Author: Archive

United States Postal Service wins prestigious award from Color Marketing Group

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

The prestigious award for revolutionary, dramatic, or exceptional contributions to the field of color marketing is the Dimmick Award, presented every other year by Color Marketing Group, the premier international association for color design professionals.

Past winners have been such companies as Disney Enterprises, Target Corporation and Apple Computer – all famous for their extraordinary use of color in marketing their products and services to the world.

But this year’s winner was a complete surprise: The United States Postal Service.

Noting that this was the first time the award has ever been presented to a government agency, Color Marketing Group president Charles B. Smith said: “CMG is honored to present our highest award to the United States Postal Service for their extraordinary use of color on postage stamps and for the colorful collections the USPS has created over the years. USPS stamps make colorful impressions around the world every day.”

The award was presented at Color Marketing Group’s Fall International Conference in Atlanta, Georgia, where color design professionals from companies worldwide gather to pool their expertise, analyze the marketplace and predict upcoming color trends for consumers, retailers, manufacturers and marketers, as well as architects and designers. Accepting the award on behalf of Postmaster General, Honorable John E. Potter, were Tom Day and Ron Robinson of the U.S. Postal Service.

Read More

USPS deploys carrier route optimization solution

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

NAVTEQ has been selected as the map data provider for inclusion with RouteSmart Technologies’ Carrier Optimal Routing (COR) solution, which was developed in partnership with the United States Postal Service (USPS). RouteSmart’s solution is designed to create more efficient USPS delivery routes and lines of travel, improve customer service and reduce daily operations costs.

USPS is responsible for the delivery of mail throughout the United States and plans to deploy and utilize this software nationwide to create more efficient and safe delivery routes. The NAVTEQ map includes in-depth coverage for urban and rural areas together with comprehensive, field verified routing attributes. The RouteSmart optimization algorithms take advantage of the NAVTEQ attributes to accurately optimize delivery route data and to calculate and provide optimized travel directions.

The RouteSmart algorithms embedded in COR and the highly accurate and detailed map data from NAVTEQ will allow the USPS to optimize its delivery resources and to make route adjustments when necessary. NAVTEQ employs one of the industry’s most comprehensive map development and quality control programs for the highest levels of excellence and precision.

Read More

CWU calls on the Government to end speculation on privatisation of Royal Mail

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

The Communication Workers Union today welcomed the publication of the DTI select committee report on Royal Mail and called on the government to finally bury management proposals for employee share schemes.

The report criticised the management for demanding that the share ownership proposals are a condition of government funding. The CWU today said the share proposals were irrelevant to the real issues facing the company and the government funding was welcome and crucial to the future success of the company. It is not dependant on any particular management plan and the Union applauded the MP’s for highlighting the fact.

Billy Hayes, CWU General Secretary, said “the proposed share scheme has constantly been an obstacle to genuine discussion on improving company performance and securing a long-term quality public service. The sooner the government announce this plan is buried, the sooner we can all concentrate on both improving company performance and developing effective reward for the workforce”.

Read More

APWU Presses for Improved Conditions

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

Negotiations between the American Postal Workers Union (APWU) and the USPS continue for a successor Collective Bargaining Agreement, to take effect Nov. 21, 2006. The union has submitted a variety of proposals that are intended to improve the conditions of postal employees, and the Postal Service has submitted proposals that would erode employee rights and benefits.

Economic proposals, including wage increases, cost-of-living allowances (COLA), night differential pay, and uniform allowances, have not been presented to date.

A principal focus has been on upgrading those jobs that were not upgraded as a result of the 2001 interest arbitration or the contract extensions of 2002 and 2005. Another issue of importance has been the elimination of part-time employment in offices where full-time assignments are warranted.

The union is flexible on the length of a new contract, with the term dependant on the specifics of a final agreement.

Read More

Junk Mail will send council tax bills soaring

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

Scots householders face huge council tax hikes to pay for extra rubbish collections caused by an explosion in junk mail deliveries.

Royal Mail bosses have agreed a controversial deal to deliver vastly more unsolicited letters, meaning homes face a blitz of unwanted post.

Scots householders face huge council tax hikes to pay for extra rubbish collections caused by an explosion in junk mail deliveries.

Many councils are currently slashing rubbish collections to only once a fortnight in a bid to cut costs.

But with an expected junk mail deluge from the start of next year, there are fears extra collections will have to be arranged with council tax payers left to foot the bill.

Through its ‘door-to-door’ service, the Royal Mail currently delivers about 340 million items of junk mail addressed ‘to the householder’ in Scotland every year.

But this is likely to double from January, when the Royal Mail scraps rules which limit such junk mail deliveries to around three a week for every home.

Read More

UK post offices may go, warn MPs

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

Britain’s post office network could vanish unless the Government acts to protect it, MPs have warned.

Sub-postmasters feel “betrayed” by the decision to axe the Post Office Card Account, which has threatened their livelihood, according to the Trade and Industry Select Committee.

The committee is chaired by Mid Worcestershire MP Peter Luff (Con) and members include Julie Kirkbride (Con Bromsgrove) and Rob Marris (Lab Wolverhampton South West).

Post Office Card Accounts were introduced when the Government began paying benefits and state pensions directly into customers’ bank accounts.

They are the equivalent of a very basic bank account, designed to ensure people who did not have traditional bank accounts can still receive their money.

However, the card accounts are now set to be axed, hitting the income of many post offices.

The MPs said they were especially concerned about the impact on commercially unvi-able parts of the network and the implications Post Office branch closures would have on their wider communities.

Read More

Postcomm research finds that competition has delivered early benefits but greater progress needed

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

Competition in the UK postal market has begun to benefit many business customers through lower prices, greater choice and better quality in Royal Mail’s service, but there is still much progress to be made if its potential is to be fully realised, Postcomm, the independent postal services regulator, said today.

The market research, which forms part of Postcomm’s latest annual Business Customer Survey, revealed:

20 per cent of respondents said that their mail prices had reduced significantly;
38 per cent said that the choice of services available to them had improved; and
34 per cent believed that the quality of Royal Mail’s service had also improved.

Although the competitive market is still in its infancy and Royal Mail still has more than 96 per cent of the addressed letters market, the survey shows that the company’s competitors are expanding their customer base. Compared with last year, twice as many businesses switched to Royal Mail’s top three competitors during 2005/6, while the proportion of businesses using other competitors was four times higher.

Read More

Employee shares key to modernising Royal Mail

Posted by | Oct 30, 2006 | |

Royal Mail’s Chief Executive Adam Crozier insisted today an employee share scheme involving a 20 per cent stake for postmen and women was the best way to ensure success for the investment package to modernise the company.

Commenting on a report from the Commons Trade and Industry Committee, Mr Crozier said: “Of course the investment plan in the company and an employee share scheme are linked.

“There is no doubt that the Government is generally supportive of employee share schemes and recognises their importance, and they have made this clear on a number of occasions.”

For example Stephen Timms, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, said: “Employee shareholders have a direct interest in the performance of their company and a real stake in its success. Research in both the US and the UK shows there is a clear link between employee share ownership and improvements in productivity.”

Mr Crozier said no-one should under-estimate the challenges facing Royal Mail.

Read More

Advertisement

Advertisement

Advertisement

P&P Poll

Loading

Have you noticed a decrease of non-EU inbound parcel volumes since the implementation of the new €3 charge?

Thank you for voting
You have already voted on this poll!
Please select an option!


View ResultsHide Results

Post & Parcel Magazine


Post & Parcel Magazine is our print publication, released 3 times a year. Packed with original content and thought-provoking features, Post & Parcel Magazine is a must-read for those who want the inside track on the industry.

Subscribe to the Magazine

 

Pin It on Pinterest