NPMHU Local 317 - Alabama
Official Site of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 317. Postal News for NPMHU 317 members. We consist of branches in Birmingham, Huntsville, Mobile, and Montgomery.
Reference: usps.com
The LiteBlue and PostalEASE applications have not been compromised. A limited number of employees have reported unusual account activity involving their PostalEASE accounts, which has been attributed to their prior interaction with the fake LiteBlue websites.
As an additional precaution, the Net to Bank and Allotment functionalities have been disabled online in the PostalEASE application accessed externally through LiteBlue via a personal computer as of Dec. 29, 2022, until further notice.
Fraud Alert Update Stand-Up Talk 12/30/2022 (pdf)
Payroll Deductions Update Stand-Up Talk 1/20/2023 (pdf)
On Sunday, January 15, the USPS is deploying the MFA (Multifactor Authentication) solution for LiteBlue as an additional security measure to protect employees’ IDs, passwords, and other personal data from unauthorized access and misuse. At this time, employees are required to sign up for MFA to obtain access to LiteBlue. As a part of the MFA implementation, there are a few steps employees must complete. These steps include:
1. Reset their Self-Service Profile (SSP) password.
2. Verify answers to security questions.
3. Verify the last four digits of their Social Security Number (new security enhancement).
4. Establish MFA preferences.
https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome
"...Daniel Nerka knows he’s got it good. “Can’t get any better than delivering on the Hill,” the St. Paul, MN, letter carrier said. Nerka is referring to Cathedral Hill, which gets its name from the magnificent beau..."
Reference: USPS News Link
"...Though Nixon drove a hard bargain while the strike was in progress, his government did not retaliate against those who walked out. Not a single striking worker was fired. Nobody was fined or jailed for acting against federal law. But when labor laws were amended in 1978, allowing collective bargaining for federal workers, provisions that made it illegal to strike stayed in the law. It’s still against the law for federal workers to walk out on the job. But the strike reminded the government—and the nation—of the power of rank-and-file workers. ..."
Reference: www.history.com
"...At stake is a 64-year-old precedent that shields workers and unions from state lawsuits while they pursue unfair labor practice claims in the federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). If unions have to defend against costly lawsuits, it will likely discourage them from going on strike. ...Glacier Northwest “is about corporations using the legal system to try to deny workers their inherent power,” Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. "
Reference: truthout.org
"...Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees’ right to “self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection”
Among the rights protected by Section 7 is the right of union-represented employees, upon request, to have their representative present during an interview that the employee reasonably believes could lead to discipline. This right was first articulated by the Supreme Court in the case, NLRB v. J. Weingarten, Inc. In that case, the Court found that Section 7 of the NLRA protects employees who refuse to submit to certain interviews without a requested representative present.
An employee’s requested representative, which may be a union steward, business agent or officer, or fellow employee, is often referred to as a “Weingarten representative.” Weingarten representatives are entitled to provide advice and active assistance to employees during investigatory interviews. Employees’ right to request their representatives are frequently referred to as “Weingarten rights.”
Employers violate the NLRA if they proceed with an investigatory interview while refusing an employee’s request or retaliate against them for making the request.
..."
Basic Information, Financials, Spending, Members and News, Leaders and Salaries...
Reference: www.unionfacts.com
"...The charges against 10 Roads Express include threats against workers of pay cuts, route cuts, and withholding bonuses. They also include threatening to discharge drivers for engaging in legally protected union activities. The company also unlawfully promised workers better health care benefits and improved terms and conditions if they rejected union representation. The company’s attempts to halt workers’ plans to build a union ultimately failed when a majority of workers voted..."
Reference: apwu.org
January 12, 2023- We received the following update regarding the LiteBlue/PostalEase security issues:
The USPS Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) and the Eagan Accounting Service Center’s LiteBlue recovery process ensures the monies recovered from financial institutions will be promptly repaid to the employees impacted by the fake websites.
As of yesterday, CISO has received confirmation there were 368 instances in pay period 26 where employees accessed fake LiteBlue websites and had their IDs and passwords hacked, with that number dropping to 195 in pay period 1. Please note some employees may be included in both groups.
The Eagan ASC has provided a rough estimate of $322,000 in recovered funds. Unfortunately, not all the stolen money will be recovered. It is the position of the Postal Service that they will not be reimbursing employees for any funds lost due to the criminal activity involving the fake LiteBlue websites.
We are told that following notice of the unauthorized activity, Eagan immediately sent out letters of indemnity to the financial institutions, and aggressively worked with them to recover the stolen monies. The OIG’s and Inspection Service’s criminal investigations continue.
Once the financial institutions return the recovered monies to the Eagan ASC via electronic funds transfers, the ACS will cut checks to the impacted employees. All recovery checks are being mailed to the impacted employees’ duty stations of record.
CISO and the postal vendor are working to implement the new LiteBlue security features that include multi-factor authentication, projected go-live on January 15, 2023. The new LiteBlue access protocol will require the additional identification step to enhance system security.
We will continue to keep you updated as we receive more information.
January 4, 2023- USPS, Office of the Inspector General, and Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) discovered fake LiteBlue website which closely resemble LiteBlue. (pdf)
Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) has just confirmed the tentative date for implementing the new “multi-factor” protocol for enabling the restoration for access to LiteBlue is Sunday, January 15, 2023. The multi-factor access will mirror the additional ID authentications required by banks, insurance companies, etc. when accessing and completing transactions on similar platforms.
Impacted employees continue to be contacted by representatives from the Eagan ASC, Inspection Service, OIG and/or CISO as part of the on-going investigation. We will post additional details when known.
January 4, 2023- USPS, Office of the Inspector General, and Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) discovered fake LiteBlue website which closely resemble LiteBlue. (pdf)
Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) has just confirmed the tentative date for implementing the new “multi-factor” protocol for enabling the restoration for access to LiteBlue is Sunday, January 15, 2023. The multi-factor access will mirror the additional ID authentications required by banks, insurance companies, etc. when accessing and completing transactions on similar platforms.
Impacted employees continue to be contacted by representatives from the Eagan ASC, Inspection Service, OIG and/or CISO as part of the on-going investigation. We will post additional details when known.
Postal Items Found on Amazon Today "...Postal related items found on Amazon. Books, toys, signs, clothing, stamp collecting, ......
