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.
"...Special Operations Unit stopped 46-year-old Jonathan Whitmore on South Navassa Road for driving at 58 miles per hour (mph) in a 45 mph zone and driving with an expired registration plate.
During the stop, officers found Whitmore had various illegal prescription drugs and marijuana in the vehicle, along with a large paper bag containing opened U.S. mail not addressed to Whitmore. ..."
"...DECATUR, Ga. — An inside job. The U.S. Postal Service Inspector General confirms that many of the incidents of mail check theft are being committed by postal employees.
It has happened twice to Decatur pediatrician Carol Herrmann in just six months at the downtown Decatur Post office.
“I feel there’s no sense of urgency in resolving this matter. ..."
USPS employees may participate in a webinar that will help explain how the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program and Medicare work in retirement.
The session, “PSHB and Medicare in Retirement,” will be held Monday, July 14, from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern.
Representatives from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the webinar.
Participants must register on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.
Employees who have questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
"“Today, APWU members overwhelmingly voted in favor of ratifying the 2024-2027 National Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA) between the APWU and the USPS,” announced APWU President Mark Dimondstein.
95% of the members who voted, voted “Yes!” in favor of ratification. ...Now that the APWU has ratified the new National Agreement, one of the first items to address in its implementation are the retroactive pay increases due to employees. These include the first general wage increase (GWI) of 1.3% for career employees, effective Nov.16, 2024 and the $395 per year cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) due to career employees, effective March 8, 2025. PSEs, who do not receive COLAs, will receive an extra 1% towards their GWI, for a total of 2.3%, effective Nov. 16, 2024. ..."
"...Postcard nostalgics will gather this weekend to celebrate the (mostly) lost art. ...What is the formal name for postcard collectors?
Deltiologists.
What is deltiologists’ name for themselves?
“Dorks,” according to Allen Cottrell, a postcard dealer and collector. "
"...Walter Baldwin has licked a stamp or two. The Panama City resident and Vietnam War veteran has been at it since the 1950s, when his grandfather introduced him to the hobby.
The Bay County Stamp Club president's favorites? Ships and Japan. ...The Bay County Stamp Club meets twice a month and engages in activities like discussing stamps, auctions, and sharing circuit books."
"...Who lives in a pineapple under the sea and is coming to a mailbox near you? SpongeBob SquarePants, the star of the U.S. Postal Service’s newest postage stamps.
The beloved Nickelodeon cartoon is the subject of a sheet of Forever stamps USPS will release on August 1 in a ceremony in Times Square..."
"Email us (USPS News Link) your feedback. Your comments could be included in our “Mail” column.
They say teamwork makes the dream work — a sentiment mail handlers Rachel Rodriguez and Chance Sweazey heartily endorse.
“We are a team and have to move as a team,” Rodriguez said.
“Nothing will get done working alone,” Sweazey added.
The two are considered top performers at the Postal Service’s Columbus, OH, Processing and Distribution Center.
Mail handlers are assigned an area during their shift and often operate powered industrial trucks.
“I am a driver for the bundle sorters,” Rodriguez said. “Typically, we bring mail in and out to the machines and clear any equipment.”
Sweazey is a group leader and coordinates operations with management.
“Part of my job as a group lead is to boost morale, so I do my best to joke around and have a good time,” he said. “Getting the mail out is great but I enjoy getting a smile out of people.”
Promoting philately
The Bairoil, WY, Post Office recently hosted a Stamp Collections Day to promote philately in the community.
Two local collectors displayed their stamps during the event, which delighted customers, according to Doreen Garrison, the local postmaster.
“It was great fun to listen to everyone talk about memories as they lived through during the years,” she said.
“People” appears regularly in Link. Got news to share? Email us (USPS News Link)
"Dear Brothers and Sisters,
This Fourth of July, we’re not just celebrating America’s birthday—we’re recognizing the Laborers who keep building it.
LIUNA members are the backbone of this country. From the highways that connect us to the energy infrastructure that keeps America running, our work is everywhere. We don’t just build things—we build POWER.
The values we fight for—fairness, safety, dignity—are the very values this nation was founded on.
So while you’re enjoying the holiday with family or friends, take a moment to be proud of your union, your hard work, and everything we’ve fought to win. And if you’re firing up the grill, grab something union-made—because what we buy matters too.
From all of us at LIUNA, have a safe, joyful, and proud Independence Day.
Fraternally yours,
Brent Booker
General President
"
"The Social Security Administration (SSA) is celebrating the passage of the One Big, Beautiful Bill, a landmark piece of legislation that delivers long-awaited tax relief to millions of older Americans. ...The bill ensures that nearly 90% of Social Security beneficiaries will no longer pay federal income taxes on their benefits...Additionally, it provides an enhanced deduction for taxpayers aged 65 and older ..."
Reference: blog.ssa.govImportant Note: Zero Democrats voted for the One Big Beautiful Bill With These Senior Tax Breaks, See the Factual vote tally on which party is really helping seniors HERE
"The first phase of changes took effect in April...On July 1, USPS will expand:
• The applicability of its service standard bands as a result of earlier surface transportation dispatch times from regional processing and distribution centers. This will increase the reach of two-, three- and four-day service standards for First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage.
• The geographic scope of “turnaround” volume, which refers to mail and package volume originating and destinating within a processing facility’s service area. Turnaround volume of single-piece First-Class Mail and USPS Ground Advantage will receive a two- or three-day service standard.
The added geographic coverage area and expansion of bands will add value for USPS customers.
Service standard refinements previously announced on April 1 included:
• Adding one day to the service standard for USPS Ground Advantage, single-piece First-Class Mail and Periodicals originating in a five-digit ZIP Code that is more than 50 miles from the nearest regional processing and distribution center. ..."
STATEMENT BY PAUL V. HOGROGIAN NATIONAL PRESIDENT
NATIONAL POSTAL MAIL HANDLERS UNION
UPON THE OPENING OF NEGOTIATIONS WITH THE
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
WASHINGTON, D.C. JUNE 25, 2025
On behalf of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union and the 55,000 Mail Handlers that our Union represents, we are pleased to be here in the Benjamin Franklin Room to open the 2025 negotiations with the Postal Service. Although we expect a difficult round of bargaining, the NPMHU is committed to making every reasonable effort to reach an agreement that is good for our members, good for the Postal Service, and good for the American mailing public.
* * *
The Postal Service certainly is facing continuing challenges. Some of those challenges are caused by economic conditions, others by a decline in mail volumes, and still others by operational changes.
When the parties negotiated in 2011, 2016, 2019 and 2022, the Postal Service was seeking substantial reductions in labor costs from bargaining unit employees represented by the Mail Handlers Union, including substantial numbers of non-career employees earning less money and having fewer benefits than career employees. Some of those proposals actually were achieved by the Postal Service during those negotiations, especially from the 2013 Fishgold interest arbitration award. Based on these fundamental changes in our workforce, the Postal Service has reduced its overall labor costs for mail handling activities, and many of those reductions, including a revised wage scale for future career employees, are now scheduled to continue well into the foreseeable future. But this revised wage scale has resulted in several unintended consequences as a result of several unexpectedly large Cost of Living Adjustments during COVID and the proportional COLA provision of our contract that was a result of the Fishgold award. The current wage scales are badly broken. They have created major inequities in pay and barely provide a living wage for employees at the lower steps of the scale.
The employees at the lower steps of the wage scale make significantly less than their counterparts in the private sector. The clearest and most recent example of this is the UPS/Teamsters bargaining agreement.
In short, the current wage scales as set forth in the National Agreement make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to recruit and retain new employees in the Mail Handler craft. In fact, Mail Handler wages have eroded to the level that the Postal Service has informed us that it has had to subcontract Mail Handler work so that it could pay workers higher wages to facilitate recruitment. At the low rates set in the National Agreement, the Postal Service claimed that it could not attract enough candidates. What is clear is that the Mail Handlers Union and the Postal Service have a shared interest in creating a fair wage scale that allows the Postal Service both to hire new employees and retain employees who will devote their careers to this public service.
The national recovery from the COVID-19 pandemic, and the return of the American economy to a pattern of normal growth, should mean a return to more normalized collective bargaining. This should be a time for the parties to agree on a period of relatively stable labor relations, without the massive disruptions and dislocations that may be caused by unnecessary subcontracting or privatization.
The Mail Handlers Union remains deeply committed to the negotiating process. Certainly, the NPMHU will continue to work with the Postal Service to address extraordinary circumstances. Mail Handlers were essential workers who reported to work every day during the pandemic, risking their own health and the health of their families. The NPMHU has worked with the former and current Postmasters General to ensure that the Network Redesign outlined in the Delivering for America plan is being implemented properly. Through several Memoranda of Understanding, the Mail Handlers Union provided the Postal Service with the additional staffing it needed during the roll out of the DFA. The NPMHU worked with the Postal Service to provide hundreds of millions of COVID test kits to the American public. The NPMHU also worked with the Postal Service to ensure that our nation’s elections were conducted efficiently and fairly.
We will continue to be a partner with the Postal Service to move the institution forward. But we also expect the Postal Service to work with the NPMHU to negotiate a contract that rewards Mail Handlers for the hard work and dedication that we have exhibited during the past difficult years. We expect, and will demand, that the Postal Service engage in good faith bargaining on all issues that are properly the subject of mutual bargaining.
Today obviously is neither the time nor the place for discussing specific proposals.
Not only are formal negotiations just beginning, but the Mail Handlers Union does not believe it is productive to negotiate in public, in the newspapers, or in the halls of Congress.
Nonetheless, the goals of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union in this year’s round of bargaining can be stated simply. We seek a negotiated agreement that corrects a wage scale that is badly broken and that is keeping the Postal Service from hiring and retaining the employees that it needs; we seek an agreement that protects our jobs and improves our standard of living; we seek a negotiated contract that improves the status of all Mail Handlers, including both employees who have devoted their work lives to the Postal Service or our newest members who are the future of the Postal Service; we seek a contract that minimizes the dislocation of Mail Handlers whose careers may be involuntarily disrupted by subcontracting, excessing or downsizing; and we seek to stop future subcontracting and the continued return of currently outsourced work to the Mail Handler craft.
In short, we seek practical solutions to the problems faced by Mail Handlers, so that, working together, we can ensure that the Postal Service and all its Mail Handler employees can continue to provide the American public with the service that they have come to expect.
(Click image above to watch video of Opening Statement)
* * *
In closing, let me state that the National Postal Mail Handlers Union seeks to obtain a fair and just settlement with the Postal Service. We understand that these negotiations will be difficult. But if management makes reasonable proposals and counterproposals at the bargaining table, we certainly will recommend ratification to our membership. We also hope for and expect the same attitude from postal management – that reasonable proposals from the Union will be met with acceptance. If both parties are able to adopt this approach to bargaining, I remain optimistic that we will be able to reach a negotiated settlement.
Thank you very much.
"...The knife-wielding transgender woman who viciously stabbed a postal worker to death in a Harlem deli earlier this year was sentenced Thursday to 15 years behind bars.
Jaia Cruz, 24 — who ruthlessly killed USPS worker Ray Hodges after an argument in January — was given the sentence after striking a plea deal, infuriating relatives of Hodges at the Manhattan court hearing..."
"...Letter Carrier Tara Marsh of Imlay City, MI, recently delivered the gift of life by donating a kidney to someone she has never met.
After Marsh saw a social media post about the person who needed a kidney, she inquired about becoming a potential donor.
Marsh, a mother of four, then..."
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The week after our productive legislative conference, the House of Representatives voted on its budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1. As we discussed during the conference, there were several provisions in the bill that targeted FERS benefits. Because of collective lobbying and grassroots efforts, the language for across the board increases to employee contributions and moving from a high-3 to a high-5 were not included in the in final bill voted out of the House. However, calls to eliminate the FERS Supplement and tying union membership to FERS contribution rates remain.
The FERS Supplement provides a bridge for those who qualify for retirement before they reach Social Security age. The elimination of the supplement puts those approaching retirement in the next few years at a financial disadvantage.
Every employee within the Postal Service and the federal government has the right to choose whether or not to join a union. Besides the payment of dues, there is no other financial requirements. However, H.R. 1 calls for new employees who elect union representation to contribution an additional 5% to their FERS benefits – bringing the total to 9.4%. This would create a financial burden for those starting their postal careers, not to mention would put them at an extreme disadvantage when it comes to job protections.
The Senate will now review the language and we need to ensure Senators understand how detrimental these changes are.
Our call to action has been updated, and I ask you use the following link to contact your Senators and let them know how harmful these provisions are. Please share the link with your members and encourage them to do the same.
https://npmhu.quorum.us/campaign/121771/
Thank you for your time and attention.
In Solidarity,
Katie Maddocks
Legislative & Political Director
National Postal Mail Handlers Union
More Reading: List of Alabama Senators
"...Donald Trump is already reneging on one of the promises he repeatedly made to a key voting bloc to win back the presidency, his vow to eliminate taxes on millions of retirees’ Social Security payments.
“No tax on Social Security benefits for our seniors,” he told rallygoers in Prescott Valley, Arizona, on Oct. 13. “And you deserve it.”..."
Trump repeated it yet again: “No tax on Social Security benefits for seniors, which is so great.” ...In reality, though, Trump and his congressional allies are offering Social Security recipients a mere fraction of the financial benefit they have been promising since last year. Instead of making Social Security benefits tax-free, House Republicans have now ... a bait and switch,” said Jason Furman, a Harvard University economics professor ...
"...H.R. 1 would eliminate the FERS annuity supplement for certain employees, which would begin to apply on January 1, 2028. The FERS annuity supplement is an earned benefit that makes it financially possible for postal workers to retire before age 62, which is when Social Security benefits begin. Essentially, this supplement is a monthly payment that helps bridge the gap between an employee’s retirement and Social Security eligibility.
For example, a postal employee age 57 who has met their years of service requirement and is eligible can retire knowing they will receive a monthly payment until their Social Security benefits begin at age 62. If the FERS annuity supplement is eliminated, many postal workers aged 57 to 62 who are eligible to retire will have a choice — take less in retirement without this supplement or continue working years longer until they can collect Social Security.
Thanks to the pressure that postal workers, labor unions, and other allies placed on members of Congress through phone calls, letters, and even trips to Washington, DC, we were able to remove two other harmful provisions in the original version of this tax-cut bill. One provision would’ve increased the FERS employee contribution rate to 4.4% for all active employees, and the other would’ve replaced the high-3 FERS annuity calculation with a high-5 calculation, which would result in a reduction in annuity payments.
The APWU stands firm against the elimination of the FERS annuity supplement..."
"... Two Chinese logistics firms based in New York and California have been barred from using the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) over allegations that they perpetuated a years-long counterfeit postage scheme.
On May 15, the U.S. filed a civil complaint in a Brooklyn federal court alleging that YDH Express, Inc. and YDH Int’l Inc., which are based in Queens, N.Y. and Los Angeles, Calif., along with their owner, Yizhao “Harvey” Hou, conspired and committed mail fraud by shipping thousands of parcels hailing from China using their own fake USPS postage labels. ..."
"...About 4,000 birds were found dead in the truck, and 10,000 others were stranded there for three days, state officials said. The hatchery that shipped the chicks said it did not know why the shipment had never made it to its destinations. ...The Freedom Ranger Hatchery, which raised and shipped the chicks, said in an emailed statement that the Postal Service had not explained why the chicks never made it to their destinations. The hatchery said it was unsure if it would be compensated for the loss, which has “compounding effects with the many small family farms that were counting on these birds for their summer grow out schedules.” The birds were supposed to be shipped to several states ..."
Reference: www.nytimes.com
"...Their sacrifice reminds us of the true cost of freedom—and inspires us to stand united as a nation and a union, fighting for dignity, justice, and a better future for all.
WATCH NOW: "May We Never Forget Their Sacrifice"
We remember their sacrifice. We honor their service. We carry their legacy through the strength of our union. ..."
As provided for in Article 8.7 of the NPMHU 2022 National Agreement, effective May 17, 2025 (PP12-25); the flat dollar amount at each pay grade and step for night shift differential in Tables Three and Four shall be increased by 2.0%. All increases will be applied to the most recent night shift differential table preceding the increase. The increase is applicable for time worked between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This is the third of three Night Shift Differential increases negotiated in the 2022 National Agreement.
Night Shift Differential Hourly Rates (PDF)
"...USPS is reminding employees that outside activities should not conflict with their official Postal Service duties.
Under the federal executive branch’s standards of ethical conduct and the USPS Supplemental Standards of Ethical Conduct, employees should avoid all conflicts of interest, and never use their Postal Service title or authority, or postal property, in connection with outside activities.
For example, a USPS employee should never:
• Work for or with any..."
* Links Added For Reference Only
"...Retirement benefits for most Mail Handlers are currently under attack with the budget reconciliation package calling for increases to employee contributions with no corresponding increase to benefits; changing annuity computation from “high 3” to “high 5” average salary; eliminating the FERS supplement for those who are eligible to retire before they qualify for Social Security; and, tying FERS contribution rates to union membership for new hires.
NPMHU and these groups have been educating members of the House on how these changes would be devastating to Mail Handlers, and all postal and federal employees. ..."
"The Center for Union Facts is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that fights for transparency and accountability in America’s labor movement. ...See the facts for NPMHU Local 317, Birmingham AL, from unionfacts.com. Identify where your union dues are spent in categories such as Basic Info, Financials, Spending, Members/Dues, and Leaders/Salaries. ...This info is accurate as of the May 12, 2025 update. "
Reference: unionfacts.com
"...Net loss for the quarter totaled $3.3 billion, compared with a net loss of $1.5 billion for the same quarter one year ago. Results for the quarter were affected by unfavorable noncash workers’ compensation adjustments of $1.2 billion, due to actuarial revaluation and discount rate change factors that are not controllable by the Postal Service; increased compensation and benefits expense of $449 million; and higher other operating expenses of $124 million, partially offset by lower transportation expenses of $116 million. “As we mark 250 years of service to the nation, our organization continues to face economic headwinds. We are working diligently to control costs..."
Reference: usps.com
"... site selection process is underway for the new U.S. Post Office in the Big Cove-Owens Cross Roads area, U.S. Rep. Dale Strong’s office told AL.com on Wednesday.
“I am glad USPS agrees with my calls for a new post office in the 35763 zip code,” Strong said in a statement. “It is long overdue to keep pace with Madison County’s unprecedented population growth in this area. My constituents deserve efficient and reliable mail delivery services, and I am hopeful that USPS will accomplish this for Hampton Cove..."
During its open session on May 9, the United States Postal Service Board of Governors announced the appointment of David Steiner as the seventy-sixth Postmaster General.
Mr. Steiner previously served as the CEO of Waste Management and currently sits on the board of FedEx, a role he is expected to leave by the time he joins USPS in July. As the NPMHU prepares to go into collective bargaining with USPS, we are anxious to see how Mr. Steiner will negotiate with our Union to protect our pay and benefits, ensure workplace safety, and fight any threats of privatization that would impact not only Mail Handlers but also postal customers.
The NPMHU is encouraged by Mr. Steiner’s commitment in maintaining the Postal Service as an independent establishment of the executive branch. The NPMHU looks forward to having a productive relationship with Postmaster General Steiner while we jointly work to maintain the Postal Service’s status as one of the most trusted agencies of the Federal Government. We will educate Mr. Steiner on the needs of Mail Handlers to successfully process the mail and how any changes to the network cannot be disruptive to the service standards our customers expect. It is the number one priority of NPMHU to protect our members while promoting the sustainability of the Postal Service.
"...the call for help after an attack on a postal worker at a west side Cleveland post office.
A 911 call revealed what happened in the lobby. A postal supervisor said he was confronted by people...A police report shows officers identified a main suspect, but no charges have been filed. ... "
"...poultry farmer in St. Ignatius says that a recent change implemented by the U.S. Postal Service has led to hundreds of chicks either dying or getting sick while they are being transferred from a hatchery to her ranch.
Gizem Nance of Eagles Acres Family Farm buys chicks from a hatchery in Iowa and pasture-raises them here in Montana for customers who want locally-raised meat. The chicks are sent by mail via the U.S. Postal Service. ..."
"...Jaia Cruz, a 24-year-old repeat offender from New York City who pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing U.S. Postal Carrier Ray Hodge III... She didn't stab him once, she stabbed him seven times. She said he was gonna be maggot food. She enjoyed it. "
Reference: www.yahoo.com
"...Edgar Kumley, who was appointed postmaster of Redig, SD, during President Harry S. Truman’s administration and who served in that role for 65 years, died April 6 at age 102.
Kumley’s tenure as postmaster was the...The funeral will be livestreamed"
"...A mail handler at the Atlanta Regional Processing and Distribution Center in Palmetto, GA, recently advanced to the second round of the current season of “American Idol.”
Brajawn Upshaw, 22, auditioned in Nashville..."
"Wayne White parked his U.S. Postal Service truck to drop off a package Friday afternoon when he ran into some unexpected trouble ...Three turkeys accosted White on his postal route in Hyannis, located just over an hour away from Boston, and a Ring camera captured the entire confrontation. ...But neither snow nor rain — or, apparently, turkeys — would stop this mailman from making his delivery."
Reference: wsvn.com
"...Three general wage increases, and six COLAs were awarded.
Arbitrator Nolan awarded general wage increases of 1.3 percent in November 2023 (paid retroactively), 1.4 percent in November 2024 (paid retroactively), and 1.5 percent in November 2025. These increases exceed the general wage increase pattern established in collective-bargaining agreements between the Postal Service and the other postal unions in the previous round of collective bargaining. The award also provides for the payment of six COLAs to career letter carriers using the formula that has been included in Article 9.3 for many years. That proportional COLA provides all career carriers equal protection against inflation. Four of these COLAs, totaling $2,725 per year at Step P, will be paid retroactively pursuant to Article 9.3. The amounts of the final two COLAs will, as usual, depend on the Labor Department’s Consumer Price Index (CPI-W, 1967=100).
CCA pay increases
CCAs will receive three additional 1.0 percent increases for cumulative general wage increases of 2.3 percent in November 2023 (paid retroactively), 2.4 percent in November 2024 (paid retroactively), and 2.5 percent in November 2025. ..."
"...Commemorate the 60th presidential inauguration with this special cachet. The #10 envelope features portraits of President Donald J. Trump and Vice President JD ... $12.95 · In stock ..."
Reference: store.usps.com
"...While the latest attack on federal sector unions does not apply to the Postal Service, we stand in solidarity with our fellow unions and support their call to action. ..."
Reference: NPMHU
"...Dear Friends: We are writing to solicit your financial support of Breakthrough T1D formerly Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF). Back in 1997, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union adopted JDRF as its official national charity..."
Reference: NPMHU
"...A month after announcing his intention to step down as Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy told the United States Postal Board of Governors his last day in the role was Monday, March 24, after almost five years of service.
As the Postal Service continues to be an intrinsic part of every American’s daily life, the Board of Governors should remain cognizant of this value and the work that Mail Handlers and all postal employees do as they work to find Mr. DeJoy’s successor. ..."
On the night of Monday, March 10, the Postmaster General (PMG) and Deputy PMG met with members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the United States Postal Service Headquarters. Mail Handlers have seen the DOGE team dismantle federal agencies, impacting services provided to Americans across the country, and are therefore rightly concerned about the potential impact on the work of the Postal Service generally and the work of the more than 54,000 dedicated mail handlers across the country. Our response will be guided by the following principles.
First and foremost, the independence of USPS – and its governance by the Board of Governors – must remain.
Second, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) will fight any attempts to privatize our work. Our processing and distribution work is vital within the postal network, and privatization or subcontracting of our jobs would jeopardize not only the earned pay and benefits of mail handlers across the country, but also the flow of service that postal customers and the public at large rely upon every day. Privatizing the Postal Service will threaten customers’ ability to receive packages and letters ranging from Social Security checks, necessary medications, government correspondence, and mail from loved ones.
Finally, while we have been told that the Postal Service will not grant DOGE access to employee records and data, should this not be the case, the NPMHU stands ready, along with the other postal unions, to take all necessary action to protect the privacy of our members.
The NPMHU will remain cautious and vigilant and is prepared to fight against any ill-conceived attempts by DOGE to dismantle this American institution.
"The United States Postal Service said it has signed a deal with the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) to cut costs at the agency. ...told congressional leaders in a letter that he had signed an agreement with Elon Musk’s DOGE to cut jobs and spending at the agency that has long since lost money. ...DOGE team asked about the big problems facing the Postal Service. He cited various issues including miscalculations and mismanagement ..."
Reference: thehill.com
"...The main feature of the delivery center is a large package sorting machine that almost stretches the length of the room.
With surprisingly little noise, the machine can sort 4,300 packages into 112 mail bins by location, according to the USPS. By hand, humans could only sort around 250 packages per hour, so the machines amount to a more than 17-fold increase in productivity.
“This is the game changer for delivery in the Postal Service,” Stefanowicz said. ..."
On Sunday, March 23, NALC branches are hosting local rallies to say "Hell no!" to dismantling the Postal Service. With branches holding events nationwide on the same day, we are sending a clear, unified message: Hands off USPS!
Visit the official website here.
Why are we fighting? Download the NALC flyer.
"...The Postal Service will dedicate its Appalachian Trail stamps on Friday, Feb. 28, in Dawsonville, GA.
The ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. Eastern at Amicalola Falls State Park and Lodge, located at 418 Amicalola Falls State Park Road. ...Pre-Order"
"...“The Postal Service has been historically burdened by service standard regulations...The relative impact on service standards, leaving more than 80 percent of market-dominant volume unchanged ...The Postal Service’s fact sheet has more information."
Reference: news.usps.com
USPS employees may participate in a webinar that will help explain how the new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program and Medicare work in retirement.
The session, “PSHB and Medicare in Retirement,” will be held from noon to 1 p.m. Eastern on the following Mondays: March 10, April 14, May 12, June 9, July 14, Aug. 11 and Sept. 8.
Representatives from CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, a provider of health plans for federal employees, will lead the webinar.
Participants must register before each event on the webinar website.
Participation is voluntary. Nonexempt employees must be off the clock or on authorized breaks.
Employees who have questions can email the USPS Benefits and Wellness team.
"...President Donald Trump vowed Wednesday that his administration is "not going to touch" entitlement programs such as Social Security, Medicare, and Medicaid, but didn't rule out that spending cuts can come through rooting out fraud and waste in the programs. "We are going to look for fraud..."
Reference: www.newsmax.com
"...BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - The U.S. Postal Inspection Service needs your help finding a bank and mail fraud suspect and you could get in return.
Central Alabama Crimestoppers says Rhashema Shantae Shackleford, also known as Rhashema Deramus, is wanted on outstanding felony warrants for bank fraud and conspiracy to commit mail and bank fraud.
U.S. Postal Inspector Julie Nicholson-Morgan says it all started when Shackleford allegedly stole some checks from the mail.
While her last known address was in Montgomery, she could be anywhere. ..."
NO EXECUTIVE ORDER TARGETING USPS IN THE WORKS
Postal Service braces for potential takeover by Trump's Commerce Department"...new commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, “will be looking” at the U.S. Postal Service. ...In December, Lutnick first discussed his plans with President Donald Trump to dissolve USPS leadership and fold the agency into the Department of Commerce, according to one of the sources.
No executive orders targeting the Postal Service are in the works, according to two White House officials, though they acknowledged there have been talks about ways to make it more efficient along with the rest of the federal government."
"...The U.S. Postal Service (USPS) is under the direction of the Postal Board of Governors, which USPS describes as “comparable to a board of directors of a private corporation.” Created by the Postal Reorganization Act in 1970 (P.L. 91-375), the board consists of the postmaster general, the deputy postmaster general, and nine governors appointed by the President with the advice and consent of the Senate. This In Focus provides an overview of the board, including its statutory authorities, current members, and pending nominations. ..."
Reference: crsreports.congress.gov
The Washington Post has reported that the Trump Administration is contemplating issuing an Executive Order firing the Postal Board of Governors and placing the United States Postal Service under the control of the Commerce Department.
Such a change would be the first step in destroying the Postal Service – an institution central to more than 166 million households and businesses. The Postal Service, through the work of its 640,000 employees, is responsible for ensuring that every American receives packages and mail ranging from Social Security checks, necessary medications, government correspondence, packages, and mail from loved ones. The Postal Service is an institution that is ingrained in our Constitution and older than the United States of America itself.
On behalf of the more than 54,000 mail handlers across the country, we will not stand by while the Trump Administration attacks this critical public resource. Firing the Board of Governors and seeking to privatize the work of the Postal Service will do nothing other than harm the American people who rely on the Postal Service every day.
The reported Executive Order does not serve the United States Postal Service and it does not make America great.
Stamp Collecting | 2024 Stamp Yearbook | USPS.com - Postal Store "...Detailing every stamp issued by the U.S. Postal Service in 2...
