Ensuring the Status Quo – Analysis

The Postal Service apparently wants to keep Doug Tulino on the job very badly. Tulino has spent his postal career in labor relations and human resources, becoming chief human resources officer and executive vice-president in 2020.  Despite little if any experience in field operations or management, he was chosen by former postmaster general Louis DeJoy to serve as deputy PMG. …

Read More

USPS Revises Service Measurement

In a May 30 filing with the Postal Regulatory Commission, the Postal Service announced changes to its service measurement process.  As stated in the filing: “In this filing, the Postal Service provides notice to the Commission about revisions to the SPM Plan and Methodology Documents related to necessary changes to allow the Postal Service to collect and report service performance…

Read More

They Who Do Not Thirst – Commentary

Everyone likely is familiar with the saying that “you can drag a horse to water but you can’t make it drink.”  Often, the saying is used as a metaphor for persons who are given opportunities but fail to take advantage of them.  The implicit basis for both is that the horse – or person – either fails to understand the…

Read More

Despite Lower Targets, Service Performance Worsens

PQ II/FY 2025 service performance continued an unimpressive pattern; the Postal Service’s own data reveals that most district and area scores continued to be below targets, even though the targets were significantly lower than in FY 2024. Moreover, only mail “in measurement” is reflected in USPS service scores and, for Marketing Mail, little other than destination-entered mail is measured, clearly…

Read More

A New Leader for the USPS

Having been leaked to the press earlier in the week, the big news from the Governors of the Postal Service was somewhat anti-climactic when, during the Friday public session of their May 9-10 meeting, they announced the selection of David Steiner as the 76th postmaster general.  The official press release and concurrent Industry Alert contained the predictable paeans about the…

Read More

Worshipping at the Altar of Efficiency – Commentary

Most people who travel for pleasure, but especially those who travel for business, have developed loyalties over the years to particular airlines, hotel chains, car rental companies, etc.  Often these loyalties are reinforced by the companies’ programs – frequent flyer miles and similar points systems or affinity credit cards – that reward the customer and deter switching to another provider.…

Read More

Remote Control – Commentary

In the past, when a postmaster general left, that person went into retirement or found other work but had no further involvement in the Postal Service.  Most would say that’s how it should be – but the departure of Louis DeJoy has been different. Having been moved out his role unceremoniously and definitely not on his schedule, some people might…

Read More

Another Board Vacancy Adds to the Speculation

There’s another vacancy on the Postal Service’s Board of Governors: Robert Duncan resigned effective March 27.  According to his letter of resignation that was included in the Postal Service’s press release, Duncan is now “coping with a chronic and progressive health condition that is preventing me from giving this role the full time and attention it deserves.” A supporter of…

Read More

Lipstick on a Pig – Commentary

It’s doubtful that anyone doesn’t know the meaning of the analogy that something is “like putting lipstick on a pig.”  With no offense intended to pigs, it simply means that the fundamental nature of something isn’t changed or improved by the addition of superficial or cosmetic devices. The analogy applies to the recent press release (and accompanying Industry Alert and…

Read More