National Association of Letter Carriers News Feed http://www.nalc.org/rss/ National Association of Letter Carriers News Feed Wed, 1 Oct 2014 05:00:00 +0000 AMPS en hourly 1 Penalty Overtime Exclusion Period https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/penalty-overtime-exclusion-period-24 Tue, 03 Dec 2024 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/penalty-overtime-exclusion-period-24 As referenced in Article 8, Sections 4 and 5 of the USPS-NALC National Agreement, the December period (during which penalty overtime regulations are not applicable) consists of four consecutive service weeks.

This year, the December period begins Pay Period 26, Week 1 (Nov. 30, 2024) and ends Pay Period 01-25, Week 2 (Dec. 27, 2024).

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December Postal Record available https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/december-postal-record Mon, 02 Dec 2024 15:39:14 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/december-postal-record Contribute to the Combined Federal Campaign https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/contribute-to-the-combined-federal-campaign-2024 Fri, 29 Nov 2024 10:49:23 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/contribute-to-the-combined-federal-campaign-2024

As federal employees, letter carriers can support charities of their choice by donating through the Combined Federal Campaign (CFC), the world’s largest annual workplace giving program. Since its inception in 1961, the CFC has raised more than $8.7 billion for charities and people in need. 

Anyone can be a changemaker through CFC! This year’s campaign, “Show Some Love: Be the Face of Change,” began on Sept. 1, 2024, and ends on Jan. 14, 2025.

“Letter carriers are known for taking care of our communities,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “The CFC is a convenient way for letter carriers to support their favorite charities and help those in need.”

NALC is directly involved with two charities eligible for support through the CFC, the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) and United Way Worldwide. To learn more about these charities, click here

CFC makes it easy for all federal employees to donate online and gives federal retirees an easy option for donating through deductions from their annuities. To donate online, register an account at givecfc.org

Carriers can choose the charity or group of charities they want to support from a list of more than 2,000 eligible charities, and an amount they choose will be deducted from their paychecks each pay period and automatically sent to each charity.

For more information about the CFC, click here

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NALC Bulletin https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-bulletin-11-14 Tue, 26 Nov 2024 14:14:19 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-bulletin-11-14 NALC statement on Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer for labor secretary https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-statement-on-rep-lori-chavez-deremer-for-labor-secretary Sat, 23 Nov 2024 10:47:22 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-statement-on-rep-lori-chavez-deremer-for-labor-secretary NALC President Brian L. Renfroe released the following statement regarding President-elect Donald Trump’s intent to nominate Rep. Lori Chavez-DeRemer (R-OR) to serve as secretary of the Department of Labor (DOL).

“Rep. Chavez-DeRemer is an excellent choice to serve in this pivotal role. In her brief time serving in Congress, she has been a strong ally to letter carriers and organized labor.

“She is a cosponsor of the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act, the Federal Retirement Fairness Act and voted to pass the Social Security Fairness Act earlier this month. She is also a cosponsor of the PRO Act and the Public Service Freedom to Negotiate Act. Her record proves that she values worker safety, retirement fairness, and unions. 

“Leadership at DOL is pivotal in safeguarding working conditions, such as heat safety and the Office of Worker Compensation (OWCP), which injured letter carriers rely on. We cannot think of a better person to lead in these critical efforts.

“NALC appreciates President-elect Trump’s choice, congratulates Rep. Chavez-DeRemer and looks forward to her swift confirmation in order to continue our strong working relationship with her to protect letter carriers.”

Rep. Chavez-DeRemer is serving in her first term in Congress. She recently lost a tight race to Democratic challenger Janelle Bynum. She previously served two terms as mayor of Happy Valley, OR.

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Remembering former Secretary-Treasurer William R. Yates https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/remembering-former-secretary-treasurer-william-yates Thu, 21 Nov 2024 13:41:28 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/remembering-former-secretary-treasurer-william-yates It is with deep sorrow that we announce the passing of retired National Officer William R. Yates, beloved father of Jim Yates, director of Life Insurance, on Nov. 17, 2024, at the age of 83.

Brother Yates, affectionately known as Bill, devoted his life to his family, his country and his union. A proud U.S. Navy veteran, Bill’s service to his country and community spanned many years and left a lasting impact on the lives of letter carriers nationwide.

Bill’s distinguished career with the NALC began in the 1970s. He held several key leadership positions, including executive vice president of Long Island, N.Y., Merged Branch 6000; national business agent for Region 15 from 1986 to 1994; and secretary-treasurer of the NALC from 1995 to 2002. His tireless dedication to the membership earned him the respect and admiration of NALC members, and he played a pivotal role in advocating for letter carriers and improving their working conditions.

Outside of his work with the NALC, Brother Yates was a loving husband, father, grandfather and brother. He is survived by his wife of many years, Constance “Connie” Yates; children Christine and James; grandchildren Joseph, Anthony, William and Ryan; and his brother, Kenneth. He was preceded in death by his brother Thomas.

“Bill’s commitment to his family and his brothers and sisters in the NALC set an example for us all,” said NALC President Brian L. Renfroe. “He was a leader who never stopped working for what was right, and his legacy will continue to inspire future generations of letter carriers. On behalf of NALC, I extend my deepest condolences to Jim and to all of Brother Yates’ family, friends and all who had the privilege of working with him.”

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NALC calls on Senate to pass Social Security Fairness Act https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-calls-on-senate-to-pass-social-security-fairness-act Fri, 15 Nov 2024 14:40:19 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-calls-on-senate-to-pass-social-security-fairness-act NALC President Brian L. Renfroe released the following statement:

On behalf of the 280,000 members of NALC, I am calling on the Senate to pass the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82). Following Tuesday’s victory when the House voted overwhelmingly to pass H.R. 82, it is time for the Senate to act and consider this legislation as soon as possible.

NALC proudly represents 90,000 retired letter carriers from every state in the nation, many of whom are victimized by the Windfall Elimination Provision and the Government Pension Offset. These retirees spent their working lives serving their communities, and it is unconscionable that some of them are not receiving the full Social Security benefits that they earned and were promised.

Passing the Social Security Fairness Act in the Senate is NALC’s top legislative priority in the remaining weeks of the 118th Congress. The Senate companion bill has 62 bipartisan cosponsors, more than enough for passage, and I am calling on the Senate to vote on it as soon as possible.

I urge every senator to prioritize this issue, support letter carriers, and finally repeal the WEP and GPO by passing the Social Security Fairness Act. 

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President Renfroe announces Ballot Committee https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/president-renfroe-announces-ballot-committee Thu, 14 Nov 2024 18:21:47 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/president-renfroe-announces-ballot-committee NALC President Brian L. Renfroe has appointed a Ballot Committee to monitor and observe the dispatch, receipt and tabulation of the ballots in the upcoming ratification election of the proposed 2023-2026 National Agreement between NALC and USPS.

Every active letter carrier eligible to vote in the contract ratification election will be mailed a copy of the changes in the proposed 2023-2026 National Agreement between NALC and USPS, along with the ballot materials. Eligibility to vote is defined by Article 16, Section 1 of the NALC Constitution which provides:

“Ratification shall be a mail referendum vote, and the ballot shall be mailed only to regular members of the NALC, as defined in Article 2, Section 1(a), excluding retirees, OWCP departees, and non-letter carrier regular members, as shown by the records of the National Secretary-Treasurer as of ninety (90) days prior to the date that the proposed agreement is reached.”

The proposed agreement was reached on October 17, 2024. The NALC Constitution also provides that “membership acceptance or rejection of a proposed National Agreement shall be by majority of valid ballots returned by the voters.” If the agreement is accepted, it will go into effect immediately. If the agreement is rejected, then, under the Postal Reorganization Act, the parties may continue bargaining or, ultimately, refer the dispute to an interest arbitration board. Under the law, decisions of the arbitration board are conclusive and binding upon the parties.

More information will be posted on the NALC website as it is available.

The ballot committee members are:

  • Paul Roznowski (chair) of Branch 3126 – Royal Oak, MI
  • Barbara Stickler of Branch 1100 – Garden Grove, CA
  • Mike Hansen of Branch 111 – Salt Lake City, UT
  • Elise Foster of Branch 11 – Chicago, IL
  • Kathy Walter of Branch 704 – Tucson, AZ
  • Rod Holub of Branch 1018 – Manhattan, KS
  • Ryan Smith of Branch 440 – Rochester, MN
  • Antonia Shields of Branch 530 – Birmingham, AL
  • Sylvin Stevens of Branch 545 – Charlotte, NC
  • Ethel Ford of Branch 283 – Houston, TX
  • Ted N. Thompson of Branch 43 – Cincinnati, OH
  • Ted Lee of Branch 84 – Pittsburgh, PA
  • Delano Wilson of Branch 2611 – Silver Spring, MD
  • Mike O'Neill of Branch 38 – New Jersey Merged
  • Andy Weiner of Branch 562 – Jamaica, NY
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Urge Senate to act on Social Security Fairness Act; thank representatives who supported H.R. 82 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/urge-senate-to-act-on-social-security-fairness-ask-thank-representatives-who-supported-h-r-82 Wed, 13 Nov 2024 08:57:52 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/urge-senate-to-act-on-social-security-fairness-ask-thank-representatives-who-supported-h-r-82 House passes Social Security Fairness Act https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/house-passes-social-security-fairness-act Tue, 12 Nov 2024 17:58:42 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/house-passes-social-security-fairness-act Today, in a 327-75 vote, the House passed the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82), legislation that would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). The WEP and GPO are parts of Social Security law that reduce or sometimes eliminate earned benefits for Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) retirees, including letter carriers.

The vote came after a decades long fight to repeal these unjust provisions. The bill, led by Reps. Garrett Graves (R-LA) and Abigail Spanberger (D-VA) has had broad bipartisan support for years, but leadership from both parties have been hesitant to bring the bill to the floor. The full vote details are available here.

“This is a major win for letter carriers and other federal annuitants who have been victimized by the WEP and GPO for decades,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. 

“We appreciate Reps. Graves and Spanberger’s steadfast leadership and commitment to finally get this bill to the floor, and we commend every House member who voted “yes” on this critical bill.

“With House passage, we are one step closer to finally righting this wrong that impacts so many CSRS retirees. We must keep up the momentum. NALC calls on the Senate to pass the Social Security Fairness Act as soon as possible and send it to the president’s desk.


“I want to thank every NALC member who lobbied their representative to support H.R. 82. I urge them to keep up the work and contact their senators. It’s time to finish the job.”

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H.R. 82 vote scheduled; ask your representative to vote yes https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/h-r-82-vote-scheduled-ask-your-representative-to-vote-yes Mon, 11 Nov 2024 11:18:37 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/h-r-82-vote-scheduled-ask-your-representative-to-vote-yes After an unexpected and unprecedented procedural move related to the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) while Congress was in recess, the bill remains on track to receive a vote on the House floor under suspension on Tuesday, Nov. 12. Under suspension, the bill needs a two-thirds majority vote to pass.

While the bill has 330 cosponsors, we need to ensure EVERY COSPONSOR votes yes to sustain the two-thirds majority needed for House passage. Every vote is critical, and it is important to ask your representative to vote yes on this priority legislation.

Take Action
Click here to contact your representative through NALC’s Legislative Action Center, or call (202) 224-3121.

More on H.R. 82
H.R. 82/S. 597 would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which are parts of Social Security law that unfairly reduce or sometimes eliminate Social Security benefits of federal annuitants, including letter carriers. 

Click here for NALC’s fact sheet. 

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Happy Veterans Day from NALC https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/happy-veterans-day-from-nalc Mon, 11 Nov 2024 09:32:46 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/happy-veterans-day-from-nalc NALC President Brian L. Renfroe issued the following statement:

Today, NALC honors the nation's veterans for their dedicated service, including 30 percent of our members who have served. You are all heroes, and we thank you for your commitment to preserving America’s freedoms.

Nearly 30 percent of NALC members are military veterans. Our union is proud to represent tens of thousands of veterans who chose to continue their commitment to service and community as letter carriers.

To recognize and support our veteran members, our union formed the NALC Veterans Group in 2015. This group, which is now nearly 20,000 members strong, creates comradery, provides information and tools specific to veterans’ benefits, and encourages community service that supports veterans.

This month’s issue of The Postal Record includes the name of every member of our growing veterans group. If you are a veteran and an NALC member who has not signed up, please visit nalc.org/veterans.

I join all NALC members in saying thank you to our nation’s veterans. We appreciate your sacrifice, bravery and dedication, and today we celebrate you.

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Branch Officers Training sessions announced https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/branch-officers-trainings-announced Tue, 05 Nov 2024 11:57:57 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/branch-officers-trainings-announced NALC Secretary-Treasurer Nicole Rhine is announcing that two Branch Officers Trainings will be held in January. The first class will be held January 6-9, 2025, in Los Angeles, CA. The second class will be held January 27-30, 2025, in Minneapolis.

Branch Officers Training sessions consist of three and a half days of educational seminars tailored to assist branch presidents, vice presidents, treasurers, recording secretaries, financial secretaries, and trustees in the performance of their duties.

Branch Officers Training covers the basics for financial officers: reporting to the Department of Labor; fiduciary duties under the Landrum-Griffin Act; bonding of branch officers and IRS reporting requirements.

Additional training topics include the NALC Constitution and branch bylaws; branch operations and identifying branch policies; maintaining accurate and complete meeting minutes; member notification requirements; record keeping; branch elections and branch dues and how to read a dues roster.

The registration form for both trainings will be included in the next NALC Bulletin. Branches and State Associations must use the registration form to register for the class.

Note: Do not make airline reservations until you receive an acceptance letter as the training has limited space. For budgeting purposes, the daily room rate for the training in Los Angeles is $209 single/double plus tax. The daily room rate for the training in Minneapolis is $159 single/double plus tax.

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November Postal Record available https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/november2024-postal-record-available Fri, 01 Nov 2024 14:04:23 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/november2024-postal-record-available Wage calculator now available https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/wage-calculator-now-available Tue, 29 Oct 2024 11:00:00 -0500 https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/wage-calculator-now-available