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.
"...The Senate voted 73-27 to invoke cloture on the Social Security Fairness Act, clearing the way for a final vote to pass the bill later this week. ..."
Reference: www.govexec.com
"Customers must request package tracking text messages from the United States Postal Service. The USPS does not send messages without a request first. ...one of the most popular scams is "smishing," which, in the case of holiday mail, appears as fraudulent text messages indicating package tracking. Undisclosed texts with questionable tracking information and clickable links should be avoided in order to prevent scammers from gaining personal information. Never heard of smishing? Here's what to know about the fraudulent act..."
Reference: www.usatoday.com
"...MADISON, Ala. (WAFF) - An investigation is underway in Madison after a mail carrier was robbed at gunpoint on Sunday. Madison Police officials say a mail carrier was robbed at gunpoint in the Hill Chase subdivision Sunday around 4:30 p.m. ..."
Reference: www.waff.com
Open Season for health benefits is here!
It runs Nov. 11 through Dec. 9, and it marks the first Open Season under the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program.
What You Need to Know:
Automatic Enrollment: If your current health plan is transitioning to PSHB, you’ll be automatically enrolled in the same plan for 2025. No action needed unless you wish to switch.
Make Changes: If your plan is not participating in PSHB, you must choose a new plan during this Open Season, or you’ll be automatically enrolled in a basic nationwide option.
Below are recent materials sent from OPM. Use them to help you set up your login.gov account and navigate the enrollment site. More information will be provided here as it becomes available.
Experiencing issues with login.gov? Try Form 2809! Postal Service Health Benefits program enrollment can be facilitated by completing form SF2809, Health Benefits Election Form, accessible on the OPM website and MyHR.USPS.gov. If more assistance is needed, click here.
Reference: www.nalc.org
"...TUCSON, Ariz. (KGUN) — Sunday, a group of United States postal service employees gathered to protest their displeasure with USPS' latest contract offer to the National Association of Letter Carriers union. ...postal workers said they don't approve of the tentative labor agreement as it stands. They argue the terms don't reflect a significant increase in pay, better working conditions, and more favorable hours. ...“Those wages are just not good enough to attract people to do what is a very physically demanding and stressful job,” Owen said. “Brand new people at the post office, they don’t get the same benefits as regular carriers," Willits said. "They don’t get very good pay. They get terrible hours." The agreement would let some workers clock out after working 11.5 hours a day or 60 hours in a week"
Reference: www.kgun9.com
"...OPM said that they were restricted in how they provide prescription drug benefits to Medicare-eligible enrollees in the new Postal Service Health Benefits Program, but at least one employee association disagrees. ...The first Open Season in which postal workers can elect their coverage for next year runs from Nov. 11 to Dec. 9.
In a last-minute tweak to regulations governing the program and its implementation this fall, the Office of Personnel Management published a final rule in the Federal Register last week clarifying provisions governing reconsideration of eligibility decisions, the law’s Medicare Part B enrollment requirement and integrating the Medicare Part D prescription drug program into PSHBP.
That last provision is the source of this week’s controversy. OPM’s rule states that, unlike in FEHBP, Congress intentionally funneled Medicare-eligible postal workers and retirees into insurance coverage that includes a Medicare Part D employer group waiver plan, or EGWP
.
“While the PSHB is included under the FEHB Program umbrella, PSHB is subject to distinct statutory requirements, including those governing the requirement to offer a PDP EGWP and to integrate Medicare Part D benefits,” OPM wrote. “When enacting the PSRA, Congress was addressing specific policy goals, including increasing enrollment in Medicare by USPS annuitants and promoting long-term financial health for the PSHB program, which require certain variances from policies that are generally applicable in the FEHB program.”"
"...An audit by the U.S. Postal Service has revealed significant mail delays and operational issues in the Alabama-Mississippi district, particularly in Center Point, Northport, and Tuscaloosa. The audit, completed in October, noted that none of the three branches used proper forms to record delayed mail. ..."
Reference: www.wvtm13.com
"...Chief Ennis told WAFF that the mail carrier was flown to Huntsville Hospital, where she is in “serious condition.”
Officials said the truck driver is okay. Officials are currently working with Wayne Farms to gather all the chickens that fell out. ..."
About this item:
Fold Up Mailer Holder-Stand upright to 90 degrees for rolling tubes and irregular packages.Use AC adapter, the scale will be always power on, Self-Calibration Technology: Does not require a 50lbs weight.
Capacity-up to 50lbs; Sensitivity-0.1oz（0-25lb);0.2oz(25-50lb); Reading Modes-Pounds/ounces, ounces, kilograms/grams, grams
Key Functions-Tare(Allow you to reset the display to 0.0); Hold (Especially for Weighing a over-sized item)
Self-Calibration Technology-Does not require a 50lbs weight. You can choose any known weight starting from 5 lbs for calibration purpose.
Use AC adapter, the scale will be always power on
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union is pleased to offer the opportunity for career craft members of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, and members of their immediate families, to apply for scholarship assistance from the NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone National Scholarship Program. Specific eligibility requirements for the program are detailed below.
This scholarship program has been providing assistance to deserving recipients since 2001. In February 2005, the program was renamed in honor of Arthur S. Vallone. Arthur had served the NPMHU with distinction for over twenty-five years at his untimely passing in January 2005. Arthur was a true believer in the Union Movement, and a tireless advocate for Mail Handlers and all working people. His list of accomplishments and contributions to the NPMHU is lengthy. The National Postal Mail Handlers Union is proud to honor the legacy that Brother Vallone has left behind.
The purpose of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union Arthur S. Vallone Scholarship Program is to provide financial assistance to career Mail Handlers and/or their family members who are seeking to further their education beyond high school. The program will award a minimum of 15 scholarships (3 per Region) in the annual amount of at least $1,000, renewable for up to four (4) years or until the completion of the undergraduate degree, whichever occurs first (for a maximum of $4,000 per recipient over 4 years). Additional scholarships may be awarded, depending upon the number of applicants and the number of renewals each year.
Scholarship eligibility details and application instructions are now available. Applicants must submit complete applications and the related materials listed at the link below to the Scholarship Committee on or before March 15, 2025.
VIEW AND DOWNLOAD SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY DETAILS AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (PDF)
Download MS Word version
Mail Handler Wage Chart -- Effective November 16, 2024 (Pay Period 25-2024) PDF
"...After months of negotiations, Huntsville Hospital Health System and UnitedHealthcare have reached an agreement that maintains the in-network status for United subscribers who are patients in HH Health System hospitals.
“This new agreement enables patients to continue to have access to the HH Health care teams that they know and trust,” said Jeff Samz, CEO of the Huntsville Hospital Health System. “Our patients will always be our first priority.”
The new agreement applies to Huntsville Hospital, Madison Hospital, Athens-Limestone Hospital, Decatur Morgan Hospital, DeKalb Medical Center in Fort Payne, Helen Keller Hospital in Florence, Highlands Medical Center in Scottsboro, Lincoln Health in Fayetteville, Tenn.; Marshall Medical Centers (North and South), and Red Bay Hospital. ..."
"...We are very grateful to the thousands of Americans who have expressed interest in helping us at DOGE. We don’t need more part-time idea generators. We need super high-IQ small-government revolutionaries willing to work 80+ hours per week on unglamorous cost-cutting. If that’s you, DM this account with your CV. Elon & Vivek will review the top 1% of applicants. ..."
Reference: x.com/DOGE
"Criminals are infiltrating the United States Postal Service. ...a newly published report from the USPS’s Office of the Inspector General. You have criminal organizations, gangs, that are actually recruiting people to get a job in the postal service so they can rob mail and drain bank accounts. That’s literally what’s happening ...Investigators say employees are bringing bags, backpacks, and big coats onto workroom floors inside mail processing facilities. Once inside, it’s a simple matter to make letters and packages disappear." ... “The simplest way to solve a problem is to deny it exists,” Albergo said. “So that’s part of it, they just don’t want to admit that the mail is unsafe right now.”
Reference: www.nbcsandiego.com
"...55,000 Canada Post employees began a strike Friday, disrupting mail services across the country just ahead of the holiday season. The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) announced the action following a year of stalled negotiations over wages, safety, and its members being replaced by technology. The three-day work stoppage, which..."
Reference: www.newsweek.com
"...Stocks were poised for a booming rally Wednesday as Donald Trump won the 2024 presidential election. Futures on the Dow Jones Industrial Average soared 1,346 points, or about 2.8%. S&P 500 futures gained 1.9%, and Nasdaq 100 futures climbed 1.3%. The last time the blue-chip Dow jumped more than 1,000 points in a single day was in November 2022..."
Reference: www.cnbc.com
"Former President Trump has won the presidency, securing a second term...made the call after declaring Trump the projected winner of Pennsylvania and Alaska, bringing him to exactly 270 electoral votes. ..."
Reference: thehill.com
"...When you apply for retirement or disability benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board), it also serves as your application for Medicare. Once you get approved for Social Security or Railroad Retirement Board benefits, you’ll automatically get Part A coverage (without having to pay a premium for it) once you’re eligible for Medicare.
If you’re getting benefits from Social Security (or the Railroad Retirement Board) at least 4 months before you turn 65, you’ll automatically get Part A coverage. You’ll also be signed up for Part B (unless you live in Puerto Rico or outside the U.S.). Because you pay a monthly premium for Part B coverage, you can choose whether to keep it or not. ..."
"USPS employees can make changes through LiteBlue ...Keep personal contact information current using a physical address — not a PO Box — and mobile telephone number. Go to the LiteBlue homepage and update your address if necessary.
Emergency contacts can be updated by logging on to LiteBlue, clicking on the “Apps” banner, then selecting “My Contact Information.” Follow the prompts to complete the submission. ..."
"...the current administrator (FSAFEDs) and the Postal Service are notifying current FSA enrollees that their funds must be used by December 31st, 2024, or they will be forfeited. This is completely unacceptable. Employees who put money in their FSA expecting to roll over any remaining money should not lose out in this switch in administrators. ..."
Reference: apwu.org
"The tax year 2025 adjustments described below generally apply to income tax returns to be filed starting tax season 2026. The tax items for tax year 2025 of greatest interest to many taxpayers include the following dollar amounts:
"...The union said that the new deal was helped with the help of Acting U.S. Secretary of Labor Julie Su, and told the striking workers it "is worthy of your consideration." ...The corporation is also offering employees 12% in 401(k) contributions, plus a one-time contribution of $5,000 to workers' retirement accounts. ..."
Reference: www.foxbusiness.com
"...As part of the agreement, all city carriers will get three annual pay increases of 1.3% each by 2025, some of which will be paid retroactively from November 2023. ..."
Reference: www.newsmax.com
"...If you are over 65 years of age, or permanent and totally disabled (regardless of age), or blind (regardless of age), you are exempt from the state portion of property tax. County taxes may still be due. ..."
Reference: www.revenue.alabama.gov
When you turn 65, your federal basic life insurance (FEGLI) will automatically begin to decrease by 2% per month until it reaches 25% of its original value, at which point it becomes free and remains at that level for the rest of your life; this is considered the "75% reduction" option, which is the standard unless you choose to reduce it by 50% or keep the full amount with continued premium payments.
Reference: www.opm.gov
Snippet of Article: "...Self Lock is the unique feature that lets you protect your identity in E-Verify and Self Check by placing a "lock" in E-Verify on your Social Security number (SSN). This helps prevent anyone else from using your SSN for an E-Verify case. If an employer enters your locked SSN in E-Verify to confirm employment authorization, it will result in an E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation (mismatch). With Self Lock, you are always in control...How to Use Self Lock
To access Self Lock, you must be logged in to your myE-Verify account.
To lock your SSN, you must select and answer three challenge questions. Select questions you can easily answer, because you will need to answer them again to verify your identity if you receive an E-Verify Tentative Nonconfirmation (mismatch) due to Self Lock.
If you are about to start a new job with an E-Verify employer, you should log into your account and unlock your SSN."
"...WASHINGTON, DC – The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) today shared new enrollee resources ahead of the inaugural launch of the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program this Open Season. Resources include a new landing page with details for PSHB enrollees; information about auto-enrollment where Postal employees will be automatically transitioned from their current plan to a comparable plan in the new PSHB program; and a page providing information on cost savings for enrollees who are also signed up for Medicare Part B or Medicare Advantage through PSHB. The Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program..."
Reference: www.opm.gov
Video: Watch NPMHU National President speak at the NALC convention.
Reference: NPMHU
"...$1.5 million in checks went missing from letters at a Missouri mail distribution center, fingerprints tracked back to a 29-year-old postal worker, federal officials said. Anthony Virdure II, a mail handler for the United States Postal Service in St. Louis, was indicted on three counts of mail theft and one count of wire fraud..."
Reference: www.kansascity.com
"...Generally, you're first eligible to sign up for Part A and Part B starting 3 months before you turn 65 and ending 3 months after the month you turn 65. · If you ..."
Reference: www.medicare.gov
"The carriers halted some deliveries in Florida as the storm slammed the southern U.S. ...For the Postal Service, all delivery and retail operations are suspended until further notice for facilities in the 335, 336, 337, 339, 341, 342 and 346 3-digit zip code areas, the agency said in a notice Wednesday.
The Postal Service suspended operations at four processing and distribution centers in Tampa, Fort Myers and Sarasota. Alternate sites in Orlando could receive drop shipments in their place. Normal operations at the impacted sites were slated to resume at 4 a.m. on Friday. ..."
"...In 2021, the APWU Maintenance Division filed a National Dispute (USPS # 6X 18T-6X-C 21354335) regarding the Postal Service's violation of Article 7 section 3 of the Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), specifically concerning the 2.5 percent cap on the total number of Part-Time Regular employees in the Maintenance Division. According to the CBA, the total number of part-time employees who “may be hired” should not exceed 2.5 percent of the total number of Maintenance Craft employees covered by the agreement...."
Reference: apwu.org
"...Postal enrollees will pay 11.1% more toward their health care premiums. Averaged with the government’s share of the cost, which is increasing by 5.1%, the overall premium increase for PSHB is 6.9%.
“The premium increase for the Postal program is lower than the FEHB premium increase due to greater integration in Medicare required under the Postal Service Reform Act, differences in the cost profiles of the plans offered in each program and demographic factors,” OPM said.
PSHB enrollees, on average, will pay $20 more toward their biweekly health care premiums next year. ..."
"...After scratching off the $20 Millionaire's Club ticket the man immediately said, "Thank you, Lord." He matched the winning number 54 for the corresponding $1 million top prize in the second row of the game’s play area. The postal worker can now think of retirement after working for the company for 30 years. When asked what he would do with the money, he said he's going to pay some bills. ..."
Reference: www.wmar2news.com
"...Your order of COVID tests is completely free – you won’t even pay for shipping. We will start shipping tests the week of September 30. Want to know when your tests are coming? Sign up to receive email alerts when you order! ..."
Reference: covidtests.gov
USPS employees and annuitants may participate in an upcoming virtual seminar on the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program.
The session will be held Thursday, Oct. 3, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern and from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern.
PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and will be administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
USPS employees, annuitants, and eligible family members are required to enroll in this new program.
The MyHR website’s PSHB page has more information, including the Zoom links and passcodes to participate. To find the page, enter “Postal Service Health Benefits” in the MyHR search bar.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees can also receive updates by texting “PSHBP” to 39369.
"...We are writing to inform you of a recent national arbitration decision issued by Arbitrator Dennis Nolan in a grievance brought by the National Association of Letter Carriers, which concerned the Postal employees who did not receive their paychecks as a result of the breach of the Postal Service’s PostalEase system. The NPMHU also filed a grievance on this issue, and the NPMHU (along with the APWU) intervened in the NALC grievance. By way of background, on December 20, 2022, the Union received notification from the Postal Service that some Postal Service employees had unknowingly provided their usernames and passwords to criminal websites while attempting to access PostalEase. We were told that employees had been using Google to access PostalEase and that Google in turn was redirecting them to third party criminally run websites that mirrored the look and access of PostalEase. ..."
Reference: www.npmhu.org
The Postal Service will hold two virtual job fairs for sales positions this month.
The events are part of the organization’s efforts to expand its sales force and align sales strategies with new operational capabilities to drive revenue, one of the goals of the Delivering for America plan.
Topics to be covered during the fairs include:
• The roles and responsibilities of territory representatives and senior territory representatives;
• The number and locations of vacancies spanning 20 Postal Service districts;
• How to navigate the USPS Careers online page and create an eCareer profile; and
• How to effectively respond to knowledge, skills and abilities questions to demonstrate your qualifications.
The fairs are open to both career and noncareer employees and will be held from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Eastern on Sunday, Sept. 29, and Monday, Sept. 30.
To participate in a fair, employees must complete an online registration form on LiteBlue or Blue by clicking on the “Looking for a career in Sales?” banner. A list of districts with sales vacancies will be listed on the registration page.
All participants must be current Postal Service employees and attend while off the clock. Participation is voluntary.
"...September 30 is the end of the “special enrollment period” in which Postal Service retirees eligible for Medicare Part B but not currently enrolled in it may elect that coverage without the standard penalty for enrolling more than three months beyond first eligibility, which typically is on turning age 65.
The period opened in April under terms of the 2022 Postal Service reform law ordering creation of the new Postal Service Health Benefits program, which will replace the FEHB program for postal employees and retirees starting in January.
The voluntary period, applies to those already retired and who are not enrolled in Part B, which covers physicians and related services. ..."
"...An audit of postal facilities in Center Point, Birmingham, Northport and Tuscaloosa found operational problems that the report said was hampering the quality of service in those locations.
The audits, conducted by the United States Post Office’s Office of the Inspector General, found issues related to delayed mail at all four of the sites, including problems with scanning of packages, carriers and the condition of the properties. The Birmingham facility had difficulty with clearance times, outbound trips, scan compliance, security and other issues, the report said. ...
"
USPS employees and annuitants may participate in an upcoming virtual seminar on the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program.
The session will be held Thursday, Sept. 19, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern and from 4 to 5 p.m. Eastern.
PSHB — which takes effect in 2025 — is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program and will be administered by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management.
USPS employees, annuitants, and eligible family members are required to enroll in this new program.
The MyHR website’s PSHB page has more information, including the Zoom links and passcodes to participate. To find the page, enter “Postal Service Health Benefits” in the MyHR search bar.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees can also receive updates by texting “PSHBP” to 39369.
"...while USPS has and will enter into new agreements with package consolidator companies consistent with its current business strategy, the organization will no longer offer discounted rates through negotiated service agreements (NSAs) for packages entered by consolidators at Post Office delivery units.
“As we engage in the process of modernizing our network, we are also changing our product and pricing strategies to ensure that they are aligned with our operating model and goals,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy.
“As one part of this new approach, we have decided that it is appropriate to make changes to how we utilize NSAs in the provision of our Parcel Select product. ..."
Official Call for Bargaining Proposals (pdf)
NPMHU 2025 Bargaining Proposal Form (pdf)
With preparations underway for negotiations over the terms of the 2025 National Agreement between the NPMHU and the Postal Service, the National Office is issuing its official call for bargaining proposals from all members and Local Unions.
To be fully considered prior to the onset of negotiations, proposals must be submitted by January 31, 2025. Although formal bargaining is not scheduled to begin until June, the Union’s Field Negotiating Committee will be meeting for a full week in February 2025 to review all submitted proposals and outline the changes in the National Agreement that should be proposed by the NPMHU.
To be sure, planning for collective bargaining is a continuous process at the National Office, as the National Officers and representatives working in the Contract Administration Department routinely identify and collect proposals for improving the language currently found in the 2022 National Agreement. But an equally important aspect of preparing for bargaining is the collection and review of proposals generated by mail handlers across the country.
Thus, National President Paul Hogrogian has issued this official call for bargaining proposals from the membership, the Local Unions, and other subordinate bodies of the NPMHU. If you have any proposals that you would like to have considered for the upcoming round of bargaining, now is the time to submit them to the National Office. Every proposal submitted will be fully analyzed by the NPMHU’s Field Negotiating Committee and the National Negotiations Team while the Union develops its opening bargaining proposals. All proposals should set forth the Article, Section, Paragraph, and/or Page of the National Agreement that you are suggesting should be changed; the specific language you would like to see added to, or deleted from, the current National Agreement; and your specific reasons for suggesting the change. If you have supporting evidence or documentation that you believe would support the change that you propose, please submit those materials to the National Office along with your proposals. The National Office is asking that all proposals be submitted as soon as possible, but no later than January 31, 2025. The National Office also has issued a form that can be used to submit proposals.
Once again, proposals from any member (or group of members) and any Local Unions or other subordinate body should be submitted to the National Office by January 31, 2025, by faxing to 202-833-0008 or by using the following address:
"...availability fell from 84.4 percent in 2020 to 82.8 percent in 2023 ...“We found progressive corrective action has not been consistent and sick leave, LWOP, and AWOL hours have generally trended upward...In a sample of 400 regular sick leave occurrences of more than three days, management did not have the required medical documentation for 358, or 90 percent."
Reference: www.fedweek.com
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $978
Effective September 7, 2024 (Pay Period 20-2024), 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 fourth 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 2024 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.
Wage Charts coming soon
"...With the help of AI and other technological advances, criminals are constantly adapting their ways to scam people out of their money and personal information. According to the United States Postal Inspection Service, customers in Indiana and the U.S. are falling victim to fraud through 'smishing' text messages with an alleged delivery notification and tracking link like..."
Reference: wkfr.com
We’re making changes to the way you access Social Security’s online services, including your personal my Social Security account. The changes will simplify your sign-in experience and align with federal authentication standards. At the same time, we’re continuing to provide safe and secure access to our online services.
If you created your my Social Security account before September 18, 2021, you will still be able to use your username and password to sign in. However, you will not be able to do so for much longer.
In the near future, all users will need to have an account with one of our two Credential Service Providers (CSP) – Login.gov or ID.me – to access your personal my Social Security account and other online services.
To learn more, read our press release. If you have an existing Login.gov or ID.me account, you do NOT need to create a new one. And, if you can access your personal my Social Security account through Login.gov or ID.me, you don’t need to take any action.
If you don’t have a Login.gov account
To avoid any disruptions in accessing Social Security’s online services you may want to transition your account now by signing in with your Social Security username. Our online instructions will guide you through the process of creating a new account with Login.gov. Once you successfully link your personal my Social Security account with your new Login.gov account, you’ll get a confirmation screen and have immediate access to our online services. In the future, you’ll sign in to your account with Login.gov and not your Social Security username.
Login.gov offers 24/7 customer phone and chat support to answer your questions.
We encourage you to make the transition to Login.gov or ID.me now before the username option goes away later this year.
You’ll find more helpful information here.
Please share these important upcoming changes with your family members, friends, and colleagues.
Stephen Kochersperger has been named USPS historian, a role he assumed on an acting basis in December.
He succeeds Jennifer Lynch, who retired last year.
Kochersperger began his USPS career more than 40 years ago, first as a clerk in Milesburg, PA, and then as postmaster of Julian, PA, where he served for 25 years.
In 2011, he became a writer/editor for the former Capital Metro Area. The next year, he joined the historian’s office at USPS headquarters in Washington, DC.
Kochersperger spearheaded two recent oral history projects: arranging interviews of employees with 50 or more years of service for the 50th anniversary of the Postal Service’s as creation an independent federal agency in 1971 and interviewing postal executives on how USPS handled delivery during the COVID-19 pandemic.
His master’s thesis was on the postal system’s role in American independence.
Kochersperger is a distant cousin of John Wanamaker, the 35th postmaster general, and is related to Charles Kochersperger, the defendant in an 1860 court case that led to the development of the Private Express Statutes, which guarantee the Postal Service’s exclusive right to carry letters for compensation.
“Postal history is in my blood, quite literally,” he said.
"...On April 1, 2024, United Parcel Service, aka UPS (5X), announced that it was becoming the primary air cargo provider for the United States Postal Service (USPS), replacing FX in this role and ending its more than 20-year partnership with USPS. The new contract between 5X and USPS will begin in late September 2024 after the current contract between USPS and FX expires on September 29. ..."
Reference: www.airwaysmag.com
"...OPM officials added language to Monday’s rule clarifying that a USPS annuitant or their family member must “promptly notify OPM or the Postal Service, in writing, if they choose not to enroll in or to disenroll from Medicare Part B,” and they removed references tasking the USPS as the entity to receive overseas residency documentation for beneficiaries trying to qualify for an exception to the Part B enrollment requirement “to provide more operational flexibility” to the postal service and OPM. After Jan. 1, retiring USPS annuitants, and their family members, entitled to Medicare Part A coverage must also enroll in Part B coverage as well, unless they meet one of the following exceptions: ..."
Reference: www.govexec.com
"...The Postal Service approves thousands of requests every year from police officers and federal agents seeking information from Americans’ letters and packages. ...The U.S. Postal Service has shared information from thousands of Americans’ letters and packages with law enforcement every year for the past decade, conveying the names, addresses and other details from the outside of boxes and envelopes without requiring a court order."
Reference: www.washingtonpost.com
"...If you are over 65 years of age, or permanent and totally disabled (regardless of age), or blind (regardless of age), you are exempt from the state portion of property tax. County taxes may still be due. ..."
Reference: Alabama Department of Revenue
"...The Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) increased 3.4 percent over the last 12 months to an index level of 307.811 (1982-84=100), according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS). For the month of April, the index increased 0.4 percent prior to seasonal adjustment. ...Trend For Estimated 2025 COLA (FERS / CSRS / Social Security): ..."
Reference: www.myfederalretirement.com
"...The proposed rules also address technical issues including financial matters and integration of Medicare Part D prescription drug coverage with the PSHB. ..."
Reference: www.fedweek.com
"After graduating high school, Barry enlisted in the Army in 1966. He was sent to Vietnam in 1967 and served there until May 1968...Romo worked at a post office near O’Hare for nearly 40 years and was a union steward and president of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, where he helped defend his coworkers’ rights, Clack said. ..."
Reference: blockclubchicago.org
"The U.S. Postal Service uses the Area Mail Processing study to determine whether it should consolidate Postal Service facilities. The Huntsville, AL, Processing and Distribution Facility (P&DF) consolidation consisted of two phases: the originating mail consolidation (mail sent from Huntsville) and the destinating mail consolidation (mail delivered to Huntsville). The Postal Service completed the originating consolidation on December 31, 2011, but has not fully implemented the destinating consolidation. This report responds to a congressional request for a review of the consolidation. ...What the OIG Recommended: We recommended the vice president, Network Operations, continue processing Huntsville’s delivery point sequence mail at the Huntsville P&DF. We also recommended to re-evaluate staffing and resources at the Huntsville P&DF to ensure timely processing of delivery point sequence mail so fewer carriers return after 5 p.m. ..."
Reference: www.uspsoig.gov
"...In recent years, the Birmingham post offices have been a significant source of strife for residents due to a 2011 decision to process Huntsville’s mail in Birmingham facilities. As Huntsville grew rapidly, Birmingham’s postal facilities did not grow to match, overtaxing the existing facilities and slowing down the mail.
Rep. Dale Strong, R-Alabama, sent a letter to Postmaster General Louis DeJoy on May 23 asking for the USPS to invest in another facility in the area. Strong said a “major cause of these inefficiencies originates from the overburdened P&DF [processing and distribution facility] in Birmingham, Alabama” and that “the facility has had to recruit outside help and reroute mail to other distribution centers.”
These ongoing problems could potentially have contributed or added to the reasons for the USPS’ recent filings. ..."
"...The Postal Service is inviting employees to audition for this year’s holiday advertising campaign.
Employees who are selected to participate could be featured in a variety of ads, including TV commercials.
The casting call is open to all employees. No prior acting experience is required.
The USPS Employee Casting website has instructions on creating and submitting audition videos and uploading a current headshot. Employees who have trouble accessing the site from a postal computer should try using a personal device or a home computer. ..."
"...Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This Memorial Day, we come together as one union to honor and remember the brave men and women who made the ultimate sacrifice for our country.
Their courage and dedication show us the true meaning of patriotism and service.
As we reflect on their legacy, let's renew our commitment to fight for the rights, freedoms, and values they defended.
WATCH NOW: "May We Never Forget Their Sacrifice"
We will never forget their sacrifice.
Fraternally yours,
Brent Booker
General President
"It was happenstance how a 30-year-old U.S. solider serving in Vietnam and a 12-year-old girl from Michigan became pen pals in 1967. When Ned Felder visited an Army mail room, he received a surprise care package sent by a Camp Fire group. “Receiving mail from anyone — and especially family — was important during the war, but to receive a..."
Reference: USPS News Link
"The letter comes after multiple reports of delays and letters being returned...Jerome Acuff of New Market said he too has experienced similar delays. He said the postal service even mishandled a time-sensitive document his lawyer sent.
“I had a piece of mail come from my lawyer. He had it stamped May 2nd and I didn’t get until May 21st,” Acuff said.
Both Acuff and Ruth said they believe these issues are due to a Birmingham Distribution facility where all mail from North Alabama goes, before it’s final stop.
Huntsville originally played home to it’s own packing and distribution facility, which was consolidated and closed in 2010. Acuff says before the closure, deliveries were quick and easy.
“Now, if I send a birthday card to someone just in Hazel Green or Meridianville, it has to go all the way down to Birmingham and all the way back up here again and they may get it a week later... maybe,” Acuff said. ..."
Postal Items Found on Amazon Today "...Postal related items found on Amazon. Books, toys, signs, clothing, stamp collecting, ......
