Summaries of Recent USPS News Releases

Test Results Are Negative at NJ Facility
02/22/02

No evidence of anthrax was found at the South Jersey Processing and Distribution center in Bellmawr, NJ, last month. The Postal Service conducted additional, precautionary testing for anthrax at Bellmawr on Feb. 14 and 15.

Last year in November, a single trace of anthrax was found at Bellmawr. Since then, no evidence of anthrax has been found at the facility and no worker has been diagnosed with any anthrax-related condition. However, USPS and the APWU agreed that USPS would conduct follow-up testing at Bellmawr.

This round of testing consisted of 60 samples collected throughout the facility using a HEPA vac. HEPA stands for High Efficiency Particulate Air. The vacuumed samples were analyzed by State Public Health Laboratories.

USPS and NPMHU Reach Agreement
02/19/02

The Postal Service and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union announced a tentative four-year contract agreement on Feb. 19, 2002. The agreement, upon ratification by union members, will affect 60,584 mail handlers.

The agreement calls for a general wage increase over four years, which approximates the wage increase in the Goldberg arbitration award for the American Postal Workers Union, announced Dec. 18, 2001. The agreement also provides for a continuation of cost-of-living adjustments (COLA), but a lump-sum cash payment of $499 in lieu of a COLA payment for the first year.

The contract covers the period since the expiration of the 1998 national agreement on Nov. 20, 2000, and runs through Nov. 20, 2004. If ratified, it will be the second negotiated labor agreement between USPS and the Mail Handlers since 1987.

New Global Package Discount Program
02/13/02

USPS has implemented a new postage discount and customized mailing program for international packages. The program consists of three parts:

·Postal customers paying fur Global Express Mail using an Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA) will qualify for a 5% discount. Customers also will now be able to open an EMCA by using a credit card.

·Larger discounts are available to customers who use an EMCA to mail at least 600 items or spend at least $12,000 in Global Express Mail postage annually.

·High-volume customers, or those with special needs, will be able to customize their service for all international packages. Features include labeling, customs preadvise and customs harmonization, providing a landed price for overseas customers and address correction service.