NALC ACTIVIST:
The NALC Activist is a local leadership publication intended for shop stewards, branch officers and all local NALC leaders. This issue reviews grieving management’s OWCP mistakes.
Retroactive Payments’ Explanation
The Postal Service implemented the first six wage increases called for in the 2023-2026 National Agreement. These consist of four cost-of-living adjustments (COLAs) and two general wage increases (1.3 percent and 1.4 percent), which were secured in the interest arbitration award issued by Arbitrator Dennis R. Nolan on March 21 of this year.
New Employee Experience Retention and Mentoring Program (NEERMP).
The NALC and USPS released jointly-developed document regarding the New Employee Experience Retention and Mentoring Program (NEERMP). The program, which began on July 1, and is new for most of the country, was designed with the intent of improving communication between new letter carriers and their managers and co-workers, providing work experiences that give new letter carriers the ability to learn their jobs at a more moderate pace, and providing them with continuing education beyond the Carrier Academy and the on-the-job instruction stages. The document, M-02010 in NALC’s Materials Reference System (MRS), provides answers to commonly asked questions about the program. The document will be updated in the future if additional agreements are reached on matters related to the NEERMP.
NALC Health Benefit Plan and Open Season
The NALC Health Benefit Plan’s 2027 Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) rates and coverage details have been released. NALC members and their families can now review the updated plan offerings, benefit changes and premium rates to prepare for the upcoming Open Season. Full details are available on the Plan’s PSHB Open Season page at nalchbp.org.
Open Season for the 2027 plan year begins Monday, Nov. 9, and continues through Monday, Dec. 14, 2026. This is the annual opportunity for Postal Service employees and annuitants to evaluate their health insurance options, compare plan features, and make any necessary changes to their enrollment.
For more information about 2026 benefits, rates or Open Season enrollment, visit nalchbp.org or contact the Plan directly at 888-636-NALC (6252). Health Benefit Plan representatives are available Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern time.
URGE EVERYONE TO TAKE ACTION! House introduces anti-privatization resolution
We need everyone to stand together and take action. This is a very important! Let’s take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the federal government and not subject to privatization.
Update on Contract Ratification
On January 27, the Ballot Committee, working with Survey and Ballot Systems of Eagan, MN, took receipt of the returned ballots from the Post Office and later began the tabulation process. The count of ratification ballots is still ongoing and there is no result or count of any kind available at this time.
Once the tabulation process is complete, the results will be certified by the Ballot Committee and furnished to the membership and the NALC president in accordance with the NALC Constitution.
The PSHBP/FEHBP transition and your Jan. 17 paycheck
The NALC explains the PSHBP/FEHBP transition and what your January 17, 2025 check features.
Branch 1111's Lafayette Carrier Jeff Gostomski is retiring after 47 years of service.
Congratulations and enjoy your retirement years!
Social Security Fairness Act signed into law.
President Biden signed the Social Security Fairness Act (H.R. 82) into law, delivering a hard-fought victory for letter carriers and public servants across the nation. The legislation, which was overwhelmingly passed by the Senate on Dec. 20 and the House on Nov. 12, will ensure that affected Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) retirees no longer face unfair reductions in their Social Security benefits.
The Social Security Fairness Act repeals the WEP and GPO provisions in Social Security law that previously unfairly reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for certain CSRS federal annuitants, including letter carriers.
NALC endorses Harris-Walz
The nation’s 290,000 active and retired city letter carriers represented by the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) are proud to announce our endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris and Governor Tim Walz to serve as the next president and vice president of the United States.
The debate on Tuesday night reinforced what we know: Vice President Harris and Governor Walz have the pro-labor record we support and the pro-worker vision we need in the White House in 2025 and beyond. Both have a strong history of fighting on behalf of unions and union members.
We know a Harris-Walz Administration will work with NALC to address unique challenges facing letter carriers and the Postal Service.
As a local prosecutor, state attorney general, senator, and vice president, Kamala Harris is a proven supporter of working families, organized labor, and the Postal Service. As a senator, she was instrumental in advocating for essential relief for the Postal Service at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. She served as vice president of the administration that signed the Postal Service Reform Act into law. She is a fierce defender of civil rights, voting rights, and our democratic system.
Governor Walz is a union brother and veteran. He is a former public school teacher who has devoted his life to public service. As governor, he has kept working families at the forefront by enacting a paid family and medical leave program, child tax credits, and universal free school meals for all Minnesota students.
A Harris-Walz Administration will work with NALC to address the unique challenges facing the Postal Service and our members, who are at the center of a $1.6 trillion shipping industry supporting 7.3 million jobs.
At NALC’s 73rd biennial convention recently held in Boston, nearly 5,500 delegates voted overwhelmingly to endorse and support the Harris-Walz campaign.
NALC proudly supports the Harris-Walz ticket and looks forward to working together to ensure the stability of the Postal Service, one of our country’s most treasured institutions.
Update to Article 10 Charges
This is an update to the July 14 notification of charges received by the NALC Executive Council proffered against President Brian L. Renfroe by another member of the Council.
Six additional installations added to all career model, Concord and Danville are from Branch 1111
Long overdue, but Concord Post Office finally has been converted to an all career model. In addition, the Danville Post Office has been converted.
Maximum annual leave carryover amount of 520 hours extended into the 2024 leave year
This MOU does not change the ELM provisions for payment of accumulated leave.
Contract Negotiations Update
https://nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/contract-negotiations-update
STAMP OUT HUNGER!
The Branch is encouraging you to volunteer as the local Food Drive Coordinator for your station, or installation. Please call Branch 1111 for more information. To watch the NALC’s video click on Stamp Out Hunger above.
NALC and the Postal Service open negotiations for sixteenth collective bargaining agreement
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe's opening statement addresses the current staffing issues and the safety of letter carriers as well as to negotiate for higher wages and an all-career work force.