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.

NAPUS President Bob Rapoza said that the talks should continue as long as meaningful discussions continue to move forward. Both organizational Presidents jointly notified the Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service (FMCS) that the Postal Service had agreed to extend the discussions until the end of February. A decision on whether the two Postmaster organizations will request a resumption of the mediation process will be made after that date.

Talks continue to focus on minimum and maximum salary range improvements, health benefits contribution rates and changes to the Performance Evaluation System (PES.) Please check the NAPUS website for updates.

Charlie Moser

January 26, 2012

via NAPUS.

From NAPUS:

Discussions Continue with Postal Headquarters on Voluntary Early Retirements (VERs) and Incentives for Retirement Eligible Employees

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

via NAPUS.

In a special telecom tonight, The NAPUS Executive Board unanimously approved President Bob Rapoza’s request to ask the Federal Mediation and Reconciliation 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 Reconciliation 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

via NAPUS.

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.

Charlie Moser

November 3, 2011

via NAPUS.

NAPUS Letter on S1789

On Monday, League President Mark Strong and NAPUS President Bob Rapoza sent a joint letter to USPS Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President, Megan Brennan, requesting a meeting to discuss the impact that the Retail Access Optimization Initiative (RAOI) may have on Postmasters whose offices are on the study list. Specifically, the leaders of the two Postmaster organizations are asking to meet with members of the Postal Service senior management team to discuss minimizing or avoiding the impact that RIF may have on Postmasters whose offices may be discontinued.

RIF Avoidance and minimization strategy actions listed in the ELM 354.23 include voluntary early retirements, voluntary early retirement incentives, voluntary reassignments and other actions that can be considered for impacted employees. The two presidents reminded Ms Brennan that Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe said that he would work with the Postmaster organizations as he had worked with other RIF impacted employees. For more information on this and other important news from President Rapoza, click here http://www.napus.org/president-rapozas-updates/.

We have received several inquiries from Exempt status Postmasters who lost employees as a result of Delivery Unit Optimization (DUO) and are re-classified to non-exempt if they manage less than two full-time equivalent employees, but the Form 50 isn’t processed to change them to the correct status for several months. Listed below is the USPS Headquarters response to the FLSA status question and their response on when salary protection begins for Postmasters who are downgraded as a result of DUO.

When staffing conditions in a Post Office do not meet criteria for FLSA-exempt status, the Postmaster’s FLSA status becomes non-exempt. If the FLSA status of the job changes, this should be brought to the attention of the appropriate management authorities promptly so that FLSA status may be adjusted timely, within one or two pay periods of the Postmaster no longer meeting the criteria of an exempt status. We recommend that Postmasters coordinate closely with their supervisors to ensure that work beyond 40 in a pay week is authorized expressly. This will help prevent potential problems. Postmasters should document overtime hours they work since DUO implementation. They should also document the dates such hours are worked, and they should furnish this material to local management for review and determination if there are concerns about pay.

Salary protection for DUO impacted Postmasters begins on the Form 50 effective date of the downgrade.

Next week, members of the two Postmaster organization pay talks teams will resume discussions with Postal Service representatives. The meetings will include discussions on pay, benefits, leave and changes to the ELM that may impact Postmasters. The Postmaster organizations and the Postal Service agreed to extend the October 5, 2011 deadline.

Charlie Moser

October 5, 2011

via NAPUS.

From the National Association of Postmasters of the US:

In yesterday’s monthly meeting with Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe, NAPUS President Bob Rapoza discussed Voluntary Early Retirements (VERs), Incentives and adding years of service as possibilities to help ease the financial burdens of the USPS. While many options are being considered as the Postal Service attempts to reduce the number of on roll employees, President Rapoza suggested that VERs, Incentives and adding years of service should be strongly considered as part of the process.

Postmaster General Donahoe is scheduled to address nearly 1,200 attendees at the NAPUS National Convention in San Juan, Puerto Rico next week. Attendees are hopeful that the PMG may provide a preview of a “major announcement” that is scheduled to be released on September 15.

In a story published in the Washington Post, the White House plans to present a USPS financial rescue plan in coming weeks. The proposed plan would be included in the Obama administrations deficit reduction package. The White House is requesting that Congress provide the USPS with a 90-day extension to pay mandatory annual retirement payments of more than $5 billion.

In a related story, the PMG told Senators that the Postal Service could lose up to $10 billion by the end of the fiscal year.

Charlie Moser

September 7, 2011

From NAPUS:

September 2nd, 2011

Representative from NAPUS and the League met with USPS Headquarters officials for the third time yesterday to discuss pay, benefits, ELM changes, and leave for Postmasters. The next meeting is scheduled for the end of this month and future meetings are planned for early October. Details cannot be provided until the pay talks are completed. See this and other information on the President’s Update on the NAPUS website.

The NAPUS National Office continues to receive questions about coverage for retail operations in EAS 15-18 offices with less than 3 clerks and have been assigned PSEs who are not permitted to work the window. Coverage for PTF clerk positions is problematic because PSEs aren’t contractually allowed to perform the window duties in these offices and Postmasters are limited on the amount of bargaining unit work they can perform. This issue has been placed on the agenda for the upcoming NAPUS/USPS Consultative Meeting at the NAPUS National Convention next week.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe is scheduled to address Postmasters at next week’s convention and his remarks will be posted on the NAPUS website.

via NAPUS.

Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe and members of the Postal Headquarters leadership team updated leaders of NAPUS, League of Postmasters, and NAPS on the financial condition of the Postal Service today. The overall financial picture of the USPS remains bleak, as First-Class mail volume continues to decline, with a current net loss of $5.6 Billion, and a year-end projected loss of $9 Billion.

Following the financial briefing, presidents of the three postal management associations requested time to discuss the impact on Postmasters and other supervisory personnel who may be impacted by the recently announced discontinuance study of more than 3,500 postal facilities. NAPUS President Bob Rapoza asked if impacted Postmasters would face layoffs and he was told that while the possibility of some layoffs may exist, the Postal Service has an obligation to provide the same protection for all employees and they would do everything possible to find landing spots for Postmasters.

Postal leaders committed to consider RIF Avoidance and Voluntary Early Outs (VER) as part of the process to reduce the need for layoffs. USPS Headquarters officials said they were committed to maintaining a good working relationship with the management organizations and would include them throughout the process.

Postmasters whose offices are on the Discontinuance Feasibility Study list are reminded that the current procedures could require several months before a post office could actually be closed. The Postal Service has introduced proposed revisions to the Discontinuance timelines which would allow the closing of a facility within 138 days, but that recommendation is not yet effective.

Postmasters who may be impacted by the Discontinuance Feasibility Study should remember that some of the offices on the review list may not be closed. Impacted Postmasters are encouraged to check the NAPUS website for updates on what will happen if their office is scheduled to be closed.

Charlie Moser

July 27, 2011

via NAPUS.

From the National Association of Postmasters of the US:

Presidents of NAPUS, The League of Postmasters, and NAPS are scheduled to meet with the Postmaster General on Wednesday, July 27, 2011. NAPUS President Bob Rapoza said that he will ask for time to discuss the impact on Postmasters whose offices were recently identified to be included as part of a discontinuance feasibility study.

A review list for the possible discontinuance of approximately 2800 post offices has raised the anxiety level of impacted Postmasters, who are concerned over what options may be available to them if they receive a Reduction In Force (RIF) notice. As stated on the NAPUS website on Friday, there is no certainty that all of the offices on the list will be closed. Additionally, the process could take as long as 7-10 months before a final decision would be made to close an office.

Impacted Postmasters are encouraged to check the NAPUS website for updates on discussions with USPS leaders about available options if a RIF notice is received. To see a list of offices under study for discontinuance click here . For information on how the review process works, please go to the NAPUS Action Guide (PDF). Additional information will be provided as soon as it becomes available.

Charlie Moser

July 26, 2011

via NAPUS.

From NAPUS:

June 28th, 2011

USPS Executive Vice President of Labor Relations, Anthony J. Vegliante today announced promotional salary increase limits for nonbargaining employees. Mr. Vegliante said “The fiscal health of the Postal Service continues to be at risk and, as a result, we must remain focused on opportunities to encourage fiscal restraint.”

Effective immediately, promotional increases must be limited to the following:

• Salary increase of 3 to 5 percent for promotions
• Salary increase of no more than 8 percent if an employee is promoted more than once within 52 weeks.

All promotional increases that exceed the above guidelines must be reviewed and approved by the Chief Human Resources Officer. This applies to all Headquarters and field nonbargaining promotions, except under the following conditions:

• When a higher increase is necessary to bring the salary to the minimum of the new grade.
• For promotions to designated supervisory positions covered under the supervisory differential adjustment provision, when a higher increase is necessary to bring it to the minimum salary rate.

Requests submitted for review must provide clear justification for exceeding the above stated promotional increase amounts.

The above change eliminates the former policy of salary increases from 3 to 10 percent for the promotion of a nonbargaining unit employee and a higher level of approval for increases of more than 8 percent.

June 27, 2011