Graphic Media Alliance

Event Type:  Webinars

Event Date:  Thursday, June 21, 2018 - 2:00 pm to 3:00 pm

PIA Webinars are FREE for Association members.

OSHA recently issued a final rule on walking-working surfaces that included new sections regarding the use of personal fall protection systems. Among other changes, employers may now choose from several accepted fall protection systems including guardrails, safety nets, personal fall arrest systems, and others. The rule also adds new training requirements for employees using personal fall protection systems.In this webinar, Matthew Crownover will provide an overview of the new requirements, compliant fall protection options, and resources available to you.

Who Should Attend

• Company Owners
• Management Teams
• Safety/Compliance Managers

Read more about the webinar or register here.

U.S. Paper Recovery Rate Reaches 65.8 Percent in 2017

Source: American Forest and Paper, May 3, 2018 

WASHINGTON – The American Forest & Paper Association (AF&PA) today announced that 65.8 percent of paper consumed in the U.S. was recovered for recycling in 2017. 

U.S. paper recovery rate statistics are available at www.paperrecycles.org/statistics. 

“Paper recycling brings continued economic, environmental and social benefits to communities across the country,” said AF&PA President and CEO Donna Harman. “We thank the millions of Americans who choose to recycle every day for their essential contributions to paper recycling’s success.” 

“Paper is one of the most successfully recovered and recycled commodities in the U.S. because of our strong, market-driven voluntary system,” said AF&PA Board Chairman and GEC Packaging Technologies CEO John Rooney. “Our industry will continue to support and implement education programs and initiatives that drive awareness and increase access to paper recycling.” 

Paper recovery for recycling helps extend the useful life of paper and paper-based packaging products, making it an integral part of the industry’s sustainability story. The industry has a goal to exceed 70 percent paper recovery for recycling by 2020 as part of its Better Practices, Better Planet 2020 sustainability initiative. 

For more information: contact Katharine Eaton

(202) 463-2436, comm@afandpa.org

U.S. Postal Service Reports Second Quarter 2018 Results

Source:  U.S. Postal Service, May 11, 2018 

WASHINGTON — The U.S. Postal Service reported total revenue of $17.5 billion for the second quarter of 2018 (January 1, 2018 - March 31, 2018), an increase of $235 million, or 1.4 percent, compared to the same quarter last year. Shipping and Packages revenue grew by $445 million, or 9.5 percent, while First-Class and Marketing Mail revenue fell by a combined $181 million.

• Revenue growth fueled by growing package business
• Decline in letter mail continues - primary source of revenue
• Return to financial stability requires continued management actions combined with urgently needed legislative and regulatory changes

The Postal Service's results for the quarter continued to reflect multi-year trends of growth in Shipping and Packages volume and declining letter volumes, as package volume grew by 69 million pieces, or 5.0 percent, while mail volumes declined by 700 million pieces, or 2.1 percent, compared to the same quarter last year.

“Despite growth in our package business, our financial results reflect systemic trends in the marketplace and the effects of an inflexible, legislatively mandated business model that limits our ability to generate sufficient revenue and imposes costs upon us that we cannot afford,” said Postmaster General and CEO Megan J Brennan. “America needs a financially strong Postal Service that can invest in its future and can continue to fulfill the needs of American businesses and consumers. With continued aggressive management and greater legal authority to respond to changes in our marketplace and to control our costs, the Postal Service can return to financial sustainability.”

Read the full article.

Best Way to Tell Your Clients About Price Increases and Other Bad News

By Bill Farquharson

Source: Printing Impressions, May 17, 2018

It started out like any other sales meeting. Numbers flash on the screen and you are in danger of falling victim to Death by PowerPoint as management drones on and on with the speech you’ve heard countless times before, and could probably take over if your boss pulled a hammy and went down. At best, you are half listening, anxious to check your cell phone and hoping that your CSR will find a reason - anything - to interrupt and pull you out of the meeting. Just before rigor mortis sets in, your manager takes off his glasses and says, “And now to the bad news.” 

With this, you wake from your stupor and listen intently as he proclaims, “We will be raising all prices across the board by 5%, effective immediately. You will need to meet with your regular customers and deliver the news. There will be no exceptions.” 

Your shock is shared by every sales rep in the room as murmurs becomes raised voices of great concern and the volume of conversation turns into a roar. Shouts of, “Ridiculous!” and “Excessive!” permeate the din. 

Senior salespeople are shaking their heads and junior reps are mentally rewriting their résumés. Your manager quiets the room and adds, “Gang, this is our first price increase in four years. We know this is not ideal, but you are going to need to find a way to deliver this information as soon as possible. This is part of the job, boys and girls.”

Read the full article.

The Printing Industries of Ohio • N.Kentucky Employment Exchange Report