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.
Reference: usps.com
The LiteBlue and PostalEASE applications have not been compromised. A limited number of employees have reported unusual account activity involving their PostalEASE accounts, which has been attributed to their prior interaction with the fake LiteBlue websites.
As an additional precaution, the Net to Bank and Allotment functionalities have been disabled online in the PostalEASE application accessed externally through LiteBlue via a personal computer as of Dec. 29, 2022, until further notice.
Fraud Alert Update Stand-Up Talk 12/30/2022 (pdf)
Payroll Deductions Update Stand-Up Talk 1/20/2023 (pdf)
On Sunday, January 15, the USPS is deploying the MFA (Multifactor Authentication) solution for LiteBlue as an additional security measure to protect employees’ IDs, passwords, and other personal data from unauthorized access and misuse. At this time, employees are required to sign up for MFA to obtain access to LiteBlue. As a part of the MFA implementation, there are a few steps employees must complete. These steps include:
1. Reset their Self-Service Profile (SSP) password.
2. Verify answers to security questions.
3. Verify the last four digits of their Social Security Number (new security enhancement).
4. Establish MFA preferences.
https://cfcgiving.opm.gov/welcome
"...Daniel Nerka knows he’s got it good. “Can’t get any better than delivering on the Hill,” the St. Paul, MN, letter carrier said. Nerka is referring to Cathedral Hill, which gets its name from the magnificent beau..."
Reference: USPS News Link
"...Though Nixon drove a hard bargain while the strike was in progress, his government did not retaliate against those who walked out. Not a single striking worker was fired. Nobody was fined or jailed for acting against federal law. But when labor laws were amended in 1978, allowing collective bargaining for federal workers, provisions that made it illegal to strike stayed in the law. It’s still against the law for federal workers to walk out on the job. But the strike reminded the government—and the nation—of the power of rank-and-file workers. ..."
Reference: www.history.com
"...At stake is a 64-year-old precedent that shields workers and unions from state lawsuits while they pursue unfair labor practice claims in the federal National Labor Relations Board (NLRB). If unions have to defend against costly lawsuits, it will likely discourage them from going on strike. ...Glacier Northwest “is about corporations using the legal system to try to deny workers their inherent power,” Teamsters General President Sean M. O’Brien said in a statement. "
Reference: truthout.org
"...Section 7 of the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) protects employees’ right to “self-organization, to form, join, or assist labor organizations, to bargain collectively through representatives of their own choosing, and to engage in other concerted activities for the purpose of collective bargaining or other mutual aid and protection”
Among the rights protected by Section 7 is the right of union-represented employees, upon request, to have their representative present during an interview that the employee reasonably believes could lead to discipline. This right was first articulated by the Supreme Court in the case, NLRB v. J. Weingarten, Inc. In that case, the Court found that Section 7 of the NLRA protects employees who refuse to submit to certain interviews without a requested representative present.
An employee’s requested representative, which may be a union steward, business agent or officer, or fellow employee, is often referred to as a “Weingarten representative.” Weingarten representatives are entitled to provide advice and active assistance to employees during investigatory interviews. Employees’ right to request their representatives are frequently referred to as “Weingarten rights.”
Employers violate the NLRA if they proceed with an investigatory interview while refusing an employee’s request or retaliate against them for making the request.
..."
Basic Information, Financials, Spending, Members and News, Leaders and Salaries...
Reference: www.unionfacts.com
"...The charges against 10 Roads Express include threats against workers of pay cuts, route cuts, and withholding bonuses. They also include threatening to discharge drivers for engaging in legally protected union activities. The company also unlawfully promised workers better health care benefits and improved terms and conditions if they rejected union representation. The company’s attempts to halt workers’ plans to build a union ultimately failed when a majority of workers voted..."
Reference: apwu.org
January 12, 2023- We received the following update regarding the LiteBlue/PostalEase security issues:
The USPS Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) and the Eagan Accounting Service Center’s LiteBlue recovery process ensures the monies recovered from financial institutions will be promptly repaid to the employees impacted by the fake websites.
As of yesterday, CISO has received confirmation there were 368 instances in pay period 26 where employees accessed fake LiteBlue websites and had their IDs and passwords hacked, with that number dropping to 195 in pay period 1. Please note some employees may be included in both groups.
The Eagan ASC has provided a rough estimate of $322,000 in recovered funds. Unfortunately, not all the stolen money will be recovered. It is the position of the Postal Service that they will not be reimbursing employees for any funds lost due to the criminal activity involving the fake LiteBlue websites.
We are told that following notice of the unauthorized activity, Eagan immediately sent out letters of indemnity to the financial institutions, and aggressively worked with them to recover the stolen monies. The OIG’s and Inspection Service’s criminal investigations continue.
Once the financial institutions return the recovered monies to the Eagan ASC via electronic funds transfers, the ACS will cut checks to the impacted employees. All recovery checks are being mailed to the impacted employees’ duty stations of record.
CISO and the postal vendor are working to implement the new LiteBlue security features that include multi-factor authentication, projected go-live on January 15, 2023. The new LiteBlue access protocol will require the additional identification step to enhance system security.
We will continue to keep you updated as we receive more information.
January 4, 2023- USPS, Office of the Inspector General, and Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) discovered fake LiteBlue website which closely resemble LiteBlue. (pdf)
Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) has just confirmed the tentative date for implementing the new “multi-factor” protocol for enabling the restoration for access to LiteBlue is Sunday, January 15, 2023. The multi-factor access will mirror the additional ID authentications required by banks, insurance companies, etc. when accessing and completing transactions on similar platforms.
Impacted employees continue to be contacted by representatives from the Eagan ASC, Inspection Service, OIG and/or CISO as part of the on-going investigation. We will post additional details when known.
January 4, 2023- USPS, Office of the Inspector General, and Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) discovered fake LiteBlue website which closely resemble LiteBlue. (pdf)
Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) has just confirmed the tentative date for implementing the new “multi-factor” protocol for enabling the restoration for access to LiteBlue is Sunday, January 15, 2023. The multi-factor access will mirror the additional ID authentications required by banks, insurance companies, etc. when accessing and completing transactions on similar platforms.
Impacted employees continue to be contacted by representatives from the Eagan ASC, Inspection Service, OIG and/or CISO as part of the on-going investigation. We will post additional details when known.
Please see the latest information that we just received regarding the PostalEase website fraud. FRAUD ALERT ** Postal Service Releases Mandatory Stand-Up Talk Regarding Fake LiteBlue Websites (pdf) Securing Your Personal Data Employee Mailer (pdf) - Letter to be sent to all postal employees making them aware of the potential risk. Keeping Your Private Information Secure Employee Handout (pdf) - Handout to be included in letter to all employees to provide examples of fake sites and steps on how to update personal contact information. PostalEASE Website Fraud: Impacted Employee Notification (pdf)- Letter to be sent to only impacted employees notifying them of their situation and share information and next steps. Please note, Headquarters is also preparing a Stand-Up Talk to support these communications. Additonal information will be shared when made avaialble to the NPMHU.
Reference: NPMHU via NPMHU Local 317 - Alabama
December 20, 2022- The USPS has confirmed that some Postal Service employees are unknowingly providing their usernames and passwords to criminal websites, while attempting to access PostalEase.
It is reported that employees are using Google and attempting to access PostalEase; however, Google in-turn has been redirecting users to criminally run websites that mirror the look and access of PostalEase.
The USPS Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) is working with the Postal Inspection Service to facilitate notice to the impacted employees. The NPMHU is told that formal notification to all employees is forthcoming. We will post that notice when it is released.
The USPS reports that representations have been made at the district level confirming Postal Inspectors are contacting impacted employees, as well as employees who may have unknowingly been compromised, and requesting their EINs and passwords.
Please note . . . Postal Inspectors have not contacted postal employees and requested their EINs and/or passwords. Employees should never provide usernames and/or passwords to anyone.
Financially impacted employees should immediately contact the Eagan ASC Helpdesk at 866-974-2733. Staff members are available to assist.
If you become aware of any employee experiencing access issues to PostalEase, they should immediately contact 877-477-3273 to request assistance.
We will provide you with any additional information when it is made available to the NPMHU.
"The Postal Service and the National Postal Mail Handlers Union have reached a tentative agreement on a three-year contract, covering more than 55,000 employees represented by the union.
“This agreement is balanced and fair. It addresses both parties’ bargaining objectives in a financially responsible manner and furthers the objectives of the Delivering for America plan,” said Deputy Postmaster General and Chief Human Resources Officer Doug Tulino.
The tentative agreement is subject to a ratification vote by the union membership, a process that will take several weeks.
Upon ratification, the agreement will expire at midnight on Sept. 20, 2025."
"The 2022 National Agreement will cover a period of three years, and will expire at midnight on September 20, 2025.
General Wage Increases
All career Mail Handlers will receive three general wage increases during the term:
-- the first, retroactively effective to November 19, 2022, will be 1.3%;
-- the second, effective on November 18, 2023, will be 1.3%; and
-- the third, effective on November 16, 2024, will be 1.3%.
In addition, for career employees hired since February 2013, an additional 1% will be provided to Steps BB, AA, and A retroactively effective to November 19, 2022. ... The MOU on Purging Letters of Warning has been obtained again for all Mail Handlers, and it will
again apply to MHAs. ...Article 11.1 was amended to add the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday"
Article 11.1 was amended to add the Juneteenth National Independence Day holiday.
Under Article 8, NPMHU was able to secure a guarantee that, in postal installations which 200 or more
man year of employment, career employees shall have consecutive scheduled days off. Additionally, the
negotiated agreement includes a guaranteed nonscheduled day each service week for MHAs and PTFs.
SUMMARY OF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING TERMS OF 2022 NATIONAL AGREEMENT (pdf)
CONTRACT RATIFICATION PROCEDURES (Adopted November 2022) (pdf)
Labor deal: USPS, union reach tentative agreement
"...The Postal Service is a reliable source of gifts for family and friends of all ages this holiday season. There are a variety of USPS-branded toys, apparel, home decor and collectibles. For those tackling gift lists, there is an array of popular licensed products — most under $100 — ..."
Reference: USPS News Link
You are reading the eleventh Contract Update produced and distributed by the NPMHU during the course of 2022 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.
2022 No. 11 – December 13, 2022 (pdf)
National President Paul Hogrogian and National Secretary-Treasurer Michael Hora today announced that they will hold a national teleconference with representatives of the Contract Administration Department and all NPMHU Local Union Presidents to discuss developments in ongoing contract negotiations between the NPMHU and the U.S. Postal Service over the terms of their 2019 National Agreement.
The nationwide telephone call with Local Presidents from all thirty-six Local Unions will be held at 2:00 p.m. (eastern standard time) on Thursday, December 15, 2022. Details about the teleconference will be sent separately to all Local Presidents.
Should a settlement be reached in the coming days or weeks, it will be subject to a ratification vote by all members, conducted in accordance with procedures adopted by the National Executive Board.
"...hopeful the Biden administration could require the sick days through executive order. “That would go a really long way for our members, for rail workers all over the country because we don’t have sick time right now,” Katich said. On Friday, more than 70 members of Congress signed a letter urging Biden to take executive action and require paid sick days for rail workers. ..."
Reference: www.duluthnewstribune.com
"...the Postal Service has leased vehicles in many locations nationwide this holiday season," said Debra Jean Fetterly, a USPS spokesperson for the Alabama-Mississippi District. In the Birmingham area, USPS fleets are being supplemented with leased vehicles. Those vehicles are in the process of getting signage and USPS identification placed on them. Employees who drive the leased vehicles will have a postal badge..."
Reference: abc3340.com
"BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (WBRC) - Five defendants are indicted in three separate cases involving illegally possessed USPS keys and stolen mail... The incident occurred in Madison County on September 6, 2022. ...."
Reference: www.waff.com
Please find linked, copies of two separate appeals recently filed by the NPMHU to challenge the Postal Service’s November 14, 2022 determination of craft jurisdiction for employees operating the Small Delivery Unit Sorter (ADUS) and Single Induction Parcel Sorter (SIPS). These machines have been deployed in facilities throughout the country and are continuing to be installed. [PDF]
As set forth in its November 14, 2022 letter, the Postal Service determined that jurisdictional assignments on the SDUS working at the machine, including singulating/separating and facing/feeding packages and sweeping the mail should be given to the Clerk Craft. In that same letter, the Postal Service claims that the SDUS will only be used in Function 4 operations. The NPMHU is disputing this determination, and also questioning the lack of assignment in Function 1 operations.
In that same letter of November 14, 2022, the Postal Service also determined that jurisdictional assignments on the SIPS should be divided somewhat differently between the Mail Handler Craft and the Clerk Craft. The Postal Service has stated that the SIPS will only be used in Function 1 operations. Mail Handlers have been assigned in Function 1 operations to the retrieval and staging of packages and equipment, and to the sweeping of packages (removal of full containers and replacement with empty containers), including “sort plan switch out,” and to the transportation of full containers to dispatch.
These jurisdictional determinations present several questions and concerns for which the NPMHU seeks clarification, and discussions will be continuing for at least 60 days before the National Dispute Resolution Committee and, if necessary, in National arbitration. Should you have any questions about these appeals or implementation of the SDUS and SIPS in any particular facility, please contact the National CAD.
"...Rail workers unions blasted President Biden on Monday after he pressed Congress to force the organized labor groups to accept a tentative agreement...“He had the opportunity to prove his labor-friendly pedigree to millions of workers by simply asking Congress for legislation to end the threat of a national strike on terms more favorable to workers. Sadly, he could not bring himself to advocate for a lousy handful of sick days. The Democrats and Republicans are both pawns of big business and the corporations,” Sawyer added. ..."
Reference: nypost.com
The U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) is suspending applications for coverage under the Federal Long Term Care Insurance Program (FLTCIP) effective December 19, 2022. The premiums quoted within, and your ability to apply at this time, are only valid until December 18, 2022, 11:59 p.m. (ET). Premiums are based on your age and the premium rates in effect at the time we receive your application.
OPM is suspending applications for coverage under the FLTCIP to allow OPM and the FLTCIP carrier, John Hancock Life & Health Insurance Company, the time to thoroughly assess benefit offerings and establish sustainable premium rates that reasonably and equitably reflect the cost of the benefits provided, as required under 5 U.S.C. 9003(b)(2). For additional information about FLTCIP premiums, you may visit LTCFEDS.com/about-premiums.
OPM has determined that a suspension of applications for FLTCIP coverage, including coverage increases, is in the best interest of the program. OPM published a Federal Register Notice of Suspension for current and newly eligible individuals applying for coverage under the FLTCIP after the final regulation was published.
As of December 19, 2022, individuals not currently enrolled may not apply for coverage, and current enrollees may not apply to increase their coverage. The suspension will remain in effect for 24 months, unless OPM issues a subsequent notice to end or extend the suspension period. Newly eligible employees and newly eligible spouses of employees may apply with abbreviated underwriting and other eligible individuals can apply with full underwriting until 11:59 p.m. (ET) on December 18, 2022.
Eligible individuals who submit an application for FLTCIP prior to the start of the suspension period will have their application considered. If the application is approved for coverage, then the individual will receive a benefit booklet and schedule of benefits with complete coverage information.
Current enrollees' coverage status will not change as long as they continue to pay premium. For those in a claim status, there is no change to coverage or the claims reimbursement process as long as benefits have not been exhausted.
Do you understand the four types of health plans available to Postal Service employees?
They are:
Health maintenance organizations, or HMOs, which provide care from in-network physicians and hospitals located in particular geographic or service areas;
Preferred provider organizations, or PPOs, which offer fee-for-service plans that allow you to choose physicians, hospitals and other health care providers both inside and outside of a network;
High-deductible health plans, or HDHPs, which offer plans with low premiums and high deductibles that must be met before insurance begins to cover costs; and
Consumer-driven health plans, or CDHPs, which are high-deductible plans that are usually coupled with a tax-advantaged health savings account to help offset costs.
USPS is encouraging you to learn about the available plans to find one that best fits your needs and the needs of your family.
This year’s open season runs from Nov. 14 through Dec. 12.
The Open Season LiteBlue page has additional information, as well as a link to Checkbook’s Guide to Health Plans for Federal Employees, a resource that can help you evaluate and compare specific plans.
"...And like all federal employees, they were forbidden to even advocate for the right to strike. The delay by Congress was the last straw. On March 17, New York City letter carriers voted to defy the law and go on strike. Clerks and other postal workers refused to cross their picket lines. Then, the wildcat strike suddenly spread "
Reference: postalemployee.us
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 HERE.
* VIEW AND DOWNLOAD SCHOLARSHIP ELIGIBILITY DETAILS AND APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (PDF)
* Download MS Word version
Contract Update #13 | ECONOMIC DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE ECONOMIC DISCUSSIONS CONTINUE 2025 No. 13 — February 18, 2026 As we h...
