<body topmargin=0 leftmargin=0 marginheight=0 marginwidth=0> <table cellpadding=0 cellspacing=0 border=0 height="100%"><tr> <td valign="top" width=189 style="border-right: 1px solid #CCCCCC;" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div> <A HREF="index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="CAPS"><B><IMG SRC="0cf9d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id18.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><I><B><IMG SRC="0ce9d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></I></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id20.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B><IMG SRC="0d09d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id22.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="IN THE NEWS"><B><IMG SRC="0cd9d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B><IMG SRC="0d29d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id30.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="_"><B><IMG SRC="0d19d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B>William Clay, Sr</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id32.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B>Chairman</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" RICK FARRELL"><B>Rick Farrell</B></A></div> <div> <A HREF="id31.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" RICK FARRELL"><B>Executive Director</B></A></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id26.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><I><B>"Presidential Commission Recommendations Rewrite Universal Service"</B></I></A></div> <bR> <div> <I><B><U>CAPS Members:</U></B></I><I><B><U> </U></B></I></div> <bR> <div> <B>AFL-CIO</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Alliance for Retired Americans</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>American Diabetes Association</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>American Postal</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Workers Union</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>A. Philip Randolph</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Institute</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Congressional Black </B></div> <div> <B>Caucus Foundation</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Consumer Action</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>National Black Caucus </B></div> <div> <B>of State Legislators</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><I><B> </B></I></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>National Committee</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>to Preserve Social</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <div> <B>Security and Medicare</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>National Farmers Union</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>National Organization for Women (NOW)</B></div> <bR> <div> <B>The Women's Research and Education Institute</B><FONT SIZE="2" COLOR="#FF0000" FACE="Berlin Sans FB" ><B> </B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>United States Hispanic Leadership Institute</B></div> <bR> <div> <A HREF="id23.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE=" "><B><IMG SRC="0d29d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></A></div> </td> <td valign="top" width="100%" BGCOLOR="#FFFFFF" TEXT="#080000"> <div>   <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial" ><IMG SRC="0ab5dfc0.jpg" border=0 width="349" height="252" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="0ac3bfe0.jpg" border=0 width="315" height="254" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"><IMG SRC="0c5a11f0.jpg" border=0 width="673" height="31" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B><IMG SRC="0d09d260.gif" border=0 width="157" height="38" ALIGN="BOTTOM" HSPACE="0" VSPACE="0"></B></div> <bR> <div> For press inquiries please contact Rick Farrell at (202) 973-3116.</div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>Consumer Alliance for Postal Services Joins in Law Suit to Open Process</B></div> <div> <B> <a href="HTMLobj-345/Jun_08_07.pdf"><u>Jun_08_07.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <div> <B>Anti-Labor Provisions </B></div> <div> Threaten Postal ‘Reform’</div> <div> (07/19/06) APWU President William Burrus said passage of postal reform legislation in this session of Congress appears more uncertain than ever, largely as a result of the Bush administration’s renewed insistence that anti-labor provisions be included. At a meeting last week, the administration demanded that the provisions allowing unions to defer unresolved collective bargaining issues to binding arbitration be modified to require arbitrators to consider the economic health of the Postal Service in their final decision. </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.apwu.org /postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org /postalreform/index."><U>read more</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Postal Reform Measure </B></div> <div> Awaits Conference Action</div> <div> (07/01/06) Further action on the postal reform bills already approved by the House and Senate appears to be stalled while congressional leaders and the White House consider additional changes to the legislation. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Burrus: </B></div> <div> <B>Victory Elusive in Postal ‘Reform’</B></div> <div> (06/28/06) With key leaders of the House and Senate saying they hope for final passage of a postal “reform” measure before Congress’ July 4th recess, APWU President William Burrus said that the APWU position remains unchanged: “The current legislation will not benefit the USPS or postal employees. [It] will not achieve the stated objectives and will be more harmful than continuing operations under current law.” <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Burrus: </B></div> <div> <B>A Stunning Reversal </B></div> <div> <B>Of USPS Dire Predictions</B></div> <div> (04/05/06) Postmaster General Potter’s announcement to the National Postal Forum on April 3 that “the forecast for the Postal Service and the mailing industry is very good,” represents a stunning reversal of USPS views over the last three years, APWU President William Burrus said in a recent message to local and state union leaders. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Union Asks Legislators to Support</B></div> <div> <B>Public Input on USPS Consolidation</B></div> <div> (03/27/06) The APWU has asked key legislators to support language in the Senate version of postal reform legislation that would require the Postal Service to consider community input when contemplating consolidation of postal operations. The language, offered by Sen. Tom Harkin (D-IA), was adopted by the Senate when it approved the Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act on Feb. 9, 2006. </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more</U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Employee Organizations </B></div> <div> <B>Issue Joint Letter on Postal Reform </B></div> <div> (March 23, 2006) The leaders of organizations representing more than 700,000 USPS employees have sent a joint letter to Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME), outlining areas of agreement in matters that will be considered by a conference committee which will reconcile differences between House and Senate postal reform measures. Collins chairs the Senate’s Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, and will serve on the conference committee<A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h">. </A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>CRS Report on Postal Reform</B></div> <div> (Feb. 21, 2006) An analysis of postal reform efforts, prepared by the Congressional Research Service, provides a history of recent legislative efforts and an assessment of the views of various groups involved in the debate. [<FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><U>CRS Issue Brief #IB10104, Feb. 21, 2006 - PDF</U></FONT>]</div> <bR> <div> <B>Bush Budget Proposal </B></div> <div> <B>Addresses Postal Reform</B></div> <div> (Feb. 10, 2006) President Bush’s budget, sent to Congress on Feb. 6, reiterated the White House position on postal “reform,” as well as other issues important to federal employees and working families. The $2.77 trillion budget proposal for fiscal year 2007 says the administration “supports enactment of comprehensive postal reform legislation that is fair to taxpayers, ratepayers, and Postal Service employees,” and <I>“does not have an adverse impact on the federal budget.” </I>[emphasis added]<A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"> </A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Senate Approves Postal Reform Bill </B></div> <div> <B>Conference Committee Will Decide Key Provisions </B></div> <div> (Feb. 9, 2006) The Senate approved a postal reform bill by “unanimous consent” Feb. 9, taking reorganization of the USPS one step closer to reality. Before the legislation can be sent to President Bush, however, a conference committee must be formed to resolve differences between the Senate bill and a similar measure approved by the House of Representatives last summer. The President opposes two key provisions of both bills and has threatened to veto the legislation. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <div> <B>Positions Change as Legislation Evolves</B></div> <div> (Jan. 25, 2006) As postal reform proponents have become less than enamored with legislation pending on Capitol Hill, the Postal Service has announced its official opposition to a Senate bill that could be voted on in the next several days.<A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"> </A><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more]</U></A></FONT><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"> </A></div> <div> <B>(Updated 02/06/06)</B> Former Deputy PMG and Mailing Industry Executive <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><B>John Nolan</B></FONT> has called for a 30- to 60-day “time out” to analyze the bills and work to resolve differences. </div> <bR> <div> <B>Postal Workers' Pay Did Not</B></div> <div> <B>Cause Stamp Rate Increase</B></div> <div> (Jan. 10, 2006) In a Jan. 6 op-ed, Sam Ryan of the Lexington Institute, a conservative “think tank,” claimed the Postal Service should cut postal workers’ pay and benefits instead of increasing postage rates, and “outsource” more of its operations to corporate mailers.</div> <div> Ryan is entitled to his views, but his byline should have disclosed the he runs a PR firm, Keybridge Communications, that ghostwrites and places op-ed pieces for right-wing, anti-labor organizations.</div> <div> The web of myths and half-truths Ryan spins in the name of postal “reform” keep popping up in his columns in local newspapers across the country, but despite efforts by our union, the U.S. Postal Service, and others to correct the record, he ignores the facts and moves on. We don’t always respond, but this time we cannot let Mr. Ryan off the hook</div> <div> Ryan’s most flagrant distortions include the following: </div> <div> <A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more] </U></A></div> <bR> <div> <B>Even the USPS Doesn’t </B></div> <div> <B>Blame This One on Us</B></div> <div> (Jan. 10, 2006) Effective Jan. 8, 2006, postage rates were increased 5.4 percent, changing the first-class rate from 37 cents to 39 cents for a single, one-ounce letter. This means it will now cost the average American citizen 2 cents more to pay their gas bills, send birthday cards, and make mortgage payments. Unlike previous rate increases, this price hike is <I>not</I> related to increases in USPS operational costs: It is <I>not</I> the result of increased energy costs for the largest vehicle fleet in the country, or increased costs for health benefits, or improved employee wages. <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial" ><A HREF="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.htm" TARGET="_top" TITLE="http://www.apwu.org/postalreform/index.h"><U>[read more</U></A></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CAPS HAILS TODAYS' ACTION ON POSTAL REFORM AS GOOD NEWS FOR AMERICAN CONSUMERS</B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" > <a href="HTMLobj-329/Jun_2_04.pdf"><u>Jun_2_04.pdf</u> </a>  </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CAPS URGES SENATE TO ADOPT LIEBERMAN AMENDMENT TO POSTAL REFORM LEGISLATION </B><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#000000" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B> </B></FONT><FONT SIZE="4" COLOR="#BF0000" FACE="Book Antiqua" > <a href="HTMLobj-331/Jun_1_04.pdf"><u>Jun_1_04.pdf</u> </a>  </FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> CAPS Legislative Alert <a href="HTMLobj-328/May_27_04.pdf"><u>May_27_04.pdf</u> </a>  </div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CAPS SAYS SENATE BILL DOES NOT GO FAR ENOUGH IN ACHIEVING REAL POSTAL REFORM <a href="HTMLobj-319/May_21_04.pdf"><u>May_21_04.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CAPS PRAISES HOUSE POSTAL REFORM BILL, URGES SENATE TO PROTECT HIGH QUALITY MAIL SERVICE   <a href="HTMLobj-318/May_12_04.pdf"><u>May_12_04.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CAPS QUESTIONS LOBBYING BY PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION MEMBER  <a href="HTMLobj-311/Feb_3_04.pdf"><u>Feb_3_04.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>COMMISSION ’S RECOMMENDATIONS REWRITE UNIVERSAL SERVICE - UNDER PROPOSALS, HALF OF NATION’S POST OFFICES COULD BE CLOSE</B> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B><U> <a href="HTMLobj-242/Jul_31.pdf"><u>Jul_31.pdf</u> </a>  </U></B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>CAPS CHALLENGES COMMISSION RECOMMENDATIONS TO CLOSE POST OFFICES AND REDEFINE UNIVERSAL SERVICE</B> <FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B><U> <a href="HTMLobj-220/Jul16.pdf"><u>Jul16.pdf</u> </a>  </U></B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>SURVEY FINDS THE MAJORITY OF AMERICANS ARE SATISFIED WITH THE U.S. POSTALSERVICE AND OPPOSE A MAJOR OVERHAUL</B><B> <a href="HTMLobj-239/Jun_12.pdf"><u>Jun_12.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>“CONSUMER ALLIANCE FOR POSTAL SERVICES COMMENDS ENACTMENT OF POSTAL CIVIL SERVICE RETIREMENT SYSTEM REFORM ACT: Law Puts Off Postage Rate Increase For At Least Three Years,” <a href="HTMLobj-240/Apr_23.pdf"><u>Apr_23.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>“CONSUMER ALLIANCE FOR POSTAL SERVICES QUESTIONS PREMISE OF PRESIDENTIAL COMMISSION ON POSTAL REFORM: Latest Figures Show the U.S. Postal Service with a Budget Surplus,” </B><FONT SIZE="3" COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B><U> <a href="HTMLobj-241/Apr4.pdf"><u>Apr4.pdf</u> </a>  </U></B></FONT></div> <bR> <bR> <div> <B>“CONSUMER ALLIANCE FOR POSTAL SERVICES BLASTS PRESIDENT’S COMMISSION ON POSTAL REFORM: Commission Ignores Consumers At Its Public Hearing In Austin,” <a href="HTMLobj-225/Mar17.pdf"><u>Mar17.pdf</u> </a>  </B></div> <bR> <bR> <bR> <DIV ALIGN="LEFT"></DIV> <div> <A HREF="mailto:robinredisong@yahoo.com" TARGET="_top" TITLE="mailto:robinredisong@yahoo.com"><I><B>Contact Webmaster</B></I></A></div> <bR> <div> <FONT SIZE="1" COLOR="#262626" FACE="Book Antiqua" ><B>Copyright © 2003-07 Consumer Alliance For Postal Services. 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