Medicare and FEHB | Do you know how they work together?

  Medicare and FEHB | Do you know how they work together?

Postal Service employees can participate in an upcoming webinar to learn about Medicare and the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program.

The session, “Medicare and FEHB,” will be held Aug. 31 at 1 p.m. Eastern.

Representatives from GEHA, a not-for-profit provider of health plans for federal employees, will conduct the webinar and explain how Medicare works with FEHB plans, including information on Medicare parts A, B, C and D.

Participants must register before the event on the webinar website.

Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees may only participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.

For more information, go to the USPS Wellness LiteBlue page or email the USPS Health and Wellness team.

Reference: USPS via NPMHU Local 317
 

Unions in the News | UAW votes to authorize strike at three automakers

  UAW votes overwhelmingly to authorize strike at Detroit Three automakers

"The United Auto Workers (UAW) union on Friday said members voted overwhelmingly in favor of authorizing a strike at the Detroit Three automakers if agreement is not reached before the current four-year contract expires on Sept. 14.

The authorization was approved by 97% of voting members at General Motors (GM.N), Ford Motor (F.N) and Stellantis (STLAM.MI), said UAW President Shawn Fain, who leads the union that represents about 150,000 workers.

Fain reiterated that the union did not plan to extend the deadline to get a new labor contract. "The deadline is Sept. 14. ...set of demands, including wage hikes of 46%, an end to the tiered wage system that pays new hires less than veterans, reinstating cost-of-living adjustments and restoring defined-benefit pension plans for new hires that the automakers ended in 2007"

Reference: www.reuters.com
 

Retroactive Salary Adjustments Delayed Due to EAGAN programing issues

  Retroactive Salary Adjustments Delayed Due to EAGAN programing issues

Re: Retroactive Salary Adjustments Delayed (pdf)

We were just notified that there will be a delay with retroactive salary adjustments in connection with the implementation of the 2022 National Agreement.

As a result of the ratification of the 2022 National Agreement, there was a 1.3% GWI effective November 19, 2022. That wage rate was implemented at the start of PP09-23 (April 8, 2023). Accordingly, the retroactive payment is due for the time period from 11/19/22 to 4/7/23. There is also a retroactive payment due for the March COLA for the time period from March 11, 2023 (when the COLA was effective) until April 7, 2023. Like the November 19, 2022 GWI, the March COLA was implemented at the start of PP09-23 (April 8, 2023).

These retroactive payments were to be included in PP19-23 paychecks. The Postal Service has now stated that they will be delayed. The USPS claims the reason for this delay is due to EAGAN programing issues. They hope to resolve these issues soon. As soon as we receive an update from EAGAN, we will let you know.

For information purposes only, the amount of the retroactive pay for a top step Mail Handler who worked full time (without consideration of any changes to pay, e.g., leave without pay or overtime) is estimated as follows:

- Level 4: $364.08

- Level 5: $369.85

The $978 COLA scheduled for PP19-23 will continue to be implemented in PP19-23.

Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317
 

USPS Issues Craft Determination, High Output Parcel Sorter (HOPS)

  USPS Issues Craft Determination, High Output Parcel Sorter (HOPS)

" RE: Craft Determination, High Output Parcel Sorter (HOPS) PDF

We enclose a copy of an August 18, 2023 letter, just received in the National Office, that sets forth the Postal Service’s determination of craft jurisdiction for employees operating the High Output Parcel Sorter (HOPS). The HOPS processes machinable packages up to 25 pounds and a size up to 15”x18”x22. The HOPS is currently deployed in several facilities throughout the country and will be installed in many of the RPDC that are being planned.

As set forth in the attached letter, the Postal Service has determined that all jurisdictional assignments on the HOPS will be awarded to the Mail Handler craft except for the function of Keying or Facing on the Reject Lane.

The National Office will begin the process of disputing the craft jurisdiction awarded to the Clerk craft through the RI-399 Update MOU.

Should you have any questions about this letter or its implementation in any particular facility, please contact the National CAD. Please note that, as stated in the USPS letter, any HOPS machine that currently is operational should be adjusting assignments, if necessary, within 90 days from the August 18, 2023 date of the USPS letter, and this jurisdictional determination will go into effect no sooner than 45 days from the August 18, 2023 date of the USPS letter.

"

Reference: www.npmhu.org via NPMHU Local 317
 

Mail Handler Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $978

  Mail Handler Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $978

Effective August 26, 2023 (Pay Period 19-2023), all career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive a cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2022 National Agreement. This is the second of six possible COLA increases under the terms of the current agreement. This COLA increase is based on the upward change in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) following release of the July 2023 Index, using the July 2022 CPI index as a base. The resulting calculation provides an annual increase of $978 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: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317
 

USPS unveils plan to slash air shipments by 90% over two years as part of cost-cutting effort

  USPS unveils plan to slash air shipments by 90% over two years as part of cost-cutting effort

"Shifting packages and envelopes from air cargo to ground transportation was part of DeJoy's larger plan to improve the Postal Service’s financial health. More than 95% of first-class mail and 95% of first-class packages are currently moving through the postal service's ground transportation system, he said. ..."

Reference: www.nbcwashington.com
 

Postal Service Reports Dismal 3rd Quarter Finances

  Third-quarter results reported

The Postal Service has reported its financial results for fiscal year 2023’s third quarter (April 1-June 30). Here are some highlights:

• Revenue. Operating revenue was $18.6 billion, a decrease of 0.9 percent compared with the same quarter one year earlier. First-Class Mail revenue increased 4 percent, while Marketing Mail revenue decreased 8.8 percent. Shipping and packages revenue remained relatively flat.

• Volume. Total volume was approximately 27 billion pieces, down 11.4 percent from one year earlier. First-Class Mail volume declined 5.9 percent, while Marketing Mail volume declined 16 percent. Shipping and packages volume declined 2.4 percent.

• Expenses.Total operating expenses were $20.5 billion for the quarter, an increase of 9.6 percent compared with the same quarter last year. On a non-generally accepted accounting principles (GAAP) basis, adjusted operating expenses increased by 2 percent compared with the same quarter last year.

• Net loss. On a GAAP basis, net loss for the quarter totaled $1.7 billion, compared with net income of $59.7 billion for the same quarter last year, due almost exclusively to the noncash effect of the Postal Service Reform Act becoming law in April 2022. On a non-GAAP basis, adjusted loss was $860 million, compared with an adjusted loss of $459 million for the same quarter last year.

“In alignment with our Delivering for America transformation plan, we are making positive strides in improving the service we provide the American public — including the introduction of new products like USPS Ground Advantage that provide excellent value to our customers,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “Concurrently, our team is working hard to reduce our cost of performance, which is helping to offset still sizable inflationary and economic pressures. We are setting the stage for long-term financial sustainability as we continue to modernize our processing, transportation, retail and delivery networks.”

The Postal Service’s Aug. 8 news release has additional information.

Reference: USPS News Link via NPMHU Local 317