April 2020 As the USPS continues to struggle financially, its difficulties are being significantly compounded by a sharp decline in mail volume due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The House version of the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act (CARES Act), H.R. 748, included provisions that sought to relieve financial pressure on the USPS resulting…
April 10, 2020 Without help from Congress the US Postal Service will be out of funds by the end of the current fiscal year. This was the message from Postmaster General Megan Brennan to the House Oversight Committee on April 9, 2020. Years of unsuccessfully working toward a comprehensive postal reform bill had brought the…
The US Postal Service said on March 17, 2020 that the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the World Health Organization (WHO), and the US Surgeon General have all indicated that currently there is no evidence that COVID-19 can be spread through the mail. The recent update from the USPS states, “The United States…
Government Executive reports that as of April 2, 2020 the USPS has confirmed 259 of it’s 630,000 employees have tested positive for the Coronavirus. Some postal employees say that protective equipment is unavailable to them, despite efforts by the USPS to provide masks and gloves. The USPS has reported that there is no evidence that COVID-19…
While we were looking forward to a great Conference and were excited to be holding it at the Renaissance Orlando at SeaWorld, we have determined that, during the COVID-19 Coronavirus outbreak, the health risks from holding a Conference with 400 attendees were too great. AUSPL will refund registration fees already paid, and the hotel will…
In her quarterly video address to USPS employees, Postmaster General Megan Brennan discussed the financial outlook of the USPS, the help the USPS needs from Congress, and what the Postal Service is doing to retain business and expand their customer base. PMG Brennan named three core areas needed to restore financial stability to the USPS:…
March 3, 2020 Amazon announced today (March 3, 2020) that Prime members in Philadelphia, Phoenix, Orlando and Dallas can have delivery in just a few hours after ordering, at no charge for orders over $35. Amazon’s newest weapon in the same-day delivery battle is new, “first of a kind buildings” that serve as mini-fulfillment centers,…
March 2020 The rise of same-day delivery packages is not seen as a threat to the US Postal Service, according to a January 2020 report by the USPS Office of Inspector General (OIG). The January report suggests that focusing on next-day delivery is a better use of resources for the USPS. According to the OIG’s…
February 2020 The USPS and the USPS Office of the Inspector General (OIG) have been focused on maintenance and repair of Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems throughout postal facilities. Tom Samra, Vice President of Facilities stressed the importance of HVAC equipment to Postal Service operations, to AUSPL, saying that when temperatures are too…
February 2020 Since 2018 Amazon has been building its Delivery Service Partner program. This program outsources package deliveries to entrepreneurs around the country. A consequence of this expansion is the effect on over 800 small logistics companies that have contracted with Amazon in the past. Recently, Amazon has parted company with some logistics companies…