ACTION NEEDED: FERS Employees: Please support a higher COLA in retirement with H.R. 866 | Equal COLA Act

 

Please share this article with other FERS employees. FERS employees get 1% less than CSRS retirees in 2023 due to discrimanatory calculation differences. This makes a huge difference over your retirement years as the difference continues to grow exponentially over time. This is your opportunity to take 5 minutes to hopefully alter your future in a positive manner. Take Action Now!

H.R. 866 | Equal COLA Act

Snippet of Article:Call or write congress on H.R. 866 "H.R. 866: To amend title 5, United States Code, to achieve parity between the cost-of-living adjustment with respect to an annuity under the Federal Employees Retirement System and an annuity under the Civil Service Retirement System, and for other purposes. ...Call or write congress on H.R. 866"

Source: www.govtrack.us

H.R. 866

More Reading: Difference in CSRS COLA vs FERS COLA in 2023: For the year 2023, annuitants who retired under CSRS will receive 8.7 percent increase and those who retired under FERS will receive a 7.7 percent increase. The rate varies each year.

 

Contract Ratification Vote 2023 (NPMHU)

  Ballot Count Set for March 13, 2023

Ballot Count Set for March 13, 2023

The results of collective bargaining for the 2022 National Agreement between the NPMHU and USPS will be mailed to mail handlers on January 31, 2023. Ballots will be counted on March 13, 2023. The tentative agreement contains many important gains and improvements in wages, work rules, and other benefits, and we urge you to vote “Yes” to ratify the contract.

Ratification Vote Over Terms of 2022 National Agreement Underway

Ratification procedures to certify the terms of the tentative 2022 National Agreement between the Union and the U.S. Postal Service were adopted by the National Executive Board of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and widely distributed in November 2022. All regular members who are employed by the U.S. Postal Service as of Pay Period 26-2022 are eligible to vote and were furnished with the text of the proposed changes and deletions to the National Agreement, together with ballots and return envelopes. This ratification material was mailed to each eligible voter on January 31, 2023. Any member who does not receive a ballot or the accompanying information must call the Ratification Ballot Coordinator, Neil Ryan at 202-833-9095, extension 1029, to request replacement materials.

The balloting period began on January 31, 2023, and will conclude at 9:00 a.m. on March 13, 2023, with verification and count, to be overseen by the American Arbitration Association. All members are encouraged to vote yes, in favor of ratification. The highlights of the 2022 National Agreement between the NPMHU and the U.S. Postal Service are as follows:

WAGE IMPROVEMENTS:

Continuation of COLA payments (6 during the term of the Agreement)
3 General Wage Increases of 1.3%
Additional 1% increase for Steps BB, AA, and A
Over $2,700 in wage increases for Mail Handlers at top step (not including COLA)

CHANGES TO SALARY SCHEDULE:

Elimination of Step BB; new career employees start at Step AA
Shorten waiting period between all steps from 52 to 48 weeks
Overall reduction in more than 2 years to reach top step (will be less than 15 years to reach top step)

MHA IMPROVEMENTS:

Additional 1% wage increase each year
Additional $0.50 increase retroactive to November 2022
Creation of MHA Step B (additional $0.50 after 6 months)
Automatic conversion to career position after 24 months

OTHER IMPROVEMENTS:

Consecutive days off for career employees in 200+ man-year facility
Guaranteed nonscheduled day each week for MHAs and PTFs
Layoff protection for career Mail Handlers employed as of September 20, 2022
New MOU on Dignity and Respect for all employees
Annual clothing allowance increases of 2.5% with new carry-over provisions

Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317 - Alabama



 

Scammers selling counterfeit stamps

  Scammers selling counterfeit stamps

"...One specific website — https://www.stampsshop.net — was used by a Northumberland businessman who alerted the Northumberland County District Attorney's Office. "Some big box retailers and other approved vendors who have agreements with the USPS may offer slight discounts on the purchase of U.S. Forever Stamps but discounts of 20 to 50 percent should be viewed as scams," said Stark. "If you ordered these stamps online and entered your credit card or financial account information, change your login credentials immediately."..."

Reference: yahoo.com
 

USPS Ground Advantage Product to streamline, simplify package options

 

"...As part of its strategy to enhance its shipping offerings, USPS has notified the Postal Regulatory Commission of its intention to replace First-Class Package Service with USPS Ground Advantage. According to the Feb. 10 filing with the commission, the improved ground product, which is expected to launch in the summer, will feature service standards of 2-5 days for packages up to 70 pounds. USPS Retail Ground, Parcel Select Ground and First-Class Package Service will be incorporated into USPS Ground Advantage. ..."

Reference: usps.com
 

PostalEase Transactions Reactivated | Mandatory Stand-Up Talk

  PostalEase Transactions Reactivated

Re: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk - PostalEase Transactions Reactivated (pdf) Dear Sisters and Brothers:

Please find attached a copy of the above-reference Mandatory Stand-Up Talk. Due to the successful addition of the multifactor authentication for LiteBlue, the Postal Service has reactivated the ability for employees to change their net to bank and allotment through PostalEase.

Please disseminate this information as you deem appropriate. Should you have any questions contact the Contract Administration Department.

Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317