Office of Personnel Management proposes federal employees pay more for retirement

  Office of Personnel Management proposes federal employees pay more for retirement

"...Mr. Pon said the proposed changes would bring the federal government more in line with the private sector. "The employee retirement landscape continues to evolve as private companies are providing less compensation in the form of retirement benefits. The shift away from defined benefit programs and cost-of-living adjustments for annuitants is part of that evolution," Mr. Pon wrote..."

Reference: www.pionline.com  

President Hogrogian and Secretary-Treasurer Dwyer Meet with Presidential Task Force During 120 Day Study of USPS

  President Hogrogian and Secretary-Treasurer Dwyer Meet with Presidential Task Force During 120 Day Study of USPS

"...There also were discussions relating to ongoing legislative efforts at postal reform, the need to reject additional enforcement of pre-funding for retiree health or pension costs, the use of USPS assumptions in calculating unfunded liabilities..."

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

USPS considering relocating Mountain Brook post office

  USPS considering relocating Mountain Brook post office

"...At the public meeting, the USPS will outline the need for relocation, take questions and solicit written input for a period of 30 days. The USPS will make a final decision after the 30-day comment period. Welch said the city is working to get the word out on the public meeting. "When it was first announced we got a fair amount of feedback. People were upset," he said..."

Reference: www.al.com  

FBI: Man claiming to be from New Mexico sent 'creepy' packages to over 50 girls

  FBI: Man claiming to be from New Mexico sent 'creepy' packages to over 50 girls

"...It's terrifying. I don't want her to be out of my sight right now," said Jena Willingham of Phenix City, Alabama. Willingham's young daughter received a package in the mail from the man in question, as did at least one other girl in their small Alabama town. "[She] came in there and she cried and..."

Reference: www.krqe.com  

USPS: Letters available Monday for customers whose mail was destroyed at the Prattville Alabama Post Office

 

USPS: Letters available Monday for customers whose mail was destroyed

"...USPS officials say the letters will be available for customer pick up on Monday. USPS officials did say the P.O. box area impacted by the fire remains under investigation by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF)..."   

 

Danny Miller, Past Huntsville USPS P&DF Supervisor (Retired) Passes

  Danny Ray Miller (Obit)
"...Mr. Danny Miller was a veteran of the United States Marines. He received three Purple Hearts while serving in the Vietnam War..."
Reference: www.decaturdaily.com

White House Issues Executive Order to Review Postal Finances, Pricing, Policies and Workforce Costs

  White House Issues Executive Order to Review Postal Finances, Pricing, Policies and Workforce Costs

April 12, 2018- President Trump issued an Executive Order to form a task force charged with evaluating the finances of the U.S. Postal Service including pricing, policies and workforce costs.

The White House reports that the Task Force will be comprised of multiple agency heads including the: Secretary of the Treasury as Chair; Director of the Office of Management and Budget; Director of the Office of Personnel Management; and other agency heads. The Executive Order goes on to highlight consultation with the Postmaster General and the Chairman of the Postal Regulatory Commission and the Secretary of Labor.

Postal Unions were not named in the EO as task force participants, however the Order does note that task force recommendations shall also consider the views of the USPS workforce; commercial, non-profit, and residential users of the USPS services; and competitors in the marketplace. In politics, it is often said that if you are not sitting at the table, you are being eaten for lunch. The leadership of the NPMHU believes that the voice of labor must be included in this USPS task force review. We will do everything possible to ensure that the interests of craft labor are properly represented.

In a report due (in 120 days) or no later than August 10, 2018, the task force will provide a “thorough evaluation of the operations and finance of the USPS, including: 1) the expansion and pricing of the package delivery market and the USPS's role in competitive markets; 2) the decline in mail volume and its implications for USPS self-financing and the USPS monopoly over letter delivery and mailboxes; 3) the definition of the "universal service obligation" in light of changes in technology, e-commerce, marketing practices, and customer needs; 4) the USPS role in the U.S. economy and in rural areas, communities, and small towns; and 5) the state of the USPS business model, workforce, operations, costs, and pricing.”

The NPMHU remains committed to the mission of the United States Postal Service, one that includes affordable and universal service to all boundaries of the United States while providing fair wages and benefits to the workers that accomplish this mission daily. The most immediate step to secure financial relief and sustainability for the USPS would be to address the 2006 Congressional mandate to pre-fund retiree health benefits 75 years in advance – an onerous burden that no other private or public entity in America is required to carry.

“We will work with the White House, task force members and Congress, and will champion pro-active steps to restore financial stability to the Service while protecting all mail handlers,” said President Hogrogian.

Executive Order (pdf)

Fact Sheet Issued by White House (pdf)

Reference: National Postal Mail Handlers Union  

When is the next contract salary increase?

  When is the next contract salary increase?

Effective November 24, 2018 - the basic annual salary for each grade and step of Table One and Table Two shall be increased by an amount equal to 1.3% of the basic annual salary for the grade and step in effect on May 20, 2016.

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

McConnell v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Issues Final Decision

  McConnell v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Issues Final Decision

The EEOC has rejected the Postal Service’s request for reconsideration after finding the National Reassessment Process discriminated against injured postal workers and violated their rights under the Rehabilitation Act.

This matter concerns a class of Postal Service employees consisting of rehabilitation and limited-duty injured-on-duty (IOD) employees whose positions were assessed by the USPS National Reassessment Program (NRP) between May 5, 2006 and July 1, 2011.

The NRP subjected qualified rehabilitation and limited-duty IOD employees to disparate treatment and resulted in rehabilitation and limited-duty IOD employees with disabilities having their reasonable accommodations withdrawn, as well as being subjected to disability-based harassment and having their confidential medical information accessed by unauthorized persons.

The Postal Service is now required to comply with a number of orders listed in the final decision. Impacted Mail Handlers were not required to file an EEOC complaint to be part of the class but members of the class are required to file a claim within 30 days of receiving notice from the Postal Service to avoid forfeiting any potential relief.

The Postal Service has begun complying with the EEOC order by notifying impacted employees Important Information about How to Submit a Claim and the Deadline to Make a Claim can be seen on the Law Firms website at www.nrpclassaction.com.

McConnell v. U.S. Postal Service, EEOC Decision (pdf)

Please note: The NPMHU makes no representation about the accuracy or quality of the information that is being provided by the law firm or its website. The claim form provided by the law firm commits claimants to being represented by these attorneys. Claimants should carefully review the terms of the retainer agreement, including how their chosen representative is paid. Claimants also should know that they are not required to use a lawyer to make a claim. The NPMHU cannot endorse the use of any law firm to submit claims and cannot give legal advice on whether to make claims directly to the Postal Service or to retain legal assistance for any part of the claim process.

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

Mail Handler Wage Chart Updated

  Cost of Living Allowance of 2018 - $520 to be in checks dated March 23, 2018

"...COLA increase as outlined in Article 9.3 of the National Agreement. The increase will appear in paychecks dated March 23, 2018. Click here for PDF wage chart. Additionally, you can view the current wage chart by clicking the link with the $20 currency note on the right-hand sidebar on this site. ..."

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

NLRB Issues Complaint Challenging Postal Service’s Refusal to Provide NPMHU with Full Information on F-1 Scheduler

  NLRB Issues Complaint Challenging Postal Service’s Refusal to Provide NPMHU with Full Information on F-1 Scheduler

Case 5-CA-208552

By memorandum dated February 27, 2018, President Hogrogian notified Local Presidents of a Complaint and Notice of Hearing issued by the National Labor Relations Board against the U.S. Postal Service. The Complaint is based on the Postal Service’s refusal to respond to a series of information requests about the F-1 Scheduler that were filed by the NPMHU Contract Administration Department during the period running from May through November of 2017.

The Complaint also alleges that the Postal Service, even with regard to other information that it eventually did provide to the NPMHU, acted unlawfully by unreasonably delaying its responses and disclosures to the Union.

The Postal Service has been given until March 7, 2018 to answer the Complaint, and a hearing already has been set for May 24, 2018.

A copy of the Complaint and Notice of Hearing, including all exhibits, is attached to this memorandum. (pdf)


Reference: www.npmhu.org

How much tax to withhold? New calculator to help figure it

  How much tax to withhold? New calculator to help figure it

"...The calculator unveiled Wednesday by the Treasury Department and the Internal Revenue Service helps people determine whether they have the correct amount of money withheld by employers from paychecks — to avoid facing a huge tax bill for 2018. The calculator asks taxpayers to estimate their 2018 income and other items that affect their taxes, such as filing status and number of dependents..."

Reference: www.usatoday.com  

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