work with Congress toward a solution that will enable the United States Postal Service (USPS) to respond not only to today's known needs, but also to unforeseen future issues, in a responsible manner that is fair to taxpayers, ratepayers, and USPS employees. The Administration strongly believes that the final legislation must adopt the Senate's postal reform proposals in S. 662 regarding the following issues:

"The Administration believes that comprehensive postal reform must require USPS to cover all of its financial obligations, including its on- and off-balance sheet unfunded liabilities. the Administration has serious concerns with two elements of the legislation that do not adhere to the self-financing principle: 

"The Administration looks forward to the passage of postal reform legislation that the President can sign reflecting his five reform principles and to working with Congress to address these issues. However, the bill ultimately presented to the President must not contain provisions that would have an adverse impact on the Federal budget, either by releasing funds from escrow without devoting them to pre-fund liabilities or by transferring the military service obligation from USPS to taxpayers. Should the final bill have such an adverse impact on the Federal budget, the President's senior advisers would recommend that he veto the bill.

July 27, 2005 -- In letters to the House of Representatives, Tom Day, the Postal Service's senior vice president for government relations wrote:

[A version of H.R. 22 with some highlights has been posted on this site.]

July 27, 2005 -- The Office of the Consumer Advocate has submitted to the Postal Rate Commission a copy of the letter signed by Postmaster General Potter setting forth the details of the agreement reached between the Postal Service and OCA. In exchange for OCA not filing a direct case, General Potter agrees to (1) establish a working group to investigate the possibility of a non-denominated, “forever” stamp, and (2) post on the Postal Service’s website performance data for Express Mail, Priority Mail, First-Class Mail, and Package Services.

July 27, 2005 -- According to Logistics Management, "The American Trucking Association estimates the country is now short 20,000 long-haul drivers. The industry group predicts that number will grow to 111,000 by 2014 under current conditions and that about 20 percent of hazmat drivers won't renew their endorsements in the next five years as they expire."

July 27, 2005 -- From the Business Wire: "ASTAR Air Cargo recently received operation specification approval from the FAA for North Pacific operations. ASTAR received rights to fly to the area this year, and flew their first trip flawlessly. ASTAR Air Cargo is a licensed U.S. air carrier operating a fleet of 44 aircraft from its hub at the Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky International Airport. The airline provides all-cargo scheduled and charter services on a contract basis for the DHL Worldwide Express network and charter services on a contract basis for other customers including the U.S. Military and the United States Postal Service."

July 27, 2005 -- According to the Journal of Commerce, "Mergers and acquisitions, driven by complex global supply chains and a host of other factors, are at the top of the agenda for major European logistics companies, said Cecilia Cabodi, program manager for logistics, supply-chain management and transport at the London office of consultants Frost & Sullivan. "Speaking to 3PLs in Europe, mergers are very much a part of their vision for the future," she said."

July 27, 2005 -- El Pais has reported that "Correos y Telegrafos, the Spanish state post office, is to begin considering job applications from non-EU residents who have immigrated to Spain. The applications will be considered as long as the applicants have both residence and work permits."

July 27, 2005 -- Transport Intelligence has reported that "DHL International has invested almost €1.3 million in developing its logistic network in Romania."

July 27, 2005 -- Reuters has reported that "Postal group Singapore Post on Wednesday reported a 13.4 percent rise in first quarter net profit."

July 26, 2005 -- The Harare Herald has reported that "The Southern African Development Community (SADC) postal sector is set to benefit from the cost accounting model developed by Universal Postal Union (UPU). Acting Secretary for Transport and Communication Mr Nelson Kudenga said the model for developing countries would assist in pricing postal products and services. Mr Kudenga said UPU would assist developing countries to build capacity in various areas, improve quality of service offered throughout the international postal network, provide universal postal services, technological developments and proper pricing systems within the postal sector."

July 26, 2005 -- According to the Journal of Commerce, "UPS said it has launched five weekly flights in Qingdao in eastern China's Shangdong province."

July 26, 2005 -- The National Retail Federation has urged the House to approve postal reform legislation that would allow businesses and consumers to avoid a major rate hike.

July 26, 2005 -- Traffic World has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service is taking the guesswork out of shipping by mail. Looking to close a long-standing gap with its private competiion, the USPS this month will start rolling out technology that will let customers track packages and other mail in transit. "In theory … we'll be able to track every letter people assign a barcode to, definitely every package," USPS Vice President for Network Operations Management Paul Vogel said. He calls monitoring what happens to mail during transportation "the missing component" in the postal service. The USPS tracking plan aims to improve customer service and obtain data that will be used internally to improve network management and package flow."

July 26, 2005 -- The Financial Times has reported that:

This month, the Berlin government sold its remaining stake in Deutsche Post to the KfW state bank, where 45 per cent of the shares now reside. It took Deutsche Post a long time to transform itself into the company that last year generated revenues of €43bn and an operating profit of €3.35bn. Its German workforce was trimmed by 140,000 over a decade as the business tried to become more efficient in its home market. Mr Zumwinkel is proud of avoiding compulsory redundancies but he notes that “even in good times we have to work on our productivity”. Part of this success is due to treating unions as “partners, not enemies."
Given the sweeping changes he has implemented during the five years he has managed the mail division of TNT, the Dutch post and logistics group, Harry Koorstra appears anything but indecisive. Speed has been essential in tackling issues that confront mail groups across Europe – how to maintain margins and quality in the face of competition and the decline in postal volumes, largely due to e-mail.

July 26, 2005 -- The Socialist Worker has claimed that "THE GOVERNMENT has given the clearest indication yet that it is going to privatise the post. It won’t admit it is privatisation, but all the indications are that ministers are ready to end the Royal Mail’s present structure."

July 26, 2005 -- According to Rep. John McHugh, the "godfather" of postal reform, noted in a press release that "The legislation also substantially reduces the need for the across-the-board increase in postal rates, which the Postal Service had anticipated taking effect in January 2006. From his mouth to the Board of Governors' ear....

July 26, 2005 -- The Telematics Journal has noted that "Group 1 Software, Inc., a Pitney Bowes company, introduced the geocoding industry's first point-level solution, GeoStan Point-Level Option, which incorporates point data that locates addresses at the center of the actual building footprint or parcel. GeoStan is an application program interface that corrects, standardizes and geocodes address information. GeoStan provides a comprehensive set of address-level geocodes by combining USPS postal data with spatial data files from leading data providers, including Tele Atlas, into a single unified data set. Enhanced by Tele Atlas data, the GeoStan Point-Level Option can locate millions of addresses at the building or parcel center point.

July 26, 2005 -- According to the Watertown Daily Times, "Rep. John M. McHugh's 11-year odyssey to revamp the nation's mail delivery system reaches the House floor for the first time today, and people following the situation say the bill has a good chance of passage despite some fine points of contention."

July 26, 2005 -- Last night the Rules Committee approved the following rule on HR 22, the postal reform bill. The House of Representatives could consider the bill at any time after 10 a.m., but is more likely to consider it late in the afternoon or early in the evening. The rule makes in order the following amendments: (Rep. Flake) which establishes a domestic pilot program to empower local postmasters to employ their experience and management expertise, absent the restrictions of the Postal Service's monopolies on first class mail delivery and the use of postal mailboxes, to test certain fundamental assumptions relating to the provisions of universal mail service in the United States; (Rep. Hensarling) which reduces the bill's cost by ensuring that 100% of the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) savings released under HR 22 will be directed to pay the Postal Service's unfunded healthcare liability, instead of it flowing to the Postal Service for its own use. In addition, the responsibility for paying the CSRS costs associated with military service credits will remain with the Postal Service instead of reverting back to the Treasury; (Rep. Pence) which strikes the requirement that the first vacant slot on the Board of Governors is to be filled by an individual with unanimous backing by the labor unions; and (Rep. Jackson Lee) which establishes a Civil Rights and Civil Liberties Board Pilot Program within the Postal Service to monitor and enforce claims of abuse that will call for congressional review after three years. All of the proposed amendments will be considered by voice vote.

July 26, 2005 -- GovExec.com has reported that "Lobbyists say the White House is offering a possible compromise on postal overhaul legislation -- scheduled for House floor action Tuesday -- that could break a stalemate with lawmakers. The legislation would shift the Postal Service's payments for military pensions to the Treasury Department, a move the administration opposes. Under the White House proposal, the Postal Service's $27 billion in payments to date for military pensions could be used to finance the agency's retiree health benefits. The agency would be required to make the military pension payments in the future. The White House also has suggested allowing the Postal Service to borrow at least $2 billion in each of the next two years, instead of giving the agency access to money slated for an escrow account, as dictated by both House and Senate bills, according to the lobbyists. Those borrowed funds could be used to help hold down rates in the short term, while ensuring the legislation does not contribute to the federal deficit, lobbyists said. A spokeswoman for Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairwoman Collins said negotiations on the legislation are ongoing."

July 26, 2005 -- As the Washington Post has noted, "Congress has a heavy agenda this week before beginning a monthlong vacation, planning to send President Bush long-stalled energy and highway bills, a trade agreement with Central America and a billion-plus dollars to plug a shortage in veterans health care programs. A postal reform bill set for a House vote would overhaul the U.S. Postal Service to better compete now that e-mail has reduced mail volume and private companies have taken much of its delivery business. The bill is HR22."

July 26, 2005 -- Reuters has reported that "The International Brotherhood of Teamsters said on Monday it plans to renew its efforts to organize Overnite Corp., the trucking company that has agreed to be acquired by United Parcel Service Inc."

July 26, 2005 -- The National Postal Museum presents the story of Owney, the canine Railway Mail Service mascot who traveled the globe and became a good luck charm for railway mail clerks, at an interactive family program called Exploratory Post: Owney, on Saturday, Aug. 13 from 1 to 4 p.m.

July 26, 2005 -- DM News has reported that "The Federation of European Direct & Interactive Marketing, said yesterday that it has developed a best practices database to promote mail use in Europe. The database was created as part of the ACTIN project (Acquis Communautaire Training Initiatives), which FEDMA has worked on for the past year with 12 European postal operators and other parties. The European Union-funded project was created to improve the skills of postal operators in the new EU member states and candidate countries. In May 2004, the EU welcomed 10 new countries -- Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia -- bringing the total to 25. Candidate countries are Bulgaria, Croatia, Romania and Turkey."

July 26, 2005 -- According to Forbes, "Dutch Finance Minister Gerrit Zalm has asked parliament if it has any objection to the government eventually selling its remaining 10 pct stake in TNT NV."

July 26, 2005 -- Le Monde has reported that "Claude Begle, chairman of DPD, the German parcel service subsidiary of the French post office, La Poste, told the German financial press yesterday that his company is planning to set up a worldwide network. DPD's new framework should be in place by the end of next year."

July 26, 2005 -- The Korea Times has reported that "The nation’s postal authority plans to upgrade its system to prevent possible mail-related terrorist attacks. Korea Post said on Tuesday it has created a special task force to work out measures to improve its terror prevention regime. It plans to introduce a better detection system for mail and parcel delivery to ferret out items that could contain explosives or biological and chemical substances."

July 26, 2005 -- The Kyodo news service has reported that "There is only a fifty-fifty chance that Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal privatization bills will clear the House of Councillors."

July 26, 2005 -- Japan Today has reported that "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi dismissed speculation Monday that he might dissolve the House of Representatives for a snap general election even if the bills to privatize Japan Post are passed."

July 26, 2005 -- Strategiy has reported that "Empost has launched a comprehensive training program, 'Delivering Excellence’ to enable its employees to upgrade their skills and enhance their efficiency, with the goal of raising standards of customer service. The training program was launched and is being held in coordination with the Training and Development Centre of Emirates Post. The program will be spread over a period of 3 months, and all the activities will be managed and coordinated by the Personnel Section of Empost. The 570 Empost employees will be divided into 30 batches, and each group will receive two days of training."

July 25, 2005 -- The Sydney Morning Herald has said: "Imagine having almost 2 billion customers a day and you begin to realise the significance of six of the world's biggest post offices getting together to take on the global courier business. Last night in Hong Kong, the chief executives of Australia Post, China Post, Hong Kong Post, Japan Post, Korea Post and the United States Postal Service launched the largest express courier network in the Asia-Pacific. The alliance is a first of its kind among postal service providers. In a move aimed directly at their private sector competitors such as FedEx and DHL, the new express courier service guarantees delivery in two to five days within the six postal regions, at rates that Australia Post says are up to 40 per cent below those of the competition."

July 25, 2005 -- According to the Journal of Commerce:

July 25, 2005 -- The slate of amendments readied for consideration when H.R. 22 is brought before the House has been posted on the House Rules Committee web site.

July 25, 2005 -- The Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers has said that "Nonprofit mailers urgently support the fiscal reforms included in HR 22, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act," said Chris Cleghorn, a nonprofit executive with Easter Seals in Chicago and President of the Alliance of Nonprofit Mailers. "America's charitable missions rely upon the mail to raise funds and disseminate information that serves our country and our communities. Nonprofits look to Congress this week to protect and strengthen the Postal Service so that we may continue to rely upon mail as an affordable and reliable communications network for all segments of the nonprofit community -religious, charitable, educational, scientific and philanthropic groups," said Cleghorn.

July 25, 2005 - In a move that will further strengthen its package delivery capabilities in the United Kingdom, UPS today announced an agreement to acquire LYNX Express Ltd., for $96.5 million (£55.5 million) in cash. LYNX Express, one of the UK’s largest independent parcel carriers, is majority owned by the private equity firm Bridgepoint Capital (Nominees) Ltd. UPS expects to complete the transaction in the second half of 2005, subject to customary closing conditions.

July 25, 2005 -- According to the Western Mail, "Several years ago, domestic postal deliveries were early enough for most people to read their incoming correspondence before leaving home for work. Now, that is a rare luxury. There is also a concerted drive to close sub post offices that are regarded as uneconomic. Such cuts are an inevitable consequence of the decision to deregulate postal deliveries, allowing private companies to compete with the Royal Mail in areas where it is easy to make a profit. The more difficult task of providing a service in remote, rural areas is left with the Royal Mail, which is less able to engage in the kind of cross-subsidies that were possible before. Deregulation was introduced as a direct result of international treaties signed by the UK Government after virtually no public debate and, of course, without a referendum. Now we know that the beneficiaries of such a significant change are not the service users or the grassroots employees, but a small number of companies and Royal Mail managers."

July 25, 2005 -- The Age has reported that "Australia Post is teaming up with its postal peers in the Asia Pacific region to offer a new low-cost express courier service to the United States and selected destinations in Asia. The new courier service was launched in Hong Kong and has been jointly developed by Australia Post, China Post, Hongkong Post, Japan Post, Korea Post and the United States Postal Service. Australia Post said the alliance is a first of its kind among postal authorities and has been created to meet the demand for reliable low cost international courier services in the Asia Pacific region. The express service will guarantee delivery of items within two to five business days between metropolitan areas of major cities within the network."

July 25, 2005 -- The Yorkshire Post has reported that "LABOUR backbenchers have issued a bold warning that they have enough votes to defeat the Government if it goes ahead with proposals to break a key manifesto pledge by partially privatising the Royal Mail. In a staunch defence of the principle of a state-owned postal operator, 50 Labour MPs have drawn what some of them have called "a line in the sand" demanding that ministers make a clear commitment to "a successful publicly-owned Royal Mail with all shares continuing to be owned by the Government". Royal Mail Group chairman Allan Leighton is understood to be urging the Department of Trade and Industry to allow the sale of a majority stake of the post office to the organisation's 200,000 staff, to provide a much-needed £2bn cash injection."

July 25, 2005 -- The Financial Times has reported that "United Parcel Service is poised to make an acquisition in the UK, strengthening the US company's position in one of Europe's most fragmented package delivery markets. The most likely candidates are all privately-owned companies, including ANC and Lynx Express."

July 25, 2005 -- The Asahi Shimbun has reported that "Thirteen Liberal Democratic Party lawmakers in the Upper House have already made up their minds not to support the postal privatization bills, while one Diet member will abstain from voting, according to an Asahi Shimbun survey conducted last week and information from party leaders. Opposition votes from 18 LDP members in the Upper House would be enough to shoot down Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's postal bills. At this point, at least 27 members, counting those who refrained from replying, stand undecided."

July 25, 2005 -- According to Reuters, "Rising living standards in Russia, which has a population of 143 million, and growing access to the Internet mean the market holds great potential for electronic retailers, or 'e-tailers'. With prices for oil, Russia's main export, running at close to $60 a barrel, there is no sign yet of an end to an economic boom now into its sixth year. Retail sales increased by a 12 percent last year to $194 billion, but internet retailers posted sales growth of 40 percent -- although with total sales of just $600 million they accounted for just a fraction of the total. Russia has over 1,500 Internet shops. Serious operations have to contend, meanwhile, with a shaky legal environment, widespread fraud and a Russian postal service that cannot be relied on to deliver packages to Kaliningrad in the west or Vladivostok, 11 time zones to the east. Few Russians have credit cards and most of those who have them only use them to withdraw their salaries. SpyLOG says 80 percent of the shops use couriers to deliver their goods to the customer. Couriers usually take payments."

July 24, 2005 -- Bloomberg has reported that "Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi's plan to split up and sell the Japanese postal system's mail, deposit and insurance services has no better than a 50-50 chance of approval, said the Liberal Democratic Party's leader in the upper house of parliament."

July 24, 2005 -- Where is the labor movement heading in America? Kim Fellner has presented an interesting perspective in MRzine.

July 24, 2005 -- El Universal has reported that "Luis Carlos Ugalde, director of the Federal Elections Institute (IFE), said at a forum sponsored by the Inter-American Dialogue, a Washington think-tank, that "Within the next few weeks, the IFE is scheduled to make public an agreement with the U.S. Postal Service to coordinate the logistics of Mexicans voting through the mail."

July 24, 2005 -- The Independent has reported that "The Post Office is to install 1,000 charge-free cash machines in branches as part of a deal with Bank of Ireland. After criticism of the Post Office's alliances with fee-charging machine providers, it is withdrawing from these contracts, although they may take some time to unravel. With the new machines installed, the Post Office will offer free cash-machine withdrawals in about 7 per cent of its 14,600 branches."

July 24, 2005 -- According to The Independent, "Amid the melée of Thursday's attempted bomb attack on London, an announcement slipped out almost unnoticed from Alan Johnson, the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry, concerning Royal Mail. Mr Johnson, himself a former postie, told the Commons that he had appointed Professor Sir George Bain "to support me in working on Royal Mail issues." This is a long way short of the full-blown inquiry into the future of Royal Mail. But Mr Johnson did say one thing of significance, which is that while privatisation of Royal Mail has been ruled out, employee share ownership most certainly has not."

July 24, 2005 -- According to the Irish Sun, "The worldwide air freight according the expert forecast-- in terms of freight ton kilometers flown will average 5.6 percent annual growth between 2003 and 2008. Expansion of intercontinental markets will be greater, at 6.1 percent average annual growth."

July 23, 2005 -- The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online. In this issue:

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July 23, 2005 -- The Postal Service has filed with the Postal Rate Commission a Stipulation and Agreement offered for total and final settlement of Docket No. R2005-1. The Stipulation and Agreement filed today represents a straightforward incorporation of the Postal Service’s Request and its proposed rates and fees. The wording of the agreement has been considered and refined after numerous discussions with representatives of most of the active parties in the case. With limited exceptions, the agreement adopts the Postal Service’s proposal to adjust existing rates and fees by a uniform 5.4 percent across-the-board. It seeks a Recommended Decision from the Commission no later than October 31, 2005. In a separate communication to all parties of record in this proceeding, the Postal Service has transmitted a copy of the Stipulation and Agreement and has asked that those participants who are inclined to settle to return a signed signature page to the Postal Service no later than August 5, 2005.

July 23, 2005 -- The agenda for the August meeting of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors is posted on the Postal Service web site.

July 23, 2005 -- According to CBC News, "Canadian libraries will continue to benefit from a special shipping rate from Canada Post, after an announcement from National Revenue Minister John McCallum Friday. McCallum, the minister responsible for Canada Post, issued a statement about the subsidy program, which allows libraries to mail each other books for rates substantially lower than commercial rates ” usually less than a dollar a book – and a boon for smaller rural libraries. In April 2005, the department of Canadian Heritage and Canada Post had agreed to a one-year extension of the book rate. In a release issued Friday, McCallum said the special rate will continue beyond April 2006. A representative from the minister's office said that details, including funding the book rate program and exactly how long the rate would continue, still needed to be worked out."

July 23, 2005 -- Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung has reported that "German mail-order group Otto is planning to expand its logistics services and offer them more to other companies in future. The group says that it intends to expand activities relating to the storage of goods and to offer companies that do not form part of the Otto group access to its entire logistics chain. This means that Otto will be competing with companies such as Deutsche Post, the German postal service operator."

July 23, 2005 -- The International Freedom of Expression Exchange has reported that ""Le Front" editor-in-chief Joseph Bessala Ahanda on 21 July 2005 has been released from prison two days after a delegation of journalists met the director of criminal affairs at the Justice Ministry. "The end of this arbitrary imprisonment is good news for Cameroon's journalists," the organisation said. Ahanda was arrested on 6 July and held pending trial in connection with three reports he published about the alleged embezzlement of 300 million CFA francs (approx. US$546,000; 457,000 euros) by Maurice Bayémi, the head of the Cameroon postal services, Campost, and his associate, Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga, the owner of the Anecdote press group. Ahanda is still due to stand trial. No date has yet been set for a hearing."

July 22, 2005 -- The latest copy of the National Association of Postmasters of the U.S. electronic governmental affairs newsletter is available on the NAPUS web site.

July 22, 2005 -- As GovExec.com has noted, "The House plans to consider a sweeping postal overhaul bill next week, despite lingering differences with the White House. The bill sponsored by Rep. John McHugh, R-N.Y., was passed unanimously by the House Government Reform Committee in April. The House Rules Committee will meet Monday to formulate a rule for the legislation, with floor action likely slated for Tuesday."

July 22, 2005 -- Traffic World has reported that "Congress snuffed out the hopes of finishing a highway bill this week when it approved a five-day extension of the previous highway bill Thursday night. But it left the flame of hope flickering that an agreement will be reached before Congress leaves for its month-long August recess. The House-Senate conference committee that is working until the wee hours of the morning on a deal is still reportedly in disagreement over the funding formula of how much gas tax revenue each state gets."

July 22, 2005 -- In a letter sent to all members of the House and Senate, the presidents of the National Association of Letter Carriers and the National Rural Letter Carriers Association have urged support for "legislation now pending before Congress to reform the United States Postal Service."

July 22, 2005 -- The Financial Times has reported that:

July 22, 2005 -- According to Reuters, "Japan's ruling coalition aims to enact bills to privatise the postal system, including the world's biggest bank, on Aug. 5."

July 22, 2005 -- The Associated Press has noted that "For more than 30 years, students at Oregon State University have been able to buy stamps and other mailing supplies at the postal substation in the basement of the Memorial Union. The service is scheduled to end Aug. 12 because of a contract dispute about the electronic equipment used to weigh letters and packages and calculate postage rates. The closure would leave about 23,000 students, faculty and staff with no postal service on a campus large enough to have its own ZIP code The substation is operated by the OSU Bookstore under contract with the U.S. Postal Service."

July 22, 2005 -- Xinhua has reported that "Reform of the country's postal system, which has been in the pipeline for a couple of years, was finally approved on Wednesday by the State Council, China's cabinet. The scheme focuses on splitting the government's administration of the industry away from the postal business. Savings banks will also be established. According to the scheme, the State Postal Bureau will be restructured into a regulator that will supervise the sector, responsible for making rules and setting standards. It will be independent of the business operation. Meanwhile, China Post Group Corp will be set up to run various postal services. Currently, the State Post Bureau combines the functions of industry regulator and profit-making company. Also, postal saving services, which contribute approximately 39 per cent of the total revenue of China's postal system, will be separated and a new bank will be formed."

July 22, 2005 -- The Standard has reported that "Kenya will host the 2008 Universal Postal Union (UPU) congress, Postmaster General Dan Ameyo has said. Yesterday, Information and Communications Minister Raphael Tuju introduced the visiting UPU Director General Edouard Dayan whom he said was in the country to assess Kenya’s suitability to host the event. Tuju said discussions centred on issues concerning logistics of hosting the meeting that is expected to draw over 2000 participants and interest groups from 190 United Nations member countries. He said they had also discussed security and infrastructural issues with Dayan."

July 22, 2005 -- As the Financial Times has noted, "The 30-minute ferry journey across the Solent to the Isle of Wight is famously one of the most expensive, mile-for-mile, in the world. So it seems strange that Royal Mail should have chosen the island as the location for a vehicle repair centre serving three sorting offices on the south coast of England. Such inefficiencies are typical of the challenges facing Adam Crozier, chief executive of Royal Mail, as he tries to ready the UK’s 350-year-old postal carrier for full competition with a spread of private sector operators in less than six months time."

July 22, 2005 -- From the U.S. Newswire: "On Monday afternoon, July 25, the U.S. Postal Service will join five of the world’s leading postal administrations — Australia Post, China Post, Hong Kong Post, Japan Post and Korea Post – to announce a new, collaborative express service in the Asia Pacific Rim market. Senior executives from each leading service will provide insight into the collaboration and its first venture – a new courier service for the Asia Pacific region. Mr. Paul Vogel, U.S. Postal Service vice president network operations management and Mr. James Wade, U.S. Postal Service vice president international business, will participate, as well as: -- Mr. Graeme John, managing director, Australia Post -- Mr. Ma Junsheng, deputy postmaster general, China Post -- Mr. Allan Chiang, postmaster general, Hong Kong Post -- Mr. Takahashi Toshihiro, senior executive vice president, Japan Post -- Mr. Joong-Yeon Hwang, president, Korea Post."

July 22, 2005 -- From the PR Newswire: "Ryder System, Inc., a global leader in transportation, supply chain management and warehousing solutions, today announced it has been awarded a multi-year contract by the United States Postal Service (USPS). Under the contract, Ryder will develop and manage a customized transportation solution to optimize the USPS' Non-Mail Freight transportation network nationwide, supporting USPS locations nationally and internationally. Ryder will provide transportation procurement, shipment planning and execution, compliance management and other related services. The rollout is expected to be complete in November 2005."

July 22, 2005 -- Business Week has a piece that explains "Why Zazzle Dazzles John Doerr."

July 22, 2005 -- According to the Gilroy Dispatch, "News that mail carrier Patricia Finley might be fired raises lots of red flags. Finley was featured in a recent Dispatch story about problems caused by a do-not-dismount order issued by Gilroy Postmaster Penny Yates. The removal notice that Finley received cited leaning too far out the window of her vehicle and using her vehicle to move garbage bins that were blocking mail boxes as reasons for the attempt to terminate her employment. The story on Yates’ ill-advised do-not-dismount order, issued in violation of postal service policy, must have been an embarrassing episode for the Gilroy postmaster."

July 22, 2005 -- According to the Daily Champion, "INFORMATION and Communication Technology (ICT) has become an integral part of today's modern society. Without doubt this technological innovation is fast spreading across the globe, thereby shrinking the world into the global village foretold many years ago by Canadian philosopher Marshall McLuhan, famous for gnomic utterances such as "the user is the content". He foresaw an information millennium in which print was obsolete and we all lived - apparently quite happily - in a global village. It is a very vital component because of its advantage in terms of wider reach, reaching far across the rural settlements. Unfortunately very little priority is attached to this component because a lot of people erroneously believe that information and communication technology is the direct replacement of the postal service."

July 21, 2005 -- From the Business Wire: "Entrepreneurs in record numbers are setting up shop on eBay, according to a new survey conducted for eBay by ACNielsen International Research, a leading research firm. More than 724,000 Americans report that eBay is their primary or secondary source of income. In addition to these professional eBay sellers, another 1.5 million individuals say they supplement their income by selling on eBay, according to the July 2005 survey. In the first six months of 2005, eBay members in the U.S. sold merchandise worth approximately $10.6 billion. In order to support this growing economic force, eBay and the United States Postal Service have teamed to create an innovative educational opportunity that brings online selling expertise and experience to neighborhoods across the country: the eBay Day Small Business Tour. eBay sellers overwhelmingly use the Postal Service for their shipping needs."

July 21, 2005 -- UPS has reported a robust 22.2% gain in diluted earnings per share for the second quarter of 2005, driven by double-digit export volume gains in every international region and an increase of 387,000 packages per day in the United States.

July 21, 2005 -- According to Forbes, "Once again, reform of the anachronistic U.S. Postal Service is on the Congressional agenda. If the reform passes, it could head off next year's planned 5.4% postal rate increase—the one that will push the cost of mailing a single letter to 39 cents from 37 cents." I-I-I-I don't think so.

July 21, 2005 -- The National Post has reported that "A Canada Post employee who was fired after he exposed "shift-selling" within the corporation's ranks is celebrating after an arbitrator ruled his job must be reinstated."

July 21, 2005 -- The Office of the Consumer Advocate (OCA) has notified the Postal Rate Commission that it will not be filing a direct case in the Docket No. R2005-1 proceeding. The Postal Service and OCA have come to an agreement in which the Postal Service has agreed to establish a working group, to include OCA, to investigate the possibility of a non-denominated stamp that, once purchased, would be valid in the future for first-ounce, single-piece, First-Class Mail postage, regardless of the thencurrent rate. Second, the Postal Service has agreed to post, for certain products, nationwide service performance data at usps.com on a quarterly basis. The Postal Service will also post a notice at its post offices, including stations and branches, advising customers that performance data are available at its website. The specific terms of these commitments will be addressed in the near future in a letter summarizing the agreement.

July 21, 2005 -- CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

In Austria resistance is mounting against the proposal to give the government a veto right in the matter of post office closures.
The German government has sold the last post shares still in its possession.
Deutsche Post CEO Klaus Zumwinkel has declared that "Deutsche Post does not question Saturday delivery at present and as far as the future is concerned: We will continue to provide our customers with mail deliveries on Saturdays."
The German Cartel Office reached yet another decision in favour of private competitors on the postal market. The post has been ordered to cancel the obligatory reimbursement clause from its partial access contracts with private mail operators.
DHL is planning to take over logistics operators in the Baltic states.

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in the German speaking area, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News.

July 21, 2005 -- DM News has reported that "Fifty-three percent of credit cardholders became aware of their last credit card through direct mail, a Vertis study released yesterday found. Credit card marketers sent a record-high 1.4 billion direct mail offers in the first quarter, up 11 percent over last year, according to Mail Monitor, the direct mail offer tracking service from Synovate."

July 21, 2005 -- The American Postal Workers Union has reported that "A federal appeals court has ruled that the Postal Service’s return-to-work requirements for absences of more than 21 days are in conflict with the Family and Medical Leave Act. The court ruled that the Family and Medical Leave Act requires employers covered by the law to return employees to work after their approved FMLA leave upon a basic showing that they are able to perform their duties. This is done by presenting a statement to that effect from the employee’s own physician, the court concluded."

July 21, 2005 -- The Times has reported that "ROYAL MAIL will be forced to lay off 40,000 workers if the postal regulator presses ahead with plans to impose price controls on stamps, Allan Leighton, chairman of the mail group, has warned."

July 21, 2005 -- The Financial Times has reported that "MPs are to conduct a review into the Royal Mail's future after the postal services market is opened up to full competition, it was announced yesterday. The review by the trade and industry select committee parallels a government-commissioned review into the same subject which was promised in Labour's general election manifesto but has yet to be announced. Peter Luff, Tory chairman of the committee, said the future of the state- owned postal operator was such a big issue it demanded an inquiry by the MPs, even if the government was setting up a separate investigation. The committee has invited written evidence by September 30 and said it would set dates for oral hearings after that deadline."

July 21, 2005 -- Bloomberg has reported that "Bank of Japan Governor Toshihiko Fukui said the sale of Japan Post should be fair to banks, brokerages and insurance companies in the private sector."

July 21, 2005 -- Ha'aretz has reported that "Postal Service Director General Yossi Shelli announced Wednesday he will be resigning after three years in office because of a dispute with the Communications Minister Dalia Itzik. During her first three months in office, Itzik met with Shelli only once. During that lone meeting the minister asked the director general to resign, a request which Shelli rejected. But Shelli recently changed his mind and agreed to quit his post."

July 21, 2005 -- From the BusinessWire: