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☆ Amazon is expanding its own shipping service that directly competes with FedEx and UPS, email invite shows
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-18 | by ( Eugene Kim | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Amazon is inviting sellers to use its own in-house shipping service, called Amazon Shipping. Amazon is significantly expanding its own shipping service that competes with FedEx and UPS. Earlier this week, Amazon invited some sellers to use Amazon Shipping, its own in-house delivery service, according to an email invite seen by Insider. If the merchant used Amazon's fulfillment service, Amazon would decide which delivery service their packages would go through, whether it's UPS or Amazon's own shipping service. However, with Amazon Shipping, sellers now have the choice to use Amazon Shipping directly, even if they are shipping from their own warehouse.

Persons: It's, Pitney Bowes, That's, Olivia Connors Organizations: Amazon, Amazon Shipping, FedEx, UPS, US Postal Service, Pitney, Amazon's, eBay, Bloomberg Locations: United States, France, Italy, Spain, India, Los Angeles, London

☆ US postal workers say agency's productivity tracking and inconsistent training is life-threatening amid extreme heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-06 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The USPS letter carriers who spoke to Insider requested anonymity because they were concerned about possible retaliation. "I've had several days where I'd have to stop and try to cool down," she told Insider. The program is designed to educate letter carriers on the warning signs of heat-related illness and how to stay safe amid high temperatures. This year, the National Associated of Letter Carriers has ordered every local branch to review its training completion records. "This is easily the worst summer yet," the rural letter carrier from Texas told Insider.

Persons: Eugene Gates Jr, Gates, Kimetra Lewis, Eugene Gates , Jr, Albert Ruiz, —, Brian Renfroe, Renfroe, I've, Lewis, Darlene Casey, It's Organizations: Service, US Postal Service, National Association of, Postal, USPS, National Labor Relations Board, South Carolina, National, Carriers, Postal Service, Washington Post, Texas Tribune, Workers Locations: Wall, Silicon, Texas, Dallas , TX, Lakewood, South, South Carolina, United States

☆ There are almost no national safety rules protecting US workers exposed to high heat
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-21 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +9 min

The National Weather Service recorded a high temperature of 97 degrees at the Dallas Love Field airport that day. The human body’s primary way to deal with high heat is through sweating, which cools the body when it evaporates. But despite these risks, getting a clear set of rules to protect workers from high heat has proved difficult. OSHA heat safety rulesEven without a specific heat standard, OSHA can fine employers that let heat get unsafe for workers under a “general duty” rule requiring safe work places. “That’s why a heat standard would be much more useful.”OSHA said protecting workers from heat is a major priority.

Persons: ”, Jordan Barab, “, ” Eugene Gates , Jr, Carla Gates, I’m, Kimetra Lewis, Gates, Larry Kenney, Kenney, Barab, Doug Parker, Marc Freedman, Biden, ” –, Angela Fritz Organizations: New, New York CNN, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Biden, US Chamber of Commerce, AFL, “, Labor Statistics, Lakewood Post, National Weather Service, Dallas Love, US Postal Service, CNN, National Association of, Carriers, Penn State, First Street Foundation, OSHA, Commerce Locations: New York, California, Florida, Lakewood, Dallas, Gates, United States

☆ The Labor Department only fines businesses on average $8,500 when a worker dies from a heat-related illness
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-16 | by ( Katie Hawkinson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

The average federal fine for a US employer, when a worker dies from heat-related illness, is $8,539.98. The three-year average of heat-related worker deaths has doubled since 1990, a 2021 report from NPR and Columbia Journalism Investigations revealed. According to federal data reported between 2017 and 2022, the Department of Labor fines businesses governed by federal OSHA regulations an average of just $8,539.98 if an employee dies because of heat-related illness. Gleason also noted that federal OSHA fines for worker deaths are significantly smaller than that of other federal agencies. "The average Environmental Protection Agency penalty is 10 times that of federal OSHA for a worker that dies," Gleason said.

Persons: Eugene Gates Jr, Felipe Pascual, Richard Gleason, Gleason, West Virginia —, Thomas Linkous, — Farrell, — Organizations: Service, NPR, Columbia, Investigations, US Postal Service, University of Washington, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, Department, Labor, OSHA, Environmental, Agency, The Department Locations: United, Wall, Silicon, United States, Dallas, Houston, West Virginia, Wisconsin, California, Washington, Oregon

☆ These are the 3 best markets for long-distance real-estate investors to capitalize on both strong cash flows and property value appreciation, according to an expert who's written multiple books on inv
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-14 | by ( William Edwards | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

David Greene says Alabama, Southern Georgia, and Northern Florida are ripe markets for appreciation. I do think appreciation is likely to be experienced later because of the increasing population that's moving there," Greene said on the podcast. According to Census Bureau data compiled by the National Association of Realtors, Florida's population grew the most in absolute terms out of any US state in 2022, while Georgia grew the sixth-most and Alabama grew the ninth-most. Cities they found where the population grew above 6% last year include Ocala, Florida; Tallahassee, Florida; Savannah, Georgia; and Deltona, Florida. National Association of RealtorsData also shows that median home prices in Alabama, Georgia, and Florida are cheaper than the national median of $436,800.

Persons: David Greene, bullish, Greene, Southern Georgia Daniela Duncan, Austin Organizations: Alabama, Florida Bown Media, Getty, National Association of Realtors, NAR, US Postal Service, National Association of Realtors Data, Rocket Mortgage Locations: Alabama, Southern Georgia, Northern Florida, Phoenix, Nashville, Austin, Alabama Montgomery , Alabama, Northern Florida Pensacola, Florida, New York, New Jersey, Birmingham, Bentonville , Arkansas, Florida's, Georgia, Ocala , Florida, Tallahassee , Florida, Savannah , Georgia, Deltona , Florida, Alabama , Georgia

☆ Stamp prices are going up starting Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-08 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

New York CNN —The US Postal Service will increase prices on first-class mail stamps to 66 cents from 63 cents. The Postal Service said the hike was necessary to offset a rise in operating expenses. Surging prices have dented business across the globe over the past two years, in many cases pushing up workers’ wages and increasing the costs of doing business. “These price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much needed revenue,” the agency said in a statement. Domestic postcards will also increase from 48 cents to 51 cents, and international postcards from $1.45 to $1.50.

Persons: General Louis DeJoy, Trump Organizations: New, New York CNN, US Postal Service, Postal Service, Service Locations: New York

☆ US Postal Service hiking stamp prices Sunday
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

FILE PHOTO: A person enters a United States Postal Service (USPS) Post Office in Manhattan, New York City, U.S., May 9, 2022. REUTERS/Andrew KellyWASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States Postal Service (USPS) is hiking the price of first-class mail stamps to 66 cents from 63 cents effective Sunday. This is the latest in a series of price increases to help offset inflationary pressures and declining first-class mail volumes. The Postal Service on Sunday is raising overall first-class mail prices by 5.4% after the Postal Regulatory Commission gave approval. USPS is raising stamp prices twice yearly and expects its “new pricing policy to generate $44 billion in additional revenue” by 2031.

Persons: Andrew Kelly WASHINGTON, Joe Biden, Biden Organizations: United States Postal Service, REUTERS, Postal Service, Postal, Commission, USPS, Service Locations: Manhattan , New York City, U.S

☆ The US economy can’t function smoothly without UPS. That’s why a strike will hurt
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-07 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +8 min

That’s why there is so much at stake in contract negotiations between UPS and the Teamsters union. Without a deal, 340,000 Teamsters are preparing to go on strike at the nation’s largest trucking company starting August 1. A UPS strike could spread disruptions like that across much of the country. Their ability to adjust and find alternatives, it’s going to be challenging.”The economy has changed radically in the 26 years since the last UPS strike in 1997. UPS won’t comment on its contingency plans, saying it is focused on reaching a deal that would avoid a strike.

Persons: ”, Patrick Anderson, It’s, “, Sean O’Brien, O’Brien, it’s, Holly Wade, Satish Jindel, Mike Eisner, Jindel, Eisner, Tommy Storch, you’ll, it’ll, ” Storch Organizations: New, New York CNN, UPS isn’t, UPS, Teamsters, Anderson Economic Group, CNN, “ Shipping, National Federation of Independent Business, FedEx, US Postal Service, Postal Service, USPS Locations: New York, Michigan

New York CNN —A marathon negotiating session between UPS and the Teamsters union ended early Wednesday morning with both sides accusing the other of walking away from the table. The current contract expires July 31, which means 340,000 UPS workers could go on strike August 1. Many in the shipping community had been looking for a deal between UPS and the teamsters by the end of the July 4 holiday weekend, he said. Amazon also has its own delivery service now. Neither side has publicly detailed the economic offer that UPS made or what the Teamsters are demanding.

Persons: Satish Jindel, ”, ” Jindel, —, Sean O’Brien, “, ” What’s Organizations: New, New York CNN, UPS, Teamsters, US Postal Service, nonunion FedEx, teamsters, FedEx, Postal Service Locations: New York, ”

☆ What’s open and closed on July 4
▼ + stars: | 2023-07-03 | by ( Ramishah Maruf | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Here’s what will be open and closed. Postal servicesThe US Postal Service will be closed on Tuesday and won’t be delivering mail. Normal FedEx services will be closed. However, FedEx Office will be open with modified hours and FedEx Custom Critical will be open. All United Postal Service operations will be closed except for UPS Express Critical.

Persons: won’t Organizations: New, New York CNN, Kroger, Walmart, Costco, Sam’s, Federal Reserve, Nasdaq, New York Stock Exchange, US Postal Service, Normal FedEx, FedEx Office, FedEx, United Postal Service, UPS Locations: New York, Independence

☆ A new Texas law will override mandated rest and water breaks for construction crews as extreme heat rises
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Catherine Boudreau | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Some construction crews in Texas are no longer guaranteed water breaks under a new law. Critics say the law will override the few protections that construction workers in Austin and Houston are guaranteed, including 10-minute breaks every four hours to drink water and rest in the shade. The agency in 2021 started collecting information to help inform a national heat standard for indoor and outdoor workers, but a final rule could be years away. Mahaleris said the law wouldn't prohibit people from taking water breaks. "Access to drinking water and bathrooms, taking breaks in the shade — and there's also an education component that's important."

Persons: Greg Abbott, Daniela Hernandez, Abbott, Andrew Mahaleris, Mahaleris, Hernandez, Lulu Flores, there's Organizations: Service, Central America, Workers Defense Project, Occupational Safety, Health Administration, OSHA, Texans, Big, National Park Service, US Postal Service, Democrat, Austin, GOP Locations: Texas, Texas , Louisiana, Mexico, Central, Austin, Houston, Texas . Texas, California , Minnesota, Washington, North Texas, West Virginia, East Texas

☆ With month before strike deadline, Teamsters walk away from talks with UPS
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-28 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

New York CNN —The Teamsters union says it has walked away from negotiations with United Parcel Service with just over a month to go before its contract expires. In fact, most union labor negotiations include a strike authorization vote by rank and file, and most negotiations conclude with an agreement rather than a strike. Even if they vote no, it does not mean a strike is inevitable, especially this far from a strike deadline. UPS CEO Carol Tome has insisted there can be a deal reached that is a win for the union members, the company and its customers. Teamsters point to record UPS profitsThe Teamsters haven’t publicly disclosed the wage increase union negotiators are seeking.

Persons: Sean O’Brien, “, ”, Carol Tome, Teamsters haven’t, O’Brien Organizations: New, New York CNN, Teamsters, United Parcel Service, UPS, ” Unions, Disney, FedEx, US Postal Service Locations: New York

Our experts choose the best products and services to help make smart decisions with your money (here's how). Fraudulent activity by scammers trying to get your personal information has increased significantly. Check washing, robo calls, and even student loan forgiveness scams can walk scammers right into your bank account. Student loan forgiveness scamHow it works: Under the Biden Administration, student loan forgiveness applications opened in 2022. Be skepticalRight now, money scams are at an all-time high.

Persons: —, scammers, they're, It's Organizations: Service, Biden Administration, Social, Department of Education, US Postal Service

The guarantors were listed as Elma Santos Preven and Gercino Dos Santos, according to signatures on the court documents that were unsealed. But Santos’ father and aunt “agreed to be personally responsible” for the congressman’s compliance with the terms of his release, the order noted. The family members’ names were revealed Thursday after Santos and his lawyer lost an appeal to keep the identities of the bond co-signers under seal. Santos had argued that he needed to shield his bond co-signers to protect their privacy and risked having them with withdraw their support once their names became public. Santos Preven, who also has donated to her nephew’s congressional campaign, was described as a mail handler for the US Postal Service, in an FEC donation record from October 2021.

Persons: George Santos ’, Elma Santos Preven, Gercino Dos, Santos ’, “, ”, Santos, Santos Preven Organizations: CNN, New York Republican, Representatives, Commission, US Postal Service, Congressional, New York Republicans Locations: New York, York, Long

☆ What the potential UPS strike could mean for your packages
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Nathaniel Meyersohn | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —A UPS strike by 185,000 workers 25 years ago brought the logistics giant’s operations to a standstill. Striking employees of UPS in Chicago in 1997, the last major UPS work stoppage. In a worst case scenario, a longer-term UPS strike could cause major disruptions to the US supply chain network. UPS and the Teamsters' union contract expires August 1. Small and medium-sized businesses lower in the pecking order than big-box chains would see the most delays from a lengthy strike, logistics experts say.

Persons: Jeff Haynes, ”, Cathy Roberson, Richard Drew, ” Roberson, Pitney Bowes, John Haber, “, Carol Tome, Sean O’Brien, ” O’Brien, Alan Amling Organizations: New, New York CNN, UPS, US Postal Service, FedEx, Teamsters, Getty, Logistics, Walmart, Target, ”, Transportation Insight Holding Company, CNN, University of Tennessee’s, Chain Institute, “ Locations: New York, United States, Chicago, AFP

☆ Former Harvard morgue manager is accused of stealing, selling and shipping human body parts, indictment says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-14 | by ( Laura Ly | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +5 min

CNN —A former morgue manager at Harvard Medical School is facing federal charges for allegedly stealing, selling and shipping human body parts, according to an indictment. “The theft and trafficking of human remains strikes at the very essence of what makes us human. Cedric Lodge was fired by Harvard Medical School on May 6, according to a letter from the university. Human remains are voluntarily donated to Harvard’s medical school for educational purposes. Maclean allegedly paid Cedric Lodge $600 for two dissected faces in October 2020, the indictment said.

Persons: CNN —, Cedric Lodge, “, Lodge, Denise, Katrina Maclean, Joshua Taylor, Maclean, Taylor, Christopher Opiel, Pennsylvania Gerard M, Karam, ”, Cedric, Denise Lodge, ” Both Maclean, ’, ” “, altruistically, George Daley, Edward Hundert Organizations: CNN, Harvard Medical, Court, Middle, Middle District of, Harvard Medical School, University, Harvard, US Postal, Lodges, US Locations: Boston, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Middle District, Middle District of Pennsylvania, Peabody , Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Arkansas, Tewksbury , Massachusetts

☆ Don't send checks through the mail, the post office is warning. Criminals are stealing more than ever.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-13 | by ( Associated Press | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +4 min

Reports of check fraud have steadily risen since 2020, with stimulus checks becoming a target. There were 680,000 reports of check fraud in the US in 2022, compared to 350,000 in 2021. Don't put checks in the mail, the US Postal Service is warning. The Postal Service investigated and Fischgrund has recovered about 70% of the revenue, but some of the cases haven't yet been resolved. Fischgrund said he'd never previously had an issue with check fraud in the nearly 10 years he has run his own business.

Persons: Banks, Eric Fischgrund, Fischgrund, he'd, Leonardo DiCaprio Organizations: Morning, US Postal Service, US Postal Inspection Service, Federal Reserve, US Mail, Network, PR, Postal Service Locations: United States, New York

☆ A massive UPS strike could devastate the economy. It could be just eight weeks away
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-12 | by ( Chris Isidore | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

New York CNN —The Teamsters union is holding a vote right now among more than 330,000 members to authorize a strike against UPS. If UPS workers strike, it would be the largest single-employer strike in US history. UPS (UPS) is simply too big – delivering an average of 17 million domestic packages a day – to have all the packages it handles moved by competitors. The strike vote being conducted through July 16 is likely to pass overwhelmingly, as virtually all such votes do. If a deal is reached, but a majority vote against it, there will still be a strike this time.

Persons: couldn’t, Sean O’Brien, ”, Carol Tome, it’s, O’Brien, “, James Hoffa, Hoffa, ” O’Brien Organizations: New, New York CNN, Teamsters, UPS, United, FedEx, US Postal Service, CNN, ” Union, Teamster, Deutsche Bank Locations: New York, United States

☆ Over 5,300 USPS mail carriers were attacked by dogs last year. These are the cities where the attacks happen most often.
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Aaron Mcdade | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

The US Postal Service said over 5,300 mail carriers were bit by dogs in the last year. National Dog Bite Awareness Week is this week, and the USPS is hoping the data helps reduce attacks. Dogs and mail carriers, a feud as old as time that has been the butt of jokes in the real world and on TV for decades. The agency's annual National Dog Bite Awareness Week kicks off Sunday, and the post office released its annual report to draw attention to the issue. The postal service said over 5,300 mail carriers were attacked in the last year, just under the 5,400 it reported last year.

Persons: Louis, Leeann Theriault, Swain Lowe, satchel Organizations: US Postal Service, USPS, Postal Service, Texas, New York, Pennsylvania, Ohio, Illinois, Florida, Michigan, Missouri, North Carolina, Los Angeles, Dallas, Cleveland, San Diego, Chicago, Kansas City, Phoenix, San Antonio Locations: California, Houston, Virginia

Some popular big cities are losing residents, US Postal Service change-of-address requests indicate. Requests made in 2023 also show that smaller spots outside big cities have tended to gain residents. Smaller spots outside larger urban hubs, meanwhile, are attracting more residents than they're losing. Many people move over the summer to avoid pulling kids out of school midyear, so end-of-year change-of-address data may shed light on other patterns. Also, bigger cities are more likely to both lose and gain people because of their larger populations; the USPS doesn't adjust its numbers according to population.

☆ Chief Standing Bear is honored on a USPS Forever stamp
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-16 | by ( Harmeet Kaur | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

The stamp, which features a portrait of Chief Standing Bear by illustrator Thomas Blackshear II, was unveiled last week at a ceremony in Lincoln, Nebraska. “I hope this stamp will serve as a reminder of the lessons we’ve learned from Chief Standing Bear, and the brave Ponca people, especially here in the Cornhusker State.”Chief Standing Bear was a leader of the Ponca people in the late 1800s. An archival photo of Chief Standing Bear, a leader of the Ponca people in the late 1800s. In 1879, a newspaper editor interviewed Chief Standing Bear while in detention, and the story of his plight gained national attention, according to the Oklahoma Historical Society. In a speech before the court, Chief Standing Bear said through an interpreter, “That hand is not the color of yours, but if I pierce it, I shall feel pain.

☆ Financial fraudsters are targeting postal workers to steal their mailbox keys, so USPS is trying something new
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-13 | by ( Bethany Biron | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

USPS and the Postal Inspection Service announced it is cracking down on robberies and mail theft. Incident rates of attacks against mail workers and theft from blue collection boxes are on the rise. But less talked about is another issue: Thieves targeting postal workers themselves. Robbers specializing in financial fraud schemes are increasingly stealing mail straight from the hands of mail workers, or stealing their keys to mailboxes. So the United States Postal Service is implementing new policies and security efforts to curb the worsening problem.

☆ Get ready to pay up to $10 for making a return, as more companies charge fees for shipping an item back
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-11 | by ( Sindhu Sundar | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

More retailers are charging customers for shipping and related fees for mailing back returns. Roughly 41% of companies charged such fees in 2022, an increase from 33% in 2021, according to a survey. It's becoming more common for customers returning products to shoulder shipping fees. Several major retailers have referenced shipping fees for returns, including H&M, which states that "Shipping and handling costs are not refundable." J.Crew notes on its website that customers shipping gift returns will see a $7.50 charge in their refund, while JCPenney states that shipping returns cost $8.

☆ The Real Reason Rent Costs Are Sky High: People Left Their Roommates
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-10 | by ( James Rodriguez | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +12 min

Though rent growth has slowed in recent months, renters in large cities are still feeling the effects of the 2021-22 rent boom. Residents of these places are now asking the question: If so many people left, why is my rent still so expensive? The first was outbound migration, which led to weaker housing demand in city centers. "High house prices, high rents, and rising interest rates are probably pushing back against household formation," Ozimek told me. If more employees keep adopting remote work — which, I'll admit, is a big "if" — that indicates housing demand is bound to increase.

☆ Senators say new US Postal Service pay plan will cut rural worker compensation
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-05 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: 1 min

WASHINGTON, May 5 (Reuters) - A group of six U.S. senators on Friday urged the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) to delay implementation of a new compensation system that it says will reduce pay for tens of thousands of rural postal delivery workers. The senators -- Democrats Ron Wyden Elizabeth Warren, Sherrod Brown, Ed Markey and John Fetterman and independent Bernie Sanders -- in a letter to U.S. Postmaster General Louis DeJoy said the automated Rural Route Evaluated Compensation System should not be used "until the system’s serious flaws are rectified." They also asked how USPS "will reimburse rural carriers for lost earnings when the system makes an inaccurate determination about their routes." Reporting by David ShepardsonOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

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