NAPSHQ 2 U
Providing NAPS Headquarter News to You
 
 
 
January 21, 2011

Louis Atkins
Letter from Louie

 

     How do we all react to rumors? Around the country there are rumors everyday of some move that the Postal Service is going to make. We get emails about rumors every hour of every day from our members. Our members even send us emails with rumors that look official except that they never show who sent them or who else the message went to.

     NAPS headquarters will not promulgate rumors to our members under any conditions. We do not pass on rumors because to announce a change based on mere rumor destroys our credibility. We hear some of our members say that NAPS Headquarters is out of the loop because we are not making announcements of the changes that the Postal Service is making before the announcement is even made public. We want to ensure that our members get the RIGHT information. Not information based on speculation or heresay.

     We will not make any announcements of operational or organizational changes based solely on rumors. Once the Postal Service makes their announcement we are immediately notified by labor relations at Postal Headquarters of what exactly is being changed. That is when we give that information to all of our members. We can't do this any other way. With electronic communications so widely used today, it only takes seconds for information to reach our members. Thus, NAPS sends out information about changes in the Post Office when we get the formal announcement.

     NAPS headquarters goes to great lengths to make sure that our members are informed about changes and current events when they happen. From NAPSHQ2U, Facebook, Twitter and our Hotline telephone messages and Memo's to the field we are working to keep our communications quick and accurate. As always we appreciate your feedback on what we can do better, and communications should always be two-way between our offices and our members.   

 

 Donahoe

TO INCREASE SERVICE LEVELS, CONTROL COSTS

PMG PLANS TO STREAMLINE MANAGEMENT, MATCH WORKFORCE TO WORKLOAD

These actions are the beginning of a much larger process that will involve every level of the organization

To help increase service levels, improve USPS flexibility and speed, and meet ever-changing customer needs in the communications marketplace, PMG Pat Donahoe says he plans to streamline postal management, improve customer service, and redesign operations to help control costs.     Those plans began to roll out earlier this month with the PMG's creation of an eight-member Executive Leadership Team - which replaced the previous 10-member Executive Committee - and the reorganization of the senior executive ranks at postal headquarters.

     That was followed by the closing of the Southeast Area office. All districts previously reporting to the Southeast Area now report to the Southwest Area office, with two exceptions: The Tennessee District reports to the Eastern Area and the Atlanta District reports to the Capital Metro Area.

"These actions are the beginning of a much larger process that will involve every level of the organization, including the closure of some districts," says Donahoe. This could include the closure of some 10 districts nationwide and the elimination of about 7,500 positions through attrition, as eligible workers retire.

"As we continue our redesign, we anticipate that Reduction in Force and Voluntary Early Retirement processes will be initiated by the end of this fiscal quarter," adds Donahoe. "We will provide as much information as we can and will be as transparent as possible about the goals and objectives throughout this time."

     Donahoe acknowledges change is difficult for many people, but it is imperative that USPS continue its evolution as a forward-thinking, fast-acting company capable of providing quality products and services for customers, and a welcoming, diverse, professional workplace.

--information by USPS Newslink

Brian's Bits
Update at NAPSHQ

Brian Wagner

     The New Year at NAPS HQ has already started with much success.  As part of our 2nd Annual Membership Drive, we just completed mailing out approximately 8,200 FIRST-CLASS letters and 1187's asking EAS non-members to join NAPS. Our goal is to sign up 1231 new members by 12/31 of this year.  As of this NAPSHQ2U, we have 133 new members towards this goal.  Please help us reach our goal by asking all EAS, including Postmasters, who are not members to join NAPS.  If you need a non-member list for your Branch, please contact your local branch President.  

     In a previous eMail Blast, I mentioned we would be updating our phone system within 60 days.  We rang in the New Year with our new digital phone system installed ahead of schedule. We did run into a few hang-ups with getting our NAPS HQ office and Hot Line voice mail system on-line, but those issues were resolved quickly.  If you are experiencing difficulties with our new phone system, contact me so we can address those issues.

     I am happy to announce that Associate Member Paul Lewis of Branch 20 volunteered to be our Associate Member Article Chairperson for The Postal Supervisor magazine.   Paul will coordinate the submission of quarterly articles from himself and other Associate members.  We look forward to the perspective our Associate members have to provide.

     Finally, if you have not already done so, January is a great time to start planning your branch meetings and events for the entire year.  When members have advance notice of branch functions they are more likely to attend.  Furthermore, if you would like a Resident Officer to attend your NAPS function, send your request to us. If we have advance notice and our schedules permit, one of us will make an effort to attend to your meeting or event to address your membership. 

 

Call the toll-free NAPS hotline:
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NAPS Internship
NAPS is currently looking for internsInterns for our Spring internship program. If you know of undergraduate students in the Washington, D.C. area who would be interested, have them submit a cover letter, resume and references to [email protected] by January 31. To see the internship listing click here.

Donate to SPAC!
 
Contributing to SPAC allows us to continue supporting those candidates who will continue to fight for not only the benefits of Postal Employees but for the preservation of the Universal Delivery System as a whole. With one click, your contribution can go a long way toward ensuring that we meet these goals. How much you contribute is up to you, but no matter what you give, your contribution will help ensure a bright future for NAPS and the USPS.

Changing Your Email Address 
 
      If you need to change your email address, please click here. In the email, please include your name, branch number, last 4 digits of your social security number and old and new email addresses. NAPShq will not send this newsletter to USPS email addresses.
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Register for LTS 2011 NOW! 

     Last year, 450 NAPS members attended the annual Legislative Training Seminar. With the many issues facing the Postal Service, it's important that NAPS members attend LTS this year.

Click here to register

Haven't booked your hotel room at the Omni yet? Click here.

Jay's Notes
NAPS Position Paper

James Killackey
James Killackey

    

     By the middle of next week, leadership of both political parties will have completed their selections for committee assignments, including the committees that oversee the Postal Service and the entire federal government. With these assignments completed,  NAPS headquarters has started to implement our plans to educate the members of Congress by providing them with our position on maintaining six-day delivery. We are sending this document to every member of the House and Senate as well as the Postal Regulatory Commission, the USPS Board of Governors, various unions and associations who represent federal workers and the media.

     

In our position paper we have outlined what needs to be done to resolve the financial problems of the Postal Service without resorting to reducing service. NAPS believes that maintaining our current six-day delivery cycle is critical to maintaining and growing our business. We believe that the solution the Congress can provide is the passage of legislation to allow our overpayments to CSRS and FERS to be transferred to cover our obligations to pre-fund retiree health benefits.  

     Even as full-rate First Class mail is evaporating there are other types of mail that can provide revenue to replace the money that we are losing through the reduction of volume in First Class mail. Another thing that the Congress could do is remove some of the current restrictions in place on the Postal Service preventing us from adding additional services that could be provided to our customers.  

     While the Postal Service has placed a lot of emphasis on the savings that could be achieved by reducing delivery to five-days, those savings, estimated at $3.1 billion annually, would not bring us to a break-even point. Moving forward with five-day delivery would negatively impact the business community where around 80% of our business is generated.

 

Click here to see a copy of the NAPS position paper that is being sent to Congress. 

Seth's Slant
How Does SPAC Work?
Seth Lennon

     Branches and individual members have made our political action fund (SPAC) one of the keystones of NAPS membership. With all the time, effort and resources thrown into making SPAC as prosperous as it has been, the question is occasionally asked...where does our money go?

     Politics in Washington, D.C. is all about access-having the opportunity to articulate your issues and positions with legislators. This access can make all the difference in how successful an organization's legislative agenda is. With the financial situation facing the United States Postal Service and its workforce, it is crucial that NAPS put its resources to use and put our advocates in a position where they can be successful. This is where SPAC comes into play.

     When a member gives funds to SPAC, the funds go straight into our "war-chest" where they can be utilized during the course of a two year election cycle. Federal Law states that a PAC can give $5,000 during the course of the primary and an additional $5000 during the course of the General Election Cycle. When it comes to how we disburse these funds, NAPS uses a variety of criteria to judge who should receive our support and exactly how much a respective candidate should receive. With much of the legislative legwork for postal issues being done through either the House Committee on Government Reform or the Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs, our efforts are focused centrally on these points. These two committees are often the stepping- off point for any postal oriented legislation.

     Once a candidate receives support, NAPS representatives will attend an event either in the D.C. metro area or within a member's home district. A D.C. event is usually a small reception with the member of Congress, occasionally with a member of the party leadership dropping in to give his /her best wishes and mingle. Local events can be a little more exotic, ranging from baseball games, steak frys, pig pickings and golf outings. What they all have in common is one simple fact - access.

     These events may not sound like much, but the face to face contact not only with a member of Congress but also their office staff allows us to begin building relationships that make our advocacy work a lot easier and more successful. If you have attended a NAPS-sponsored political event and followed that up with a visit to a congressperson's office in Washington, D.C. during our annual Legislative Training Seminar, you realize how easy it is to hit the ground running with a substantive discussion rather than spend time trying to break the ice.

     While our interactions in D.C. are vital, it is our intention during the coming months to work with our Legislative Chairs to promote more interaction and attendance at local level NAPS-sponsored events. As a member, you have two "hats" you are wearing. One hat you adorn is as an advocate of the Universal Delivery System and the Federal Workforce. The second hat, and possibly the most important, you wear is as a citizen and a voter, which will always get you the access to make a difference.


USPS Correspondence to NAPS Headquarters

Almost daily NAPSHQ receives correspondence from USPS Headquarters. NAPS ResidentNAPS logo Officers use this correspondence to fight for the rights of NAPS members. The following is a list of correspondence received by NAPSHQ from Jan. 7 to Jan. 21 and a brief summary:

USPS plans to revise Postal Operations Manual (POM), Section 64, Establishment of City Delivery Service.  POM Sec. 641.2b currently requires that "at least 50% of the building lots in the area to be served are improved with houses or business places."  The planned revision will adjust the percentage to 10%.

Notice of upcoming changes (tentatively scheduled for July 2011) to the electronic Money Order Voucher Entry System (eMOVES), which is used to capture, store, and process financial data input from PS Form 1412-A, including domestic and international money order data.

Date change, for Postal Service pilot testing a consolidation/deconsolidation concept to achieve improved trailer load utilization at the New Jersey Distribution Center (NDC). The pilot date changed from beginning mid-August, 2010 for 120 days to beginning September 27, 2010 for 17 weeks; was suspended during the peak holiday season from Dec. 4, 2010 through January 2, 2011 and reinstated on January 4, 2011. It is expected to be completed by February 25, 2011.

A letter advising that the Postal Service is in the process of developing and deploying a pilot at the request of the Department of State to support the passport enrollment program.  The pilot will last approximately one year and will affect approximately  ten Postal Service Passport Acceptance facilities.  The pilot is targeted to launch within the 2011 calendar year at which time the facilities will be selected in partnership with the Department of State.