September 14, 2012 

Letter from Louie 

 

"Rightsize" not "Downsize"
Louis Atkins

Louis Atkins

 

Since our return from Reno, we have been dealing with the RIF resulting from the Postal Service's infrastructure consolidation efforts. We spent a good portion of the last year attempting to see if we could buy time for the Postal Service and at least either slow down or hopefully stop the oncoming consolidation. We are all aware of the hard work done by our allies on Capitol Hill, like Sen. Bernie Sanders who did indeed give us a slight reprieve from the chopping block.

 

However, we are not living in some type of fantasyland.  NAPS realizes that the network has to be adjusted to reflect how the reality surrounding the Postal Service has changed.  I have made it the driving point of this organization to push for "rightsizing" over "downsizing". The Postal Service's idea of downsizing is a process that fails to ensure that service standards remain at the high level the American public has grown accustomed to.

 

NAPS has always advocated rightsizing the Postal Service through a careful examination of how the distribution network is proportioned appropriately for a particular service area. Publically, the Postal Service has stated that it has performed such an evaluation.  But based on recent discussions about reducing overnight service standards, we have to question the process used by the Postal Service and whether or not it does indeed accomplish the goal of maintaining current levels of service. During the course of the consolidation process, NAPS will be keeping close tabs on the execution of the process and the pressure on Postal Headquarters to ensure that both, the interests of our nation and EAS employees are protected during this process.

 

With the consolidations and resulting RIF process  now in full swing,  it will be up to us at NAPS Headquarters to work to find landing spots for all who seek one.

 

While the public line from Postal Headquarters has been that no jobs will be lost during the course of a RIF, I have grown to adopt a "I'll believe it when I see it" attitude in my dealings with the USPS. During the last RIF, we successfully put everyone into a job who wanted one. I am confident that we will be able to do so this time. However, until everything is signed, sealed and delivered, we are going to have to work hard with our members to make sure they have a landing spot. 

Jay's Notes
 
New Threats to Supervisors Jobs!
James Killackey

Jay Killackey

 

This week we learned that Chairman of the House Government Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Darrell Issa, is planning on filing a new bill that would threaten thousands of jobs for both employees and supervisors.

 

The bill would defer any further pre-funding payments for retiree health benefits until the Postal Service's own financial health improves. The bill would mandate an immediate move to five-day delivery and there would also be language to eliminate job security in future collective bargaining agreements.

 

While these are only some of the ideas in the bill that have been leaked to the media, you can rest assured that there will be other elements of the bill that unions and management associations, and all employees will find harmful to the continuance of universal service and their continued employment.

 

Following the general elections in November, there is a phenomenon in Washington known as the "lame duck" session. In the short period of time between the elections and the new Congress being seated in January, numerous bills are rushed through the legislative process and passed without significant debate or scrutiny.

 

NAPS will be busy lobbying to protect our member's jobs and the Postal Service as the institution that it has remained since its' founding. We will be calling upon you to have your voices heard in the weeks ahead.

Seth's Slant

 

 E-Politics, NAPS Style 

 

Seth

Seth Lennon

 

 We are approaching November and as we are all very aware, courtesy of the ongoing media blitz from all sides, it's election season.  We all understand the importance of electing legislators who "vote postal" and understand the value of a strong and vibrant Postal Service. NAPS Headquarters' role in the election is to coordinate the activity of our national, state and local level activists and to provide the resources they need to successfully advocate our positions, whether through SPAC funds so members can attend a fundraiser or information to distribute to a prospective candidate.

 

My old hat in the political realm and my new hat on the operations side will intersect here as NAPS is overhauling how it communicates political information to its membership. This is not only important for our handling of the elections, but it will also prove to be important with the recent announcement that the House of Representatives will be considering some form of Postal Reform as part of the Continuing Resolution that will be discussed during the "lame duck" period of the Congress. It is obviously imperative that NAPS be able to relay its positions on specific legislation and communicate directly, not only to our members, but to both incumbents and challengers as well.

 

One of our newest tools to do this is our remodeled NAPS Facebook page. Facebook gives us the opportunity not only to relay our positions and information, but it will also allow us the opportunity to network to other organizations and movements within the Federal/Postal Coalition.

 

However, the heart of our efforts will obviously be the NAPS website. Familiar to a lot of our members is the "Communicate with Lawmakers" portion of the website, which is a joint effort between NAPS and our partners at CQ/Roll Call. This website has been improved to enable real time tracking of bills of interest to NAPS and to provide vote counts and sponsor tracking so you can keep track of what your legislator's position is on our issues. 

 

This will enable you as the member to either work with your lawmaker to drum up additional support for our positions, urge a lawmaker to reconsider their position or if necessary, use this information as a basis to support a challenger in a particular race.

 

All of these tools have one simple purpose: provide you, the member with all the information you need to make an informed electoral decision and to be an effective legislative advocate for all issues Postal. 

 

Brian's Scoop

  

NAPS Facebook gets A Facelift

Brian Wagner

 

Let's face facts; change is constantly happening amongst us.  No matter the challenges you may face, at some time you will have a face-off on what direction to take in making a decision.  Even, NAPS cannot be two-face, when it comes time making a decision on how it will face the music on communicating to its members.  Here is the scoop.

 

NAPS has a Facebook page, in which we "friend" every NAPS member.  However, our current Facebook page was set up as if NAPS was an individual.  We are giving our Facebook page a facelift as we shift to an organizational page format.  This represents a change on how we will administer our Facebook messaging. 

 

Why change?

 

First, NAPS Facebook can now serve its intended purpose; as a mechanism to channel more traffic to the NAPS website.  Our NAPS website has become a major source of information for our members.

 

Second, the benefits of this change will include ease of maintenance. Instead of going through and having to "friend" members, members can just "like" us and be connected.  I "Like" that.  There is Zero Spam.  The only items that will appear on our Facebook page will be information generated by NAPS Headquarters.  A member's newsfeed or personal page will no longer be clogged with unwanted material.

 

Third, the spreading of information is much easier, too.  As an organizational page, the NAPS Facebook page can get information out in a much more focused manner.  Our information will now come out under the "National Association of Postal Supervisors" brand name. 

 

Fourth, NAPS members can now share the information from the page.  NAPS can also use its Facebook page to connect to other member organizations, like the Federal/Postal Coalition.  Then our members, for example, can connect to any initiatives that the Coalition sponsors, like "Save the Postal Service" and "America Counts on Us".

 

Finally, we can generate tracking statistics.  NAPS HQ can track through statistics which news items on our Facebook page are getting the most attention and views.  NAPS can use this data to focus our strategy on messaging to our members.

 

I won't be facing a dilemma about my ice cream flavor of the week recommendation.  "Just Like" our new Facebook page, I like and recommend -- Chocolate.


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SPAC Alert 

 

Have you donated to SPAC?  If not, visit our Legislative Center's SPAC section  at www.naps.org to learn the many ways  to donate, including how to make a recurring contribution via your USPS paycheck. 

 

You can also click here to make a secure contribution via credit card.

 


America Counts on Us!

                          

NAPS has joined together with other Federal Workforce associations and unions to form America Counts on Us!, a coalition designed to reverse the political attacks on America's federal and postal workers and retirees. 

 

After a successful first event featuring Gov. Tim Kaine, candidate for U.S. Senate in Virginia, America Counts on Us! will continue to drive home the need for a strong Federal workforce. To find out what is going on or to lend a hand, click here to view the America Counts on Us! Facebook page. 

 

  

Quote of the Issue!  

  

"Do not wait for extraordinary circumstances to do good action; try to use ordinary situations."   

 

  -Sam Rayburn