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USPS Denies Existence of Program to Eliminate Tour 2

November 18, 2008.

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In response to an inquiry from APWU President Burrus, the Postal Service has denied that it is “considering or is in the process of implementing a nationwide program establishing a two-tour operation, which is intended to eliminate or greatly reduce Tour 2 assignments, operations, and staffing.”

In an Oct. 17 letter to the Postal Service , Burrus noted that the union had not been informed of the program, and asserted that therefore such a program would violate the Collective Bargaining Agreement. He asked the USPS to provide documentation detailing the specifics of the program, and requested a meeting with postal managers with knowledge of the initiative.

Management’s Nov. 14 letter says, “While the Postal Service is reviewing various options designed to improve operational efficiencies in light of decreased mail volume, the Postal Service has not implemented the nationwide program you suggest. Rather, operations will be reviewed on a site-by-site basis and any action taken to improve operational efficiencies will be based on local circumstances.”

The USPS letter said, “Regarding your request to produce documentation regarding ‘any nationwide or region- or district-wide program, plans or initiatives to eliminate or reduce Tour 2 operations and/or Tour 2 staffing,’” no such documentation exists.”

The union president has reiterated his request for a meeting, which the Postal Service’s letter did not address.

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Statement of apwu president mark dimondstein in response to recent remarks by postmaster general louis dejoy on future postal staffing, taking on challenges together, postal workers are always essential, apwu national and locals fight back against consolidations, the solution to resolving the usps’s delayed mail challenge and building back better, apwu fights consolidation/closure plans, are you ready to save our postal service again, essential workers and postal déjà vu, apwu opposes management plans to reinstitute plant consolidations and closures., message to the pmg - not so fast, join us on april 15 for the apwu’s tax day of action, stay in touch with your union, subscribe to receive important information from your union..

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The Postal Service unwinds the NDC network and merges the mail streams

Steve Hutkins February 16, 2023 Blog , Featured

As part of its 10-year plan to streamline the network, the Postal Service is in the process of “unwinding” its 21 Network Distribution Centers, which handle Marketing Mail, Periodicals and some ground packages.

One of the goals of this NDC Unwind is to merge the mail and packages handled by the NDCs into the First Class Mail stream. While that may improve the efficiency of mail processing, it blurs the differences between postal classes and products and the speed of delivery one expects from each.

The 21 NDCs are all located in properties that are owned by the Postal Service, most of them since they were originally created in 1975, when they were called Bulk Mail Centers (many, like the Philadelphia NDC pictured above, still have the original signage). The BMCs processed Parcel Post, Bound Printed Matter, Media Mail, Standard Mail and Periodicals. In 2009, the Postal Service transformed the BMC network and turned the facilities into Network Distribution Centers.

Here are a map and list of the 21 NDCs. (View on Google Docs here .)

The 207 Report

News of the “NDC unwind” appeared last month on the website of the National Association of Postal Supervisors in a summary of a meeting in October with representatives of the Postal Service: “The NDC unwind initiative,” reads the summary, “is to explore changes in processing at the NDC, such as eliminating originating processing of marketing/periodicals and retail ground processing while continuing to provide excellent service. Every NDC will need an individual plan. The plan is to modify and possibly eliminate the NDC to NDC network.”

More details about the “unwind” appeared last week in a report submitted by the Postal Service in response to a requirement of Section 207 of the Postal Reform Act . (The report is dated December 2, 2022, but the redacted version wasn’t published on the PRC website until Feb. 10, 2023.)  The 207 report describes changes afoot at the NDCs in Atlanta and Chicago.

“The Atlanta NDC,” says the report, “is being completely overhauled and developed as a future location for other operations when the packages and mail processed in this location are moved to a new building in Palmetto, GA.” (That’s the new mega-plant the Postmaster General visited with the Washington Post last fall.) It goes on to say the Atlanta NDC is being fully renovated with “improved lighting, upgraded facilities and bathrooms” and the removal of obsolete equipment, “which will free workroom floor space to support the reconfiguration of the Atlanta area.”

The report doesn’t get into it, but these “other operations” and “reconfiguration” include turning the Atlanta NDC into one of the new Sorting & Delivery Centers, as we learned from a USPS presentation from July 29, 2022, which shows seven S&DCs in the Atlanta metro area, including the NDC.

Chicago NDC

The 207 report also describes changes at the Chicago NDC, which will be transformed into one of two Regional Processing and Distribution Centers (RPDC) in the Chicago metro area. These RPDCs are the multi-functional mega-plants that have been previously reported. Most if not all of them will not only process the mail but also function as Sorting & Delivery Centers.

In addition to the two in Chicago, three RPDCs are being built in Indianapolis, Charlotte and Atlanta. According to the 207 report, “These are all leased buildings. Currently, the projects are at the early stages of construction (Atlanta), buildout design (Charlotte), and construction (Indianapolis). Atlanta and Charlotte will start processing in 2023 while Indianapolis will be operational in 2024.”

As for the remaining 19 NDCs, the 207 report says the Postal Service is evaluating what to do with them: “The other 19 NDCs are the focus of design studies to evaluate how best to use the buildings and equipment as part of the RPDC network.” The Postal Service owns all 21 of the NDC properties, so rather than closing any of them down completely, the Postal Service may turn the biggest NDCs into RPDCs while repurposing the others as S&DCs.

LOS ANGELES NDC

The 207 report, it should also be noted, confirms what’s been suspected all along — the new Sorting & Delivery Centers will eventually lead to post office closings.

The report says that through changes in the Chicago metro area, including the repurposing of the NDC, the Postal Service will “realize substantial savings due to the non-renewal of leases.” The same goes for Atlanta, where, by combining smaller operations into the new Palmetto RPDC (also a S&DC), “we expect to reduce lease costs.” And ditto for Charlotte, where thanks to its new RPDC/S&DC, the Postal Service expects “to see savings through the elimination of leased facilities.”

These leased facilities may include a processing plant or two, but the context makes it clear that the Postal Service is referring to leases on post offices. When it comes time to renew the lease, many of the post offices that that lose their carrier operations to an S&DC will be closed. It’s part of the plan. But since the Postal Service has been claiming that these post offices will remain as is, it didn’t want to spell that out in the report, which barely even mentions post offices.

The NDC Unwind

The “NDC unwind” was also the subject of a USPS presentation shared in a recent daily huddle at one of the NDCs.

According to the presentation, the objectives of the plan are to “eliminate origin processing at NDCs, eliminate the NDC-to-NDC network, and merge Marketing, Periodicals and package services into the First Class mail stream.”

Under the current system, the presentation explains, the largest mailers truck their Marketing Mail directly to an NDC, while smaller mailers usually drop theirs at one of several Processing & Delivery Centers in their area — which are usually closer since there are hundreds of them as opposed to 21 NDCs.  (According to the 207 report, “In FY 2022 Q3 and Q4 there were 989 customers who inducted commercial mail directly at NDCs and 5,010 customers who inducted commercial mail directly at P&DCs.”) The mail is trucked from the P&DC to the NDC, and then, if necessary, to another NDC, then to other P&DCs, and then to delivery units at post offices.

The new system will streamline the process. The Marketing Mail, Periodicals and ground packages will go to a P&DC and be merged with First Class Mail and routed via the existing First Class network. Retail Ground and Parcel Select Ground Packages will be processed with First Class Packages. The mail will be trucked directly to delivery units at S&DCs and post offices, bypassing the NDC network.

Eventually the trips between P&DCs and NDCs and between NDCs and NDCs (inter NDC) will be minimized or eliminated. The NDC transformation is expected to result in workload reductions at the NDCs, with P&DCs absorbing much of the work.

The implementation is taking place in three phases: (1) Retail Ground & Parcel Select packages move to the First Class Mail network; (2) Marketing Mail, Periodicals & Bound Printed Material decentralize to FCM routing; (3) the remaining Market Dominant Package Services merge to FCM. A timeline in the presentation shows much of the implementation got started last summer, while the remainder is scheduled for the first half of 2023, one NDC after another.

Service Standards and Product Classifications

The merging of the mail streams helps explain the changes to service standards and product classifications that have been going on since 2021 and that are still underway.

SPRINGFIELD NDC

In October 2021, the Postal Service relaxed service standards on First Class Mail and Periodicals ( PRC Docket N2021-1 ), which allowed it to decrease its use of air transportation from 21 percent of First Class Mail to 12 percent.

In May 2022 it did the same with First Class Package Services ( PRC Docket N2021-2 ).

In June 2022, the Postal Service upgraded (i.e., accelerated) service standards for Retail Ground and Parcel Select to align with the standards for First-Class Package Services ( PRC Docket N2022-1 ).

In October 2022, the Postal Service was granted approval by the PRC to streamline its competitive ground package services. Retail Ground and Parcel Select Ground were discontinued as distinct products and subsumed into First Class Package Services, which had previously included only small packages but will now include packages up to 70 pounds.

Last week, the Postal Service announced its intention to rename First Class Package Services as Ground Advantage. Service standards for all ground parcels will align with the First Class service standards.

As some mail speeds up while other slows down, the various mail streams for First Class mail (except for the percent that still uses air transportation), Marketing Mail, Periodicals, and Ground Advantage parcels will essentially merge into one stream.

Merging the Mail Streams

The full implications of this transformation of the postal network remain to be seen, but streamlining the processing and delivery network and integrating the mail streams will homogenize the mail, diminishing the differences between the way in which various classes and products are processed and delivering everything at approximately the same speed.

Back in 2000, First Class Mail averaged about 1.9 days to deliver , while standard mail averaged 4.4 days . The difference in class meant something. Now, not so much.

WASHINGTON NDC

According to reports recently submitted to the PRC for its annual compliance review, the average delivery times for First Class Mail and Marketing Mail are becoming almost indistinguishable.

As recently as 2015, average delivery time for First Class Mail was still less than 2 days. During FY 2021, the average days to deliver for First Class Mail had increased to about 2.6 days while Marketing Mail averaged about 3.1 days. During FY 2022, First Class averaged 2.55 days and Marketing Mail averaged 2.7 days.

As more First Class Mail eventually shifts to ground transportation (taking advantage of the new, slower service standards), its average delivery time may slow down more, while the more streamlined treatment of Marketing Mail may speed up its delivery time. The differences between First Class and Marketing Mail could become even less recognizable.

In a similar way, ground packages, which used to take several days, will speed up — next-day delivery is one of the selling points of the new USPS Connect brand and the new S&DC system — which will make the differences between Ground Advantage and Priority less noticeable as well.

Where it’s all going

The Postal Service has been implementing the Delivering for America plan and its transformation of the postal system in a piecemeal way: modifying service standards on one class, then another; changing product classifications on one product, then another; moving equipment from one plant to another; repurposing one processing center into Sorting & Delivery Center, then another; and relocating carriers from post offices, one by one.

DES MOINES NDC

The Postal Service has thus evaded a holistic review of what the 10-year plan will do.

In 2021, the attorneys general of nineteen states filed a complaint with the Postal Regulatory Commission arguing that it should do an advisory opinion on the whole plan, not its individual components, but the Commission dismissed the complaint.

Implementation of the DFA will thus continue with no comprehensive, external analysis of what it will all mean in the end — that is, aside from the inevitable: reducing the workforce by tens of thousands, closing post offices, cutting retail hours, selling historic properties , and transforming the Postal Service into a business rather than a public service. And that cannot end well.

— Steve Hutkins

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“He didn’t strike me as a serious candidate,” Williams told a Congressional hearing . “He does have the experience of the logistics support from working with the Postal Service and others. That’s a fairly narrow part. It was essentially moving our empty equipment back to places where it could be filled. So that’s a kind of experience, but it was fairly compartmentalized.”

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Two USPS employees indicted in separate theft cases

WICHITA, KAN. – A federal grand jury in Wichita returned separate indictments charging two former employees of the U.S. Postal service with stealing the contents of mail.  

According to court documents, Alexa Garner-Cavender, 36, of Wichita is charged with four counts of theft of mail by a postal employee. Garner-Cavender is accused of stealing checks from the mail on multiple occasions in 2023 totaling approximately $4,800. 

In a separate, unrelated case, Dylan Ellis, 30, of Andale is charged with one count of delay or destruction of mail by postal employee. Between January and February of 2024, Ellis is accused stealing U.S. currency (cash) from the mail.

The U.S. Postal Service – Office of Inspector General is investigating the cases. 

Assistant U.S. Attorney Aaron Smith is prosecuting the cases.

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Carletos Amaro, 26, of Wichita was indicted on one count of aiming a laser pointer at an aircraft. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Kari Burks is prosecuting the case.

Jesus Castelo-Roman, 30, of Wichita was indicted on one count of possession with intent to distribute methamphetamine, one count of possession with intent to distribute cocaine, one count of possession of a firearm in furtherance of a drug trafficking crime, and possession of a firearm by an illegal alien. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Ola Odeyemi is prosecuting the case.

Matias Pascual, 24, of Salina was indicted on two counts of assaulting, resisting, or impeding certain officers or employees. Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) is investigating the case. Assistant U.S. Attorney Jason Hart is prosecuting the case.

An indictment is merely an allegation, and all defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt in a court of law. ###  

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Memorial Day, a federal holiday to remember the men and women who died while serving in the armed forces, is Monday, May 27.

Facilities that are open on the holiday must fly the U.S. flag at half-staff.

The U.S. flag must be flown at half-staff from sunrise — or the hour when it’s raised — until noon. Then, hoist the flag to the peak of the staff, where it either must fly until the time of closing or no later than sunset (unless the flag is lighted).

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May 17, 2024

Horses Gallop Into Limelight With New Postage Stamps To Debut at Pony Express Re-Ride

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The U.S. Postal Service will release Horses, a set of five new stamps that pay tribute to the unwavering loyalty, tireless dedication and wild beauty of America’s equines.

The first-day-of issue ceremony will be held before the start of the 164th Pony Express Re-Ride. USPS will help cheer on participants as they set off on the 1,966 mile run from St. Joseph, MO to Sacramento, CA. The ceremonial event is free and open to the public. News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #HorsesStamps.

More information about the Pony Express Re-Ride, including the 2024 Re-Ride schedule, can be found at https://nationalponyexpress.org/re-ride/current-reride/ .

Jamiel Freeman, postmaster, St. Joseph, MO

Pam Dixon Simmons, president, National Pony Express Association

Gary Chilcote, Missouri State president, National Pony Express Association

Monday, June 17, 2024, at 2 p.m. Central

164th Commemorative Pony Express Re-Ride Patee House Museum 1202 Penn St. St. Joseph, MO 64503

Attendees are encouraged to register at: usps.com/horsesstamps .

Background:

Once vital to the early economic development of the United States, horses are now valued for their roles in sports and recreation, beloved as companions, and admired for their timeless beauty.

The pane of 20 stamps features five photographs of individual horses. Three of the five appear in their natural environments against a background of green foliage: a gray-maned dappled white stallion; a horse with a russet coat, copper mane and white facial markings; and a golden chestnut with a chalky white mane. A horse with a brown spotted coat and light-colored mane is standing against a snowy wooded background, and a chestnut horse with a white blaze is photographed against a simple black background. The selvage depicts a chestnut horse with a black muzzle and mane peering out of a Dutch barn window.

Derry Noyes, an art director for USPS, designed the stamps using existing photographs by Stephanie Moon and Karen Wegehenkel.

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The United States Postal Service is an independent federal establishment, mandated to be self-financing and to serve every American community through the affordable, reliable and secure delivery of mail and packages to 167 million addresses six and often seven days a week. Overseen by a bipartisan Board of Governors, the Postal Service is implementing a 10-year transformation plan, Delivering for America , to modernize the postal network, restore long-term financial sustainability, dramatically improve service across all mail and shipping categories, and maintain the organization as one of America’s most valued and trusted brands.

The Postal Service generally receives no tax dollars for operating expenses and relies on the sale of postage, products and services to fund its operations.

For USPS media resources, including broadcast-quality video and audio and photo stills, visit the USPS Newsroom . Follow us on X , formerly known as Twitter; Instagram ; Pinterest ; Threads and LinkedIn . Subscribe to the USPS YouTube Channel and like us on Facebook . For more information about the Postal Service, visit usps.com and facts.usps.com .

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Expert Picks: Charles Schwab Challenge

Expert Picks

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How it works: Each week, our experts from PGATOUR.COM will make their selections in PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf. Each lineup consists of four starters and two bench players that can be rotated after each round. Adding to the challenge is that every golfer can be used only three times per each of four Segments.

Aside from the experts below, Golfbet Insider Rob Bolton breaks down the field at the PGA Championship in this week's edition of Power Rankings .

Betting picks

WILL GRAY (Lead, Fantasy & Betting)

• Winner: Harris English (+3300) – English has been hit-or-miss at Colonial but I’m willing to roll the dice given his three top-20s here, including a 2016 runner-up, and his standing as one of the best putters on TOUR (eighth in SG: Putting this season).
• Top 10: Tony Finau (+250) – I saw just enough form from Finau last week at the PGA to go back to the well, especially on a course where he has a pair of top-5s and four top-20s since 2015.
• Longshot: Justin Rose (+6000) – The Englishman blitzed Colonial en route to victory back in 2017 and added three top-20s since. Now he’s coming off a T6 finish at Valhalla with a game that’s clearly in form.
• Head-to-Head (H2H): Austin Eckroat (+100) over Andrew Putnam – Eckroat finished T16 in his Colonial debut last year and has leveled up since, earning his first TOUR win and banking three top-20s in his last four starts including the PGA.

BEN EVERILL (Senior writer, Fantasy & Betting)

• Winner: Tony Finau (+2800) – Finau was on the periphery of contention throughout the week at Valhalla, which is where I’m looking for my winner to come from this week. We might be sleeping on Morikawa, much like many of us did with Schauffele after his loss, but the value on the odds board lies here. Four top 25s here in last five years including a runner-up.
• Top 10: Max Homa (+200) – Homa finished inside the top-10 at Colonial a year ago, and I think he can do the same again. In fact, I think he’s a good chance to snatch a victory. Another player who was on the periphery of contention at the PGA, his form is trending in the right direction.
• Longshots: Billy Horschel (+5000) – Keeping the trend of players rounding into form last week without actually expelling excess energy is Horschel. Returned to the winners circle recently in Punta Cana and rocketed home last week into the top 10. Plus money for a top-20 looks decent despite only fair results at Colonial in the past.
• H2H: Austin Eckroat (+100) over Andrew Putnam – I am very fearful having the same H2H as Will Gray, but I share his sentiments on Eckroat being on a new level this season. Putnam does enjoy Colonial but this appears a chance to get plus money on what at worst is a coin flip match up and at best is books missing Eckroat’s rise.

CHRIS BREECE (Senior content manager, Golfbet)

• Winner: Denny McCarthy (+5000) – With two finishes in the top six recently (including a playoff loss) McCarthy is showing he’s ready to take the next step in his career; becoming a PGA TOUR winner. I take the missed cut at the PGA as a positive. He’ll have more in the tank.
• Top 10: Brian Harman (+320) – Our key stat last week was driving. The closer you got to the green the less important the stats were. Colonial is the opposite. Harman’s game gets better the closer he gets to the green.
• Longshot: Tom Hoge (+5000) – He has shown signs of coming around the last two weeks. He’s second on TOUR in S.G. Approach, our big metric this week.
• H2H: Jordan Spieth (+140) over Collin Morikawa – Spieth is great here. Morikawa is due for an emotional letdown after a lot of great golf lately. The underdog value makes it even better.

MATT DELVECCHIO (Social content manager, Fantasy & Betting)

• Winner: Collin Morikawa (+1200) – On a tear over the last two months, Morikawa hasn’t finished anything worse than T23 since the Masters. A stretch that includes two majors and two Signature Events. If Scheffler wasn’t in the field he would be a sub +1000 favorite.
• Top 10: Tony Finau (+250) – A guy who likes Colonial and has the game for it showed up big last week at the PGA. After a big week he heads to a course he likes and finishes high.
• Longshot: Billy Horschel (+5000) – Sneaky great week last week at the PGA which adds to a sneaky good season for Horschel. If Colonial plays hard like it did last year then I like this pick less. If it’s playing easier with less wins and softer greens, he should be able to pile on birdies and make a run.
• H2H: Austin Eckroat over Putnam (+100) – I think the wrong guy is favorited here with Putnam laying -125 in the matchup. Eckroat has proved if he’s playing well early, he can make runs at tournaments. Give me the better player at plus money.

Odds were sourced on Tuesday, May 14. For live odds, visit BetMGM .

Want to see how to set up your PGA TOUR Fantasy Golf lineup? Scroll below.

THINK YOU'RE BETTER THAN OUR EXPERTS? The PGA TOUR Experts league is once again open to the public. You can play our free fantasy game and see how you measure up against our experts below.

Joining the league is simple. Just click here to sign up or log in. Once you create a team, click the "LEAGUES" tab. Then click on "FEATURED," and then on the PGA TOUR Experts league that populates.

*Brett Jungles joined the Expert Picks league at the beginning of Segment 1 and did not accumulate any points from the FedExCup Fall.

Golfbet experts longshot: 0-18

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