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Lower flags for Pearl Harbor Day

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, an annual commemoration of the 1941 attack, will be observed Sunday, Dec. 7. Postal Service facilities are required to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff this day. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it...

Know the difference between an HMO and a PPO?

The Postal Service wants employees to understand the four types of health plans available during this year’s open season. The plan types are: • Health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, that provide care from in-network physicians and hospitals located in particular geographic or service areas; • Preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, that offer...

USPS is delivering its new fleet

The Postal Service’s $9.6 billion upgrade of its delivery fleet is proceeding apace. The organization plans to roll out 106,000 new vehicles by 2028, including 45,000 battery-electric next-generation delivery vehicles and 21,000 commercial-off-the-shelf battery-electric vehicles. Additionally, USPS is upgrading infrastructure at its facilities with the addition of charging stations for the...

Step 4 – RCAs working over 12 hours

On several occasions, the most recent being September 24, 2025, the parties discussed the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure. The issue in this grievance concerns whether Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), section 432.32 was violated when leave replacements worked in excess of 12...

Step 4 – RCAs delivering parcels on the city side

On several occasions, the parties discussed the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure. he issue in this grievance concerns Rural Carrier Associates (RCAs) delivering parcels to addresses regularly served by the city carrier craft.

Flexible spending accounts have multiple benefits

A flexible spending account may be a good option for Postal Service employees who wear eyeglasses, visit the dentist more than twice a year, or have other needs. These accounts, also known as FSAs, allow employees to set aside money on a pretax basis to pay for health care and...

Know the difference between an HMO and a PPO?

The Postal Service wants employees to understand the four types of health plans available during this year’s open season. The plan types are: • Health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, that provide care from in-network physicians and hospitals located in particular geographic or service areas; • Preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, that offer...

Lower flags for Pearl Harbor Day

National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day, an annual commemoration of the 1941 attack, will be observed Sunday, Dec. 7. Postal Service facilities are required to fly the U.S. flag at half-staff this day. To fly the flag at half-staff, hoist the flag to the peak for an instant and then lower it...

26-year-old U.S. Postal Service mail truck driver (RCA) killed in two-vehicle crash near Kountze

KOUNTZE, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety is investigating a fatal crash involving a U.S. Postal Service truck that happened Tuesday afternoon at the intersection of U.S. Highway 69 and State Highway 327 in Hardin County. On Wednesday morning, DPS identified the driver of the postal service truck...

2025 – 2026 – New Guarantee Year provisions important to rural carriers

There are certain rural carrier provisions that happen around the new Guarantee year and the end of the year.   Pay close attention to anything highlighted, or you may end up being surprised. Guarantee Year The new Guarantee year starts on October 4th, 2025 Carriers are paid overtime for all hours actually worked...

USPS worker dies at troubled Palmetto mail facility

PALMETTO, Ga. — A United States Postal Service worker died at the Palmetto mail facility, USPS confirmed with 11Alive on Monday. It’s unclear how the employee died, but USPS said that the person was a mail handler assistant at the Palmetto Processing & Distribution Center. “The Postal Service is deeply saddened...

Step 4 – Start times and additional trips

There are three issues in dispute in this grievance: 1) starting times for rural carriers, 2) rural carriers being required to leave for the street at a pre determined time and 3) rural carriers making an additional trip to deliver parcels because parcel distribution was not complete before leaving...

Step 4 – RCAs delivering parcels on the city side

On several occasions, the parties discussed the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure. he issue in this grievance concerns Rural Carrier Associates (RCAs) delivering parcels to addresses regularly served by the city carrier craft.

Grievance filed less than 90 days before Allen Park postal worker’s death warned machine was unsafe

Fewer than 90 days before 36-year-old Nicholas John Acker was found dead in a mail-sorting machine at the USPS Detroit Network Distribution Center in Allen Park, a formal grievance had been filed warning that the very same machine was unsafe, Local 4 has learned. Acker, an Air Force veteran and maintenance mechanic...

Step 4 – RCAs working over 12 hours

On several occasions, the most recent being September 24, 2025, the parties discussed the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure. The issue in this grievance concerns whether Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), section 432.32 was violated when leave replacements worked in excess of 12...

Ralph Lauren to offer USPS-inspired collection

The Ralph Lauren clothing and home goods brand has worked with USPS to release a three-item limited licensed collection honoring the Postal Service’s 250th anniversary. The Polo Ralph Lauren USPS collection’s double-breasted wool twill coat ($1,298), leather satchel ($998) and mesh wool cap ($79.50) are inspired by letter carrier uniforms from different...
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