| In the February magazine, you'll find my President's Message, titled, "NALC to Congress: Listen up"— As the old saying goes, “Everybody complains about the weather, but nobody ever does anything about it.” The same might be said about the Congress. Today, as never before, Congress is deeply unpopular. A Gallup poll taken in December found that just 11 percent of Americans approve of the job that Congress is doing. That is the lowest congressional rating ever recorded by the pollster. It is not surprising. Despite repeated wave elections, Congress is mired in partisan gridlock and seems oblivious to the most pressing problems facing the country. |
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On Friday, the USPS declined to extend
collective-bargaining negotiations with the
NALC, triggering an impasse that will
automatically send the matter to mediation.
“I am disappointed by the Postal Service’s
decision,” NALC President Fredric V.
Rolando said. “We have been making
steady progress in negotiations. NALC
continues to believe that a negotiated
agreement is in the best interests of the
parties, the businesses that rely on us and
the nation we serve. We will continue to
negotiate in good faith as mediation takes
placeClick here to read the president's
complete statement.
collective-bargaining negotiations with the
NALC, triggering an impasse that will
automatically send the matter to mediation.
“I am disappointed by the Postal Service’s
decision,” NALC President Fredric V.
Rolando said. “We have been making
steady progress in negotiations. NALC
continues to believe that a negotiated
agreement is in the best interests of the
parties, the businesses that rely on us and
the nation we serve. We will continue to
negotiate in good faith as mediation takes
placeClick here to read the president's
complete statement.
| USPS declines to extend contract talks: |
| In the February magazine, you'll find my President's Message, titled, "NALC to Congress: Listen up"— |
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As the Senate reconvenes in Washington today, the NALC is closely monitoring expected Senate
action for this and the coming weeks. With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announcing late last
week that he would be delaying a floor vote for the controversial anti-piracy bills pending before
Congress, the Senate schedule now has unexpected floor time that will need to be filled. All
indications are that the leadership plans on moving S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act of
2011, as early as next week. S. 1789, in its current form, is unacceptable to the NALC and to many
stakeholders and customers throughout the country.
The bill as reported out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs fell
short of achieving the many needed reforms to ensure a vibrant Postal Service for the future.
The legislation:
Allows for five-day delivery in two years' time if the Postal Service is not turning a profit, but fails to
give the Postal Service any flexibility to achieve that profit.
Phases out door-to-door delivery in favor of curbside and centralized delivery.
Fails to recoup the $55 billion to $75 billion in CSRS pension surplus funds.
Does not go far enough in restructuring the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefit Fund.
Includes an anti-labor provision that would direct arbitrators to take into special consideration the
financial condition of the Postal Service before rendering a decision.
Unfairly attacks injured postal workers by removing them from the OWCP rolls and forcing them into
retirement without implementing a formula that would make these people whole. The reduction in
compensation would be severe.
Please call Sen. Mark Udall at (202) 224-5941 and Sen. Michael Bennet at (202) 224-5852 and ask
them both to oppose S. 1789 in its current form. The legislation is deeply flawed and needs significant
changes before the Senate should consider passage of this bill.
Changes to the bill should include provisions from S. 1853, The Postal Service Protection Act of
2011. This bill takes the necessary steps by addressing the issues laid out above to strengthen the
Postal Service while maintaining the excellent level of service Americans have come to expect,
preserving middle-class jobs and creating new opportunities for the Postal Service moving forward.
Again, please call both of your senators as soon as possible and urge them to delay action on S.
1789 as drafted. We expect the Senate to pass legislation that protects senior citizens, rural
communities, small businesses and others and we hope to be at the table as those discussions are
held.
Thank you in advance for your urgent action.
In Solidarity,
Fredric V. Rolando, President
National Association of Letter Carriers
action for this and the coming weeks. With Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid announcing late last
week that he would be delaying a floor vote for the controversial anti-piracy bills pending before
Congress, the Senate schedule now has unexpected floor time that will need to be filled. All
indications are that the leadership plans on moving S. 1789, the 21st Century Postal Service Act of
2011, as early as next week. S. 1789, in its current form, is unacceptable to the NALC and to many
stakeholders and customers throughout the country.
The bill as reported out of the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs fell
short of achieving the many needed reforms to ensure a vibrant Postal Service for the future.
The legislation:
Allows for five-day delivery in two years' time if the Postal Service is not turning a profit, but fails to
give the Postal Service any flexibility to achieve that profit.
Phases out door-to-door delivery in favor of curbside and centralized delivery.
Fails to recoup the $55 billion to $75 billion in CSRS pension surplus funds.
Does not go far enough in restructuring the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefit Fund.
Includes an anti-labor provision that would direct arbitrators to take into special consideration the
financial condition of the Postal Service before rendering a decision.
Unfairly attacks injured postal workers by removing them from the OWCP rolls and forcing them into
retirement without implementing a formula that would make these people whole. The reduction in
compensation would be severe.
Please call Sen. Mark Udall at (202) 224-5941 and Sen. Michael Bennet at (202) 224-5852 and ask
them both to oppose S. 1789 in its current form. The legislation is deeply flawed and needs significant
changes before the Senate should consider passage of this bill.
Changes to the bill should include provisions from S. 1853, The Postal Service Protection Act of
2011. This bill takes the necessary steps by addressing the issues laid out above to strengthen the
Postal Service while maintaining the excellent level of service Americans have come to expect,
preserving middle-class jobs and creating new opportunities for the Postal Service moving forward.
Again, please call both of your senators as soon as possible and urge them to delay action on S.
1789 as drafted. We expect the Senate to pass legislation that protects senior citizens, rural
communities, small businesses and others and we hope to be at the table as those discussions are
held.
Thank you in advance for your urgent action.
In Solidarity,
Fredric V. Rolando, President
National Association of Letter Carriers
| Action on S. 1789 |
Carriers mobilize to oppose FERS bill:
On Jan. 24, Rep. Dennis Ross introduced H.R. 3813,
the Securing Annuities for Federal Employees Act. But
were it to become law, H.R. 3813 would in fact threaten
the retirement benefits of federal workers—including
postal workers. It calls for entirely eliminating the defined
On Jan. 24, Rep. Dennis Ross introduced H.R. 3813,
the Securing Annuities for Federal Employees Act. But
were it to become law, H.R. 3813 would in fact threaten
the retirement benefits of federal workers—including
postal workers. It calls for entirely eliminating the defined
benefit component of the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
FERS annuitants would then be entitled only to the benefits earned through
both Social Security and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). “Ross’ bill is a blatant
attack on federal pensions,” President Rolando said. Click here to read more
[updated].
FERS annuitants would then be entitled only to the benefits earned through
both Social Security and the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). “Ross’ bill is a blatant
attack on federal pensions,” President Rolando said. Click here to read more
[updated].
| Payroll tax extension heads to president’s desk Feb. 21, 2012 -- Legislation to renew a payroll tax holiday and extension of unemployment benefits passed both the Senate and House on Friday, and is now on its way to President Obama’ s desk, where he’s expected to sign it. While the NALC strongly supported the extension of the payroll tax holiday and unemployment insurance benefits, the union did not support the overall package because of a provision that singles out future federal and postal employees. Despite the NALC’s best efforts, the overall deal includes a provision to "pay for” the unemployment insurance extension with an increase in pension contributions by federal and postal employees hired after 2012. NALC President Fredric V. Rolando weighed in with Congress that this will cost the average new postal employee nearly $1,000 per year and is simply “a tax hike or a pay cut by another name.” The AFL-CIO issued a statement of “no support,” and while a few members of Congress noted that federal workers cannot continue to be singled out and treated unfairly by Congress, in the end it was not enough and the deal passed through both chambers of Congress with bipartisan support. While Congress needed to take action to strengthen the economy and give millions of jobless Americans much needed benefits, it should have been done through shared sacrifice, not on the backs of future generations of postal and federal workers. This is only the beginning of what is expected to be a series of hits to current and future postal and federal employees to offset the cost of unrelated legislation. NALC needs to be diligent in standing up to Congress, opposing any such provisions moving forward. |