NAPUS: Senate Postpones Consideration of Postal Bill
Filed under: NAPUS, postal, postal news, postal reform, usps
On Thursday, January 26, Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announced that the Senate would take up the “Stock Act,” rather than postal reform legislation during the week of January 30. The Stock Act bans insider trading by Members of Congress. In his State of the Union Address, President Obama indicated that he would promptly sign into law the Stock Act, when passed.
At this point, there is some uncertainty about scheduling Senate consideration of S. 1789, although the Senate Leadership, Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Chairman Joseph Lieberman, and Ranking GOP Member Susan Collins would like to begin consideration during the week of February 6. A number of speed-bumps confront floor action: the Committee has yet to file its report on the bill; the Congressional Budget Office calculated a significant cost associated with bill; and there are number of controversial provisions in the bill that are generating strong opposition.
via NAPUS.
NAPUS: Senate Poised to Consider Postal Bill
From the National Association of Postmasters of the US (NAPUS)
It appears likely that Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) will call up S. 1789, the Lieberman-Collins-Carper Brown postal relief bill sometime next week. The only bills that could have supplanted the postal bill’s primacy were bills relating to internet security and reauthorizing the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). The internet piracy bill was pulled from the Senate calendar late last week, and there is an agreement on temporary FAA funding. Read more
Postmaster Pay Talks Continue
From NAPUS:
Discussions on pay policies, schedules and fringe benefit programs for Postmasters continued this week between top Postal Service officials and leaders of both Postmaster organizations (NAPUS and the League.) The talks were re-opened at the suggestion of Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, during a meeting with NAPUS President Bob Rapoza and League President Mark Strong on December 6, 2011.
On November 17, 2011, the two Postmaster organization presidents requested that the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) convene a factfinding panel to review the Postmaster Pay Package for Fiscal Years 2011-2015. The request came as a result of the Postal Service’s final decision announcement on November 9, 2011, concerning pay policies, schedules, and fringe benefits for Postmasters.
The key discussion items continue to focus on minimum and maximum salary range improvements, health benefits contribution rates and changes to the Performance Evaluation System (PES.)
The pay talks will continue next week in an effort to reach a resolution on Postmaster pay and benefits for FY’s 2011-2015 by January 27, 2012. If the no agreement is reached by the deadline, the factfinding process through the FMCS will resume. Please check the NAPUS website for updates as information is received.
Charlie Moser
January 13, 2012
NAPUS: Postal Service Cuts Ignite Congressional Outrage
This past week, Members of Congress, on both sides of Capitol Hill, expressed outrage over the continual parade of 2011 service cuts being unveiled by Postal Headquarters. Senators and Representatives proclaim that accessible post offices, reliable delivery frequency and consistent quality service are still valued characteristics of a universal postal service. And, Members of Congress, such as Representative Peter DeFazio (D-OR) and Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT), made this crystal clear. To bolster the point, twenty members of the Senate sent a letter (click on letter) to the Senate Bipartisan Leadership and the Appropriations Committee requesting a provision to stall USPS service efforts to close post offices, and reduce mail service and standards. In addition, the pending omnibus appropriations bill may contain some significant changes to the FEHBP. To read more about these issues view the latest edition of the eNAPUS Legislative and Political Bulletin.
Postmasters Continue Discussions with USPS on VER and Incentives for Retirement Eligible Employees
Filed under: NAPUS, postal, postal news, Postmasters, usps, ver, vera
On December 6, 2011, NAPUS President Bob Rapoza and League President Mark Strong met with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and agreed to re-open Postmaster pay talks. This agreement was reached in the midst of the selection of a fact-finding panel from a list of panelist received from the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service. If no agreement is reached by the January 27, 2012 deadline, the fact-finding process will resume.
Presidents of both Postmaster organizations continue to meet with postal leaders to request the establishment of a RIF-avoidance process that offers VER’s and incentives (including adding years of service) for retirement eligible employees. Every effort is being made to get this issue resolved by the end of this year. Additional information will be posted on the NAPUS website as soon as it becomes available.
For more on these two developing stories, please check President Rapoza’s Update.
NAPUS and League Presidents are scheduled to meet with legal counsel next week to continue discussions on how to proceed on renewing a complaint with the Postal Regulatory Commission concerning the Postal Service’s Final Rule, which became effective on December 1, 2011. The rule created changes to the PO-101, ASM, POM and ELM, which allows for the conversion of post offices to stations or branches. The rule also allows a post office to be staffed by someone other than a Postmaster and for Postmaster to serve in more than one post office. See details and chronology of events concerning the Final Rule decision by linking to the December 2, 2011 Breaking News story on the NAPUS website.
On December 10, 2011 Postal Headquarters issued a letter to all Area Vice Presidents, directing them to temporarily suspend all current or planned actions to convert post offices to stations or branches, until further notice. The directive also instructed field managers to stop any permanent staffing changes in post offices until instructions are distributed by Headquarters.
Charlie Moser
December 9, 2011
source: NAPUS- Discussions Continue with Postal Headquarters on Voluntary Early Retirements (VERs) and Incentives for Retirement Eligible Employees
PRC Issues Order Denying Postmasters Complaint Over Management Of Post Offices
Filed under: NAPUS, post offices, postal, postal news, Postmasters, PRC, usps
The Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC) issued a decision to deny a complaint by NAPUS and the League of Postmasters to renew an expedited complaint or a request a stay to prevent the Postal Service’s Final Rule from going into effect on December 1, 2011. The PRC did grant the Postmaster associations the right to re-file a complaint.
The Postal Regulatory Commission Issues Order Denying Motion for Renewal and Alternative Request for a Stay of the Effective Date.
Effective December 1, 2011, this change will allow the Postal Service to convert a Post Office into, or replace it with, another type of USPS-operated retail facility (including changing it to a station or branch) without following the discontinuance process. The change would also make it possible to change the staffing of a Post Office such that it is staffed only part-time by a Postmaster, or not staffed by a Postmaster at all, but rather by another type of USPS employee, and it would not be a discontinuance action.
The other “final rule” change would also allow a Post Office to be operated or managed by a Postmaster or by another type of postal employee at the direction of a Postmaster, including when the Postmaster is not physically present.
Leaders of both Postmaster organizations will confer with legal counsel next week to consider their options. Additional information on this very important issue will be provided as it becomes available.
read full story from NAPUS
NAPUS: A Tale of Two Postal Bills
Filed under: NAPUS, politics, postal, postal news, Postmasters, usps
From The National Association of Postmasters of the United States – eNAPUS Legislative and Political Bulletin
Two vastly different postal bills are pending before the House and Senate. The bills, H.R. 2309 and S. 1789, contain numerous divisive provisions; some are common to both. Consequently, they do not seem to be on the fast track. However, their paths to the floor follow different roadmaps and provide guideposts on how NAPUS and others may seek to shape the outcome
Even with the procedural disparities, both bills share a common and major deficiency; neither bill provides the USPS with a fair and equitable calculation of its pension liability – a $55 billion omission. Rather, H.R. 2309 and S. 1789 continue to impose a punitive pension liability on the USPS that seeks to offset the federal government’s failure to account for its own pension liability. This failure is bipartisan and the blame is shared with the White House
This past week, a new national survey found that Americans continue to strongly oppose USPS efforts to close post offices, and substantiates NAPUS arguments before the Postal Regulatory Commission relating to post office use. Also, on Friday, President signed into law legislation (HR 2112), which defers the $5.5 million retiree health prepayment until December 16. Read more
NAPUS To Request Fact Finding on USPS 2011-2015 Pay Package Offer
Filed under: NAPUS, postal, postal news, Postmasters, usps
NAPUS Executive Board Unanimously Approves President Rapoza’s Request to Ask the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to Convene a Factfinding Panel on Postmaster Pay Package
In a special telecom tonight, The NAPUS Executive Board unanimously approved President Bob Rapoza’s request to ask the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service to convene a factfinding panel to review the Postal Service’s final decision on the 2011-15 Postmaster Pay Package.
Rapoza told the Board “In view of the Postal Service’s final decision on the Postmaster Pay Package for 2011-2015, I am requesting that the NAPUS Executive Board consider my request to pursue fact finding through the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS.)”
For more on this historic and unprecedented action, please go to President Rapoza’s Update link on the NAPUS website.
Charlie Moser
November 16, 2011
source: NAPUS
NAPUS President asks Senate to include a moratorium on post office closings in Postal Reform Bill
Filed under: NAPUS, politics, post office closings, postal, postal news, usps
and Consolidations as Part of S. 1789
Rapoza Also Expresses Concerns that the Proposed Bill Could Reduce the Level of Health Care Coverage for Retirees and Asks that Management Associations be Included in Developing a Postal-Only Health Plan
Today, NAPUS President Bob Rapoza sent a letter to key members of the Senate Homeland Security & Government Affairs Committee, requesting consideration on some key issues that could impact Postmasters. On behalf of the 38,000 members of NAPUS, Rapoza expressed his appreciation for the Committee’s efforts to address the financial and operational difficulties confronting the Postal Service, but asked that they consider three issues before S. 1789 is moved forward for a proposed November 9th markup. Read more
NAPUS Supports Braley Post Office Protection Amendment to HR 2309
At tomorrow’s House Oversight and Government Reform “markup”, Rep. Bruce Braley (D-IA) intends to offer an amendment to help protect small town and rural post offices. The amendment would strike a number of provisions from the Issa-Ross postal bill that would have a destructive impact on universal postal services. First, the amendment would strike the “subtitle A” of HR 2309, which creates a post office closing commission. Second, the amendment would strike the section of the bill that eliminates the prohibition against closing a post office solely for running a deficit, the provision that abolishes the requirement that the USPS provide a “maximum degree” of service to rural areas, and section that restricts community post office closing appeal rights. You may view NAPUS’ advocacy memo on the amendment here. Read more