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.
USPS, NAPUS and League Agree to Postmaster Pay Talks Extension
An agreement has been reached between the Postal Service and the two Postmaster organizations (NAPUS and the League of Postmasters) to extend Postmaster pay talks until February 29, 2012. The original deadline for discussions on pay and benefits for Postmaster for Fiscal Years 2011-2015 was scheduled to end on January 27, 2012. Read more
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.
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 Meets With USPS Headquarters to Review ELM 650 Process
December 1st, 2011
NAPUS President, Bob Rapoza met with Postal Service representative this week to review the possible changes to the ELM 650 process. This section of the ELM covers nonbagaining disciplinary and appeal procedures, including letters of warning in lieu of time off suspensions, emergency placement and other types of adverse actions.
Both Postmaster organizations proposed the establishment of an Ad Hoc committee to explore the ELM 650 process for possible revisions. NAPUS and the League recommended the establishment of a peer review team to review discipline prior to any ELM 650 appeals. Additional meetings have been scheduled between USPS representatives and the Postmaster organizations.
Fact Finding Preference Selection Begins
This week, the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service provided the Postal Service and NAPUS and the League with a list of candidates to serve on the fact finding panel, which will review and make recommendations on Postmaster pay policies and schedules and fringe benefits. The panel will make its recommendations within 30 days of its appointment and the Postal Service must consider the recommendations and provide a written reply within 15 days after the recommendations are received.
Charlie Moser
December 1, 2011
source: 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
Senate Committee Grants NAPUS Requests
Filed under: post office closings, postal, postal news, Postmasters, usps
(11/9/11) Today, the Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee passed bipartisan postal relief legislation (S. 1789) by a record vote of 9-1. (Counting proxies, the vote was 12-5.) The committee markup was attended by President Robert Rapoza and Government Relations Director Bob Levi.
The Committee overwhelming adopted key NAPUS-promoted amendments. As reported in last week’s NAPUS web posting, President Rapoza requested a moratorium on post office discontinuances; asked for management association participation in the design of a new postal health plan; and raised concern about mandatory Medicare coverage for all Medicare-eligible postal retirees.
Over the past few weeks, NAPUS has been working with Senators Jerry Moran (R-KS), Jon Tester (D-MT) and Committee Ranking GOP Susan Collins (R-ME) to craft an amendment that would establish statutory postal retail service standards, to ensure that all Americans have access to retail postal services. Failure to comply with the standards could result in a complaint being filed against the USPS with the Postal Regulatory Commission. The NAPUS-advanced amendment can be viewed here. Under the Moran Amendment, the USPS must take into account proximity to customers, demography (age and population density), and transportation and climate challenges in remote areas in setting standards. Moreover, the amendment requires a moratorium on post office closures, pending the implementation of the retail standards (i.e., 6 months from the date of enactment). Also, the standards would apply to communities that suffered the loss of their post office, during the time period one year prior to enactment (e.g., post office subject to the Retail Access Optimization Initiative). The amendment carried the bipartisan sponsorship of Senators Moran, Tester, Collins, Begich (D-AK), McCaskill (D-MO) and Landrieu (D-LA); it was approved by 12-4 vote. The only Senators voting no were Sens. John McCain (R-AZ), Tom Coburn (R-OK), Ron Johnson (R-WI), and Rand Paul (R-KY).
Another provision that NAPUS sought was the ability to participate in the design of the a postal health plan that would be collective-bargained with the four major postal labor unions. Although Postmasters could not bound to the decisions reached by the unions over a postal health plan, NAPUS requested a substantive role in the deliberations. (It is important to note that adoption of a new health plan requires the unanimous support of the unions.) An amendment to S. 1789 included a provision that creates a constructive role for management and supervisory organizations in designing the plan, and reserved the right of any Postmaster to choose whether or not to remain in FEHBP, should a new postal plan be established. NAPUS worked closely with Chairman Lieberman and Ranking GOP Collins on this provision.
Finally, NAPUS was concerned about requiring all Medicare-eligible postal employees to be restricted to only a Medigap policy, denying them the choice to decline Medicare coverage and be covered solely by FEHBP, or enabling them to coordinate their FEHBP benefits with Medicare. (Postal employees who retired after 1983 are eligible for Medicare Part A and Part B.) Senator Daniel Akaka (D-HI) proposed an amendment that eliminated the Medicare mandate provision; it was approved by a 11-6 vote.
The underlying bill includes a postal retirement incentive, which, in part, is funded by the $7 billion FERS overpayment. The incentive provides a cash incentive of up to $25,000, or one-year CSRS credit or two-years FERS credit. Unfortunately, S. 1789 does not address the CSRS $55 billion overpayment issue.
At the conclusion of the hearing, Chairman Lieberman announced that he received assurance from Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-NV) that the legislation would get floor time as soon as possible.
Senate Committee Grants NAPUS Requests