Biden admin 'plans' to have Postal Service mail 500M coronavirus at-home test kits amid surge

  Biden admin 'plans' to have Postal Service mail 500M coronavirus at-home test kits amid surge

"... Officials hope to start shipping tests within the month; they will be sent to people who request them on a yet-to-be-launched government website..."

Reference: Postal Briefing
 

Nearly 3,500 federal workers to get benefits for contracting the coronavirus at work

  Nearly 3,500 federal workers to get benefits for contracting the coronavirus at work

"... The government has agreed to pay injury compensation benefits to nearly 3,500 federal employees on grounds that they contracted the coronavirus while at work, and has granted death benefits to survivors of 14 employees for that reason...The FECA program covers about 2.7 million federal employees, including more than 600,000 in the semi-corporate U.S. Postal Service..."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com  

Postal Service revises Criteria for Return to Work for Employees with Confirmed case of COVID-19

  Postal Service revises Criteria for Return to Work for Employees with Confirmed case of COVID-19

"...For your information, per the CDC, options for decisions about return-to-work for individuals with laboratory-confirmed COVID-19 include a test-based strategy or a non-test based strategy. The USPS is currently applying the non-test based strategy in the majority of cases..."

Reference: USPS via NPMHU  

Handling mail amid coronavirus: Low risk but wash your hands

  Handling mail amid coronavirus: Low risk but wash your hands

"...Health experts say the risks are very low that COVID-19 will remain on envelopes or packages and infect anyone who handles them. They say, however, to avoid touching your face and wash your hands after handling any..."

Reference: www.inquirer.com  

USPS mail handler at a Cleveland distribution center tests positive for COVID-19

  USPS mail handler at a Cleveland distribution center tests positive for COVID-19

"...U.S. Postal Service confirmed Monday that a mail handler at one of its Cleveland Processing and Distribution Centers has recently tested positive for the novel coronavirus disease, according to Naddia Dhalai, a communication specialist with the USPS...Both the CDC and the World Health Organizations said there is no evidence that COVID-19 can spread through mail..."

Reference: www.news5cleveland.com  

UPDATE: The NPMHU Contract Ratification Vote Count Began Yesterday

  UPDATE: The NPMHU Contract Ratification Vote Count Began Yesterday

According to the NPMHU March 20 Contract Update, the delayed contract ratification vote count will resume on Monday, March 30, 2020: "The ballot verification and counting is now set to begin on Monday, March 30, 2020, one week later than previously announced, and it is expected to take the duration of the entire week or longer to finalize and certify"

Additionally, there have been numerous updates provided by the NPMHU national website. Please read here to update yourself:

Reference: NPMHU 317  

Three-dozen plus Postal Service employees have tested positive for the novel coronavirus

  With Dozens of Confirmed Coronavirus Cases, USPS Launches New Measures to Protect Employees

"...To date, 40 postal workers have contracted the virus. Many more are home on mandatory quarantine as they may have come in contact with infected individuals ..."

Reference: www.govexec.com  

BALLOT COUNT DELAYED IN VIEW OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

 

This change is dictated by the need for social distancing

BALLOT COUNT DELAYED IN VIEW OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

2019 No. 12- March 19, 2020 (pdf)

2019 Contract Update #12

BALLOT COUNT DELAYED IN VIEW OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC

**VOTING OPPORTUNITY EXTENDED**

Out of an abundence of caution, and in order to comply with local and federal health recommendations, the National Executive Board has made the decision to modify the election ratification procedures that were originally distributed in Contract Update #11 on February 10, 2020. The ballot verification and count was previously scheduled to occur on March 23, 2020. In view of the coronavirus pandemic and recommended preventative measures, it is not practical to conduct the ballot count at this time.

In order to provide a safe environment with appropriate social distancing, we will utilize less people, in a more expansive area, to conduct the verification and count. These safety measures mean that it will take significantly longer to conduct the verification and ballot count.

As previously reported, the balloting period shall extend for at least 30 days after the mailing of ballots. The ballots will be col-lected from the P.O. Office Box, verified, and counted beginning at 9:00 a.m. on the day chosen to begin the count. The Union has retained the American Arbitration Association to certify the ballot count.

The ballot verification and counting is now set to begin on Monday, March 30, 2020, one week later than previously announced, and it is expected to take the duration of the entire week or longer to finalize and certify.

The primary reason for this delay in completing the ballot count, even after it is started, is that the verification and count of ballots will be performed by fewer people, operating out of separate locations, but connecting with each other using telephone and internet connections, including video and/or camera connections. This change is dictated by the need for social distancing.

In the event that federal or local government health officials invoke additional restrictions or quarentines such as a lockdown or shelter in place order, the NEB could be forced to delay the count further as appropriate. All ballots received from eligible members during the extended voting period will be counted.

All Local Unions may still send observers to be present at the collection, verification, opening, and counting of the ballots. However, said observations will only be made available by video feed to the National Office

Reference: www.npmhu.org