The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) today approved renaming the Office of Rates, Planning, and Analysis to the Office of Accountability and Compliance. “Changing the name to the Office of Accountability and Compliance reflects the new authorities and responsibilities the PRC is undertaking under Public Law 109-345, the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act,” said Chairman Dan G. Blair. “This is especially important given the new requirements related to service standards, financial reporting, and the issuance of annual compliance reports,” Blair noted.

Austrian Post has acquired 100% shareholding of German direct marketing service provider meiller direct GmbH.

Goodies you might find interesting: (1) The DMA (US) 2007 Statistical Fact Book in its 29th Edition is the one authoritative source of direct marketing data. The book brings together meaningful statistics in direct marketing techniques in order to increase your effectiveness and efficiency for winning business decisions. (2) Economic Impact of the UK Direct Mail Industry. This report shows that the overall value of direct mail advertising and marketing to the UK economy. (You can find a copy of the Executive Summary of this report on the PostInsight web site.) (3) Eurostat Data in Focus - Postal Services in Europe (Also available at PostInsight.com.)

The Association for Postal Commerce (PostCom) has filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission reply comments regarding service standards and performance measurement systems (Docket No. PI-2007-1).

The Institute for Research on the Economics of Taxation has published a report on the "Government-Imposed Advantages And Burdens On The Postal Service's Competitive Products."

From PR Newswire: "QAS, an Experian company specializing in address verification and cleansing solutions, has been selected by multiple state motor vehicle agencies to validate residents' addresses as part of driver services administration. QuickAddress Pro software has been adopted to facilitate customer interaction and improve service levels as well as guarantee the accuracy of address information entered into statewide databases."

The Sri Lanka Columbo Page has reported that "Sri Lanka Postmaster General Shervin Senadheera said that the income of the Postal Department in 2006 was Rs. 2.9 billion while the expenses were Rs. 5.6 billion. Therefore the department always depends on the grants provided by the Treasury, said the Post Master General. The Post Master General said that the department authorities are planning the ways to increase the income through new ventures."

According to the National Catholic Reporter, "Every year we plan for increases in operating expenses. Using past trends and reasonable guesses, we are usually able to produce a budget that makes sense. Recently, we’ve had to make major adjustments to our planning. Like many small publications, we’ve been notified of a 23 percent postal increase for the upcoming year. This is approximately $95,000 more than last year’s postage costs, which reduces the amount of money available for covering our expenses by $2.37 per subscriber. It will now cost 6 cents more each week per copy mailed to your home. From the $43.95 we receive for each subscription, $12.94 will go directly to the U.S. Postal Service. This does not include printing or any other costs for producing the NCR newsweekly. Reasonable increases are to be expected, but something else is happening here."

From PressZoom: "The environmentally friendly Pluspäckchen GoGreen will be sold in all Deutsche Post retail outlets in Germany beginning in August 2007. The parcel is a practical combination of recycled packaging materials and a postal fee that includes climate-neutral shipping within Germany. DHL calculates all CO 2 emissions created by the shipment of a Pluspäckchen und offsets them through environmental-protection measures. The world's leading provider of express and logistics services is not only the first but also the only supplier of CO 2 neutral packages and parcels for business and private customers across Germany."

eTrucker.com has noted that "Two FedEx less-than-truckload subsidiaries -- FedEx Freight and the new long-haul FedEx National LTL -- have reduced their fuel surcharges by 25 percent. Surcharges at FedEx Express and FedEx Ground are unaffected by the reductions, which took effect July 23."

According to the Daily Record, "After persuasion from New Jersey's governor and attorney general, United Parcel Service of America announced today that it would extend health insurance benefits to the civil union partners of gay employees. The policy change has to do with New Jersey's civil unions law, which took effect in February, and seeks to give gay couples the same rights in the state as married couples."

From PressMediaWire: "Since the Postal Service began permitting consumers to design their own stamps in 2004, the demand for custom designed wedding stamps has been growing. Perfect Postage began in March of this year with custom designed 777 wedding stamps as a fun way to showcase invitations for those that were married on July 7, 2007."

The Connecticut Post has reported that "Pitney Bowes reported an increase in revenues for the second quarter of 2007 on Monday while net income, which in the year-ago quarter showed up as a loss due to accounting for discontinued operations, moved into the black. About two weeks ago, In response to a question from a Lehman Brothers analyst, CEO Murray Martin said Pitney Bowes expects a decision about the future of postal rates — whether the U.S. Postal Service will request another rate case or move onto a new format — in the next 18 months. When the analyst asked which would be better for Pitney Bowes, Martin, who earlier said postal rate changes led more customers to its mailing equipment, software and services, said the company is "somewhat neutral on that." "

According to the Washington Daily News, "Sometimes an idea may look great on paper, but when it’s implemented it makes little sense. A new postal rule that goes into effect Monday is a perfect example. On the surface, its designed to prevent somebody from sending a bomb or other harmful substance through the mail. Nobody will argue that is a good goal. Everybody wants to have a system that keeps us safe. We question if the new rule will really do that."

Transport Intelligence has reported that "Netherlands-based mail and express operator TNT has released its quarterly results showing an increase in revenues but falling profits. The negative trend in Dutch addressed mail volumes continued with a fall of 3.5%, with a favourable price/mix effect reducing the impact on revenues. Revenue growth in its European Mail Networks was 33.3% (37.0% for the half year). The operating margin decreased in Mail overall."

Information Week has reported that "A Seattle-based attorney has filed a class-action lawsuit against the U.S. Postal Service for allegedly selling employees' personal information to marketing companies in violation of the U.S. Privacy Act." See also the Associated Press. A copy of the lawsuit can be found at: http://www.hbsslaw.com/files/Filed_complaint_secured1185829656134.pdf.

The Daily News has reported that "Postal services islandwide continued uninterrupted yesterday despite a sick note campaign called by several unions attached to the Postal Department. Post Master General Sherwin Senadheera said that the trade union action, though unannounced, failed to have a significant impact on the activities of post offices in the country except for a delay at the Central Mail Exchange (CME). The sick note campaign was organised in all parts of the country save the North and the East protesting alleged corruption by top officers of the Department, the dearth of postal workers and the delay in providing relief loans." See also the Daily Mirror.

The Baltic Times has reported that "The large number of migrants from Lithuania working overseas are responsible for a boom in the country’s postal service, Lietuvos Pastas has confirmed. Since Lithuania became a member of the European Union, the amount of international letters, postcards, and small parcels has grown hugely, with the most traffic coming from Great Britain, Ireland and Spain, where the majority of Lithuanian currently live and work."

The Malta Independent has reported that "The government yesterday announced the total privatisation of Maltapost plc by the transfer to Lombard Bank Malta plc of a 25 per cent shareholding in the company, taking Lombard’s holding from the existing 35 per cent to a majority shareholding of 60 per cent. Full privatisation will be made in two stages: firstly there will be the transfer to Lombard Bank Malta plc of the 25 per cent shareholding, making Lombard the majority shareholder. At a second stage, the government will sell via an initial public offering its remaining 40 per cent shareholding. Maltapost will be listed on the Malta Stock Exchange. The government said this was consistent with its policy of giving up its commercial operations to limit itself to regulating in the interest of the consumer."

July 30, 2007

Reuters has reported that "The Maltese government said on Monday it was privatising Maltapost, the Maltese postal company, transferring the majority shareholding to Lombard Bank Malta and floating 40 percent of the shares on the Malta Stock Exchange."

The express and parcels market in India is growing rapidly and is increasingly attracting investment from the global express integrators such as DHL with its new Indian subsidiary Blue Dart Express, TNT with its purchase of road express company Speedage and FedEx's buy out of its global service partner Prakash Air Freight, Pafex. Even GeoPost is thought to be interested in acquiring a stake in local operator DTDC. Many commentators forecast that the Indian express market is set to grow at more than 20% p.a. for the next few years which will put some strain on the thousands of small operators serving the local domestic sector, although 20 operators are estimated to account for 50% of the total market. Against this background global express and mail market research and consultancy firm Triangle has introduced its popular express distribution survey to the Indian domestic and international express delivery market and has now published its first report entitled: 'The Indian Express Distribution Survey 2007'. Copies of the Indian Express Distribution Survey 2007 are available now from Triangle Management Services via its web site at Market Research or contact Express Director Robin Parr-Davies by e-mail Robin Parr-Davies or by phone on 00 44 (0)870 950 7900.

A 10:00 a.m. hearing at Room 342 of the Dirksen Senate Office Building will take place before the U.S. Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Subcommittee on Federal Financial Management, Government Information, Federal Services, and International Security on the implementation of the portion of Title III of the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006 which calls for the creation of service standards for most postal products. The hearing will also examine a number of issues that could have an impact on the service that the Postal Service provides, including mail processing facility consolidations and contracting out.

  From the Federal Register: The Postal Regulatory Commission will be holding an open meeting tomorrow at PRC headquarters to discuss internal organizational issues, i.e., "whether to alter names of the Office of Rates, Analysis and Planning and Office of Public Affairs and Governmental Relations to better reflect functions and responsibilities."

From WTOP News: "Ruth Goldway, Commissioner of the United States Postal Rate Commission, discusses new changes in the Postal Service, options and special services to help consumers save money, and other important consumer issues associated with mail service in the U.S."

The BBC Monitoring Service has reported that "The Security of Service of Ukraine (SBU) has for the first time ever detected a postage parcel containing heroine, the UNIAN news agency reported on 23 July. the SBU directorate in Odessa Region and Kiev regional customs office had broken up an organized crime group that was smuggling drugs from Germany to Ukraine by post. He said that the parcel contained a device for producing artificial smoke at discos in which 200 grammes of heroin was hidden."

Arabian Business has reported that "UAE courier service Empost has deployed a courier and consignment tracking application from Avanza in a bid to improve efficiency. The new core front post office system is designed to provide Empost with an end-to-end tracking capability, allowing the courier to follow a parcel from arrival in its system to its transfer to another courier service or the addressee. It also allows Empost staff to book and amend jobs, allowing comprehensive call centre functionality."

The Guardian has reported that "TNT, the Dutch mail group, is planning a further aggressive expansion in the UK and elsewhere in Europe in a new drive to offset its declining postal business at home."

The International Herald Tribune has reported that "Sri Lankan postal workers staged a one-day strike Monday, paralyzing the island's postal service, as a part of their campaign against privatization and alleged corruption in the postal department. Postal workers around the country have joined this strike demanding action against corruption and waste and also to halt any effort to privatize the service."

July 29, 2007

The Tennessean has reported that "When most people sift through their mail, they expect the usual stack of bills, along with circulars for duct-cleaning services and replacement windows. For the past month or so, Twist Art Gallery owner Beth Gilmore has greeted her daily mail with much bigger expectations: Every day, submissions have been arriving for her latest exhibit, devoted to mail art."

The Telegraph has reported that "Royal Mail is to sell off a second multi-million pound property port-folio of post offices and sorting depots just months after concluding its first £70m deal. The state-owned postal service has appointed property agents Atisreal to undertake the sell off, which property professionals predict will contain a significant number of retail post offices, as well as industrial and office buildings. Although many of the transactions are likely to be sale-and-leasebacks, the move to cut liabilities and generate cash from its property portfolio is likely to anger campaigners trying save the post office network in the face of planned closures."

According to The Observer, "A coalition of unions representing millions of workers is preparing to coordinate industrial action in a bid to force the government to increase public sector pay deals. Leaders of unions whose members work in the civil service, health and the postal services have discussed joining forces to cause maximum disruption to essential services this autumn."

As The Independent has noted, "Twenty years ago, the postal workers' strike cast a long shadow. The prospect of letters sitting in sorting offices across the land was seen in some quarters as nothing less than a national emergency. In Thatcher's Britain, postmen locked up their bicycles at what they saw as the looming privatisation of the Royal Mail. Two decades on, and the 140,000 staff who ensure that mail is delivered are striking again. This time they have been motivated by "modernisation" of the Post Office, a pay offer that the Communication Workers Union sees as inadequate and the prospect of less generous pensions in the future. Wednesday saw the start of a fortnight of industrial action that promises to disrupt mail deliveries. But this is not 1987; today it doesn't look like anybody cares nearly as much."

July 28, 2007

The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online. In this issue:

• Witnesses from major postal unions and management groups this week told a Senate panel they unanimously oppose the Postal Service’s plan to increase its use of contractors to deliver the mail.

• Michael Winn, a senior R.R. Donnelley executive and a member of PostCom’s executive board, this week told the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, the Postal Service and the District of Columbia, subcommittee that the Postal Service’s ultimate objective of network realignment cannot be to simply achieve the lowest possible operation cost for itself.

• The Government Accountability Office told a House postal oversight panel that while progress had been made by the Postal Service in addressing concerns over a lack of transparency and accountability of its services, more work was still needed if the USPS were to fully comply with the new postal law.

• USPS senior operations VP William Galligan said that significant changes in the nature of the present-day mail market have made a redesign of USPS operations essential. The changes are needed particularly if the USPS is to operate successfully within its inflation-based price cap. Progress has been made also in the automation of flat-size mail and information technology improvements will be made with the implementation of the Intelligent Mail bar code.

• The Mailers Council told the House postal oversight panel that the need for delivery service standards and new measurement systems are exceptionally important issues. The Postal Service's Board of Governors must encourage creation of new executive compensation systems that reflect senior management's ability to meet service performance standards. The Parcel Shippers Association said that it was concerned that the Postal Service's END activities failed to recognize that rate changes should accompany radical changes in their network development initiatives.

• The Red Tag Association, a not-for-profit group of Periodicals publishers, this week briefed members of the Postal Regulatory Commission and interested observers on its service performance monitoring system. Red Tag’s system has been discussed by the MTAC workgroup tasked with developing service standards and measurement recommendations, as required by the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act, as a potential interim service performance measurement system.

• Newspapers across the country are weighing in on the Postal Service plan to increase outsourcing of delivery routes. Here’s a recent article from the Kansas City Star.

• USPS changes security rules for parcels. The Nation: Looking for readers to help pay the postage bill. Potter says ‘forever’ stamp is popular, but others are American favorites. DMM Advisory: New mailpiece design options for flat-size mail. Harry Potter sets international postal record. Some business mailers shunning direct mail, embracing email for fall.

• USPS changes security rules for parcels. The Nation: Looking for readers to help pay the postage bill. Potter says ‘forever’ stamp is popular, but others are American favorites. DMM Advisory: New mailpiece design options for flat-size mail. Harry Potter sets international postal record. Some business mailers shunning direct mail, embracing email for fall.

• A list of upcoming postal-related events.

Hey! You've not been getting the weekly PostCom Bulletin--the best postal newsletter anywhere...bar none?  Send us by email your name, company, company title, postal and email address. Get a chance to see what you've been missing.

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WMC-TV has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service has decided not to fold Jackson's mail services into the Memphis Processing Center."

ITV has noted that "A fresh wave of industrial action by postal workers is set to start which will disrupt mail deliveries for the next two weeks. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said the aim was to hit Royal Mail hard, at minimal cost to its members. The union is also aiming to step up its political campaigning and to explain to MPs why it has rejected a 2.5 per cent pay offer and the Royal Mail's modernisation plans, which the CWU warned will lead to the loss of 40,000 jobs. The postal organisation said it was "hugely disappointed" that the union was pressing ahead with more strikes."

According to CWU's Billy Hayes, "Royal Mail's management lacks imagination. Our dispute is as much about the future of the industry as it is about the wages of postal workers. The present dispute arises from the crisis in management policy. Having failed to get it privatised, management has no policy to develop the industry. Instead, they propose to cut jobs and services to customers."

The Irish Examiner has reported that:

• An Post provides one of the worst postal services in Europe for on-time deliveries — despite stamps costing more in Ireland than most other EU states. According to a new EU study, over a quarter of all mail posted within the Republic is not delivered on the next working day. Only 73% of letters are delivered on time. The study shows that only postal services in Greece, Cyprus, Latvia and Lithuania recorded worse mail delivery performances in 2005 — the latest year for which comparative figures are available.

• Anyone who ever railed at An Post will feel vindicated by the latest study depicting Ireland’s postal service as one of the worst in Europe for on-time deliveries. Rubbing salt into the wound, it also reveals that stamps cost more here than in most other EU states. Only Italy, Finland and Sweden have higher postage charges for standard letters.

July 27, 2007

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

The Board of Governors of the U.S. Postal Service will meet in Washington, DC, at Postal Service Headquarters, 475 L’Enfant Plaza, SW, on Aug. 7-8, 2007. The public is welcome to observe the Board’s open session, scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m. on Aug. 8 in the Ben Franklin Room on the 11th floor. The Board is expected to discuss the USPS' Quarterly Report on Service Performance and its Quarterly Report on Financial Performance.

An amended "RFI- Concerning A Time-Definite Surface Network 01" has been posted on the bfo.gov web site. A revised set of appendices is available as a compressed zip file.

The BBC has reported that "Counter staff at nine post offices are to go on a half day strike today. It will be the fifth walkout in a continuing dispute over pay and conditions.

From the French postal regulator: "On 13 June 2007, ARCEP launched a public consultation about the information postal service users need and expect about universal service quality, and on 11 July 2007, it hosted initial discussions with representatives of consumer associations on this matter. The consultation is seen by ARCEP as an important tool for maximizing user benefit by ascertaining whether the information currently published by La Poste, the universal postal service provider, is satisfactory or whether further indicators need to be provided."

Mike Harlow has been appointed manager of the Baltimore District of the U.S. Postal Service.

Hongkong Post announced today (July 27) that as informed by the postal administration of the United Kingdom, owing to flooding in some areas, all mail delivery services (including Speedpost) may be subject to delay.

According to ThisIsHertfordshire, "Casual staff employed by Royal Mail to help clear a massive backlog caused by strikes may not be able to speak English it has emerged. Postal workers - some of whom continued their industrial action this week by picketing outside the Watford Mail Centre in Ascot Road - also raised concerns about the linguistic skills of agency staff. Local Communication Workers Union (CWU) branch secretary Alan Walsh alleged casual staff employed at Watford Mail Centre in Ascot Road were effectively working through an interpreter."

Startups has reported that "The cost for small businesses of mail being delayed has been estimated at £2.5m for each postal strike."

DM News has reported that:

The most active groups of Canadians who have the highest response to catalogers are between the ages of 35 and 55. They like to purchase men’s apparel, women’s casual shoes, and home décor, according to a recent research project Canada Post did with NPD Group titled, “What Canadians Want – A study into direct buying behaviour, July 2007.
Kahala Posts Group (KPG) – a network of postal administrations from Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States – has just signed on Le Groupe La Poste, the postal administration of France to the alliance.

For inquiring minds that want to know more about the Request For Information Concerning A Time-Definite Surface Network For The U.S. Postal Service, here are the documents pertaining to that filing: PLEASE NOTE, REVISED DOCUMENTS HAVE BEEN FILED. BE SURE TO CHECK THE LINKS NOTED ABOVE.

Posted on this site you can find the latest Government Accountability Office report entitled: "Better Integration and Performance Measurement Still Needed and Mail Processing Realignment Efforts Under Way Need Better Integration and Explanation."

The testimony presented at yesterday's postal oversight hearing before the House Oversight and Government Reform Federal Workforce, Postal Service, and District of Columbia subcommittee can be found on the subcommittee web site.

Testimony of Katherine Siggerud (Government Accountability Office) Testimony of Gordon Milbourn (Inspector General's Office, USPS) Testimony of John Waller (Postal Regulatory Commission) Testimony of William Galligan (U.S. Postal Service) Testimony of Michael Winn (Association for Postal Commerce) Testimony of Robert McLean (Mailers Council) Testimony of Jerry Cerasale (Direct Marketing Association) Testimony of Timothy May (Parcel Shippers Association) Statement of Chairman Danny K. Davis

Michael Winn, R.R. Donnelley testified for PostCom

The latest Legislative Update of the National Association of Postal Supervisors has been posted on this site.

As KLAS-TV has learned, "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night is part of the unofficial motto used to used to describe the job of U.S. postal workers in getting mail delivered. In the past, mail was almost always delivered by postal workers, but recently the post office is using private contractors." [Heaven forfend!...Gimme a break.]

MSNBC has noted that "Dog attacks on postal workers have become a daily occurrence, and people with pets should know their damaging effects, according to the U.S. Postal Service. That's why the Postal Service on Thursday released a picture of a Milpitas letter carrier as she appeared just after she was mauled by a pit bull while delivering mail July 14."

WWNY has reported that "An employee of the Watertown post office was accused Thursday of stealing artifacts from the Iroquois tribal nation that were over a hundred years old."

The Gazette has reported that "Authorities evacuated several homes today in Rockrimmon in northwest Colorado Springs after a smoking pipe bomb was discovered in a mailbox. The device did not explode, and there were no injuries, Colorado Springs police said. No arrests have been made. A bomb squad deactivated the fuse and removed the pipe about 10:30 a.m. Police closed off Allegheny Drive for about two hours, and residents of five homes were forced to leave."

Business First has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc. has begun a new service that provides a single point of contact for all same-day and urgent packages, regardless of the size of the package."

From PR Newswire: "Authentidate Holding Corp. , a worldwide provider of software and web-based services that enable enterprises and individuals to securely conduct the trusted exchange of electronic content, today announced a new three-year agreement with the U.S. Postal Service(R) (USPS) to act as a non-exclusive authorized service provider of the USPS Electronic Postmark(R) (EPM)."

Postalnews.com has reported that "Labor Arbitrator Herbert Fishgold of Washington, DC has been selected by the NRLCA and USPS to serve as interest arbitrator in hearings to begin on October 29, 2007."

July 26, 2007

The U.S. Postal Service has posted its latest DMM Advisory:  "New CASS™ Address Matching Requirements Effective August 1."

Union Network International has reported that "Nepal Civil Service Employees Union (NECSEU-Postal) along with other groups of union went on strike at General Post Office (GPO Kathmandu ) and all post offices through out the country, demanding respect at work, trade union rights, postal allowances and improvement of postal services and it’s offices."

With the Americas offering some of the most competitive markets in the postal world, the 2008 World Mail & Express Americas conference will look at competition and collaboration, with a strong focus on 'working together'. The event, covering north, south & central America and the Caribbean, will take place on 25-26 February 2008, at the Sheraton Buganvilias, Puerto Vallarta, Mexico. Organisers, Triangle, are currently putting together the programme for the event. The theme of the conference will be 'Working together for market growth', looking at both current and future issues in the international post and parcel industries. Triangle would like to hear from potential speakers particularly wishing to address the issues of competition, working together and growth, either in relation to the Americas or sharing information from other international markets. Interested parties are asked to contact Triangle Conference Director, John.Modd@triangle.eu.com.

From the U.S. Postal Service: "An international alliance of eight national postal administrations is marking the two-year anniversary of its date-certain, guaranteed international Express Mail Service (EMS) by expanding to new member countries and paving the way to launch new products. Kahala Posts Group (KPG), a collaborative network of the postal administrations of Australia, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States, accounts for almost half of the world’s total EMS traffic. With delivery to more than 261 million addresses, 8 billion post code combinations and service available at more than 142,000 retail locations, KPG provides a powerful network and consistently high delivery standards."

The News Journal has reported that "For four years, the secretary-treasurer of the Delaware Rural Letter Carriers' Association diverted money to himself -- including checks as small at $12 -- to steal almost $59,000 from his union, according to court documents. On Monday, Michael A. Pingitore, 47, of Newark, admitted six counts of embezzlement of union funds. At the brief hearing before Chief U.S. District Judge Gregory M. Sleet attended by union officials, neither Pingitore nor his attorney, Jerome Capone, offered any explanation for his actions."

The New Orleans Times-Picayune has reported that "Mail delivery statistics from the U.S. Postal Service suggest that New Orleans' population may have reached nearly two-thirds of its pre-Katrina level, or about 300,000 people, in June."

The Orlando Sentinel has reported that "Still upset over a 4-year-old newspaper story, a trade group representing telemarketers and other advertisers has canceled plans to hold its annual convention this year in Orlando. Backing out of the deal has already cost the Direct Marketing Association $200,000 -- and could end up leaving the group on the hook for even more money."

According to Inside Bay Area, "A letter carrier was arrested Friday in Freedom, a town near Watsonville, following a month-long investigation by the U.S. Postal Service Office of the Inspector General into allegations that she tried to extort hundreds of dollars from one of her customers."

Stabroek News noted that "Customs taking pay and we getting the blame," was a comment made yesterday by angry Guyana Post Office Corporation (GPOC) workers as they protested the detention of two of their co-workers outside the Customs Anti-Narcotics Unit (CANU) office on Homestretch Avenue. The workers from the GPOC stopped work around 2 pm yesterday after two of their co-workers were picked up by CANU ranks in what they described as an unprofessional manner, placed in a van and driven to the CANU headquarters for questioning about cocaine that had been discovered on Monday.

InTheNews has reported that "A series of strikes affecting Britain's postal network has begun, union officials have confirmed. Postal workers are staging a number of walkouts staggered over the next two weeks that they hope will cause continuous disruption. Over the next fortnight separate Royal Mail divisions will hold industrial action on allocated days, starting with mail centres and cash handling today. A Communication Workers Union (CWU) spokesperson confirmed that the first planned strike began at 19:00 BST last night."

The Scotsman has reported that "Edinburgh residents were urged not to post letters and parcels today as Royal Mail braced itself for fresh strike action."

According to Brand Republic, "Major UK charities fear that the UK-wide postal strikes, due to start tomorrow, could reduce fundraising revenue. Response rates are set to suffer because of the strikes, with some smaller charities likely to experience the biggest problems with income over the two-week strike period."

The Armenian News Network has reported that "HayPost, the National Postal Operator of the Republic of Armenia announced management changes in effect as of today. Based on his pivotal role in revitalizing the company, Hans Boon has been appointed the new General Director of HayPost. As the current General Director, Mr. Boon will lead the company to become more commercial, more transparent and increasingly financially accountable. "We are aiming to raise our standards with the purpose to increase HayPost's quality and efficiency both locally and internationally," stated Hans Boon during the HayPost Shareholder's meeting earlier today."

July 25, 2007

PersonnelToday has reported that "The Royal Mail has hit back at union claims that it is planning to abolish its final salary pension scheme as part of a plan to scale back a £6bn shortfall in its pension fund."

United Press International has reported that "A general strike brought Israel's economy to a near halt Wednesday as all but emergency services shut down. The strike declared Tuesday night closed most government offices and the postal service while workers related to defense and emergency healthcare remained on the job."

EU Business has reported that "A majority in Dutch parliament backs a return of so-called golden shares held by the government to protect strategic industries against foreign takeovers. The Dutch state in November shed its last golden shares in the former Dutch postal services company, since renamed TNT, to comply with rulings of the European courts, which oppose such arrangements."

From Federal Business Opportunities: "The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is conducting market research to identify interested organizations with the capability to implement a time-definite mail distribution and transportation network. This Request for Information (RFI) is for market research and planning purposes only and does not in any way constitute a Request for Proposal (RFP). The RFI provides an opportunity for industry to comment on this initiative, identify potential areas of opportunity, and make alternative recommendations in order to enhance the success of any future procurement for a turnkey network service option (as described herein). The Postal Service believes industry feedback is important and is receptive to ideas from industry which will result in realizing cost savings or highlighting potential technological solutions that could be applied to the concept."

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

The news that postal market liberalisation will not happen until 2011 has no doubt been met with relief in Spain. The socialist government had feared that it would not get the state-owned Correos fit in time for complete market liberalisation. Spain’s postage rates are expected to be raised gradually to European levels in order to cushion Correos’ loss in turnover.
Problems, problems, problems ... Royal Mail seems unable to find its way out of them. After CWU had announced two further 24-hour strikes (19.7), now Postcomm has also dealt the mail a blow below the belt. In a current communication, the board this Monday rejected the so-called "zonal pricing" suggested by Royal Mail.
Everything will remain as it is - at least when it comes to VAT at Deutsche Post. In its current edition, the news magazine »Der Spiegel« (23.7) reports that Deutsche Post’s turnovers in the letter sector could continue to remain VAT free.
Despite the EU Parliament’s decision, postal operators from 12 EU countries are pushing for changes to the liberalisation directive. The postponement of the liberalisation from 2009 to 2011 would not solve the many legal, financial and technical matters, according to postal operators from Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, France, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Luxemburg, Malta, Poland and Slovakia.
In line with the 2007-2012 National Infrastructure programme, Sepomex plans to expand its services and extend its number of branch offices from 1,500 to 2,500 within three years. The Mexican post is badly in need of modernisation.
The Romanian Direct Marketing association Armad has criticised Posta Romana’s decision regarding postage increase. The association disclosed that the Romanian post plans to increase tariffs by up to 60 per cent from 1 August.
The Kenyan post plans to pour 75m Kenyan shillings, around 802,500 euros, into a reorganisation plan for its business.
The Swiss regulator PostReg has granted 3 new licences since the beginning of June. Private companies which ship parcels up to 20 kilograms, letters over 100 grams in Switzerland or letters abroad and reach an annual turnover of over 100,000 francs, must apply for a licence from the Swiss regulator.
Purolator, the market leader in domestic express services in Canada, has increased its turnover by 7 per cent to an equivalent of 937.9m euros in the last year.
By holding talks with unions, the Dutch post TNT NV is hoping to escape a similar fate to that of Royal Mail.
It’s red, it rolls, and it can reach speeds of six kilometres per hour - the Belgian post’s electronic cart. The company is currently testing this device in Antwerp in a pilot project. The aim: to relieve the burden for postmen.

 

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in Europe, 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. (We appreciate the courtesy extended by CEP News to help whet your appetite for more of what CEP offers.)

UPS has announced the launch of UPS Express Criticalsm, a service that meshes all of UPS's same-day and urgent capabilities into a single suite, allowing customers to more effectively manage package and heavy freight shipments together. For the first time in the industry, customers have a single point of contact regardless of whether they're shipping a small package or a 1,000 pound machine part - air or ground, domestic or international. Customers now have a single call center, one bill and one Website to manifest and track their truly urgent shipments.

Forbes has reported that U.K. "Prime Minister Gordon Brown today warned postal workers they should accept a 2.5 pct pay deal or risk pushing up inflation in future years."

The Daily Mail has reported that "Small firms are being caught in the crossfire in the row over pay and jobs at Royal Mail. The Federation of Small Businesses has warned that strikes by postal workers are putting jobs at risk - and it has urged the Government to intervene."

Circulation Management has noted that "The Nation, a 186,000-circulation political weekly, has recently begun soliciting its community of readers to help pay for its looming $500,000 postal bill. That price tag represents an 18 percent increase in postal rates that took effect this month—the industry average was estimated at 11.4 percent. According to The Nation president Teresa Stack, her magazine’s more dramatic rate increase is indicative of what smaller, independent magazines are experiencing."

The New York Times has reported that "Congressional Democrats celebrated the first minimum wage increase in a decade on Tuesday with a festive labor rally across from the Capitol. But they know they will have to accomplish considerably more to avoid the sort of do-nothing labels they hung on Republicans not too long ago. Senator Jon Kyl of Arizona did offer an apology for calling this a do-nothing Congress, saying that because Democrats had sent Mr. Bush legislation naming 20 postal facilities, it should be called the post-office Congress."

The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has reported that "A postal worker from Westmoreland County was indicted yesterday by a federal grand jury in Pittsburgh on charges she stole more than $700 in funds and stamps."

From PR Newswire: "New postal rates, inkjet printing technology and innovative software tools are driving a hot marketing trend called TransPromo, a technique that combines obligatory transactional customer communication with revenue-generating promotional offers, according to DST Output, one of the largest providers of statement and billing output solutions. While consumers are lamenting another postage increase, the "silver lining" in the new rates for companies with high volume mailings is that the rate to send an additional ounce of First-Class Mail(R) actually decreased from 24 cents to 17 cents on an individual piece. And with letter automation discounts the rate declined even further to 12.5 cents. Factor in the one-cent rate increase to 21 cents for standard class mail, and companies now find it less expensive to send promotional offers and messages with their transactional statements than separately. And they can now use the additional ounces in the First-Class(TM) envelope as another marketing channel."

The Waco Tribune Herald has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service processing and distribution center in Waco will stay open with “no significant” changes." As the Tribune Herald said in a related editorial: "Chalk up another victory for Waco in the face of dubious “cost-cutting.”

The Arkansas News has reported that "Federal officials Tuesday prodded the Marshall Islands government to leverage U.S. aid toward economic development in order to sustain the country's struggling economy. Gerald Zackios, the islands' foreign affairs minister, said land registration laws have been changed to help improve private-sector development. He called for the U.S. Postal Service to exempt the islands from international postal rates in order to encourage more business."

The Financial Times has more on "Two of Europe's biggest postal operators should be stripped of tax exemptions worth hundreds of millions of pounds a year because the measures hinder competition."

As the Associated Press has noted, "Starting on Monday, people who mail parcels weighing 13 ounces or more with stamps as postage will have to hand over the package the post office counter. Previously, the requirement applied only to mail over 16 ounces."

The BBC has reported that:

• More than 2,500 postal workers in Scotland are due to join a nationwide strike in a dispute over pay, pensions and future industry changes. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said its 24-hour walk out would hit Thursday's deliveries, with further disruption planned at the weekend.

• A two-week campaign of staggered strike action across the UK postal service begins on Wednesday. It follows a series of shorter strikes in the past month. BBC News examines how the strike will effect you and your business.

• Postal workers are engaged in a series of rolling one-day strikes, but why did industrial action become a matter of 24-hour stoppages? 

PrintWeek has reported that "Continued strikes at Royal Mail could force direct marketing companies to use alternative media to disperse information, the Direct Marketing Association (DMA) has said. DMA head of postal affairs Alex Walsh told printweek.com: "The longer strikes go on, the more people are looking at alternatives, such as electronic delivery and traditional methods like TV and the press." He added that once companies change to alternative methods, they usually stay with them. Walsh explained: "It could be sad news for the printing industry because if companies switch to other media, they rarely make the move back to their original methods."

According to The Mirror, "THIS is the proof that Royal Mail planned to slash the pensions of its 167,000 staff. Two weeks ago they printed 170,000 copies of the 24-page glossy colour brochure - pictured here - which also revealed plans to close the pension scheme to new staff. It is packed with detailed calculations of how much the controversial plans would have cost posties. The shock proposals, revealed by the Mirror yesterday, were designed to save £1.5 billion over five years. Last night management admitted they had abandoned plans to send out the documents and said they would be shredded."

As The Times put it: "In Ocean’s Thirteen, the criminal rat-pack led by George Clooney and Brad Pitt, are given the ultimate modern put-down: “You’re analog players in a digital world.” Much the same could be said of the Communication Workers Union, which today will hold another postal strike as it continues to fight the management at Royal Mail. Who cares? These days, strike action by postal workers is not likely to enrage the public nor generate mass sympathy. If the marketing brochures and the utility bills arrive a couple of days late, who’s going to complain?"

The Times also has noted that "Royal Mail has lost a contract worth £8 million a year to deliver goods for Amazon, the online retailer of books, CDs, DVDs and other merchandise. It is the latest in a series of important deals that Royal Mail has lost in the past year as it faces increasing competition from private delivery groups."

The Jerusalem Post has reported that "The Israel Postal Company and Western Union, a leading provider of global money transfer services, said Tuesday they extended their cooperation agreement under which Western Union money transfers have been available at over 500 post office branches around the country for the last 15 years."

July 24, 2007

From the U.S. Postal Service: "A new Postal Service rule goes into effect next week for packages and envelopes that weigh more than 13 ounces, if they’re being mailed with only stamps as postage at a location other than a Post Office retail service counter. Starting Monday, July 30, customers can use one of several convenient online postage applications — available 24/7 — or an Automated Postal Center, if they wish to mail items that weigh more than 13 ounces in Postal Service collection boxes or Post Office lobby mail slots; or if they wish to leave the items for pickup by their letter carriers. Online postage applications include the Postal Service’s Click-N-Ship service on usps.com and PC Postage from an authorized USPS vendor. If a customer is unable to use one of the above methods to prepare and affix postage, items weighing more than 13 ounces must be presented for mailing to an employee at a Post Office retail service counter."

UPS has reported a solid 7.2% increase in diluted earnings per share for the second quarter to $1.04 on a 3.9% gain in revenue. Strong performance by the international package segment and encouraging trends in supply chain and freight overcame a challenging U.S. small package market.

Sharewatch has reported that "The European Commission is calling on the UK, Germany and Sweden to change their legislation on VAT exemption for postal services which are not compatible with its VAT directive. The commission's request takes the form of a reasoned opinion, which is the second stage of infringement proceedings. The EU executive said that the UK and Germany exempt from VAT all or most postal services supplied by their former postal monopolies. Sweden does not exempt postal services. The commission argues that the UK and Germany's VAT exemption hinders effective competition. In Sweden's case, the Brussels body argues that although it has ensured that VAT does not impede competition, it has still failed to apply an exemption which is accordance with community legislation and must be applied in a harmonised manner across the community." See also The Guardian.

The BBC has reported that "Royal Mail has denied a report that it plans to cut the pensions of 167,000 of its postal workers."

The Guardian has reported that:

• A new row has broken out between postal workers and the Royal Mail on the eve of a fresh wave of industrial action which will hit deliveries for the next two weeks. The Communication Workers Union (CWU) said the Royal Mail had printed copies of a document outlining proposed changes to the pensions of almost 170,000 postmen and women. The plans, aimed at tackling a £6 billion shortfall in the organisation's pension fund, included closing the final salary pension scheme to new staff from next year and raising the age at which workers can retire with a full pension from 60 to 65 by 2010, said the union. See also the Evening Standard.

• The government may need to come up with an extra £1bn to fund a massive redundancy programme to help the Royal Mail out of its crisis, a consumer chief warned yesterday before strike action by the Communication Workers Union. David Bland, a regional chairman of Postwatch, believes the Royal Mail has no alternative to automating its letter systems and slimming down its workforce if it wants to survive private-sector competition. He said no one in the industry would win from industrial action at a time when many users were turning to email and other alternatives to the state postal service. "If the Royal Mail is to survive as an end-to-end mail deliverer then it needs massive efficiency gains," Mr Bland said.

Smart Money has reported that "FedEx Freight, the regional less-than-truckload service of FedEx Corp. (FDX), said Monday that it will cut its standard fuel surcharge by 25%, a move designed to boost revenue and ease volatility for customers as the weak housing and automotive markets slow the trucking business. FedEx Freight President and Chief Executive Douglas G. Duncan said the company made the move as a response to customer feedback and as it works to improve its productivity, margins and fuel efficiency."

The Associated Press has reported that "UPS expects a second-quarter profit of $1 to $1.05 per share, compared with earnings of 97 cents per share. Analysts expect profit of $1.03 per share, according to a poll by Thomson Financial. Stifel Nicolaus analyst John Larkin said growth internationally, as well as in the supply chain and freight units, should add upside to the already improving domestic shipping business. New technologies should help reduce labor costs, Larkin said, although the rollout of the company's Package Flow technology "was not as smooth as expected." Additionally, the combination of less-than-truckload services along with parcel and express services could drive some incremental growth, the analyst said. But a major theme for the second quarter will likely be competition, Larkin said, as the fight for market share grows more fierce in domestic ground shipping, and UPS seems to have settled for some less-attractive pricing to maintain its hold over chief competitor FedEx Corp."

The Times has reported that "Royal Mail’s hopes of boosting flagging profits by shaking up its charging structure were dealt a blow yesterday, when the regulator threw out its plans for zonal pricing. Postcomm said it would reject Royal Mail’s proposal to charge according to the costs of delivering in certain areas because it would be “discriminatory”. Rivals to the postal group complained that the plan would enable it to price them out of the market because it could lead prices down in lucrative, city centre locations. Consumers also feared that services to rural areas would suffer as Royal Mail charged more for going there."

AllAfrica.com has reported that "The director general of Botswana Post, Dineo Pule has been faulted for failing to attend the annual congress of the parastatal's workers union in Palapye over the weekend."

The Peninsula has reported that "Postal corporations in the GCC hope to save up to 25 per cent as they jointly awarded a contract to supply plastic bags and envelopes to a Saudi Arabian company. A joint regional committee set up under the auspices of the GCC Secretariat General decided the procurement of these supplies after a bidding process in which many regional firms took part. The Saudi company won the contract. The products to be supplied match international standards."

July 23, 2007

The BBC has reported that "Two sacked postal workers who won unfair dismissal claims after "junk mail" was found in a tea cupboard have now lost their cases on appeal. The original tribunal took the view the mail from Capital One was junk mail and was often unopened or immediately destroyed by the recipient and it was unlikely anyone would complain about a delay. However, the employment appeal tribunal's Lady Smith said: "We do not see that the tribunal were entitled to assume that they would not be bothered about it." Further, Lady Smith added, if the attitude of the recipient was relevant, it could extend to many other items of non "junk" mail recipients might not be in a hurry to receive, ranging from bills to catalogues."

The American Postal Workers Union has posted on its site a nice, simple comparison of the Postal Service's contracts with its clerks and city letter carriers.

The North Jersey Media Group has reported that "The move to privatize delivery has picked up momentum in recent years, particularly under pressure from the Bush administration. Since 2003, so-called contract carriers, i.e., non-union workers, have been utilized in more and more places. Those who run the Postal Service, as well as many outside and non-partisan observers, agree that the service as we once knew it no longer exists. It has, for better or worse, become a business."

Asia Pulse has reported that "Thanks to the robust demand, China's express delivery industry is enjoying faster growth than the national economy and the tertiary industry, the first nationwide survey of express delivery service conducted by State Post Office Bureau shows. In 2006, the added value of the tertiary industry increased 10.3 per cent, while the business revenue of express delivery service grew 25 per cent, 14.7 percentage points higher, according to the survey. The survey showed that the number of entities engaged in express delivery service increased fast last year, with 404 new corporate enterprises entering this business, up 20 per cent."

July 22, 2007

Deepikaglobal has reported that "India's leading telecom service provider Hutch and the Indian Postal services today announced a unique public-private partnership in an endeavour to promote telecom services among the masses."

The Telegraph has reported that "Postal workers have been warned by John Hutton, the new business minister, that they risk destroying the Royal Mail's future by striking - dashing union hopes that the Government might favour their cause."

The BBC Monitoring Service has reported that "Egyptian security forces encircled on Thursday evening, 19 July 2007, the building of the Central Post office Authority in Ramsis and threatened the workers who were staging a sit-in that they would end the strike by force if the workers did not end their sit-in. The security forces encircled the building from all directions and sealed off all the entrances leading to it. They also cut off water and electricity supplies to the building and closed down the toilets in a bid to force the protesters to end their sit-in."

According to Arabian Business, "Bahrain's government has tried to allay postal workers’ fears that the impending privatisation of the service will lead to job cuts." See also Gulf Daily News.

July 21, 2007

Air Cargo World has reported that "DHL has long depended on the capacity of others for its cargo lift, but the operator's latest moves in international and domestic markets show clear signs that controlling capacity is increasingly important in the express business. The carrier took a big step last month toward greater influence - although DHL insists it is not control - of lift with a 49 percent equity stake in ASTAR Air Cargo, one of its two outsourced lift providers in the United States. "Our investment in ASTAR signals another major commitment to the U.S. market by DHL," said Hans Hickler, chief executive officer of DHL Express in the United States."

The Financial Times has reported that "Postal workers around the world have been pulling out the stops to deliver nearly 2.5m pre-ordered copies of the seventh and final Harry Potter book published today. Around 600,000 books will be delivered across Britain, compared with 1.8m in the US and 80,000 in Canada, according to a survey by the Universal Postal Union, the United Nations postal agency. There will also be special deliveries in countries across Europe. "Never before, in the history of the postal service, will postmen and women the world over have delivered so many identical books on a single day," the Swiss-based UPU said." See also UPI.

The Express-Times has reported that "About 70 workers at four independent carriers that serve DHL joined the Teamsters, a union official said."

The Star-Ledger has reported that "Gov. Jon Corzine urged the international shipping company United Parcel Service yesterday to recognize New Jersey's new civil union law and provide health benefits to employees' partners or risk violating the law."

According to the Seattle Times, "The personal mailbox is the latest casualty of suburban sprawl. Nationwide, the U.S. Postal Service increasingly is delivering mail to communal cluster boxes as a way to keep pace with booming residential growth while controlling labor costs. The new strategy, aimed at new developments in fast-growing areas, saves time and money for the postal service. "Instead of going from door to door, from lawn to lawn, from driveway to driveway, we have a central location," said Luvenia Hyson, a postal service regional spokeswoman. But many residents and developers say cluster boxes — traditionally reserved for apartments and townhouses, not single-family homes — are impersonal, inconvenient and downright ugly."

The Associated Press has reported that "Americans apparently think the new "forever" stamp is a good idea. Postmaster General John Potter says 1.2 billion of them have been sold since April. And he says he expects sales to jump in the months before any new rate increase."

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 20, 2007

The latest issue of the PostCom Bulletin is available online. In this issue:

• The contracting out of postal delivery services remains a hot topic as evidenced by this week’s hearing by the House Subcommittee on Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia. Although Postmaster General Jack Potter and Board of Governors Vice Chairman Alan Kessler attempted to smooth over the issue, postal labor leaders said contracting out raises serious public policy issues, especially when the safety and security of the mail is at stake.

• The Association for Postal Commerce told the Postal Regulatory Commission this week that establishing service standards and performance measurement reporting are woven together and impossible to separate. In its comments on service standards and performance measurement systems, PostCom pointed out the interconnection. It said meaningful standards without a full public report of actual performance are of little value to those who rely on mail for business communication and transactional purposes.

• The Postal Regulatory Commission inadvertently reduced some of the drop-ship discounts for Periodicals Mail when it attempted to moderate the proposed rates that Time Warner et. al. put forward in its original complaint document on Periodicals Mail rates. That means the PRC inadvertently reduced the incentive to drop ship, says Peter Moore of Peter J. Moore & Associates Inc.

• Todd Butler of Butler Mailing Services, Inc., thinks the Postal Service blundered big time last month when it chose cable TV to air its first infomercial.

• Postal commentator Murray Comarow applauds Kate Muth’s views on Congress’ role in USPS business.

• Direct mail consultant Cary Baer addresses some of the issues facing the USPS and the American postal industry.

• A recent newspaper editorial serves up some ideas of the Postal Service of the future.

• Governors extend RPN test for one year. Potter explains USPS role in Vote by Mail campaigns. July DMM Update: Mailing standards. USPS Inspector General posts three new reports. FedEx profits up.

• British postal union to escalate strike against Royal Mail. Russian Post cuts money transfer deal with China.

• A list of upcoming postal-related events.

Hey! You've not been getting the weekly PostCom Bulletin--the best postal newsletter anywhere...bar none?  Send us by email your name, company, company title, postal and email address. Get a chance to see what you've been missing.

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The agenda for the August MTAC meeting has been posted on this site.

The Postal Regulatory Commission now has the transcripts from its Los Angeles, Kansas City, and Wilimington, DE field hearings posted on its web site. Also posted you can find a copy of the White Paper by the Express Delivery & Logistics Association "Regarding Implementation of Section 405 of The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act of 2006."

Precision Marketing has reported that "OnePost managing director Graham Cooper is urging Royal Mail and the Communications Workers Union to settle the postal strike before it wreaks havoc in the market."

The Nation told its readers that "we took an important first step in building the community to fight this unfair increase. It was also a moving experience for all of us--a chance to step away from the hard slog of putting out a weekly magazine and listen to readers and friends express their dedication and affection for the magazine."

From PR Newswire: "Stamps.com(R) , the leading provider of Internet-based postage services, today announced the winners of the "PhotoStamps of the Year" contest. The winning PhotoStamps will be exhibited at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum in Washington, DC beginning August 8, 2007."

The Daily Nation has reported that "State-owned mail and courier firm, Posta Kenya, will spend Sh75 million on a master plan for makeover. The face-lift that is meant to boost the corporation’s image and efficiency, is in tune with the Universal Postal Union’s four-year strategy. The repackaging that includes the re-branding of Posta’s banking halls and improvement of its delivery fleet has started in earnest, top of which is the staff training on sales and marketing courses."

According to WHEC-TV, "The lines are longer at the post office and some people are getting their mail later in the day. It's all part of the new U.S. Postal Service. But is customer service suffering? There are fewer people behind the counter, and fewer people delivering the mail. And the post office is beginning to hear complaints from customers."

According to the Financial Times, "Two further rounds of industrial action at Royal Mail have been announced by the Communication Workers Union. Mail staff will walk out for two days over the next two weeks, in a staggered series of one-day strikes designed to cause continuous disruption to postal services and maximise its impact."

The Hindu has reported that "The Telecom and Postal Contractors’ Association has protested against the decision of the Directorate, Department of Posts, New Delhi, to close down the Civil Division Office of the department in Thiruvananthapuram. The association said the decision to close down the office had led to violation of procedural formalities in awarding contract for civil works."

Air Cargo World has reported that "Kitty Hawk announced July 19 that it is exploring strategic alternatives to include raising capital, altering operations, selling assets or divisions of the company or selling the entire company. The parent company of Kitty Hawk Cargo, Ground, and Aircargo hired consultant Raymond James & Associates to assist in the process."

July 19, 2007

USPS DMM Advisory: "In today’s Postal Bulletin we published DMM revisions that modify our mailpiece design requirements to make it easier for mailers to design flat-size pieces. We have removed the requirement for mailers to design folded automation flat-sized pieces so that the address is in view when the final folded edge is at the bottom of the piece and any intermediate bound or folded edge is to the right. This generally applies to newspapers and other "unbound" publications. We also give mailers the option to design flats, including automation flats, with slightly rounded corners when the mailpiece has finished corners that do not exceed a radius of 0.125 inch (1/8 inch)."

The statements offered by witnesses at today's postal oversight hearings are available on the subcommittee web site. 

Statement of Congressman Sires
Statement of Mr. Kessler
Statement of Mr. Potter
Statement of Mr. Williams
Statement of Mr. Burrus
Statement of Mr. Young
Statement of Mr. Pitts
Statement of Mr. Hegarty
Statement of Chairman Danny K. Davis

The Washington Post has noted that "most Fed officials expect the economy to continue to expand at a more moderate pace of around 2.5 percent through 2008. The Labor Department said yesterday that consumer prices rose 0.2 percent in June, held down by falling energy prices. The department's consumer price index, a widely followed inflation gauge, rose 2.7 percent in the 12 months ended in June." [Keep an eye on the CPI. It's the best indicator you're likely to get to forecast realistic future postal rate increases.]

TechWeb has reported that "Major U.S. banks are rolling out a new breed of automated teller machines that scan checks and cash, thereby eliminating the need for envelopes, reducing the cost to banks, and providing customers with receipts verifying the deposited amount."

DM News has noted the following: "According to the US Postal Service’s 2005 Household Diary Study, the average American household receives 18.5 pieces of advertising mail each week. From the same study, consumers do read their mail. In fact, 85 percent of US households usually read some or all of the advertising mail they receive. The Environmental Protection Agency found that direct mail accounts for only 2.2 percent (in weight) of the total municipal solid waste generated in the US annually. According to the American Forest & Paper Association, a record 53.4 percent or 53.5 million tons of the paper consumed in the US was recovered for recycling in 2006. Paper recovery now averages nearly 360 pounds for every American."

ReporterNet.com has reported that "Local state-owned postal operator Bulgarian Posts will negotiate with T-Post, the nation's first private postal carrier, access to its nationwide office network after the relevant ordinance on network interconnectivity is adopted, Dnevnik a.m. reports. If the document takes effect, the company will start negotiations with the new operators as soon as 2007, said Bulgarian Posts executive director Entsislav Harmandjiev. Bulgarian Posts operates a network of some 3,000 offices across the country."

GovExec.com has reported that "Faced with the prospect of missing out on the Army's most lucrative logistics contract in Iraq, a pair of teams of defense contractors is challenging the service's decision to award the work to three rival companies. The three prime contractors will compete to deliver fuel, water and food, as well as field operations such as postal services, laundry and sanitation, to troops stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan."

From eMediawire: "TrackPackages.com has released a new version of the popular search engine tool for RSS readers, and also a new Google Gadget, which extends the functionality of the search box to personalized iGoogle homepages, other RSS readers and embedding in web pages or email. This is a handy desktop tool for retail and auction buyers and sellers who regularly deal with multiple package tracking carriers, and prefer and single simple interface to begin their package search. The gadget or RSS feed sits in a very compact spot on your homepage or feedreader, and launches your desired tracking carrier number from a single text box."

According to Union Network International, "The National Association of Letter Carriers, a UNI postal affiliate that represents 222,000 postal employees in the USA, reached agreement on a new five-year collective bargaining contract on 12 July. NALC President William H. Young credited his union’s activists for forcing the Postal Service’s negotiators back to the bargaining table. A majority of the House of Representatives co-sponsored an anti-contracting out resolution and a third of the U.S. Senate backed a legislative ban. Fearing a political defeat in Congress, the Postal Service sued for peace. The agreement prohibits the contracting out of existing letter carrier work and establishes a six-month moratorium on outsourcing new deliveries to allow the parties to establish further restrictions on the practice."

According to Online Media Daily, "U.S. advertisers believe the most effective online marketing tool is their own Web site, according to Outsell Inc.'s Annual Ad Spending Study--and they'll spend almost 12% of their total 2007 advertising budgets on their own home pages."

The Scotsman has reported that "postal strikes, called in a bitter row over pay and jobs, are to be escalated, disrupting deliveries for two weeks, it was announced yesterday. The Communication Workers Union unveiled a fresh programme of industrial action to start next Wednesday evening." See also The Times.

From the U.S. Patent Office: "A method and apparatus for sorting articles to a delivery point sequence includes at least one article sorter adapted to sort articles and a conveying system operable to arrange and convey containers of articles sorted in a first sort pass to an induct of the article sorter for a second sort pass or process of the articles. The system or method automatically sorts and conveys trays containing sorted articles from a discharge of at least one sorting assembly to an induct of the at least one sorting assembly. The conveying assembly may have a generally continuous conveying track and is operable to automatically provide the trays to the induct of the at least one sorting assembly in a sequenced manner."

The International News has reported that "The news that post offices in Rawalpindi will soon be providing the service of collection/payment of utility bills through cheques at the customers' doorstep will definitely bring relief to the ordinary citizens considering the hardships they have to endure in the payment of bills at banks. A similar scheme is already in operation in Karachi. But unfortunately it has not been much of a success as only a limited number of post offices are said to be offering this service. It is sincerely hoped that the government will expand the range of this facility in Karachi by including more post offices under this scheme, including other cities such as Rawalpindi."