Kansas Rural Letter Carriers

Mail Count—But First Sick Leave

2009-03-14T18:34:00.001-07:00

The last day of mail count is finally over my shoulder. More about that in another post. First,

On Friday, March 13, 2009, Ralph Smith, CEO of FedSmith, Inc., a newsletter concerning issues of Federal Employees, wrote an article entitled, “Tobacco, the Thrift Savings Plan and FERS: What Is the Link Between Them?”

In this article, he wrote that HR 1256 was reintroduced on March 3rd with 143 co-sponsors. The bill entitled “Family Smoking Prevention and Tobacco Control Act” has Title IV Sec. 407 stuck on the very end. Title IV has wording about changes to the Thrift Savings Plan. Sec. 407 specifically addresses unused sick leave.

This is quoting Ralph Smith:

“First, the credit for unused sick leave. Similar legislation was passed by the House last year but it was never enacted into law. The language in the new bill is similar. The language in the current bill reads:

"...in computing an annuity under this subchapter, the total service of an employee who retires on an immediate annuity or who dies leaving a survivor or survivors entitled to annuity includes the days of unused sick leave to his credit under a formal leave system, except that these days will not be counted in determining average pay or annuity eligibility under this subchapter."

In plain English, this means that federal employees who are under the FERS system would count their unused sick leave toward the computation of their retirement annuity in the same manner as employees under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS).”

This is extremely important legislation for someone like me who has a full year of sick leave and retirement plans.

Holiday overtime

2008-12-03T19:31:00.000-08:00

Saturday is the beginning of holiday pay.

Overtime is not allowed in our office. We are fine with that. Help is welcome. It gives the RCAs a little extra Holiday money.

Lack of opportunity for extra pay is not my complaint. Rather it is the scrutiny of letter and flat mail verses time on the route. This is the conversation. “The mail is light today, you should get back under your evaluation.” No mention of parcels.

For this reason, I am writing the number of dismounts I have each day in the comments section of the 4240, time sheet during the Holiday season. This would include large packages, accountable mail, and hardships.

Here is an example of how this affected my route. Monday, the mail was fairly normal but there were loads of packages, many too large for the box. Tuesday, we had essentially the same amount of mail but far fewer packages. I finished the route exactly one hour earlier Tuesday.

At least I will have some documentation for daily delivery time verses volume of mail.

Monster Cookies

2008-11-20T18:44:00.000-08:00

We just completed a sharp Rural Carrier Academy class. They were first rate particpants and will make excellent rural carriers. I made Monster cookies and promised to post the recipe here. Warning: this recipe will make a tub of cookies--post office tub that is!

Monster Cookies
12 eggs
2 lbs brown sugar
4 cups white sugar
1 T. vanilla
1 T. syrup
8 teaspoons soda
1 lb. butter
3lbs. peanut butter (crunchy)
18 cups oatmeal
1 lb. chocolate chips
1 lb M & Ms
Note: I add about three cups flour. You might want to experiment with this a little.

Mix in order given in large dish pan. Bake 350 7 to 10 minutes for a medium size cookie or longer for a ice cream scoop size cookie.

QWL/EI is Discontinued

2008-11-18T19:23:00.000-08:00

In a letter dated November 17, 2008, to the Vice Presidents, Area Operations, Doug A. Tulino, Vice President, Labor Relations, stated the following:

Don Cantriel, President, National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA) informed me on Friday, November 14, 2008, that the NRLCA is withdrawing from the Quality of Work Life/Employee Involvement (QWL/EI) process effective January 1,2009.

Effective immediately, all QWL/EI training will be discontinued. Any on-going project or activity will have to be completed no later than December 31, 2008 as a result of the NRLCA's decision to terminate their participation in the QWL/EI process.

There are a few activities that currently require District Joint Steering Committee involvement (e.g. selection of rural carrier academy instructors and monitoring implementation of DPS letters). We are discussing the transition of these responsibilities and will be providing information in the near future.

While I am disappointed in the NRLCA's decision, I hope the experience of QWL/EI for the past 26 years has created a positive working environment among managers and rural carriers that will continue in the future.

QWL/EI has been an important part of my postal career. I have participated in district training, Rural Carrier Academy as well as a facilitator.

In Kansas, the QWL problem-solving techniques of bringing all parties together, applying sequential steps to a solution, and finally reaching a consensus were never fully utilized as far as workplace disagreements between management and craft. Work teams concentrated on "projects" that rarely were approved and most rural carriers did not know about nor cared. The DJSC published a bulletin that was informative and widely read. It will be missed.

I learned a great deal from my participation. It benefitted me personally even if deemed not to be helpful to rural carriers as a whole.

Latest Update on Sick Leave Retirement Credit Bill

2008-09-13T07:39:00.000-07:00

The following is from the NAPUS (National Association of Postmasters of the United States) bulletin:

FERS Sick Leave Credit

Earlier this week, Sen. Cornyn, the Senate sponsor of the Senate companion to HR 1108, legislation to give the Food and Drug Administration regulatory authority of the tobacco products, indicated that the Senate is unlikely to take up the measure this year. HR 1108 includes a provision, authored by House Oversight and Government Reform Committee Chair Henry Waxman (D-CA) that provides FERS retirement credit for unused sick leave. The House passed its version of the bill on July 30 by a 326-102 margin. The September 10 issue of CQ Today reported that when Sen. Cornyn was asked about whether the Senate would take up H.R. 1108, he answered, “Realistically, I don’t think so.” According to Senate leadership staff, the crowded end-session legislative calendar renders consideration highly doubtful.

Poll on Eliminating Saturday Delivery

2008-07-08T20:22:00.000-07:00

The Lawrence Journal World posted the following question on their on line poll today: "Would you miss receiving mail on Saturdays if the United States Postal Service eliminated delivery that day?"

Click here for the results and comments.

As usual, the people who take the time to comment were negative. However, there were several positive posts. Be sure to find the post written by a former RCA. Unfortunately, I do not agree with her that eliminating Saturday delivery will not affect rural carriers not to mention the RCAs.

It is also interesting that a whopping 875 people responded. I follow these polls and this is significant. It appears the feeling is nearly 50/50 for or against. Personally, I thought there would be a stronger feeling for keeping the six day delivery. For those not familiar with this part of Kansas, Lawrence is in middle of the Kansas City to Topeka corridor. People in the central and western part of the state would be much less willing to give up Saturday delivery.

Mail count over my shoulder

2008-04-22T15:02:00.000-07:00

There is an interesting happening in our office; one that really has nothing to do with mail count other than the time of year we are required to conduct it.

The news tells us the housing market is drastically down. However, in our little office, the three and a half routes have grown at least four or more boxes each since count ended. For two of us, had we had those boxes, our routes would have evaluated a step higher.

It seems not only is the February count a bad time for mail volume, but it is a time when no one is changing or moving. Spring comes, everything comes alive, people move into vacant rentals, existing homes sell and new homes break ground.

Too bad we lost that October mail count.

Quality of Work Life/Employee Involvement

2008-04-16T21:30:00.000-07:00

Hopefully, rural carriers reading this post are familiar with the concept. Having participated in QWL/EI for over 14 years, I think the principle is valid.

I am currently a trainer at the Rural Carrier Academy after previously serving five years in the late 90s before there was a time limit. Between the training stints, I was a member of a facilitator team.

Why did I decide to participation in the QWL/EI process?

First, and most importantly, as it turns out, the facilitator and academy instructor training is comprehensive and informative. No one should feel intimidated, as the point of the time spent in the classes is to help alleviate anxiety. The area trainers do it well.

At all times, QWL/EI involves participation by management and craft working together. This concept appeals to me.

Facilitator training is about identifying problems, listing possible solutions and agreeing on the best answer, which is helpful in my life outside the work place.

Finally, I cannot say enough about the people I have met while involved in QWL/EI. Probably the most rewarding is getting to know new RCAs and TRCs while they spend three days in the training academy. Their enthusiasm is contagious.

If you feel you would like to expand your postal experience beyond the route, seek out QWL/EI. Contact a state union officer for opportunities in your area.

How do they get there?

2008-04-08T22:51:00.000-07:00

By LindaK
It is always a surprise when a bright spring flower shows up all by itself along a gravel road on my route. My guess is a squirrel. Or, maybe a lone bulb fell out of the sack. It doesn't matter as I enjoy their cheery nod the short while they come out of hiding.

State Convention

2008-04-06T08:47:00.000-07:00

The State Convention of the Kansas Rural Letter Carriers will be held Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, June 8 - 10, 2008, in Park City, Kansas. Check your Kansas Carrier for hotel information and itinerary. Monday evening, June 9th, 2008, is the banquet. The entertainment will be the Diamond W. Ranglers, a cowboy music group based out of Wichita.

Quoting from their website

They perform classic Western Music of the silver-screen cowboy era, such as "Cool Water," "Tumbling Tumbleweeds," and "Ghost Riders In The Sky," as well as classic cowboy trail songs and Prairie Rose Wranglers originals. The tight harmonies and sidesplitting humor of the Wranglers make for a show that whole family will enjoy....good, clean entertainment, the way it should be...the Cowboy Way.

Click here for a sample of their music.

First District Meeting

2008-04-05T17:16:00.000-07:00

The attendance was low, but expected considering the beautiful spring day. Agenda included old friends, fun and information about the State Convention in June.

Wildlife Count

2008-03-29T22:15:00.000-07:00

Midway through my route today, I spotted something, or more specifically some things, on the road. I immediately slowed down because, as I moved closer, it obviously was a covey of quail.

I am excited as around this part of Kansas, we don’t see as many quail as in years past. Also, it was a particularly hard winter, with several severe ice storms. It is a good sign the birds are out on the road, perhaps enjoying bits of salt.

The quail prompted me to remember my early days as a carrier when we conducted wildlife counts twice a year. Management brought each carrier a list of animals with columns for each day of the week. The list included rabbits, squirrel, quail, and pheasant. Deer might have also been on the list. Let's see, were box turtles on the list? I don’t think so, I added them at the bottom just so I had more things to count.

The rural carrier wildlife count was an important measurement for the Kansas Wildlife and Parks (probably then Kansas Fish and Game). I wonder why we are no longer asked to do this task.

Probably someone thought it is not part of our job description or could be a safety hazard. It is too bad because I was conscientious and considered it a fun assignment.

A Sad Goodbye

2008-03-16T21:20:00.000-07:00

By LindaK

I am going to miss Sonoma, always dependable, hardly ever disagreeable and my best friend in the post office. However, it is time for her to have less stress and hard work. Lately, she has developed several illnesses that could be considered terminal unless she retires and takes it easy. Hopefully, she will find a new home, living out her days carrying fishing gear.

The replacement 2000 S10 is not nearly as nice looking and has a bad complexion (a few minor dents). He will be OK, but I am loyal to my old friends. He will have to earn my respect.

Mail Count is history.

2008-03-11T18:40:00.000-07:00

Mail count is over, thankfully. I observed to a friend that mail count brings out the worst in everyone.

All I want is a fair count. Read the rules and stand by them.

I am not going to rant about how much mail we received the two days following mail count. It serves no purpose. It is over; we have to live with what we received.

Here are my results. Our last count two years ago was 51 hours 42 minutes with 394 boxes. My just completed count was 52 hours 4 minutes with 404 boxes.

Those two results show how much the mail has declined the past two years. I am still a 43K. The flats were noticeably down but more parcels, scans. accountable mail, as well as the ten additional boxes, saved me from a loss.

I actually had accumulated the 13 boxes necessary to increase to a 44K before the count, but due to moves and slow home sales, I did not fill vacant homes in the 90 days necessary. I also have two new constructions, but no mailbox up. That is one thing our postmaster has been consistent about over the years, no mailbox, no count.

It is easy after the fact to think a couple more boxes here, a few more flats counted as parcels there and I would be making over $1,000 more this year.

I am telling myself to just be thankful for a good job, good health insurance and hopefully, adequate retirement. What ifs are not worth the stress. I hear rumblings that many carriers on L Routes lost significant evaluation. I feel lucky.

Now maybe we can settle down and enjoy the beautiful spring weather that is finally coming our way

NOTE: Click here and follow the links for a route calculator and here for a Table of Evaluated Hours for Regular Rural Routes.

Update on Sick Leave Reimbursement Bill

2008-03-05T17:53:00.000-08:00

Rep. James Moran D VA, is introducing the sick leave reimbursement bill on Monday, March 10th, reported in today's Federal Times.

Terms are 10% of high three hourly wage for all but first 500 hours unused sick leave.

Frankly, I do not know how to figure my hourly wage since I have overtime built into it. It appears the higher your salary, the more you will get back. Even though I will have 1500 hours unused sick leave, I will not receive the maximum $10,000.

Quoting from the article:

Moran’s bill would provide employees retiring under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) up to $10,000 in compensation. Employees would be paid 10 percent of the hourly average of their three highest salaries for all but the first 500 hours of their unused sick leave

Mail Count So Far Here At Berryton

2008-03-02T13:01:00.000-08:00

Half way through mail count and we are still treading water, but don’t think we’re gaining.

Of course, the last week of the month is sometimes slow. With no “Hallmark” holiday, the first class mail is limited to bills. For my 403 customer route, I usually get five to six feet of letters. Two days last week, I only had four feet.

The flats were conspicuously down. We were all very concerned. Finally toward the end of the week, the magazines picked up. I noticed there were quite a few dated advertisements ready for Monday delivery when I left yesterday.

Our only “discussions” have been over flat versus parcel. I always try to present my side. Then we have to bring out the ruler. I have won a few; however, our postmaster is good about checking sizes so I feel we usually get a fair count.

I’ve been lucky in that I’ve had a steady stream of Certified letters and a few COAs. Last mail count I was unusually short in that column. Anytime we have a positive change over last mail count is a bonus.

Finally, I am definitely missing my carrier pickup orders. There were about five orders a week previously. I have had ONE since the count began. And, this time it rolls into our route evaluation. All I can hope is that my Ebayers sell some things this weekend!

I have not figured my route. I make it a point not to do that. It is stressful and proves very little. We’ll see next weekend. Good luck!

Recent Changes in Mail Count Regulations of Special Interest

2008-02-16T19:06:00.000-08:00

1. DPS for a Closed School or Business: Credit for DPS closed school or business letter mail, whether cased or taken to the street will be credited in the following manner:
a. Credit will be given in Column A, Letters, for each piece when there are seven pieces or less
b. Credit will be given in Column D, Parcels, for one parcel when there are eight pieces or more
c. These mail pieces will not be deducted from Column L, DPS mail.

2. Form 3982-R Rural Boxholder Nondelivery Request: Time will be credited during the mail count in the following manner:
a. One markup in Column J for transcribing information on PS Form 3982-R or annotating or discarding the form when receiving a reinstatement of delivery.
b. One piece in Column A for casing Form 3982-R
c. One piece in Column N, Letters and Flats Collected, for bringing PS Form 3982-R back from the route.

3. Change of Address (COA) Procedure: The time allowance for Changes of Address (COAs) will be 15 seconds for each PS Form 3982 (yellow) label received during the count period and recorded in Column R. If the carrier is required to perform any additional duties of completing the following forms and/or writing on Form 3982 label, the credit will be two (2) minutes.
• PS Form 3575, Change of Address
• PS Form 3575-WWW, Internet Change of Address
• PS Form 3575-Z Employee generated Change of Address
• PS Form 3546 Official Change/Correction to Mail Forwarding Change of Address

4. Markups: The time allowance for markups will be 15 seconds per markup. The only individual markups will be
a)Deceased,
b)No Record Mail (CFS returns),
c)transcribing information to PS Form 3982-R and
d)others required by management

5. Carrier Pick-up Packages picked up only through the carrier pick-up Web application will receive 90 seconds for each carrier pick-up request completed and nine seconds for each Express Mail, Priority Mail and International Mail item collected with the pickup request and recorded in Column R. Prepaid ordinary and insured parcels and letters or flats collected in conjunction with the carrier pick-up items are recorded in columns N or O, as appropriate.

6. Mail History Tracking System (MHTS): Actual time to locate and remove errors from DPS associated with the Mail History Tracking System process is included in riffling time and credited in Column R

7. Do Not Bend/Do Not Fold: Non-rigid items endorsed Do Not Bend or Do Not Fold will NOT be credited as parcels unless they have been properly prepared in accordance with DMM (prepared with a stiffener) or unless the item would be damaged when casing with other mail.

8. Fletters: Letters (6 1/8" and under) processed on automated flat machines and found in automation processed flat tubs will be credited only in Column A, Letters per arbitration decision QOOR-4Q-C 030089889

NOTE: Results of mail count will be effective April 26, 2008

Berryton Rural Carrier Blazes Trail

2008-02-07T20:04:00.000-08:00

By LindaK
Well, I was the first down this road anyway.

One of those mail delivery moments

2008-02-05T17:17:00.000-08:00

Mail delivery sometimes has little embarrassing moments. Fleeting times of flushed face. Things quickly forgotten. Like forgetting a customer's name or needing a signature without a pen in sight. Earlier this week I had one of those

First, I have to say that when the roads are bad with snow or ice, I drive a Beater, or in other words a 1987 Oldsmobile front wheel drive. It’s a jewel. Everything works except the radio. With studded front tires, it gets me around the route in fine shape most Kansas winters.

It wasn’t entirely the car’s fault. We knew the muffler was loose. It wasn’t too bad and my husband had the parts. I didn’t anticipate two things. First, the trash truck making its rounds when the roads were soft creating deep ruts. Second, the temperature dropping and those ruts freezing.

After about the third time the Olds high centered on a frozen mud rut, the muffler fell off. Now I am delivering mail sounding like an old dump truck. It was near the end of the route. However, I did have to make one stop at a residence for a carrier pickup. I no sooner pulled up when the customer came running out to see who was taking their stuff. They saw it was me and looked bewildered as I started the car.

Only slightly red faced, I waved and roared away.

Frosty morning

2008-02-02T15:41:00.000-08:00

By LindaK

Deal reached on bill to compensate feds for unused sick leave

2008-01-30T18:25:00.000-08:00

is the headline for a Federal Times article by Stephen Losey today. According to the article Retiring employees under the Federal Employees Retirement System would get up to $10,000 in compensation under the latest version of a bill drafted by Rep. Jim Moran, D-Va. The previous bill was capped at $5,000.

No word is given as to how the compension will be figured. It is generally thought that there will be a minimum number of hours required before compension will begin.

This is good news!

Fortuneteller Anyone?

2008-01-26T19:12:00.000-08:00

I am a USPS FERS employee.

My full time hiring date was February 1984. The retirement system underwent massive change in January of 1984. No one explained it to me. I guess I could have been both CSRS and FERS had I known. In fact, it wasn’t until the National Rural Letter Carrier Convention in Chicago did I hear anyone spend time talking about FERS retirement. It was probably out there, but retirement was so far away that I just took out the maximum amount for investment each pay period and didn’t think much about it.

As it turns out, in all my ignorance, FERS has been good for me. My choices of investments have paid well through the years. And, they are mine. Unlike CSRS, I have been able to build sum of money that stays with me, and more importantly, my family whenever I die.

Of course, we all know the sick leave situation. It’s true, when I finally roll up the windows in my mail truck for the last time, I might loose a year’s worth of sick leave. On the other hand, if I need it for a major illness it is there. And, maybe legislation will be passed to compensate for a percentage. After all, the politicians are on the same plan as rural carriers.

The question remains, have I made the right decision to retire before my full retirement age of 66. I just read a blog entitled "Wait if you Can" by Dr. Ron Evans, a semi retired professor at Washburn University in Topeka. He suggested, in jest, consulting a fortuneteller. After all, when one should take retirement depends on length of life. Eighty years is the breaking point to make up the difference between the lesser amount at 62 and the full amount at 66.

As I said, the decision is made. Unless there is an unforeseen circumstance, I am retiring before the full age of 66. Maybe because I am even writing this, I have second thoughts. If anyone would like to weigh in on determining his or her retirement date, I am interested. Comments are welcome.

Anyone having thoughts like this?

2008-01-13T19:59:00.000-08:00

FERS sick leave compensation

2008-01-11T19:41:00.000-08:00

The January 11th Federal Times had an article concerning the new legislation concerning sick leave compensation entitled "Sick leave plan falls short, managers groups say" by Amy Doolittle.

It seems FERS employees have reached retirement age and have many hours of sick leave accumulated.

CSRS employees' sick leave is added on to the end of their retirement.

Not unexpectedly, FERS employees nearing retirement are finding themselves with a year of sick leave (in my case) or even more that will be completely lost at the time of retirement. Consequently, as they near retirement, more and more FERS people are using their sick leave--not illegally, but at the hint of an illness or as legitimate family leave. As the article indicates, it is costing the government millions.

Notice to FERS employees: We need to rally behind this!

Mailbox or In Box

2008-01-08T21:32:00.001-08:00

The New York Time published an article Sunday, December 16, by Phyllis Korkki entitled Still Choosing the Mailbox Over the In-Box.

In the article Ms Korkki noted that today 275 million first-class cards and letters are expected to be mailed. From Thanksgiving to Christmas the USPS estimates 20 billion cards, letters, packages and other pieces of mail will be handled.

Korkki goes on to say many thought the Internet would be the beginning of the end of the USPS. Instead, the Internet, especially the online shopping aspect, has created the need for hard copy as well as a service to ship the packages. Consequently, since 2001, the first class volume of mail has remained fairly steady.

Finally, Korkki says,"...although email is now a permanent part of the communication landscape, the old-fashioned letter is far from dead...."

I agree. It is a great feeling to open my mailbox and find a letter from family or friends. I can reread it as often as I like and save it for reference later when I return the favor. And, sometimes the short three sentence notes are meaningful. My grand kids love to receive a note about something significant in their lives.

What do you think. Do you still choose the mailbox over the in-box?

Hi Fellow Carriers

2007-08-21T21:35:00.000-07:00

I have not been updating this site as often as I had hoped. I will be posting from time to time, though, as I hear of news especially here in Kansas.

Meanwhile, check Rural Carrier News for up to date National news. If anyone reading this would like to submit a post or an idea for a post, please email me at femail66409@yahoo.com.

Postal Service has a moratorium on assigning routes to private contractors

2007-07-15T10:36:00.000-07:00

Postal Service won't add more private mail carriers
by Alliston SteeleFriday July 13, 2007, 1:11 PM

The U.S. Postal service has agreed not to hand over any of the country's new
urban mail routes to private companies, at least for the next six months.
All plans to contract out new mail deliveries, including a proposal for
building in Perth Amboy, have been withdrawn.

The agreement is a victory for members of the national letter carriers'
union, who have been concerned with the postal service's increased use of
part-time, non-union employees to deliver mail. Now, according to a contract
tentatively agreed on last night, a committee will be formed to look at the
issue of privatization.

In New Jersey, the postal service has also reversed its recent decision to
privatize routes in Little Falls, West Paterson and West Orange. And in
Perth Amboy, the building that the postal service had planned to assign to a
private contractor is now part of a city carrier's route.

"I was very pleased to hear that," Perth Amboy Mayor Joe Vas said. "I think
it's the right decision."

See the entire article here

City carriers reach a tentative agreement

2007-07-14T07:35:00.000-07:00

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 12, 2007
CONTACT: Drew Von Bergen
(202) 662-2489
vonbergen@nalc.org

Tentative Agreement Reached
On City Letter Carriers Contract

WASHINGTON – The National Association of Letter Carriers reached tentative agreement today with the U.S. Postal Service on a new five-year National Agreement for all 222,000 city delivery letter carriers throughout the nation. The pact, which includes new limits on contracting out of city letter carrier work along with provisions covering wages, benefits, and working conditions, will be submitted to the NALC membership for rank-and-file ratification.

The agreement, retroactive to November 21, 2006, provides general wage increases of 8.85 percent over five years along with regular cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and a single lump-sum COLA payment of $686 for the period between July 2006 and May 2007.

The proposed contract includes new limits on contracting out of city letter carrier work in more than 3,000 city delivery installations and establishes a six-month moratorium on contracting out city carrier delivery services elsewhere across the country. During the moratorium, a union-management task force will seek to develop an “evolutionary approach to the issue of subcontracting, taking into account the legitimate interests of the parties and relevant public policy considerations.”

The tentative 2006-2011 National Agreement also abolishes the use of low-wage temporary employees known as “casuals” and replaces them with bargaining unit “transitional employees” under terms and conditions established by the contract. It also includes negotiated resolutions to several long-standing issues involving automated sorting of large flat mail, adjustment of carrier routes and other operational matters.

Consistent with trends in the private sector, the proposed accord also provides the Postal Service relief on health care costs by increasing the share of health care premiums paid by city letter carriers by five percentage points over the five-year duration of the contract.

NALC President William H. Young said the tentative agreement is a ‘win-win’ contract for both unionized letter carriers and the Postal Service, and especially the American public that still relies on universal mail delivery for much of its critical personal and business communication.

“This agreement is fair to hard-working letter carriers by taking necessary steps toward protecting their jobs now and well into the future, along with financial compensation that takes into account increases in the cost of living and the difficult task carriers often face in delivering mail to our nation’s growing population,” Young said. “At the same time, it helps the U.S. Postal Service to build on its record as the most efficient and affordable postal service in the world.”

The agreement provides a 1.4 percent wage increase retroactive to November 25, 2006; and wage increases of 1.8 percent on November 24, 2007; 1.9 percent on November 22, 2008; 1.9 percent on November 21, 2009; and 1.85 percent on November 20, 2010.

The proposed agreement, which would expire on November 20, 2011, was approved unanimously today by the NALC Executive Council following negotiations over the past several days by bargaining teams led by Young and Postmaster General John E. Potter.

The NALC represents all city delivery letter carriers employed by the U.S. Postal Service in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands and Guam.

-30-

________________________________________________________

Ronnie Stutts

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

www.kansascity.com | 07/09/2007 | On new routes, mail delivery is passing to private contractors

2007-07-10T22:38:00.000-07:00

http://www.kansascity.com/105/story/183431.html

Alarming News

2007-07-10T21:26:00.000-07:00

Policy Leaders Call for Lifting the
U.S. Postal Service's Mailbox Monopoly

For Immediate Release - July 2, 2007

Arlington, VA - In a public filing today with the Federal Trade Commission,
6 prominent policy leaders called for lifting the U.S. Postal Service's
monopoly on the use of mailboxes.

"We believe that the mailbox monopoly should be revoked, allowing greater,
and fairer, access for the benefit of individual consumers," they said.

The current monopoly bars private citizens and businesses from placing
letters or other items in mailboxes without paying Postal Service delivery
fees. The prohibition "injects unnecessary nuisance, cost and inefficiency
into simple acts of community communication," continued the statement.

The letter was signed by heads of leading organizations representing
taxpayers and consumers who rely on First Class letter mail and postal
services, as well as two prominent postal policy experts: Don Soifer,
Consumer Postal Council; Dr. John E. Berthoud, National Taxpayers Union;
Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform; James L. Martin, 60 Plus; Dr.
Charles Guy, Former Director, Office of Economics, Strategic Planning, U.S.
Postal Service, and Dr. Rick Geddes, Cornell University.

"Universal postal service was established to meet the needs of American
consumers and businesses," said the Consumer Postal Council Executive
Director Don Soifer. "The Postal Service continues to enforce a monopoly
from which it enjoys many benefits, but which often works against the best
interests of American consumers."

The letter was circulated by the Consumer Postal Council. The council
(www.postalconsumers.org), founded in 2003, is dedicated to supporting the
interests of consumers who rely on First Class letter mail.

For more information, please contact Don Soifer at 703-312-4563.

June 29, 2007

The Honorable Deborah Platt Majoras
Chairman
Federal Trade Commission
Room 135-H (Annex F)
600 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20580

Dear Chairman Majoras:

We, the undersigned, wish to respond to the Federal Trade Commission's
request for comment regarding the U.S. Postal Service Study, Project No.
PO71200, as listed in the Federal Register on May 1, 2007. Specifically,
we'd like to address Question #2, relating to the U.S. Postal Service's
legal mailbox monopoly.

According to 18 U.S.C. § 1725:

Whoever knowingly and willfully deposits any mailable matter such as
statements of accounts, circulars, sale bills, and other like matter, on
which no postage has been paid, in any letter box established, approved, or
accepted by the Postal Service for the receipt or delivery of mail matter on
any mail route with intent to avoid payment or lawful postage thereon, shall
for each offense be fined under this title.

The prohibition of private citizens and businesses from using mailboxes
injects unnecessary nuisance, cost and inefficiency into simple acts of
community communication. Invitations to children's birthday parties, notices
about important neighborhood events, and circular coupons from local
businesses must all incur the cost, delay, and risk of misdelivery
associated with reliance on the U.S. Postal Service.

In addition, as consumer reliance on online commerce continues to increase,
barring individuals from receiving mailbox delivery of payments, documents
or other items through private delivery services creates a growing
inconvenience. For consumers who live in neighborhoods where they must rely
on locked mailboxes, the current monopoly effectively restricts their
delivery choices to U.S.P.S. offerings when they are unable to be home to
sign for delivery.

Because consumers generally purchase their mailboxes at their own expense,
it logically follows that they ought to have the right to dictate the terms
under which that property is utilized.

The President's Commission on the U.S. Postal Service, in its 2003 report,
recommended lifting the monopoly on mailboxes:

The Postal Regulatory Board should be authorized to permit mailbox access to
private carriers in future regulations, so long as it does not impair the
universal service or open homeowners' mailboxes against their will.

We believe that the mailbox monopoly should be revoked, allowing greater -
and fairer - access for the benefit of individual consumers.

Sincerely,

Don Soifer
Executive Director
Consumer Postal Council

Dr. John E. Berthoud
President
National Taxpayers Union

Grover Norquist
President
Americans for Tax Reform

James L. Martin
President
60 Plus

Dr. Charles Guy
Former Director, Office of Economics, Strategic Planning, U.S. Postal
Service

Dr. Rick Geddes
Professor
Cornell University

The Consumer Postal Council is affiliated
with the Free and Fair Post Initiative

Which side are you on?

2007-06-13T18:32:00.000-07:00

William H. Young, President of the National Association of Letter Carriers wrote an editorial in the June Postal Record in response to this question.

On April 17, Young was among a dozen or more people called to testify at a House oversight hearing on the Postal Service. As he listened to those present, the answer to the question, which side are you on was, in his words, "astonishing."

On the NALC';s side were Rural Carriers and Mail Handlers, most members of the subcommittee and "here is the first astonishing part--all three postal management associations, NAPS, NAPUS and League of Postmasters."

"On the Postal Service's side were Postmaster General Jack Potter, Board Chairman James C. Miller III, the usual right-wing think tanks and [the second most astonishing part] the APWU."

At issue is the APWU lobbing against the consolidation of mail postal facilities where as the NALC supports H.R.2177. Young's position is there is no correlation between optimizing the automation process and hiring low-wage, no-benefit, part-time, non-union contractors to perform bargaining unit work.

Which side are you on? There should be no sides in this issue. As the NAPS President, Ted Keating said, [contracting out letter carrier work] "will be the death of the Postal Service." Why aren't we all standing together?

To read the entire article follow this link: http://www.nalc.org/news/precord/pres-index.html on click on "June 2007"

Thank you Ella and Vince.

Mailbox Vandalism

2007-06-12T21:05:00.000-07:00

Last week many customers with mail service out of our office received mailbox damage. I guess school is out and the days are long.

The following is copied directly from the Postal Inspection Service web site. It helped me to be knowledgeable so I could better inform my customers about what to do in case of vandalism. Personally, I believe each high school newspaper should publish the possible $250,000 fine for messing with mailboxes. That is quite a deterrent.

United States Postal Inspection Service
Protecting Yourself
From Mailbox Vandalism

Rural area mailboxes are vulnerable to vandalism because they are usually isolated, located on public thoroughfares, and frequently not visible to the box
owners from their homes. City residential mailboxes are vandalized to a lesser degree.

Mailboxes are considered federal property, and federal law (Title 18, United States Code, Section 1705), makes it a crime to vandalize them (and to injure, deface or destroy any mail deposited in them). Violators can be fined up to $250,000 or imprisoned for up to three years for each act of vandalism.

You can take the following actions to help prevent the vandalizing or destruction of your mailbox and any mail that may be inside it:
Immediately report theft, tampering with, or destruction of mail and mailboxes to your local
postmaster.
Remove your mail from your mailbox as soon as possible after its delivery. Allowing mail to pile up for several days only tempts would-be vandals and
thieves.
Obtain Label 33 from the Postal Inspection Service. This sticker, which warns that willful damage to mail boxes and theft of mail is a crime, can be
affixed to your mailbox.

If you discover someone tampering with your or your neighbor's mailbox, obtain that person's description and that of his vehicle, including the license
plate number. Immediately report the information to your local police and postmaster.

Keep your mailbox in good repair by using proper installation methods. This may help prevent theft of the mailbox itself. If you have information on mailbox
vandalism or mail theft in your area, contact the Postal Inspection Service with your information. Your cooperation helps apprehend violators.
We attempt to publicize our successful investigations of mailbox vandalism to deter other potential vandals. You may provide your information and complaints to your local postmaster or the nearest Postal Inspector.

Rural carriers headed for arbitration

2007-06-07T20:32:00.000-07:00

It was announced today from NRLCA headquarters that the negotiations have reached an impasse and most likely the next step will be arbitration.

The central issues are COLA, health benefits, EMA and time standards.

The USPS is asking for elimination of the COLA as well as a 2% increase in contribution to health plans. Also, reduction in annual leave and sick leave accrual. They are also asking for a locality based pay scale and less contribution to EMA.

For more information go to NRLCA and click on the "What's New" link.

Pollinator stamp and crop art

2007-06-06T19:23:00.000-07:00

Stan Herd, the nationally known crop artist has teamed with Chip Taylor of Monarch Watch to plant the Dogface butterfly taken from the pollinator stamps to be issued this summer by the USPS.

The "stamp" is located between Lawrence and Eudora, Kansas. It has been planted and is expected to reach its full potential by the middle to end of June. I talked to Chip tonight and he gave me this link for Pollinator.org. There are pictures of the progression.

So far, no one knows how the USPS will be participating. Hopefully, they will not miss this beautiful opportunity.

I will post any updates on this project.

Newspaper article on EMA

2007-06-05T20:06:00.000-07:00

The Tulsa World published an interesting article entitled "Gasoline prices cost rural carriers." It was written by Jaclyn Cosgrove.

It doesn't appear you will need to log in to the newspaper. Check it out, it is worthy of note.

Thank you Vince and Ella.

Iowa's Harkin introduces bill

2007-06-04T15:55:00.000-07:00

The Des Moines Register reports today that Senator Tom Harkin, D IA, has introduced a bill to stop the USPS from contracting out new growth routes. Click on this link for the entire article.

In case the link requires a registration, here are several quotes from the article by Jane Norman, reporter for the Register

Much is at stake, Harkin said on the Senate floor.

"Each day, millions of sensitive materials, including financial statements, credit cards, Social Security checks, passports and ballots, pass through the mail stream," he said. "We cannot afford to allow the safe delivery of these personal, private documents to be granted to the lowest bidder."

And, "Rural carriers, who are in a separate union, also are opposed to contracting, worried that future routes will be taken away from them, threatening their livelihoods and the ability to pay for retiree pensions.

Randy Anderson, director of labor relations for the 122,000-member National Rural Letter Carriers Association, said contracting is becoming "widespread" across the country, though the union can't keep track of exact numbers. Several grievances have been filed by rural carriers in Iowa, he said.

Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Ia., met last week with upset rural carriers, said his press secretary, Beth Levine. "Senator Grassley said he would take a hard look at the bill and would do what he can to ensure that Iowa rural and urban postal customers continue to receive reliable delivery service," Levine said."

Thank you to my retired rural carrier friend, Nancy from Nebraska, for sending me this article.

Keynote Address

2007-06-03T14:58:00.000-07:00

Don Cantriel was the keynote speaker at the Saturday afternoon session. I am directed by the Board of the Kansas Rural Carriers Association not to write about any part of his speech that concerns the negotiations for the rural carrier contract. Without writing about it, I will provide a link to an article written by the Washington Post and by the Seattlepi news source.

Other topics discussed by Cantriel that were of no significance to the contract: GMAC was purchased by the same group as Chrysler Financial, Cerberus. Carriers should see no change. Also, Mutual of Omaha Employer Health was sold to Coventry Health Care. Again, there should be no change for carriers insured with Mutual of Omaha. They will be able to use their same identification cards and same health care providers.

Washington DC and the “Hill” has its way of getting things done and the PAC (political action committee) funds are very important. Cantriel complimented the Kansas rural carriers for support by their financial contributions.

Safety topics including the lifting training that will be mandatory at all post offices. (If watching the group of carriers in attendance move around is an indication, this is an excellent idea) Left hand turns are also dangerous and each should be evaluated. Accidents are more likely to occur when a carrier has to cross two lanes of traffic. Delivery to mail boxes on a road which has a speed limit of 50 mph should be made as far off the driving lane as possible.

EMA- a contract negotiation issue. Should it be? I will say, as a result of the last CPIW (Consumer Price Index) there should be an increase soon. This is a huge issue with all of us driving a POV (privately owned vehicle).

Parcel Pickup Program—negotiation issue.

Twice during the two days of the convention, I heard the national officer mention that the USPS may be pushing rural carriers toward the hourly system. Was there a message there?

Finally, Mr. Cantriel urged carriers to, “ Go out and do your job and stay informed.” Good advice.

Don't I know you?

2007-06-02T21:44:00.000-07:00

This morning there was a safety meeting presented by Scott Ferris, KBI Special Agent, on identity thief. It was excellent.

How does identity theft occur? There is the obvious, email or phone, stealing credit card, credit reports, trash or taking mail out of your mailbox. They access credit reports by poising as a landlord, employer or someone else who might have legal right to your report. As a result of the federal Fair Credit REporting Act, each person is entitled to one free credit report each year. Contact this link (annualcreditreport.com) and not the reporting agencies individually.

He demonstrated how the new camera phones are used to steal numbers. Someone may be talking on the phone behind you at the checkout. They might take the picture without you even realizing because they have the phone in their hand.

Examples of things you should do often. Check your credit report to make sure there are no credit card accounts showing nonpayment. Such an account would indicate they have opened a bogus account in your name. Thief of a cell phone might involve opening a new account in your name and running up a bill. Only carry one credit card. When you check your credit rating, close all accounts that are not in use. Do not store personal information on a laptop that you use while traveling. Shred all personal information before disposal. Check bills closely. Most is logical. Just be diligent.

This afternoon was the keynote address by the National Vice President. Check in tomorrow evening for the wrapup report and a bio of another interesting former rural carrier.

President Dean King

2007-06-01T23:16:00.000-07:00

President Dean King

If there would be one carrier designated as a favorite son in our organization, it would be Dean King. Dean and I share a special date. He became President of the National Rural Letter Carriers Association the same year I became a full time rural carrier. Today I had a chance to spend time visiting with him about his career as a national officer and as a rural carrier.

Dean King was 22 years old the summer of 1946. He had just served two years with the Navy Air Corp. Jobs were scarce then with so many service members returning from the war. He decided to pursue an education. He came home to Clay Center Kansas and enrolled at Kansas State University.

This was a time when rural carrier positions were more or less a political appointment. Dean had never voted, but his father was a registered Democrat. Truman was president and the position of rural carrier in Clay County was to be filled by a person from that party. Then, as now, veterans often fill rural carrier jobs. Dean heard about the carrier position and took the test, which was a requirement along with the proper party affiliation. Unknown to Dean, however, there were political shenanigans going on. Someone else wanted the position only he was a Republican. It seemed everyone but that person failed the first test session. Many thought this was a bit odd. Dean did pass the test the second time and much to the disgust of the opponent, received the appointment.

Dean King’s first day as a rural carrier was June 1, 1948. His salary was $3,000 plus mileage. Postage was 3 cents. From the first, he was active in the rural carrier organization and soon started filling positions in the county and district. Also during that time he married and had a family. With that came school activities and summer baseball. Dean still participated in rural carrier meetings and in 1960 he was approached to run for a state office. He agreed and that year he was elected state vice president and in 1964 KRLCA president.

In 1970 his family was grown and he finally consented to put his name on the ballot for a National office. He laughed as he told me about that national convention in Kentucky. "It was hot but my backers hit the state running. Whereas the caucuses are combined now, back then each state had their own. First a “roadrunner” would go in and prepare. Then his group would make their pitch. That was close to 50 times."

They did something right because he was elected on the third ballot as national treasurer. He served that position until 1973 when he was elected national committeeman. This was a busy time for Dean as he served the Western and Southern United States and processed 60-70 grievances a month.

In 1977 he ran and won the vice president position. He and his wife then moved to Washington DC. He told of their move and the mechanical failure. “We had all our possessions in a trailer behind our truck and had a breakdown in Ohio on a busy thoroughfare. No one would stop and my wife was getting more upset by the minute. I suggested we put our rocking chair on top and maybe someone would take pity thinking we are the Beverly Hillbillies.” Dean said she did not laugh.

In 1978 in Biloxi, Mississippi, he was elected President of the National Rural Letter Carrier Association. I asked what he felt was the most important accomplishment of his tenure. Without hesitation, he stated it was the implication of the L Route. This designation made rural carriers competitive with the city carriers for urban routes. Postmaster General Bolger mandated something be done and Dean Smith accomplished the challenge. It was because of his innovative thinking that the rural carrier craft has grown from roughly 60,000 members to 100,000.

His memories of living in the Capitol are of hard work and visiting National sites. He did remember he was at the exact spot just a day before then President Reagan was shot. He indicated it was a sobering moment.

Following his national presidency, it was back Clay Center Kansas and a rural route.

Thank you Dean King. You are an example of how a letter carrier from a small town in rural Kansas achieved national success.

Harold Stauffer, President

2007-06-01T23:15:00.000-07:00

Following high school, Harold spent six years in the Army Reserve at Hutchinson, Kansas. His specialty training was military police. Also during that time, he graduated from Kansas State University and carried on a farm operation.

In 1964 he begin his twelve-year substitute rural carrier years. He was finally able to work full time when Hutchinson created a new route in 1976. When the chance arose, he moved to Route 2, a Amish/Mennonite route. The people on his route were special to him and one does not talk to Harold long to know he took good care of his patrons.

In 1988, he was elected to the junior board member position. From there, he moved directly to the vice president position and then president of the Kansas Rural Letter Carrier Association.

One day he was serving his route as usual, when he observed a pickup backed up to a house on his route. He immediately suspected fowl play since he knew the residents were gone. When he stopped at the box and looked their direction, they ducked down.

Harold did not want to confront the group so continued on to a house down the street and called the sheriff. He then decided to go back to check for a tag number. Just as he pulled up to the house, they sped down the road. He chased them at speeds reaching 85-90 mph. The crooks ran another car off the road in the process.

At some point, one of the men reached into the back seat. Harold suspected a gun and he was right. They shot at him with a shotgun. The blast knocked out the back window of his mail car. At the first opportunity, he stopped at a house and called authorities again relaying the chase and gun shot.

The authorities did apprehend the suspect, but he was able to escape in the sheriff’s car. Television cameras had arrived by that time and they caught the suspect on tape speeding off in the patrol car.

After all of this, Harold continued to deliver his mail that day. When he stopped at the small café at Yoder, there was a message that he was to call the sheriff. It seems they were able to apprehend the criminals and they wanted Harold to pick them out of a lineup.

The man who shot at Harold was convicted and sent to prison. Harold received a commendation. We laughed and said today rural carriers would probably get a letter of warning.

Rural Carriers Arrive for State Convention

2007-06-01T22:20:00.000-07:00

The convention started with a bang, thunder that is. No deterrent to rural carriers used to all kinds of weather. A lot of laughter and cheery greetings heard all around. As you might expect, a lot of post office talk as well.

My friend Maureen and Sue, rural carriers from Topeka, and I purchased supplies and set up and oversaw the hospitality room. We fretted whether we had enough cookies and snacks. Not to worry, our carrier friends came through.

Welcome to the 2007 Kansas State Rural Letter Carriers Association Convention

2007-06-01T06:13:00.000-07:00

What is the future of rural letter carriers or the United States Postal Service for that matter?

What can I expect for retirement income?

Where are the fresh homemade cookies and Starbucks coffee?

Find the answers to these questions and more starting this afternoon with registration at the Kansas State Rural Letter Carriers Association annual meeting at the Holidome, 6th and Fairlawn, Topeka, Kansas.

The KSRLC is honored to host Don Cantriel, NRLCA Vice President. His keynote address with be tomorrow, Saturday afternoon at 1:15 PM. We look to him to answer questions concerning the current and pressing issue of contracting delivery routes. This issue is of major concern to carriers and should be a concern to all customers whether rural or city delivery.

Before the heavy stuff, there will be fun and games tonight. Come and join the family orientated group. If you are a rural carrier or an associate rural carrier and not a member, come on down and someone will be glad to sign you up.

Also, come by the hospitality room have a cup of coffee and visit with me. I am Linda Hanney, a rural carrier out of the Berryton post office. I will be blogging the convention. There will be pictures and reports of the meetings. I might catch one of those ornery retired carriers and have a story or two about the good ole days.

Welcome and stay tuned!

2007 KRLCA Convention

2007-05-31T21:56:00.000-07:00

Welcome to the unofficial site of Kansas Rural Carriers. I will be posting updates on happenings at the KRLCA Convention in Topeka June 2nd and 3rd at the Holidome in Topeka, Kansas.

See you soon!

Letter to Senator

2007-05-29T22:36:00.000-07:00

Get involved and get your coworkers involved to combat contract routes! If you are having a hard time coming up with the right words to urge your Senators to support S. 1457, the Senate bill to outlaw Contract routes, maybe this can help.

I have been in contact with a rural carrier who made a great suggestion.
How about writing a letter to your Senators from your post office and ask all of your coworkers to sign it.. This rural carrier even submitted a template for you to use...
We can only combat this by using one collective voice... If your coworkers don't have the time to write their own letter, ask them to sign one showing the solidarity in your post office against contract routes..

You can find your Senator's at this website: Senate.gov

You can find the sample letter here... Copy it and make it your own!
Letter Template

Stopping these contract routes is very important for the future of our craft and especially our leave replacements..
Get involved...Get your Coworkers involved... Using this idea makes it easy for them...