November 19, 2008

The Times has reported that "The Post Office is in talks with the Bank of Ireland to offer a current account that would give customers an unlimited guarantee on deposits. Ministers are under pressure to use the Post Office to create a public sector “people’s bank” that will provide basic financial services to those who most need them. Royal Mail, which runs the Post Office, is understood to be in discussions with the Bank of Ireland, which already runs a number of its existing financial services."

November 18, 2008

From Business Wire: "Research and Markets has announced the addition of the "Snapshots Slovak Republic Postal Services 2008" report to their offering."

An edited transcript from Commissioner Ruth Goldway’s keynote talk at Parcel Forum in Chicago last month has been posted to the Postal Regulatory Commission website.

As Parcel magazine has noted, "The recent rash of DHL announcements may have left you with more questions than answers. To paraphrase Mark Twain, "The rumors of my demise have been greatly exaggerated." And in spite of what rumors you might have heard, DHL will maintain a presence in the US."

As AuctionBytes has noted, "The U.S. Postal Service announced that Express Mail "Hold For Pickup" is now available for online shippers. Express Mail packages can be held at Post Offices for pickup for security (convenient for residential deliveries), and customers can choose Express Mail Hold For Pickup service through Click-N-Ship on usps.com. A Hold For Pickup package is shipped directly to a Post Office, instead of being left at the recipient's address. The package is then held at the Post Office until picked up anytime during office hours."

The following reports have been posted on the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General website (http://www.uspsoig.gov/).  If you have additional questions concerning the report, please contact Wally Olihovik at 703.248. 2201, or Agapi Doulaveris at 703.248.2286.  

• Management of Delivery Points – Southeast Area (Report Number DR-AR-08-012)   http://www.uspsoig.gov/FOIA_files/DR-AR-08-012.pdf  

• Vehicle Maintenance Facilities – Scheduled Maintenance Service in the Great Lakes Area (Report Number DR-AR-08-009)   http://www.uspsoig.gov/FOIA_files/DR-AR-08-009.pdf  

• Vehicle Maintenance Facilities –Scheduled Maintenance Service in the New York Metro Area (Report Number DR-AR-08-011)   http://www.uspsoig.gov/FOIA_files/DR-AR-08-011.pdf  

• Vehicle Maintenance Facilities – Scheduled Maintenance Service in the Pacific Area (Report Number DR-AR-08-010)   http://www.uspsoig.gov/FOIA_files/DR-AR-08-010.pdf

An archive of the oversight hearing for Board of Governors Nominee Robert McGowan is now available online.

DMM Advisory:  "See usps.com/prices for all of the new shipping services prices announced last week. We have links to downloadable pricing files and links to the Federal Register notices for domestic and international services, with detailed information about the changes, and we will add other information as it becomes available."

The Azeri Press Agency has reported that "One of nine proposals Azerbaijan put forward for the amendment of the Universal Postal Union (UPU) Convention has been accepted. The proposal makes possible mutual debt billing among postal operators, settlement of problems in preparation of statistical reports and misunderstanding in auditing."

Puls Biznesu has reported that "The liberalization of the postal market due in 2012, will cut income of Poczta Polska, the Polish Post (PP). The financial gap should be made up by financial services."

According to Hellmail, "with TNT and other rivals taking an even greater share of the business mail market, the government seemingly unsure of quite what to do about the universal service, post offices, and exactly how to regulate the market in a way that is sustainable, Royal Mail is in no position to stand still. The group has repeatedly said that is losing money on the USO hand over fist, and has already lost a quarter of its business to competitors. Some estimates now put that figure at closer to a third."

The DM Bulletin has reported that "Direct mail and print company Mail and Print Services (MPS) has created the first fully-biodegradable window envelope to be approved by Royal Mail. The MPS Envirlope features a paper-based transparent window instead of plastic film."

According to postal commentator Gene Del Polito, the chatter surrounding a recent Associated Press piece involving the Postmaster General and Countrywide is a disgrace. "What a wonderful way to reward good people for public service," Del Polito said. "Just think, if you have the guts to forgo millions of dollars in private sector salaries and benefits for the sake of public service, you earn for yourself to have your integrity questioned and your name dragged through every muddy puddle people can find. This is disgusting, and it shouldn't be tolerated."

Federal Register: The Postal Regulatory Commission is adding Priority Mail Contract 3 (MC2009-4 and CP2009-5) to the Competitive Product List. It is also noticing a related contract. These actions are consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations and a related Postal Service request. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law. Effective November 18, 2008.

According to the American Postal Workers Union, "As the Bush administration prepares to leave office, it is giving workers one more kick in the teeth: The Department of Labor announced last week that it would implement new regulations [PDF] governing the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) that will make it harder for workers who are covered by the law to use the leave."

The Guam Pacific Daily News has reported that "the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency issued citations at two Guam facilities for underground storage tank violations. They issued citations to the U.S. Post Office Main Facility for a $500 penalty and Triple J Motors for $600. The Post Office had release detection violations." 

The Olympian has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service is losing $345,000 a year by consolidating Olympia mail services with Tacoma, said Olympia postal employees picketing Monday outside the Jefferson Street post office. But a spokesman for the post office says the Postal Service is actually saving money through the consolidation as expected. Picketers provided a written review of the merger by the federal agency that shows $345,000 in ongoing added expenses. Documents also show it cost $1.2 million to initially consolidate the mail services. "It took two years for them to do that review, and they finally admitted it was a $1.5 million loss," said John Libert, a steward with the Olympia Local of the American Postal Workers Union."

Direct has reported that "Direct Brands, the parent company of book club marketer Bookspan, has let a handful of employees go over the last few months. The company may be reducing, if not eliminating, its reliance on direct mail as a prospecting tool, sources speculated. Najafi Companies acquired Direct Group North America, which includes Bookspan, Columbia House and Book-of-the-Month Club, as well as other brands, from Bertelsmann AG in July. Najafi Companies changed its name to Direct Brands in August."

Bloomberg has reported that "Major League Baseball will hold talks with DHL about the future of its sponsorship agreements after the Deutsche Post AG unit withdrew from the U.S. express- delivery market."

The Canadian Press has reported that "Canada Post administration and technical staff went on strike early Monday in a dispute over disability and family-leave benefits. The 2,100 members of the Union of Postal Communications Employees include counter staff, technical support and other support positions. Canada Post issued a statement late Sunday saying mail delivery would not be affected by the walkout, which follows a breakdown of negotiations last week." See also The Gazette.

The Star has reported that "Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Kong Cho Ha said as of Oct 31, RM16mil in commission had been paid to Pos Malaysia for handling cash, postal orders, money orders and bank transactions for petrol rebates."

As KIMT has noted, "In an ever increasing effort to save money the U.S. Postal Service is encouraging green routes. Neither the elements nor a bad economy can stop U.S. mail carriers. But to save a little green the USPS is doing a little adjusting. "Right now we are in the process of doing minor route adjustments. They'll help us eliminate using a car which will help cut costs. They call them green routes," said Mason City Postmaster Scott Pardoe."

According to The Herald, "The Post Office should be separated from the Royal Mail to give the business greater commercial freedom, the industry's regulator suggested yesterday. Postcomm said the government should consider the demerger to enable the two "very different" businesses to focus more attention on their "significant, but divergent" problems. Separation would provide an opportunity to reinforce the identity of each business, one a retail network with a social role, the other made up of communications and logistics with a commercial focus, said Postcomm."

The e-Consultancy has reported that "Mehdiward, software developers and systems integrators, have released Postcode Server Web Edition (WE) a solution to allow e-commerce and database users to validate UK postal addresses against the Royal Mail PAF file."

November 17, 2008

The Dead Tree Edition has reported that "Postal officials are hinting of another delay in implementing the Intelligent Mail Barcode, just three months after insisting the key initiative was on schedule. Information-technology issues are causing the latest delay to the ill-fated IMB program, resulting in a three-phase implementation, a source told Dead Tree Edition. A full-service option with rate incentives was supposed to be introduced in May 2009, with IMB becoming mandatory in May 2010. The U.S. Postal Service decided early this year to delay implementation because of unresolved customers concerns. The IMB will provide a unique identification to each piece and container of mail, enabling the Postal Service (and mailers) to track the flow of mail and to optimize mail handling. Mailers and their vendors, especially printers, have been complaining for years that their input has been ignored by postal officials who were developing the IMB program. For example, there have been battles over whether the specifications for the barcode itself could be met by the printers' inkjet equipment. MTAC meetings relating to IMB have reportedly become increasingly contentious in recent months, and many issues needed for implementation have yet to be resolved."

Multichannel Merchant has reported that "New standards for letter-size catalogs, aka “slim-jims,” could be released by the end of the year, says U.S. Postal Service spokesperson David Partenheimer. “We plan on publishing new standards for slim-jims in the Federal Register soon, based on the results of this year's testing,” he says. The tall skinny trim size (roughly 6-1/8" × 11-1/2" and typically up to 1/4" thick) is cheaper to mail than a full-size book, and uses less paper. But a proposed rule adjustment to slim-jim requirements by the USPS could eliminate significant savings. The Postal Service says that slim-jims are too fat under the current requirements, and the tabs required to seal the pages aren't strong enough. These factors are causing to jam the USPS's automated processing equipment. The Postal Service wants to change the size standards for slim-jims, cutting down thickness — and therefore page count — by nearly half. It also wants to beef up tabbing requirements, which could affect catalog open rates. Partenheimer says the first round of Federal Register notices will announce the changes the USPS hopes to implement. “Customers will have about 45 days to comment on our proposal and then we will retool our standards as much as operationally feasible to accommodate the concerns they express, he says."

Uni Global Union has told its members that "UNI Post & Logistics affiliate in Hong Kong, PEG (Postal & Express Workers General Union), have been organising workers in DHL Hong Kong into their union and have been seeking access to DHL workplaces so they can meet workers and discuss union membership and the issues they face as logistics workers. However DHL management have refused access to DHL workplaces to UNI and PEG claiming that this would favour one union over another."

  According to Logistics Management, "it is possible that the U.S. parcel market will return to a basic duopoly until the USPS makes major technology, pricing, and operational improvements."  

As Advertising Age has noted, "If you think you're insulated from the death rattle of Detroit, think again. General Motors Corp., Ford Motor Co. and Chrysler together accounted for 3.3% of 2007 U.S. measured ad spending, according to Ad Age DataCenter's analysis of TNS Media Intelligence data. Big deal? Yes -- as in $4.6 billion in measured spending."

The Wall Street Journal has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc. has dropped plans to reveal how much extra business it expects during the upcoming U.S. holiday season, highlighting a weakening economy and the continuing decline in retail-sector activity. The largest U.S. package shipper by volume traditionally forecasts the volume it expects on the peak days before Christmas as personal and business-to-consumer traffic climaxes ahead of the holiday. In what has been a show of logistical prowess, the company has also revealed how many temporary workers it would hire for the seasonal surge." See also Reuters.

United Press International has reported that "Rain, sleet and hail notwithstanding, the U.S. Postal Service said it would cut service hours after losing $2.8 billion at the end of the 2008 fiscal year. With national mail volume dropping 4.5 percent in the year ending Sept. 30, the agency is offering 156,000 employees early retirement, said spokesman Gerald McKiernan, USA Today reported Monday."

Welcome to PostCom Radio Postal Podcast 11.17.08 Join PostCom President Gene Del Polito, PostCom Vice President Jessica Lowrance, and Grayhair Software vice presidents Angelo Anagnostopoulos and Everette Mills, Grayhair Software's manager, analytic services, in a discussion regarding the Intelligent Mail Barcode. This is the second in a series on IMB

According to the DM Bulletin, "Unpersonalised direct mail is more likely to be seen as harmful to the environment than mailouts that are personally addressed and delivered by the postman, new research has found. The survey found that 46% of people view unpersonalised leaflets, coupons and samples as being bad for the environment, compared with 20% of people holding the same opinion for personalised direct mail." [EdNote: This kind of thinking is not only wrong-headed, it's not particularly good for the economy or universal mail service...provided by a state operator or the private sector.]

The International Business Times has reported that "Newgistics Inc., the nation's only provider of postal-based solutions addressing the areas of small parcel delivery, returns management and mail-processing solutions, today announced a customized program specifically for small parcel residential shippers impacted by DHL Express' recent announcement that it is exiting the express and ground delivery business in the United States. Newgistics will work with DHL Express clients to gain a complete understanding of their small parcel shipping needs and develop a comprehensive solution that is tailored to address each business' specific needs. Newgistics' customized program will help businesses impacted by the recent announcement work through this critical period while fully optimizing their shipping environment."

The Saipan Tribune has reported that "The U.S. Postal Service on Saipan saw a significant drop in mails received in Fiscal Year 2008 covering the period from October 2007 to September 2008. Postmaster Hector Medina said the decreased volume amounts to about 9 percent and the biggest drop was in business mails."

Federal Register:  "The Postal Service gives notice of its intent to file a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add the Canada Post-- United States Postal Service Contractual Bilateral Agreement for Inbound Competitive Services to the Competitive Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642. DATES: November 17, 2008."

The Press has reported that "strike action by York postal workers during the busy run-up to Christmas got one step closer over the weekend. Members of the Communication Workers’ Union (CWU) unanimously voted to ballot for strike action over a controversial decision to stop sorting second-class mail at the Leeman Road depot. The decision comes as the company prepares for its busiest period. Royal Mail delivers 4.1 million items in the YO postcode area on an average week, but this figure rises to 5.5 million in the week before Christmas."

The Telegraph has reported that "Almost a quarter of customers at post offices are spending ten minutes or more queuing, a survey has found."

Voxy has reported that "New Zealand Post today launched a new online service to help household customers redirect mail."

The Cambridge News has reported that "late deliveries of post are causing havoc for businesses and residents across Cambridge, it has been claimed. Since the News revealed that several postal rounds in the city have been cut, causing a massive backlog of post at the city's Henley Road delivery office, we have been inundated with reports of delivery problems. Some businesses claim they have not received any post on some days, while others say mail is arriving as late as 3pm, owing to the new, longer rounds imposed on the city's postmen and women."

The Associated Press has reported that "The Postal Service is investigating whether the nation's postmaster general improperly received a sweetheart deal on a mortgage from Countrywide Financial Corp., the chairman of the service's governing board said. Postmaster General John E. Potter is one of several prominent current and former U.S. officials who received discounts and other benefits from the mortgage giant. The Postal Service has hired an outside investigator to review the deal, which reportedly included one shaved point and waived fees for Potter's $322,700 loan. "We're taking it seriously enough that we wanted it reviewed and we didn't want it done internally," the chairman of the Postal Service Board of Governors, Alan Kessler, told The Associated Press. Potter did not return an e-mail seeking comment, and a Postal Service spokesman said the postmaster general would have no comment. Potter told the magazine in August that he did not know he was getting a deal on the loan."

Asia Pulse has reported that "The Legislative Chamber of Oliy Majlis of Uzbekistan has considered a draft law "On the introduction of changes and amendments to the Law of Uzbekistan "On postal communication" in the second reading on 11 November. The draft law improves legal base for activity of enterprises in postal communication in Uzbekistan in line with the modern trends on development of postal and courier markets. The amendments offers new model of organization of relations in postal service market, which will also separate postal and courier services markets. Courier markets will be also regulated with the Law "On postal communication". The law guarantees rendering of universal services on affordable prices. The law also sets special authorized body, which will ensure that universal services rendered in line with the legislation."

GMA News has noted that "The trend in postal mail deliveries is decreasing with the increasing access to the Internet of the urban populace, according to regional officials of the Philippine Postal Corporation (Philpost)."

MarketWire has reported that "Canada Post has presented a final offer to the Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE), in an attempt to avert a strike that could begin as early as tomorrow. Talks between Canada Post and the UPCE, part of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC) broke off last week." See also CNews.

"In an effort to optimize and maximize the effectiveness of the services provided by its Postal Technology Centre (PTC), the UPU has signed an agreement with the Postal Union of the Americas, Spain and Portugal (PUASP), making the Montevideo Regional Support Centre a worldwide technical support centre. The UPU has five Regional Support Centres (Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Tunisia, Tanzania (United Rep.) and Singapore), which are attached to the PTC in Berne.   The new worldwide technical support centre will allow the UPU to improve its service provision to operators."

Advertising Age has reported that "Satellite-TV firm Dish Network and ad-tech firm Invidi struck an agreement last week that involves "advanced receivers," "targeted advertising delivery" and "dynamic commercial insertion." The Dish-Invidi pact calls for developing of the ability to sell ads that can be sent to specific households based on geographic and demographic information."

November 16, 2008

The Federal Times has reported that "Add the U.S. Postal Service to the list of ailing businesses seeking help from Congress. The agency asked Congress last week to allow it to dip into a trust fund to pay for its retirees’ health care. The board asked Congress last week to waive the $2.3 billion contribution. Instead, the Postal Service would pay this year’s health care premiums out of the trust fund — a short-term savings, but one that leaves potential risk for future retirees. Kessler said he was confident that Congress would approve the request, possibly as soon as this week. But it will likely meet some skepticism on Capitol Hill, such as from Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, who has spoken publicly about the importance of health care for postal retirees. Collins’ office did not respond to a request for comment."

As Hellmail put it: "The French certainly know their own minds and despite the French government deciding to call a halt (for the moment) to a partial sell-off of La Poste to raise capital ahead of full liberalisation, amidst fears it could face knock-down bids in a recession, postal workers still plan to strike on Saturday regardless. To be fair, it isn't just postal workers protesting this week. Railway and airport workers are none too happy either. With a worsening global crisis and the prospect of many jobs lost as a result, French unions are looking for positive action on the part of the government to make the best of a what looks likely to be extremely lean times. That said, once the French decide to do something." See also Reuters.

The Sunday Post has reported that "The Revenue Commissioners has collected more than €2 million in duty and Vat from over 240,000 parcels this year, including packages containing electrical goods, fashion items and medicines. Some of these were ordered online for €85, but the Revenue subsequently sought a 17 per cent duty charge, 21 per Vat charge and postal charges from their purchasers." 

November 15, 2008

Postalnews.com has posted a link to minutes of a meeting held November 12 between the USPS and NAPS.

Politico has reported that "Six members of President-elect Barack Obama’s transition team for government operations worked in the Clinton administration, and one of them runs a consulting firm that has listed Freddie Mac as a client. The group will review the nuts and bolts of federal agencies, from managing government property to hiring government workers to handling national archives and official records. The other two members of the transition team include Stephen Crawford, a deputy director of the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program, who’ll work on the U.S. Postal Service and Postal Regulatory Commission; and Jane Woodfin, legislative director in Vice President-elect Joe Biden’s Senate office, who’ll work on the GSA review."

Uni Global Union has reported that "UNI affiliate in Austria, GPF is taking strike action to prevent further post office closures which they say are bad for the population and destroy of jobs. They are also protesting outsourcing are are demanding that there be no further outsourcing of service and sorting."

The Miami Herald has reported that "Swamped by illegal shipment of packages, the economic crisis and competition by the U.S. Postal Service, private Cuba shipping firms are witnessing an unprecedented collapse of their business, according to industry representatives in South Florida. For the first time in a long time, industry executives are seeing major decreases of up to 50 percent in their operations. Low sales have forced cutbacks in personnel, curbs on the frequency of package shipments and deep service discounts."

The Jakarta Post has reported that "The Attorney General's Office (AGO) announced Friday it was ready to bring president director of state postal company PT Pos Indonesia Hana Suryana to court for his alleged role in a graft case."

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

• Postmaster General Jack Potter and USPS Chief Financial Officer Glen Walker this week briefed the Board of Governors about the Postal Service’s financial situation and its net loss of $2.8 billion for FY 2008. Potter addressed the Postal Service’s volume losses and the resulting increase in postal debt, and detailed current efforts to help offset the deficit.
• The USPS will increase prices for all shipping services, beginning in early 2009. Prices will increase January 18 for Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select, Parcel Return Service, and some international shipping products. New prices for mailing services will be announced in February 2009 and become effective 90 days later.
• The USPS will increase prices for all shipping services, beginning in early 2009. Prices will increase January 18 for Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select, Parcel Return Service, and some international shipping products. New prices for mailing services will be announced in February 2009 and become effective 90 days later.
• The Quad/Graphics postal and technology forum drew a large number of attendees to Wisconsin last week despite the dismal state of the U.S. economy. Sessions included Intelligent Mail barcode implementation, move update compliance, greening the mail, co-mail, “slim jim” testing, distribution and mail delivery, and USPS pricing initiatives.
• The Postal Service says benefits gained from Intelligent Mail barcodes will more than justify mailers’ expense and participation. Still many mailers question whether imposing an IMB requirement in the absence of any immediate recognition in postal prices will produce enough benefits to justify the necessary investments in equipment and technology. PostCom Vice President Jessica Lowrance examines the issues in this postal perspective.
• Postal Service says it won’t cut 40,000 employees. USPS recognized for IT leadership. Senate to hold confirmation hearing on BOG nominee McGowan.
• Postal previews.

The PostCom Bulletin is distributed via NetGram

November 14, 2008

The Courier-Journal has reported that "Approximately 300 of Louisville’s 900 traditional blue collection mail boxes will be removed from their locations starting early next week. David Walton, U.S. Postal Service spokesman, said the boxes being removed have been severely underused and will be removed to cut costs. He said the removal process will have three phases and take three weeks to complete. The boxes being removed are spread throughout the city. Walton said USPS tests showed the boxes in question were handling far less than the minimum number of pieces of mail required to keep them in place. A box needs to average more than 25 pieces of mail per day, he said. “The 300 being removed were averaging five pieces of mail per day.”

According to The Street, "Millions of consumers have switched to electronic bill payment to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and save paper and money. Each person can save up to $100 a year by paying online, and the rewards are even better for a company that switches to e-billing. Switching to paperless billing is a great way to increase your company's commitment to the environment. Paper billing has a hefty impact on the environment. In 2006, the U.S. Postal Service delivered 19 billion paper bills to American households. That requires paper, about 533 million pounds of it, as well as lots of wood and water to make the paper in the first place. Delivering the bills requires transportation, which uses fossil fuels and emits greenhouse gases. And when customers pay bills by sending paper checks through the mail, they almost double the environmental impact of billing. According to the Pay It Green Alliance, converting 10,000 paper bills and checks to electronic transmittal would save 3,729 pounds of paper, eliminate 148,398 pounds of greenhouse gas emissions and prevent 35,566 gallons of wastewater from polluting our water bodies."

Dow Jones has reported that "FedEx Corp. said it will increase standard list rates for FedEx Ground and FedEx Home Delivery by an average of 5.9% starting Jan. 5, not the 6.9% announced in September, as the shipping giant benefits from slumping fuel costs and is hampered by falling demand. The new rates compare with what rival United Parcel Service Inc. (UPS) announced last month - a 5.9% increase for ground service and 4.9% for air. The weakening economy has meant consumers are spending less to ship and demand has dropped. Postal and logistics giant Deutsche Post AG (DPW.XE), which has tried challenging FedEx and UPS with its DHL operations, said this week that it will exit from its U.S. domestic air and ground business by the end of January."

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

From PR Newswire: "Smart marketers know that in challenging economic times, it's the marketing resources that often are the first to be trimmed. They also know that reduced emphasis on marketing generally leads to fewer sales, not improved revenues. Experian Marketing Services (http://www.experianmarketingservices.com/), in conjunction with the Direct Marketing Association (http://www.the-dma.org/index.php), will host a virtual seminar (http://www.the-dma.org/councilevents/experianNov08/) on Nov. 19, from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. Eastern time, for direct marketers who often find their goals sidelined and budgets cut in the name of cost savings due to a slow economy. Featuring several analytical and data integration experts from Experian Marketing Services, the seminar will walk marketers through key steps to more effectively prove their value and produce measurable results that can transform their departments from cost centers to profit generators."

Federal Register:

• The Commission is adding Priority Mail Contract 2 to the Competitive Product List. This action is consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations and a recent Postal request. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law. Effective November 14, 2008.
• The Commission is adding Parcel Return Service Contract 1 to the Competitive Product List. This action is consistent with changes in a recent law governing postal operations and a recent Postal request. Republication of the lists of market dominant and competitive products is also consistent with new requirements in the law. DATES: Effective November 14, 2008.
• Under a new law, the Postal Service must file an annual compliance report with the Postal Regulatory Commission on costs, revenues, rates, and quality of service associated with its products. It has filed documents with the Commission to change some of the methods it uses to compile the fiscal year 2008 report. In the Commission's view, these documents constitute a rulemaking petition. Therefore, this document provides an opportunity for the public to comment on potential changes in periodic reporting rules. DATES: 1. Reserved for technical conference: November 21, 2008. 2. Initial comments: December 1, 2008. 3. Reply comments: December 10, 2008. 

Federal Register:  "The Postal Service gives notice of its intent to file a request with the Postal Regulatory Commission to add the Canada Post-- United States Postal Service Contractual Bilateral Agreement for Inbound Market-Dominant Services to the Market-Dominant Products List pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3642 and of its exercise of its authority to adjust rates for that product pursuant to 39 U.S.C. 3622. DATES: November 14, 2008."

The Kansas State Collegian has noted that "It is just as difficult to justify a monopoly now as it was in the 1800s when the USPS squeezed competitors out of the market through fiat. The government is hardly the only able body when it comes to delivering letters. FedEx and UPS already have the infrastructure built for parcel delivery; they could almost immediately expand into first-class letters — and likely with greater efficiency than shown by the government.     This begs the question, “Why is the government even in the postal business anyway?”

The Warsaw Business Journal has reported that "The management board of Polish Post (PP) will discuss its restructuring program on Friday, which should bring about savings of zł.500 million."

Transport Intelligence has reported that "TNT Post, part of Netherlands-based global mail and express group TNT, yesterday (November 13) issued a statement saying it could not accept an agreement reached earlier that day by Dutch mail service provider Sandd, Deutsche Post and a number of trade unions on terms and conditions of employment in the Dutch postal sector. It claimed the agreement, which it said neither TNT Post nor subsidiary Netwerk VSP were involved in reaching, was in no way different from an agreement in principle made on April 24, 2008, "in that it is still too soft and offers an insufficient basis for solid terms and conditions of employment". Accordingly, it continued, TNT Post and Netwerk VSP, as well as ABVAKABO, the trade union with the most members in the postal sector, did not support the agreement."

From Business Wire: "Earth Class Mail Corp., the global leader in delivering postal mail via the Internet, announces the appointment of former New Zealand Post and Royal Mail executive Elmar Toime to its Board of Advisors."

Hellmail has reported that "Around 40,000 employees at Swiss Post are to see a wage rise of 3.1% for 2009. The negotiating teams of Swiss Post and the unions Kommunikation and Transfair have reached agreement on the salary measures for 2009. An increase of 3.1% has been ageed. Moreover, 0.8% of the total salary sum will be used to compensate individual performance. The decision-making bodies of the three social partners still have to approve the outcome."

The Financial Times has reported that "The Post Office was Thursday awarded a £1bn five-year contract to retain its benefits card account, after ministers axed a procurement process that in March put the business out to competitive tender."

DM News has published a point-counter point piece on reducing the days of mail delivery by one day.

From FedBizOpps.gov: "The United States Postal Service (USPS) is seeking to obtain information on potential strategic sources for developing, acquiring, and managing a system to automate the processing of residual letter and flat volumes. These residual letter mail and flat mail volumes manifest themselves as current letter and flat automation rejects or non-automation compatible mailpieces. The new system will replace the current manual distribution processes of sorting letter and flat rejects or non-automation compatible mailpieces. Respondents to this Sources Sought Notice are requested to submit "white papers" on their approach or solution for the automation of residual letter and flat volumes."

From PR Newswire: "In response to the latest USPS Move Update requirement going into effect on November 23, 2008, VeraData unveiled FreeNCOA.com, an online tool that provides a free report to direct marketers identifying the number of moves or undeliverable records in any U.S. Business or Consumer database. The service is fast, simple to use and does not require users to download software or put the files in any specific format. There is no limit to the number of records that marketers can run, after which they will receive National Change of Address (NCOA(Link)) and Delivery Point Validation (DPV) reports."

Multichannel Merchant has reported that "USPS shipping services prices will increase an average of 5%: Express Mail will increase 5.7%; Priority Mail will increase 3.9%; Parcel Select will increase 5.9%; Parcel Return Service will increase 5.3% and International Shipping Services will increase 8.5%. This is the first time the USPS has adjusted prices for its shipping services on a different schedule from its mailing service price adjustments. Price changes for mailing services, including stamp prices, will be announced in February, and will take effect in May." See also Traffic World and the Associated Press.

Posted on this site is the latest issue of National Association of Postal Supervisors Legislative and Regulatory Update. In this issue: * The Future is Now, USPS Seeks to Realign Its Retiree Health Benefit Obligations * Leadership Changes in Postal Oversight Committees * Possibly Looking for Tickets to the Inauguration? *Transition Quick Links. 

The Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs will hold a confirmation hearing on Monday, November 17, regarding the nomination of Robert W. McGowan to the USPS Board of Governors. The hearing will be held in Dirksen 342. This committee’s hearings are often accessible by webcast (http://hsgac.senate.gov/public/).

November 13, 2008

The U.S. Postal Service has announced that pricing for shipping services will change on Sunday, Jan. 18, the Postal Service announced today following a vote by its Board of Governors. Prices will change on Sunday, Jan. 18, for Express Mail, Priority Mail, Parcel Select, Parcel Return Service and some international shipping products. Overall, shipping services prices will increase an average of 5 percent. The new prices are available at www.usps.com/prices (click “New Shipping Prices” box).  

MarketWire has reported that "Canada Post wants to reassure its customers that mail delivery will be unaffected by any labour disruption by the Union of Postal Communications Employees (UPCE). Talks between Canada Post and the UPCE, part of the Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), have broken off and the union has filed a 72-hour notice of strike action."

The Royal Gazette has reported that "Bermuda-based data protection and e-commerce specialist QuoVadis has been appointed to provide certification technology to Liechtenstein's national postal service. Post Liechtenstein selected QuoVadis to supply the Public Key Infrastructure (PKI) technology behinds its new LIEzertifikat offering. LIEzertifikat provides accredited digital certificates, which may be used to securely identify their users online and to create legally valid electronic signatures."

From Canada NewsWire: "The Canadian Union of Postal Workers will be at the Conservative policy convention in Winnipeg today to raise concerns about a largely unknown government review that will determine the future of universal public postal service in our country."

At today's meeting of the U.S. Postal Service Board of Governors:

• Postmaster General Jack Potter announced that the Postal Service's Competitive Products will face a price change this January 2009, and every January from this point forward. This will be consistent with USPS' competitors price changes.
• Glenn Walker, USPS CFO, announced today that volumes were down 9.5B pieces from 2007 or 4.5%. This is the largest single year decline ever for the Postal Service. Revenue remained flat due to the annual price increase. The Postal Service had an operating income of $2.794B. It paid $5.6B into the Retiree Health Benefit Fund, making the Postal Service's net loss for 2008 was $2.806B. A copy of Mr. Walker's presentation has been posted on this site. The Postal Service site has posted a copy of the Postal Service's press release.

MediaDailyNews has reported that "Digital media, it seems, is just as vulnerable as print in the current economic downturn. After years of swearing by digital media, magazine publishers have cut their digital staffs over the last few weeks. The reason is the bottom line: Digital operations weren't making enough money."

UPS today announced it is deploying a new combination scanner and paperless printing device from HP that will print millions of sorting labels directly on packages, helping the world's largest delivery company reduce operational costs while slashing its consumption of paper.

La Prensa has reported that "Correos de Mexico (formerly the Mexican Postal Service) consolidated its modernization and transformation operation, after an intensive management scheme that has become one of the best public companies in the postal world, said Purification Carpinteyro, the under secretary Communications of the SCT, who added that he has allowed 30 per cent increase their income, moreover, that the agency has reduced delivery times three, five and seven days, depending on the different areas of the country."

Dow Jones has reported that "Austrian postal service provider Oesterreichische Post AG, or Austrian Post, Thursday said its net profit for the third quarter fell 38% on the year, due mainly to negative one-off effects and the loss of its two largest corporate customers. Net profit for the three months ended Sept. 30 came to EUR17.4 million, down from EUR28.2 million a year earlier, and EUR20 million below the average estimate of seven analysts polled by Dow Jones Newswires. For the full year, Austrian Post said it expects to see sales rise by 5%, while earnings before interest and taxes, or EBIT, is predicted to come in level with 2007. The firm had previously said it expected sales to grow by up to 3%, with EBIT slightly below the 2007 level."

Postal2020 has asked: "Would 40,000 Fewer Postal Jobs Be A Good Thing? Really? I certainly am not. How is anyone helped by the loss of 40,000 postal jobs? Or 40,000 jobs in any field? How is the country made better? If 40,000 people lose their jobs that means a lot of local communities will see an increase in unemployment costs and foreclosures. A lot of households and families will suffer."

Canadian Business has reported that "Canada Post plans to cash in on online shopping with a 100-per-cent hike in postage rates for thick envelopes widely used to ship Internet purchases. The post office also intends to increase the cost of a basic letter stamp by two cents to 54 cents next January - above the limit that would otherwise be set by a regulated formula.

Gerald J. McKiernan Manager, Media Relations for the USPS has said that "a news story currently in wide circulation is reporting that the Postal Service will soon layoff 40,000 employees. This story is not accurate. Originating out of Shreveport, LA, the story does quote a Postal Service spokesperson. Unfortunately, that spokesperson was in error. The Postal Service is not laying off employees. Efforts to match our workforce to a reduced workload are focused on voluntary early retirements. Voluntary early retirement has been offered to a number of employees and to date, 3,685 employees have accepted the offer."

Brandweek has reported that:

• According to a new @Plan report published by Nielsen Online, shopping on the Web is now mainstream behavior; the report found that 78 percent of adult consumers purchased something on the Internet over the last six months. Travel was the top online shopping category, as 38 percent of consumers made some sort of travel-related purchase. The report is based on surveys of about 36,000 U.S. Internet users, ages 18 and older.
• We all know women are very different from men. But a new study finds that the Venus-Mars analogy extends into the digital sphere as well.

The Memphis Business Journal has reported that "FedEx Corp. has announced plans to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from its FedEx Express aircraft fleet by 20 percent."