Author: Archive

UPS Extends Health Benefits to N.J. Civil Union Partners

Posted by | Jul 30, 2007 | |

UPS today announced it would offer health care benefits to all civil union partners of hourly employees in New Jersey who are covered under collectively bargained union plans. Management and administrative employees in the state already have such benefits.

The extension of benefits to civil union partners of hourly employees in New Jersey will affect approximately 8,700 workers, although it’s impossible to know how many of those employees have joined in civil unions. About 5,400 non-union UPS workers in New Jersey already are eligible.

UPS, which has provided same-sex benefits since 2004 to all non-union employees throughout the United States, has been committed to treating all of its hourly employees similarly. But until a new contract is negotiated and implemented with the Teamsters in 2008, the company must follow individual state definitions of “spouse.” In New Jersey, UPS has been grappling with the legal question of whether a “civil union” can be equated to “married spouse” when the state’s law does not explicitly use that language.

The extension of benefits is based on discussions and input from state officials, including the attorney general and governor, within the past few days.

UPS intends to address the issue of same-sex benefits for all its hourly workers – no matter where they reside – during negotiations with the Teamsters on a new 2008 contract. Currently, about 85,000 non-hourly workers are eligible for such benefits.

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DHL Express names Tom Snowberger as senior Vice President of Human Resources

Posted by | Jul 30, 2007 | |

DHL announced the appointment of Thomas D. Snowberger to Senior Vice President of Human Resources for DHL Express USA. Responsible for managing the company’s human resources strategy and functional teams in the U.S., Snowberger will report to Hans Hickler, Chief Executive Officer of DHL Express USA, and also serve as a member of the DHL Express U.S. Management Board.

Prior to joining DHL, Snowberger was Senior Vice President, Human Resources for University Hospitals Health System, a USD 2.5 billion healthcare delivery system employing over 23,000 physicians and staff across northern Ohio. Previously, he spent six years with Germany-based E.ON AG, the world’s largest investor-owned utility company with over 65,000 employees, where he served in various leadership positions in the U.S. and Europe, including Senior Vice President, Human Resources, E.ON Nordic and Vice President, Human Resources, Integration and E.ON Academy. Snowberger also held senior HR positions with National Service Industries, Inc. in Atlanta, Georgia, and PPG Industries, Inc. in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.

Snowberger will be based out of DHL’s corporate headquarters in Plantation, Florida.

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DHL introduces climate-neutral parcels across Germany

Posted by | Jul 30, 2007 | |

Pluspäckchen GoGreen available in more than 12,500 Post retail outlets beginning in August
CO2 emissions offset by environmental-protection projects

The environmentally friendly Pluspäckchen GoGreen will be sold in all Deutsche Post retail outlets in Germany beginning in August 2007. The parcel is a practical combination of recycled packaging materials and a postal fee that includes climate-neutral shipping within Germany. DHL calculates all CO 2 emissions created by the shipment of a Pluspäckchen und offsets them through environmental-protection measures. DHL is not only the first but also the only supplier of CO 2 neutral packages and parcels for business and private customers across Germany.

The Pluspäckchen GoGreen comes in two sizes and has a maximum weight of 20 kilograms. Regardless of the size and weight, the Pluspäckchen GoGreen costs EUR 5.99, just like the normal Pluspäckchen, which will be completely replaced by the environmentally friendly version. The CO 2 emissions are offset through internal and external environmental-protection projects that include the introduction of vehicles with alternative propulsion systems as well as solar-energy projects in Southeast Asia and reforestation programs in Latin America.

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TNT announces new 500 mln Eur share buyback

Posted by | Jul 30, 2007 | |

TNT NV will launch a new 500 mln Eur share buyback, the company said in a statement while presenting its second-quarter earnings.

TNT said any savings resulting from its current refinancing plan will be used toward funding the company pension plan and the share buyback.

It expects this latest buyback to be completed in the middle of next year, at which point TNT said it will consider further repurchases to maintain optimal capital structure and strategic flexibility.

The company’s current 400 mln Eur buyback, which began in April, is still in progress, and TNT said 234 mln Eur worth of shares have been repurchased to date.

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GAO looks into USPS realignment plan

Posted by | Jul 30, 2007 | |

The Government Accountability Office (GAO) has found that the United States Postal Service needs to improve the quality of public notices and engagement, and increase transparency in decision making.

Major changes within the mailing industry have brought on the need for the USPS to reduce costs and increase efficiency. In light of this, the GAO conducted the study. It found that the USPS has made some positive moves, developing several initiatives to achieve its overall goal of reducing costs while at the same time maintaining quality of service.

To address current trends and other major changes affecting its processing network, the USPS developed a Transformation Plan in 2002 that outlined its vision for the future. In the USPS’ Strategic Transformation Plan Update 2006-2010, the USPS stated its commitment to removing USD 1 billion from its cost base each year. These plans describe how the USPS intends to reduce costs and increase efficiency by making changes to its mail processing network.

The USPS has four major initiatives in progress, according to GAO. The first is area mail processing consolidations to increase efficiency and use of existing automation by consolidating mail processing operations into facilities with excess capacity. Next, the USPS wants to provide essential infrastructure for a more efficient processing network. Thirdly, the USPS wants to increase efficiency by automating the sorting of flat mail, such as large envelopes and catalogs. And finally, the USPS hopes to improve its transportation network flexibility and efficiency.

In response to GAO’s draft report, the USPS agreed with the GAO’s findings and recommendations and plans to take steps to improve its communication and transparency.

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Self Service Expo: USPS get exhibitor nod

Posted by | Jul 30, 2007 | |

The United States Postal Service was the People’s Choice Winner for Self-Service Street, a strip of interactive booths located at the back of the exhibit hall. Unlike the other Excellence Awards, the People’s Choice winner is voted on by the Expo’s attendees, not the expert judges.

At its Self-Service Street booth, the government agency set up a mock post office branch, complete with a self-service kiosk. The Automated Postal Center (APC) was part of a 2004 initiative by the USPS to integrate self-service to cut wait times. Since 2004, 2,500 APCs have been rolled out.

The APC dispenses stamps, which the USPS says is the overwhelming majority of transactions conducted at post offices. In addition, APC customers can access most of the services available at the counter, including shipment of first class parcel, ZIP code lookup, weighing and rating packages up to 70 pounds and delivery confirmation service.

Prices for shipping and stamps are the same as at the postal counter and there is no additional charge for using the APC.

Michael C. Adams, retail service equipment project manager, said that in the first two fiscal quarters of this year APCs have processed 22 million transactions.

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DHL Romania: Profit margin remains at 10 pct this year

Posted by | Jul 30, 2007 | |

DHL has posted a turnover increase of 30 pct for international and domestic express services for the first half of this year against the same time in 2006.

“The highest percentage growth was registered on the segment of domestic deliveries, where volumes doubled compared with last year. Our plans for this year are to continue investing in our own distribution network, with examples in this regard being the enlargement of the car fleet by another 120 vehicles, the increase in the number of offices throughout the country by 20 pct and the increase in the number of employees by more than 10 pct ,” said Bogdan Obretin, commercial manager of DHL International Romania.

The positive results registered in the first six months were primarily due to the launch of new products, to infrastructure investments conducted by the company, to the development of customized solutions for the main industries and the expansion of the company’s national distribution network.

Obretin believes that the current growth rate of DHL in Romania will continue above the targets set for 2007, which would be an approximately 30 pct turnover growth rate against 2006, on the international and domestic express services segment.

According to its own estimates, DHL accounts for 40 pct of the international express delivery market. The company’s main clients are from the banking sector, the automotive industry, the textile industry and the consumer goods industry.

DHL operates a fleet of over 230 vehicles in Romania, as well as its own network of mailing and service centers in more than 23 cities in the country. DHL also intends to buy around 120 vehicles this year.

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Sri Lankan postal workers protest against privatization, alleged corruption

Posted by | Jul 30, 2007 | |

Sri Lankan postal workers staged a one-day strike Monday, paralyzing the island’s postal service, as a part of their campaign against privatization and alleged corruption in the postal department.

Postal workers around the country have joined this strike demanding action against corruption and waste and also to halt any effort to privatize the service, said postal union spokesman Nawaratne Bandara.

The government has repeatedly said it has no plans to privatize any state institution.

But Bandara complained that the government had licensed private companies to deliver mail as well, in what amounted to a de facto privatization campaign.

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