COLA 2018: First Cost of Living Allowance of 2018 - $520 to be effective March 3rd

  First Cost of Living Allowance of 2018 - $520 to be effective March 3rd
Effective on March 3, 2018, career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive the fourth of seven possible cost-of-living (COLA) adjustments as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2016 National Agreement. This COLA increase is based on the upward change in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) following release of the January 2018 Index, and provides an annual increase of $520 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. The increase will appear in paychecks dated March 23, 2018.
Reference: www.npmhu.org

Trump Suggests USPS Cut Retirement, Health Benefits in $80B Savings Package

  Trump Suggests USPS Cut Retirement, Health Benefits in $80B Savings Package

"...suggested USPS bring its retirement benefits in line with the same changes proposed for the rest of the federal workforce, which would save the agency $35 billion over the next decade. Under Trump’s plan, the postal service also would increase employees’ contributions toward their health and life insurance..."

Reference: www.govexec.com  

The Data Universe: Exploring U.S. Postal Employee Salaries

  The Data Universe: Exploring U.S. Postal Employee Salaries

"...Find out how much your local postal worker is paid to work, sort and deliver your mail. Simply enter a name or zipcode to be directed to information about a specific postman or postal employees in your area..."

Reference: www.app.com  
Example: Click Image for Postmaster General Base Salary 2017:

When is the next 'Cost of Living Adjustment' calculated?

  When is the next 'Cost of Living Adjustment' calculated?

According to Section 9.3, Cost of Living Adjustment:
A. Definitions
1. "Consumer Price Index" refers to the "National Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers," published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, United States Department of Labor (1967=100) and referred to herein as the "Index."
2. "Consumer Price Index Base" refers to the Consumer Price Index for the month of July 2014 and is referred to herein as the "Base Index."
B. Effective Dates of Adjustment:
Each eligible employee covered by this Agreement shall receive cost-of-living adjustments, upward, in accordance with the formula in 4.C, below, effective on the following dates:
- the second full pay period after the release of the January 2018 Index (More reading here)... .
Note: The BLS states the release date of the January 2018 CPI data are scheduled to be released on February 14, 2018, at 8:30 A.M. Eastern Time.
Thus, in the event CPI has risen to the level needed to garner a COLA based on the aforementioned information, the next COLA would be in March checks since the January 2018 CPI data are scheduled to be released on February 14, 2018.

Reference: NPMHU 317  

OPM Guide to Voluntary Early Retirement Regulations (PDF)

  OPM Guide to Voluntary Early Retirement Regulations (PDF)

"...The Voluntary Early Retirement Authority (VERA) provides agencies the option to offer voluntary early retirement when restructuring as well as when downsizing. The voluntary early retirement provisions are the same under the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) and the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS). The use of VERA is an option for increasing voluntary attrition in agencies that are undergoing substantial organizational change (e.g., reduction in force, reorganization, reshaping, delayering). Besides providing an incentive for employees to voluntarily retire or resign to avoid potential reduction in force actions, the agency may also offer VERA to employees in safe positions that could then provide placement opportunities for employees occupying surplus positions..."

Reference: www.opm.gov  

USPS Offers 'No Incentive' Voluntary Early Retirement

  USPS Offers 'No Incentive' Voluntary Early Retirement

"...The Postal Service is making a Voluntary Retirement Offer to eligible mail handler and clerk employees. However, much to the chagrin of workers, there are no incentives to entice employees to make a move in that direction. This has left employees questioning the move..."

Reference: The Postal Newsgroup  

Jacksonville USPS Distribution Center to Replace Mail Handling System

  Jacksonville USPS Distribution Center to Replace Mail Handling System

"...The Postal Service is looking to replace sixteen integrated mail handling systems at their Jacksonville National Distribution Center loading docks. The contractor who wins the bid is responsible for supply and installation of the machines..."

Reference: globenewswire.com  

NPMHU Files National-level Grievance Challenging Function-1 Scheduler Based on Improper Time or Work Studies Under Article 34

  NPMHU Files National-level Grievance Challenging Function-1 Scheduler Based on Improper Time or Work Studies Under Article 34

Mail Handler Update

The National Office has filed a National-level grievance challenging the F-1 Scheduler because it is based on improper time or work studies. The Union alleges that this action by the Postal Service violates Article 34. The detailed grounds for this grievance are set out in the attached grievance letter. The parties will be meeting on this grievance next week, to start the processing of this dispute, and developments will be circulated as they occur.

Read the December 7, 2017 Memorandum to Local Presidents from President Paul Hogrogian and CAD Manager Teresa Harmon (pdf)

Read the National Grievance Challenging Function-1 Scheduler (pdf)

Read the December Update titled: NPMHU Files National-level Grievance Challenging Function-1 Scheduler Based on Improper Time or Work Studies Under Article 34


Reference: www.npmhu.org

Truck loaded with mail burns north of Waycross

  Truck loaded with mail burns north of Waycross

"...Postal Service spokesman Stephen Seewoester said all 38,616 pounds was advertising mail, also known as junk mail. Waycross Postmaster Richard Ferrell determined there was no first class mail among the cargo of the burned-out semi trailer..."

Reference: http://jacksonville.com  

U.S. Postal Service dedicates Alzheimer's Semipostal Fundraising Stamp #AlzheimersStamp

  U.S. Postal Service dedicates Alzheimer's Semipostal Fundraising Stamp

#AlzheimersStamp

"...The stamp will be sold for 60 cents. 11 cents of each sale will go towards research funding. It’s the first in a series of five fundraising stamps to be issued in the next 10 years..."
Reference: www.abc2news.com

Feds: Body found in Welsh was that of Houston postal worker

  Feds: Body found in Welsh was that of Houston postal worker

"...that of a Houston postal worker. Gayla Roy disappeared in September. Her co-worker and the father of her children, Don Gaines, 30, was indicted earlier this month in Houston on a charge of ..."

Reference: www.katc.com  

A postal worker was killed on the job. Her ex-boyfriend had been stalking her, witnesses say

  A postal worker was killed on the job. Her ex-boyfriend had been stalking her, witnesses say

"...The incident occurred in the parking lot near a loading dock behind the Decatur facility, Patch reports. Witnesses told FOX 5 that four shots were fired. Terrell’s mother, Eugina Terrell, told WXIA that her daughter and her boyfriend had separated about a month earlier..."

Reference: www.miamiherald.com  

Pictures: NPMHU 317 swearing-in ceremony was held on November 18, 2017 (Saturday)

  NPMHU 317 swearing-in ceremony was held on November 18, 2017 (Saturday)
A swearing-in of officers ceremony was held on November 18, 2017 (Saturday), at the NPMHU 317 office in Birmingham. Click on image to enlarge:

Reference: NPMHU 317

New Wage Chart (Effective November 25, 2017)

  New Wage Chart (Effective November 25, 2017)

CLICK IMAGE TO ENLARGE

Reference: NPMHU 317

DeKalb County, Georgia: Postal worker shot in the head while on the job dies

  Postal worker shot in the head while on the job dies

"... Authorities have not identified the woman, who was shot while she was working. Witnesses told Channel 2 they heard four rounds..."

Reference: The Atlanta Journal-Constitution  

Military Postal Service Agency Notes Deadline for shipping holiday gifts

  Deadline for shipping holiday gifts nears

"...To assist customers in ensuring that packages are delivered in time, the Military Postal Service Agency has released its annual recommended mail-by dates for theaters around the world. These dates are just guidelines, however, and people should carefully consider which type of mail service to use when they arrange shipments..."

Reference: Stars and Stripes  

Clerks Begin 2017 Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period on December 2

  2017 Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period

"...in accordance with Article 8, sections 4 and 5, of the Collective Bargaining Agreement, penalty overtime rules are not applicable for a consecutive four-week period each year during December..."

Reference: www.apwu.org  

NPMHU 317 Election Results (November 17, 2017)

  NPMHU 317 Election Results (November 17, 2017)

NPMHU 317 Election Results

Congratulations to our NPMHU 317 Election Winners! The results of the 2017 election are in. The results were official on November 17, 2017, and a swearing-in ceremony was held on November 18, 2017 (Saturday).

Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union Local 317 Official Website

Mail handler Salary Increase is Effective November 25, 2017

  Mail handler Salary Increase is Effective November 25, 2017

NPMHU Contract Excerpt

The next Mail Handler salary increase is effective November 25, 2017. The increase is 1.3%. This is also the time when many of your fellow Mail Handlers increase their Thrift Savings Plan (TSP) contributions. Increasing your TSP contribution by 1% when your salary increases permits you to save for retirement without feeling the impact in your check. As an added bonus, TSP contributions are tax deferred which actually lowers your taxable income, unless you allocate your increase to a Roth contribution. Roth IRAs, however, are invested with after-tax income and grow tax-free. With the S&P 500 Total Return Year to Date Price Returns (Daily) of 17.45% for Nov. 13, 2017, that is a great investment. The 'C Fund' tracks the S&P 500.
Reference: NPMHU 317   https://federal-newsgroup.blogspot.com/2017/08/should-federal-employees-invest-in-roth.html

NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications

  NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone Scholarship Program Now Accepting Applications

NPMHU Logo Image

The NPMHU Arthur S. Vallone scholarship program will begin accepting applications on November 21st, 2017 for scholarships to be paid during the 2018-2022 years. We are challenging Mail Handlers & their families to take advantage of these monies available at no expense - just the time needed to apply.
The National Postal Mail Handlers Union is pleased to offer the opportunity for regular 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 and application instructions are available at the link below.
Scholarship eligibility details and application instructions are now available. (pdf)


Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union

NPMHU Files Charges with NLRB RE: Function-1 Scheduler And USPS Failure to Provide Information

  NPMHU Files Charges with NLRB RE: Function-1 Scheduler And USPS Failure to Provide Information

NLRB charge

To protect against statutory deadlines, the National Office has filed an unfair labor practice charge with the National Labor Relations Board, alleging that the Postal Service has failed to bargain in good faith by providing all of the relevant information requested by the National Union. The National Contract Administration Department has been pressing the Postal Service for months seeking information and worksheets relevant to the application of the Function-I Scheduler in any and all mail processing facilities that may be affected by this management tool. A copy of President Hogrogian's memorandum to Local Presidents and the NLRB charge are posted here for your review. (pdf)
Reference: www.npmhu.org

Veteran's Day Holiday Schedule

  CAD Issues Memorandum to Address Veteran's Day Schedule Inquiries

2017 memo Veterans Day

Veterans' Day is celebrated on Nov. 11th-- in 2017, the holiday falls on a Saturday. In view of the confusion caused by this anomaly, the Contract Administration Department issued a memorandum intended to clarify the holiday schedule for Mail Handlers.

The October 25, 2017 memo and related guidance is available at this link. (pdf)
Reference: www.npmhu.org

The TSP’s all-in-family millionaire’s club

  The TSP’s all-in-family millionaire’s club

"...Aside from a few wealthy political appointees from the current and past administrations, the vast majority of people with million-dollar accounts were individuals with careers averaging 28 years, who invested in the C and S stock indexed funds through good times and bad, and who did not panic and retreat to the “safety” of the treasury securities G fund during the Great Recession..."

Reference: federalnewsradio.com  

House Budget is an attack on FERS employees more so than CSRS, cuts G Fund rate, ends SRS, raises employee contributions again

  House advances 2018 budget resolution with federal retirement cuts

"...elimination of supplemental payments (SRS) to employees who retire before age 62; A switch to a defined contribution pension plan for new federal employees; reduce the G fund’s rate of return ..."

Reference: federal-employees.blogspot.com  

Unions seek assistance in rejecting 2018 House Budget that is an outright assault on postal and federal workers

  Oppose the 2018 House Budget - Fight Again for Working Families!

"...CALL 1-844-402-1001 NOW! Tell your member of Congress to VOTE NO against any budget that includes attacks to postal and federal employees’ benefits, including retirement benefits, or undermines the public Postal Service itself! As currently written, this budget will slash the pay and benefits of postal employees. It calls for: Increasing employee pension contributions into FERS, amounting to a pay cut of thousands of dollars a year for each FERS postal employee. Taking away the Social Security supplement for FERS employees who retire before they are eligible for Social Security benefits. Outright eliminating pensions for new hires..."

Reference: www.apwu.org  

Probes estimate billions of delayed mail to facilities and point to Postal Service ‘manipulation’...

  Probes estimate billions of delayed mail to facilities and point to Postal Service ‘manipulation’ by a few employees

"...Sen. Jon Tester (D-Mont.) expressed his “great concern about the U.S. Postal Service Inspector General (OIG) audit report finding that the US Postal Service has been inaccurately reporting delayed mail across a number of facilities, directly impacting mail service for millions of customers.” The OIG estimated that during the year ended Feb. 28, “mail processing facilities underreported late arriving mail by about 2 billion mailpieces” — that’s billion..."

Reference: www.washingtonpost.com  

MHA alleges she was terminated for requesting FMLA leave by United States Postal Service

  Woman alleges she was terminated for requesting FMLA leave by United States Postal Service

"...According to the complaint, the plaintiff was hired by the defendant as a mail handler assistant in 2013 and informed the defendant of her pregnancy in 2015. The suit states she was terminated on Aug. 28, 2015..."

Reference: pennrecord.com  

Postal Officials Under-Reporting Delayed Mail, Tester Calls for Firings

  Tester wants firings after postal workers accused of delaying mail delivery

"...In a two-day audit of eight mail distribution centers, investigators discovered more than 572,000 delayed mail items on land. However, postal officials were only reporting 369,000 delays, essentially hiding 36 percent of the problem..."

Reference: billingsgazette.com  

When is my next annual salary increase?

  When is my next annual salary increase?
Effective November 25, 2017 - the basic annual salary for each grade and step of Table 1 and Table 2 shall be increased by an amount equal to an amount equal to 1.3% of the basic annual salary for the grade and step in effect on May 20, 2016. For more information please see Section 9.1 - Basic Annual Salary of the National Contract
Reference: NPMHU 317