USPS issues updates for User Guide and FAQs to Enroll and Sign in to LiteBlue with Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

  USPS issues updates for User Guide and FAQs to Enroll and Sign in to LiteBlue with Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

Dear Brothers and Sisters:

Please find enclosed a copy of the above-reference USPS issues updates for User Guide and FAQs to Enroll and Sign in to LiteBlue with Multifactor Authentication (MFA)

According to the Postal Service, maintaining the privacy of the employees' personal data is a shared priority of the Postal Service. Your private information stored online is a target for criminals who seek to compromise this data for their financial gain. As an additional safety measure, the Postal Service has deployed multifactor authentication (MFA) on LiteBlue.

This means that, in addition to providing your Employee Identification Number (EIN) and Password, you will be required to provide a second security factor (MFA), such as Push Notification approval from Okta Verify, Google Authenticator, One-Time Passcode (OTP) SMS Text, One-Time Passcode (OTP) Phone call or E-mail verification (default).

After January 15, 2023, employees are required to set up MFA to access LiteBlue.

After March 20, 2023, employees must have MFA enabled to access LiteBlue and their Self Service Profile (SSP).

1. Employees who have already set up MFA can sign in to both LiteBlue and SSP. No additional action required.
2. Employees who have not set up MFA will receive a letter by U.S. Mail. Follow the instructions to enable MFA.
3. New employees should follow the instructions in their USPS welcome letter or email to set up MFA.

The objectives of this document are to provide detailed instructions for users who are establishing a security method (or methods) to sign in to LiteBlue with multifactor authentication and to provide detailed instructions on how to access your Self-Service Profile.

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

MFA-FAQs (PDF)

MFA USER GUIDE (PDF)

Reference: www.npmhu.org via NPMHU Local 317


 

Congressman Neal Reintroduces Legislation to Fix Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

  Congressman Neal Reintroduces Legislation to Fix Social Security Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP)

"Ways and Means Committee Ranking Member Richard E. Neal (D-MA) reintroduced his legislation, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness Act of 2023, to fix the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP). The bill provides meaningful relief to current WEP retirees and fixes the WEP for future retirees, ensuring public servants can retire with the security, dignity, and peace of mind they deserve: “The WEP negatively affects 2 million retired public servants across the country..."

Reference: House.gov via Federal Retirement
 

APWU | Major Mail Processing Equipment Relocations Nationwide

  APWU | Major Mail Processing Equipment Relocations Nationwide

"...the Postal Service intends to develop teams of volunteer maintenance craft employees to perform the removals and/or relocations of mail processing equipment, in conjunction with their 10 Year Plan. Maintenance Division resident officers immediately met with the Postal Service to discuss this project and relay our concerns. While we are pleased that this work will remain in-house, and not be subcontracted, other areas of concern remain.

We learned that the Postal Service intends to solicit volunteers from Electronic Technician (ET), Mail Processing Equipment Mechanic (MPE), and Maintenance Mechanic (MM) employees with the goal of getting individuals to participate on the MPE machine removal/ relocation teams. Participation will be strictly voluntary..."

Reference: apwu.org
 

Independence Day | 4th of July

  Independence Day | 4th of July

"On July 4, 1776, the Second Continental Congress unanimously adopted the Declaration of Independence, announcing the colonies’ separation from Great Britain. "

Reference: www.loc.gov
 

USPS News Link | No mercury in the mail: USPS offers reminder about parcels

  No mercury in the mail: USPS offers reminder about parcels

The Postal Service is reminding employees that metallic mercury and items containing metallic mercury are prohibited in the mailstream.

Metallic mercury can be found in older thermometers, barometers, blood pressure monitors and the like. Newer or digital versions of these devices generally do not contain metallic mercury.

If a person knowingly mails items or materials that are dangerous or injurious to life, health or property, they may face a civil penalty of at least $250, but not more than $100,000 per violation; the costs of any cleanup associated with each violation; and damages. They may also face criminal penalties.

Publication 52, Hazardous, Restricted and Perishable Mail, has complete information about mailing requirements for parcels containing mercury. Publication 52 can be found on the Postal Explorer website.

Exceptions to the outright ban on mercury in the mailstream include compact fluorescent lamps, fluorescent tubes and similar items that contain minute amounts of mercury in a vaporized state, invisible to the naked eye. These may be mailed domestically but not internationally.

USPS recently distributed a Domestic Mail Manual advisory on the topic of mercury in the mailstream. Employees with questions should speak to a manager or supervisor.

Starting July 9, USPS will require electronic indicators when shipping hazardous materials and dangerous goods. Publication 52 will be revised to incorporate new requirements for mailers to use unique service type codes and extra service codes within the tracking barcodes and electronic data submission for package shipments containing hazardous materials or dangerous goods.

The organization has also issued a news release to remind customers that metallic mercury is prohibited in the mailstream.

Reference: USPS
 

USPS bringing new high security collection boxes, electronic locks to Birmingham

  USPS bringing new high security collection boxes, electronic locks to Birmingham

"...12,000 of the boxes will be installed across the country in the most high-risk areas, including Birmingham. Richardson says they will help prevent mail theft because entry into the boxes will be harder. ..."

Reference: www.wbrc.com
 

Religious Accommodation | U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Groff v. DeJoy

  U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Groff v. DeJoy

RE: U.S. Supreme Court Decision in Groff v. DeJoy (pdf)

On Thursday, June 29, 2023, the U.S. Supreme Court issued a unanimous decision in the lawsuit Groffv. DeJoy.

The case was brought by Gerald Groff, who delivered mail as a Rural Carrier Associate (RCA) from 2012 to 2019 in central Pennsylvania. Groff is a Christian who observes Sunday as the Sabbath. Citing those religious beliefs, Groff consistently refused to work on Sundays. For several years, Groff and the Postal Service attempted to find workarounds, such as having volunteers take over his Sunday slots. Eventually, however, the Postal Service began disciplining Groff for his refusal to work on Sundays, and in 2019, Groff resigned. After resigning, Groff sued the Postal Service. He argued that under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act , the Postal Service was required to reasonably accommodate his religious beliefs by exempting him from Sunday work.

Before turning to the specifics of the Court's decision, we note at the outset that the Court's decision leaves in place the longstanding recognition that it would be an "undue burden" to provide an accommodation that would violate a seniority system in a collective bargaining agreement, like the National Agreement between the NPMHU and the Postal Service.

The Court's decision did proceed to answer two principal questions:

On the first question - whether the Court should disapprove the "more than de minimis cost" test for determining whether a religious accommodation was an undue hardship - the Court disapproved of the "more than de minimis cost" language. In its place, the Court held that an employer can show that a religious accommodation creates an undue hardship under Title VII if that accommodation causes a substantial burden in the overall context of the employer's business. The Court held that this is a fact specific inquiry. "Courts must apply the test to take into account all relevant factors in the case at hand, including the particular accommodations at issue and their practical impact in light of the nature, size, and operating cost of an employer."

As to the second question - whether an employer may demonstrate undue hardship under Title VII by showing burdens on co-workers - the Court held - using language consistent with the position the NPMHU took in its amicus brief to the Supreme Court, that impact on coworkers is relevant to the extent those impacts affect the conduct of the business. The Court acknowledged that "an accommodation's effect on co-workers may have ramifications for the conduct of the employer's business, but a court cannot stop its analysis without examining whether that further logical step is shown in a particular case."

The Court concluded by sending the case back to the lower court to consider Groff's claim in Iight of the standard described above.

As we wrote to you previously, the NPMHU supports employees' rights to receive reasonable accommodations for their religious beliefs and practices, and will continue to urge the Postal Service to provide those accommodations consistent with the terms of the National Agreement.

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact the National CAD.

Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317