National Association of Letter Carriers

As the bat-crap crazy year that was 2016 drags itself across the finish line, may all of us at Branch 25 take this opportunity to wish all of you and your families a happy and prosperous 2017.

If that familiar Amazon logo is making you cringe this week ... well, you are a Letter Carrier at Christmas time, my friend !!!

To all the carriers of Branch 25, congratulations on a job very well done. May you and your families enjoy a most happy and healthy holiday season.

"That's part of our challenge. The job's not for everybody. And not everybody has the capability and desire to do what needs to be done."

John "Mike" Powers - District Manager, Greater Boston District

You better believe it. From the company that only a few short years ago seriously considered ending Saturday deliveries comes the call for able bodies to fill the impending wave of open positions. The Boston Globe has this story on the issue.

The 2016 Penalty Overtime Exclusion period is just around the corner. This year it will begin on Saturday, December 3rd and end on Friday, December 30th. Get your rest and eat your Wheaties !!!

And let us take this opportunity to wish all members of Branch 25 and their families a Very Happy and Healthy Thanksgiving.

"The darkest places in Hell are reserved for those who maintain their neutrality in times of moral crisis."

Dante Alighieri

After what could be looked upon as the "Most Disgusting Reality Show Ever", the time is finally upon us. On Tuesday, let your voice be heard. If you haven't already, Please Vote !!!

In an effort to provide as much information as possible in the most convenient manner available, the WAKE UP! will now be published electronically on the Branch 25 Website each month. But don't fret ... you will still receive your hard copy in the mail !!!

Eight stations in Branch 25 will be inspected between early January and late April of 2017. Please click here to read a letter from Branch 25 President Dave Barbuzzi regarding this matter.

Yesterday's NALC Retirement Seminar was a great success. Hopefully all who attended are well focused on their goals. Thanks to everyone involved ... organizers and attendees alike. If you would like to view photos from the event, please click right here.

For your convenience, please click here for a PDF file which contains the contact information for all your current Senators and Congresspeople. A handy reference for those times when we may need to reach out to our elected officials. Also, culled from the latest issue of the Postal Record, this PDF gives you an outline of six key races around the country that NALC considers very important to our causes. Think ... do you have friends or family in these states? If you do, it might be worth a call explaining our concerns. One vote at a time can make a difference. On November 8th, don't forget about the importance of these and other down-ballot contests.

Just a quick reminder about our NALC-sponsored retirement seminar on Sunday, October 23. This will be held at the Framingham Elks Club - 450 Union Ave, Framingham, MA 01702 (map and directions are in a previous post). Doors are opening at 8:30 am (coffee will be served), and the seminar begins at 9 am. We do need a head count by Oct. 7th, so please contact the office at (978) 658-5820 if you are planning to attend.

The voter registration deadlines for the 2016 Presidential election are quickly approaching. Please don't miss out on your chance to cast a ballot in this most important of elections.

In Maine: October 18 by mail, but November 8 in person.
In Massachusetts: October 19 by mail, online and in person.
In New Hampshire: November 8 by mail, online and in person.

There will be a NALC-sponsored retirement seminar on Sunday, October 23 - 9:00 am till 2:30 pm. This will be jointly held with Branch 12 (Worcester) and Branch 334 (Framingham Merged). The location will be the Framingham Elks Club - 450 Union Ave, Framingham, MA 01702. Please contact the Union office if you plan on attending, as we need a head count by Oct. 7th. Worth noting ... the Pats take on the Steelers at 4:25 pm, so plenty of time to get home for the game !!!




From our neck of the woods ...

• Take I-93 S to I-95 S towards Waltham ... 16.1 mi.
• Take exit 25 toward I-90/Mass Pike (toll road) ... 0.3 mi.
• Keeping right at the fork, follow signs for I-90 W/Worcester and merge onto I-90 W ... 6.5 mi.
• Take exit 13 to merge onto MA-30 W/Cochituate Rd. toward Framingham (passing Shoppers World) ... 0.9 mi.
• Keep left to make left turn onto Concord St. ... 0.8 mi.
• Turn right onto Normandy Rd. ... 0.3 mi.
• Turn left onto Flagg Dr. ... 0.1 mi.
• Turn right onto Warren Rd. ... 0.5 mi.
• Turn left onto Walnut St. ... 338 ft.
• Turn right onto Union Ave. ... 0.2 mi.
• 450 Union Ave. will be on the left

"The mail system plays an important role in our country's commerce and social communication. Maintaining its integrity is vital."  -  U.S. Attorney Eileen Decker

"The overwhelming majority of Postal Service employees are honest and dedicated public servants who are worthy of our trust."  -  Brian Washington, USPS Office of Inspector General

Indeed. But then this shameful tale comes out of California. Ralph Smith from FedSmith.com has the sad story here.

From the FedSmith.com Website, a tale of woe regarding your Official Personnel Folders. If you are heading towards retirement, give this story a look. Your Humble Webmaster did and found several things in his OPF that didn't quite pass the sniff test. The take away here is to get in there early and get things straight a.s.a.p. The link to this story is here and will also be on our "Retirement Info" page.

Your hand-held device is looking out for you !!! You may already be aware of this feature on your scanner ... the "Trip Hazards" app can warn you of any type of danger on your route. Yes ... even wild turkeys. The Bloomberg News story is one click away.

From the main NALC Website, President Fredric Rolando has released a statement on the USPS 2016 Third Quarter Fiscal report. You can click here to view it. Then, you can follow the other links provided to dive deep into the Postal Sevice financial picture.

Congratulations to Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton on officially receiving the Democratic nomination for President of the United States last night. Now the fight really begins ... Please click here to read the nominee's stand on labor and union issues.

"We just continue to see more and more demand for e-commerce shipments."
Steve Gaut - UPS Spokesperson

"Welcome to the party, Pal !!!"
John McClane - "Die Hard"

With demand high and no signs of slowing down (Thank you, Amazon ...), UPS reportedly will dip it's sizable toe into the Saturday delivery waters this summer. Bloomberg News has the scoop right here.

From the NALC Website, news on two postal reform bills that are on the move. H.R. 5714 and H.R. 5707 are summarized and evaluated here. For those of you who prefer to immerse yourselves in the details, here are the links: H.R. 5714 and H.R. 5707.

As our own contract negotiations continue on more than a month past the May 20 deadline, World Socialist Web Site.org brings us a story of the APWU's expected arbitration decision. Please click here to give it a read.

And let us take this opportunity to wish our membership a Happy (and Safe) Fourth of July weekend ...

Two informational PDF's have been added to the "Carrier Resources" section of the Website. "When A Letter Carrier Dies" (both Active & Retired) can provide useful information for the families of deceased Letter Carriers at a time when they have so much to cope with. (N.B. The information in these publications is based on the laws, regulations, policies, etc., in effect at the time they were published.)

The National Association of Letter Carriers today endorsed former First Lady, Senator and Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton for President of the United States. Please click here to read the full text of President Rolando's statement.

We've just added a link on the "Useful Links" page for insurance coverage by the UNUM company. This specifically has to do with disability coverage. The direct link is right here.

Like you don't have enough to worry about. With summertime approaching, our canine friends are on the move. Postal Service data has shown an increase in dog attack incidents, possibly due to an increase in package delivery. Click here to read a post from the Patch.com Website that explores the matter. And, as always ... be careful out there.

We've just uploaded a PDF to our Carrier Resource page which covers U.S.P.S. Standard Operating Procedeure on "Sequenced Mailings in an FSS Environment". In short, everything you wanted to know about third bundles, but were too tired to ask ...

We've included a story on our new Retirement Page dealing with the process of retirement from the USPS. "How To Retire" comes courtesy of Rodney Anderson, Director of Retirees, NALC Branch 9 in Minneapolis. Definitely worth a look if you're getting closer to your target date ...

From Newsday (NY) comes a story suggesting that the USPS is in need of better leadership. Click here to check the story out. As mentioned in this piece, the Taxpayers Protection Alliance has launched a new website, Postal Reform For US.org, which promises to "expose problems and provide solutions" to our woes. Worth checking out ...

"The USPS has no financial flexibility to continue making decisions that both degrade its service and increase costs."    Sen. Claire McCaskill

"Facts are stubborn things ..."    John Adams


That they are. Our friend in the senate, Sen. Claire McCaskill (D-MO) is calling the Postal Service on their policy of "consolidate to survive". For a look at the rest, the Houston (MO) Herald story is right here.

Here is a link to the NALC Website's page on the Hatch Act and how it pertains to active letter carriers. Worth a read during this bat-crap crazy election season. And please remember that the best thing you CAN do is vote on November 8th !!!

It's St. Paddy's Day again, so here's your chance to help make a difference. NALC is once again partnering with the MDA for its iconic "Buy A Shamrock" fundraiser. Give a dollar for Green or five bucks for Gold. Please see your steward or local representative and contribute to this ongoing cause. Thank you for your support.

On the heels of the Senate Hearing, the U.S. News & World Report brings us this story painting a bleaker picture of Postal Service financials. To read this gloomy version, click your mouse right here.

From the Washington Post, highlights of Thursday's Senate Hearing on Postal Reform. Light may break through the black clouds of doom yet. Click here to access the story.

From the Baltimore Sun comes a story regarding the conversion of 25,000 "Postal Support Employees" to permanent status since the classification was established in 2011. "Postal Support Employee" is a similar class to our own CCA's. A link to this story can be found here.