National Association of Letter Carriers

"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow."

Albert Einstein

May 2019 be full of hope for all of us. Our very best wishes to you all from Branch 25. Stay healthy and stay safe throughout the new year ...

This morning, we've got some local perspective on the holiday season. Click here to read an item from the Salem (MA) News. Long hours, Amazon and letters to Santa ... yes, it's Christmas time again. And nobody does Christmas like the letter carriers of Branch 25. Stay safe and healthy this season ...

The application process for the 61th annual Massachusetts AFL-CIO Scholarship is online ... and the registration deadline is Friday, December 14th. Please click right here for program information or click here to go straight to the application. And very best of luck to all who participate.

An item from CBS News.com warns us of the risks of using the Postal Service's new "Informed Delivery" service. Never forget, hackers never sleep and live to disrupt lives. There is always a new deception waiting around the corner. Be aware, always vigilant to the scams surrounding you.

"An absurd burden that no other corporation or government agency is forced to carry. Take it away, and voila! The Postal Service is a moneymaker."

So ... others see it too. From Alternet.org, here is a story by the progressive author, syndicated columnist and radio commentator Jim Hightower, touching on the continuing pre-funding mandate and how it relates to the privatization issue.

Hey, seems that there's an election coming up on Tuesday!!! Even with the time change and shorter days to contend with, please take some time out of your day and make your voice heard. The issues at stake are too important to ignore ...

Congratulations go out to the 2018 Boston Red Sox on their World Series win. Hear Ye, Here Ye - Read all about it below !!!

The Boston Globe -- The Boston Herald

We here at Branch 25 wish the Red Sox well in their quest for the fourth World Series title since 2004. The games begin right here at Fenway - Tuesday night October 23, 8 p.m. on FOX.

"What if your credit card company told you: 'You will charge a million dollars on your credit card during your life; please enclose the million dollars in your next bill payment. It's the responsible thing to do.' Doesn't seem quite right, does it?"

Uncredited - from Office of Inspector General

Here is a link to a story found on the vast and all-powerful Internet ... from The Garden Island website (Hawaii), a guest columnist asks some of the same old questions whose answers we've been searching for since 2006. Interesting examples of privatization and it's acceptance in the "Swamp". Remember in November !!!

The Boston Red Sox took the Yanks in 4 games, including a 16-1 thrashing, and now will advance to the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros. The ALCS will commence this Saturday night, Oct. 13 at Fenway. You can catch the game on the TBS Network, 8 p.m. Good luck, Sox !!!

Two resolutions to protect the U.S.P.S. from the perils of privatization, both introduced over the summer, have been gaining support. House Resolution 993 and Senate Resolution 633 have been steadily gaining support in both houses. As always, you can link to texts of the resolutions (on Congress.gov) through our own "Bill Tracking" page. And always be sure to check out the NALC Website for the latest on Political Affairs affecting the Postal Service.

Tedious:
te•di•ous - adj.
1. Tiresome by reason of length, slowness, or dullness; boring.
2. Moving or progressing very slowly.

Another week, and another report on postal reform from the Trump Administration is on it's way. And, of course, how it affects the President's ongoing feud with Amazon. Or is it the other way around? Either way, here is a story from The Hill and MSN News laying it out for you.

We have added to the "Retirement" page .pdf files explaining two Social Security provisions that may affect your benefits. For further reading, click here to read more on the Windfall Elimination Provision and here to learn more on the Government Pension Offset.

Here's a story found on the MSN Money Website. One man and his experiences wearing the letter carrier's uniform. A good read to begin your week awaits you right here.

Talk of privatizing the USPS is again floated as part of a Trump Administration plan called "Delivering Government Solutions in the 21st Century". We have two news items to bring you up to speed. The Linn's Stamp News item is here. And a story here on the News-Press Now website has Senator Claire McCaskil (D-MO) solidly in our corner.

Dateline Detroit ... a round of congratulations go to Branch 25's own Rick DiCecca. Rick was elected by consent to the position of National Business Agent, Region 14. Rick will succeed John Casciano, who has held the position since 1998 and served five terms. Way to go, Rick !!!

Just a reminder ... the 71st NALC Biennial Convention gets under way in Detroit, MI this weekend, with the welcome reception at Cobo Center on Sunday evening. For coverage of the convention, please refer to the National NALC Website.

Sad for the family. Sad for the office and the branch. And sad because situations like this surely can be avoided. Please click here and here for several news accounts of the death of Peggy Frank, a Woodland Hills, CA letter carrier found dead during a 117 degree heat wave. And please remember that the OSHA Heat Safety App is available right from our Website. Summer is far from over, so stay hydrated and stay safe ...

Now available from OSHA, we have a link to their "Heat Safety Tool". Vital safety information available whenever and wherever you need it - right on your Smart Phone. When working in the summer heat, this app will get you the info you need to stay safe. The permanent link is at the right side of the home page.

Why yes, yes there is !!! As a reminder, the June "make-up" meeting for Branch 25 will be this coming Tuesday, June 26. Same time, same place as always. So, put it in your calendars. We hope to see you there ...

"President Trump is dead wrong if he believes the ultimate solution to the issues at the Postal Service is to privatize it"

Senator Bernie Sanders (I-VT)

Bernie Sanders believes in common sense. He also believes in the United States Postal Service. And he plans to share these beliefs with President Trump. Please click here to check out this story from The Nation website. Nice to know somebody is on our side.

A few months ago, we posted a link to a PDF regarding the in's and out's of the Hatch Act. Now, we have a real-world example for you to consider. Click here to link to the Government Executive story.

Here are a couple of quick links to items in the latest issue of the Postal Record. First, sometimes often the "News From Washington" just makes you shake your head in disbelief. Click here to read a tale of five tweets. Second, here is a link to President Rolando's President's Message for May. In it, you will find the Pre-Funding Burden and several other Postal Reform options explained. Good information to have next time you find yourself in a discussion with those who have all the answers to our problems. Facts that may not make it into certain Twitter feeds ...

Now available, through the "Members Only" section of the NALC National Website, is a guide for stewards to help them in matters relating to the dignity and respect of carriers on the workroom floor. The "Guide to Preserving the Right of Letter Carriers to be Treated with Dignity and Respect" provides the steward with tools, documents and guidance for dealing with this most important aspect of daily letter carrier life. A link is also provided on our own "Steward Resources" page.

"While we are on the subject, it is reported that the U.S. Post Office will lose $1.50 on average for each package it delivers for Amazon. That amounts to Billions of Dollars."

President Donald J. Trump (via Twitter)

Really? Billions of dollars? Here's the "failing" New York Times story on the matter. And check in here for Politifact's Truth-O-Meter take on the story. A little Presidential fact checking for your weekend reading list.

And before we forget: if you have the mobile Website bookmarked at "m.nalcbranch25.com", please change your bookmark to "www.nalcbranch25.com". Sorry for any confusion this might cause.

Well, here's some news ... our Website has been upgraded. As of today, new features on the home page will get you to your desired destinations quicker and easier. And more colorfully, I might add.

We now have a page dedicated to Veteran's resources, as well as a "Weather" page that gets you to your local forecast quickly and easily. Also, "Trivia" now has it's own page!!!

We hope you enjoy the new look. As always, you can always submit any questions or concerns using the "E-Mail" link.

With the Hatch Act being in the news the last couple of days, here is a repost for you from NALC.org: from the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, an update to it's "Hatch Act Social Media and Email Guidance for Federal Employees". Give it a look and be aware that even seemingly casual remarks or actions on duty may have consequences. The link to this .pdf is right here.

A couple of items here that peek into the USPS/Amazon partnership. The Nation magazine has a piece here addressing the challenges that we face with this "special relationship". And Linn's Stamp News has this story that deals with Amazon's plan to roll out their own delivery service - "Shipping With Amazon".

"Why is the United States Post Office, which is losing many billions of dollars a year, while charging Amazon and others so little to deliver their packages, making Amazon richer and the Post Office dumber and poorer? Should be charging MUCH MORE!"

President Donald J. Trump

(This article was printed in the February 2018 issue of The Postal Record)

While it is clear that the intended target was Amazon's founder Jeff Bezos (who is also owner of The Washington Post), what is less clear is the reason for the sudden interest in the pricing of packages. It's probably because of recent media attention resulting from a policy campaign by the United Parcel Service (UPS).

For more than 40 years, UPS has been trying relentlessly to force the Postal Service to raise parcel rates. If successful, this effort would essentially drive business away from the Postal Service and result in more volume at higher prices and greater profits for UPS — good for its shareholders, bad for American businesses and households.

Unlike its competitors, the Postal Service already is required, by federal law, to make a profit on every package it delivers — including those for Amazon. Also unlike UPS and FedEx, the Postal Service is required by law to deliver to every address in the country six days a week.

If the president truly wants to make the Postal Service "smarter and richer," he has the power to do so.

He can start by nominating a full slate of competent and qualified candidates to the Postal Service Board of Governors (BOG) and by filling a key vacancy on the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). While the vacant BOG is a problem President Trump inherited, as of today he has offered only three nominations for the BOG, even though all nine seats are vacant. Meanwhile, the PRC, which is central to the Postal Service's ability to set postage rates appropriately, is missing its fifth member. Indeed, sensible postal pricing hangs in the balance right now at the PRC as it works to create a new postage rate-setting system.

If the President wants to ultimately raise rates, it can be done only with a functioning Board of Governors and a Postal Regulatory Commission at full strength.

Beyond making these nominations, the most important thing the President can do to make the Postal Service smarter and stronger is to remove the crushing financial burden placed on the Postal Service by the 2006 Congressional mandate to pre-fund future retiree health benefits decades in advance, something no other public agency or private company is required to do. This policy change, which President Trump's predecessor did not achieve, has bipartisan support. It would immediately restore the Constitutionally mandated Postal Service to financial stability, enabling it to continue to serve 155 million businesses and residences six (and sometimes seven) days a week while continuing to provide the most affordable postal rates in the industrial world.

For the 10th time in franchise history, the New England Patriots will advance to Super Bowl 52 on February 4th. In Sunday's AFC Championship game, the final score was Pats 24, Jacksonville 20. For the NFC, the Philadelphia Eagles beat (or beat up ... your choice) the Minnesota Vikings by a score of 38 to 7. In addition to reaching back-to-back Super Bowls for the second time, the Pats will have a chance to tie the Pittsburgh Steelers for most Super Bowl wins at six.

Congrats to the home team and best of luck against Philadelphia !!!

"Those are the facts, each easily verifiable."

NALC President Fredric Rolando

Today, we have a Washington Times piece from our National President Fred Rolando, which might be shared with those you come across whose opinions on the Postal Service differ from reality. You can easily get there from here.

The New England Patriots beat the Tennessee Titans on Saturday night by a score of 35-14, advancing them once again to the AFC Conference Championship game. They will take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in Foxboro ... Sunday, January 21st at 3:05 pm (CBS - WBZ Channel 4). You have less than a week to stock up, so get yourselves to a supermarket. And good luck Pats !!!