From NAPUS:

Posting Timeline Released for 2013 PTPO/RMPO Offices

Today, the Postal Service notified NAPUS of plans to post additional vacant offices that are scheduled to become 6-hour POStPlan offices.  Offices on the next posting list will include those where POStPlan is implemented, making them 6 –hour offices on February 9, February 23, and March 9, 2013. The effective date for these postings will be May 4, 2013. A list of these offices will be provided as soon as it is available.

The Postal Service also released the timeline for a future posting which will occur between April 24 and June 29, 2013.  Included with the timeline is eligibility and pay information that will be included on the vacancy announcements.  A list of affected offices will be provided when it becomes available.

Please click on the link to see the information on the additional vacancy postings and the timeline. Additional 6 -hour office postings

Charlie Moser
January 25, 2013

NAPUS.

From NAPUS:

Postal Headquarters Responds to Management Association’s Concerns

In response to concerns raised by the three management associations (NAPUS, NAPS and the League,) Postal Headquarters officials announced adjustments to the DUO process, which will be rolled out this Thursday, January 24, 2013.  Adjustments will include changes to the DUO Financial Worksheets in CSDC, as well as an approval process through the Area Vice President.

Leaders of the three management associations have been involved in a series of meetings with  top Postal officials on issues concerning DUO implementations that were being done without following the proper guidelines and failed to show cost savings.  One of the most important adjustments to the DUO process will now require a signoff by the Area Vice President, which should ensure that guidelines are followed and cost savings estimates are valid.

As previously posted on the NAPUS website, on January 11, 2013, the USPS announced a temporary suspension of DUO implementations, pending adjustments to the process.  With the roll out of the new process on January 24^th, 2013, DUO activities will be resumed; except in offices that have rural routes that will be counted in the national rural count, where the DUO moratorium will be in effect.  Updates to the DUO process will be posted on the NAPUS website as it becomes available. DUO Suspension

Charlie Moser
January 22, 2013

From the League of Postmasters:

The LEAGUE National Office received the non-bargaining unit salary schedules (PDF) for 2013. These schedules will go into effect January 12, 2013. Although there were no pay increases for 2012, the new schedules will raise the caps on most all EAS positions.

PFP salary determinations for FY/2013 will be subject to the Postal Service’s review of compensation practices throughout the United States economy. Based on this review, PFP program ratings will either be suspended or applied to salary determinations. For FY2014 and FY2015, PFP rating will be applied to salary determinations.

Last week, LEAGUE and NAPUS started preliminary meetings with Postal Headquarters regarding NPA and the Administrative Rules. These rules will have to be updated to remove CORE requirements. Much of the discussion centered on the need for continued communication and goal setting for Unit and Corporate goals. For 2013, NPA will be weighted with 60 percent of the NPA composite coming from Corporate goals and 40 percent coming from the Unit goals. Clearly the need to discuss how these goals can be met, progress on how we are doing during the year, and the end of year results need to be part of the process. The need for individual mitigating circumstances on Unit goals was also one of the items being discussed. The LEAGUE office will keep you updated on the final changes and complete new Administrative Rules when they are available.

NAPUS and League leaders met with USPS Officials to update the Administrative Rules and the Mitigating Factors process for the Pay for Performance (PFP) program. Updates to the Administrative Rules will include eliminating references to the former core requirements indicators, which were eliminated under the Postmaster Pay Package for FY2011-2015.

Under the current National Performance Assessment (NPA) process, Postmasters will be evaluated on Unit and Corporate performance indicators. Corporate indicators will account for 60% of the composite score and Unit indicators will account for 40% of the composite score. The Unit and Corporate performance indicators are established and measured in the National Performance Assessment (NPA) system.

PFP salary determinations for FY2013 will be subject to the Postal Service’s review of compensation practices throughout the United States economy. Based on that review, PFP program ratings will either be suspended or applied to salary determinations. For FY2014 and FY2015, PFP ratings will be applied to salary determinations.

Postal headquarters also released the non-bargaining salary schedules for FY2013, including 6 hour offices and PMRs. The new schedules are posted on the NPA/PFP link on the NAPUS website.

via NAPUS.

From the National Association of Postmasters of the United States:

A reoccurring message delivered at the recently concluded NAPUS convention was that Congress’ failure to enact legislation to maintain a viable Postal Service is undermining the agency’s ability to provide the level of service to which Americans are entitled and expect. While the U.S. Senate has met its obligation to pass legislation (S 1789), the House failed to meet its constitutional responsibility due to an objectionable and highly-partisan postal bill (HR 2309). Moreover, the House Leadership has been reluctant to bring forth consensus-driven, constructive postal relief legislation.

In order to elevate postal visibility in the 2012 electoral dialogue, NAPUS members are being asked to widely-disseminate a non-partisan congressional campaign flier entitled, A Postal Message to American Voters.  (The flier was shared with NAPUS Chapter Presidents and Legislative Chairs prior to the annual convention.)

NAPUS believes that American voters must hold individual Members of Congress accountable at the polls for the state of the Postal Service.  Elected officials who advocate for legislation to promote a viable universal Postal Service should be rewarded on Election Day; and those who refuse to commit to constructive legislation that ensures a viable universal Postal Service, or would push the agency over-the-cliff and into insolvency should be punished at the polls.

USPS Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Megan Brennan thanked Postmasters for what they do, day in and out. “You wear the public mantle,” she said, “internally and for your customers.” She commended President Bob Rapoza for his leadership. She told convention attendees he has been a staunch advocate for NAPUS and Postmasters.

Brennan flashed on the screen some recent dire headlines about the Postal Service. “This is what causes a crisis among mailers,” she pointed out, “and impacts employee morale. You and I will change these headlines.” Read the rest of this entry »

Arbitrator Shyam Das has closed the record of an arbitration hearing regarding the number of hours postmasters in small offices may work.
A Memorandum of Understanding in the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement places strict limits on the number of hours postmasters may work in Level 15, 16, 18 and 20 post offices.

The Memo says, “All time the supervisor or postmaster spends staffing the window during the day will be counted towards the permissible bargaining unit work limits.” Despite this clear language, the USPS is arguing that management must only count “earned time” as described in a unilaterally created work measurement system.

In addition, in spite of language that states that “any office downgraded in level will remain at the bargaining unit work standard that is in place at the beginning of the Agreement,” the management claims an exception for DUO (Delivery Unit Optimization) offices. The union’s grievance on the subject was heard on June 26-27, 2012, but the arbitrator kept the record open for 30 days. Briefs will now be filed and a decision will follow.

From USPS News Link:

Postmasters eligible for optional retirement — or eligible to retire under the current Voluntary Early Retirement offering — have an opportunity to continue serving their communities by applying to become Postmaster Relief (PMR) employees.

Accepting a PMR position will not affect annuity payments. The pay rate for a PMR who takes advantage of this opportunity will be $11.76 per hour.

The Postal Service will hire PMRs to work in Post Offices where the operating hours are reduced to 2-4 hours and where other conditions are met. Postmasters who retire will be eligible for these positions.

Eligible applicants can apply by providing a written request to their Human Resources District Managers that includes the locations where they are interested in working.

The Postal Service believes retired Postmasters make excellent reemployment candidates for these positions because of their knowledge of postal products and services, their community connections and their ability to provide continuity of service.

via USPS News Link Story – PMR opportunity for retiring Postmasters.

Additional Postmaster Jobs Will be Posted From June 6 Through June 12.

Today, the Postal Service mailed the following letter to all  Postmasters:

Regarding the Special Incentive Offer announced to you May 9, 2012; the separation date is July 31, 2012. However, based on operational requirements and at management’s discretion, two alternate separation dates (August 31 and September 30) may be used.The Postal Service has developed a change process for effective separation dates, with your local management. If there is an impact, your manager will discuss your alternate effective date with you. Determinations for separation dates will be made and communicated to you by your local management by July 9, 2012.

Also, please be aware that additional vacant Post Offices have been identified. Another Limited Area of Consideration (LAC) eCareer posting for these offices will be available beginning June 6, 2012, through June 12, 2012. Only current career Postmasters within the districts where the jobs are posted will be eligible to apply. Selections for these offices will be completed prior to July 2, 2012.

For more information, please review the attached FAQs regarding the Special Incentive for Postmasters, also located on Workforce Connection<https://liteblue.usps.gov/humanresources/workforceconnection/home.shtml> via LiteBlue.

Special Incentive FAQs
Incentive_FAQs_Final_Postmaster_06042012_v3

Charlie Moser
June 4, 2012

From the League of Postmasters:

The Postal Service has provided the list of offices that will be upgraded to level 18 under the POStPlan process. Each incumbent Postmaster will receive a letter from the Postal Service informing them of this upgrade. Salary raises will follow current Postal Service policy. Postmasters whose salary is not at the minimum of a level 18 will be slotted in at the minimum of the level 18 pay scale. Postmasters above the minimum salary of the level 18 will receive a 2 percent raise. Click the link below to view the list as a Google Docs spreadsheet:

League_NAPUS_Upgrades.

Note: the list is sorted by area and district. To quickly find an individual office or district, click “Edit” on the menu, then “Find and Replace”. If more than one item matches your search, clicking the “Find” button again will take you to the next match.