Some Observations
I just returned from a conference where NALC President Fred Rolando, Executive Vice President Brian Renfro and Director of City Delivery Chris Jackson spoke. Here are a few observations:
· The upgrade to grade 2 pay for all regular carriers take effect on 11/21/18. Those grade 2 carriers will also receive a 2.1% increase to their pay. CCA’s do not receive any COLA so they will receive a 3.1% salary increase.
· The NALC will not participate in the safety ambassador program. There has been a National Grievance filed on this subject. While that is proceeding the sides are working on an inclusive safety program to include participants jointly agreed to not just ones picked by management.
· Discussion on the Hatch Act and the O.I.G/Special Councils issuing of an order that prevented Active Letter Carriers from taking LWOP to work in a partisan election. The union grieved management’s decision to change the ELM language denying carriers that right. As of this date the USPS is challenging that Arbitrators decision. Until this issue is settled no active carrier will be put in harms way.
· Our negotiations formally open in June 2019. We are preparing for a negotiated contract or arbitration, whichever way it goes we will be ready.
· President Rolando spoke in depth about the political issue we face in Washington. We have many fights on our hands. President Trump’s administration has already come out stating they want to privatize the USPS. If you follow the root cause to this entire issue, it all relates back to former President Bushes a law that forced the USPS to pre-fund $100,000,000 towards health care. This 2006 law has crippled the service. We have currently paid $50 billion into the fund but are in arrears by about $50 billion. No other entity in either the government or private sector has ever been burdened by this mandate. This mandate has cost the service approximately 5.6 Billion dollars a year. Until this is fixed, we will never get out from under the mounting debt. Any other business would have collapsed under the weight the first year. 12 years later we are still standing. On wobbly legs, but still standing.
· The administration’s budget proposal calls for:
1. Increase retiree contributions by 6.4% over the next 5 years with no added benefit.
2. Eliminate the social security supplement for all FERS employees.
3. Eliminate all FERS COLAS for retirees.
4. Reduce Civil Service COLAS by ½.
5. Move retirement from high 3 to high 5 years.
6. Increase health premiums to all active and retired employees to 65% that would increase our costs by 7-8%. Include in this is an attempt to do away with the health care system and go right to vouchers.
Most of you have heard this repeatedly over the past year but not many seem to be paying attention. Your livelihoods are on the line. Get involved by making calls to your congressmen and women. Let them know the service is not for sale. Just as important are your contributions to the Letter Carrier Political Fund. Whatever your affiliation, you have to pay to play. This money is used to promote our friends in Congress. Without them we would be in even more dire straits. The handwriting is on the wall, read it and get in the fray before it is too late.
Executive Vice President Renfro discussed:
· CCA opportunities. Working on related issues.
· Route adjustment process.
· National Safety Committee meets on a regular basis.
· PTF conversions. PS form 50 must be cut within 14 days of the event. All affected carriers should look at the form 50 to make sure they are being paid at the proper grade and level.
· Heat abatement issues.
· The NALC AP. There will be a separate AP for tracking your hours.
· Clock ring fraud.
These are some of the issues discussed at this conference. The bottom line is that; don’t just bury your head in the sand and hope someone else fights for you. Be a participant in fighting for your job as well as your rights. Otherwise; when you pick your head up out of that sand, there may be nothing left to fight for.
