NPMHU | Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $208.00

  NPMHU | Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $208.00

Effective November 19, 2022, Pay Period 25-2022 (and retroactively applicable)— For career mail handlers, the basic annual salary for each grade and step of Table One and Table Two shall be increased by an amount equal to 1.3% of the basic annual salary for the grade and step in effect on September 20, 2022. This is the first of three-scheduled general wage increases as outlined in the 2022 National Agreement. In addition to the general increases provided in Section 9.1, wage schedule RSC M reflects an additional 1% increase for steps AA-A and 1.3% increase effective November 19, 2022 (PP25-2022) for all other steps. Lastly, MHAs will receive a 2.3% general increase and a $0.50 wage adjustment effective November 19, 2022 (PP25-2022). Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $208

Cost of Living Increase and Wage Chart Effective March 11. 2023 (Pay Period 07-2023) pdf

General Wage Increase and Wage Chart Effective November 19. 2022 (Pay Period 25-2022) pdf

Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317 - Alabama


 

Long-term care pause | Two-year freeze on applications

  Long-term care pause | Two-year freeze on applications

The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) has paused all new applications for the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program.

Unenrolled individuals cannot apply for the program.

The suspension period, which will run for 24 months from Dec. 19, 2022, is designed to give OPM and the John Hancock Life and Health Insurance Co., the program’s carrier, “time to thoroughly assess benefit offerings and establish sustainable premium rates that reasonably and equitably reflect the cost of the benefits provided,” according to the suspension notice on the program’s website.

Current enrollees’ coverage will not change as long as they continue to pay their premiums. However, current enrollees may not increase coverage.

Those who applied for the program before the cutoff date will have their application considered and, if approved, will receive all relevant information.

For those in claims status, there is no change to coverage or claims reimbursement as long as benefits have not been exhausted.

For more information on the suspension, call LTCFEDS at 800-582-3337. For other benefits-related questions, contact the Wellness team.

Reference: USPS News Link via NPMHU Local 317 - Alabama

 

NPMHU members ratify 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

  NPMHU members ratify 2022 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA)

MAIL HANDLERS RATIFY 2022 NATIONAL AGREEMENT

The terms of the 2022 National Agreement between the NPMHU and the U.S. Postal Service were officially ratified on March 13, 2023. The certified results show that over 84% of the membership approved the new contract, with the final vote tally at 6,617 in favor of ratification and 1,237 in opposition to ratification.

Further details about the implementation of the 2022 National Agreement will be provided to Local Union officers and representatives in the coming weeks. All members are encouraged to retain and utilize their copy of the ratification booklet until National Agreements are printed and distributed.

Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317 -Alabama


 

Blink Charging to supply thousands of EV chargers to U.S. Postal Service

 

Blink Charging to supply thousands of EV chargers to U.S. Postal Service

From the article: "...Blink Charging will provide an initial order of 4,900 chargers to the U.S. Postal Service over three years to support the agency's rollout of electric vehicles. This week the postal service announced it will buy 9,250 electric vans from Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) and 14,000 EV charging stations that will be installed at its facilities later this year. Miami Beach-based Blink..."

Article Reference: www.bizjournals.com
Blink Charging, EV Charging Contract (USPS),

 

Retirement Planning | Create your personal 'My Social Security Account' to estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits you already receive

  Retirement Planning | Create your personal my Social Security Account to estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits you already receive

"A free and secure my Social Security account provides personalized tools for everyone, whether you receive benefits or not. You can use your account to request a replacement Social Security card, check the status of an application, estimate future benefits, or manage the benefits you already receive. ...Create your account here"

Reference: www.ssa.gov
 

Florida: Mail Handler Assistant (MHA) in Jacksonville pleads guilty to stealing parcels of mail

  Mail Handler Assistant in Jacksonville pleads guilty to stealing parcels of mail

"The United States Attorney’s Office Middle District of Florida has announced that Jonisha M. Williams, 36 of Jacksonville, pleaded guilty to stealing deposits from the mail. ...According to the plea agreement, from Feb. 5 to Mar. 4, 2021, Williams worked as a mail handler assistant at the National Distribution Center in Jacksonville. ..."

Reference: yahoo.com
 

Huntsville Haysland Station Post Office to host career fair March 10

  Huntsville Haysland Station Post Office to host career fair March 10

"The U.S. Postal Service is looking for workers to fill open positions in Huntsville and the surrounding area. ...Alabama-Mississippi District management team and local Postmasters, managers and customer service employees will be gathering at the Haysland Post Office from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday, March 10. They'll be available to meet with the public and answer any questions that applicants may have about working for USPS. ..."

Reference: www.waaytv.com
 

Letters sticking out of mail collection boxes (Blue Boxes) are 'like a field day for a criminal'

  Letters sticking out of mail collection boxes (Blue Boxes) are 'like a field day for a criminal'

"The U.S. treasury issued a dire warning Monday about a nationwide surge in check fraud. . ..."When criminals see letters sticking out of a blue collection box, they know nothing is being done," said Frank Albergo, national president of the Postal Police Officers Association. Photos like these..."

Reference: www.cbsnews.com
 

How to keep USPS smartphones from quarantine

  How to keep USPS smartphones from quarantine

"The Postal Service is reminding employees that their USPS-issued smartphones will be placed in quarantine if they don’t keep the operating system up to date. Outdated operating systems pose a security risk that exposes smartphones and the postal network to hackers and other malicious actors. Employees must keep their USPS-issued smartphones current with the latest operating systems. The organization will place iPhones missing current or prior updates in quarantine in order to protect the postal network. Similarly, “jailbroken” iPhones or “rooted” Android phones — devices that have had a manufacturer’s software restrictions intentionally removed by the user — will also be quarantined. ..."

Reference: usps.com
 

NALC and the Postal Service open negotiations for sixteenth collective bargaining agreement

  NALC and the Postal Service open negotiations for sixteenth collective bargaining agreement

" NALC and the Postal Service formally opened negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement. ...Too often, we still struggle with the lack of management’s contract compliance at the local level. This leads to complications on the workroom floor, which affect morale and productivity, while needlessly costing the Postal Service money. And perhaps most importantly, crime against letter carriers is on the rise. These repeated attacks against our members are horrific, unacceptable and must be addressed through action. No letter carrier should fear for their life or safety ..."

Reference: www.nalc.org