NPMHU and USPS Present Opening Statements as National Negotiations Begin in Washington D.C.

"...he National Postal Mail Handlers Union bargaining team met with representatives of the U.S. Postal Service on June 27, 2019 to mark the official start of the collective bargaining process for a successor agreement to replace the 2019 National Agreement which is scheduled to expire on September 20, 2019. The NPMHU is committed to making every reasonable effort to reach an agreement that is good for our members, good for the Postal Service, and good for the American mailing public..."

Reference: www.npmhu.o  

2019 Contract Update #1

 

2019 No. 1 – June 27, 2019 (pdf)

2019 Contract Update #1

"...You are reading the first Contract Update produced and distributed by the NPMHU during the course of 2019 negotiations. These updates, along with the Union’s magazine and monthly bulletins, will keep mail handlers throughout the country informed and involved in the issues raised during this round of bargaining. Bargaining has officially begun! By the time this is posted, representatives from..."

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

Postal Service 10-year “business plan” leaked: Preliminary proposals slash postal workers’ sick, vacation leave, retirement benefits

  Postal Service 10-year “business plan” leaked: Preliminary proposals slash postal workers’ sick, vacation leave, retirement benefits

"...The PMG and the Postal Board of Governors want to impose $18 billion of cuts to workers’ rights and benefits by slashing postal workers’ sick and vacation leave, as well as raising current workers retirement contributions, eliminating federal retirement benefits for future workers, and subcontracting more postal jobs to the private sector. Their plan includes significant service cuts to the American public..."

Reference: apwu.org  

Supreme Court sides with Birmingham, Alabama company in patent dispute

  Supreme Court sides with Birmingham, Alabama company in patent dispute

"...The dispute before the justices had to do with U.S. Patent No. 6,826,548. That’s the patent Birmingham-based Return Mail has for a system that uses barcodes, scanning equipment and computer databases to process returned mail almost entirely automatically..."

Reference: mynorthwest.com  

Springfield, Massachusetts NDC: Veterans, Federal Employees, Heroes

  Veterans, Federal Employees, Heroes

"...All three men were employed at the Springfield, Massachusetts NDC: Matt and Marty as mail handlers and Ray in the maintenance department. On February 15th 2014, during the height of the snow season in Northern New England and with extreme weather expected for that day, the three set out..."

Reference: postalnews.com  

Postal workers on high alert after multiple menacing incidents in Canton, Ohio

  Postal workers on high alert after multiple menacing incidents in Canton, Ohio

"...According to Canton police, while investigating a scary situation Friday they learned that several other carriers had similar incidents in recent days. They were reportedly being followed and threatened by an unknown male suspect..."

Reference: fox8.com  

Mail Handler Assistants to Receive Wage Increase effective on May 25, 2019

  Mail Handler Assistants to Receive Wage Increase effective on May 25, 2019

Effective May 25, 2019- In accordance with Article 9.7 of the 2016 National Agreement between the NPMHU and the Postal Service, all Mail Handler Assistants will receive an hourly wage increase of $0.21 per hour effective on Saturday, May 25, 2019. This is the sixth MHA wage increase occurring during the 2016 National Agreement.

The 21 cent per hour increase raises the Level 4 MHA hourly rate to $16.21 and the Level 5 MHA hourly rate to $17.07, which is an increase of approximately 1.3% and 1.2% respectively. These additional increases were included in the 2016 National Agreement to help close the current gap between MHAs and career employees and to reduce attrition amongst MHAs.

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

NPMHU 317 - Huntsville Branch Union Meeting

  NPMHU 317 - Huntsville Branch Union Meeting
NPMHU 317 - Huntsville Branch is hosting a union meeting at Ted's Bar-B-Q at 12 PM on Saturday, May 11, 2019. Ted's Bar-B-Q is located at 8780 Madison Blvd. (256.772.6500) in Madison, Alabama.

Reference: NPMHU 317- Huntsville

27th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 11

  27th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 11

NALC Food Drive 2019

The APWU National officers are asking members to actively support the 27th Annual National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive on Saturday, May 11.

Each year on the second Saturday in May, Postal workers come together to collect and donate millions of pounds of food for local food banks. Donations are collected in over 10,000 cities and towns in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands.

Postal customers across the country are asked to put non-perishable food donations in a sturdy bag and place the bag near their mailbox prior to their regular mail delivery on Saturday, May 11. Letter carriers will collect the donations as they deliver mail. Many USPS worksites also set out containers to collect contributions.

All donations are tax-deductible, as they are going to local non-profit charity food agencies. Contact your local post office to know where your donation is going or to help volunteer.


Reference: www.apwu.org

NPMHU Releases Details on RI-399 Payments

  NPMHU Releases Details on RI-399 Payments
As previously announced, the Update MOU on RI-399 that was signed by the NPMHU, the APWU, and the Postal Service in June 2018 included a monetary payment to individual Mail Handlers. Here are the details, except for the payment date, which is still to be determined.

In order to be eligible for payment, a Mail Handler had to be in the NPMHU Bargaining Unit (Career or MHA) and on the rolls of the Postal Service during the Pay Period which ended on September 1, 2017 AND the Mail Handler has to be in the NPMHU Bargaining Unit (Career or MHA) and on the rolls of the Postal Service during the Pay Period which ended on March 15, 2019. Any action taken by the Mail Handler after March 15, 2019 (e.g., retirement, transfer, resignation) is not considered.

A) If eligible, and in the Bargaining Unit for less than 5 years (as of September 1, 2017), the Mail Handler will receive 1 Share.

B) If eligible, and in the Bargaining Unit for 5 years or more but less than 10 years (as of September 1, 2017), the Mail Handler will receive 2 Shares.

C) If eligible, and in the Bargaining Unit for 10 years or more but less than 20 years (as of September 1, 2017), the Mail Handler will receive 3 Shares.

D) If eligible, and in the Bargaining Unit for 20 years or more (as of September 1, 2017), the Mail Handler will receive 4 Shares.

There are more than 38,000 eligible Mail Handlers, and the Share amounts are as follows:

1 Share = $143.90

2 Shares = $287.80

3 Shares = $431.70

4 Shares = $575.60

Once the actual date for distribution of these monies is set, the National Office will announce that date to all Locals and to all Mail Handlers. In addition, the National Office will establish a union-run appeal procedure for claims to be filed by ineligible Mail Handlers who believe they should have been listed amongst the eligible and by eligible Mail Handlers who believe they did not receive the proper number of Shares authorized. The decisions made by this appeal procedure will be final and binding, and will cause distributions of additional monies.

Follow this link to review a copy of the May 6, 2019 Memorandum sent to all Local Unions (pdf)


Reference: www.npmhu.org

Deadly fentanyl bought online from China being shipped through the mail

  Deadly fentanyl bought online from China being shipped through the mail

"...Fentanyl is 50 times more potent than heroin and is now available on the internet and can be delivered through the mail..."

Reference: www.cbsnews.com  

If you are a postal employee nearing retirement you should use eRetire to properly prepare

  If you are a postal employee nearing retirement you should use eRetire to properly prepare

"...Are you contemplating a retirement from the United States Postal Service (USPS)? Retirement is one of the most important decisions most of us will face in life. There are so many questions we must ask ourselves prior to making this move ...or deciding we are not ready to do so yet. The USPS makes the decision easier for us by..."

Reference: Federal Retirement News  

Wisconsin postal worker stole 6,600 greeting cards sentenced to home confinement and probation

  Wisconsin postal worker stole 6,600 greeting cards sentenced to home confinement and probation

"...District Judge Lynn Adelman sentenced Ebony L. Smith to four years probation with home confinement. Smith, of Milwaukee, admitted to stealing the cards between April 2017 and January 2018..."

Reference: www.jsonline.com  

US Postal Service Reveals Stamps for Moon Landing 50th Anniversary

  US Postal Service Reveals Stamps for Moon Landing 50th Anniversary

"...stamp in the pair uses an image of the moon captured by amateur astronomer Gregory Revera of Huntsville, Alabama. Tranquility Base, the landing site of the Apollo 11 lunar module "Eagle" in the Sea of Tranquility, is denoted on the stamp by a bold yellow dot. Both stamps include the inscription "1969 First Moon Landing." An image of the lunar module will be included on the selvage, or..."

Reference: www.space.com  

Tampa Mail Handler Is 90 Years Young

  Tom Is 90 Years Young

"...Tampa Processing & Distribution Center (P&DC) Mail Handler Tom McBane..."

Reference: The Suncoast Scoop  

Mr. McBane: Happy Birthday From NPMHU Local 317 (Alabama)!

Trump wants to prevent postal workers from negotiating over pay

  Trump wants to prevent postal workers from negotiating over pay

"...Trump’s postal task force, which he created through executive order last year, proposed the Postal Service join the rest of government in not allowing its employees to negotiate over pay..."

Reference: www.govexec.com  

RI-399 Update- Monetary Payment Criteria Finalized

  RI-399 Update- Monetary Payment Criteria Finalized
On June 26, 2018, the NPMHU, the APWU and the United States Postal Service executed a tripartite Memorandum of Understanding ("Update MOU") to update the RI-399 Dispute Resolution Procedures that were originally signed in 1992.

With certain exceptions, the MOU effectively withdrew and administratively closed all cross-craft grievances that were pending in the RI- 399 process prior to September 1, 2017. The Update MOU also provides monetary payments to mail handlers and clerks in consideration of the withdrawal of these grievances. The parties have agreed that $14,500,000 will be distributed among mail handlers designated by the NPMHU. The parties also agreed that the APWU represented employees will be similarly compensated.

The NPMHU National Executive Board has approved a detailed criteria to determine which mail handlers will receive payments as well as the amount that each eligible mail handler will receive. For full details, read the March 1, 2019 memorandum linked below.

March 1, 2019 Memorandum to Local Presidents (pdf)


Reference: www.npmhu.org

Illinois Postal Service Mail Handler Shot and Killed on I-57

  Illinois Postal Service Mail Handler Shot and Killed on I-57

"...The Postal Service says Tamara Clayton-Shelton had been employed with the agency since 1993 and was a mail handler at the Chicago International Military Service Center facility..."

Reference: news.yahoo.com  

USPS Expands Wounded Warriors Leave

  USPS Expands Wounded Warriors Leave
The USPS has recently expanded the Wounded Warrior Leave policy effective on January 5, 2019.

The Wounded Warriors Federal Leave Act of 2015 is a law that provides veterans who have a service connected disability rating of 30 percent or more with 104 hours of Wounded Warrior Leave during their first year of employment. The 104 hours of Wounded Warrior Leave is a separate category of leave in addition to any earned annual and sick leave. The leave can be used to undergo medical treatment for the service connected disability.

The USPS has decided to expand the Wounded Warrior Leave policy by providing 104 hours of Wounded Warrior Leave to veterans with a service connected disability rating of 30 percent or more at the beginning of each new leave year. Any unused Wounded Warrior Leave hours cannot be carried over into the new leave year and are lost.

USPS Expands Wounded Warrior Leave - Memorandum to Local Presidents (pdf)

Reference: www.npmhu.org

PS5980 - Treatment Verification for Wounded Warriors Leave

Louisiana postal employee dead after electrocution while changing light bulb

  Louisiana postal employee dead after electrocution while changing light bulb

"... It happened at the USPS facility on Shannon Street, just off North 18th Street..."

Reference: www.wkyt.com  

CSRS and FERS “best” days (financially) to retire in 2019

  CSRS and FERS “best” days (financially) to retire in 2019

"...So be careful to use the correct date on all documents: don’t use your “last day in the office” or “last day at work,” which are less defined than your retirement date/effective date of retirement. Do you just want to know the “best” days (financially) to retire in 2019? Here’s a quick chart..."

Reference: Federal Worker News  

Information Request(s): Good reference for a problem that never seems to end

 

Circa 2015

NLRB: USPS managers could be disciplined who fail to supply relevant information to Unions

"...(b) Refusing to bargain collectively and in good faith with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, Local 317, by failing, refusing, and unduly delaying in furnishing information that is relevant and necessary to the performance of their duties as agents of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union..."

Reference: www.postal-reporter.com  

Agency Pulls Back on Its Warning Against Talk of ‘Resistance’ in Federal Workplaces

  Agency Pulls Back on Its Warning Against Talk of ‘Resistance’ in Federal Workplaces

"...On Friday, the agency issued what it characterized as an extension and clarification, which stressed that casual discussion of impeachment remained acceptable. 'O.S.C.’s guidance was not intended to prevent all discussions of impeachment in the federal workplace,' the revised guidance said, adding: 'Merely discussing impeachment, without advocating for or against its use against such a candidate, is not political activity. For example, two employees may discuss whether reported conduct by the president warrants impeachment and express an opinion about whether the president should be impeached without engaging in political activity.'..."

Reference: www.nytimes.com  

Presidential Task Force on the USPS Finally Issues its Report

  Presidential Task Force on the USPS Finally Issues its Report

In April of this year, the Trump Administration issued Executive Order 13829 creating a task force charged with evaluating the operations and finances of the U.S. Postal Service, covering topics like pricing, USPS policies, and workforce costs. The report entitled United States Postal Service: A Sustainable Path Forward, was completed on August 10, 2018, but was not released until December 4, 2018.

The Task Force had the opportunity to recommend changes that would truly provide the Postal Service with a sustainable path forward. Notably, the Task Force did address the Postal Service’s obligation to fund retiree health benefits when writing that “[t]he Task Force believes that the obligation, including the $43 billion in pre-funding payments that the USPS failed to pay into the PSRHBF and the unfunded actuarial liability, must be restructured with the payments re-amortized with a new actuarial calculation based on the population of employees at or near retirement age.”

Unfortunately, the Task Force also issued some very detrimental recommendations which, if implemented, would cut services to the American public, raise postal rates to major mailers, and reduce the wages, benefits and collective bargaining rights of all postal employees. The Task Force’s recommendations include the following:

Redefining and reducing the Postal Service’s Universal Service Obligation
Reducing the number and density of Post Offices
Reducing delivery frequencies
Reducing door to door delivery
Lowering Service Standards
Raising rates for major e-commerce mailers
Increasing subcontracting of mail processing operations
Eliminating collective bargaining over the wages of postal employees
Reducing the wages of postal employees
Reducing pension or workers compensation benefits of postal employees

Some of these proposals could be implemented through administrative action, while others would require legislation.

The NPMHU believes that many of the Task Force’s recommendations would adversely affect the Postal Service, postal customers, postal employees, and the American public. Service would deteriorate, causing further decline in mail volume and creating a death spiral. This would set the stage for privatizing the Postal Service.

The NPMHU will continue to work with all stakeholders, including the other postal unions, USPS management, major mailers, Congress, and the White House, to find solutions that will truly put the USPS on a sustainable path forward.

United States Postal Service: A Sustainable Path Forward (pdf)

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

Federal employees warned not discuss Trump impeachment or ‘the Resistance’ at work

  Federal employees warned not discuss Trump impeachment or ‘the Resistance’ at work

"...Under the new guidance, federal workers are reportedly prohibited from supporting the impeachment of a candidate for federal office, as it would be construed as political due to its implications for elections in the future. Federal workers would also reportedly be prohibited from using terms like “resistance” and “#resist..."

Reference: thehill.com  

Executive order closes Government on Dec. 5 in honor of George H.W. Bush

  Executive order closes Government on Dec. 5 in honor of George H.W. Bush

"...President Trump has issued a proclamation for the closing of executive departments and agencies of the Federal Government on December 5, 2018, in honor of George H.W. Bush. The proclamation reads..."

Reference: www.wkrn.com  

New Mail Handler Wage Charts

  New Mail Handler Wage Charts

Effective November 24, 2018 — For career mail handlers, 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. This is the third of three-scheduled general wage increases as outlined in the 2016 National Agreement. In addition to the general increases provided in Section 9.1, MHAs will receive an additional increase of 1.0% annually, for a total of 2.3% effective November 24, 2018, as specifically outlined in Article 9.7 of the 2016 National Agreement.

November Update (pdf)

Reference: www.npmhu.org

...and this is the Wage Chart prior to the new one referenced above.  

NPMHU, APWU and USPS Come Together for Historic RI399 Training

  NPMHU, APWU and USPS Come Together for Historic RI399 Training

"...November 8-9, 2018 – Over 150 mail handlers who serve on their respective Local Dispute Resolution Committees (LDRC) gathered in Las Vegas, NV with an equal number of their USPS and APWU counterparts for the first gathering of two joint training sessions conducted by the members of the National Dispute Resolution Committee (NDRC) on the newly signed Updated MOU on RI-399 Dispute Resolution Procedures. The MOU was issued in June 2018. This historic MOU comes 26 years after the original Dispute Resolution Procedures (DRP) were issued in 1992 and marks an important milestone in the history of RI-399 and the process for addressing jurisdictional disputes between the NPMHU-represented mail handlers and APWU-represented clerks. Members of the NDRC plan to conduct five joint sessions in total, training over 1,500 LDRC members across the country. The parties are optimistic that the training will help ensure proper implementation of the Updated RI399 procedures. ..."

Reference: www.npmhu.org  

Your next contractual wage increase will be effective November 24, 2018

  Your next wage increase will be effective November 24, 2018
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% for the basic annual salary for the grade and step in effect on May 20, 2016.

Reference: NPMHU 317