Postal Labor Talks Reach an Impasse

Separate contract negotiations with the National Association of Letter Carriers, AFL-CIO (NALC) and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, AFL-CIO (NPMHU) have come to an impasse. Under the statutory procedures that apply to postal labor negotiations, if both sides agree, the parties may first engage in mediation and, if unsuccessful, go to interest arbitration [ fact sheet ]. The parties currently are discussing how they will proceed. Respectively, wages and benefits for NALC- and NPMHU-represented employees exceeded $15.7 billion and $3.5 billion last year. Unlike the private sector, when negotiations fail, postal employees are not permitted to strike as Congress has designated the Postal Service as an essential service to the nation. An arbitrator determines the final outcome and is not legally required to consider the Postal Service’s financial obligations when rendering a decision.

Source: USPS

USPS Shoots for $1 Billion in Annual EDDM Sales

Last year’s sales figures from Every Door Direct Mail (EDDM) were so encouraging the Postal Service has set far grander plans for the product this year. Introduced by the Postal Service last April, EDDM already has grown to a $270-million-a-year product. Vice President, Sales, Cliff Rucker has stated USPS is aiming for $1 billion in 2012 EDDM sales. Rucker said the $1 billion mark would be reached by focusing on the following:

• Sales to national and regional franchises
• Alliances with printers
• New product development, including new mail sizes to appeal to businesses who don’t want to print new menus, and new route options, such as delivering only to commercial customers.
• New strategies, such as targeting political campaigns and local businesses
• New sales generated by 100 additional sales associates who will contact new customers

Check out the EDDM webpage here.

Source: USPS News Link

2012 Legislative Agenda: USPS, Elections Force Hands

The U.S. Postal Service has taken matters into his own hands with a national PR agenda that has raised visibility to unprecedented levels. At no time in history has the plight of the USPS garnered more national attention than it has over the past 12 months. The House and Senate have been kicking around legislative relief efforts, each taking vastly different roads to the same destination, while the tide of red ink continues to engulf the Postal Service. Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and his staff determined it must reduce operating costs $20 billion by 2015 in order to become profitable again. Lisbeth Lyons, VP of Government Affairs at Printing Industries of America (PIA), feels real changes won’t come till 2013. Lyons notes, “Between then and now, Congress will likely pass the bare minimum to keep the Postal Service afloat. Actions that will probably be taken include extension of the Retiree Health Benefit Fund pre-payments, refunding the Federal Employee Retirement System overpayment and/or raising the USPS debt limit."

Source: PIWorld.com

Intelligent Mail Barcode (IMb) News

PostCom informed their membership they anticipate that the USPS plans to sunset the POSTNET barcode by the end of 2013 and move to a Full Service IMb as the only barcode eligible for automation discounts by the end of 2014. Brown Printing encourages any mailer not using the Full Service IMb to begin conversion as soon as possible. The USPS offers a full array of resources on their dedicated Intelligent Mail Services webpage to help in the setup.