NAPS LTS 2024
In this years attendance from the Killackey-Russell branch 43 of NAPS we sent 3 representatives. Present were Recording Secretary Damion Sampath, Corresponding Secretary Keith Hanse, and Historian Robert W. Anderson III.
We went to capitol hill on Tuesday, March 5th 2024 to meet with our representatives. We had passed along information to the offices for congressional districts 4 Jake Auchincloss, 5 Katherine Clark, 7 Ayanna Pressley, and 8 Stephen Lynch. We also passed along the same information with the offices for Senators Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey. We had a meeting with the aide to Senator Warren, Nikhil Srinivasan and Congressman Jake Auchincloss with his aide Julia Saunders.
While we did not meet with Senator Warren, her aide Nihil Srinivasan was very receptive to the information given to him and was tuned into what is happening with the postal service and agreed with the bills we were requesting support on. Our meeting with congressman Jake Auchincloss and his aide Julia Saunders was relieving as they both showed genuine interest in the postal service, what is happening now and what are the plans for the future as well as our input on these matters. They asked questions in regards to the safety and security of our staff which was a perfect Segway perfectly to H.R. 3005 listed below. He questioned one of his biggest postal issues in his area being the city of Brookline and what issues they face. We informed them of the new policies and procedures being put into place that are affecting delivery and safety for us and our employees. When questioned on the new policies being put into place and how they help, we gave honest answers which was received with warm welcome.
We pushed for the bills that benefit the postal EAS employees. Most of these bills are still in the process of being brought to the floor but they will be listed below with a quick summary of what they are and why they are important for our members.
H.R. 3005, Postal Police Reform Act
The bill would reverse a 2020 directive from the Chief Postal Inspector that limited the jurisdiction of the U.S. postal police to postal facilities. Under the directive, postal police are not able to investigate crimes against postal personnel and property not situated on postal-owned or -leased real esate. This especially is crucial as we have had a drastic increase on robberies and assaults to our letter carriers has increased over 800% since 2019. The ability for our postal police who receive the same tactical training as other federal uniformed law enforcement such as the inspection services, FBI, DEA and more, should have the ability to prevent crimes in all areas.
H.R. 594, Postal Supervisors and Managers Fairness Act
To amend Title 39, United States Code, to provide fairness and timeliness to the process by which the compensation for postal supervisors, managers and postmasters is decided. Under the bill, EAS pay talks would start 60 days prior to expiration of the existing EAS “ pay agreement.” In addition, the bill would establish a fair and credible process for the conduct of pay consultations by binding the USPS and NAPS to the findings and conclusions of an independent Federal Mediation and Conciliation Service fact-finding panel.
H.R. 595, Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendment Act
To amend Title 39, United States Code, to provide certain postal managers with the same right to appeal personnel decisions to the Merit Systems Protection Board as other EAS level postal employees. This bill ensures that all EAS have the same fair and equitable MSPB rights as their peers.
H.R. 82, Social Security Fairness Act
Amend Title 42, United States Code, to repeal the Government Pension Offset and Windfall Elimination Provision, sections of the Social Security law that unfairly reduce the rightful benefits of Civil Service Retirement System annuitants and surviving spouses of those annuitants.
