USPS Files Request for PRC Advisory Opinion on Operational Improvements and Refinements Within the Current Service Standards

 

Oct 04, 2024, 17:52 ET

  • Operational strategies designed to boost service reliability, cost efficiency, and overall productivity.
  • Changes Within the Current Service Standards to save the Postal Service approximately $36 billion over the next decade.
  • Changes will not be initiated until after this year’s Election and Peak Season.

WASHINGTONOct. 4, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — Today, the United States Postal Service announced it has filed plans with the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) to improve mail processing and transportation and explained how these improvements will align with proposed refinements within its existing service standards for Mail and Package Products.

Last month, the Postal Service held a virtual conference about the proposed changes where it solicited feedback from its stakeholders, including the mailing and shipping community and members of the public, to consider their input and ensure the utmost transparency throughout the process and comply with the applicable regulatory processes.

Comments received during the virtual conference have been considered and the Postal Service has now filed its formal request asking for an advisory opinion from the PRC. After receiving an advisory opinion from the PRC, the Postal Service will consider the Commission’s opinion and finalize its decision.

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U.S. Postal Service Honors Health Care Heroes

WASHINGTON — Together with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Postal Service today paid tribute to the health care community with a new commemorative Forever stamp. The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp is on sale now at Post Offices nationwide and online at usps.com/shopstamps.

A special dedication ceremony was held at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Hubert H. Humphrey building in Washington, DC.

“The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp is special – it recognizes the tremendous work by all health workers across the country. And it comes with our memory of the COVID-19 pandemic, and the critical role that health workers played, still fresh in our minds,” said Xavier Becerra, secretary of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. “Having a stamp issued to commemorate the work of those across the health sector is a tremendous honor. It is an honor that is well deserved.”

“We understand the importance of recognizing those in the helping professions because that’s how we think of the Postal Service. Like those in the health care community, our employees are also committed to serving others,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “They know the habits of their customers and the rhythms of their communities. They are often the first to notify emergency personnel when something is wrong, and because they are literally on every street in every neighborhood, they can often provide initial comfort and care before first responders arrive.”

DeJoy was joined by Dr. Loretta Christensen, chief medical officer, Indian Health Services, and Dr. Andrea Anderson, associate professor and associate chief of the division of family medicine, George Washington School of Medicine and Health Sciences.

News about the stamp is being shared on social media using the hashtag #ThankYouHealthcareStamp.

Background

Employing nearly 16 million people, health care is one of the largest and fastest growing industries in the United States. It encompasses physicians, surgeons, dentists, nurses, midwives, pharmacists, lab technicians, orderlies, home health aides, hospital custodians and emergency medical workers, among others. It also includes public health professionals such as epidemiologists, microbiologists and data analysts. These essential workers spend their days — and nights — in hospitals, clinics, private offices, laboratories, nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, patients’ homes, and other settings. The biggest health care occupation by far is nursing; almost 23 percent of all health care workers are registered nurses.

Health care workers are our family, friends and neighbors. Overall, about 80 percent are women, and the percentages are even higher for nursing and many other occupations within the sector. Until the 1970s, very few women became physicians, but then the numbers started to climb, reaching about 12 percent by 1980. Today, about 39 percent of physicians and surgeons are women.

Facing sick, injured and dying patients — and distraught family members — on a daily basis can be tremendously challenging, but health care workers also experience considerable rewards. Research shows that scientists, doctors and nurses are some of the most highly respected professionals due to their dedication to helping other people.

Likewise, job satisfaction is high for many members of the health care community because they are able to make a difference in the lives of others, connect with people and find solutions to sometimes complex problems. The work is not boring, and it can be fascinating. Practitioners often have opportunities to move around within the field, for example, to another specialty or setting. Importantly, as our country’s population continues to age, the need for health care workers remains high.

Stamp Design

The stamp artwork consists of health-related icons spelling out the stacked words “thank you” against a pristine white background. Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green.

On the top line:

T is a medical caduceus, a symbol commonly used in the health care field, for example, in the seal for the U.S. Public Health Service. This caduceus consists of two dark-green snakes coiled around a gray staff topped by a pair of gray wings. (The “rod of Asclepius,” with a single coiled snake, is the original symbol for the field of medicine; however, in the United States, the caduceus has been associated with medicine/health care for more than a century.)

H is the traffic sign used to indicate a nearby hospital, a white H set in a dark-blue rectangle.

A is a black microscope seen from the side.

N is a surgical-green capital N, representing nurses, the biggest health care occupation.

K is formed by three tan-colored adhesive bandages — the type used for a skinned knee.

On the second line:

Y is a stethoscope with black tubing and stainless steel or aluminum alloy aural tubes.

O is a medical heart icon — a red heart with a jagged white electrocardiogram tracing across it.

U is a pair of cupped hands, the icon commonly used to indicate support and protection, rendered in blue.

Running across the lower right edge of the stamp are the words “Healthcare” in gray and “Community” in surgical green.

Bryan Duefrene was the art director and stamp designer.

The Thank You Healthcare Community stamp will be issued in panes of 20. As a Forever stamp, it will always be equal in value to the current First-Class Mail 1‑ounce price.

The official release date and stamp dedication ceremony location will be announced later.

News of the stamp is being shared with the hashtag #ThankYouHealthcareStamp.

 

USPS Recognizes 250 Years of Shaker Design

USPS Recognizes 250 Years of Shaker Design

Shaker Design Stamps

PITTSFIELD, MA — The U.S. Postal Service today revealed the refined, timeless beauty of Shaker design with 12 new stamps, in honor of the 250th anniversary of the arrival of the first Shakers in America.

Attendees at the Shaker Hancock Village explored the collection of furniture, crafts and tools, and had the opportunity to see four of the Shaker designs used in the stamp images.

News of the stamps is being shared with the hashtag #ShakerDesignStamps.

Devoutly religious and committed to simple living, the Shakers imbued everything they made with uncommon grace — from modest oval boxes to furniture, textiles and even architecture. Their minimalist designs include no excessive ornamentation. Instead, the Shakers concentrated on the harmony of form and function, creating pieces renowned worldwide for their simplicity, utility and impeccable quality.

Founded in England in the 18th century, the Shakers were a celibate, pacifist and socially progressive offshoot of mainstream Quakerism. Calling themselves the United Society of Believers in Christ’s Second Appearing, they were persecuted for their beliefs and practices, most notably ecstatic dancing during worship. In 1774, a small group of Shakers immigrated to America and eventually settled near Albany, NY. By the 1840s, at their height, approximately 5,000 Shakers lived in more than a dozen, largely self-sufficient settlements from Maine to Kentucky. They arranged their communities in “families,” where men and women lived as brothers and sisters, property was held in common, and everyone aspired to create heaven on earth.

Shaker design exemplifies some of the core values of Shaker life: honesty, humility and joyful simplicity. Viewing all work as a form of worship, the Shakers found God in the details of everything they made and so they aspired to nothing short of perfection. “Do all your work as though you had a thousand years to live,” urged Shaker leader Ann Lee, “and as you would if you knew you must die tomorrow.” In stripping objects of all but their essential elements, the Shakers not only exposed the elegance inherent in even the most humble of items but also reinvented the concept of beauty itself.

With its emphasis on durability, functionality and timeless minimalism, Shaker design has had a profound effect on generations of architects, artisans and crafters. Today, Sabbathday Lake in Maine remains the only active Shaker village in the world. Other settlements operate as living history museums, where visitors can see authentic Shaker design and experience the Shaker way of life in person.

Stamp Design

The 12 Shaker Design stamps feature photographs by Michael Freeman and are arranged in three rows of four stamps each.

Row 1 (left to right)

Meeting room, Brick Dwelling, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield, MA

The meeting room showcases quintessential elements of Shaker design, including built-in cupboards, a peg rail for keeping items off the floor, a long communal bench, and a cast-iron wood-burning stove.

Tannery, Shaker village of Mount Lebanon, New Lebanon, NY

Founded in 1787, Mount Lebanon served as a model and leader for all other Shaker communities. The tannery, which was built in 1834, highlights the simple symmetry of Shaker architecture.

Spinning wheel, Fruitlands Museum, Harvard, MA

Like everything the Shakers made, this spinning wheel has a simplified and unadorned form that perfectly highlights its function without sacrificing visual appeal.

Staircases, Trustees’ Office and Guest House, Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill, Harrodsburg, KY

Rising three stories and bathed in light, the staircases, which were built in 1839-1841, display Shaker design at its height, their organic form offering a pleasing contrast to the straight lines of the peg rails.

Row 2 (left to right)

Dwelling house hallway, South Union Shaker Village, Auburn, KY

All Shaker dwellings had two staircases, one for men and one for women.

Silk neckerchiefs, South Union Shaker Village, Auburn, KY

The Kentucky Shakers were among the first in the United States to raise silkworms and weave silk into cloth. These brightly colored neckerchiefs were worn over the shoulders to protect clothing and preserve modesty.

Rocking chair, Canterbury Shaker Village, Canterbury, NH

Chairs like this rocker were used by community members and also sold to the “world,” as the Shakers called mainstream society. It features back slats that increase in size from the seat to the top of the chair and are bent just slightly to accommodate the sitter more comfortably.

Bentwood box detail, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield

“Swallowtail” joints allowed the side of a wooden box to expand and contract without buckling or cracking. The joints were secured with copper tacks, which would not rust and discolor the wood.

Row 3 (left to right)

Heater stove, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield

The Shakers discovered that a cast-iron wood-burning stove could heat a room more efficiently than a fireplace. The additional box on top, called a “super heater,” increased the surface area, allowing the stove to give off more heat with the same amount of wood. By enclosing the flames, the stove also decreased the threat of fire.

Cupboard with oval boxes, Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

Because their beliefs stressed cleanliness and order, the Shakers made abundant cupboards and cabinets to keep everyday objects organized, out of sight and free of dust.

Bentwood boxes and carriers, Fruitlands Museum, Harvard

The Shakers made their iconic bentwood boxes in a variety of shapes and sizes. Some were finished with a lid, while others featured a handle to make carrying items easier.

Cheese baskets, Hancock Shaker Village, Pittsfield

Dairy farming was an important aspect of life in some Shaker villages. Featuring a large, hexagonal woven pattern, cheese baskets were lined with cheesecloth in order to separate the curds and whey.

Derry Noyes served as art director and designer for the stamp pane.

Shaker Design stamps are being issued in panes of 12 as Forever stamps, which are always equal in value to the current First-Class Mail one-ounce price.

A video about the stamps will be posted after today’s event on the Postal Service’s Facebook and Twitter pages at facebook.com/USPS and twitter.com/usps.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, first-day-of-issue ceremonies and stamp- inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.

Postal Regulatory Commission Continues to Probe DFA

June 17, 2024

Washington, DC – Today, the Postal Regulatory Commission requested information about continued large-scale network changes by the Postal Service despite its announced “pause” in implementing parts of the Delivering for America (DFA) plan. In addition, the Commission asked the Postal Service about the scope and nature of the pilot test described by the Postal Service regarding early DFA efforts in its May 16th response to the Commission’s Show Cause order. The Commission also requested information about the ’recently announced projection of $65 billion in ten-year losses under DFA. The questions are part of the Commission’s public inquiry into the DFA. Continue reading

PRC Releases Report Analyzing Postal Service’s FY 2023 Finances

PRC Releases Report Analyzing Postal Service’s FY 2023 Finances

Washington, DC – The Postal Regulatory Commission released today its Financial Analysis report for Fiscal Year (FY) 2023. The in-depth analysis of the Postal Service’s financial performance concluded that the organization’s overall financial condition continues to worsen. In FY 2023, the Postal Service recorded a net operating loss of $2.3 billion — an increase of $1.8 billion over the previous year. When non-operating expenses are included, the overall net loss increases to $6.5 billion.

The primary highlights from the report were:

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PMG Touts Modernization Progress in 2024 National Postal Forum Keynote

INDIANAPOLIS — In a keynote address, Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy spoke to more than 4,000 attendees at the 2024 National Postal Forum in Indianapolis. He described major elements of the Delivering for America plan, the history of factors making transformation necessary, and the scale and breadth of the organizational modernization now positioning the organization, and its employees and customers for a successful future. Significant accomplishments and areas of progress include:
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United States Postal Service and National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association Continue Contract Negotiations

The National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association issued the following press release:

ALEXANDRIA, VA— The United States Postal Service and the National Rural Letter Carriers’Association (NRLCA) have agreed to extend contract negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. Although the contract with the NRLCA expired at midnight on Monday, May 20th, the Postal Service and the NRLCA have mutually decided to extend the negotiations. Meanwhile, the 2021-2024 National Agreement remains in full force and effect.

U.S. Postal Service Provides Update on Historic Modernization Efforts

  • Postmaster General details network transformation steps for 2024 and beyond in a letter to Members of Congress. The letter can be found here.
  • Initiatives are part of Postal Service’s 10-year Delivering for America Plan to invest $40 billion in nation’s postal network
  • Network transformation will enable world-class service performance at affordable prices

WASHINGTONMay 21, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — To further clarify the implementation plans of the Postal Service Mail Processing Facility Reviews, and continued activity on Regional Processing and Distribution Centers, Sorting and Delivery Centers, and Local Processing Centers, Postmaster General Louis DeJoy transmitted a letter yesterday addressed to Senator Gary Peters, Chairman, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee. The letter outlines the paused implementation status of the Mail Processing Facility Reviews, as well as the ongoing 2024 activities that will continue to advance and are part of the nearly $15.3 billion in committed self-funded investments. The letter can be found here.

“Our Delivering for America Plan initiatives are breathing new life into the U.S. Postal Service. Despite evident progress, it’s clear that these efforts should have commenced more than a decade ago,” stated Postmaster General and CEO Louis DeJoy. “The need for swift and comprehensive transformation in the Postal Service is undeniable. We remain fully committed to this transformation with the goal of continuously improving service performance for the American people – all while being financially self-sustainable.”

Postal Service Announces Additional Information on 2024 Stamps

Issue dates, locations for July-October releases announced

WASHINGTON — Today, the U.S. Postal Service announced dates and locations for stamp releases between July and the end of 2024.

United States Postal Service Announces Additional Information on 2024 Stamps.
Stamps

Release Date

City

State

ZIP

1-cent Fringed Tulip (no ceremony)
2-cent Daffodils
3-cent Peonies
5-cent Red Tulips
10-cent Poppies and Coneflowers

July 18

Berkeley

CA

94704

Hank Aaron

July 31

Atlanta

GA

30304

Dungeons & Dragons

Aug. 1

Indianapolis

IN

46206

Pinback Buttons

Aug. 15

Hartford

CT

06101

Autumn Colors

Aug. 16

Hartford

CT

06101

First Continental Congress, 1774

Sept. 5

Philadelphia

PA

19104

Christmas Madonna and Child 2024

Sept. 14

Washington

DC

20066

Holiday Joy

Sept. 14

Washington

DC

20066

Hanukkah

Sept. 19

Washington

DC

20066

Kwanzaa

Sept. 25

Pittsburgh

PA

15290

Winter Whimsy (no ceremony)

Oct. 10

Park City

UT

84060

Dates and locations may be subject to change.

Postal Products

Customers may purchase stamps and other philatelic products through the Postal Store at usps.com/shopstamps, by calling 844-737-7826, by mail through USA Philatelic or at Post Office locations nationwide. For officially licensed stamp products, shop the USPS Officially Licensed Collection on Amazon. Additional information on stamps, First Day of Issue Ceremonies and stamp inspired products can be found at StampsForever.com.