July 10, 2009

WGEM has reported that "A provision in a Senate Appropriations bill sponsored by U.S. Senator Dick Durbin will keep the mail processing and distribution center in Quincy. The Senate Appropriations Committee late Thursday passed the 2010 FSGG Appropriations bill, which includes a provision to halt the U.S. Postal Service's efforts to consolidate operations, which would close the mail processing and distribution center in Quincy." [EdNote: Here's a headline I'm waiting to read. "Durbin sponsors bill to support money-losing Postal Service. Sen. Schumer signs on as co-sponsor." See also the Quincy Herald-Whig.

From PR Newswire: "DHL Global Mail provides U.S. businesses with faster mail delivery to several key countries, according to a study comparing the performance of four shipping companies. DHL Global Mail's transit times were found to be shorter than those of three U.S.-based competitors on most lanes tested in the study, conducted by Ipsos, one of the world's largest survey-based research companies. That superior speed, combined with DHL Global Mail's competitive rates and full range of services, is how the mail expediter provides unmatched solutions for high-volume mailers and parcel shippers."

The DM Bulletin has reported that "Charities that send cash in direct mail packs to provoke a "guilt response" could face government intervention, a government minister has warned."

At the Postal Regulatory Commission: The Postal Regulatory Commission today issued Order No: 244 establishing Docket N2009-1 to provide a public hearing and issue an advisory opinion on the national service implications of a U.S. Postal Service “Station and Branch Optimization and Consolidation Initiative.” The Postal Service has advised it will examine approximately 3,200 postal stations and branches nationwide for possible closure or curtailment and that an additional 1,600 stations and branches could likewise be reviewed depending on the outcome of the initial examination.

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

• The U.S. Postal Service recently filed with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) a request for an advisory opinion on the possibility of changes in postal services. The Postal Service is requesting the PRC to “determine whether a plan to optimize the postal retail network by consolidating the operations of some retail stations and branches into nearby facilities constitutes a substantially nationwide change in the nature of postal services, within the meaning of 39 U.S.C § 3661(b).”
• This week, the U.S. Postal Service petitioned the Postal Regulatory Commission to establish Docket No. RM2009-7 to consider a proposal to change analytic principles relating to the Postal Service’s periodic reports - Proposal Two.
• A solution has been reach between the Mailer Technical Advisory Council (MTAC) and the U.S. Postal Service senior management when they met on June 30 to discuss the Intelligent Mail barcode (IMb) readability tolerances. This solution reflects the mailing industry’s interest, as well as the Postal Service’s desire to work with the industry.
• Short list of the many stories focusing on the potential post office and distribution center consolidation or closing.
• Electronic outreach tests House rules. Few postal employees accept VERA. New president for letter carriers union. FEDEX Ground opens new hub. USPS to receive alternative fuel vehicles.
• Updates on dockets at the Postal Regulatory Commission.
• A DMM Update for July 2009 issued by the U.S. Postal Service.
• An update on DMM Advisory notices issued by the U.S. Postal Service.
• A review of postal news from around the world.
• Postal previews

The PostCom Bulletin is distributed via NetGram

According to Media Daily News, "The financial pressure on big newspapers is threatening to undermine their editorial integrity, with the business side, desperate to shore up collapsing revenues, exerting unwarranted control over newsroom operations. Newspapers are for-profit businesses, and there has probably always been some dubious influence by business execs on editorial; for example, telling journalists to be less critical of important advertisers. However the open nature of the recent transgressions (and attempted transgressions) suggests it is happening more frequently, and with fewer reservations, as newspapers' financial distress worsens."

APWU locals around the country have been busy fighting the consolidation of Processing & Distribution Centers — even as the Postal Service announced it was considering consolidating more than 3,200 of the nation’s larger stations and branches.

The Press of Atlantic City has reported that "Borough officials are calling on President Barack Obama, Gov. Jon S. Corzine, Congress and the U.S. Postal Service to replace the three drop mailboxes in the borough that were removed. The U.S. Postal Service mailboxes were removed 77 days ago from 19th Street, Central Avenue, and Sixth Street and Long Beach Boulevard in front of the Surf City Drug Store. Borough Council passed a resolution Wednesday evening during its regular meeting, objecting to the removal of the mailboxes and demanding their replacement."

ABC.az has reported that "Edouard Dayan, head of Universal Postal Union (UPU), sent a letter to the Azerbaijani postal administration in connection with the conference on development of postal financial services, took place in Baku on 4-5 June. The Azerbaijani Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies reported that conducting of postal and modern financial services via mail service in Azerbaijan is noted as a success of the ministry. “It is also said on knowledge of head of UPU on the best results in development of mail financial services in Azerbaijan and income, received from them. The head of UPU in his letter also expressed his confidence that the experience of Azerbaijan in development of post financial services will be an example for many countries,” the statement reported."

In his most recent perspective on the state of today's postal service, National Academy of Public Administration Fellow Murray Comarow wrote: "While the Board of Governors has described the Postal Service’s business model as broken, it has not specifically proposed a better model. It should do so, in the form of amendments to the crippling statutes, setting forth exactly how its “business” should be shaped. Its justification has been, “Why squander our political capital on legislative proposals that will be dead on arrival?” Or, “The unions won’t like it and we need to work with them; besides, they have the political clout.” Sounds superficially reasonable, and that’s what it is, superficial. It is a serious mistake."

July 9, 2009

International Business Times has reported that "The London postal workers are on a three day strike over jobs cuts, pay and conditions. The strike is spread across three sectors of the postal operation. On Thursday the distribution and logistics staff are on strike and the mail centres will take part in the strike. Royal Mail confirmed that collections and deliveries will take place in all areas of London on Thursday. However, Royal Mail warned that "deliveries and collection times may be slightly later than usual because of larger than usual volumes of mail being handled."

From OfficialWire: "ONEPOST, the UK's leading provider of independent postal advice and management, has just carried out its first customer satisfaction survey. The survey conducted independently by TCS MarketStudy found 90% of customers said their main satisfaction came from the cost savings they had been able to make with speed of delivery being recognised by 25%. When asked what customers felt ONEPOST performed best in, 98% stated the company’s postal market knowledge and 86% identified their customer service standard and 54% their personnel."

Radio New Zealand has reported that "The recession is blamed for hundreds of jobs shed from New Zealand Post in the first six months of this year. Figures obtained under the Official Information Act show almost 500 jobs or contract positions have gone, most of them in postal services. New Zealand Post made 237 people redundant in the first six months of this year. A further 176 positions were not filled when people left and 82 contracts were not renewed. But the total net loss was kept to 384 by the creation of 89 jobs at Kiwibank and 22 in other departments. NZ Post says an unprecedented drop of 7% in domestic mail is behind the job cuts."

Postal snippets:

• USPS May Consolidate Oxnard, Santa Clarita Distribution Centers

• Chicago's old post office to be auctioned

• Local Post Offices Up for Review to Consolidate or Close

• USPS: No decision made to permanently close downtown office

• Postal Downsizing Means Job Loss And Reduced Services

• Decision on merging mail operations delayed

• Postal Service eyes Columbus consolidation

• ZIP code has changed for thousands in city

• Local Post Office Tightening The Belt

Review Nepal has reported that Nepal government’s Policies and programmes for the fiscal year 2010/2011 includes an effort at postal modernization.

From Business Wire: "Research and Markets (http://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/c919a0/express_benchmarki) has announced the addition of the "Express Benchmarking 2009 - Poland" report to their offering. "

Press Release: "American Council of Life Insurers (ACLI) President and CEO Frank Keating issued the following statement today praising the statements made by the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk on negotiations regarding the competitiveness of the Japanese insurance market: "The United States Trade Representative (USTR) Ron Kirk recently indicated that securing a level playing field for U.S. insurance providers remains a serious concern, and called on the Japanese government to address the issue expeditiously."

As Federal Computer Week has noted, "The U.S. Postal Service considered rewriting its Cobol-based product tracking system in Java but, with 15 years of business logic embedded in that Cobol code, USPS officials eventually realized that it would be a massive job. They opted instead to use a Micro Focus compiler to repurpose the code so it could run on a mainframe Linux system."

Logistics Management has reported that "in an effort to meet growing customer demand, FedEx Ground recently opened up a new distribution hub in Chicago."

According to Direct, "There’s bad news for those who sell traditional marketing channels: Six in ten marketers surveyed by Forrester Research Inc. will increase their interactive marketing budgets by shifting funds from traditional media. Article Tools EmailSavePrintReprintMost Popular Articles-Mail Delivery, Open Rates Up, Clicks Down Wanda Gierhart Named CMO of Neiman Marcus Group Summer Reading Watch: Novel Looks Behind 419 Scams Interactive Marketing Will Cannibalize Traditional Channels: Forrester Q Interactive Acquires Postmaster Direct CMOs Say Budgets Cut By 20% Or More: Forrester advertisement And direct mail was cited by more marketers – 40% -- than any other channel as being one to cut, outranking newspapers (35%), magazines (28%) and television (12%). "

The U.S. Postal Service will conduct a one-for-one replacement of 6,500 vehicles with 1,000 E-85 ethanol-capable and 900 gasoline/electric hybrid vehicles to its delivery fleet, part of a vehicle purchase by the U.S. General Services Administration (GSA). The balance of the GSA purchase for the Postal Service will be fuel-efficient, four-cylinder vehicles, which will replace aging vehicles at postal offices and facilities across the country. There was no cost to the Postal Service for the vehicles. GSA bore all purchase and distribution expenses.

The Royal Gazette has reported that "Government Minister Terry Lister will be able to make changes to postal rates without first getting permission from the House of Assembly, under new legislation passed through the House of Assembly yesterday. The Post Office Amendment Act 2009 will mean the Post Office can change rates in a more timely way — meaning it can compete better with rivals such as courier firms — the E-Commerce Minister told MPs."

WOWK-TV has asked: "The federal government came to the rescue of America's financial institutions, the automobile industry and others. But is it capable of returning its own U.S. Postal Service to profitability, or to the point where it at least breaks even? That is the billion-dollar question these days."

According to Federal News Radio, "Many federal agencies are going to get bigger as the Obama administration tackles the economic crisis. But the biggest kid on the federal block isn't one of them. That would be the U.S. Postal Service. Picture, if you can, the USPS as one of the contestants on that popular NBC reality show, "The Biggest Loser". Like the human contestants, the USPS needs to downsize to stay in the game and stay alive. So how did a popular federal operation that touches nearly every American household 6-days a week suddenly become too big? And how can it downsize?"

Procurement Leaders has reported that "The national postal supplier of Belgium, De Post - La Poste, has adopted a spend management solution to help with a transformational journey to maximise profitability and increase transparency before the liberalisation of postal services in 2011. The solution, supplied by Indian-based spend management company, Zycus, and, according to the company, will allow it to improve spend transparency to better identify cost-reduction opportunities."

Arabian Business has reported that "Bahrain residents will soon be able to pay their electricity and water bills using their mobile telephones, in the latest of a series of eGovernment initiatives on the island state. “We will launch the service before the end of August,” Mohamed Ali Al Qaed, CEO of Bahrain’s eGovernment Authority (eGA), told Arabian Business in an interview. The eGA already offers customers 17 services on their mobile phones, including real-time flight arrival and departure information, specialist medical services searches, and postal tracking."

At its closed session meeting on June 23, 2009, the Board of Governors of the United States Postal Service voted unanimously to close to public observation its meeting to be held on July 15, 2009, in Washington, DC via teleconference. The Board determined that no earlier public notice was possible. Items Considered: 1. Financial Matters. 2. Strategic Issues. 3. Pricing. 4. Personnel Matters and Compensation Issues. 5. Governors' Executive Session--discussion of prior agenda items and Board Governance.

Hellmail has reported that:

Swiss Post is deploying 110 new gas-powered vehicles to ensure an environmentally friendly parcel delivery. 40 of them will be used at the newly opened Magenwil distribution base. The new gas-powered Fiat Ducato, which Swiss Post operates with the support of gasmobil Switzerland, produces 10% fewer environmentally harmful greenhouse gases compared to conventional diesel engines. Overall, Swiss Post uses 140 gas-powered delivery vehicles in Switzerland and thus has the largest gas-powered fleet in the country. For letter delivery, Swiss Post relies on low-emission electric scooters.
Maiga Dzervitis is to be the new chairman of the board at Latvian Post. Mr Dzervitis was born in 1953, is married, and graduated from the Riga Polytechnic Institute (now the Riga Technical University), studied at the George Washington University in the United States, and also studied in Latvia.

The Memphis Business Journal has reported that "FedEx Corp. rose 14 spots on Fortune magazine’s Global 500 companies list. Memphis-based FedEx is now ranked 200 on the list, up from 214 last year. Its $37.9 billion in revenues ranked it below Deutsche Post’s $97.7 billion, below the U.S. Postal Service at $74.9 billion and below United Parcel Service Inc., which posted $51.5 billion in revenues."

From PR Newswire: "PostNet, an international network of neighborhood business centers, announced today the launch of its national business conversion program designed to allow independent retail operators to diversify into PostNet's digital copy, printing and shipping franchise model."

July 8, 2009

ManxRadio has reported that "Post being sent to parts of London over the next few days is likely to be disrupted. The Communication Workers Union is carrying out a rolling programme of 24-hour stoppages between Wednesday and Friday Although Isle of Man Post Office employees are not involved in the industrial action and will forward all mail as normal, deliveries to most London postcode districts will be affected."

The Baltimore Sun has reported that "The Baltimore County Council has banned unsolicited advertising circulars that often end up littering neighborhoods and clogging area waterways. By a unanimous vote Monday, the council prohibited advertisers from delivering fliers to homes or leaving them on vehicles. The law, which takes effect in 45 days, does not apply to U.S. Postal Service deliveries or those by private mail services, and also exempts newspapers and campaign literature. Violators could face fines of up to $1,000. Councilman John Olszewski Sr., who sponsored the bill, said a day of volunteering at a creek cleanup in his district gave him insight into the mounting problem of discarded paper that eventually finds its way into streams, creeks and the bay. "This law is the direct result of many complaints from residents," he said. "

The DM Bulletin has reported that "Traditional media channels such as above-the-line advertising and direct mail have been most harshly cut in favour of online channels, as marketers seek to get the most out of drastically reduced budgets, according to a new survey by Forrester Research. The survey, which questioned a panel of chief marketing officers worldwide, discovered that 71 per cent of marketing budgets have been reduced in 2009 compared with last year, with more than half cut by at least 20 per cent."

Brand Republic has reported that "The part-privatisation of the Royal Mail will go ahead once the economy picks up, Lord Mandelson, the business secretary, reiterated yesterday. Lord Mandelson’s assertion, made to MPs on the Business and Enterprise Committee yesterday, comes amid growing skepticism about the prospects for the sale of 30% of Royal Mail ahead of the next General Election."

The Philippine Information Agency has reported that "Legislators may now have to ask Congressional amendment to the law governing the Philippine Posts Corporation (Philpost) following the public knowledge of its becoming irrelevant and inefficient."

  The Korea Times has reported that "With France and Singapore newly included, the express mail service (EMS) offered by Korea Post has expanded its global network for special deliveries to connect 176,000 post offices in 10 countries."

CEP News (Courier-Express-Postal), published by the MRU Consultancy, has reported that:

The volume of addressed mail in Switzerland continued to decrease in 2008.
Given the downward trend in volume, the French La Poste has announced a review of its medium-term strategy. In particular, the company will look over how to absorb the long-term decrease in mail and parcel consignments, which makes up three quarters of total revenue.
Schweizerische Post is anticipating a profit collapse of 27 per cent this year - at best.
Last Tuesday, Doris Bures (Social Democratic Party of Austria), the minister responsible for Österreichische Post, suspended the planned closure of 193 post office branches for three months.
TNT has increased pressure on trade unions and confirmed its intention to cut up to 11,000 jobs in the next three years in order to make savings of up to 395m euros per year.
Stralfors, a subsidiary company of the Swedish Posten AB in the information logistics sector, is breaking away from all activities in the areas of office supplies and computer accessories.
SingPost is taking over 30 per cent of shares in the American Postea Inc.
FedEx is sticking to its plans to open its new Central and Eastern European hub at Cologne/Bonn Airport next year.
Parcelforce Worldwide plans to expand further with new international services.
With weak demand on long-haul routes from China to Europe and North America, the Chinese domestic market is becoming increasingly attractive for logistics operators.
Deutsche Post has sold off its shares in Deutsche Bank and made a significant gain in doing so.
Greenlight Capital Group, one of the biggest shareholders in Österreichische Post, has reduced its share holdings to under 5 per cent.
Environmentally friendly driving has brought about considerable savings for Posten Norge.
Österreichische Post and the trade union have negotiated a collective agreement for new employees.
Alexander Kisseljow, head of the Russian post, has suggested that domestic aircraft manufacturers concentrate increasingly on developing a small aircraft. According to his statement there is great demand for aircraft that can carry up to 2.5 tonnes of freight and 10 people and - even more importantly - are able to land on soft ground.
DHL is on the verge of moving its flight operations in the USA from Wilmington to Cincinnati.
The Emirates Post implemented significant improvements to its parcel service to India at the end of June.
 

The MRU, founded in 1992, is the only consultancy in Europe, which has specialised in the market of courier-, express- and parcel services. For large-scale shippers and CEP-services in particular, the MRU provides interdisciplinary advice for all major questions of the market, as there are for example market entry, product design, organisation, and EDP.To learn more about the stories reported above, contact CEP News. (We appreciate the courtesy extended by CEP News to help whet your appetite for more of what CEP offers.)

Bernama has reported that "A team of specialists at Azerbaijan's state postal service, Azerpocht, have attended an ICT course in Thailand, Azerbaijan's news agency (AzerTAc) reported Wednesday quoting the country's Ministry of Communications and Information Technologies as saying. Supported by the Asian Pacific Postal Union (APPU), the courses provided an insight into application of electronic services in the postal system."

Here's a story in the Washington Post you gotta read. It's about one of our own....long-time postal colleague Robert Brinkmann.

Bloomberg has reported that "London postal workers began a three- day strike in a dispute over workforce reductions at state- owned Royal Mail Group Plc. The industrial action started at 5 a.m. today and no talks with the company are scheduled." See also Reuters and BBC.

The Hill has reported that "Lawmakers from both parties are resisting the Postal Service’s attempts to end Saturday deliveries and close branches in order to make up its budget shortfall. Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) said that she’s concerned that a reduction in service would lead to a loss in customers. Collins, the top Republican on the Senate Appropriations subcommittee that considers USPS funding, said she supports maintaining a rider in an appropriations bill that requires the USPS to deliver six days a week. That provision has been left intact in the House version of the financial services and general government spending bill. Rep. José Serrano (D-N.Y.), who is shepherding the bill through the lower chamber, said that people depend on Saturday service and “would be greatly inconvenienced by missing a day’s delivery."

The International Business Times has reported that "London is facing a three day postal strike starting on Wednesday, 8 July to Friday, 10 July. Royal mail postal workers to go on three day strike.The Communications Union (CWU) that represents the postal workers called for the three day London strike over job and pay cuts and conditions."

Hellmail has reported that:

Lord Mandelson made it clear today that the government remains committed to the modernisation of the Royal Mail through the Postal Services Bill. He was asked a series of questions by the Enterprise Committee about the present status of the Bill and the future of Royal Mail which is saddled with a pension deficit said to be approaching £10bn.
The Portugese postal opertator, CTT said it would not be increasing the prices of transport and distribution of books, newspapers and periodic publications - even to the end of 2009, maintaining existing prices that came into force in August 2008. The price hold was agreed on Monday between the CTT, the Office of Social communication and the Portuguese Association of Press (API). The agreement forms a program of support and action to develop in cooperation with the regional Press.

The New York Times has reported that "United Parcel Service Inc. aims to cut its airline fleet's greenhouse gas emissions 42 percent from 1990 levels during the next decade by using less fossil fuel in its jets. UPS currently operates the world's ninth-largest private airline fleet, with 228 jumbo jets in service and 314 more chartered aircraft. The Atlanta-based company said in a sustainability report today that it plans to invest in more fuel-efficient aircraft models, introduce biofuels, reduce runway idling and optimize flight routes, among other things, to slash its fuel costs and emissions of carbon dioxide and other heat-trapping gases."

The Business Standard has reported that "With the wage bill of postal department, having around 484,000 employees, expected to go up by 20 per cent in the current fiscal, the postal deficit for 2009-10 is set to go up by 41 per cent to Rs 5,395 crore over 2008-09. This is because the postal department is estimated to earn only Rs 6,135.74 crore in 2009-10 while its total working expenses for the period are pegged at Rs 11, 531 crore. Therefore, the balance of Rs 5,395 crore has been provided as the budgetary support. Postal deficit in the revised estimates 2008-09 stood at Rs 3,825 crore while the Budget estimates for 2008-09 had made allocations of only Rs 958 crore as postal deficit. Postal deficit is the gross non-plan expenditure less postal earnings."

Press Release: "GrayHair Software, the direct mail industry’s leader in mail tracking and Intelligent Mail® barcode (IMb) services, and Neopost USA Inc., an industry leading provider of mailing and shipping solutions, formed a strategic alliance to add mail tracking and IMb management into its new high-speed metering system."

According to the Portland Business Journal, "Perfect Output of Kansas City LLC is partnering with Earth Class Mail Corp. to offer businesses combined document-processing and mail-management services, prompted by their work serving Sprint Nextel Corp. Kansas-based Perfect Output will sell a document-management outsourcing package that will include Earth Class Mail’s online postal-mail technology as its centerpiece, Seattle-based Earth Class Mail said in a release."

At the Postal Regulatory Commission:

• RM2009-7 Petition of the United States Postal Service Requesting Initiation of A Proceeding to Consider Proposed Change in Analytic Principles (Proposal Two)
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63600/Pet.Prop.2.pdf
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63600/Proposal.Two.Appendices.xls
• CP2009-42 Order No. 239 - Notice and Order Concerning Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 6 Negotiated Service Agreement
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63616/Order_No_239.docx
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63616/Order_No_239.pdf
• CP2009-43 Order No. 240 - Notice and Order Concerning Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 7 Negotiated Service Agreement
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63617/Order_No_240.docx
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63617/Order_No_240.pdf
• CP2009-44 Order No. 241 - Notice and Order Concerning Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 8 Negotiated Service Agreement
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63618/Order_No_241.pdf
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63618/Order_No_241.docx
• CP2009-45 Order No. 242 - Notice and Order Concerning Express Mail Contract 4 Negotiated Service Agreement
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63619/Order_No_242.docx
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63619/Order_No_242.pdf
• MC2009-31 Order No. 239 - Notice and Order Concerning Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 6 Negotiated Service Agreement
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63616/Order_No_239.docx
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63616/Order_No_239.pdf
• MC2009-32 Order No. 240 - Notice and Order Concerning Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 7 Negotiated Service Agreement
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63617/Order_No_240.docx
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63617/Order_No_240.pdf
• MC2009-33 Order No. 241 - Notice and Order Concerning Express Mail & Priority Mail Contract 8 Negotiated Service Agreement
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63618/Order_No_241.pdf
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63618/Order_No_241.docx
• MC2009-34 Order No. 242 - Notice and Order Concerning Express Mail Contract 4 Negotiated Service Agreement
  Link: http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63619/Order_No_242.docx
  http://www.prc.gov/docs/63/63619/Order_No_242.pdf

According to the Prescott Report, "Last Friday, July 3, the lower house of the German Parliament (Deutscher Bundestag) passed an amendment to the German data protection law that incorporates the recommendations of the Interior Committee of July 1, 2009. It appears to be a widely held belief that it is likely that the upper house of the German Parliament (Deutscher Bundesrat) will adopt the legislation shortly and that the law would then come into effect on September 1, 2009. Bottom line for Database Marketing. Personal data may no longer be used for marketing purposes unless the individual consents to such use. There are very important exceptions to this sweeping prohibition, which would otherwise prove the death-knell for direct marketing. These exceptions will permit the industry to remain robust, although handicapped."

July 7, 2009

Press Release: "WIT Postal Logistics, LLC, (“WIT”) is pleased to announce the hiring of Richard L. Kropski as President. Rick joins WIT with a broad range of experience in the print and mail logistics business. Rick formerly served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Association for Postal Commerce."

Associated Press of Pakistan has reported that "Prime Minister Yusuf Raza Gilani Tuesday directed the country’s postal services to provide speedy, efficient and better services to the people.Chairing a briefing of the Pakistan Post to review its performance and future plans at the Postal Staff College, the Prime Minister directed the Ministry to ensure delivery of cost-effective, client-responsive postal service to the people. Gilani directed the postal department to up-grade and modernize its infrastructure and office environment, compete with the private sector and re-engineer its business procedures by integrating automation in running the organization."

"Dave Ward, CWU deputy general secretary, said: "It's now clear that Royal Mail management is the biggest block to modernisation. When presented with the best deal we - or any other union - can offer, which is for three months of no industrial action and focused negotiation on modernisation, they refuse. "Management seem to be sulking because the prospect of privatisation and increased executive pay has disappeared. The Chairman Donald Brydon appears to be incapable of focusing on making Royal Mail a success in the public sector. He was clearly brought in to oversee a part sell-off and his skills are not suited to the current problems facing the company. "The problems that Royal Mail face are not going away. The pension deficit in particular needs to be resolved along with the increasingly important outstanding issues of modernisation. The government is allowing the same management that was criticised for failure to continue mis-managing the company. "Strike action in London is in response to Royal Mail's continuing executive action of cuts without modernisation. There's no machinery, no redesigning of deliveries and no improvement on industrial relations. The company has abandoned the final phase of the 2007 Pay and Modernisation agreement and is set on piling more work and pressure on already stretched staff."

The BBC has reported that "The taxpayer has been a "very generous banker" to the Royal Mail and needs paying back now, the Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has said. Speaking to MPs on the Business and Enterprise Committee, Lord Mandelson said the public deserved a modern and reliable mail service."

"Halting the spread of HIV by 2015 is one of the United Nations Millennium Development Goals (MDGs). To contribute towards this goal, the Universal Postal Union (UPU) and UNAIDS together with the International Labour Organization (ILO) and UNI Global have launched a global awareness campaign. Post offices in participating countries will display HIV prevention information which will reach the general public and postal employees."

According to Hellmail, "Neopost ID has launched an innovative online shipping service for Australia Post called ‘Click and Send’. Business or individual Internet users can now ship and track parcels internationally, without leaving the home or office."

Bloomberg has reported that "The U.K. government should use its unprofitable network of post offices to offer expanded banking services in isolated communities, a committee of lawmakers said.
 

Scheduled for Friday, July 10, 2009. House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Edolphus Towns, Chairman Agenda: The Committee will hold a business meeting to mark up H.R. 22, which amends Chapter 89 of Title 5, United States Code, to allow the United States Postal Service to pay its share of contributions for annuitants’ health benefits out of the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund. The Federal Workforce, Postal Service and the District of Columbia Subcommittee reported H.R. 22 by voice vote on June 24, 2009. Time: 10:00 a.m. Location: Rayburn 2154

The Federal Times has reported that "Fewer than 2 percent of U.S. Postal Service employees who were offered a chance at early retirement last month accepted the offer — far less than postal management expected."

The latest postal blog entry has been posted on the U.S. Postal Service Office of Inspector General’s Internet site “Pushing the Envelope.” The public, mailers, postal employees, and other stakeholders are invited to weigh in on the online discussions taking place. To view the site, visit http://blog.uspsoig.gov/. A Look at India Post. How do developing countries’ postal services cope with the tension between their universal service obligation and financial viability? Looking at today’s India Post the OIG blog asks, “What kind of a business model should India Post adopt? Do you think India Post’s experience of providing universal service has any lessons for the U.S. Postal Service?” You can visit Office of Inspector General’s public website at: www.uspsoig.gov. If you have additional questions, please contact Communication and Work Life Director Agapi Doulaveris at 703.248.2286.