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Wednesday, December 27, 2017

NPMHU Files National-level Grievance Challenging Function-1 Scheduler Based on Improper Time or Work Studies Under Article 34

  NPMHU Files National-level Grievance Challenging Function-1 Scheduler Based on Improper Time or Work Studies Under Article 34
Read the Mail Handler Update
Mail Handler Update
The National Office has filed a National-level grievance challenging the F-1 Scheduler because it is based on improper time or work studies. The Union alleges that this action by the Postal Service violates Article 34. The detailed grounds for this grievance are set out in the attached grievance letter. The parties will be meeting on this grievance next week, to start the processing of this dispute, and developments will be circulated as they occur.

Read the December 7, 2017 Memorandum to Local Presidents from President Paul Hogrogian and CAD Manager Teresa Harmon (pdf)

Read the National Grievance Challenging Function-1 Scheduler (pdf)

Read the December Update titled: NPMHU Files National-level Grievance Challenging Function-1 Scheduler Based on Improper Time or Work Studies Under Article 34


Reference: www.npmhu.org

Saturday, December 2, 2017

Truck loaded with mail burns north of Waycross

  Truck loaded with mail burns north of Waycross

"...Postal Service spokesman Stephen Seewoester said all 38,616 pounds was advertising mail, also known as junk mail. Waycross Postmaster Richard Ferrell determined there was no first class mail among the cargo of the burned-out semi trailer..."

Reference: http://jacksonville.com  

Friday, December 1, 2017

U.S. Postal Service dedicates Alzheimer's Semipostal Fundraising Stamp #AlzheimersStamp

  U.S. Postal Service dedicates Alzheimer's Semipostal Fundraising Stamp
#AlzheimersStamp
#AlzheimersStamp
"...The stamp will be sold for 60 cents. 11 cents of each sale will go towards research funding. It’s the first in a series of five fundraising stamps to be issued in the next 10 years..."
Reference: www.abc2news.com

Feds: Body found in Welsh was that of Houston postal worker

  Feds: Body found in Welsh was that of Houston postal worker

"...that of a Houston postal worker. Gayla Roy disappeared in September. Her co-worker and the father of her children, Don Gaines, 30, was indicted earlier this month in Houston on a charge of ..."

Reference: www.katc.com  

A postal worker was killed on the job. Her ex-boyfriend had been stalking her, witnesses say

  A postal worker was killed on the job. Her ex-boyfriend had been stalking her, witnesses say

"...The incident occurred in the parking lot near a loading dock behind the Decatur facility, Patch reports. Witnesses told FOX 5 that four shots were fired. Terrell’s mother, Eugina Terrell, told WXIA that her daughter and her boyfriend had separated about a month earlier..."

Reference: www.miamiherald.com  

Wednesday, November 29, 2017

Pictures: NPMHU 317 swearing-in ceremony was held on November 18, 2017 (Saturday)

  NPMHU 317 swearing-in ceremony was held on November 18, 2017 (Saturday)
A swearing-in of officers ceremony was held on November 18, 2017 (Saturday), at the NPMHU 317 office in Birmingham. Click on image to enlarge:

Reference: NPMHU 317

Tuesday, November 28, 2017

New Wage Chart (Effective November 25, 2017)

  New Wage Chart (Effective November 25, 2017)

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Reference: NPMHU 317

DeKalb County, Georgia: Postal worker shot in the head while on the job dies

  Postal worker shot in the head while on the job dies

"... Authorities have not identified the woman, who was shot while she was working. Witnesses told Channel 2 they heard four rounds..."

Reference: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  

Military Postal Service Agency Notes Deadline for shipping holiday gifts

  Deadline for shipping holiday gifts nears

"...To assist customers in ensuring that packages are delivered in time, the Military Postal Service Agency has released its annual recommended mail-by dates for theaters around the world. These dates are just guidelines, however, and people should carefully consider which type of mail service to use when they arrange shipments..."

Reference: Stars and Stripes  

Clerks Begin 2017 Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period on December 2

  2017 Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period

"...in accordance with Article 8, sections 4 and 5, of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, penalty overtime rules are not applicable for a consecutive four-week period each year during December..."

Reference: www.apwu.org  

Friday, November 17, 2017

NPMHU 317 Election Results (November 17, 2017)

  NPMHU 317 Election Results (November 17, 2017)
NPMHU 317 Election Results
NPMHU 317 Election Results
Congratulations to our NPMHU 317 Election Winners! The results of the 2017 election are in. The results were official on November 17, 2017, and a swearing-in ceremony was held on November 18, 2017 (Saturday).

Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 317 Official Website

Tuesday, November 14, 2017

Mail handler Salary Increase is Effective November 25, 2017

  Mail handler Salary Increase is Effective November 25, 2017
NPMHU Contract Excerpt
The next Mail Handler salary increase is effective November 25, 2017. The increase is 1.3%. This is also the time when many of your fellow Mail Handlers increase their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions. Increasing your TSP contribution by 1% when your salary increases permits you to save for retirement without feeling the impact in your check. As an added bonus, TSP contributions are tax deferred which actually lowers your taxable income, unless you allocate your increase to a Roth contribution. Roth IRAs, however, are invested with after-tax income and grow tax-free. With the S&P 500 Total Return Year to Date Price Returns (Daily) of 17.45% for Nov. 13, 2017, that is a great investment. The 'C Fund' tracks the S&P 500.
Reference: NPMHU 317   https://federal-newsgroup.blogspot.com/2017/08/should-federal-employees-invest-in-roth.html

Wednesday, November 8, 2017

NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications

  NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications

NPMHU Logo Image

The NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone scholarship program will begin accepting applications on November 21st, 2017 for scholarships to be paid during the 2018-2022 years. We are challenging Mail Handlers & their families to take advantage of these monies available at no expense - just the time needed to apply.
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union is pleased to offer the opportunity for regular craft members of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, and members of their immediate families, to apply for scholarship assistance from the NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone National Scholarship Program. Specific eligibility requirements for the program and application instructions are available at the link below.
Scholarship eligibility details and application instructions are now available. (pdf)


Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union

Friday, November 3, 2017

NPMHU Files Charges with NLRB RE: Function-1 Scheduler And USPS Failure to Provide Information

  NPMHU Files Charges with NLRB RE: Function-1 Scheduler And USPS Failure to Provide Information
NLRB Chage Against the Employer on Infor Request Failure F-1Scheduler
NLRB charge
To protect against statutory deadlines, the National Office has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the Postal Service has failed to bargain in good faith by providing all of the relevant information requested by the National Union. The National Contract Administration Department has been pressing the Postal Service for months seeking information and worksheets relevant to the application of the Function-I Scheduler in any and all mail processing facilities that may be affected by this management tool. A copy of President Hogrogian's memorandum to Local Presidents and the NLRB charge are posted here for your review. (pdf)
Reference: www.npmhu.org

Tuesday, October 31, 2017

Veteran's Day Holiday Schedule

  CAD Issues Memorandum to Address Veteran's Day Schedule Inquiries
2017 memo Veterans Day
Veterans' Day is celebrated on Nov. 11th-- in 2017, the holiday falls on a Saturday. In view of the confusion caused by this anomaly, the Contract Administration Department issued a memorandum intended to clarify the holiday schedule for Mail Handlers.

The October 25, 2017 memo and related guidance is available at this link. (pdf)
Reference: www.npmhu.org

Tuesday, October 24, 2017

The TSP’s all-in-family millionaire’s club

  The TSP’s all-in-family millionaire’s club

"...Aside from a few wealthy political appointees from the current and past administrations, the vast majority of people with million-dollar accounts were individuals with careers averaging 28 years, who invested in the C and S stock indexed funds through good times and bad, and who did not panic and retreat to the “safety” of the treasury securities G fund during the Great Recession..."

Reference: federalnewsradio.com  

Friday, October 6, 2017

House Budget is an attack on FERS employees more so than CSRS, cuts G Fund rate, ends SRS, raises employee contributions again

  House advances 2018 budget resolution with federal retirement cuts

"...elimination of supplemental payments (SRS) to employees who retire before age 62; A switch to a defined contribution pension plan for new federal employees; reduce the G fund’s rate of return ..."

Reference: federal-employees.blogspot.com  

Thursday, October 5, 2017

Unions seek assistance in rejecting 2018 House Budget that is an outright assault on postal and federal workers

  Oppose the 2018 House Budget - Fight Again for Working Families!

"...CALL 1-844-402-1001 NOW! Tell your member of Congress to VOTE NO against any budget that includes attacks to postal and federal employees’ benefits, including retirement benefits, or undermines the public Postal Service itself! As currently written, this budget will slash the pay and benefits of postal employees. It calls for: Increasing employee pension contributions into FERS, amounting to a pay cut of thousands of dollars a year for each FERS postal employee. Taking away the Social Security supplement for FERS employees who retire before they are eligible for Social Security benefits. Outright eliminating pensions for new hires..."

Reference: www.apwu.org  

Wednesday, September 27, 2017

Probes estimate billions of delayed mail to facilities and point to Postal Service ‘manipulation’...

  Probes estimate billions of delayed mail to facilities and point to Postal Service ‘manipulation’ by a few employees

"...Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) expressed his “great concern about the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General (OIG) audit report finding that the US Postal Service has been inaccurately reporting delayed mail across a number of facilities, directly impacting mail service for millions of customers.” The OIG estimated that during the year ended Feb. 28, “mail processing facilities underreported late arriving mail by about 2 billion mailpieces” — that’s billion..."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com  

MHA alleges she was terminated for requesting FMLA leave by United States Postal Service

  Woman alleges she was terminated for requesting FMLA leave by United States Postal Service

"...According to the complaint, the plaintiff was hired by the defendant as a mail handler assistant in 2013 and informed the defendant of her pregnancy in 2015. The suit states she was terminated on Aug. 28, 2015..."

Reference: pennrecord.com  

Wednesday, September 20, 2017

Postal Officials Under-Reporting Delayed Mail, Tester Calls for Firings

  Tester wants firings after postal workers accused of delaying mail delivery

"...In a two-day audit of eight mail distribution centers, investigators discovered more than 572,000 delayed mail items on land. However, postal officials were only reporting 369,000 delays, essentially hiding 36 percent of the problem..."

Reference: billingsgazette.com  

Monday, September 18, 2017

When is my next annual salary increase?

  When is my next annual salary increase?
Effective November 25, 2017 - the basic annual salary for each grade and step of Table 1 and Table 2 shall be increased by an amount equal to an amount equal to 1.3% of the basic annual salary for the grade and step in effect on May 20, 2016. For more information please see Section 9.1 - Basic Annual Salary of the National Contract
Reference: NPMHU 317

Want to know how much YOUR local union pays employees and officers?

  Want to know how much your local union pays employees and officers?
Unions are required to file and report certain things to the Department of Labor. If you would like to see this publicly available information, go to https://olms.dol-esa.gov/query/getOrgQry.do. For example,once you enter the previous link, you can find the pay for NPMHU Local 317 Employees/Officers by entering:



  • Union Name by Abbreviation: enter NPMHU-POSTAL MAIL HANDLERS, LIUNA

  • Designation Number: enter 317

  • Then at the bottom of the page where it says Report Type enter LM-2


  • Once you have made these three items, simply click submit. Once you arrive at the next form page make sure the check box is marked next to 505-261. Now at the bottom of the page where it says, Reports Specific to LM2s and LM3s, check the box that says, Officer/Employee Report. Now click Submit. Once you have completed this, you are now on the Records 1 to 5 page. Here you will see the first 5 individuals and their corresponding pay. Simply click NEXT at the top right of the page to see the next individuals and then so on. You can play with these forms and search queries to find even more information relating to our Local.

  • Reference: NPMHU 317

    NPMHU and USPS Finalize Contract Interpretation Manual

      NPMHU and USPS Finalize Contract Interpretation Manual
    "...As provided for in Article 15, Section .3E of the National Agreement between the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the United States Postal Service, both parties have agreed to jointly produce a Contract Interpretation Manual (CIM), which represents a good faith effort to identify contractual issues on which the National parties are in agreement regarding interpretation and application of the parties' National Agreement. The latest issue of the CIM is Version 4, which was released on August 24, 2017..."
    Reference: https://www.npmhu.org/media/news/cimv4

    Thursday, August 24, 2017

    Man accused of going postal with pallet full of parcels

      Man accused of going postal with pallet full of parcels

    "...He struck her with the pallet, bruising her hip. She told the officer that she became pinned between the pallet and the mail hamper. She yelled at the suspect to stop striking her, but he refused to pull the pallet back. He told the victim she needed to be more aware of her surroundings ..."

    Reference: www.nwfdailynews.com  

    Are there any postal employment opportunities in Alabama? Here's the latest list

      Are there any postal employment opportunities in Alabama? Here's the latest list


    For more employment opportunities go to: http://www.usps.com/careers

    Reference: usps.gov  

    Monday, August 14, 2017

    $270 COLA effective in September 2017: Approximately $10.38 Per Pay Period [270/26= 10.38...]

      $270 COLA effective in September 2017

    Effective on September 2, 2017, career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive the third of seven possible cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2016 National Agreement. This COLA increase is based on the upward change in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) following release of the July 2017 Index, and provides an annual increase of $270 for all Steps in Table 1 and for Step P of Table 2. The remaining Steps in Table 2 will receive the proportional COLA increase percentages as outlined in Article 9.3 of the National Agreement.

    Reference: www.npmhu.org

    ...so when is our next contractual salary/wage increase?

     

    Friday, July 28, 2017

    No Indication of Buyouts as USPS Cutting 12,000 Jobs Nationwide

      USPS cutting 12,000 jobs nationwide

    "...The public’s going to have to wait a lot longer in line at a lot of these post offices. The phone won’t get answered, and the level of service the public has gotten used to could decline if these job cuts go through,” said David Yao ..."

    Reference: q13fox.com  

    Friday, July 21, 2017

    NPMHU SECURES DELAY OF PROPOSED INVOLUNTARY REASSIGNMENTS

      NPMHU SECURES DELAY OF PROPOSED INVOLUNTARY REASSIGNMENTS

    USPS management continues to implement its ill-conceived plans to realign its work force. Their plans involve massive bid reversions and job abolishments in almost every mail processing facility throughout the country. In most cases, management is basing its staffing needs on the flawed Function 1 Scheduler that the Postal Service uses to determine staffing levels at the large mail processing plants. Postal management continues to argue that these reversions and/or abolishments are necessary because of the continuing decline in mail volumes.

    In response to these unwarranted attacks on the postal workforce, NPMHU President Paul Hogrogian and APWU President Mark Dimondstein sent a joint letter to Postmaster General Megan Brennan protesting the Postal Service’s proposed actions. The two Presidents vowed that both unions would work together to combat the Postal Service’s attacks on its employees.

    The NPMHU has been recently informed by Postal Headquarters that the September 2017 “move date” will be pushed back and that no Mail Handler will be involuntarily reassigned out of his/her installation until, in all likelihood, at least February 2018. Postal management has agreed to use this extended period to discuss with the unions ways to minimize and even eliminate the involuntary reassignments of Full-Time career employees out of their current installations. Management also confirmed that it is required under Article 7 of our National Agreement to reduce their proposed non-career work hours to the greatest extent possible before excessing career employees out of their installation.

    However, management remains steadfast in its intention to realign the work force and align employees’ schedules/start times with the projected mail arrival profiles. This will result in wholesale start time changes, bid reversions, and abolishment of duty assignments. Area Labor-Relations specialists will be meeting with the respective NPMHU Regional Directors to discuss how they will be implementing these changes. During these meetings, our Regional Directors will be voicing our strong opposition to these unnecessary changes and suggest more efficient alternatives.

    Unions representatives at the Local and Branch levels will challenge the unwarranted start time changes, reversions, and abolishments and will file the appropriate grievances. The National and Regional CAD remain fully prepared to assist the Local Unions in processing these grievances. All members also should stay informed of these issues, both through the mail and on the NPMHU website.

    Read the July Update to learn about the Union's efforts in securing a delay in the proposed involuntary reassignments.

    Reference: www.npmhu.org  

    Thursday, June 22, 2017

    NPMHU and APWU Deliver Unified Objection to PMG Brennan

      NPMHU and APWU Deliver Unified Objection to PMG Brennan

    On June 21, 2017, NPMHU President Paul Hogrogian and APWU President Mark Dimondstein delivered a clear message to Postmaster General Brennan. (pdf)

    Text copy of the correspondence is as follows:

    Megan Brennan

    Postmaster General - Chief Executive Officer
    United States Postal Service
    475 L'Enfant Plaza, SW
    Washington, DC 20260

    Dear Postmaster General Brennan:
    American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO
    June 21, 2017


    As presidents of our respective unions representing over 250,000 hard-working postal employees, we are deeply disturbed by the wholesale and massive job cuts under way by your administration. The cutting of an already skeletal workforce will not only cause massive disruption to the workforce but will cause further degradation of postal services for the American people throughout the country.

    We also note that your public commitment to abide by the respective Collective Bargaining Agreements as you address workforce complements is being violated because the ongoing job reversions and job abolishments are contrary to contractual obligations. The excessing impact statements - currently amounting to over 1500 events affecting over 15,000 employees and counting - are blatant violations of our CBAs in relation to advance notice, mandated information to the unions, meeting requirements, move dates, and residual vacancies.

    Using the information that the Postal Service has provided to the unions, there also is no way to determine if the required Article 12 provisions involving part-time flexible hours or PSE and MHA/Casual employment were considered or if the staffing is based upon all available work hours.

    Our contracts further require that at the Area/Regional meeting a list of residual vacancies be provided to the union for each excessing event. At the current time, there are insufficient residual vacancies to accommodate the impact of thousands of bargaining unit employees. In fact, it would take a significant amount of time to gather that number of residual vacancies.

    Without the residual vacancies, there is no excessing. That begs the question of why there is a demand to excess thousands of employees if there are no 'landing spots' for the excessed employees to be placed into.

    Based upon all of the above factors and concerns expressed above, the NPMHU and the APWU request that management consider and explore all other alternative options prior to the massive excessing plan currently proposed.

    Without change, these management actions essentially throw any good faith efforts and constructive relationships to the wind. At a time when the parties have been working together to craft, promote, and pass constructive postal reform legislation, we wonder why the Postal Service would choose to declare war on its unions and its employees. Rest assured that, absent correction, the APWU and the NPMHU will together resist these misguided actions and violations of your agreements with, and commitments to, our members.

    We are both available early afternoon on Tuesday June 27th or late morning or early afternoon on Wednesday June 28th to further discuss these matters in person.

    We await your response.

    (Signed) Presidents Paul Hogrogian and Mark Dimondstein

    Reference: www.npmhu.org
    *Bolding Added  

    Monday, June 5, 2017

    Union Moves to Challenge Wholesale Job Reversions and Bid Abolishments

      Union Moves to Challenge Wholesale Job Reversions and Bid Abolishments

    The National Office has been in contact with Postal Headquarters to discuss the deluge of bid reversions and abolishments that are being implemented across the country as a result of the Function 1 Scheduler. Postal Management has argued that these reversions/ abolishments are necessary because of the continuing decline in mail volumes. The most recent figures (for the period from October 1, 2016 through May 31, 201 7) indicate a decline of over 6 billion pieces in total mail volume from the same period last year.

    In an extreme over reaction to these mail volume figures, USPS Headquarters has directed all Postal Areas to assess their current workforce complements and make the necessary adjustments to reflect the decline in mail volume. Not surprisingly, the Area Managers are now over reacting to Postal Headquarters' initial over reaction.

    The "staffing tool" that is being used to determine complement in each postal installation is called the Function 1 Scheduler. As explained by Postal Managers, the Function 1 Scheduler uses mail volumes, available equipment, allied labor, and volume arrival, among other factors, to help the processing centers to determine their bid alignments and schedules. However, as most Mail Handler representatives already know, the Function 1 Scheduler is far from perfect.

    Read the full memorandum and related material that was sent to Local President on June 2, 2017

    Reference: www.npmhu.org  

    Tuesday, April 11, 2017

    Former St. Petersburg postal mail handler gets nine years in prison for theft of Social Security checks

      Former St. Petersburg postal worker gets nine years in prison for theft of Social Security checks

    "...A former U.S. Postal Service mail handler was ordered to serve nine years in prison Wednesday for stealing close to $3 million in Social Security checks from a St. Petersburg mail-processing facility..."

    Reference: www.tampabay.com  

    Wednesday, March 8, 2017

    Social Security: Get your special extra earnings for periods of military active duty from 1957 through 2001

      Social Security: Get your special extra earnings for periods of military active duty from 1957 through 2001
    special extra earnings for periods of active duty from 1957 through 2001
    Uncle Sam Pays Vets for Service
    "...special extra earnings for periods of active duty from 1957 through 2001 can also be credited to your Social Security earnings record...."
    Reference: Federal Retirement News

    Sunday, February 19, 2017

    Career Mail Handlers Scheduled to Receive Second of Seven Possible Cost-of-Living (COLA) adjustments

      Career Mail Handlers Scheduled to Receive Second of Seven Possible Cost-of-Living (COLA) adjustments

    Effective on March 4, 2017, all career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive the second of seven possible cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2016 National Agreement. This COLA increase is based on the upward change in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) following release of the January 2017 Index, and provides an annual increase of $333 for all Steps in Table 1 and for Step P of Table 2. The remaining Steps in Table 2 will receive the proportional COLA increase percentages as outlined in Article 9.3 of the National Agreement.

    Link to wage chart effective March 4, 2017 (pdf)


    Reference: www.npmhu.org  

    Thursday, February 16, 2017

    Chaffetz, PMG Brennan tout bill to sustain U.S. Postal Service

      Chaffetz, PMG Brennan tout bill to sustain U.S. Postal Service

    "...The legislation would require postal retirees to look to Medicare for their primary health coverage, a change the would dramatically cut the Postal Service’s costs for retiree healthcare..."

    Reference: www.linns.com

    More Reading on Medicare: The ABDs (and Fs) of Medicare Coverage. Barron's, February 4, 2017.

     

    Friday, February 10, 2017

    Mail Handlers Ratify New Contract

      Mail Handlers Ratify New Contract

    MEMBERSHIP RATIFIES 2016 NATIONAL AGREEMENT

    The terms of the 2016 National Agreement between the NPMHU and the U.S. Postal Service were officially ratified on February 10, 2017, when the results of the membership ratification vote were certified by the American Arbitration Association. The final vote tally was 8,047 in favor of ratification and 513 in opposition to ratification. Additional information regarding important provisions of the new National Agreement will be shared in subsequent NPMHU publications. Further details about the implementation of the 2016 National Agreement will be provided to Local Union officers and representatives as they become available.


    Wage Chart Explanation

    Updated Wage Chart (pdf)

    Link to February 2017 Update

    Reference: www.npmhu.org  

    Monday, January 23, 2017

    NPMHU Membership to Vote on Ratification of Tentative 2016 National Agreement

      NPMHU Membership to Vote on Ratification of Tentative 2016 National Agreement
    "...materials were mailed to all members on January 11, 2017. To be counted, the completed ballots must be received in the designated P.O. Box in Washington, DC no later than 9:00 a.m. on the morning of Friday, February 10, 2017. On that day all returned ballots will be verified, counted, and certified by the American Arbitration Association to determine whether a majority of voting mail handlers have approved the tentative agreement..."
    Reference: www.npmhu.org