Administrative Services

Hatch Act and Other Requirements Related to Election Campaigns

Campaigning on Postal Premises

Because 2002 is an election year, candidates may seek to use Postal Service premises for campaign purposes. Postal Service regulations (Postal Operations Manual 124.54 as amended in Postal Bulletin 21991 (2-11-99); 39 CFR 232.1; and Poster 7, Rules and Regulations Governing Conduct on Postal Property) prohibit campaigning for election to public office on leased or owned Postal Service property. Advise individuals inquiring about the availability of Postal Service property for such purposes of the prohibition, and give them a copy of the regulations. The following points will help you interpret and apply the regulations:

• The focus of the regulations is to identify activities that are "prohibited." Activities that are not prohibited by any of the regulations are permitted. For example, in the context of political campaigning, information alleafleting would be permitted, so long as the information in the leaflet itself is not political campaigning and the leafleting was carried out in a way that did not disrupt Postal Service business.

• Campaigning for election to public office is prohibited on Postal Service property, even if the candidate is independent of any political party.

• The regulations do not prohibit all activities related to political issues. For example, distributing literature pertaining to a referendum or ballot measure is permitted. The regulations do prohibit, however, the solicitation of signatures on petitions, polls, and surveys.

• The regulations prohibit depositing posters or literature on Postal Service property, obstructing entrances, any activity that tends to impede or disturb the public in transacting Postal Service business, the sale of goods, and the solicitation of contributions on Postal Service property.

• The regulations cover activity only on Postal Service premises. Activity outside postal property, even if it affects our premises, is not governed by our regulations.

Local managers should pose questions about the Postal Service's conduct regulations to their district or plant manager or designee, who should contact counsel in the appropriate area legal office. When necessary, counsel will coordinate with the Postal Inspection Service to enforce the regulations.

Hatch Act Considerations

A related issue for Postal Service employees is the extent to which their political activity, including off-duty activity, is consistent with the Hatch Act. The Office of Special Counsel, which investigates possible Hatch Act violations, has prepared the following examples of permitted and prohibited activities for federal, including Postal Service employees:

Postal Service employees -

• May be candidates for public office in nonpartisan elections.

• May register and vote as they choose.

• May assist in voter registration drives.

• May express opinions about candidates and issues.

• May contribute money to political organizations.

• May attend political fundraising functions.

• May attend and be active at political rallies and meetings.

• May join and be an active member of a political party or club.

• May sign nominating petitions.

• May campaign for or against referendum questions, constitutional amendments, and municipal ordinances.

• May campaign for or against candidates in partisan elections.

• May make campaign speeches for candidates in partisan elections.

• May distribute campaign literature in partisan elections.

• May hold office in political clubs or parties.

But, Postal Service employees -

• May not use their official authority or influence to interfere with an election.

• May not collect political contributions unless both individuals are members of the same federal labor organization or employee organization and the one solicited is not a subordinate employee.

• May not knowingly solicit or discourage the political activity of any person who has business before the agency.

• May not engage in political activity while on duty.

• May not engage in political activity in any government office.

• May not engage in political activity while wearing an official uniform.

• May not engage in political activity while using a government vehicle.

• May not solicit political contributions from the general public.

• May not be candidates for public office in partisan elections.

• May not wear political buttons on duty. Please contact your ethics advisor for further information about the Hatch Act.

- Public Affairs and Communications,
Government Relations and Public Policy, 10-31-02

Child Alert Program

Customer Relations

Mail Alert

The mailings below will be deposited in the near future. Offices should honor the requested delivery dates. Mailers wishing to participate in these alerts, for mailings of 1 million pieces or more, should contact Business Service Network Integration at 703-292-4041 at least 1 month preceding the requested delivery dates. The Postal Service also offers electronic Mail Alerts via ADVANCE. For more information, see the ADVANCE Notification & Tracking System Technical Guide on the Internet at http://www.ribbs.usps.gov/files/advance/ADVTECH.PDF or contact the National Customer Support Center at 800-458-3181.

Domestic Mail

DMM REVISION

Labeling List Changes

Effective October 31, 2002, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) L001 and L606 are revised to reflect changes in mail processing operations. Mailers are encouraged to label according to these revised lists immediately, but must comply with these changes no later than January 12, 2003.

We will incorporate these revisions into the printed version of DMM Issue 58 and into the monthly update of the online DMM available via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)

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L Labeling Lists

L000 General Use

L001 5-Digit Scheme - Periodicals Flats and Irregular Parcels, Standard Mail Flats, and BPM Flats

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* * * * *

L600 Standard Mail and Package Services

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L606 5-Digit Scheme - Standard Mail and Package Services Parcels

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- Logistics, Network Operations Management, 10-31-02

DMM TRANSFORMATION

Ordering Information for DMM 100

The new DMM 100, A Customer's Guide to Mailing, is available for ordering from the Material Distribution Center (MDC). An initial shipment of DMM 100s, along with a cardboard display holder, was sent to each Post Office for display in retail lobbies.

The DMM 100 is an easy-to-understand guide for retail customers and employees. It answers the questions customers are most likely to ask in our lobbies and helps them identify the best products and services for their mail. It includes information about changing an address, putting mail on hold, and choosing extra services like insurance.

The MDC is filling backorders first, so if you have already placed an order for DMM 100, please do not order again. You can order DMM 100 by one of the following means:

• Touch Tone Order Entry (TOE): Call 800-332-0317, choose option 1, then option 2.

Note: You must be registered to use TTOE. To register, call 800-332-0317, choose option 8, extension 2925, and follow the prompts to leave a message (wait 48 hours after registering before you place your first order).

• E-Mail: Complete PS Form 7380, MDC Supply Requisition (manually or using F3 Fill), and send it as an attachment to the e-mail address MDC Customer Service or to mcustome@email.usps.gov.

• Mail: Mail a completed PS Form 7380 to the MDC at the following address:

SUPPLY REQUISITIONS
MATERIAL DISTRIBUTION CENTER
500 SW GARY ORMSBY DR
TOPEKA KS 66624-9702

Here's the information that you'll need to order DMM 100:

PSIN: DMM100
NSN: 7610-05-00-5072
Unit of Issue: EA
Bulk Pack Quantity: 200
Quick Pick Number: N/A
Price: $0.186
Edition Date: 07/02

- Mail Preparation and Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 10-31-02

POM REVISION

Dead Mail

Effective October 31, 2002, the Postal Operations Manual (POM) is revised to allow the Postal Service to be a better environmental neighbor and to reduce waste disposal costs.

We will incorporate these revisions into the printed version of POM Issue 10 and into an incremental update of the online version available via the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim; click on Manuals.

Postal Operations Manual (POM)

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6 Delivery Services

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69 Dead Mail

691 General

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691.4 Items Loose in the Mail

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691.45 Unidentified Items

[Revise 691.45 to read as follows (items c and d are unchanged):]

Treat unidentified items of value ($10 or more) as dead mail. Except for money (see 691.41) and uncanceled stamps (see 691.42), reuse for business purposes only, donate, recycle, or, as a last resort, dispose of as waste all unidentified items without value as follows:

a. Recycle unendorsed Standard Mail if cost-effective.

b. Donate (see 691.532) or recycle periodicals (such as printed matter, newspapers, magazines, and other publications).

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691.5 Disposal

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691.52 Perishable Items, Drugs, and Cosmetics

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691.522 Noninjurious Items

[Revise 691.522 to read as follows.]

Dispose of other perishable mail, drugs, and cosmetics as follows:

a. Perishable Items. The postmaster must sell immediately all salable perishable matter that cannot be forwarded or returned before spoiling, day-old poultry that cannot be delivered or returned within 72 hours after hatching, and other animals that cannot be returned to the sender alive. The addressee and postal employees may not purchase any such item from the postmaster. The postmaster must send the proceeds of the sale, less a 25 percent commission (but not less than 1 dollar) and the proper money order fee and postage to the mailer by postal money order, with an explanation on PS Form 3820, Sale or Destruction of Perishable Mail, of the action taken. Deliver all perishable articles or animals that cannot be sold to any public or charitable organization that will accept them. Also try delivering live animals to a local humane society or animal shelter that will take them.

b. Drugs. Destroy packages that contain prescription drugs undeliverable to either the addressee or sender. Donate over-the-counter drugs that are sealed in their original packaging or container to public and charitable organizations, local food banks, shelters, or other nonprofit organizations that will accept them or destroy them if you cannot donate them. Turn over illegal drugs to the Postal Inspection Service.

c. Cosmetics. Donate undeliverable cosmetics that are sealed and unopened, including face and hand creams, soaps, perfumes, powders, lotions, and after-shave lotions, impartially and equitably to public and charitable organizations, local food banks, shelters, or other nonprofit organizations that agree to distribute them for free. If they are not donatable, treat them as dead parcels. Destroy undeliverable lipsticks and cosmetics that might jeopardize health.

[Revise the heading of 691.53 to read as follows.]

691.53 Eligible Organizations

691.531 Food

[Revise 691.531 to read as follows.]

Donate usable food items treated as dead mail impartially and equitably to public or charitable organizations, food banks, shelters, or other nonprofit organizations. Follow these guidelines:

a. Do not donate made items. Dispose of them as waste. If unsure whether an item is made or usable, destroy it.

b. Make sure that the receiving organization signs a release stating that it takes full responsibility for the handling and use of the food items. Keep releases on file for 2 years. The receiving organization must accept the food items available and pick them up in a timely manner.

c. Destroy food items that cannot be donated by disposing of them as waste.

[Revise the heading and text of 691.532 to read as follows.]

691.532 Periodicals and Publications

Follow these guidelines for disposing of periodicals and publications:

a. Donate copies of undeliverable magazines, newspapers, and other periodicals impartially and equitably to public and charitable organizations, shelters, hospitals, prisons, schools, and libraries. If requested, furnish copies of undeliverable publications to a court officer for persons called for or assigned to jury duty.

b. Provide publications to qualifying organizations under the condition that: (1) the recipients do not select the character, quality, or type of publication, and (2) the recipient calls for the copies promptly when notified or on a schedule. This privilege is at the option of the Postal Service and may be discontinued at any time without notice. Postal employees should inform the recipients of these conditions.

c. If periodicals cannot be donated, recycle them if cost- effective.

d. If they cannot be donated or recycled, dispose of them as waste.

[Revise the heading and text of 691.533 to read as follows.]

691.533 Merchandise and Product Samples

Dispose of undeliverable merchandise and product samples, such as toiletries, toothpastes, diapers, and detergents, that are not endorsed "Return Service Requested" as follows:

a. Donate undeliverable merchandise and product samples impartially and equitably to public and charitable organizations, food banks, shelters, or other nonprofit organizations that agree to distribute them for free.

b. Dispose of as waste all samples not able to be donated.

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- Environmental Management Policy,
Engineering, 10-31-02