SEE PAGE 8 FOR INFORMATION ON IMPROVING SECURITY EFFORTS PUBLISHED SINCE MARCH 4, 1880 PB 22089, November 14, 2002 R 2 POSTAL BULLETIN 22089 (11-14-02) CONTENTS The Postal Bulletin is also available on the World Wide Employes (continued) Web at http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/pb.htm for 2003 Social Security and Medicare Tax Withholding. 71 customers and at http://blue.usps.gov for employees. Form W-5 Renewal. 71 Penalty Overtime Exclusion. 71 Christmas Pay Procedures for Rural Carriers. 72 USPSNEWS@WORK . 3 2002 to 2003 Leave Year — Annual Leave Carryover. 89 Notice to all Employees: Thrift Savings Plan Administrative Services Fact Sheet. 91 Directives and Forms Update. 5 Door, Keys, and LLVs — Postal Service Security Efforts Finance Need Improvement. 8 Districts Migrating From SFAS to SAFR: SAFR Unit Maintenance Application. 93 Customer Relations Notice Available Online: Notice 25, Postal Accounting Mail Alert. 11 Period Planning Schedule, Postal Fiscal Year 2003 . 93 Publicity Kit: Holiday 2002 Publicity Kit for Annual Vending Machine Income Report Due Soon. 94 Postmasters. 11 International Mail Domestic Mail ICM Updates: International Customized Mail. 97 Correction/DMM Transformation: Ordering Information for DMM 100. 30 Philately DMM Revision: Simplified Address Format for Letter-Size Pictorial Cancellations Announcement. 99 and Flat-Size Standard Mail and Periodicals. 30 Special Cancellation Die Hubs. 101 DMM Revision: Metal Strapping Materials on Pallets. 32 DMM Revision: Realignment of Buffalo and Pittsburgh Summaries of Recent USPS News Releases . 102 Postal Service Facilities for Deposit of DBMC Rate Post Offices Standard Mail and Package Services Machinable Reminder: Retrieval of Plastic Label Holders. 104 Parcels. 33 Round-Up Notice. 105 DMM Revision: Uniform Thickness for Automation Flats. 35 Retail DMM Revision: Standard Mail Flats in Letter Trays. 35 What’s in Store. 107 Clarification: Periodicals Mail Entered at a Destination Area Distribution Center. 41 Supply Management Holiday HAZMAT. 41 Update: USPS Official Licensed Product Manufacturers and Distributors. 113 2002 International and Military Mail Recommended Christmas Mailing Dates Poster. 43 Notice: Heroes of 2001 Merchandise for Sale. 120 Overseas Military Mail. 45 Advertisement. Postal Service Official Licensed Products. 122 Employees New Excess Item Catalog Available to eBuy Users. 126 ELM Revision: Employee Assistance Program. 49 I.M.P.A.C. Credit Card Holders: I.M.P.A.C. VISA Notice: 2002 U.S. Savings Bonds Campaign Results. 52 Payment Process. 126 Thanksgiving Day Posters . 53 Postal Bulletin Distribution . 127 Christmas Day Posters . 55 Postal Bulletin Index Fraud Alert Semiannual Index. PB 22081 (7-25-02) All Personnel Processing Mail for Dispatch Abroad: Foreign Order No. 471. 59 Withholding of Mail Orders. 59 The Postal Bulletin is pub- Invalid Express Mail Corporate Account Numbers. 60 lished biweekly; information Missing, Lost, or Stolen U.S. Money Order Forms. 63 is effective for one year un- Missing, Lost, or Stolen Canadian Money Order less it changes a permanent Forms. 68 Counterfeit Canadian Money Order Forms. 70 directive or unless otherwise Toll-Free Number Available to Verify Canadian Money specified. Orders. 70 Recycled Paper Ordering Information: Following is the list of postal stock numbers (PSNs) to use when ordering copies of the Postal Bulletin from the MDC: PB 22089: 7690-05-000-4854 PB 22081: 7690-05-000-4846 PB 22075: 7690-05-000-4840 PB 22068: 7690-04-000-5675 PB 22088: 7690-05-000-4853 PB 22080: 7690-05-000-4845 PB 22074: 7690-05-000-4839 PB 22067: 7690-04-000-5674 PB 22087: 7690-05-000-4852 PB 22079: 7690-05-000-4844 PB 22073: 7690-05-000-4838 PB 22066: 7690-04-000-5673 PB 22086: 7690-05-000-4851 PB 22078: 7690-05-000-4843 PB 22072: 7690-05-000-4837 PB 22065: 7690-04-000-5672 PB 22085: 7690-05-000-4850 PB 22084: 7690-05-000-4849 PB 22077: 7690-05-000-4842 PB 22071: 7690-05-000-4836 PB 22064: 7690-04-000-5671 PB 22083: 7690-05-000-4848 PB 22076: 7690-05-000-4841 PB 22070: 7690-05-000-4835 PB 22063: 7690-04-000-5670 PB 22082: 7690-05-000-4847 PB22075A: 7690-05-000-5051 PB 22069: 7690-05-000-4834 PB 22062: 7690-04-000-5669 POSTAL BULLETIN 22089 (11-14-02) 3 Almost there: With CSRS almost fully H “No one should be lulled into a sense of complacency funded, rates could hold steady...for that all is right with the nation’s postal system,” Potter said. “That’s simply not true.” years H “The nation still faces a long-term challenge to con- A little change can be a big improvement in your finan- tinue postal services to everyone, everywhere while cial condition, right? The same holds true for a change of financing the costs of our growing nationwide deliv- the legislative kind. The Postal Service would be able to ery network,” he said. hold postage rates steady until at least 2006 if Congress H Potter said he would maintain management’s focus passes legislation changing how USPS funds the Civil Ser- on providing excellent service, increasing productiv- vice Retirement System (CSRS). ity, continuing smart cost cutting activities and H A new financial analysis by the Office of Personnel streamlining Postal Service operations using existing Management (OPM) shows USPS has almost fully technologies. funded its obligations to the CSRS fund. The finding H “I remain committed to the Postal Service’s Trans- is good news that considerably narrows the gap formation Plan, taking $5 billion out of our operating between the USPS retirement obligation and the expenses through 2006, over and above the savings amount already funded — from $32 billion to $5 we expect to realize by implementing the legislative billion. changes connected with our CSRS funding,” he said. H How’d it happen? An oversight or mistake, maybe? Nope. For the first time, OPM’s analysis looked at Delivering on time for America: USPS USPS apart from the rest of the federal government. continues record-breaking EXFC scores That analysis revealed higher than expected yields on pension investments. Sweet! USPS employees came through for Postal Service cus- tomers again, delivering 94% of First-Class Mail service on H The Postal Service’s payments into the fund have time during Quarter IV. It’s the second consecutive quarter been made as required by current law. And so far, that USPS achieved 94% EXFC (External First-Class) USPS hasn’t overpaid into the CSRS fund, but with- score nationwide. out a change to the law, it could happen. H Vice President and Consumer Advocate Francia H PMG Jack Potter has said that a change in the pay- Smith reported the good news at the USPS Board of ment schedule would allow USPS to fully fund CSRS Governors meeting in Washington., Nov. 5. the same way the Federal Employees Retirement H System (FERS) is funded — with no further deferred First-Class Mail delivery performance is measured liabilities. externally and independently by Pricewaterhouse- Coopers. H OPM has drafted legislation and sent it to OMB, and H believes the administration will support the change. It EXFC service performance scores are measured by would increase the amount available to USPS to re- testing 463 ZIP Code areas selected on the basis of duce its debt by more than $3 billion in FY 2003, geography and volume density, from which 90% of compared to its current planned reduction of $800 First-Class Mail volume originates and 80% desti- million. nates. EXFC is not a system-wide measurement of all First-Class Mail performance. H OPM says the changes being proposed to the pay- H ment schedule will not affect any Postal Service em- Three performance clusters — Central Plains, San ployee’s CSRS retirement benefits. Nor will there be Jose, CA, and the Dakotas — each achieved on-time any change in their level of contribution to the CSRS delivery performance scores of 96%. An additional retirement plan. 28 clusters had on-time delivery scores of 95%. H The positive Postal Service financial news doesn’t change the fact that there are fundamental flaws in the Postal Service’s current business model. 4 POSTAL BULLETIN 22089 (11-14-02) Holiday magic: Create your own cards at www.usps.com POS ONE expansion: Transforming the Make your holidays even more special. Create your own holiday cards at www.usps.com/netpost/cardstore/ retail environment pconnect.htm. It’s already in more than 10,000 high-revenue Post H Now through Dec. 7, USPS employees receive a dis- Offices. By mid-2005, it will be in another 5,000 of our busi- count on 5 x 7 folded greeting cards. The discounted est locations. What’s it? It’s POS ONE (point-of-sale) price of $1.50 per card includes First-Class Mail post- technology. age. H The Board of Governors today approved funding to H Mail the greeting cards directly to recipients, or have complete installation of POS ONE retail terminals at the cards boxed and shipped to you with the enve- Post Offices that generate more than 90% of retail lopes preaddressed and stamped. revenue. H Choose from thousands of images online or upload a H “POS ONE plays a major role in reaching our goals of personal image and create your own personalized improving customer service and ensuring that our greeting card. To receive the discount, use the employees have the tools they need to efficiently and promotion code “EMPLOYEE” at checkout. easily provide postal services to our customers,” said Delivery and Retail Vice President Henry Pankey. Don’t touch that dial! Cool USPS holiday H POS ONE cuts transaction time nearly 10% by enab- ads ling retail associates to instantly access options and Look for the debut of the USPS holiday television ads costs to help customers make quick, informed deci- while you’re watching the Thanksgiving Day parade.