News & information
COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to have far-reaching consequences for letter carriers and the Postal Service. With new information coming quickly and changing rapidly, NALC has created this depository of information for letter carriers. For information on other safety and health issues, please visit the Safety and Health page.
Statements by NALC President Fredric Rolando
Executive VP Renfroe delivers regular updates on COVID-19 on NALC’s You Are The Current Resident Podcast
For listening on your smart phone, we recommend downloading the PodBean app. More information can be found here.
New MOUs in effect during the pandemic
Materials Reference System (MRS)
Mandatory stand-up talks
The Following Stand Up Talks (SUTs) were distributed by the USPS to be held at your office:
- January 24th - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Avoiding the Flu/Other Illnesses
- February 11th - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Flu and respiratory diseases including novel (new) coronavirus
- March 16th - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Customer Interactions for Carriers
- March 18th - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Guidance on Social Gatherings
- March 18th - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Keeping Your Vehicle Clean
- March 19th - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on new customer signature capture process: COVID-19 Response and Prevention
- March 21st - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on National coronavirus guidelines mailing
- March 23rd- Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on the Postal Service continuing normal operations
- March 26th - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Temporary Expanded Use of Voyager Card
- March 27th - Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Government-Imposed Travel Restrictions
- March 28th: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on handling mail for temporarily closed businesses
- March 28th: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on interacting with HCR drivers during the COVID-19 pandemic
- March 30th: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Employee privacy — COVID-19
- April 1: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on NALC Food Drive postponement
- April 2: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Taking leave during COVID-19
- April 3: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on COVID-19 supplies — purchasing updates.
- April 3: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Interacting with VMF Personnel.
- April 6: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Additional CDC guidance.
- April 21: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Face covering and mask update
- April 23: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Critical infrastructure delivery
- April 30: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Handling mail for temporarily closed businesses
- May 18: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on COVID-19 test kits in the mail
- May 21: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Supplier on-site COVID-19 procedures
- May 28: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on COVID-19 test kits in the mail
- June 1: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Essential Services During COVID-19 and Recent State and Local Civil Unrest
- July 2: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Proper use of Voyager cards
- July 8: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on COVID-19 test kits in the mail
- July 27: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Hold Mail service reminders
- Aug. 20: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Face covering and mask update.
- Aug. 27: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Families First Coronavirus Response Act leave
- Oct. 14: Mandatory Stand-Up Talk on Customer Signature Service
Posters on Social Distancing and Face Coverings
- How to Safely Wear and Take Off a Cloth Face Covering
- Please maintain Social Distancing
- Stop the Spread of Germs
Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA)
- Department of Labor FFCRA Questions and Answers
- USPS FFCRA Frequently Asked Questions (updated 9/8/2020)
- Department of Labor FFCRA Poster – Federal Employee Rights
- Impact of FFCRA Leave on Retirement and TSP
- April 2 - USPS Stand-up Talk Families First Coronavirus Response Act
- August 27- USPS Stand-up Talk Families First Coronavirus Response Act leave - Retirement and TSP
- DOL revises the definition of intermittent FMLA leave under the FFCRA
Other useful information
- USPS LINK: A January 24 article was published, highlighting tips from the CDC to prevent influenza and other contagious respiratory illnesse
- Flu and Respiratory Health Tips: The NALC was provided the attached Newsbreak on 2/11/2020. This item is to be posted bulletin boards where employees have access to read material regularly. The NALC would recommend that this be used as material for a stand up talk to supplement the mandatory stand up talk that was issued on January 24, 2020.
- USPS LINK Video: Postmaster General Megan Brennan delivers a Coronavirus update and message to USPS employees
- UNI Global Union and UPU issued a joint statement on postal operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. UNI is the global union for skills and services with 1,000 affiliates and 15 million members. NALC belongs to UNI and takes part in its Posts & Logistics sector.
- Standard work instruction for conducting 3999s during COVID-19
- Standard work instruction for conducting 1838-Cs during COVID-19
- Close Contact Tracing Protocol - CDC Changes
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Updates
- Dedicated CDC page for the Coronavirus
- Update: Public Health Response to the Coronavirus Disease 2019 Outbreak — United States, February 24, 2020
- Update: Update and Interim Guidance on Outbreak of Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) - February 28, 2020
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Quick Reference Information
Contact info
In addition to contacting your shop steward, branch officer or NBA, NALC has a new resource for members to ask any questions about the COVID-19 pandemic: COVID19@nalc.org. When sending your email, please be sure to include your name and NALC branch number.
