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 USPS employee news website has a new look
"The Postal Service wants to remind employees that USPS ethics rules apply even after they leave the organization. Former employees and retirees may work for any new employer, but they may not: • Use..."
Reference: usps.com
"...U.S Postal Service (USPS) and U.S. Postal Inspection Service has adapted their blue collection boxes to smart devices to help crack down on postal crimes. To combat increasing mail theft across the country, the service announced earlier this year they would begin installing 12,000 high-security blue collection boxes in high-risk areas nationwide. ..."
Reference: www.cachevalleydaily.com
"...Under the agreement, USPS will increase the top range of Executive Administrative Schedule (EAS) salaries by 4.7%. USPS will also increase the minimum salaries for each pay band will also increase. UPMA President Edmund Carley said in an interview that members will see about a 5% average pay increase. ..."
Reference: federalnewsnetwork.com
LiUNA | MESSAGE FROM GENERAL PRESIDENT BRENT BOOKER
LiUNA | WATCH a video message from General Secretary-Treasurer Michael F. Sabitoni
Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317
"“I am astonished by such a potential breach of personal information, and I seek information about USPS’s collection of information that it could disseminate to labor unions,” she wrote. “Given the conflicting information between its privacy notes and Privacy Act Statements, I am concerned that if USPS were to disseminate personal information to labor unions, it would breach the Privacy Act, which restricts disclosure of personally identifiable records maintained by agencies.”... "
Reference: midmichigannow.com
"It’s the busiest time of year for the U.S. Postal Service — and thieves are taking advantage. ...By using stolen USPS master keys — also called “arrow” or “universal” keys — crooks are able to unlock multiple mailboxes at once. ..."
Reference: www.kxan.com
"The processing center is one of an estimated 60 new facilities the Postal Service plans to open over the next decade. The agency intends to deploy a combination of owning and leasing industrial properties as part of its system overhaul. Some leased properties will require extensive capital improvements, according to federal regulators. The Postal Service is also likely to repurpose some of its existing properties to the new format. In addition to the new sorting centers, called Regional Processing and Distribution Centers, or RPDCs..."
Reference: www.costar.com
"...get regular updates on the news you can use and answers to your questions with KeepingPosted.org for retired and retiring USPS employees. ..."
Reference: www.keepingposted.org
"...The Postal Service Reform Act of 2022 (PSRA) was signed into law in April 2022. Since then, the Office of Personnel Management (OPM), in conjunction with the Postal Service, has been working to implement a new Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program, as required under the new law. PSHB is a new, separate program within the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program and will be administered by OPM. Coverage under the PSHB Program will be effective January 1, 2025. Below is a list of facts regarding the PSHB Program for current annuitants..."
Reference: www.keepingposted.org
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, 2024.
VIEW AND DOWNLOAD SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY DETAILS AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (PDF)
Download MS Word version
Dear Brothers and Sisters,
As we observe Veterans Day and Remembrance Day, LIUNA expresses gratitude to the veterans in our midst, both within our union and across our nations. We owe them a debt of immense gratitude.
WATCH NOW, "Veterans Day & Remembrance Day"
"...The Federal Benefits Open Season for health insurance under the FEHB Program, dental and vision insurance under FEDVIP and flexible spending accounts under FSAFEDS will be held from November 13 – December 11, 2023. ...The 2023 Open Season is from November 13, 2023 through December 11, 2023. For information on the insurance plans available to you"
Reference: www.opm.gov
"Do you want a mailbox that will stand out in your neighbourhood? "
Reference: theownerbuildernetwork.co
"...The United States Postal Service is warning of a scam involving text messages that ask for information regarding a package delivery. According to the Postal Service, these types of text messages are a scam called smishing, a form of phishing that involves a text message or phone number. Victims will typically receive a deceptive text message that is intended to lure the recipient into providing their personal or financial information, the Postal Service warned...."
Reference: www.kwtx.com
"USPS and the Postal Inspection Service provided an update this week on their Project Safe Delivery campaign to crack down on postal crimes and attacks on postal employees.
Multiple USPS departments are working on the campaign, which was announced in May.
“As our nation continues to address a sustained crime wave, our targeted focus to crack down on postal crime is progressing,” said Postmaster General Louis DeJoy. “The safety of our letter carriers — and all postal employees — is our top priority. We will continue to work steadfastly with our law enforcement partners to increase the safety of our employees and protect the sanctity of the nation’s mail.”
“We have effectively focused our efforts with USPS on hardening both physical and digital targets to combat threats to postal employees and secure the mail,” said Chief Postal Inspector Gary Barksdale. “We continue to turn up the pressure and put potential perpetrators on notice: If you attack postal employees, steal the mail or commit other postal crimes, postal inspectors will bring you to justice.”
Under Project Safe Delivery, USPS and the Inspection Service have:...
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"The transition from disability to retirement is a scary one for Social Security recipients. ...The biggest concern that those receiving Social Security disability have about reaching full retirement age is that their benefit amounts might go down. The reason has to do with the way that disability and retirement benefits are calculated. Specifically, in determining how much you receive in disability benefits, Social Security takes a look at your average lifetime earnings during the period before your disability began. ...A special rule for early retirees Interestingly, there's a special rule that applies for those who become disabled and then apply for early retirement benefits under Social Security. If you became disabled, started collecting early retirement, and then had your disability application approved by the SSA, then you'll continue receiving your Social Security retirement payments, but you'll also get disability benefits that are enough to bring you to the full amount of the monthly payment you're entitled to receive. Moreover, when you reach full retirement age, you'll receive full retirement benefits as if you had never filed for early retirement benefits."
Reference: www.fool.com
"Federal employees and retirees share of 2024 Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) premiums will increase — on average — by 7.7% according to the Office of Personnel Management...."
Reference: www.myfederalretirement.com
...the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (FRFA), legislation to address a gap for federal employees who began their careers as temporary workers and were thus unable to make retirement contributions. The FRFA will allow these workers to make catch-up contributions to ensure they can retire as planned. In the absence of this provision, many face an unfair choice: exit the federal service without complete retirement benefits or delay retirement to achieve full benefits. Before 1989, the Office of Personnel Management permitted federal employees to make catch-up payments, enabling them to compensate for years they didn’t contribute to their retirement accounts. However, this provision was eliminated when the government transitioned to a new federal employee retirement system. ...
Reference: house.gov
The Postal Service is reminding facility managers to check the condition of their POW-MIA flags before Veterans Day, Nov. 11.
The upcoming observance is also a good time to check the condition of U.S. flags and the poles that they fly from.
USPS facilities are required to display the POW-MIA flag along with the U.S. flag.
The flags should be checked for wearing, tearing and fading.
When a flag is unsuitable for display, it is time to replace it. Tattered flags should not be flown.
Flag poles should be structurally sound, free of rust or corrosion, properly anchored, and able to hoist and lower the flag quickly and effectively.
If a facility’s flagpole needs repair, the manager should submit a work order for maintenance promptly.
The USPS Administrative Support Manual has additional guidelines on U.S. flag display, maintenance, and ordering replacement flags.
"...In a surprise announcement, postal management has invoked a targeted Voluntary Early Retirement (VER), limited to the Newark, NJ geographic area, with no monetary incentive and limited to employees in particular crafts and jobs. “The union is deeply disturbed that this announcement was made with virtually no advance notification to the APWU, either at the national level or with the local union leaders in the impacted facilities,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “This lack of communication, lack of opportunity for the union to negotiate over these changes and the scope of this VER, what crafts are eligible and whether there should be monetary incentives is outrageous. Their disrespect for the union and postal workers, and their refusal to bargain, has been met with immediate demands for bargaining, information requests, unfair labor practice charges with the NLRB and will be followed up with appropriate grievances.” ..."
Reference: apwu.org
USPS has notified the Postal Regulatory Commission of mailing services price changes to take effect Jan. 21, 2024.
The proposed adjustments, approved by the governors of the Postal Service, would raise mailing services product prices approximately 2 percent.
The proposed changes include:
• Letters (1 ounce): 66 cents (current), 68 cents (planned)
• Letters (metered 1 ounce): 63 cents (current), 64 cents (planned)
• Domestic postcards: 51 cents (current), 53 cents (planned)
• International postcards: $1.50 (current), $1.55 (planned)
• International letters (1 ounce): $1.50 (current), $1.55 (planned)
The additional-ounce price remains unchanged at 24 cents.
The Postal Service is also seeking price adjustments for Special Services products, including Certified Mail, PO Box rental fees, money order fees and the cost to purchase insurance when mailing an item.
Because operating expenses fueled by inflation continue to rise and the effects of a previously defective pricing model are still being felt, the price adjustments are needed to provide the Postal Service with much-needed revenue to achieve the financial stability sought by its Delivering for America 10-year plan.
Even with the changes, the Postal Service’s prices remain among the most affordable in the world.
The complete USPS price filing can be found on the commission’s website. Price tables are also available on the Postal Explorer website.
The Postal Service’s Oct. 6 news release has additional information.
1930s post office turned into a luxurious, comfortable place to live "...Inside, though, the building Sarah purchased for $162,...
