FAIR AND REASONABLE. USPS consulted with its three management associations and established a new compensation package for EAS employees. USPS also announced the discontinuance of the EVA Pay-for Performance program.

Describing the new package as "fair and reasonable," Labor Relations VP Anthony Vegliante says, "It honors the Postal Service's commitment to the thousands of postmasters, supervisors and managers who have contributed to outstanding organizational success. We believe this pay package is fair to both our employees and our customers."

USPS is working with the National Association of Postal Supervisors, the National Association of Postmasters of the United States and the National League of Postmasters to design a new performance-driven incentive program to replace EVA. The new program would place increased emphasis on individual achievement, while continuing to recognize group performance. The new program is expected to be in place for FY 2004.

  BETTER COMMUNICATION. USPS News On Call, the telephone service for postal news and updates, is available 24 hours a day, toll free, at 1-866-545-8777. For the deaf and hard of hearing, a toll-free relay service also is available at 1-800-877-8339. Those connecting with the relay service number simply request a text conversion and give the USPS News On Call number, 1-866-545-8777.

  LIFE ON LE TOUR. With the 14th stage of the grueling month-long Tour de France complete, Lance Armstrong remains solidly in first place with the leader's Yellow Jersey and an advantage of 4 minutes 21 seconds. The final six days of the Tour begin today after a rest day. You can read about the USPS Pro Cycling Team's Tour efforts at http://www.uspsprocycling.com/. Features include a daily Tour de France diary, a behind-the-scenes notebook, interviews with team members and photos by renowned photographer Graham Watson.

  LARGEST CORPORATIONS. USPS is ranked 29th in Fortune magazine's Global 500 listing of the world's largest corporations (July 22 issue). That's up from 33rd last year. These are 2001 rankings, with USPS revenue at $65.8 billion and 891,000 employees, 2nd highest on the list.

Top honors went to Wal-mart, with revenue of $219.8 billion and nearly 1.4 million employees. Rounding out the top five were Exxon Mobil, General Motors, BP and Ford Motor. Other companies of note in the postal and delivery sector: Germany's Deutsche Post, 130th, $31.3 billion; United Parcel Service, 134th, $30.6 billion; Japan Postal Service, 234th, $20.3 billion; FedEx, 246th, $19.6 billion; and Britain's Consignia, 425th, $12 billion.