Interesting Post Office Stories | 1930s post office turned into a luxurious, comfortable place to live

  1930s post office turned into a luxurious, comfortable place to live

"...Inside, though, the building Sarah purchased for $162,000 was drab. Many of the rooms were painted top to bottom in post-office blue. Hideous linoleum or tough rubber padding was glued to most of the floors. But the PO retained enough period details—including terra-cotta floor tiles, marble baseboards, and pink granite wall slabs—that Sarah was convinced to take the rehab project on. She preserved many of these details in the former lobby, which now serves as an entry parlor and formal living area. The original 16-foot ceilings were lowered by 2 feet to conceal pipes and conserve energy. ...claimed the old postmaster’s office as her own, keeping its stenciled, pebbled-glass door. ...Owner Sarah Belhasen turned a part of the old post-office loading dock into a veranda, with the addition of French doors and a concrete balustrade."

Reference: www.thisoldhouse.com




 

In The News | His gift keeps on giving | A USPS employee and the man he gave a kidney to are ready to celebrate 10 years of transplant success

  His gift keeps on giving | A USPS employee and the man he gave a kidney to are ready to celebrate 10 years of transplant success

"...’s decision to donate a kidney came after reading a social media post from someone who was looking for a donor.

“I saw it, looked at my wife and said, ‘I could do that,’” he said.

Pacileo, a USPS asset management finance and analytics manager, reached out to the poster, who put him in touch with testing resources. ..."

Reference: news.usps.com




 

News From Other Unions | Maintenance Division Wins Arbitration Award Protecting Employees in ‘Pending Qualification’ Status

  Maintenance Division Wins Arbitration Award Protecting Employees in ‘Pending Qualification’ Status

"...The APWU has won a major national arbitration decision protecting the rights of Maintenance Craft employees. On August 13, Arbitrator Margo R. Newman ruled that positions awarded to promoted employees who are in “pending qualification” (PQ) status to receive additional training are not vacant duty assignments and therefore cannot be unilaterally reverted by the Postal Service. The decision strengthens the contractual protections of Maintenance Division workers, as it requires management to follow Article 12 procedures, including saved grade and retreat rights, rather than cancelling promotions to avoid negotiated safeguards.

“This decision is a major victory for the Maintenance Division and the APWU crafts as a whole. ..."

Reference: apwu.org




 

AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler's 2025 State of the Unions Speech

  AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler's 2025 State of the Unions Speech

WATCH: Tune in for AFL-CIO President Liz Shuler’s State of the Unions address, where she will discuss what lies ahead for our workers, for our labor movement and for our country.

Reference: www.npmhu.org via NPMHU Local 317




 

National Postal Museum to host Sept. 13 first day for Holiday Cheer stamps

  National Postal Museum to host Sept. 13 first day for Holiday Cheer stamps

"Sept. 13 first-day ceremony for the four Holiday Cheer stamps.

The nondenominated (78¢) definitive stamps will be issued at 11 a.m. Eastern Time at the Smithsonian National Postal Museum, 2 Massachusetts Ave. NE, Washington, D.C. Michael Elston, vice president of labor relations for the U.S. Postal Service, will serve as the dedicating official

... The four new Holiday Cheer stamps feature Denise Fiedler’s vibrantly colored illustrations of three amaryllis flowers, a holly wreath, an evergreen branch decorated with fruit, and cardinals perched on mistletoe. "

Reference: www.linns.com




 

NPMHU Local 317 - Huntsville | Local Branch President Maria T. Boucher Retires

  Local Branch President Maria T. Boucher Retires

The long-serving Huntsville Branch President for Alabama NPMHU Local 317 has recently retired. President Maria T. Boucher, served the Huntsville facility selflessly, being overwhelmingly reelected by the local membership numerous times. In her positionas president, she was responsible for the administration and ajudication of all uion matters for the local, bringing about positive change and solid representation of NPMHU members. Additionally, she served as a Mail Handler Equipment Operator and Group Leader. She will be greatly missed. NPMHU and its members wish Maria a wonderful and long-lived retirement. Thank you President Boucher!

Reference: NPMHU Local 317




 

NPMHU | Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $790 | Wage Charts Effective September 6, 2025 (PP 20-2025)

  NPMHU | Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $790 | Wage Charts Effective September 6, 2025 (PP 20-2025)

Effective September 6, 2025 (PP 20-2025) 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 final 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 2025 Index, using the July 2022 CPI index as a base. The resulting calculation provides an annual increase of $790 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.

Updated Mail Handler Wage Charts to be released soon.

Reference: www.npmhu.org via NPMHU Local 317




 

USPS | Have a USPS vehicle? Don’t misuse it

 

Have a USPS vehicle? Don’t misuse it

There are rules about where you can go and who can go with you

The Postal Service is reminding employees to only use USPS vehicles for authorized purposes.

The vehicles should never be used to commute between home and work; run personal errands; complete non-USPS job assignments; or transport unauthorized people.

While on official travel or a detail assignment, using a postal vehicle for unauthorized activities — such as going sightseeing or visiting friends — is prohibited.

Misusing a Postal Service vehicle can result in disciplinary action. In some instances, a federal statute mandates a minimum penalty of a 30-day suspension without pay.

Employees with questions about the use and misuse of postal vehicles should email the USPS Ethics Office. Those with questions about using a vehicle for official duties should email the USPS Travel Office.

Reference: news.usps.com




 

In The News | Former USPS letter carrier pleads guilty to stealing checks and cash from mail at Torrance Post Office

  In The News | Former USPS letter carrier pleads guilty to stealing checks and cash from mail at Torrance Post Office

"...Mary Ann Magdamit, a 31-year-old Carson resident, faces up to 30 years in federal prison after she pled guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud, according to a statement from the U.S. Attorney's office. ..."

Reference: www.cbsnews.com




 

NPMHU | 2025 Contract Update #4

  NPMHU | 2025 Contract Update #4

You are reading the fourth Contract Update produced and distributed by the NPMHU during the course of 2025 negotiations. These updates, along with the Union’s magazine and monthly bulletins, will keep mail handlers throughout the country informed and involved in the issues raised during this round of bargaining.

The NPMHU Negotiations Team and USPS Management have continued to meet for subcommittee discussions on NPMHU’s noneconomic proposals. During these off-the-record meetings, Management has asked clarifying questions to better understand the intent behind each proposal, and the NPMHU Negotiations Team continues to present strong arguments, backed by real-world examples and hard numbers.

Recent discussions have focused on the Postal Service’s continued use of 204Bs. A number of the proposals submitted by the NPMHU hope to curb the use of 204Bs, particularly given the Postal Service’s implementation of the Relief Supervisor program, which itself had the goal of eliminating the use of 204Bs.

Subcommittees have also discussed the Union’s proposals to limit overscheduling of employees on holidays. Thanks to our many local union presidents who provided examples to the Negotiations Team such as where the Postal Service schedules every employee to work on the holiday. The Union remains hopeful that we will make progress in these important areas.

While the Postal Service has yet to make any formal proposals, it assures that they’re forthcoming. The NPMHU Negotiations Team looks forward to getting the Postal Service’s counterproposals in order to move the bargaining process forward.

This week, the Negotiations Team is also excited to see bargaining unit members at the SAMLU at LIUNA Headquarters in Washington, D.C. Even with the SAMLU going on, the NPMHU Negotiations Team will continue to meet off the record with Management.

With almost exactly a month left until hotel week, when the NPMHU Negotiations Team will sequester with USPS representatives, the NPMHU Negotiations team will continue to work full force towards an agreement that best helps NPMHU, the Postal Service, and the American mailing public.

Please continue to check your board for continuing updates!

Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317