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.
"... 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
"...The Great Resignation continues. The Labor Department says 4.5 million Americans quit their jobs in November, a new record. ...He says people are quitting in the middle of a worker shortage. There are 10.6 million job openings in the U.S., according to the Labor Department. ..."
Reference: cbslocal.com
"...A Fresno homeowner’s security cameras captured video showing a small child taking a package from the porch of the home. ..."
Reference: www.sacbee.com
"...WGN has recently learned of complaints about more deliveries, with some referred to as “naked packages.” WGN captured a flat-screen TV dropped off on a local porch with packaging showing anyone walking by precisely what was inside. Dr. Ben Stickle, associate professor of Criminal Justice Administration at Middle Tennessee State University, is a porch piracy expert..."
Reference: pix11.com
"...according to the late journalist and historian John Parris. Following his lead, officials opened not one but two post offices in the area, dubbing them Trust and Luck, and named Plemmons postmaster of the Luck branch. ..."
Reference: wncmagazine.com
"...OMAHA, Neb. (AP) — An eastern Nebraska man has been sentenced to more than a year in federal prison for impersonating a U.S. postal inspector, postmaster general and a U.S. marshal on various occasions. Jeff..."
Reference: www.usnews.com
"...Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office deputies and Idaho Falls Fire responded to the scene at about 5:30 p.m. on Monday to find an unresponsive woman underneath a mail truck on ..."
Reference: www.idahostatejournal.com
"...The National Labor Relations Board ruled that Amazon’s union vote was unfair in part because a U.S. Postal Service receptacle was installed in a spot where employees could potentially be monitored..."
Reference: www.wsj.com
"...A former Florida postal clerk is facing federal prison time after she stole post office box keys and used her access to customers’ mail in a bank fraud scheme, according to U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Middle District of Florida. Read more at: https://www.bradenton.com/news/local/crime/article256410841.html#storylink=cpy..."
Reference: www.bradenton.com
"...Mark Dimondstein said. “The tentative National Agreement contains annual wage increases, protection of full COLAs and no-layoff protections, new opportunities for career work, gains for part time flexibles and a host of other improvements.”..."
Reference: apwu.org
"...Ten people have been indicted in an ID theft conspiracy that included United States Postal Service mail carriers and netted more than $750,000, Manhattan District Attorney Cy Vance announced Wednesday...."
Reference: abc7ny.com
"...This pre-payment requirement is something that no other federal government agency or private corporation attempts to do—not to mention that there is no actuarial justification for such an accelerated payment schedule. The pre-funding requirement effectively forces the Postal Service to finance a $72 billion..."
Reference: scheerpost.com
"...Unions are pushing Congress to approve comprehensive postal reform before the end of this year, but it appears that even the Democratic-run House isn’t listening. Instead, leaders have yet to schedule a debate and vote on the measure - HR3076, and referred it to two key committees, Ways and Means and Energy and Commerce. The original deadline for those panels’ action was December 3rd. Now it’s January 21st, 2022. ..."
Reference: www.wnylabortoday.com
"...The Postal Service has presented Safety Leadership and Vision Awards to seven district managers in recognition of their efforts to foster and sustain safe working environments. The awards were presented Nov. 22 during a virtual ceremony. USPS created the Safety Leadership and Vision Awards..."
Reference: USPS News Link
"...In April 2015, he ordered 20 custom stamps for $40 from Zazzle, an authorized vendor for the postal service, with the drawing and a caption stating “Democracy is Not for Sale.” The postal service refused to fill the order, saying it violated its ban on political content, but still printed other political stamps. ..."
Reference: www.wickedlocal.com
Under law, *With the exception of law enforcement personnel, the following data is considered public information: the name, job title, grade, current salary, duty station, and dates of employment of any current or former Postal Service employee. Salary history may not be provided given potential links to performance information and resulting privacy interests. This information can be found on numerous 3rd party sites such as Search Postal Employee Salaries
Reference: NPMHU Local 317 Postal Employee News
"...A new notice, scheduled for publication in the Federal Register Wednesday, describes how widows or widowers who meet a specific set of criteria can apply for federal survivor benefits that they were previously ineligible for or, in some cases, denied. Under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS), a widow or widower must have been married to a federal employee or annuitant at least nine months..."
Reference: federalnewsnetwork.com
"...If you are a FERS employee and you retire on an immediate, unreduced annuity before reaching age 62, you will not only receive your basic annuity but an additional payment that represents the amount of Social Security benefit you earned while a FERS employee. It’s called the special retirement supplement (SRS). An immediate, unreduced annuity is payable to..."
Reference: www.fedweek.com
"...added another new sorting machine to the Huntsville facility to help improve shipping statewide. “We are looking..."
Reference: Postal Briefing
"...Each participating classroom will receive a USPS Pen Pal Project kit with a teaching poster, cards, and envelopes. By participating in the program, students will improve their writing, communication, and collaboration skills...."
Reference:
The Federal Health Benefits Open Season provides an opportunity for career mail handlers to make changes to their health insurance coverage through the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP). During open season, you may make changes to your health insurance including changing plans, enroll if not enrolled, cancel enrollment, or select and change your coverage options (Self Only, Self Plus One or Self and Family).
The USPS has made Consumers’ Checkbook® Guide to Health Plans available to all postal employees and retirees at no charge. Checkbook Guide summarizes thousands of facts about the available health plans to simplify your choice. To access Checkbook Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, go to: liteblue.usps.gov/planselection. This online tool takes you through a few simple steps to find the best health plan for you and your family. Find every plan available to you ranked by estimated costs and more.
Open season adjustments may be made using PostalEASE, which can be accessed online at liteblue.usps.gov or by calling HRSSC 1-877-477-3273, option 1. FEHBP Open Season begins on November 8, 2021 and ends on December 13, 2021.
Official Call for Bargaining Proposals (pdf)
Fillable bargaining proposal form (pdf)
With preparations underway for negotiations over the terms of the 2022 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 28, 2022. 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 2022 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 2019 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 in no event later than January 28, 2022. 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 28, 2022, using the following address:
National Postal Mail Handlers Union
ATTN: 2022 Negotiations
815 16th Street, NW, Suite 5100
Washington, DC 20006
"...US Postal Service workers will have to get a COVID-19 vaccine or be tested weekly after President Biden mandated the shot for federal workers – despite an earlier report claiming the more than 600,000 letter-carriers and administrative staff were exempt. The White House issued a clarification late Thursday after the Washington Post, citing an official, reported USPS workers were not required to get the shot and were only being “strongly encouraged” to do so..."
Reference: nypost.com
Today our nation looks back two decades to September 11, 2001 when cowardly terrorists launched a barbaric attack on the Pentagon and World Trade Center. We pause to commemorate and reflect on the nearly 3,000 men, women and children who were killed and to remember and honor all the heroes, many of them LIUNA members, who risked their own safety to save lives and to help our country recover and rebuild. While much was lost, we can also gather strength from the unity and courage America demonstrated to the world. As our world continues to change, we will face new challenges and threats to our freedoms. While 9/11 memorials fittingly soar to the sky, let us remember that the most profound salute to those who were lost and to future generations will always be the living tribute of one united and indivisible American nation. On behalf of myself, General Secretary-Treasurer Armand E. Sabitoni, and the entire LIUNA General Executive Board, we remember those lost on September 11 and share our sincere gratitude with those who responded with such courage and strength to the terrible attacks.
Reference: www.npmhu.org
Effective August 28, 2021 (Pay Period 19-2021), all career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive a cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2019 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 January 2021 Index, using the July 2019 CPI index as a base, and will provide an annual increase of $1,934 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 wage charts forthcoming
