NEWS ARCHIVES

JUNE 2017

National News

June30,2017KDVR:Whilemanywillhaveathree-orfour-dayweekendfortheIndependenceDayholiday,theUnitedStatesPostalServicewillstillbehardatwork.NormalretailanddeliveryoperationswillcontinueonMonday.PostofficelocationswillbeclosedtoobservetheholidayTuesdaybeforeresumingoperationsonWednesday.TheUSPSsaidInformedDeliveryishelpfulforpeoplewhoaregoingoutoftownorareexpectingmailoveraholiday.PostalNews:The2017JointContractInterpretationManual(JCIM),aresourcefortheadministrationofthe2015-2018CollectiveBargainingAgreement,ispreparedandattheprinter!Inlessthantwoweeks,memberscanordertheirboundJCIMfor$6fromtheAPWUStore.Clickhereforanelectroniccopy.TheJCIMisanAPWUandtheUSPSjointlypreparedmanual.Itservestoaddressandresolvedisputesaswellasensurecontractcompliance.BDNPortland:U.S.Sen.AngusKing,I-Maine,isconcernedaboutmailserviceinsouthernMaine.Thestate’sjuniorsenatorwrotetoPostmasterGeneralMeganBrennantoquestiontheU.S.PostalService’splantomoveautomatedsortingequipmentfromtheScarboroughdistributioncentertooneinNewHampshire.Kingsaidhe’sworriedthemovewillresultindelaysformailandpackagesprocessedthroughtheScarboroughfacility,aswellastheeliminationofFirstClassnext-daydeliveryserviceforcustomersinthearea,forcingthemtoinsteadpayextraforotherovernightshippingoptions.KingtoldBrennanthatbynextWednesday,hewantsmapsofanyareaswhichmaybeaffectedbythechange,aswellasanyinternalanalysesexplainingthejustificationforthemove.WHNT:TheU.S.PostalServicecouldchangethelookofsubdivisionsacrossthecountry.It'srequiringdeveloperstobuild"ClusterMailboxes"ratherthanputtingasinglemailboxoutsideeachhome.InApril2012TheU.S.PostalServiceupdateditsguidelinestospecifythatcentralizeddeliveryispreferredwhenitcomestonewdevelopments.It'snowbeingenforced.Thebuildersassociationargues"ClusterMailboxes"poseasafetythreatandwillmakeithardfortheelderlyanddisabledtogettheirmail.TheU.S.PostalServicereleasedthefollowingstatementaboutthenewrule:“ThePostalServiceiscontinuallyworkingtoidentifyandimplementsmartbusinessstrategiesthatallowmoreefficientandeconomicalmeansofoperation,includingmaildelivery.Atroughly$30billionannually,deliveringmailto156milliondeliverypointsintheUnitedStatesisthelargest,singlefixed-costweincur.ThePostalServicehasdeterminedthatcentralizeddeliveryisthemostefficient,cost-effectiveandsafestmethodofprovidingservicetoourcustomers.Theformerdeliverymodeprocessthatallowedresidentialdeveloperstochoosebetweencurblineandclusterboxdelivery,fornewconstruction,isnolongerinplace."FederalNewsRadio:Ninebrave(andsmart)RepublicanmembersoftheHousehavedecidedtobucktheirleadership(nottomentiontheWhiteHouse)overtheissueofgivingfederalworkerssmallerpensionswhilerequiringtopaymoreforthosereducedannuities.Ifalltheproposalswereenactedintolaw,thepricetagtofederalworkersandretireeswouldbe$149billioninlostbenefitsoverthenext10years.Sufficetosay,thispotentiallyisaverybigdealforfederalworkersandretirees.TheywroteadetailedlettertotheHouseleadership,urgingittostopproposalsthatwouldforcemostcurrentworkerstopayasmuchas6percentmorefortheirretirementbenefits,reducecost-of-livingadjustsforretireesundertheoldCSRSplanandeliminateinflation-catchups,forever,forthevastmajorityofcurrentworkerswhoareunderthelessgenerousFederalEmployeesRetirementSystem.

June29,2017MailingSystemsTechnology:Digitaladvertisinghasbeenhoggingthespotlightlately.Everyyear,itseems,anewplatformortrendemerges,andmarketersscrambletohoponthelatestbandwagon:Google,Facebook,Instagram,video,augmentedreality,Snapchat,influencermarketing—yougettheidea.Incomparison,directmaillooksalmost…quaint.Whichraisesthequestion:Istheendnearforthehumblepostcard?Marketerswouldbefoolishtocountdirectmailout.Checkoutthesenumbers:40%ofconsumershavemadeapurchaseinthelastthreemonthsbecauseofdirectmailtheyreceived(prWeb);56%ofconsumersfindprintmarketingtobethemosttrustworthy(DMR);92%ofmillennialshopperssaytheypreferdirectmailformakingpurchasingdecisions(DMR);39%ofconsumershavetriedabusinessforthefirsttimebecauseofdirectmail(DMR).GreenBiz:EdRogersjoinedtheUnitedParcelService(UPS)23yearsagointhecorporateindustrialengineeringdepartment,bringingwithhimmorethanadecadeofexperienceasaU.S.AirForceOfficerandengineeringmanagementconsultant.HehelpedformulateUPS’sinitialsustainabilitystrategyandmostrecently,asseniordirectorofglobalsustainability,Rogersoversawthecompany’ssustainabilityprogramandinitiatives,bringingclear-mindedpragmatism,experiencedbusinessreasoningandpersonalconvictiontotherole.Today,heseesBtoBcollaborationasthenextfrontierofsustainability.

ExamplesoftheseeffortsarehighlightedinUPS’slatestSustainabilityReport,releasedthisweekalongwithanewsetofsustainabilitygoals.USAToday:UnitedParcelService,thenation'slargestpackagedeliverycompany,saidTuesdayitwillfreezeitspensionprogramfor70,000nonunionemployeesinfiveyearsandreplaceitwith401kaccounts,reactingtoarisingpensiondeficitandjoiningotherlargecorporationsthathavephasedouttraditionalretirementplans.Risingpensioncosts,thevolatilityinfuturefundingandchangingdemographics--mainlythefactthatpeoplearelivinglonger--triggeredthemove,thecompanysaid.Thechangedoesn'taffectits272,000unionemployeesintheU.S.ButtheircontractsexpireinJulynextyear,andnegotiationswillalmostcertainlyincludetheissueofretirementfundingplans.

June28,2017SATPR:MathesonTrucking,Inc.hasbeennamedasawinnerintheUnitedStatesPostalService'sSupplierSustainabilityExcellenceAwardcategory,whichispartofUSPS'sannualSupplierPerformanceAwardprogram.Puttingthisawardintoabroadercontext,aUSPSspokespersonsaidthatduringfiscalyear2016,thePostalServicespentover$11.9billionfortransportation,supplies,services,facilitiesandequipmentwithasupplierbasethatincludednearly17,000companies.MathesonTrucking,Inc.isoneofonly12companiesbeingrecognizedthisyear.Linns:It’shardlyasurprisetomanyinWashington’spostalcommunity,butthelawmakerwhocraftedtheHouse’sbipartisanpostallegislationsayshisbillappearsdead.ThatiswhatdepartedHouseOversightchairmanJasonChaffetz,R-Utah,toldTheHillnewspapershortlybeforehisresignationfromCongressbecameeffectiveJune30.“Youcancontinuetogetfrustratedandwhineaboutitoryoucanleave,soI’vedecidedtoleave,”Chaffetztoldthepaper.ThenewchairmanoftheHouseOversightCommittee,Rep.TreyGowdy,R-S.C.,“hasexpressedaninterestinpursuingpostalreform,”accordingtoAmandaGonzalez,hisspokeswoman.TheChaffetzpostallegislationclearedthecommitteeinMarch,raisinghopesthattheHousewouldaddressthefinancialwoesfacingtheU.S.PostalService.ButgiventhependingJulyrecessandothermeasuresthattheTrumpadministrationhasgivenhighpriority,thechancesofpostallegislationclearingCongressthisyearareconsideredslimbymanypostalindustryofficials.WashingtonPost:Rep.JasonChaffetz(R-Utah),chairmanoftheHouseOversightandGovernmentReformCommittee,willleavealegacywhenhequitsCongressat10a.m.Friday.Aftermanyyearsoftrying,thecommitteeunderChaffetzapprovedlegislationtostabilizefalteringPostalServicefinances.Thebipartisanbillwassupportedbypostalmanagement,unionsandindustrymailers.Thismajoraccomplishment,however,turnedtofrustrationwhentheRepublicanleadershipdidnotschedulethebillforaHousevote.

June27,2017Post&Parcel:DelegatesatthePost&ParcelLiveseminar,whichtookplaceinLondononMonday(26June),debatedhowthepostalindustrymusttransformitselftomeetthechangingneedsofitscustomers.Thediscussionsattheseminar,whichwassponsoredbyTheDeliveryGroupandbakergoodchild,coveredawiderangeofissuesbuttheoverarchingthemewas:howcanthepostalindustryremainprofitableandrelevantinthefaceofdecliningtraditionalmailvolumes.Thekeysolutionsappearedtobe:increasethelevelofcompetitionandaccessinthemarket,inordertostimulategreaterefficienciesandencourageplayerstodevelopmoreinnovativeproductsandservices;andredefine,oratleastreview,thenatureoftheuniversalserviceobligation,soitcanbemoreofanopportunityratherthanaburden.WhatdotheyThink?:SomerecentonlineexchangesinvolvingpublishingguruBoSacksandtheheadoftheMPAandtheUSPSviasecretiveblogger“D.EadwardTree”sentmediggingintoeconomicdata.Thebasictrendsarenotsurprising,everyoneknowsthedirection,butnotnecessarilytheextent.PostalServicepricesarehigherthangeneralinflation,televisionadvertisingpricesareerraticbutaregenerallyhigher.TheCPIshowstheoveralllevelofpricechangesforallgoodsconsumersbuy.Advertisingagencyfeeslaginflation(whichmeanstheyarecheaper),printingpricesseriouslylaginflation(whichmeansprintingischeaperyet),butnothingcomparedtothedramaticdeclinesinpricesofcellularandwirelessservicesandInternetadvertising.It’sabouttimeeveryonestoppedcomplainingabouttheUSPSandworkeddiligentlytowardthedestructionofitsmonopoly.Untilthatmonopolyisended,anythingelsethatclaimsto“fix”theUSPSisjusttweaks,gimmicks,andillusions.Post&Parcel:RetailgiantWalmartandEstonia-basedtechnologycompanyCleveronhaveannouncedtheyare“consolidating”theircooperationonclick-and-collectsolutions.Cleveron’sroboticsbasedclick-and-collectparcelterminalPackRobotwasfirstinstalledintheUSlastfall.Walmarttestedtheterminalsbeforeexpandingthesolutiontootherstoresacrosscountry.

June26,2017NALC:SenateMajorityLeaderMitchMcConnell(R-KY)introducedtheBetterCareReconciliationActlastweek,followingsevenyearsofpromisingtherepealoftheAffordableCareAct(ACA,alsoknownasObamacare)andafterweeksofnegotiationsfollowingtheHouseofRepresentatives’passageoftheAmericanHealthCareAct(H.R.1628),abillthattheSenatesaiditcouldnotandwouldnotpass.TheSenate’slegislation,whichisdifferentfromwhattheHousepassedinMay,isexpectedtobevotedonintheSenateinthecomingdays,beforesenatorsdepartWashington,DC,fortheJuly4recess.Followingthatvote,theSenateandHousebillswillneedtobereconciledbeforeasinglebillheadstoPresidentDonaldTrump’sdeskforasignature.BothmeasuresareprojectedtoincreasethenumberofAmericanswhoareuninsuredbyabout23million.Amongthedefiningcharacteristicsofthelegislationareprovisionstoderegulateinsurancecompanies,whichwouldallowthemtochargeolderandsickerAmericansmoreforhealthinsurance,andtoeliminatetheindividualmandateto

buyhealthinsuranceandthemandateforlargercompanies(with50ormoreemployees)toprovideemployer-sponsoredhealthcoverage.FoxBusiness:NotlongbeforeDonHolman'ssonGarrettdiedfromanoverdoseinFebruary,helearnedhis20-year-oldhadhisdrugsdelivereddirectlytotheirVirginiahomeinthemail,inpackagesfromforeigncountries.FentanylandothersyntheticnarcoticslikeU-47700,whichwasfoundGarrettHolman'ssystem,arenowstreamingintotheU.S.throughinternationalparcelsdeliveredbytheU.S.PostalServiceandprivatecarrierslikeUnitedParcelServiceInc.andFedExCorp.,accordingtoauthorities.ThedeliveriesarehelpingfuelanopioidcrisisthatclaimstensofthousandsofU.S.liveseachyear,proddingcongressionallawmakerstoproposetougherrulesandnewresourcestotrytostoptheflow.Seizuresoffentanylarrivingbybothinternationalmailandexpresscarriersreachednearly37kilogramsintheU.S.overallinfiscal2016,comparedwith0.09kilogramfiveyearsearlier,accordingtoCustomsandBorderProtectiondata.AmeasuresponsoredbylawmakersincludingSen.SherrodBrown(D.,Ohio)wouldprovidecustomsofficialswithmorescreeningequipmentandlabresourcestodetectfentanylarrivingbymailoratportsofentry.AnotherbillintheSenate,sponsoredbyOhioRepublicanRobPortman,wouldrequireoverseasshippersthatusetheU.S.PostalServicetoprovidecertainpiecesofinformation,transmittedelectronicallytoCBPbeforeparcelsarriveinthecountry.

June25,2017PostalNews:In2013,theUSPSOfficeofInspectorGeneralfoundthatfaultycontrolsover“electronicparcelpaymentsystems,includingPCPostage”hadcosttheagencyasmuchas$262million.TheOIGsaysitrecommendedcorrectivesteps.TheUSPSdisagreedwiththoserecommendations,sayingitwouldinstead“reviewitsautomatedverificationcapabilities”.Fouryearslater,theUSPShasstillnotimplementeditsAutomatedPackageVerification(APV)system-it’sscheduledtogoonlineinAugust.TheOIGsaystherevenuelosshas“grown”sincetheoriginalreport,sopresumablythelossforthecurrentfiscalyearismorethan$262million.Addthemtogetherandyougetoverhalfabillioninrevenuelostintwoyears.TheUSPSsaysitisn’treallyallthatbad-thereasonthey’velostmoremoneyisthattotalpackagerevenueisup-inotherwords,they’velostmoremoneybecausethere’smoremoneytolose!TheOIGsaystheUSPSfacessignificanthurdlestoimplementingitsAPVprogram.

June24,2017BusinessMirror:TheUSfederal“whistle-blower”caseagainstLanceArmstrongissettogototrialinNovember,andArmstrong’sattorneysandthoseoftheUSgovernmentarealreadylockedinbattleoverwhatexpertseachsidewillbeallowedtocalluponfortestimony.ArmstrongwasthetargetofafederalFalseClaimsActlawsuitbroughtbyformerteammateFloydLandisin2010undertheassertionthattheformercyclingstar’sdopingconstitutedfraudagainstthegovernment.Shouldhelose,Armstrongcouldoweupto$100million,andLandiswouldbedueacutofthedamages.ThegovernmentassertsthattheUSPostalService’ssponsorshiphadnovaluebecauseArmstrongandsomeofhisteammatesdoped,thenliedaboutittokeepthemoneycomingin.Armstrong’sattorneyshavelongarguedthattheUSPostalServicegotfarmoreinmarketingvaluefromitssponsorshipthanthe$32.2millionitpaidtheteamfrom2000to2004.ThegovernmentlawyersquestionedthecompetenceofArmstrong’sexpertwitness,DouglasKidder,whocalculatedthevalueoftheUSPostalServiceexposurethankstotheteamat$257million.PostalNews:OnJune21,theAPWUandNationalPostalMailHandlersUnion(NPMHU)sentajointlettertoPostmasterGeneralMeganBrennanchastisingheradministration’s“wholesaleandmassivejobcuts.”APWUPresidentMarkDimondsteinandNPMHUPresidentPaulHogrogianexplained,“ThecuttingofanalreadyskeletalworkforcewillnotonlycausemassivedisruptiontotheworkforcebutwillcausefurtherdegradationofpostalservicesfortheAmericanpeoplethroughoutthecountry.”ThepostalunionshavedrawnalineinthesandandarestandingunitedagainstPostmasterBrennan’scontinuous“cost-saving”shortcuts–shortcutsthathavegreatlyaffectednotonlythebargaining-unitworkforcebutalsomailprocessing,maildelivery,customerserviceandthereputationoftheUnitedStatesPostalService.Theletterconcludeswithanoffertomeetandexplorealternativestotheproposedmassivecutsthatwillpreserveserviceandjobs.TheVerge:Amazon’sdronedeliveryprogramstoppedbeingajokeawhileago,butthecompanystillhastoovercomeseriouschallengestomakethetechnologyactuallywork.Oneoftheseisgettingdronesnearenoughtolargepopulationssothey’remoreefficientthanregularroaddelivery.Amazonhasanideaforthatthough:Huge.Drone.Beehives.Inapatentapplicationpublishedyesterday,Amazondescribedhow“multi-levelfulfillmentcentersforunmannedaerialvehicles”couldhelpputdroneswherethey’reneeded.Theapplicationnotesthatdueto“theirlargefootprint,”currentwarehousesarelocated“ontheoutskirtsofcitieswherespaceisavailable.”Butmulti-storydronecenterscouldbebuiltvertically,ratherthanhorizontally,allowingthemtobeplacedwithin“downtowndistrictsand/orotherdenselypopulatedurbanareas.”And,ofcourse,makingthemhigh-riseswouldletthedronesflyinandoutwithoutgettingdangerouslyclosetopedestriansatstreetlevel.

June23,2017NHBR:Since2006,thankstothePostalAccountabilityandEnhancementAct,theU.S.PostalServicehasbeenrequiredtoabidebyacaponpostalpriceincreasestiedtoinflation.Thepricecapprotectedmailersfromrunawaypriceincreasesandprovidedthemwiththemeanstobudgettheirexpensesaccurately.NowtheUSPSisaskingthePostalRateCommission(PRC)toscrapthelaw’spricingsystemandgivetheUSPSuncheckedpowertosetitsownrates,withlittleornooversightbythePRC.WeallwanttheUSPStobefinanciallysuccessful.AhealthyPostalServiceisineveryone’sinterests,especiallythoseofuswho

dependonitforourorganizationsandbusinesses.Butenablinginefficientoperationswithunwarrantedrateincreasescausesmoreharmthangood.Post&Parcel:ThegovernorofWisconsin,ScottWalker,hassignedanewlawwhichwillallowdeliveryrobotstooperateonsidewalksandcrosswalksacrossthestate.WisconsinjoinsVirginiaandIdahoinpassinglegislationwhichallowforstate-widerobotdeliveryusage.ThenewWisconsinrulesondeliveryrobots–enactedthroughStateSenateBill148–lawlimittherobotstoamaximumweightof80poundsandatopspeedof10milesanhour.Post&Parcel:AmazonhasrevealedanewservicethatithopeswillhelptomakePrimemembershipamoreenticingprospect.ThenewAmazonPrimeWardrobe–whichisinbetamodeatthemoment–willgivePrimemembersafreeandeasy,“trybeforeyoubuy”,returnsservice.Thisishowtheservicewillwork:Primememberscanfilltheirdeliveryboxwiththreeormoreitemsacrosstheclothing,shoesandaccessoriesranges.Oncetheproductsaredelivered,thecustomershassevendaysinwhichtotryontheproductsanddecideiftheywantthemornot.Ifthecustomershaveproductstheydon’twant,they“justhavetodropoff[their]boxataUPSlocationorscheduleafreepick-up”.

June22,2017MailOMG:Businessmailerscelebratedthehistoricratecutlastyearasemergencypostagehikesexpired.ButthatcelebrationwillbeshortlivedifthePostalServicehasitswaywithCongressandthePostalRegulatoryCommission.AnditisincreasinglylookingliketheUSPSwillprevailonbothfrontsandthatmeanspostagerateswilljump5-10%.AbillmakingitswaythroughCongresswillinstantlyincreasepostageratesby2.15%.Meanwhile,thePRCwillrulebyearlyFallonthecurrentratesettingsystem.Itsoptionsincludean“inflationplussystem”—forexample,inflation+1%or+2%—forannualpricehikes.WerethePRCtoadoptaplussystemoreliminatetheratecapaltogether,mailinggroupswouldlikelytaketheircasetocourt,arguingthatthePRCdoesnothavetheauthoritytochangetheinflationratecapestablishedinthepostalreformactof2006.TownHall:Rep.JasonChaffetz,R-Utah,isonhiswayoutaschairmanoftheHouseCommitteeonOversightandGovernmentReform.ButtheworkhehasbegunonPostalServicereformwillgoon.ThePostalReformActof2017,whichRep.ChaffetzshepherdedtoapprovalinhiscommitteeinMarch,nowhas16cosponsors–sevenRepublicansandnineDemocrats.ThecosponsorshaveaskedtheCongressionalBudgetOfficetoscorethelegislation,soitcanbepreparedforconsiderationbytheHouseWays&MeansCommittee.Thescoredidfindsomefeaturesofthebillwouldachieve“savings,”butforthemostpart,money-wise,itwillbeabouttheenormouscostsrelatedtothePostalService’smassiveunfundedliabilitiesinitspensionandretireehealthcarefunds.SimilarlegislationhasbeenintroducedineachofthelasttwoCongressesbuthasnotmovedforward.Thistime,it'sbipartisancosponsorssaytheyhaveabetterchanceatpassage.

June21,2017Ecommercebytes:WereportedlastyearthattheUSPSwastestinganewsystemdesignedtomakeiteasierforsellerstogetaninitialscanonpackagesenteringthemailstream.TheUSPSpublishedmoreinformationthisweek."TheAutomatedParcelDrop(APD)isaself-servicemachinethatallowscustomerstomailpre-paidandmerchandisereturnparcels.Customersscanthepackage'spre-paidlabelbarcodeattheAPD,depositthepackagethroughitsdoorandcollectapaperreceiptwithacceptancescandate,timeandtrackinginformation."ThePostalServicesaidtheAPDkiosksacceptparcelswithPCPostageonlinelabelsincludingeBayandClick-N-Ship,merchandisereturnlabels,andself-servicekiosklabels.ThemachinesarebeingtestedinfiveretaillobbiesinCalifornia,Florida,NewYork,NorthDakotaandVirginia.WhileitseemsusingSCANformswithpickupwouldbemoreefficientforvolumeshippers,thekioskscouldbeidealforsellerswhomustbringpackagestothePO.MentalFloss:AtthecoreoftheUSPSareitspostalcarriers,themenandwomenwhorunupanddownporchsteps,dodgeunfriendlyanimals,andbraveinclementweathertomakesureyourpersonalcorrespondencearrivesontime.Wespoketoseveraltolearnmoreaboutthejob,fromtheirbiggestfears(asidefrommeandogs)tohiddensurprisesinmailreceptacles.

June20,2017NPR:Thefirstdayofsummerdoesn'tbeginuntilWednesdaybutUnitedParcelServicealreadyislookingaheadtothecolderseasonswithplanstochargeretailersanextrafeeforordersplacedaroundBlackFridayandChristmas.Andconsumerscouldendupcarryingthatextraweightifretailersdecidetopassonthecostbyraisingshippingfees.BetweenNov.19andDec.2thisyear,UPSsaysitwilladda27-centchargeonallgroundpackagessenttohomes.ThosedatesincludeBlackFriday,whichisNov.24,andCyberMonday,whichisNov.27.Consumersthengetatwo-weekreprievefromtheadditionalcharge,butthefeemakesacomebacktousherinthefinalholidayrush.NextGov:Whilemostmediacoverageof"disruptive"digitaltransformationfocusesongainsinthebusinesssector—publishing,filmandtheautoindustries,forexample—thepublicsectoriscatchingupfast.Today,it’susingdigitalcommunicationstoimproveinteractionsbetweengovernmentandcitizens,domesticallybetweengovernmentdepartments,andinternationallywithothergovernmentbodies.Forgovernmentchiefinformationofficers,digitizationholdsgreatpromise.Papersuppression,unlockinginformationvalueandsatisfyingcitizens’appetitefordigitalservices.Digitalmail—thedigitizationanddeliveryofpaper-basedcommunications—ishelpingpostalservicesretainexistingcustomers(government,businessandconsumer),andattractnewcustomerswhowishtoavailofitsconvenienceandintegrationwithotherservices.PostalNews:MikeCauseysuggeststhatDonaldTrump’sattacksonfederalemployees’payandbenefitsmaygalvanizeemployeeorganizationsintotakingunitedaction:Thegoodnewsabouttheretirementplanbadnewsisthatithasgivenfederalunions,managementgroups,retireeorganizationsandotherstheirbiggestissue—andreasontoworktogether—indecades.Assaultingtheretirementplan,breakingpromisesasworkersandretireesseeit,istheperfectbannertorally

around.The30-memberFederal-PostalCoalitionsaysactiveandretiredfederalandpostalworkerscouldlose$139millionintake-homepay(becauseofhigherretirementplancontributions)andreducedorfrozenannuitiesifthediet-and-zero-COLAplansbecomelaw.They’vealsogottenawrittenpledgefromover100Housememberstoblocktheproposedcuts.

June19,2017Post&Parcel:TheusageofFulfilmentByAmazon(FBA)amongAmazonMarketplacesellersiscontinuingtogrow,accordingtonewresearch.Inanoticepostedonitswebsitelastweek,MarketplacePulsesaid:“SincethelasttimewelookedatFBAusageamongmarketplacesellersinJanuary,ithasgrowninallcountries.”MarketplacePulseadded:“Basedonourresearchwedidn’tseemuchgrowthamongtopsellersintheUS–itonlywentupbyonepointto58percent.ThiscanbeexplainedbyalreadyhighFBApenetration,andthestabilityofthemarket.“HoweverallEuropeanmarketshavegrownconsiderably,by3to5percentagepoints.Wethinkthereisalotofinterestfromforeignsellerstosellthere,bothfromChinaandfromtheUS,sotheyarepushingtheFBAusage.

June18,2017PostalEmployee:OnJune14,theAPWUandthePostalServicereachedanagreementresolvingaStep4NationalDisputethatcareerClerkCraftemployeesassignedtoaPOStPlanofficeareentitledtoauniformallowance.ThepartiesagreedthatcareerClerkCraftemployeeswhostaffPOStPlanofficeswillbeconsideredeligibletoparticipateintheuniformallowanceprogramperexistingprovisionsforcareeremployeesintheClerkCraft,whichrequire:1.Theofficialassignmentataretailcounterisforaminimumof4hoursdailyfor5daysaweekonacontinuingbasis,or;2.Foraminimumof30hoursaweek.ThedisputearosebecausethePostalServiceessentiallyexcludedcareerClerkCraftemployeesfromauniformallowancesolelybecausetheyworkedinPOStPlanoffices.

June17,2017MultiBrief:Oneofthelargestproblemsstumpingefficiencyandprofitabilityexpertsisarguablythemostdifficult:gettinggoodsthroughthegauntletofthe"lastmile"—thefinallegofaproduct'stransportationjourneybeforeitlandswiththecustomer.Whilestrivingforcompetitivepricing,3PLsknowthisdilemmaalltoowell.Thatmeansthatlow-costoptionsarelimitedtoevenlargee-commerceplayers,particularlyinthecaseofruraldeliveries.WhiletraditionaldeliveryproviderssuchasUPS,FedExandUSPSaretryingtoinnovatetokeeppacewithdemand,anewcollectionofunusualsolutionshascroppedup,givingcustomersmorechoicesatthehandsofthegigeconomy.Thelastmileisgettingsmaller,andit'sshrinkingduetoajointeffortfromthegigeconomy,consumerdemandandtechnologicalinnovation.Whileautomatedordronedeliverymaystillbeafewyearsoff,it'ssafetosaythatlargeretailershavemanagedanetworkofsolutionsthat'saboutasclosetoawin-winashomedeliverycanhopetoachieve.PostalNews:FromtheAmericanPostalWorkersUnion:Throughoutthecountry,thePostalServicehaslaunchedanall-outassaultonourjobsandisblatantlyviolatingtheCollectiveBargainingAgreement(CBA)intheirstaffingofpostoffices.TheUSPSisreducingservicetothecommunityanddisruptingthelivesofpostalworkersbyreducingdutyassignments(reversionsandabolishments)andissuingexcessingnoticespotentiallyaffectinghundredsofpostofficesandthousandsofemployees.TheAPWUandtheUSPSagreedinArticle37.3.A.1oftheCBAthat,“Everyeffortwillbemadetocreatedesirabledutyassignmentsfromallavailableworkhoursforcareeremployeestobid.”ThisincludeshoursworkedbyPSEs.ThisprovisionwaspartofanoverallagreementformoreAPWUjobs.“Wearegearingupforalargefight,”saidPresidentDimondstein.“Iknowthatifwesticktogetherandstayunited,then–justliketheStopStaplesandcontractcampaigns–wewillbevictorious.”

June16,2017TheStreet:TheUnitedStatesPostalServicedeniedJ.C.PenneyCo.Inc.(JCP)CEOMarvinEllison'sassertionmadeearlierthisweek,whichwasfirstreportedbyTheStreet,thatitwouldbetheonetoholdbackfuturee-commercegrowth.AUSPSspokesmansaidinanemailtoTheStreetthattheagency's"unrivalednetworkandinfrastructure"will"enable"and"facilitate"e-commerce's"futuregrowth,"pointingoutthatitsworkersdelivered154billionpiecesofmailtotheU.S.in2016."ThePostalServicecontinuallyadaptstoadynamicmarketplace,"thespokesmansaidonFriday."Weoperateanextensiveandintegratedretail,transportation,processinganddeliverynetworktoserveresidentialandcommercialcustomers."FinancialTimes:AmazonhasagreedtobuyupmarketgrocerWholeFoodsfor$13.7bn,thelargestdealsofarforJeffBezos’scompanyasitseekstoexploititsonlinescaletodisruptfoodretail.WholeFoods,thebiggestpremiumUSgrocer,willradicallyaccelerateAmazon’sambitionstotakeafootholdinthe$800bnUSfoodandgrocerysector,wheretheSeattle-basedgrouphasbeentryingtomakeinroadswithgrocerydeliveries.Havingalreadyupendedsectorsfrombookstorestocloudcomputingandfilm,thearrivalofAmazoninbricks-and-mortargrocerysentrivals’sharessharplyloweronFridayinboththeUSandEurope.Theonlineretailerhasbeenrunningitsowngrocerydeliveryprogramme,AmazonFresh,since2007andhasbeenexperimentingwithgrocerypick-upkiosksinSeattle.Post&Parcel:AmazonhasextendedthegeographicalcoverageofitsPrimeNowdeliveryservicetoDenver,Colorado.WithPrimeNow,AmazonPrimememberscanbookaone-hourdeliveryfor$7.99,oroptforafreetwo-hourdelivery.PrimeNowanddeliveryfromSproutsFarmersMarketisavailablefrom8a.m.to10p.m.,sevendaysaweek.PrimeNowiscurrentlyavailableinmorethan30citiesacrosstheUS,andAmazonhasalsolaunchedtheserviceinotherinternationalmarkets.

USToday:LanceArmstrongandthefederalgovernmentarehavingatleastonemorefightincourtbeforeArmstronggoestotrialforhissinsincycling--thistimeadisputeoverwhenhistrialshouldstart.Laterthisyearorayearfromnow?U.S.DistrictJudgeChristopherCooperwillmakethecallonceagaininthegovernment's$100millioncivilfraudlawsuitagainsttheformercyclist.ArmstronghasbeenbannedforcyclingforlifeandwasstrippedofallsevenofhisTourdeFrancevictoriesfrom1999-2005.Afterdenyingdopingformorethanadecade,hefinallyconfessedtoitinJanuary2013.HisattorneyshavenotdisputedhisdopingintheUSPScasebutsayUSPSsufferednodamagesandinsteadreceivedfarmoreinvaluefromthesponsorshipthanthe$32.3millionitpaidforit.ThegovernmenthassaidthesponsorshipisworthzerobecausetheUSPSbargainedforacleancyclingteambutdidn’tgetone.GovExec:Didyouknowthatmorethan25percentoftotalspendingundertheFederalEmployeesHealthBenefitsProgramgoestoprescriptiondrugs?RisingdrugpricesandincreasingdrugutilizationcontinuetodriveupFEHBPpremiums.Everyyear,theOfficeofPersonnelManagementsendsacalllettertoallFEHBPcarriers.Thisyear’seditionencouragesthecarrierstothoroughlyevaluateoptionstoimproveaffordability,reducecosts,boostthequalityofcare,andprotectthehealthoftheirenrollees.ThefirstitemthatOPMissettingasathemefortheupcominghealthinsuranceopenseasonisafocusonprescriptiondrugs.

June15,2017PIWorld:IdeallianceandPrintingIndustriesAlliancehaveannouncedthatKarenE.KrigsmanofJ.CrewGroup,Inc.,TraciL.LucienofAARP,andJoeSchick,recentlyretiredfromQuad/Graphics,willbehonoredwith2017LuminaireAwards.Theawards,whichrecognizeexceptionalprofessionalsfortheirpositivecontributionandservicewithinthemediaandvisualcommunicationsindustries,willbepresentedattheannualFranklinLuminaireAwardseventonOct.18atTheLighthouseatChelseaPiersinNewYorkCity.USPSLink:ThePostalServiceisanationalleaderinemployingveterans,accordingtoanewsurveybyU.S.VeteransMagazine.Thepublicationpollsgovernmentagencies,educationalinstitutionsandhundredsofFortune1000companiesfortheannualsurvey.Forthesecondconsecutiveyear,USPSrankedamongtopveteran-friendlycompanies.ThePostalServicealsorankedamongthetopgovernmentagenciesforhiringveterans.‘ThePostalServiceisproudtobeanationalleaderinemployingveterans,’saidPMGMeganJ.Brennan.‘Throughoutourorganization,veteransperformrolescriticaltothefutureofthePostalService.Weknowthatwhenwehireveterans,theyhavebeentrainedtobehighlyorganized,responsibleandtodeliverresults.’Approximately113,000PostalServiceemployees,orabout18percentoftheUSPSworkforce,areveterans.ThePostalServicehasincreasedthenumberofveteranshiredeachyearthroughpartnershipswithseveralveteran-friendlyorganizationsandbyparticipatinginjobfairsthattargetveterans.U.S.VeteransMagazine,aquarterlypublication,servesmilitaryreadersacrossthenation.TheClevelandAmerican:TheWestportCommunityCenterwasfilledtocapacitylastMonday,June14,attheKeystonePeninsulaPropertyOwnersAssociation’smonthlymeeting.GuestspeakerfortheeveningwasClevelandPostmistress,TenaMoody,whospokeabouttheup-comingchange-overfrom‘routeandbox’addressnumbersto‘streetandhousenumber’addresses…Shesaidsixdaydeliverywillsoonbeathingofthepast,andthepostalservicewillbereducedtoafive-dayweek.Smalltownpostofficesmaybeforcedtoclose,shenoted.Shesaidthe74020zipcodewillbethesame,butthenextfournumberswillbenewplustwomorenumberswillbeadded.Thesenewaddresseswillchangeinthefuturebythefederalgovernmentiftheydonotworkwellfortheemergencyvehicles,andthenallstreetnameswilleventuallygoawaytonumeric,sheexplained.Politico:AccordingtoPostmasterGeneralMeganBrennan,TheRStreetInstitute’stripdownmemorylaneabouttheU.S.PostalService(“ThelostgeniusofthePostOffice”)getsafewthingscorrect,butonbalanceiswoefullyill-informedandmisguided.Whatthepiece’sauthor,KevinKosar,gotrightisthatthePostalServicehasalongandproudhistoryofinnovatinginourcorebusiness.However,hewasflatoutwrongwhenhewrote,“ThePostalService—onceoneofthemostimpressiveandfast-movinginformationnetworkseverdevised—mayendupasalessoninhownottomeetthefuture.”Tothecontrary,wehaveandwewillcontinuetoinnovateaggressivelytomaximizevalueforourcustomersnowandintothefuture.WecontinuetopowerAmerica’se-commercegrowthbyconstantlyenhancingourshippingproductsandsolutions—throughnewPriorityMailfeatures,Sundaydelivery,anddigitalintegrations.Wewerethefirst—andcontinuetobetheonly—majorproviderofSundaydeliveryfore-commercepackages;todaywemakemoree-commercedeliveriesthananyothercompanyandwearecommittedtoplayinganeverlargerroleinAmerica’se-commerceeconomy.

June14,2017CyclingNews:ArmstrongwasthetargetofafederalFalseClaimsActlawsuitbroughtbyformerteammateFloydLandisin2010undertheassertionthattheformercyclingstar'sdopingconstitutedfraudagainstthegovernment.Shouldhelose,Armstrongcouldoweupto$100million,andLandiswouldbedueacutofthedamages.ThegovernmentassertsthattheUSPostalService'ssponsorshiphadnovaluebecauseArmstrongandsomeofhisteammatesdoped,thenliedaboutittokeepthemoneycomingin.Armstrong'sattorneyshavelongarguedthattheUSPostalServicegotfarmoreinmarketingvaluefromitssponsorshipthanthe$32.2millionitpaidtheteamfrom2000-2004.BLS.gov:TheConsumerPriceIndexforAllUrbanConsumers(CPI-U)decreased0.1percentinMayonaseasonallyadjustedbasis,theU.S.BureauofLaborStatisticsreportedtoday.Overthelast12months,theallitemsindexrose1.9percent.Post&Parcel:UPStoday(June13)revealedplansforanewUS$260mpackageprocessingfacilityinPlainfield,Indiana.Inadditiontoimprovementstoexistingbuildings,UPSexpectstoaddmorethan575newfull-timeequivalentpositionsoverthe

nextfiveyears.Aportionofthe893,000ft2hubwillopenthisfallfortrailerprocessingwithadeliveryoperationintimefortheholidayseason.ThePlainfieldfacilitywillbecompletedbylate2019.AdvancedpackagescanningandsortationequipmentwillprovideUPSwithgreaterflexibilitywhentransferringlargevolumesofparcelstootherfacilities.Customerswillalsobenefitfromspeedandprocessingaccuracyandoncecompleted.Thehubwillhaveacustomercenterandmaycontainadditionalinfrastructureforalternativefuelvehicles.

June11,2017SupplyChainDive:Last-miledeliveryisoftenreferredtoasthefinalfrontieroflogistics,andinvestorshaveapparentlydecidedit'stimetobreachthemarket.Yet,parceldeliverycompanies(thinkUPSorFedEx),cornerstoresandrestaurants(7-Eleven,Domino's)havelongsoughttoaddressthecost-challengeofdeliveringproductstoresidencesondemand,sowhatchanged?Forone,technology—mainlytheproliferationofsmartphonesandapps—hasallowedgreateraccessbetweenconsumersandserviceproviders.Asstakeholdersresearchtheoptimalbalancebetweenpriceanddeliveryspeed,resultshaveshownconsumersareincreasinglywillingtopayforspeedandconvenience.Meanwhile,retailersthemselvesareinvestingintovariousoptionstohelpconsumersfulfillthelastmilethemselves.SLTrib:AsaformergovernorandthefirstsecretaryoftheU.S.DepartmentofHomelandSecurity,mynumberoneprioritywillalwaysbethesafetyandsecurityofournation,soitiswithalarmthatIhavewatchedtheriseoftheopioidepidemicacrossthenation.Andasthiscrisishasevolved,it'sturnedalittle-knownsecurityloopholeintheglobalpostalsystemintoaseriousnationalsecuritythreat,onethathascreatedapipelineforthesedeadlyopioidsdirectlyintoourcommunities.Everyday,nearlyonemillionpackagesarriveintheUnitedStateswithoutcriticalsecuritydatathatwouldassistlawenforcementinscreeningandstoppingdangerouspackages,includingharmful,syntheticdrugs.I'mworkingwithAmericansforSecuringAllPackages(ASAP),abipartisancoalitionoffamilies,healthcareadvocates,securityexperts,businessesandnonprofitswhoallagreethatweneedtoclosethispostalloophole.Thereisnotasinglesolutiontocombatingtheopioidepidemic,butnoapproachissatisfactorywithouttakingaseriousefforttodisruptthesupplychainofthesedrugs.FiscalTimes:ThegovernmentwouldsavebillionsofdollarsinhealthcarecostsforfederalemployeesandretireesunderaU.S.postalservicereformactpendingonCapitolHill,althoughmuchofthelong-term“savings”claimedbyadvocatesmaybeachievedbymassivecost-shifting.Theideaapparentlyistoremovepostalworkersandretirees—whogenerallyhavegreaterhealthcarecoststhanotherworkersbecauseofthephysicaldemandsoftheirjobs—fromthelargerpooloffederalworkerstograduallyreducetheoverallcostofhealthinsurancefortheworkforce.ActivepostalworkerswouldreceivetheirhealthinsurancecoverageunderanewprogramestablishedbytheU.S.PostalServicewhilepostalretireeswouldberequiredforthefirsttimetoenrollinMedicarefortheirhealthcareandsubsidizedprescriptiondrugs.Medicarewouldpickupmostofthecostswhilethenewpostalinsuranceprogramwouldcoverco-paymentsandotherdeductibles.WithoutpredictingthesavingsthatFEHBenrolleescouldclaimunderthisnewapproach,theCBOestimatedthatthegovernment’sportionofpremiumcostswoulddeclineby$1.9billionforcurrentemployeesand$1.4billionforfederalretireesoverthecomingdecade—oratotalof$3.3billion.

June9,2017Linns:TheUnitedStatesPostalServiceishintingaboutdoingawaywithstamps.Atleastthat’sthesuggestionbeingmadeonaYouTubevideothattoutsaproposedexperimentalpostalprojectthatwouldplaceasmallelectronicboxonthetopofthosefamiliarbluemailcollectionboxes.OfficialsacknowledgedthatthePostalServiceisplanningtotestthe“SmartBlueBox”concept,createdbyMRM/McCann,aNewYorkadvertisingagency,butofferednodetailsaboutwhenandwheretheprojectmightbegin.Accordingtothevideo,thesolar-powereddevicewouldallowacustomertoaskwhethermailhasbeencollectedfromthatbox.Itcontainsascalethatwouldallowasmallparceltobeweighedformailingandapparentlyadevicethatwouldproduceamailinglabelwithpostagetobeaffixedtoaparcel.Nostampswouldbeused.FiscalTimes:ThegovernmentwouldsavebillionsofdollarsinhealthcarecostsforfederalemployeesandretireesunderaU.S.postalservicereformactpendingonCapitolHill,althoughmuchofthelong-term“savings”claimedbyadvocatesmaybeachievedbymassivecost-shifting.AtatimewhenCongressandtheTrumpAdministrationarelookingforwaystorestructuregovernmenttoreduceoverallcosts,thelegislationwoulduseacomplicatedbookkeepingmaneuvertoshiftpostalworkersoutofthegovernment-wideFederalEmployeesHealthBenefitsplanintoaseparatenewPostalServiceHealthBenefitsprogram.Theideaapparentlyistoremovepostalworkersandretirees—whogenerallyhavegreaterhealthcarecoststhanotherworkersbecauseofthephysicaldemandsoftheirjobs—fromthelargerpooloffederalworkerstograduallyreducetheoverallcostofhealthinsurancefortheworkforce.PostalNews:TheAPWUscoresanothervictorytoday,defendingpostalemployeesintheunion’sbargainingunit.ArbitratorGoldbergissuedanawardinanational-levelcaseoverwhatremedywasdueforthePostalService’sfailuretostaff‘POStPlan’officesfollowinganoriginalawardonSeptember5,2014andaMemorandumofUnderstanding(MOU)negotiatedafterward.TheAPWUandthePostalServiceagreedthatafterDecember22,2014,the‘POStPlan’Remotely-ManagedPostOffices(RMPOs)open4or6hoursadaywouldbestaffedwithbargainingunitclerks,aswellasreplacePostalSupportEmployees(PSEs)inLevel18officeswithcareeremployees.Longaftertheagreement,PostmasterReliefs(PMRs)werestillworkingin4or6hourRMPOsacrossthecountryandLevel18officesreportedstillusingPSEsinsteadofcareeremployees.ThePostalServiceadmittedtotheirwidespreadviolationsofthe‘POStPlan’MOU.ArbitratorGoldbergheldthattheUSPSowedthebargainingunitforallthehoursimproperlyworkedbyPMRsandPSEs.

DailyMail:WalmarthasrecentlyunveileditslatestattempttosurpassAmazoninthebattleoftheretailgiants.TheArkansas-basedfirmistestinganautomatedkioskinOklahomaCitywhereshopperscanpickupgroceryordersplacedonline.Afterplacingandpayingfortheirorderonline,customersreceiveapickupcodethatallowsthemtoretrievetheirgroceriesinsideofthekiosk.AWalmartspokespersontoldMoneythatthemachinecanfulfill‘hundredsoforders’inadayandalthoughAmazonFreshdeliversitsorderstothecustomer’shome,Walmart'skioskallowsthemtopickthemupthesameday.Itsserviceoffersmorethan30,000timesthatcanbeorderedforfree,24hoursadayand7daysaweek–thereishowever,a$30minimum.

June8,2017MailOMG:TheUSPSisrestrictinguseofInternationalFirst-ClassMail,IPA,andISALtodocumentsonly(andnoflats),initseffortstoconformpostalregulationswithnewlypassedUniversalPostalUnion(UPU)requirementsithelpedwrite.ItfilednoticeofthechangesthattakeeffectJanuary1,2018.MailershaveuntilJuly17tocomment.Theimpactwillbehuge,especiallyonpublisherswhoseproductscouldbeconsidered“goods”andnotdocumentsandthuscostmoretomail.Clarificationisneededonwhetherpublishedproductsareconsideredmerchandise.Italsowillhitmailconsolidators,whocountonISALandIPAtomoveallkindsofmatterandnotjustdocuments.Theproposedchangeshavesomeconsolidatorslookingatnon-postalalternatives.Politico:TheRepublicanSteeringCommitteeonThursdaybackedRep.TreyGowdytobecomethenextchairmanoftheHouseOversightandGovernmentReformCommittee.GowdywouldreplaceoutgoingOversightCommitteeChairmanJasonChaffetz(R-Utah),whowillresignattheendofJune.Rep.SteveRussell(R-Okla.)hadalsoputhisnameinforconsiderationtoreplaceChaffetz.PIWorld:Idealliance,theassociationfortheVisualCommunicationsandMediaIndustry,reportsthatresultsofitsSecondAnnualMailIndustrySurveyhaveunderscoredtheimportanceparticipantsthroughoutthemailsupplychainplaceoneffectivecommunicationwiththeU.S.PostalService.Morethan200individualsfromacrossthemailsupplychainparticipatedinthisyear’ssurvey,withtwo-fifths(43.3%)identifyingtheircompany’sprimaryfunctionasmailingserviceproviders,includinglettershopsandpresorthouses.Otherrespondentsincludedprintproviders(13.4%),mailowners(11.0%),softwareproviders(9.1%),marketingservices/creativeanddesignservices(6.1%),andlogistics(4.9%).Inaddition,7.9%definedtheircompaniesassomecombinationofprint,mailservice,andmarketingserviceprovider.Politico:In1897,ayearwhenmailwasstilllargelydeliveredbyhorseandwagon,constructionbeganonaninnovativeschemebeneaththestreetsofPhiladelphia.Usinganintricatenetworkofcompressorsandmetalpipes,thenewsystemcouldshootacapsuleholdingafewhundredlettersacrossacityinseveralminutes,farfasterthanapostmancouldgetitthere—aspeedthatmatchedtheincreasingvelocityofAmericancommerce.Theinvestorinthisnewtechnologywasn’tsomekindofdeliverystartup,theFedExorUPSofitsday.ItwastheU.S.PostOffice.

June7,2017GovExec:AllfederalemployeescouldseeabetterrateontheirhealthinsurancepremiumsunderabilltooverhaultheU.S.PostalService,accordingtoananalysisfromtheCongressionalBudgetOffice.CBOdidnotestimatethesavingsFEHBenrolleeswouldthemselvesreceive,butitdidpredictthegovernment’sportionofpremiumcostswoulddecreaseby$1.4billionforfederalretireesand$1.9billionforcurrentemployeesover10years.USPSwouldsave$2.2billionforcurrentpostalworkersand$2.5billionover10yearsunderthepostal-specifichealthcareprogram.

June6,2017Post&Parcel:UPShasrevealedplansforanewUS$180mpackageprocessinghubinGoodyear,Arizona,arapidlygrowingcommercialandresidentialcommunity.Thephasedhubconstructionwillexpandanexisting618,000ft²structure.Aportionofthebuildingisexpectedtobeginoperatinglaterthisyearintimefortheholidayseason,providingadditionalprocessingandefficientautomatedsortingcapacityforlightweightsmallpackagestypicalofe-commerce.Withitsplannedtotalcompletionexpectedinlate2019,thenewfacilitywillhavemorethan970,000ft²ofadvancedoperationaltechnologiesandsortationequipmentandbringmorethan1,500jobstotheGoodyeararea.

June5,2017Benzinga:Anunder-the-radarPostalServicereformbillwouldsavethecountry$6.2billionoverthenextdecade,accordingtotheCongressionalBudgetOffice.ThebillwouldallowtheUSPStoraisepricesoncertainmailcategoriesandphaseoutdirect-to-businessmaildelivery.Inaddition,itwouldestablishanewhealthbenefitsprogramforUSPSemployees.Whilebudget-mindedAmericansandUSPSemployeesareeagerly-anticipatingthechanges,thechangesmaytakeawhiletogointoeffect,HeightSecuritiesanalystEdwinGroshanssaid.Thereasonthebillhasn’tgottenmuchmediacoverageisbecauseit’snotatoppriorityatthemomentinWashington.“TheimpendingretirementofHouseOversightandGovernmentReformCommitteeChairmanJasonChaffetz(R–UT),thebill’sleadsponsor,andotherlegislativeprioritiesthatCongressmusttackle(healthcarereform,taxreform,infrastructure,debtceilingtonameafew),presentsanuphillbattleforpostalreformtomakeitswayontothecrowdedlegislativeagendainthenearfuture,”Groshan’swrotethisweek.Hepredictsthepostalreformbillwon’tbeapprovedbeforetheendof2017.FederalTimes:ThemagnitudeoftheU.S.PostalService’sunfundedliabilitiesforitsretireepensionsandhealthbenefitsimperilstheagencyanditsworkforce.NowaCongressionalproposalseekstobrightentheagency’sfuturefinances–byshiftingtheseliabilitiesontofederaltaxpayersthroughtheMedicaresystem.PostallegislationpassedbytheHouseOversight

andGovernmentReformCommitteeinMarchwouldmakemajorchangestothecurrentsystemandeffectivelytransferlargesharesofthegapingliabilitiestoU.S.taxpayers.TheproposedchangesarealignedwiththerecommendationsofPostalServiceleadership,whichseesthemastheirbestbettoimprovetheiragency’sdesperatefinancialoutlook.PostalServicemanagementaffirmedtheintentofitslegislativestrategybydescribingthelegislationasimproving“theaffordabilityofourretireehealthbenefitssystembyvirtuallyeliminatingtheunfunded[retirementhealthbenefits]obligations,”intheagency’slatestquarterly10-Qreport.ArecentarticlebythePostalServiceelaboratedfurther,declaringthatifitsretireehealthplanswere“fullyintegratedwithMedicare,”itwouldberelievedofitsprepaymentrequirementsundercurrentlaw,allowingittoreallocatethesefundsinhopesofrestoringfinancialstability.PostalServiceleadershiphasaggressivelyencouragedCongresstoadoptthechangestoretireebenefitsasasolution,notonlyforwhattheOIGestimatesas$63billioninunfundedretirementliabilities,buttensofbillionsinmountingoperatingdeficitsaswell.MailersHub:AnemailarrivedintheMailersHubinbox,conveyinganop-edpiecereleasedbythreeDC-basedassociations:theAllianceofNonprofitMailers,DMA–theAssociationofMagazineMedia,andPostCom(TheAssociationforPostalCommerce).Whiletheassociations’commentsonthePostalService’srecently-concludedlaboragreementwiththecitycarriers’uniontakeanapproachthat’sdifferentfromthatoftheprecedingcommentary,theircriticismsarevalid;weagreewiththepointstheymakeandsupporttheirperspective.ThewritersespeciallyskewertheUSPS–andjustifiablyso–forbelyingitsclaimsoftightcostmanagement;theagencycan’ttoutefficiencyandtightbudgetswhileconcurrentlyagreeingtomoreraises,continuedCOLAs,morecareerworkers,and–aboveall–theguaranteeofnolayoffs.Anddoingso,asthewritersnote,isnotdemonstrativeofwhatanagencyshouldbedoingifitwantsgreaterlatitudeinratesetting;thewriters’concernsthatoverly-generouscontracttermswilltranslateintohigherratesarenotfar-fetched.Ofcourse,whetherourcommentaryorthatoftheassociationswillchangethenegotiatingbehaviorofeithertheunionsorthePostalServiceremainstobeseen,butwe’renotbettingonit.GovExec:Officialsatthe401(k)-styleretirementsavingsplanforfederalemployeesfearthatPresidentTrump’sproposaltoincreaseemployeecontributionstotheFederalEmployeesRetirementSystemwillleadfedstoreducevoluntarysavingforretirement.IfapprovedbyCongress,Trump’sfiscal2018budgetwouldrequirefederalworkerstocontributeanadditional1percentmoretoFERSeachyearoveraperiodofsixyears.ThemeasureisoneofseveralchangestofederalemployeeretirementprogramsproposedbytheTrumpadministration.DuringthemonthlymeetingoftheThriftSavingsPlanboardearlierthisweek,externalaffairsdirectorKimWeaversaidtheincreaseinrequiredcontributionscouldcutintothedisposableincomeworkerscouldinvestintheirretirementthroughtheTSP.Onanothermatterofconcerntofederalretirees,WeaversaidshehasreceivedassurancesfromtheOfficeofManagementandBudgetthattheTrumpbudgetproposalwouldnotaltertheinterestrateoftheTSP’sgovernmentsecurities(G)fund,whichiscurrentlystatutorilysetat2.25percentperyear.

June4,2017PostalNews:TheNationalOfficehasbeenincontactwithPostalHeadquarterstodiscussthedelugeofbidreversionsandabolishmentsthatarebeingimplementedacrossthecountryasaresultoftheFunction1Scheduler.PostalManagementhasarguedthatthesereversions/abolishmentsarenecessarybecauseofthecontinuingdeclineinmailvolumes.Themostrecentfigures(fortheperiodfromOctober1,2016throughMay31,2017indicateadeclineofover6billionpiecesintotalmailvolumefromthesameperiodlastyear.Inanextremeoverreactiontothesemailvolumefigures,USPSHeadquartershasdirectedallPostalAreastoassesstheircurrentworkforcecomplementsandmakethenecessaryadjustmentstoreflectthedeclineinmailvolume.Notsurprisingly,theAreaManagersarenowoverreactingtoPostalHeadquarters’initialoverreaction.PostalNews:Yesterday,theCongressionalBudgetOffice(CBO)publisheditsreportonPostalServiceReformActof2017(H.R.756).ItisstandardpracticefortheCBOto“score”pendinglegislationintroducedintoCongressinordertoreportitsimpactonthefederalbudget.TheyestimatethatH.R.756wouldresultinasavingsof$6.2billionoverthenexttenyears.Thesesavingsaretechnically“off-budget”becausetheUSPS’cashflowisrecordedinthefederalbudget(inthePostalServiceFund)isclassifiedas“off-budget.”ThecashflowforthePostalServiceRetirementHealthBenefitFund(PSRHBF)isclassifiedas“on-budget.”Thenet“on-budget”costofthelegislationisonly$0.2billion.ThebillisnowofftotwoHouseofRepresentatives’committees:Ways&Means,chairedbyKevinBrady(R–TX-8)withrankingmemberRichardNeal(D-MA-1)andEnergy&Commerce,chairedbyFredUpton(R-MI-6)withrankingmemberBobbyRush(D-IL-2).InbothcommitteesthebillmustbeapprovedinordertobevotedonbythefullHouseofRepresentatives.ThenthelegislationwillmovetotheSenateforasimilarprocess.

June3,2017DeadTree:Threemailers'organizationsblastedalabordealwiththeNationalAssociationofLetterCarrierstodayasproofthatthe“spendthriftmonopolist”U.S.PostalService“cannotbecountedontocontrolitscostsorprices.”“Ratherthanbringingcompensationmoreinlinewiththeprivatesector–asrequiredbypostallaw–thetentativeagreementwithNALCworsenstheproblem,”saidajointstatementfromPostcom—TheAssociationforPostalCommerce,MPA—TheAssociationofMagazineMedia,andtheAllianceofNonprofitMailers.Indefendingthecurrentinflation-basedpricecaponmostpostalrates,thestatementsaid,thecoalitionhaspresentedexperttestimonyshowing"thatpostalworkersarepaidnearlytwicewhattheprivatesectorpaysforsimilarwork."“TheNALCcontractconfirmsthatthePostalServicecannotbetrustedtomakethetoughdecisionsneededtocontrolitsowncosts.”

BerkeleyDailyPlanet:TheconservativeleaningPostmasterGeneral,PatrickDonahoe,inhisfarewellpressconferenceclaimedthatpostalbankingwasabadideabecause"Wedon'tknowanythingaboutbanking".Ishistoricalmemorythatshort?For55years,from1911to1966,UnitedStatesPostalService(USPS)providedtraditionalbankingservices.Ironically,postalbankingwasinitiatedandstronglyadvocatedbyaconservativeRepublican,PresidentTaft.Butwithoutanypublicdiscussion,postalbankingwasabolishedbyPresidentJohnson,aDemocratwhowasliberalondomesticissues.Whatthepublicneedsisnotpredatorybankinginstitutions.Itneedspostalbanking,whichproveditsworthinessinthe55yearsofitsexistence.Moreover,the32,000localbranchesmakesthepostofficeaccessibletoalmosteveryone,regardlessofincomebracket.AstheWashingtonPostnoted,"customerscouldwalkdownthestreettothepostofficewiththeirmoneyanddeposititinasavingsaccountthere".PoorAmericanscouldcashtheirchecksforasmallfeeandobtainloansongoodtermsatlowinterestrates.Infact,postalbankingisabletochargeforitsservicesrelativelylowratesandwithfarmoreintegritythanprivatebanksandpaydaylenders.Linns:Forty-eightyearsafterPresidentRichardM.Nixonpleadedwithpostalunionstosupporthisplanforanindependentpostalservice,anotherRepublicanpresidentappearstobesayingthoseunionsmighthaveachievedtoomanybenefitswiththeircollective-bargainingrights.ThatseemstobewhatDonaldTrump’sproposedfederalbudgetforfiscal2018issaying.ThepresidentwantstorollbacksomeofthegainsthepostalunionshavemadeinthealmostfivedecadessinceNixongavethembargainingrightsinreturnfortheirsupportofhisplanforanewUnitedStatesPostalService.TheTrumpbudgetforfiscalyear2018saysitofferstheUSPS$46billionin“savings”byreducingmaildeliveriesandhittingpostalworkers’benefits.Notsurprisingly,thepostalunionsareinfullbattlemodewiththepresident.ThreelargemailingorganizationshaveattackedthePostalService’snewwageagreementwiththeNationalAssociationofLetterCarriers,sayingthepactshowsthattheUSPS“cannotbetrusted…tocontrolitsowncosts.”InaJune1essay,titled“USPS—SpendthriftMonopolist,”theAllianceofNonprofitMailers,theAssociationofMagazineMedia,andtheAssociationforPostalCommercearguedthatapricecapisessentialtoforcethePostalServicetocontrolitsspending.

June2,2017CBSDFW:Walmartsaysit’stestingadeliveryserviceusingitsownstoreemployees,whowilldeliverpackagesorderedonlinewhiletheyaredrivinghomefromtheirworkshifts.The“associatedelivery”programwoulduseWalmart’s4,700U.S.storesandroughly1.2millionemployeestospeeddeliveryandcutcosts.Theworld’slargestretailersaysworkerscanchoosetoparticipateandwouldbepaid.TheserviceisbeingtestedattwostoresinNewJerseyandoneinArkansas.It’sthecompany’slatestefforttocompetewithonlinegiantAmazon.Post&Parcel:UPSisplanninganewhubinGoodyear,Arizona,whichitsayswillrampupprocessingcapacityfore-commerce.Inastatementissuedonitswebsiteyesterday(1June),UPSsaid:“E-commercealreadyhaschangedthelocallandscapeasUPSexpandsitscapabilityforSaturdaygrounddeliveryandpickupservicethatbeganlastmonthinMesaandstartsthisSaturday,June3,inPhoenix.TheseSaturdayserviceswillcontinuetoexpandasthenewGoodyearfacilityiscompleted.”GovExec:Unfortunately,thebudgetPresidentTrumprecentlysenttoCongressshowshowmuchdisdainhehasforfederalemployeesandthetaxpayerstheyhelpandsupporteveryday.PresidentTrumpwouldeliminateannualcost-of-livingadjustmentsforpeopleintheFederalEmployeeRetirementSystem—includingforcurrentretirees—andreducethembyhalfapercentagepointforpeopleintheoldCivilServiceRetirementSystem—includingforcurrentretirees.AccordingtocertifiedfinancialplannerArtStein,aFERSannuitywouldloseone-thirdofitsvalueover20yearsifinflationaveragesbetween2percentand3percentannually(andnearlyone-halfofitsvalueifinflationaverages4percent).AccordingtotheNationalActiveandRetiredFederalEmployeesAssociation,theaverageFERSannuitantwouldloseapproximately$100,000over20yearsandtheaverageCSRSannuitantwouldlose$60,000over20yearsundertheTrumpbudget.

June1,2017OfficialMailGuide:ThePostalServiceisnowallowingspecificquantitiesoflithiumbatteries—wheninstalledintheequipmenttheyareintendedtooperate—tobesenttomanyinternationaldestinations,includingArmyPostOffice(APO),FleetPostOffice(FPO)andDiplomaticPostOffice(DPO)locationswhenpermittedbythedestinationorhostcountry.ThepostaloperatorsofGermanyandItalyarenotacceptingpackagescontaininglithiummetalorlithium-ionbatteriestoGermanorItalianaddresses.Postalemployeeswilldeclineelectronicitemscontaininglithiumbatteriestoaddressesinthosetwocountries.ThisdoesnotapplytoshipmentstoandfromGermanorItalianAPO,FPOorDPOlocations.Domesticshipmentsofpackagescontaininglithiumbatteries,andelectronicdevicescontaininglithiumbatteriesaren’taffected.Post&Parcel:USretainerWalmarthassubmittedapatentforadeliverysystemwhichusesdrones,automatedlockersandblockchaintechnology.Walmartfiledthepatenton23Novemberlastyear,andtheUSPatentandTrademarkOffice(UPTO)publishediton25May.Withthedeliverymodeldescribedinthepatent,thedrone–ortheunmannedaerialvehicle(UAV)–willdropofftheparcel/payloadintoanautomatedlocker/deliverybox,whichwillopeninresponsetoamessagevalidatingtheidentityoftheUAV.Thekeyadvantagesofusingthissortofautomateddeliverybox,ratherthanhavingthedronesdropparcelsonsomeone’sfrontlawn,isthatisbothsaferandmoresecure.Thepatentalsoincludesreferencestousingblockchaintechnologyforextrasecurityandtotrackshipmentsthatarefragileortemperaturesensitive.SDCExec:PresidentDonaldTrump'sproposedbudgetwouldlettheU.S.PostalServicecutbackondeliverydays,amovethathelpstheunprofitableagencysavemoneywhileputtingitatoddswithlongstandingcongressionaldemands.TheUSPScurrentlydeliversmailsixdaysaweekacrossthecountry,whilealsoofferingpackagedeliveryonSundayforinternetgiant

Amazon.comandothers.TheWhiteHousebudgetreleasedlastweekwouldletthequasigovernmentalagencyscalebackdeliveryfrequency"wherethereisabusinesscasefordoingso."ItisoneofseveralsolutionsproposedtoaddressthefinancialstrugglesattheUSPS.LinkedIn:InformedDeliveryjustrolledoutinAprilnationally,andhasfewerthantwomillionhouseholdssignedupsofar–butMeganBrennan,thePostmasterGeneral,saidthatconsumersweresigningupfortheserviceatapaceof10,000householdsaday.AsthePostalServicebeginstoactivelyadvertisetheprogram,expectthatpacetogrow.Inacoupleofyears,10%-20%ofUShouseholdcouldbesignedupforInformedDelivery–maybemore,particularlyifitbecomesanativeapponnewsmartphones,averyrealpossibility.There'salotmoretoInformedDeliverythanblackandwhitepicturesofyourmail.Mailerscanaddfullcolorclickable"ride-alongs"-viewable,clickableimagestoprospectsreceivingyourmailpiecetoday.Gettingtheseimagesintothesystemisstillalargelymanualprocess,andcannotyetbepersonalizedatapiecelevel,butthePostalServicepromisesthatthatiscoming.Inthenot-too-distantfutureauniquewebaddresscanbeassignedforeachmailpiece,soyoucanembedaPURLinyourInformedDeliveryride-along.

INTERNATIONAL NEWS

June30,2017INDIA:Hindu:MembersofAllIndiaPostalEmployeesUnionstagedademonstrationhereonThursday.K.D.ManoharDevarajan,divisionalsecretaryoftheunion,wholedtheagitation,saidthehouserentallowanceshouldbehikedaspertherecommendationsoftheseventhpaycommissionwitheffectfromJanuary1,2016.Previously,theHRAforstaffoftheDepartmentofPosts,workingincitiesundercategoriesofA,BandCclasswas8%,16%and24%,respectively.Aspertherevisedrecommendations,itneedstobehikedto10%,20%and30%respectively.Acommitteewasformedtomonitortheimplementationofrecommendationsbutevenafterayear,nomodificationwasmadeintheHRA.AUSTRIA:Post&Parcel:DPDAustriahasannouncedthatitopeneditsnew“CityHub”inSalzburgearlythismonth(June).Thecompanysaidthatthenewhubdemonstratestheimportanceofinnovationfordeliveriesinurbanenvironments.ThisisthesecondCityHubthatDPDhasopendinAustria.ThefirstwasopenedinAspern,ViennainOctober.TheCityHubsprovidetemporarystorageforparcelswhicharethendeliveredtoresidentsinthelocaldistrictusingelectric-powereddeliverybicyclesandvehicles.TheCityHubsalsoserveaspick-upspointforparcelsthatcouldnotbedelivered,andcustomerscandropoffparcelstoo.CHINA:FT:SFExpresshascompletedcommercialdronedeliveriesafterreceivingChina’sfirstdroneairspacelicence,statemediareportedonFriday.China’slogisticsandtechnologycompanieshaveannouncedsuchdeliveryservicesbeforebutlittlecommercialusehasfollowed.However,therearesomesignsthattheSFExpresslaunchwasdifferent.ChuXuejian,professorofmodernlogisticsatShanghaiUniversity,calledthegrantingofadronelicencetoSFExpressa“significant”moveforthebuddingdronedeliverysectorbecauseofChina’sstrictcontrolsonairspace.Thegrantingofthelicenceindicatesthatnationalregulatorsarenowmorewillingtoopenairspacetodronedeliverycompanies,sayanalysts.SRILANKA:DailyMirror:Thepostalstrikewhichhaddraggedonforthreedayshadbeentemporarilycalledofflastnightfollowingawrittenassurancegivenbythesub-committeesetuptoresolveissuesfacedbythepostalemployeesheadedbyministrysecretaries,PostMasterGeneralRohanaAbeyratneannounced.DuringadiscussionheldwiththeUnitedPostalTradeUnion’sFrontyesterdaythecommitteemembershadagreedtofindsolutionstotheirproblemswithinatwo-weekperiodaftersubmittingaproposaltotheCabinet.TheIslandwidestrikethatwentonforthreedayshadresultedinmanydelaysandseverelyinconveniencedemployeesbothintheStateandprivatesector.Withover600sacksofairmailpilingupattheBandaranaikeInternationalAirport(BIA)andanother500leftattheCentralMailExchange(CME)duetothestrike,courtoperations,theworkofleasingcompaniesandotherprivateandStateinstitutionsalsosufferedduetoashortageofstamps.

June29,2017CANADA:Qtelegram:ThebankinggroupBanquePostaleacquiredtheparticipativefinancingplatformKissKissBankBank&Co,announcedonTuesdayJune27thetwoentitiesinajointstatement.Forthebankingestablishment,thisacquisition,theamountofwhichhasnotbeenrevealed,makesitpossibleto“widentheofferofproductsandservicestomeetcustomers’expectationsaswellasnewbankingpractices”.UNIVERSALPOSTALUNION:Post&Parcel:TheUniversalPostalUnion(UPU)andInternationalPostCorporation(IPC)haveagreedtoenhancetheircooperationforthedevelopmentofthepostalsectorworldwide.InastatementsenttoPost&Parcel,UPUDirectorGeneralBisharA.Husseinsaid:“TheUPU’sforemostaimistosecuretheorganizationandimprovementofpostalservicesworldwideandtopromoteinternationalcollaborationinthisarea.Wearethereforeparticularlypleasedtoengageinapartnershipthatbringsmeasurablebenefitsfortheindustrybycontributingtothedevelopmentofaccessible,efficientandinnovativepostalservicesinourmembercountries.ThisjointcooperationprogramsupportstheadvancementoftheUPU’sgoalsandstrategywhileconformingtoitsprinciplesforcooperationwiththeprivatesector.”GERMANY:BusinessLive:Germany’sDeutschePostsubsidiaryStreet-ScooterandFord’scommercialvehicledivisioninthecountryareenteringapartnershiptomanufacturebattery-electricdeliveryvehicles.DeutschePosthasalreadymadeitsmarkinthesmallervansegmentbydesigningandproducingtheemission-freeStreetScooter,butnowthepartnersareworkingonalargervehicletype.ThechassisoftheFordTransitwillprovidethetechnicalbasisandthevehiclewillbeequippedwithabattery-electricdrivetrainandfittedwithaspecialbodyconstructionbasedonDeutschePostandDHLspecifications.AstatementdeclaredthatDeutschePostDHLGroupandFordsharedthesameobjectiveofbuildingfuturemobilitybyreducingemissionsandcreatingnewtrafficsolutions.Thispartnershipisanimportantandtangiblesteptowardsachievingthesegoals.

June28,2017CANADA:DailyStar:Canada'spostalserviceconfirmedTuesdaythatithassuspendedmaildeliverytoaVancouverneighborhoodafterrepeatedattacksonitscarriersbyacrow.Canuckthecrowwouldoftenswoopinandpeckatcarriersdeliveringtothreehomesonthecity'seastside.GERMANY:Reuters:GermanpostalandlogisticscompanyDeutschePostsaidsystemsofitsExpressdivisionintheUkrainehaveinpartbeenaffectedbyacyberattack."Wehavetakenmeasurestocontinuetobeabletoprocessdeliveriesandareworkingtosolvetheproblemandtorestoretheaffectedsystems,"acompanyspokesmansaidonTuesday,addingthatcustomerswillbekeptinformed.MEXICO:Post&Parcel:UPSisplanningtodoublethenumberofshippingcentersavailabletocustomersinMexicofrom50tomorethanahundredbytheendof2017.TheUPScentershavetrainedpersonneltohelpsmallandmedium-sizedbusiness

ownerswiththeirdomesticandinternationalshipping.On-siteexpertsassistconsumersandSMEswithproperpackagingtechniquesandcompletingcustomsdocumentation.Businessescanalsotrackpackagesinrealtime.

June27,2017AUSTRALIA:AP:ThenewbossofAustralia'spostalservicewillbepaidlessthanhalfthe5.6millionAustraliandollar($4.3million)salarypackagethatmadeherpredecessorAustralia'shighest-paidpublicservant.ChristineHolgatewasnamedasthenewmanagingdirectorandchiefexecutiveofficerofAustraliaPostonasalaryofAU$1,375000plusaperformancepayofuptothesameamount.HerpredecessorAhmedFahourannouncedinFebruaryhewouldquitthegovernment-ownedcorporation,twoweeksafterhispaywasmadepublicbyaSenatecommitteeandsparkedapoliticalfuror.EUROPEANUNION:FullyLoaded:TheEuropeanUnionhastakenAustralia’sleadoncross-borderparcelidentificationthroughstandardisedlabelling.MorethanayearafterGS1AustraliaandtheAustralianLogisticsCouncilunveiledtheAustralianTransportStandardsforFreightLabellingandEDIandtheGS1SerialShippingContainerCode(SSCC),theEuropeanCommitteeforStandardisation(CEN)haschosentheSSCCtohelptransforminternationalparceldeliveriestoandfromEurope.Theaimistotransformcross-borderparceldeliveryservicesusingasingle,commonparcellabelthatincludesaparcelidentificationcode.TheGS1SSCCexistsforimportingandexportingtoEuropeandwillhelptoincreasevaluebyenablingmoredeliveryoptionsandreducecostsbyincreasingefficiencyinthevaluenetwork.JAPAN:Asia.Nikkea:Myanmar'sstate-ownedpostalservicehasbegunrentingoutadvertisingspaceonpublicmailboxesinaJapanese-supportedefforttocoverthecostofsettingupandmaintainingthemailcollectionnetwork.MyanmaPostsandTelecommunicationsinitiallywillplace250ad-festoonedmailboxesinYangon,NaypyitawandMandalay--thecountry'sthreelargestcities.Installingonemailboxcostsmorethan$5,000,asumthatwillberecoupedbyfiveyearsofmonthlyadpayments.Theattention-grabbingmailboxesarealsomeanttohighlightefortstoreformastate-runpostalsystemthatinspireslittletrustamongthepublic.UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:SecuredMail,partofTheDeliveryGroup,hassaved£160,000byimplementingadriverbehaviourprogrammeunderpinnedbytelematics.ThecompanyhasusedtheTomTomTelematicsWEBFLEETfleetmanagementsystemtoanalysedriverperformanceandmaketargetedimprovements.Thishasresultedinanaverageeightpercentupliftinmpganda15percentdecreaseinincidencesofunsafedriving.ThishashelpedtheFORSGoldMembertorealisea£130,000annualsavingonfueland£30,000annualsavingonmaintenance,despiteanincreaseinmilestravelledbythe75-strongfleet.TheWEBFLEETsystem,implementedwithsupportfromTomTomTelematicsresellerFleetTrak,includesOptiDrive360,whichscoresdriversbasedonarangeofkeyperformanceindicators,includingspeeding,drivingeventsandidling.

June26,2017SRILANKA:TheIsland:Postalworkerswilllaunchacontinuousstrikefromtoday(27)asthegovernmenthasfailedtoredresstheirlongstandinggrievances,ConveneroftheJointPostalWorkersUnionFrontChinthakaBandarasays.ThepostalunionistshadbeenprotestingagainstagovernmentmovetosellthepostofficesofhistoricalvalueintheGalleFortandNuwaraEliyatoforeignersandseveraladministrativeproblems,Bandarasaid.Bandarasaidtheiraimwastoprotectthepostalserviceandtheinterestsofthepostalworkersandnottotoppleorinconveniencethegovernment.Thepresentgovernmenthadcometopower,promisingnottosellpublicassets,butthatpromisehadbeenrenegedon,Bandarasaid.

June25,2017NEWZEALAND:TVNZ:FromJuly1,NZPostwillincreasethecostofsendingitemsbyFastPostby50centsperitem(amedium-sizedletterrisesto$2.30).InMarchitsaidthedrasticdeclineinmailvolumesmeantthepricerisewasneeded.Buttheunionhasslammedtheservice,sayingNZPostshouldfirstensureitcomesuptoscratch.Postiesandmailsortersare"frustratedandembarrassed"toseetheFastPostdatestampsshowingthattheymayhavemissedtheservicedeliverypromise,saysunionspokesmanJohnMaynard."NZPosthaddeliberatelysloweddownthedeliveryofstandardlettermailbecausethecompanywantedcustomerssendinglettersfornextdaydeliverytohavetopayextra."SRILANKA:SundayTimes:PostaltradeunionshaveresolvedtogoaheadwithastrikefromTuesdayaftertalkswithPostsMinisterM.H.AHaleemfailedyesterday.UnitedPostalTradeUnionsFrontChiefChinthakaBandarasaidtheministerwasunabletogiveanassurancewithregardtotheirdemandswhichincludedabandoningthemovetoconvertseveraloldpostofficebuildingsintohotels,therestorationoftheoldGeneralPostOffice(GPO)oppositethePresident’sHouseinFortandworkers’problems.TheUnionshavebeenopposingthesaleofsomeoftheoldpostofficebuildings,includingthehistoricalpostofficebuildinginNuwaraEliya.

June24,2017INDIA:NYOOZ:Panaji:FollowingthedakadalatmeetingonFriday,thedepartmentofpostshasdecidedtoimprovedeliveryofserviceswithspecialpreferencetoseniorcitizens.ItalsosuggestedthattheIndianPosttapthemarketof50lakh-oddtouristswhovisitGoaregularly.Anumberofnewserviceshavebeenintroducedinpostofficeswithoutreallylookingintotheavailabilityofstaff.Complaints,grievancesregardingpostalserviceswhichhavenotbeensettledwithinsixweeksareinvitedatthequarterlydakadalat.

June23,2017COSTARICA:Post&Parcel:CostaRicandeliverycompanyGoPatoisreportedlysettolaunchadronedeliveryservicenextweek.AccordingtoareportpublishedbyTheCostaRicaStartoday(23June),GoPatohasreceivedthenecessaryauthorizationfromCostaRica’sCivilAviationDirectionanddeliverieswillstartonMonday(26June).GoPatowillstartofferingdronedeliveriesinCartago,whichisabout25kmeastofthecapitalSanJosé,andthenlooktoexpandtheservicetoothertowns.ConveniencestoresAmPmandFreshMarketarereportedlyamongthebusinessesthatwillbeparticipatinginthedroneservice.SWITZERLAND:Post&Parcel:SwissPosthasreportedthatithas“takenanotherstep”inthestructuringofitspostalnetwork.Inastatementissuedtoday(23June),SwissPostsaid:“Afterdiscussionswithallthecantonstherearealready3,854accesspointsavailabletocustomersacrossSwitzerland.By2020,therewillbemorethan4,200.Furthermore,additionalservicessuchascashinpaymentsatthefrontdoorhavebeenintroducedandtherangeofservicesofferedintheagencieshasbeenexpanded.Inthelongterm,thepostalnetworkofthefuturewillcomprisebetween800and900traditionalpostoffices."

June22,2017CANADA:BarrieToday:ACanadianpostalbank,operatingwithintheframeworkofaCrowncorporation,wouldfocusonprovidingservicesthatareaffordableforconsumers,ratherthanprofitablefortheinstitutionitself.Fortheindividual,thiscouldincludemanyimprovementssuchasreducedinterestrates,easieraccesstoloans,andfewerservicecharges.Anotherbenefitoftencitedisimprovedaccessibility.Unlikebankbranches,postofficesarealreadylocatedthroughoutthecountry.ThesebranchescouldeasilybeexpandedtoofferfinancialservicestoallCanadians,includingthoseinourmostremotecorners.SeveralstudiesandexpertspredictthatCanadaPostwouldbeabletapintothemorethan$35billioninprofitsthatCanada’slargestbanksreceivedlastyear.Atatimewhenourpostalserviceisstrivingtoretainitsrelevance,thischangewouldpresentaviableandaffordableservicetotheCanadianpublic.FINLAND:YLE:FinnishParliamenthasapprovedachangetoFinland'sPostalActwhichwillpermitthenationalpostalservicePostitoreducemaildeliveriestothreetimesperweekinsomeurbanareas.ThelawchangeallowsPostitomakeexceptionstoitspreviousrequirementoffive-days-per-weekdeliveriesinurbanareaswheremorningnewspaperdeliveriesarecarriedout.Postiwill,however,continuefive-day-a-weekmaildeliveriesinareasthataren'talreadyservedbynewspaperdeliveryservices-astipulationthatallowsnewspaperstocontinuetobedeliveredfivedaysperweekinmostruralareas.Deliveriesinrurallocationswillbecarriedoutbyoutsourcedservices.JAPAN:Post&Parcel:AmazonJapanisreportedlylookingtobuildupanetworkofindependentcouriersintheTokyoregion,inordertoreduceitsdependenceonthemajorparceldeliverycompanies.Inanarticlepublishedtoday(22June),NikkeiAsianReviewsaidthatAmazonwaslookingtobuildup“ateamof10,000independentcouriersintheTokyoregionby2020″.MajorparceloperatorYamatohasreportedlyfounditsnetworkunderstrainfromthepressureofmeetingthevoraciousdemandforsame-daydeliveryfromAmazon’scustomers.SWITZERLAND:Post&Parcel:SwissPosthaslaunchedanewapp–calledMyLocalServices–whichallowsuserstoconnectwithlocalbusinesses,servicesandeventsintheirmunicipality.FourmunicipalitiesfromtheBienneregion–includingBienneitself,Switzerland’slargestbilingualcity–areparticipatinginapilotprojectwhichwaslaunchedyesterday(20June).ThenewSwissPostapp“MyLocalServices”willmakeitpossibletointegrateservices,informationandoffersofallkindsonasingleplatformanddigitallylinkthemtophysicalservices.

June21,2017GERMANY:Post&Parcel:DeutschePostsubsidiaryStreetScooterandFord-Werkehaveenteredintoapartnershiptomanufacturelargeelectricdeliveryvehicles.DeutschePostDHLalreadyproducestheemission-freeStreetScooterandnowbothpartnersareworkingonalargervehicletype.Thepartnershipisanothersteptowardreducingemissionsandcreatingnewtrafficsolutions.ProductionisscheduledtobegininJuly,withatleast2,500vehiclessupportingDeutschePost’surbandeliveryactivitiesbytheendof2018,makingthisjointprojectthelargestmanufacturerofbattery-electricmedium-dutydeliveryvehiclesinEurope.Inadditiontothenewassemblyline,themanufactureofcurrentStreetScootermodelswillbesignificantlyexpanded.StreetScooterisplanningtomanufacture20,000unitsperyearofitssmallelectricaldeliveryvan,indifferentversionsinAachenandNorthRhine-WestphaliainGermany.MALTA:Post&Parcel:MaltaPosthaslaunchedaparcellockersolution,enablingitscustomerstopickuptheironlineshoppingatanytimefromvariouslocationsaroundtheislandsofMaltaandGozo.OnlineshopperscanuseanEasipikaddressastheirdeliveryaddressofchoicewhenbuyingfromonlinestores.WhentheparcelarrivesinMaltaandisprocessedfordelivery,thisisimmediatelyforwardedtothemostrecentEasipikparcellockerchosenbytheclient.CustomerswillreceiveanSMSmessagewithasecuritycode,whichwillenablethemtopickuptheiritems.UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:Twointhreeonlineshoppers(69%)intheUKhavehadparcelslost,damagedordeliveredlateinthelastyear,accordingtonewresearchbyCitizensAdvice–aUK-basednon-profitorganizationthatprovidesfree,independent,confidentialandimpartialadvicetothepublic.CitizensAdvicesaysproblemswithlatedeliveriesaffectonlineshoppersthemost–includingthosewhopaidforapremiumserviceguaranteeingnextdayoranameddaydelivery.Othercommonissuesincludeparcelsbeingleftinunsecurelocations,suchasbins,andunnecessaryfaileddeliveries–wherepeoplewaitedathomeforaparcel,onlytoreceiveanotesayingthey’dmissedit.Theresearchalsofoundthathalfofconsumerswereunsureaboutwhowasresponsibleforthedeliveryoftheirparcelinthefirstplace.

UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:AnewreportbyPeoplevox,aproviderofwarehousemanagementsystems(WMS)forthee-commerceindustry,hasfoundthat82%ofbusinessesreportedanincreaseinonlinesalesin2016,andthatonly6%reportedadecreaseinorderscomparetothepreviousyear.The2017E-CommerceFulfilmentReportfoundthat,whilemanyvoicedconcernsoverincreasingcompetition,Brexitandcurrencyfluctuations,themajority(88%)expectedafurtherincreaseinordersduring2017.Despitesuchpositiveresultsandthegenerallyupbeatoutlookforthisyear,only53%ofrespondentssaidtheywerehappywiththeirfulfilmentandwarehouseoperations.Purchasingandforecastingwashighlightedasthemostcommonchallengeoverallwithalmostaquarter(24%)sayingthiswastheonearearequiringthemostimprovementin2017.UNIVERSALPOSTALUNION:RFIDJournal:TheUniversalPostalUnion(UPU),aspecializedUnitedNations(UN)agencythatcoordinatespostalpoliciesamongmembernations,hasissuedarequestforproposalsfortheprocurementofultrahigh-frequency(UHF)radiofrequencyidentificationequipment.ThesuppliedRFIDhardwaremustbecapableofmonitoringpostalitemsinrealtimeattheoperationalfacilitieswherepostaltrafficisreceivedandprocessed.

June20,2017CHINA:QuartzMedia:Jingdong,orJD.com,China’ssecond-biggeste-commercecompanyafterAlibaba,sentrobotstodeliveritemsforthefirsttimeyesterday(June18),onthelastdayofatwo-week-longshoppingbonanzathatrecordedsalesofaround$17.6billion,accordingtoaspokesmanwiththecompany.DesignedbyJD,thewhite,four-wheeleddroidcancarryfivepackagesatonceandtravel20km(12.4miles)iffullycharged.Itcanclimbupa25-degreeinclineandfindtheshortestroutefromwarehousetodestination.Onceitreachesitsdestination,therobotsendsatextmessagetonotifytherecipientofthedelivery.Userscanacceptthedeliverythroughface-recognitiontechnologyorbyusingacode,accordingtoChina’sstatebroadcasterCCTV.

June19,2017GHANA:PeaceFM:PatronsoftheGhanaPostcannowreceivetheirletterswithin2daysofpostage.ThosewithinAccracanevenbereceivedwithin24hours.Theministerforcommunications,UrsulaOwusu-EkufulsaystheGhanapostwillberevampedtokeepupwithmoderntechnologicaltrends.Intimespast,thepostalsystemusedtobethemainmediumofsendingandreceivinglettersandparcelsbyindividualsandorganizations.Theemergenceofinformationandcommunicationtechnologyhashoweverchangedthetide.Thepostalserviceisnowviewedasaslowoption.ThishasaffectedincomegenerationoftheGhanapostalservice,resultingintheclosureofsomeofitsofficessuchasthatofSenyaBerekuinthecentralregion.INDIA:Nyoooz:FollowingtheSmartPostmanproject,176citypostmenwouldbeequippedwiththesmartAndroidphonesandthesewillupdateinformationaboutthedeliveryofparcelsandmailsonamobileapplication.Withtheemergenceofnewcourierandpostalprivatecompanies,thepostaldepartmentwasfacingatoughcompetition.CharanjitSinghTejaTribuneNewsServiceAmritsar,June18PostmeninthecitywouldbeequippedwithGPSdevicesforthetimelydeliveryofparcelsandmails.WiththehelpoftheGPS-enabledmobileapplication,onecaneasilytrackletterorparcelonthedepartment’swebsite.Thepostaldepartmentwouldupdatethetrackinganddeliverydetailsonitswebsite.JAPAN:JapanTimes:JapanPostHoldingsCo.saidMondayitcalledoffaplantoacquireNomuraRealEstateHoldingsInc.afterthetwocompaniesapparentlyfailedtoagreeapurchasepriceandotherterms.ThepostalgroupsaidMay12thatitis“consideringvariouspossibilitiesonformingnewcapitalandbusinessalliances”,followingreportsthatitwaslookingtobuyastakeinNomuraRealEstatetobothstrengthenitsrealestatebusinessandcompensateforitssluggishmainstaymailoperation.ThemovecomesafterJapanPostloggedagroupnetlossof¥28.98billion($260million)forfiscal2016,itsfirstredinksinceitsprivatizationin2007,duetoamassivewrite-downofitsAustralianlogisticsarm,TollHoldingsLtd.,whichitpurchasedin2015.UGANDA:AllAfrica:TheInternationalFundforAgriculturalDevelopment(IFAD),PostbankofUganda(PBU)andPostaUgandasignedagrantagreementtodayaimedatexpandingtheroleofpostalnetworksinthedeliveryofremittancesandaccesstofinancialinclusionacrossthecountry.Undertheagreement,PostbankUgandawillleveragePostaUganda'sbroadnetworkofruralpostofficestoexpandaccesstofinancialservicesfortheruralpopulation.Thepostofficeswillbeequippedwithmoderndigitalandmobiletechnologiesforremittancedeliveryandfinancialservicestransactions,andpostalstaffwillreceivespecializedtraining.ByMarch2019,theprojectaimstoincreasethenumberofremittancerecipientsitservesby50,000.Inaddition,itexpectstoprovideremittancedeliveryservicesto20,000refugeesaswellastraininginfinancialliteracy.UNIVERSALPOSTALUNION:Post&Parcel:UniversalPostalUnion(UPU)DirectorGeneralBisharA.Husseinhashighlightedhowpostshelpmoreoftheworld’scitizenstoparticipateintheeconomy.HusseinnotedthatseveralprojectstheUPUhaslaunchedrecentlyaredirectedatimprovinginclusion,suchasfinancialservices,theEcom@Africae-commerceproject,and.POST,asecuretop-leveldomainbeingusedbyPoststoofferservicessuchaswebshops.“Ourcurrentprimaryfocusisonthedevelopmentofelectroniccommerce,financialservicesanddiversificationofproductsthroughinnovation,”addedHussien.“Alltheseaddressempowermentofcommunitiesthroughmakingaccesstobasiceconomicservices,includingtrade,achievableandaffordable.”

June18,2017CHINA:Post&Parcel:AsAmazoncontinuestoworkonitsplansforautonomousdeliveryvehiclesandcheckout-lesssupermarkets,aSwedishstartupappearstohavestolenamarchontheretailgiant.WorkinginassociationwithHimalafyand

HefeiUniversity,Wheelyhaslaunchedwhatitclaimstobe“theworld’sfirstautonomous,staffless,mobilestore”,whichcan“turneveryparkingspaceintheworldintoapotentialnew24-hourstore.ThecompanysaidthatithasbeenBetatestingtheMobyMartinShanghaiandis“currentlyworkingwithtechtomaketheMobyself-driving”.TheMobyMartwillstockarangeofgrocerygoods,andotherconsumablescanalsobeorderedinadvanceonlinetobecollectedfromtheMobyMart.UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:WhistlhasbecomethefirstUKmemberoftheGlobalParcelAlliance(GPA)whichhasbeenlaunchedataceremonyinChina.TheGPA,whichhasbeentwoyearsindevelopment,isledbyChineseCourierYTOExpressandincludes50courierandparcelmembersfrom25countries.TheaimtheAllianceistoprovideaninternationalpackageservicenetworkcoveringthemajorglobalmarkets.

June17,2017CANADA:Cantech:RetailjuggernautAmazonispoisedtobecomeitsowndeliveryservice,amovethatcouldprovetobethefinalblowforCanadaPost,whichnowreliesmorethaneveronparceldeliveryforitsbreadandbutter.Onceagain,Amazonisshowingtheworldthatitsambitionsaretrulybottomless,havingjustannouncedtheacquisitionofU.S.grocerychainWholeFoodsfor$13.7billionUSD.Nothappywithjustowningitsownonlinegrocerystore,AmazonFreshdelivery,thecompanyissaidtobeinterestedinhavingbricksandmortarstorestofurtherboostitsonlinebusinessbyprovidinglocaldistributionhubsforfasterdelivery.WhichmeansbigtroubleupNorthforCanadaPost,thecrowncorporationwhichisnowfullydependentonparceldelivery—andonAmazon,itsbiggestcustomer—tostayafloat.QATAR:MalaysiaDigest:ThesuspensionofpostalserviceswithQatarbyUnitedArabEmirates,SaudiArabiaandBahrainisaclearviolationoftheconstitutionandagreementsofUniversalPostalUnion(UPU),saidQatarPostalServiceCompany(Q-Post)ChairmanandManagingDirector,FalehMohamedAlNaemi.InastatementtoQatarNewsAgency(QNA),AlNaemisaidtheconstitutionandagreementsshouldberespectedbyallmemberstates,addingthatQ-PosthascontactedtheUPUDirectorGeneralandbriefedonthecurrentsituation.Q-PostalsosentawrittennoticeandcalledforurgentandboldactionsneededtoenforcetheconstitutionandagreementsofUPU,headded.UNITEDEMIRATES:TradeArabia:AbuDhabiQualityandConformityCouncil(QCC),theentityresponsiblefordevelopingqualityinfrastructureintheemirateofAbuDhabi,hassignedacollaborationagreementwithEmiratesPostGrouptoverifytheaccuracyoflegalmeasuringinstrumentsusedinitsbusinessoperationsinAbuDhabi.Underitsterms,QCCinspectorswillcollectsamplesofcontrolledproductshipmentshandledbytheEmiratesPostGroupandverifytheircompliancewiththerelevantqualityandsafetyrequirementsbeforetheyenterthemarket.Thishelpsthetwopartiesidentifyproductswithpotentialrisksandsafetyconcerns,andpreventtheircirculation.

June16,2017IRELAND:Post&Parcel:AnPostplanstoextenditsfinancialofferingswiththelaunchanewcurrentaccountproduct.Theroll-outforthenewAnPostSmartAccountisstartingthisweekatlargerpostofficesandwillbemadeavailableacrosstheIrishpostofficenetworklaterthisyear.TheSmartaccountwillcombineaMoneyBackfeature,alongwithotherfacilitiessuchastheSmartAccountWallet,ahouseholdbudgetingtool.AccountholderswillbeprovidedwithaSmartAccountDebitCardinpartnershipwithMasterCardwhichisacceptedacrossthefullMasterCardnetworkinternationally,alongwithaccesstoonlinepaymentsandaSmartAccountApp.KENYA:MediaMax:HundredsofpostalworkerscouldsoonlosetheirjobsifareportbythetaskforceassignedtooverseetransformationofPostalCorporationofKenyaisimplemented.TheteamappointedbyMinistryofICTlastyearhasadvisedthegovernmenttolayoffworkersatthecorporationaspartofastrategytorevampoperationsoftheparastatal.MaryBasweti-Nyachaewhochairedthetaskforceonrationalisationofpostainlinewiththemarkettrendsandemergingcompetitionsaidthecorporation’sstaffcomplimentwasbloatedandneededtobedownsizedtomakeitmoreefficient.KENYA:CapitalFM:PostalCorporationofKenyaandHudumaCentrehaveunveiledaMobile-basedpostalservicethatallowsconsumerstousetheirmobilenumbersaspostaladdress,eliminatingtheneedtohaveaphysicalP.O.Box.MPostwilldeliverGovernmentdocumentslikeIdentificationCards,NHIFandNSSFcardsprocessedbyHudumaCentrestoanyofthe622postofficesoratalocationpreferredbytheuser.MPosthassofarsignedup31,000subscribersduringtheone-yeartrialperiodinKibera,with1,300maildelivered.MALAWI:Mmegi:BotswanaPosthasopenedthefifthinter-postalmoneytransfercorridorinMalawiaspartofitsefforttodiversifyitsproductandserviceofferings.ThenewmoneyordertransfercorridorwillaccordcustomersfromMalawiandBotswanathechancetosendandreceivemoneyhasslefree.QATAR:GulfTimes:ChairmanandManagingDirectorofQatarPostalServiceCompany(Q-Post)FalehMohamedal-NaemihastermedthesuspensionofpostalserviceswithQatarbytheUnitedArabEmirates,SaudiArabiaandBahrainasaclearviolationoftheconstitutionandagreementsofUniversalPostalUnion(UPU),whichshouldberespectedbyallmember-states.HestressedthatthesuspensionofthesepostalserviceswithQatarhashadasignificantimpactonthedailylifeofmillionsofcitizensandresidentsofQatar,whohavebeenunfairlytargetedbytheone-sideddecisionofstoppingservices.Q-PostchairmanaddedthattheUPUconventionsandregulationsconsidercountrieswhichendorsedtheUPUconstitutionasasinglepostalareafortheexchangeofparcelsamongthemselvesunderthenameoftheUPU,addingthatthefreedomoftransitisguaranteedthroughouttheterritoryoftheunion.

June15,2017AZERBAIJAN:Azernews:Paymentterminale-GovPaywithacurrencyexchangefunctionwillbeinstalledintheservicecentersof–ShabakaAzerpostnextmonth.ThecurrencyexchangeterminalswillfunctioninthecentersofShabakalocatedinYasamal,KhazardistrictsofBakucity,aswellasintheGeneralPostOfficebuilding.Itwillbepossibletopaythroughtheterminalforutilityandcommunicationservices,Internet,etc.Themainadvantageofthenewterminalswillbethefunctionsofacceptingcoinsandgivingchange.INDIA:TimesofIndia:Over24postalemployeesfromdifferentdistrictsgatheredattheofficeofpostmastergeneralofBareillyregioninsolidaritywiththeircounterpartswhohavebeensuspendedandarefacingdepartmentalenquiryagainstthem.Thepostalemployeesunion–SanyuktSangharshSamiti–allegedthatseniorofficialstookactionagainstemployeesinanarbitrarymannerwithoutanysubstantialground.Theagitatorssaidthatthesuspendedemployeeshavenotbeengivenreasonsforsuspensionsincefiveweeks.Theunionthreatenedtointensifytheirprotestandinterruptpostalservicesifthesuspensionswerenotrevoked.SRILANKA:DailyMirror:Morethan300,000mailshadbeenjammedinsidetheCentralMailExchange(CME)todateduetothe48-hourstrikesinceMondaymidnight,UnitedPostalTradeUnions’Frontsaidtoday.However,PostMasterGeneralRohanaAbeyratnerejectedtheUnion’sstatementsandtoldtheDailyMirrorthattheCMEwasdispatchingmailsattheendofeachday.“AbacklogofmailsisnotpossibleatCMEasclaimedbytheTUs,”hesaid.Front’sPresidentChinthakaBandarachargedthatthoughthecountry’sentiremaildeliveringandcollectionhadcometoastandstill,thePostalDepartmenthadnotcameforwardtoholddiscussionstofindsolutionstotheirdemands.ZIMBABWE:AllAfrica:ConradMwanawasheandKudakwasheMhundwaPOSTOffices,whichboastanexpansivenetworkreachingouttoeventheveryremoteareasshouldtapintothe$65billionpotentialremittancesanddiversifytheiractivitiestoaccommodatetheneedsandpreferencesoftheunbankedmajority.Assuch,postofficesshouldpartnerwithcentralbanksanddevelopfinancialinclusionstrategieswhichwillmakethembiggerplayersinthefinancialservicessector,InformationCommunicationTechnologyPostalandCourierServicesMinisterSupaMandiwanzirahassaid.Africaaloneisbelievedtohavemorethan30millionmigrantswithover$65billioninpotentialremittancesandMinisterMandiwanzirachallengedthepostofficestosweattheirexpansivenetworkreachingouttoeventheveryremoteareas,aswellastheirabilitytofosterlocalandinternationalbusinesspartnerships.

June14,2017GERMANY:Reuters:GermanlogisticsgroupDeutschePostDHLGroupisexpandingitsforayintoelectricdeliveryvans,signingFordMotorasacomponentssupplierforanewlineoflargervehicles.DeutschePostinitiallydevelopedanelectricminivandubbedStreetscooterforitsownoperationstoavoidinner-cityemissionsaftergrowthinonlineshoppingresultedinincreasedparceldeliveries.ButinAprilittookoncarmakersbyunveilingplanstostepupproductionandselltootherdeliveryfirms.Forthelargervan,FordwillsupplyvehicletechnologybasedontheTransitmodel,withDeutschePostkeepingassembly,distributionandsalesin-house,aGermany-basedFordspokesmantoldReuters.SRILANKA:NewsFirst:ThestrikeactionlaunchedbyPostalTradeUnionsMondayatmidnightJune12willconcludeatmidnighttodayJune14,saidPostmasterRohanaAbeyrathne.ThepostmastersaidlettershavenotpiledupattheColomboCentralPostExchangeduringthestrike.AccordingtothePostmaster,nolettershavebeencollected,asallpostalemployeesjoinedthestrikeaction.Meanwhile,theJointPostalTradeUnionAlliancesaysthatifpropersolutionsarenotprovidedtotheirdemands,thetradeunionswilllaunchastrikeagain.TAJIKISTAN:GlobalVoices:Tajikistan,acountrywithanatrociousstatepostalservice,hasshutdownseveralinternationalcourierfirmssuchasDHL,UPS,TNT,andPonyExpress.Thegovernmentsaysthatthefirmsthathavebeenworkinginthecountryforthebulkofits25-yearindependencewillnowneedlicensestooperate.LastweekthebuildingsofthecompaniesinthecapitalDushanbeweresealedoffandtheiremployeesorderedtoleavethepremises,severallocalandinternationalnewsagenciesreported.

June13,2017DENMARK:RT:PostalservicePostNordhasstoppeddeliveringmailtoadistrictintheDanishcityofOdense,citingthreatsandharassmentreceivedbypostalworkersinthatarea.Thehalthasbeencriticizedbylocalpoliticians.“Wehavedecidedtoprioritiseconsiderationforthesafetyofourstaffabovetheverylargeinconveniencetomanyofourcustomers,”PostNord’sheadofdistribution,MichaelFrølich,toldRitzaunewsagency,ascitedbytheLocal.Twopostalworkerswerethreatenedlastweek,andaPostNordcarwasbrokenintointheVollsmosedistrictofOdense.Theincidentspromptedthepostalservicetostopdeliveringletters,advertisements,andpackagestolocalresidentsonMondayandTuesday.MaildeliveryisexpectedtoresumeonWednesday,withVollsmosecitizensnowhavingtopickuptheparcelsfromthenearestpostofficesthemselves.AUSTRALIA:Post&Parcel:AustraliaPostpostaldeliveryworkersaretrialinganewthree-wheelelectricdeliveryvehicleinBrisbane.Thenewe-vehicle,whichwillbeoperatinginCoorparoo,WoolloongabbaandEastBrisbaneoveraneightweekperiod,hasthreetimestheparcelcarryingcapacityofthecurrentpostaldeliverymotorbikeandcanholdupto100smallparcelsand1,200lettersatatime.ThepilotcomesoffthebackofAustraliaPostannouncinga$197mbefore-taxhalf-yearprofit–aresultwhichthecompanysaidwas“drivenlargelybya5.7%volumegrowthintheparcelsbusinessandpostallossesreducedtobreakeven”.AUSTRALIA:Post&Parcel:E-commerceshippingsolutionproviderShipStationhaslaunchedanintegrationwiththeAustralianparceldeliveryserviceSendle.TheShipStation-SendleintegrationgivesAustraliane-commercebusinessesaccess

tothebestinAustraliandomesticshipping,time-savingautomationandcustomersupport.ShipStationisintegratedwiththelikesofeBay,Amazon,WooCommerce,Shopify,Squarespace,Opencart,MagentoandBigCommerce—andnowSendle.

June11,2017EUROPEANUNION:Post&Parcel:TheEuropeanCouncilhasannouncedthatithasagreeditspositiononthedraftregulationforcrossborderparceldeliveryservicesintheEuropeanUnion.InastatementissuedonFriday(9June),theCouncilsaidtheintentionistomaketheservices“moretransparentandbettermonitored”.TheCounciladded:“Increasedpricetransparencyandmoreeffectiveoversightshouldmakethemarketmoreefficientandhelpbringdownthosetariffswhicharenotfullyjustifiedbyobjectivefactorssuchaswagesorgeographicaldistance.”AspartoftheCouncil’sgeneralapproach,theCommissionwillsetupawebsitetodisplaythecross-borderdeliveryratesofferedbydeliveryfirms.SINGAPORE:Post&Parcel:SingaporePost(SingPost)hasannouncedanewinitiative,calledSmartPost,whichbringstogethertechnologiessuchasnear-fieldcommunication(NFC),radiofrequencyidentification(RFID),digitalimagingandelectronicnotifications.AccordingtoSingPost,SmartPostwillraisequalityandefficiency“acrosstheentirepostaloperation:fromcollectiontosorting,lastmiledeliveryandqualityassurance”.Thefirstphasewillfocusondeliveryofregisteredmail,SmartPacandothertrackablepostalitems.Postmenwillbeissuedsmartphonesloadedwithacustomisedpostaldeliveryapp.UsedwithNFCandserialisedcodescanning,theappwillhelppostmenkeeptrackofdeliveriesmadeandgeneratereal-timepromptsofstandardoperatingprocedures.Inadditiontoequippingpostaldeliverystaffwithsmartphones,SingPostwillbeinstallingNFCtagsonmorethan50,000deliveryandcollectionpointsacrosstheisland.SRILANKA:DailyMirror:ThePostalDepartmenttodayissuedacircularimmediatelycancellingtheleavesofallitsemployeesfromJune13to14,soonafterpostaltradeunionsannouncedthattheywouldlauncha48-hourcountrywidetokenstrikemidnighttoday.PostMasterGeneralRohanaAbeyrathnetoldDailyMirrorthatthecircularwassenttoalltheofficesacrossthecountryandthatdisciplinaryactionwillbetakenagainstthosewhoneglecttheadministrativedecision.SRILANKA:DailyMirror:48-hourstrikewillbelaunchedbyemployeesoftheUnitedPostalTradeUnion’sFrontfrommidnighttoday.ThetradeunionstagedaprotestoutsidethePostalHeadquartersinColombotodayoveranumberofunresolvedissuesinthePostalDepartment.TheprotestorschargedthatthegovernmentwastryingtohandoverseveralbuildingswhichhousepostalofficesinNuwaraEliya,GalleandKandytoanIndiancompanytobuildhotels."Thesebuildingshavehistoricalvaluebuttheyareingravedangertoday.Sincethegovernmenthasfailedtotakepromptaction,wewillgofora48-hourtokenstrikefrommidnighttoday.Ifthegovernmentcomesupwithsolutionsbeforemidnight,wewillnotengageinthestrike,”UnitedPostalTradeUnion’sFrontPresidentChinthakaBandarasaid.

June9,2017AUSTRALIA:BankingTech:AustraliaPostispartneringwithprocessori2cto“expandandmodernise”itsdigitalpaymentsofferings.Underthepact,theAustralianpostalservicewillusei2c’sAgileProcessingplatformtorolloutenhanceddigitalfunctionalityforitspaymentsproducts,includingtheLoad&GoGPRVisacard,alongwithgift,multi-currencytravelandcorporateincentivecards.AustraliaPostisoneofseveralpostalservicesacrosstheglobethathavemovedintoofferingpaymentsandfinancialservicesproducts,leveragingtheirestablishedfootprintsandhighlevelsoftrustamongconsumers.GERMANY:SupplyChainLogistics:DeutschePostDHLhascollaboratedwithPlugandPlaytosupportthedevelopmentofstartupsinmobility,supplychainandlogistics.Thepartnershipwillengageinthedevelopmentofearly-to-growthstagetechnologystartups.TheprogramwillworkwithaselectgroupofstartupsthatjointhePlugandPlayacceleratorprogram,offeringexecutivementoring,technicalexpertiseandpotentiallypilotingstartups'solutionswithinitsownoperationstosupporttheirdevelopment.KENYA:Star:ThePostalCorporationofKenya,Posta,wantstoincreaselettersendingtariffsby43percentdespitedwindlingpostagebusiness.ThestateagencyhaswrittentotheindustryregulatorCommunicationsAuthorityofKenyaseekingapprovaltoraiseratesforsendingdomesticlettersfromSh35toSh50perletter.Thisratewaslastrevisedfiveyearsago,in2012.InarequesttoCA,Postacitedincreasingcostsofdoingbusinessasthereasonfortheincrement.Postahasbeenstrugglingtoremainafloatintheadventofriseintechnologyuseforcommunication.Revenuefrompostalandcourierserviceshasdroppedby36.7percentsince2011tostandatSh4.8billionasatendof2015/2016financialyearonJune30,2016.

June8,2017UNIVERSALPOSTALUNION:MailOMG:TheUniversalPostalUnion(UPU),istheprimaryforumforcooperationamongnationalpostaldesignatedoperators.Amongotheractivities,itsetstherulesforinternationalmailexchangeswithrulesandregulationssetoutforLetterMailandParcelPost.The192membercountriesmeetinaquadrennialCongress,mostrecentlyinIstanbulinOctober2016,tosetpolicyanddirectionfortheUPU.AttheIstanbulCongress,aproposalforanIntegratedProductPlanwaspassed.Thisdocumentwillformthebasisofchangestotheregulationsforinternationallettermail,beginninginJanuary2018.ThechangeswillapplytomailtoandfromtheUnitedStates,butanyUPUactionsrequiringchangestoUSPSmailingrequirementsarereviewedandimplementedaccordingtoUSlawsandprocedures.DomesticmailisnotaffectedbyUPUregulations.Butthechangesaresubstantialandanymailersendingitemsinternationallyneedstobeawareofwhat’scoming.CANADA:MastHeadOnline:CanadaPosthasintroducedPostalCodeTargeting.ThisnewCanadaPostSmartmailMarketingprogramallowsmarketerstodirectlyconnectwiththeirreceptiveaudiencewithmoreprecisereach.Youcannowmaildirectlybypostalcodetargeting.PostalCodeTargetingcanbeappliedtogeographic,demographicandlifestylecriteriato

selectedpostalcodes.DigitalprintingwithvariableprintcapabilitieswillpossiblybenefitthemostfromPostalCodeTargeting.JAPAN:AsiaNikkei:JapanPostHoldingsaimstosellmoremutualfundsbyofferinginvestmentadviceandopeningsaleswindowsatpostofficesacrossthecountry.Thepostalserviceoperatoraimstoshiftthefocusofitsbusinessfromdepositstoinvestments,therebygeneratingmoretransactionfees.AccordingtotheplanreleasedWednesday,thenumberofpostofficessellingmutualfundswillgrowby100thisfiscalyearfrom1,315currently.Thoseofferingadviceoninvestmentswillballoon20-foldtonearly16,700locationsafterJuly10.Theseadvisingsiteswillprovidecustomerswithinformationonassetformationandguidanceonplanningtheirfinancialfuture.UNITEDEMIRATES:GulfNews:EmiratesPostGroup,uponinstructionsoftheGovernmentoftheUnitedArabEmirates,hassuspendedallpostalservicestoQatarinallitspostalofficesintheUAEfromJune6,2017,andwillremainsountilfurthernotice.ThisdecisionalsoincludesadvisingallcustomersthatapartfromtemporarilystoppingthedeliveryofmailitemstotheStateofQatar,allundelivereditemswillalsobereturnedwithcorrespondingpostalfeesaccordingtotheproceduresandregulations.

June7,2017CANADA:CalgaryHerald:MembersoftheCanadianUnionofPostalServiceswalkedthestreetsofCalgaryonSaturday—nottodeliverthemail—buttomakethecaseforthereturnofdoor-to-doorservice.Thepostalservicebeganconvertingtocommunitymailboxesin2015underthewatchofthepreviousfederalConservativegovernment.Nearly900,000CanadianhouseholdswereconvertedbythetimeCanadaPostfrozetheprogramwhentheLiberalstookofficein2015.UnionrepresentativeSuzieMooresaid110peopleinCalgarylosttheirjobsduetotheservicechange.Thedoor-to-doorpostalservicealsotendstobetheeyesandearsofthecommunity,Mooresaid.Theservicehasevenhelpedsavepeople’slives,sheadded.LastDecember,aHouseofCommonscommitteerecommendedCanadaPostcomeupwithaplantoreinstatedoor-to-doordeliveryinpartsofthecountrythatlosttheserviceinthepastyearandmaintainafreezeontheinstallationofcommunitymailboxes.Thecommitteesaidatthetimethat830,000addresseshadbeenmovedtocommunitymailboxestodate,resultinginanannualsavingsof$80million.

June6,2017CANADA:Post&ParcelInternational:CanadaPostandPayPalCanadahaveunveiledanewintegratedpaymentandshippingsolutionforsolopreneurs,smallbusinessesandcasualsellers.Thesolutionmeansonlinesellerscantracktheirorders,printshippinglabelsandpayforshippingusingtheirPayPalaccount.Thisnewfunctionalityautomaticallysendstrackinginformationanddeliveryconfirmationalertstoboththesellerandthecustomeronceashippinglabeliscreated.Userscanalsoscheduleaparcelpick-upfromCanadaPost.Thecollaborationaimstomakee-commercemoreeasilyaccessibleforentrepreneursandsmallbusinesses,including83%ofCanadiansmallandmid-sizesbusinessesthatcurrentlydonotsellonline,accordingtoPayPalCanadaresearch.CANADA:CalvaryCTVNews:Peoplewhopurchaseproductsonlinehavelikelyexperiencedlongshippingdelaysonpackagesfromoverseasandformanyitcanbefrustratingtryingtotrackdownthemerchandise.CTVCalgary’sConsumerSpecialistLeaWilliams-DohertylookedintothedeliverydelaysandfoundoutthattheholdupishereinCanada.JurgenKraushasorderedelectronicsfromAsiaforyearsandsaysthatsincelastfall,packagesthatusedtotakeonemonthnowtakeuptofive.KrauslearnedofaRussianwebsitethatsomehowaccessesCanadaPost’sinternationaltrackingnumbers,whichcustomersaren'tgiven,andmanagedtotraceseveralparcels.Hesaysineverycase,hispackagesarrivedinCanadawithintwoweeksandthensatateitherCanadaPostorCanadaBorderServicesAgencyformonths.COLUMBIA:Post&ParcelInternational:UPShasopeneditsnew76,000ft²healthcare-dedicatedfacilityinColombia,thecompany’slatestinvestmentinhealthcarelogistics.Themulti-clientfacilityisequippedwiththenewesttechnologyforstoringtemperature-sensitivehealthcareproducts.Thebuildingoffersdistributionservices,warehousemanagement,andlate-stagecustomizationsolutionssuchaslabeling,productkittingandconfiguration,andrepackaging.TheColombiafacilityfeaturessorting,processinganddatacapturetechnologyavailablethroughUPS’svalidatedwarehousemanagementsystem,providingcustomersfullinventoryvisibility,standardizedprocessingandreporting.CustomerswillalsohaveaccesstoUPS’sglobaltransportationtechnologynetworkforcompletecontroloftheirsupplychains.ISRAEL:GlobesIT:IsraelPostalCompanysurvey:82%ofJewishadultsinIsraelbuyfromforeignwebsites.FigurespublishedtodaybytheIsraelPostalCompanyshowthatthecompanydelivered52millionparcelsin2016,andthenumberisexpectedtoriseto59millionin2017and100millionin2020,dependingongrowthinInternetshopping.ThesurveyreportedthatthemostpopularoverseaswebsitewasChinesewebsiteAliExpress,followedbyeBay,UKfashionwebsiteNext,Amazon,andAsos.ThemostpopularIsraeliwebsiteswereGrouponandWallaShops.KOREA:Post&ParcelInternational:DHLExpressKoreaistolaunchitsfirstDHLMobileServiceStation(MSS),avehiclefullyequippedtohandleshipmentprocessingonthemove.TheMSShasanelectronicweight,labelprinterandvideoimagetransmittingscanner,allofwhichislinkeduptotheDHLoperationsnetwork.TheregistrationsystemenablestheMSStoheaddirectlytotheairportforshipmentexport,withouttheneedtostopoffatDHLservicecenters.TheMSScouldbenefitmanyexportingcompanies,whichcannowhavemoretimetoprepareshipmentsforsame-dayconnectivityduetoDHL’sextendedpick-upcut-offtime.TheMSSalsohasthecapacitytoprocessupto300shipmentsdaily.

June5,2017CANADA:CtvNews:TheunionrepresentingpostalworkerswantsCanadaPosttoreleasethenumberofcommunitymailboxesthathavebeenbrokenintoacrossthecountry.MikePalecek,nationalpresidentoftheCanadianUnionofPostalWorkers,saidhe'sfrustratedbytheCrowncorporation'sunwillingnesstosharehowfrequentlymailtheftoccurs.Theunionhascampaignedfortherestorationofdoor-to-doorservicesincetheformerConservativegovernmentannouncedin2013itwouldbecuttingtheservice.TheLiberalscampaignedinthelastfederalelectiontorestorehomedelivery,andtheresultsofareviewintothefutureofCanadaPostareexpectedtobereleasedlaterthisyear.CanadaPostspokesmanJonHamiltondisputedtheunion'sclaims,sayingthereareonly1,000townhomesinRichmondthatarewithoutpostalservice,andnoneofthemreceivemailviacommunitymailboxes.MALAYSIA:Post&Parcel:PosMalaysiahasbeenpromotingitsnewPosLajuEziBoxservice,whichenablescustomerstopickuptheirparcelsfreeofchargeat24/7parcellockers.Theserviceisprimarilydesignedasanalternativemeansofgettingparcelstocustomerswhomissedahomedelivery.CustomersreceiveanSMSnotifyingthemtocollecttheirparcelataPosLajuEziBoxwithin48hours,alongwithasecureone-timePINnumberthattheyusetoopenthelockers.SINGAPORE:SamarNews:TheDepartmentofTradeandIndustry’sPhilippineTradeandInvestmentCenter(PTIC)inSingaporeisworkingcloselywithfourFilipinosfromCebuwhoarepresentlybasedinSingapore,toofficiallyintroduceGeopik,anappthatwillrevolutionizethepostalsysteminthePhilippines.GeopikconvertslongaddressesortheabsenceofhousenumberswhichiscommoninthePhilippines,intomoreexact,customizableandeasy-to-remembersinglecodes.Theappreducesthehasslebroughtbyadditionalinformationtotheactualaddresssuchas“housewithbluegate,infrontofamangotree”bysimplyconvertingaddressestosimpledigitalcodes.

June2,2017CHINA:Reuters:China'spostalauthorityhasaskedSFHoldingCoandAlibabaHoldingGroupLtd'slogisticsunit,twoofthenation'stoplogisticsplayers,toendaspatthatdisrupteddeliverieswhenthetwofirmsabruptlycuttiesonThursday.SFisoneofseveraltoplogisticsfirmsthathaveastrategicpartnershipwithAlibaba'sCainiaoNetwork,whichsupportsanappthatallowsuserstotrackandpayfordeliveriesandlinksdirectlytoAlibaba'stope-commerceplatformTaobao.ThefirmsseveredadatasharingagreementonThursdayfollowingSF'sclaimstheAlibabaunithadrequesteduserdatanotrelatedtothecurrentpartnership,aclaimCainiaodenies.TheStatePostBureausaidagriculturalshipmentswereamongthoseaffected,includingdeliveriesoffreshfruit.OnThursdayCainiaourgedusersandmerchantstoselectalternativelogisticsfirms.

June1,2017FINLAND:Post&Parcel:Posti’snew“deliverydayreform”programmeisbeingrolledacrosspartsofFinlandthissummer,andwilltakeeffectforthewholeofthecountryfrom18July.Explaininghowthenewsystemwillwork,Postisaid:“Mailwillstillbedeliveredfivetosevendaysaweek,dependingontheservicesthatthesendingcustomershavepurchasedfromPosti.“Thenumberofdeliverydayswillnotchangeinthereform,thoughtherewillbelessmailtobedeliveredonTuesdays.“Somenewspapers,alongwithparcels,expresslettersandlaboratoryitems,willstillbedeliveredonTuesdays.Therewillbenochangestotheearlymorningdeliveryfornewspapers.ItemsrequiringsignatureandparcelstobepickedupfromservicepointscanbepickedupfromPostioutlets.ForCorporatePostalCodecustomers,itemswillbealsobedeliveredonTuesdays.“UniversalserviceletterspostedonMondayswillprimarilybedeliveredonWednesdays.PostiwillpicklettersandparcelsnormallyonTuesdays.”HONGKONG:Post&Parcel:FedExExpresshaslaunchedaself-servicelockernetworkacross35locationsinHongKong.ThesystemispoweredbyPCCWSolutions’digitallogisticsplatform.AnthonyLeung,managingdirector,FedExExpress,HongKongandMacau,commented:“FedExhasacultureofinnovationthatdrivesustopioneernewsolutionsandaddresscustomers’evolvingneeds.“Theintroductionofthenewself-collectionservicetostrengthenourlast-miledeliverycapabilityisatestamenttothat.”IRELAND:IrishTimes:AnPosthasconfirmeditslocaldeliverystaffdonotusetheState’snewEircodesystemdevelopedatacostof€38million.ThisisdespitethefactthatAnPostfranksletterswitharemindertoitscustomerstousetheEircodesystem.TheissuewasraisedbyFiannaFáilspokesmanoncommunicationsTimmyDooleywhosaiditwas“simplyinconceivablethatAnPost,despitepromotingtheuseofEircodes,donotmakeuseofthemwhendeliveringpost”.Inresponse,AnPostsaiditscustomerswere“strongly”advisedtouseEircodewhenpostingmailandforEircodetobeintegratedaspartofapostaladdress.POLAND:CPExecutive:UPShasexpandeditsfootprintinEuropebyinvestinginanewdistributionfacilityinMysłowice,Poland.The118,403-square-footpackagecenterwillreplacethecompany’sformer34,229-square-footsortingfacilityinKatowice.PolandisanimportantmarketforUPSandinthefirstquarterofthisyearwegrewourexportvolumebymorethan20percent,”saidPavelAdamovsky,managerwithUPSPoland,inpreparedremarks.“Thisinvestmentdemonstratesourlong-standingcommitmenttohelpingourcustomersinPolandgrowandconnecttomarketsallovertheworld.”UNITEDKINGDOM:Post&Parcel:SupermarketTescohasbeenthetestingtheuseofStarshipTechnologies’deliveryrobotsinLondon.Commentingonthetests,Tescosaid:“Wearealwayslookingatnewwaystoimprovetheshoppingexperienceforourcustomers.“Wecarriedoutaone-offtrialaspartofourTescoNowinitiativeinpartnershipwithatechnologycompany.Welearntagreatdealfromthistrialandwe’llbereviewingfeedbackbeforedecidingournextsteps.”The“TescoNow”initiativeisthenewone-hourdeliveryservicethatthesupermarketgiantisrollingoutinLondon–andwhichhasbeenseenasresponsetoAmazon’sPrimeNowoffering.

Postal/Industry News June30,2017MailSpokenHere:ProvidedisthelatestMailSpokenHere.IndustryAlert:USPSFiledMoveUpdatePriceandClassificationChangeswithPostalRegulatoryCommission.Today,June30,theU.S.PostalServicefileditscaseforpriceandclassificationchangestotheMoveUpdateVerificationandAssessmentmethodswiththePostalRegulatoryCommission.PostalServiceregulationsonMoveUpdatecompliancerequiremailerssubmittingcommercialFirst-ClassMailandUSPSMarketingMailtoupdateaddressestoreflectChangeofAddress(COA)orders.CompliancewiththeMoveUpdatestandardisabasiceligibilityrequirementforthesemailerstoreceivecommercialautomationandpresortrates.Inaddition,thePostalServiceisproposingtoextendFull-ServiceAddressCorrectionService(ACS)toqualifyingmailpieces.ThefilingdoesnotaffectthepriceofForeverstampsorotherPostalServicepricing.Withapproval,theMoveUpdatechangeswouldtakeeffectJanuary21,2018.IndustryAlert:DMMAdvisoryUSPSMarketingMail™(StandardMail®)MarkingsUpdateThePostalService™publishedanarticleintheMarch16,2017,PostalBulletin,providingadditionalinformationabouttherebrandingofStandardMail®asUSPSMarketingMail™.ThearticlestatedthatthePostalServiceandmailingindustrycontinuetocollaborateonanimplementationtimelinefortherequireduseofnewpostagemarkingsandpermitimprintindicia.Untilthen,mailersshouldcontinuetousethe“StandardMail”markings.RevisionsweremadetotheDMMandQuickServiceGuide604dtosupportthecontinueduseoftheStandardMailmarkings.Asanupdate,thePostalServicecontinuestoworkwiththeindustryonthischange.Weareestimatinga“begintotransition”dateinmid-2018.Inthemeantime,wecontinuetorequestthatcustomersdonottransitiontothenewmarkingsuntilthefinaldetailsarepublishedthroughaDMMAdvisoryandIndustryAlert.Inourefforttogatherdata,thePostalServiceislookingformailingindustryvolunteerstoconductnewindiciamarkingtests.AnyoneinterestedinparticipatingshouldcontactDanBarrettatdaniel.j.barrett@usps.gov.FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission:ProposedRules-PeriodicReporting,29808–29809[2017–13830][PDF]PostalService:Notices-ProductChanges:PriorityMailandFirst-ClassPackageServiceNegotiatedServiceAgreement,29950[2017–13689][PDF];PriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,29950–29951[2017–13690][PDF]

June28,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:GlobalPositioningSystemTrailerVisibilitySincefiscalyear2010,USPShasreliedonitsLogisticsConditionReportingSystem(LCRS)intandemwithGPSdatatohelpmanageoneofthelargesttrailerfleetsofitskindintheworld,butinaccuratedatareportingandsystemcompatibilityissuesforcedUSPStoreplaceLCRSandtheGPSdevices.InJune2016,thePostalServiceinitiatednewGPStechnologytoaddresstheproblems.TheOIGrecentlyassessedthePostalService’splantoimproveitsmanagementoftrailersbyusingGPSdata.Readourfindingsandrecommendationsinthefullauditreport:https://go.usa.gov/xN76P.IndustryAlert:Mayer,AZPostOfficeClosedDuetoFireDamageTheWesternAreaandArizonaDistricthaveannouncedthattheMayerPostOffice12795ECentralAve,Mayer86333hasclosedduetotheGoodwinFireinArizona.CustomerswillbeservicedbytheCampVerdePostOfficelocatedat403WFinnieFlatRd,CampVerdeAZ,86322.IndustryAlert:GenoaNEPostOffice(68640)ClosedDuetoStormDamagetoRoofTheWesternAreaandCentralPlainsDistricthaveannouncedtheGenoaNEPostOffice,509WillardAve,GenoaNE68640hasclosedduetosevereweatherdamagetotheroof.CustomerswillbeservicedthroughtheMonroeNEPostOffice,locatedat406GerrardAve,MonroeNE,68647.

June27,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:UnscheduledLeaveintheNewYorkDistrictUnscheduledleave–employeesabsentwithoutgivingpriornoticeorreceivingauthorization–drivesupthePostalService’scostofovertimeandrelatedexpenses.Itcanalsonegativelyaffectproductivity,efficiency,andemployeemorale.UsingaHumanResourceRiskmodel,theOIGdeterminedthatUSPS’sNewYorkDistricthadreportedthehighestlevelsofunscheduledleaveinthecountryforallfourquartersoffiscalyear2016.WethenauditedtheunscheduledleavepracticesofotherUSPSlocationsintheregion.Readourfindingsandrecommendationsinthefullauditreport:https://go.usa.gov/xN7V4.OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:WeatheringThroughtheWeatherTheNationalOceanicandAtmosphericAdministrationtracksweathereventsthroughouttheU.S.andworkscloselywiththePostalServicetodevelopcontingencyplanstokeepthemailsystemfunctioninginadverseconditions.WhilenothingbeatsMotherNature,USPSmanagedtokeepupwithherlastyearintheSouth,whichexperiencedsomeheavyweather.Checkoutourlatestblogonit,andthenletusknowhowyouthinkUSPShasperformedduringsevereweathereventsinyourarea:https://go.usa.gov/xN7ygFederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission:NewPostalProducts,29121–29122[2017–13439][PDF]PostalService:Rules:InternationalMailManual,29004–29005[2017–13356][PDF];ProductChanges:PriorityMailandFirst-ClassPackageServiceNegotiatedServiceAgreement,29122[2017–13348][PDF],PriorityMailExpressNegotiatedServiceAgreement,29122[2017–13349][PDF],PriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,29122[2017–13352][PDF],29122[2017–13354][PDF]

June26,2017IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andeVSUsers:PostalOne!Release45.3.0.1willdeploytonight,Monday,June26,2017from8:00pmto9:00pmCTtocorrectALM11187–eVSManifestSearchIssue.Thissystemwillnotbeavailableduringthiswindow.ALM11187–eVSManifestSearchIssueIssue:TheeVSManifestDomesticsearchfunctionalityisnotworking.Workaround:InternalandexternaluserscansearchforasinglepackageusingtheUniversalSearchfunction.IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andeVSUsers:PostalOne!/BIDsRelease45.3.0.0deploymentiscompleteandthePostalOne!systemisavailable.Twoissueshavebeenidentified:ALM11187–eVSManifestSearchIssueIssue:TheeVSManifestDomesticsearchfunctionalityisnotworking.Workaround:InternalandexternaluserscansearchforasinglepackageusingtheUniversalSearchfunction.ALM11188–Maiil.XMLSubscriptionPushMessagingIssue:ForthosemailerswhohavesubscriptionssetuptoreceivepushnotificationsviaMail.XMLforexampleStart-the-ClockandAddressCorrection,theapplicationisexperiencingcommunicationissuesandthismessagingisnotavailable.ThisdoesnotimpactPostageStatementCreateMessages.Workaround:Thereisnoworkaround.Theissueisbeingactivelyworkedonandshouldbecorrectedlatertoday.PostalOne!/BIDsRelease45.3.0.1willdeploytomorrownight,Monday,June26,2017at8:00pmCTtocorrectALM11187–eVSManifestSearchIssue.Thiswillbearollingdeploymentandthesystemwillremainavailable.Weapologizeforanyinconveniencethismaycause.Asareminder,anewMail.dat®clientdownload45.3.0.0_PRODisrequiredwiththisrelease.AllpreviousversionsoftheMail.datclientwillbeexpired.TheMail.datclientcanbedownloadedfromtheBusinessCustomerGateway(BCG)usingthefollowingpath:MailingServices/ElectronicDataExchange[GotoService]/Mail.datdownload(Windows32-bit,Windows64-bit,orSolaris).ExternalReleasenotesarepostedonPostalProunderMajor/MinorReleasesat:https://postalpro.usps.com/node/3834.PostalOne!TEMRelease45.3.0.0willdeployonMonday,June26,2017from5:00AMto12:00noonCT.

June23,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:ShortpaidPCPostageParcelsPCPostageallowscustomerstoprintpostagefromtheirowncomputers.ASeptember2013OIGauditfoundthatthereweremillionsofdollarsinshortpaidpostage.WerecommendedsomeinternalcontrolsforthePostalService;USPSimplementedlimitedcontrolsforidentifyingandcollectingshortpaidPCPostagesincethen.Ourrecentauditevaluateshoweffectivethosecontrolshavebeen.Readtheresultsandourrecommendationsonourwebsiteathttps://go.usa.gov/xNf7hIndustryAlert:Nashua(NASS030PM)RedirectionCancellation7/1/17and“Extended”GracePeriod.BeginningJuly1st,TheLetterMailredirectionsfromWhiteRiverVT050andManchesterNH030toNashua030PMwillbecancelled.Eachplantwillbeginacceptingandprocessingtheirowndropshipment(Letters).PleasecontinuetomakeseparationsADC030forManchesterNH,andADC050forWhiteRiverJunctionVT,forLetters.Therewillbean"Extended"GracePeriodof60daysinNashua030PMwhichwillexpireonAugust30th.PleasecontacttheFASTHelpDeskwithanyissues.FederalRegister:PostalService-DomesticMailManual,28559–28560[2017–13085][PDF]IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andProgramRegistrationUsers:**Importantchangestothisweekend’sReleaseSchedule**PostalOne!/BIDsRelease45.3.0.0willdeployonSunday,June25,2017from2:00AMto11:00AMCT.ThePostalOne!systemwillnotbeavailableduringthistimeframe.MicroStrategyReportswillnotbeavailableduringthistime.

• AnewMail.dat®clientdownload45.3.0.0_PRODisrequiredwiththisrelease.AllpreviousversionsoftheMail.datclientwillbeexpired.

TheMail.datclientcanbedownloadedfromtheBusinessCustomerGateway(BCG)usingthefollowingpath:MailingServices/ElectronicDataExchange[GotoService]/Mail.datdownload(Windows32-bit,Windows64-bit,orSolaris).ExternalReleasenotesarepostedonPostalProunderMajor/MinorReleasesat:https://postalpro.usps.com/node/3834.PostalOne!TEMRelease45.3.0.0willdeployonMonday,June26,2017from5:00AMto12:00noonCT.ProgramRegistrationRelease18.2.0.0isrescheduledandwillnotdeployonSunday,June25,2017from4:00AMto8:00AMCT.SeamlessAcceptanceandServicePerformance(SASP)/ServicePerformanceMeasurement(SPM)Release24.1.70willdeployonSunday,June25,2017from12:00AMto5:00PMCT.

June22,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:InternalControlsOverSegmentedInventory–ElCerrito,CA,MainPostOfficeTripwireanalysisisatoolusedduringauditstolookatspecificbehaviorsandpatternswhichmayserveasstrongindicatorsofimproperactivity.TheOfficeofInspectorGeneralusesthismethodologytoidentifyfinancialabnormalities.TripwireanalysiswasconductedintheElCerrito,CaliforniaPostOfficeafter12perfectinventorycountswerereportedbetweenApril2015andMarch2016.AresultingauditconcludedthatAccountingrecordsforsegmentedinventoryattheElCerritoMainPostOfficewerenotalwaysaccuratelypresentedandinternalcontrolsneededimprovement.ReadthefullauditreportfortheOIG’scompletefindingsandrecommendations:https://go.usa.gov/xNw6SFederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission:NewPostalProducts,28540[2017–13069][PDF]

June21,2017IndustryAlert:MississippiServiceImpactsTheUSPostalServiceismonitoringtropicalstormimpactsintheGulfofMexico.IntheMississippiDistrict,theHeidelbergMainOfficeiscurrentlyclosedduetostormflooding.ThealternatePostOfficeforretailservicesisVossburgMainOffice.

ImpactedPO/ZIPCode AlternatePO

HeidelbergMainOffice39439-9998 VossburgMainOffice39366-9998.Hours:Mon-Fri8:00am-12:00pm,1:00pm-4:00pmSat-SunClosed.

Wewillcontinuetomonitorthesituation.Asmoreinformationismadeavailableandupdatesaremade,wewillcontinuetonotifyyouabouttheimpactsofthissituation.Updatesonthesepostofficeswillbeavailableathttp://about.usps.com/news/service-alerts/welcome.htm.Customerscanalsocall1-800-ASK-USPSorgotothePostalService’sWebsitewww.usps.comtogetthelocationofothernearbyPostOfficesandapprovedpostalretailserviceproviders.FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission:NewPostalProducts,28366–28367[2017–12935][PDF]

June20,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:MailProcessingVarianceModelTheU.S.PostalServiceemploysstatisticalmodels,suchastheMailProcessingVarianceModel(MPVM),tomeasureitsproductivityandeffectivenessinprocessingmail.PostalmanagementusesresultsfromtheMPVMtomeasurewhetherpostalfacilitiesaremeetingbenchmarklevelsofmailprocessingefficiency.WerecentlyconductedanaudittodetermineifUSPSwasproperlyusingtheMPVMtoincreasemailprocessingproductivitysystem-wide.ReadtheOIG’sfindingsandsuggestionsinthefullauditreport:https://go.usa.gov/xNvHVFederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission-PeriodicReporting,28039–28040[2017–12779][PDF]

June18,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:TheBusinessSideofBusinessReplyMailHaveyoueversentadonationorpaymenttoanorganizationinaprepaidenvelope?Thatenvelopeisknownasbusinessreplymail(BRM)—aservicefromUSPS,whichallowssenderslikenonprofitorganizationstoprovideaprepaidpostageenvelopeorcardtotherecipient.ManynonprofitsasktheirdonorstoplacetheirownstampontheenvelopeanywaysothattheorganizationcansavesomemoneybyrequestingarefundfromUSPSforBRMpostagenotused.OIGauditorsevaluatedwhetherUSPSinternalcontrolstoprocessBRMrefundsandpreventimproperpaymentshavebeeneffective.Theyfoundthatthecontrolscanbeimproved.Thisweek’sPushingtheEnvelopeblogdiscussesthislatestauditreportandaskshowpeopleuseBRM.Readtheblogat:https://go.usa.gov/xNvCr

June17,2017FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission:ProposedRules-PeriodicReporting,27781[2017–12652][PDF];NewPostalProducts,27903–27904[2017–12626][PDF]

June16,2017IndustryAlert:DiscontinuedSupportforFileTransferProtocol(FTP)EffectiveAugust31,2017.EffectiveAugust31,2017,theUnitedStatesPostalService(USPS)willdiscontinuesupportforFileTransferProtocol(FTP)formailerstosendand/orreceiveshippingfilesanddatathroughtheProductTracking&Reporting(PTR)system.MailersusingFTPtosendand/orreceiveshippingfilesanddatathroughPTRwillneedtosetupasecuretransmissionmethodutilizingoneofthemethodsbelow:Option1-SecureFileTransferProtocol(SFTP)-SFTPisasecureconnectivityoptionavailabletoexchangefilesusingUSPS’sSFTPserver(orifthecustomerprefers,theirownSFTPserver).WesupportSFTPloginusingKeyAuthenticationorusername/password.USPSprefersAESor3DESalgorithmsifyouchoosetoencryptyourdatausingPGP(Prettygoodprivacy).WealsosupportkeyloginusingOpenSSLkeysratherthanusername/passwordlogin.MailersmustcompletetradingpartnersetupthroughourDataTransferServices(DTS)group.Allowatleast30daystocompletethissetup.ForadditionalinformationreferPublication199,IntelligentMailPackageBarcode(IMpb)ImplementationGuideforConfirmationServicesandElectronicVerificationSystem(eVS)Mailers,Section6Communications,6.1Transmissionmethods,“SFTP”athttps://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_package/documents/tech_guides/PUB199IMPBImpGuide.pdfOption2-ElectronicDataInterchangeInternetApplicabilityStandard2(EDIINTAS2)-ThisoptionrequiresthattheBusinessPartneruseanEDIINTAS2capablesoftwareproduct.MailersmustcompletetradingpartnersetupthroughourDataTransferServices(DTS)group.Allowatleast30daystocompletethissetup.ForadditionalinformationreferPublication199,IntelligentMailPackageBarcode(IMpb)ImplementationGuideforConfirmationServicesandElectronicVerificationSystem(eVS)Mailers,Section6-Communications,6.1Transmissionmethods,“EDIINTAS2”athttps://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_package/documents/tech_guides/PUB199IMPBImpGuide.pdf

Option3-ParcelDataExchange(PDX)-ParcelDataExchange(PDX)isawebservicesapplicationthatinterfacesbetweentheUSPS’sPTRsystemandCustomerstoprovidedatatransferservices.Customerscanusethissecuremethodtouploadmanifestfilesandreceivescaneventextractfiles.ForadditionalinformationreferthePDXOnlineuserguidesonRIBBSathttps://ribbs.usps.gov/evs/documents/tech_guides/pubs/PDXOnlineUserGuide.PDFhttps://ribbs.usps.gov/evs/documents/tech_guides/pubs/APIUserGuide.PDFMailersusingaUSPScertifiedsoftwarevendororathirdpartyserviceprovider,shouldcontactthemtodeterminethesecureconnectivityoptionsavailableorconsultyourinternaltechnicalteampriortocontactingtheUSPS.PleasecontacttheUSPSConfirmationServicesTechnicalSupportTeamwiththeselectedoptionatdelivery.confirmation@usps.govor(877)264-9693.Ifcontactingviaemailpleaseprovidecontactname,title,companyname,emailaddressandphonenumber.Foradditionalinformation,referencetheFTPFactSheetpostedonPostalProathttps://postalpro.usps.com/node/3636.IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!andFASTUsers:TheNetworkissuesthatimpactingseveralapplicationsincludingPostalOne!andFASTisresolved.IfmailersandacceptanceunitsstillexperienceadelayinjobsappearingonthePostalOne!dashboard,wewillcontinuetoacceptthemailingsunderthePostalOne!andeInductioncontingencyplanasdescribedbelow,forthenext48hours.MailingswillcontinuetobeacceptedunderthePostalOne!ContingencyPlanpostedonRIBBSathttps://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_latestnews/documents/tech_guides/PostalOneExternalContingencyPlan.pdf.eInductionmailersshouldfollowtheeInductioncontingencyplan.ForMailAcceptance:ThefollowinginstructionsareprovidedforcontinuationofoperationsintheeventamailerisnotabletosubmitanelectronicpostagestatementtotheUSPSduetoaUSPSoutageormailerissue.BMEUandDMUlocationswillacceptmailingsunderthefollowingprocess:1.AUSPSRecordofMailingsLogwillbemaintainedatUSPSacceptanceunitsforeachmailingpresentedduringaPostalOne!ormailersystemissueoroutage.Thislogisusedtoreconcilethemailingsacceptedduringthesystemdelaytopostagestatementsonthedashboardoncetheoutageorissuehasbeenresolved.2.PostalWizard,Mail.dat®andMail.XML™mailerswhonormallysubmittheirpostagestatementselectronicallymustbeabletoprovide,eitherverballyorinwrittenformat,thefollowinginformation:·PermitHolder·TotalPieces(Anapproximatetotalpiececountcanbeprovidedifthemailerdoesnotknowtheexactnumberoftotalpieces)·TotalPostage(Anapproximatetotalpostageamountcanbeprovidedifthemailerdoesnotknowtheexacttotalpostageforthemailing.)·MailerJobID·eInductionmailing:YesorNo(Ifyes,mailersarenotrequiredtocreatehardcopyPSForm8125(s)orprovideanyadditionaldocumentation).3.MailerswhonormallysubmithardcopypostagestatementswillcontinuetosubmitthehardcopypostagestatementduringaPostalOne!systemoutage·Mailerswhonormallysubmithardcopypostagestatementswillberequiredtocontinueprovidingpresortdocumentationwiththeirmailings.4.PostalWizard,Mail.dat®andMail.XML™mailerswhonormallysubmittheirpostagestatementselectronicallywillnotberequiredtoprovidepresortdocumentationforanymailingsubmittedduringaUSPSormailerissue/outage.eInductionForeInductionmailingspresentedatthedock,PSForm8125sarenotrequiredtobesubmitted.MailersandDockemployeeswillfollowtheeInductionContingencyPlan.TheinstructionbelowaretobefollowedforeInductioncontainers:

1. AcceptandscanallplacardedcontainersNOTE:Iftheloadisamixedload(containingeInductioncontainersandregularPVDSMail)reconcileanycontainersto8125forms.

2. Collect1placardfromeachunloadedcontainerforthosenotreconciledto8125forms3. IntheSV-IMDupdateallunresolvedcontainerswitha99MbarcodetoAcceptstatus4. Releasereconciledcontainers,andcontainersfromwhichaplacardwasremoved,intooperations5. Retaincontainerplacardsand,formixedloads,PSForm8125sforreconciliation.

IfeInductionmailingsareheldatthedockforanyreason,mailersshouldcontacttheFASTHelpDeskat877.569.6614.Non-eInductionmailingswillcontinuetosubmitPSForm8125.Weapologizefortheinconvenience.

June15,2017IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!andFASTUsers:TheUSPSisexperiencingNetworkissuesthatareimpactingseveralapplicationsincludingPostalOne!andFAST.Theissueisunderinvestigation.Ifyouexperienceanissue,mailingswillcontinuetobeacceptedunderthePostalOne!ContingencyPlanpostedonRIBBSathttps://ribbs.usps.gov/intelligentmail_latestnews/documents/tech_guides/PostalOneExternalContingencyPlan.pdf.eInductionmailersshouldfollowtheeInductioncontingencyplan.

ForMailAcceptance:ThefollowinginstructionsareprovidedforcontinuationofoperationsintheeventamailerisnotabletosubmitanelectronicpostagestatementtotheUSPSduetoaUSPSoutageormailerissue.BMEUandDMUlocationswillacceptmailingsunderthefollowingprocess:1.AUSPSRecordofMailingsLogwillbemaintainedatUSPSacceptanceunitsforeachmailingpresentedduringaPostalOne!ormailersystemissueoroutage.Thislogisusedtoreconcilethemailingsacceptedduringthesystemdelaytopostagestatementsonthedashboardoncetheoutageorissuehasbeenresolved.2.PostalWizard,Mail.dat®andMail.XML™mailerswhonormallysubmittheirpostagestatementselectronicallymustbeabletoprovide,eitherverballyorinwrittenformat,thefollowinginformation:·PermitHolder·TotalPieces(Anapproximatetotalpiececountcanbeprovidedifthemailerdoesnotknowtheexactnumberoftotalpieces)·TotalPostage(Anapproximatetotalpostageamountcanbeprovidedifthemailerdoesnotknowtheexacttotalpostageforthemailing.)·MailerJobID·eInductionmailing:YesorNo(Ifyes,mailersarenotrequiredtocreatehardcopyPSForm8125(s)orprovideanyadditionaldocumentation).3.MailerswhonormallysubmithardcopypostagestatementswillcontinuetosubmitthehardcopypostagestatementduringaPostalOne!systemoutage·Mailerswhonormallysubmithardcopypostagestatementswillberequiredtocontinueprovidingpresortdocumentationwiththeirmailings.4.PostalWizard,Mail.dat®andMail.XML™mailerswhonormallysubmittheirpostagestatementselectronicallywillnotberequiredtoprovidepresortdocumentationforanymailingsubmittedduringaUSPSormailerissue/outage.Ifyouhaveanyissueswithmailacceptanceduringthisincident,pleasecontactthePostalOne!HelpDeskat800.522.9085.eInductionForeInductionmailingspresentedatthedock,PSForm8125sarenotrequiredtobesubmitted.MailersandDockemployeeswillfollowtheeInductionContingencyPlan.TheinstructionbelowaretobefollowedforeInductioncontainers:

1. AcceptandscanallplacardedcontainersNOTE:Iftheloadisamixedload(containingeInductioncontainersandregularPVDSMail)reconcileanycontainersto8125forms.

2. Collect1placardfromeachunloadedcontainerforthosenotreconciledto8125forms3. IntheSV-IMDupdateallunresolvedcontainerswitha99MbarcodetoAcceptstatus4. Releasereconciledcontainers,andcontainersfromwhichaplacardwasremoved,intooperations5. Retaincontainerplacardsand,formixedloads,PSForm8125sforreconciliation.

IfeInductionmailingsareheldatthedockforanyreason,mailersshouldcontacttheFASTHelpDeskat877.569.6614.Non-eInductionmailingswillcontinuetosubmitPSForm8125.Weapologizefortheinconvenience.IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andProgramRegistrationUsers:PostalOne!/BIDsRelease45.3.0.0willdeployonSunday,June25,2017from4:00AMto10:00AMCT.ThePostalOne!systemwillremainavailableduringthistimeframe.AnewMail.dat®clientdownload45.3.0.0_PRODisrequiredwiththisrelease.AllpreviousversionsoftheMail.datclientwillbeexpired.TheMail.datclientcanbedownloadedfromtheBusinessCustomerGateway(BCG)usingthefollowingpath:MailingServices/ElectronicDataExchange[GotoService]/Mail.datdownload(Windows32-bit,Windows64-bit,orSolaris).ExternalReleasenotesarepostedonPostalProunderMajor/MinorReleasesat:https://postalpro.usps.com/node/3834.ProgramRegistrationRelease18.2.0.0willdeployonSunday,June25,2017from4:00AMto8:00AMCT.FederalRegister:PostalService-PriorityMailandFirst–ClassPackageServiceNegotiatedServiceAgreement,27538[2017–12374][PDF]27537[2017–12375][PDF],PriorityMailExpressandPriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,27538[2017–12372][PDF]PriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,27538[2017–12373][PDF]

June14,2017FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission-NewPostalProducts,27300[2017–12300][PDF]

June13,2017IndustryAlert:FASTRecurringAppointmentCleanup.USPSisundergoinganinitiativetocleanupRecurringAppointmentsintheFacilityAccess&ShipmentTracking(FAST)system.Background-FASTisasystemdesignedforbusinessmailerstoscheduleappointmentsforentryofmailintoPostalFacilities.Mailersareabletoscheduleone-timeandrecurringappointmentsatPostalFacilitiesthroughFAST.MailersscheduleRecurringAppointmentsfordropshipmentsthatarriveconsistentlyonthesamedayordaysoftheweek,duringthesametimeperiod,withapproximatelythesamemailcontentsonthesametypeoftransportation.RecurringAppointmentsremainvaliduntilthemailers’appointmentprofilechangesand/ornolongermeetsthescheduleoriginallyagreedupon.Whenmailersscheduleappointmentsbutfailtoshowupwithin24hoursaftertheoriginalappointmenttime,theseappointmentsareclassifiedasNoShows.ForUSPS,NoShowsresultinlostappointmentslots,distortedexpectedmailervolume,inaccurate

staffingmodelsandpoordata.Formailers,NoShowsimpactmailerratingsandresultinlostappointmentslotsforothermailerswhowouldhaveusedtheappointments.RecurringAppointmentNoShowIssue-USPSMEPTandOperationsdepartmentsfoundthatthereisa28%AppointmentNoShowrateacrossfacilitiesandmailers.Andinperformingarootcauseanalysis,USPSdiscoveredthatunusedRecurringAppointmentsarealargeportionofthehighNoShowrate,astheyareautomaticallygeneratingappointmentsthatareneverbeingused.Fortheaforementionedreasons,itisimperativethatNoShowsarereduced.Incoordinationwiththemailingindustry,throughMailers’TechnicalAdvisoryCommitteeUserGroup3,USPSiscleaningupRecurringAppointmentID’stoaddresstheNoShowissue.EliminatingunusedandunneededRecurringAppointmentsisaquickandeffectivewaytodrasticallyreduceNoShowappointmentsandtoopenupappointmentsforothermailers.RecurringAppointmentSolution-USPSisimplementingatechnicalsolutiontoremoveunusedRecurringAppointmentID’s.PerthePub804(Section3-7),“failuretoadheretoscheduledappointmentsorotherabuseoftheprocedureswillresultinrevocationofrecurringappointmentprivileges.”FASTITcreatedandtestedaonetimescriptthatwillremoveDropShipRecurringAppointmentIDswithnoappointmentactivity(nocancellations,closedappointments,rescheduledappointmentsetc.)overa60dayperiod.Thescriptwilllookback60daysfromthescriptdate/time.TheautomaticscriptwillrunonWednesday,June14that12pmCDT.Inaddition,FASTITiscreatingabatchscriptthatwillautomaticallyremoveRecurringAppointmentIDs.Theautomaticscriptwillrunmonthly,andlookback60daysforRecurringAppointmentIDswithnoactivity.USPSistargetinganimplementationdateofJuly2017.SpecificquestionsconcerningtheRecurringAppointmentCleanupshouldbedirectedtoLanceBell,ProgramManager,BusinessMailerSupport(lance.a.bell@usps.gov).

June12,2017OfficeofInspectorGeneral:OurSemiannualReporttoCongressOurlatestbloglooksattheworkoftheOIGoverthefirsthalfoffiscalyear2017thatincludes84auditreports,1,394investigationsthatledto345arrestsandalmost$20millioninfines,restitutions,andrecoveries.$3millionofwhichwasturnedovertothePostalService.LearnmoreabouthowtheOIGcontinuestosucceedinitsmissionforthePostalServiceinthisweek’sbloghttps://go.usa.gov/xNyJA

June9,2017IndustryAlert:AttentionPostalOne!®andProgramRegistrationUsers:PostalOne!/BIDsRelease45.3.0.0willdeployonSunday,June25,2017from4:00AMto10:00AMCT.ThePostalOne!systemwillremainavailableduringthistimeframe.AnewMail.dat®clientdownload45.3.0.0PRODisrequiredwiththisrelease.AllpreviousversionsoftheMail.datclientwillbeexpired.TheMail.datclientcanbedownloadedfromtheBusinessCustomerGateway(BCG)usingthefollowingpath:MailingServices/ElectronicDataExchange[GotoService]/Mail.datdownload(Windows32-bit,Windows64-bit,orSolaris).ExternalReleasenotesarepostedonPostalProunderMajor/MinorReleasesat:https://postalpro.usps.com/node/3834.ProgramRegistrationRelease18.2.0.0willdeployonSunday,June25,2017from4:00AMto8:00AMCT.FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission:NewPostalProducts,26817–26818[2017–12006],[PDF]PostalService:ProductChanges:PriorityMailExpressNegotiatedServiceAgreement,26818–26819[2017–11957][PDF]PriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,26818[2017–11954][PDF],26819[2017–11955][PDF],26818[2017–11956][PDF],26818[2017–11958][PDF]

June8,2017IndustryAlert:MoveUpdate.TheUSPSisproposingtochangethemethodformeasuringcomplianceformeetingtheMoveUpdaterequirementtoaCensusbasedapproach.BusinessMailerSupportwillhostweeklyMoveUpdatecallsformailerswhohavequestionsorwantadditionalinformation.Thewebinarswillbeheldat2:00pmeasterneachWednesday,beginningWednesday,June7,2017.MoveUpdateWebinarsDate/Time:Wednesday,June7–August30,2017;2:00–3:00pmeasternLogon:https://uspsmeetings.webex.com/uspsmeetings/j.php?MTID=mb196393db64c9ea238020f81860fa9adConferenceCode:5637722130DialIn:-855-860-7461ForfurtherinformationregardingtheMoveUpdateCensusMethodpleaserefertoPublication6850foundonPostalProat:http://postalpro.usps.com/node/581ortheProposedFederalRegisterNoticefound:http://postalpro.usps.com/node/3111FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission-NewPostalProducts,26719[2017–11916][PDF]PostalService-Meetings,SunshineAct,26719[2017–12033][PDF]

June7,2017IndustryAlert:CongratulationstoTheLincolnMotorCompany,HudsonRougeandStructuralGraphicsforWinningThe2017IrresistibleMail®GrandChampionAward,andtotheUniversityofPittsburghandUnofficialCardboardforwinningtheAwardforIrresistibleMailInnovativeTechnology.ItisourgreatpleasuretoannouncethatattheNational

PostalForumTheLincolnMotorCompany's“SeeItFirst”campaignfortheLincolnContinentalwontheGrandChampionofthe2017IrresistibleMailAward.CongratulationstoHudsonRougefordesigning,andStructuralGraphicsforprintingthewinningcampaign.ThewinnerwasdeterminedbyavoteofattendeesattheNationalPostalForuminBaltimore,MD.FederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission:NewPostalProducts,26521–26522[2017–11711][PDF];26522[2017–11793][PDF]

June6,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:PlaytoWinintheParcelMarketThisweek’sOIGbloghighlightsarecentwhitepaperregardingdifficultiesofpricingparceldeliveryinahighly-competitivemarket.JohnPanzar,arenownedpostaleconomist,providesatheorythatcanguideUSPSdecisionmakersonhowtosetpricesaccordingly,evenasthecompetitioninthemarketplacecontinuestoshift.Readmoreat:https://go.usa.gov/xNPQJFederalRegister:PostalRegulatoryCommission:PublicInquiryonCityCarrierCosts,26146–26147[2017–11586][PDF]PostalService:ProductChanges:PriorityMailNegotiatedServiceAgreement,26147[2017–11581][PDF]

June5,2017IndustryAlert:AttentionBusinessCustomerGatewayandPostalOne!Users:eVSisexperiencingaperformanceissueloadingtheverificationdata-IMpb,Duplicates,Misshipped,andpotentiallyunmanifestedreportsareimpacted,andyoumaynotseethemostupdatedverificationdatareflectedinthereportsuntiltheperformanceissueisaddressed.Manifestfilesarenotimpacted.Weareworkingonresolvingtheissueandwillprovideadailyupdateuntiltheperformanceissuearoundloadingverificationdataisresolved.Thankyouforyourpatience.IndustryAlert:FASTMessageBoardNashuaRedirectionCancellation.BeginningJuly1st,TheLetterMailredirectionsfromWhiteRiverVT050andManchesterNH030toNashua030PMwillbecancelled.Eachplantwillbeginacceptingandprocessingtheirowndropshipment(Letters).PleasecontinuetomakeseparationsADC030forManchesterNH,andADC050forWhiteRiverJunctionVT,forLetters.TherewillbeaGracePeriodof30daysinNashua030PMwhichwillexpireonJuly30th.OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:InternalControlsOverRetailFloorStock-Potsdam,NY,MainOfficeActingonatipfromourOfficeofInvestigations,OIGauditorsdiscoveredthattheU.S.PostalService’sPotsdam,NY,MainOfficewasfrequentlyexperiencingshortagesofstockontheretailfloor.Whilenoindividualsalesandserviceassociate(SSA)isaccountableforstock,eachSSAisresponsibleforensuringaccuratereportingofsalesaswellastheadequateprotectionandsecurityofretailfloorstock.ThislatestOIGauditreportevaluateswhetherinternalcontrolsforcontrollingstockareinplaceandeffective.Readourfindingsalongwithourrecommendationsat:https://go.usa.gov/xNEjpOfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:PlaytoWin:CompetitioninLast-MileParcelDeliveryLargeparceldeliverycompanies,includingtheU.S.PostalService,arecompetingagainstmorethanjusteachother―theirrealbattleisagainstthethreatofself-deliverybylargeretailers.That’samongthemainconclusionsofanewOfficeofInspectorGeneralwhitepaperthatpresentsatheoreticalmodeloftheevolvingparcelmarket.Inthepast,economictheorywouldsuggestthatasimplestrategyofsettingpostalpricejustslightlybelowcompetitors’pricesmayhaveworkedbest.However,inthismoreevolvedparcelmarket,thepostneedstoseekoutapricehigherthanthecostofdeliverybutlowerthanthecompetitors’prices,andalsolowenoughtodiscouragetheretailerfromself-delivery.Fordetails,readPlaytoWin:CompetitionintheLast-MileParcelDeliveryathttps://go.usa.gov/xNEjr

June3,2017FederalRegister:PostalService-PrivacyAct;SystemsofRecords,25819–25820[2017–11489][PDF]IndustryAlert:WrightsvilleGAPostOfficeClosedTheWrightsvillePostOfficebuilding,locatedat8648SMarcusSt.,Wrightsville,GA31096hasbeenclosedduetorecentlydiscoveredfacilityissues.WhiletheWrightsvillePostOfficeisunderatemporarysuspension,retail,collections,andP.O.BoxserviceswillbeprovidedbyamobileunitlocatedonthepremisesoftheWrightsvillePostOffice.Wrightsvillecustomerscanconductnormalretailtransactions,suchaspurchasingstampsandmailingpackages.P.O.Boxcustomerswillbeabletopickuptheirmailatthismobileunitaswell.ThebluecollectionboxatthisPostOfficewillremaininplaceandinservice.Hoursofoperationforthemobileunitreflectnochangestothecurrentscheduleof:MondaytoWednesdayandFriday:8:30amto4:30pm,Thursday:8:30a.m.-1:00p.m.andSaturday:9:00a.m.-12:00p.m.ThemobileunitwillbeclosedonSunday.DeliveryoperationsforWrightsvillewillbetemporarilyrelocatedtotheSandersvillePostOffice,locatedat205WChurchSt.,GA31082.Currently,thereisnotimelineforresumptionofpostaloperationsattheWrightsvillePostOfficebuilding.

June2,2017OfficeoftheInspectorGeneral:U.S.PostalServiceContractLaborSubstitution.OIGauditorshavereleasedareport,U.S.PostalServiceContractLaborSubstitution.Readitat:https://go.usa.gov/xNR6a