Postal News Archives January 2022

USPS reaches agreement to deliver COVID-19 test kits, with Philly part of pilot program
1.14.2022 – Philadelphia Inquirer reports: “Postal workers at 43 facilities across the United States, including Philadelphia, Harrisburg, and Pittsburgh, will build and label millions of testing kits for mail delivery, according to the agreement.” – Order Now! – GovExec – CovidTests.gov – White House Fact Sheet: Limit 4 tests per household – USPS Reaches Deal With APWU: Tests Will Ship 7-12 Days Of Ordering – APWU: MOU Defines Project as “New Work” for Clerk Craft – MOU: Packaging and labeling of test kits will be performed by APWU clerk bargaining unit employees – Comments (Count)

New U.S. Postal Board Chair Backs DeJoy, Urges Congress to Approve Reforms
1.13.2022 – Reuters reports: “The new chair of the U.S. Postal Board of Governors endorsed the leadership of Postmaster General Louis DeJoy and called on lawmakers to approve a sweeping financial reform measure. The board also unanimously elected Roman Martinez, a retired investment banker as chair after President Joe Biden declined to renominate Ron Bloom to a new term on the board.” – GovExec – Comments (Count)

NRLCA Reaches Tentative Agreement With USPS for 3-Year Contract
1.08.2022 – NRLCA reports: “The NRLCA and the US Postal Service have negotiated a Tentative Agreement to cover the 3-year period from May 21, 2021 to May 20, 2024. This Tentative Agreement must be ratified by a majority of the voting membership of the NRLCA to become effective.” – USPS strikes a deal with another union (scroll down) – Comments (Count)

White House, USPS Finalizing Plans to Ship Half Billion Coronavirus Test Kits to U.S. Households
1.06.2022 – Washington Post reports: “The White House is finalizing plans with the USPS to deliver 500 million coronavirus test kits to households across the country, according to four people familiar with the plan, kick-starting a key part of Biden’s response to the raging omicron variant. Officials aim to begin shipping the kits by mid-January.” – White House to ship free at-home COVID tests via USPS – Sent to people who request them on a yet-to-be-launched government website – Comments (Count)

Postal Service Seeks Temporary Exemption From Biden’s Vaccine Mandate
1.05.2022 – GovExec.com reports: “The Postal Service was not subject to President Biden’s vaccine mandate for the rest of the federal workforce, but as a large employer must comply with OSHA’s rule. Employers have until Jan. 10 to demonstrate they have taken steps to comply with the order, though the Supreme Court is hearing a challenge to the rule on Friday.” – USPS Seeks 120-Day Delay – Supreme Court Weighs Vaccine Rules Affecting More Than 80 Million – Comments (Count)

1/31/22

An update from the Postal union at the center of the test kit delivery program – Comments (Count)

Mansfield Mail Station Art Project Allegedly Halted by Postal Employees – Comments (Count)

Caught on camera: Man steals box of mail after vandalizing USPS truck in Pomona – Comments (Count)

USPS emails about depressed worker fuel job retaliation trial – Comments (Count)

New Kentucky law would make porch piracy a felony – Comments (Count)

Union Grove mail carrier retires after 38 years – Comments (Count)

1/30/22

Mobile man sentenced to prison for attacking postal worker with metal rod – Comments (Count)

No mail delivery in months for some in Virginia subdivision – Comments (Count)

This postal worker is the community’s ear to the street. The community is repaying her with a wedding fund – Comments (Count)

1/29/22

Mail began to pile up at a home. The local mail carrier noticed and saved a woman’s life – Comments (Count)

West Milton postal workers honored for resilience and focus – Comments (Count)

Cleveland: Postal Service still struggling with short staffing issues caused by the pandemic – Comments (Count)

1/28/22

Mayfield postal carriers hope to be back in city before April – Comments (Count)

60 million U.S. households have ordered free COVID tests, White House says – Comments (Count)

COVID tests delivered by USPS in freezing temperatures could require special precautions before use – Comments (Count)

Colorado mountain towns get serious about addressing Postal Service problems – Comments (Count)

Louis DeJoy is making USPS a success story, not a failure – Comments (Count)

1/27/22

The Great Postal Heist Documentary Official Trailer | Caption Sheet (PDF) – Comments (Count)

Where’s my stuff? Spokane’s postal service wrestles with staffing shortages – Comments (Count)

Britain’s sexiest postal worker lost 182 pounds by walking on the job – Comments (Count)

Ohio USPS facilities processing federal distribution of home COVID tests – Comments (Count)

Nothing there: Frustrations pile up as people go days, weeks without mail delivery – Comments (Count)

1/26/22

Former RCA sues Postal Service for making him deliver Amazon packages on Sundays – Comments (Count)

Vaccine Mandate Still a Possibility for Postal Service – Comments (Count)

Norwegian Postal Service Celebrates 375 Years With Fun, Mildly Educational Ad – Comments (Count)

COVID placing stress on already poor USPS infrastructure – Comments (Count)

Guilford County neighbors frustrated with USPS mail delays – Comments (Count)

Maryville USPS workers struggling to get all deliveries done: Some workers are putting in 70-80 hour work weeks, others are quitting – Comments (Count)

1/25/22

Postal Service: Only temporary workers have been let go – Comments (Count)

COVID impacting mail delivery in Twin Cities – Comments (Count)

Missing urn and cremains: Chapin man opens mailbox to find empty envelope – Comments (Count)

Can I resell my COVID tests online? – Comments (Count)

Young fan of Postal Service gets props from his mail carrier – Comments (Count)

1/24/22

West Hills neighborhoods see lapses in mail delivery as problems continue around Ithaca – Comments (Count)

No mail delivered for first two weeks in January to man’s home in Abingtons – Comments (Count)

People have been ordering free COVID test kits for a week, but are waiting to receive through the mail – Comments (Count)

USPS truck hits ice, crashes in Wake Forest – Comments (Count)

Reported counterfeit stamps website – Comments (Count)

Postal carrier robbed at gunpoint after dark in Euclid – Comments (Count)

1/23/22

COVID effort will test beleaguered USPS – Comments (Count)

Royal Mail hit by decade high of more than 1 million complaints – Comments (Count)

1/22/22

Unacceptable post office issues reported in East Tennessee – Comments (Count)

USPS, building off popular branding deals, branches out into stamp NFTs – Comments (Count)

USPS Explains COVID Kit Distribution Plan – Comments (Count)

1/21/22

Where are the mail carriers? Days without delivery in one local town – Comments (Count)

NGDV mail truck spotted in California | “Looking like a bootleg pope mobile” – Comments (Count)

Driver of USPS truck falls asleep at the wheel, crashes into clinic | San Antonio: Driver falls asleep at wheel – Comments (Count)

USPS maintains mailpiece time delivery average of 2.7 days across the network – Comments (Count)

Why CovidTests.gov worked where HealthCare.gov stumbled – Comments (Count)

1/20/22

USPS worker shares struggles of working through winter season – Comments (Count)

USPS tells workers to protect the sanctity of the mail, again – Comments (Count)

USPS opening 43 centers, adding workers to ship COVID tests – Comments (Count)

Biden stiff-arms progressives on the Postal Service – Comments (Count)

Kevin O’Leary reacts to a 29-year-old USPS worker who earned $90,000 last year – Comments (Count)

Small Vermont community rallies to keep post office outpost – Comments (Count)

Postal Service Pressed by Staffing Shortages Will Deliver COVID-19 Tests – Comments (Count)

1/19/22

Why is France’s postal service struggling? – Comments (Count)

North Linden neighborhood frustrated with USPS mail delays – Comments (Count)

USPS on the hook for White House’s free COVID tests | Can a kneecapped USPS handle Biden’s COVID test plan? – Comments (Count)

Did a Battle Creek postal worker get attacked over a social media challenge? – Comments (Count)

Rochester postal service looking for 60-plus carriers, workers – Comments (Count)

Fake COVID test websites popping up – Comments (Count)

1/18/22

USPS now taking orders for free at-home COVID tests (set of 4) | CovidTests.gov | See how many visitors are on the website (742,015 on Tuesday afternoon) – Comments (Count)

Detroit: Postal union warns mail slowdown could occur due to COVID, lack of contact tracing (employees not told when co-workers test positive) – Comments (Count)

Ohio: Federal agents investigating two separate reports of mail carriers held up at gunpoint (one with an AR-15) – Comments (Count)

1/17/22

USPS OIG: The ABCs of Managing AWOL – Comments (Count)

Daughter speaks out after mother attacked by dogs while delivering mail – Comments (Count)

FedEx driver throws package from moving truck – Comments (Count)

1/16/22

UK: Why am I getting Christmas cards in January? – Comments (Count)

USPS delays blamed on high volume, weather and COVID – Comments (Count)

1/15/22

Why you should be nice to postal workers in Dover. They’ve been hit hard by COVID and DOVER is SEVERELY understaffed – Comments (Count)

Battle Creek: Teens attack postal worker at random – Comments (Count)

Resident goes days without getting mail, USPS says carriers covering every route – Comments (Count)

Chicago’s postmaster leaves job after 7 months – Comments (Count)

Train Burglaries in LA: Looted packages as far as the eye can see | Calamitous train robberies could derail USPS plans – Comments (Count)

The Postal Service Has Provided Financial Services to Just 6 Customers Through Its Banking Pilot ($35.70 in fees) – Comments (Count)

Residents stage 50-vehicle parade for retiring mail carrier – Comments (Count)

1/14/22

Still no mail again today: Emporia-Greensville residents frustrated with mail delivery – Comments (Count)

People throughout Louisville are frustrated by mail delays – Comments (Count)

Postal worker shot with BB gun in NY – Comments (Count)

1/13/22

Biden’s COVID test kit number doubles to one billion! Can the Postal Service handle the job? – Comments (Count)

Singing mail carrier spreading joy across Houston – Comments (Count)

Postal Service off the hook for vaccine-or-test mandate following Supreme Court ruling – Comments (Count)

USPS did record-breaking work over the holidays, but was plagued by late deliveries – Comments (Count)

USPS aware of long mail delays for Hoosiers – Comments (Count)

1/12/22

USPS’s Changing Board of Governors: DeJoy’s Job is Safe And Four More Things to Know – Comments (Count)

DC-area residents frustrated over mail delays – Comments (Count)

USPS: New machine will help avoid shipping delays at Oak Creek processing facility – Comments (Count)

Mail delays hit Mainers hard as postal workers grapple with COVID – Comments (Count)

Mint Hill residents upset over inconsistent mail delivery – Comments (Count)

1/11/22

Post Office Auctions $8 Million Worth of Mail Annually, Has No Idea What It’s Selling – Comments (Count)

US finalizing plans to ship free COVID-19 tests via USPS, shares first contracts – Comments (Count)

USPS reveals more stamps for 2022 – Comments (Count)

Waterloo USPS experiencing delivery delays, cites COVID-19 causing staff shortages – Comments (Count)

More bicycles please: USPS Decarbonization Plan is Weak, Advocates Say – Comments (Count)

Amazon Will Buy Thousands of Ram ProMaster Electric Delivery Vans Every Year – Comments (Count)

Audit Finds Surge in AWOL at USPS – Comments (Count)

1/10/22

USPS says it’s working to fix delivery issues in Mount Prospect – Comments (Count)

Postal Service: Here’s the price tag for 100% EVs – Comments (Count)

1/09/22

World War 2 Soldier’s Letter Finds Its Way to His Widow, 76 Years Later – Comments (Count)

Freezing drizzle poses slippery situation for mail carriers, delivery drivers – Comments (Count)

Dededo post office still shuttered after nine months – Comments (Count)

USPS OIG: Unscheduled Leave – AWOL Status – Comments (Count)

Postal workers concerned about USPS consolidation, impact on region’s delivery – Comments (Count)

1/08/22

USPS Accepted More Than 13.2 Billion Mailpieces and Packages This Holiday Season – Comments (Count)

Fake Forever stamps are going around: What to know about USPS warning – Comments (Count)

1/07/22

Flashback 2010: Twin Cities mail carriers prepare to deliver biodefense drugs | NCBI: The Postal Model – Comments (Count)

Postal workers take on freezing cold by dressing warm – Comments (Count)

White House not budging on COVID vaccine mandate as Postal Service says mail could be affected: Psaki: Postal Service has been provided with compliance resources – Comments (Count)

1/06/22

3 people accused of stealing thousands of Amazon packages in massive Oklahoma theft ring – Comments (Count)

USPS told to crack down on mail order battle roosters – Comments (Count)

Family receives package postmarked in 1971 – Comments (Count)

Multiple western Washington neighborhoods experience mail delays – Comments (Count)

1/05/22

Future USPS Delivery Truck on Display at CES in Las Vegas – Comments (Count)

Walmart to hire over 3,000 drivers as it expands home delivery – Comments (Count)

Covington residents concerned over lack of mail delivery – Comments (Count)

Postal worker stabbed on mail route in Louisiana – Comments (Count)

VIDEO: Firefighters put out fire of burning LLV in Orange County – Comments (Count)

1/04/22

USPS seeking temporary OSHA COVID-19 mandate relief – Comments (Count)

Man found dead in ditch by mail carrier – Comments (Count)

USPS to press ahead with electric truck purchase – Comments (Count)

Truck crashes into West Virginia post office – Comments (Count)

Postal problems persist for Southern Maine communities – Comments (Count)

Woman calls out USPS for allegedly destroying $500 Taylor Swift album and refusing to refund her – Comments (Count)

USPS OIG: Top 10 Postal Stories of 2021 – Comments (Count)

1/03/22

USPS investigating to see what caused postal truck to catch fire in Orange County neighborhood – Comments (Count)

Deputies investigating after almost 600 Amazon packages found dumped in Oklahoma County – Comments (Count)

Roof collapse causes Mississippi post office to close temporarily – Comments (Count)

San Antonio man captures mail carrier cursing at him on camera – Comments (Count)

USPS carrier makes rounds in neighborhood affected by Marshall Fire | Carriers rally on Sunday to get mail to fire evacuees – Comments (Count)

Wellborn postmaster retires after more than four decades of service – Comments (Count)

Seattle: Neighbors Rescue USPS Van – Comments (Count)

1/02/22

Amazon needs workers, but compensation and supply chain may cut into profits – Comments (Count)

Tennessee mailman accused of delivering mail while intoxicated – Comments (Count)

USPS delivered smooth holiday season, analysis shows – Comments (Count)

1/01/22

Metro Atlanta mail carrier retires after 52 years on the job – Comments (Count)

Missing Ohio man was last seen leaving his job at the post office, police say – Comments (Count)

USPS Sustains Strong Service Performance Through Christmas – Comments (Count)

USPS is getting hit by Omicron: 8,000 employees in quarantine nationwide – Comments (Count)

The Reckless Push for Electric Vehicles at the USPS – Comments (Count)