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Apwu133

Executive Board
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  1. Longtime APWU Retiree, Byron Denton, age 92, was a postal worker. As an old timer, he has experienced some tough times, but nothing compared to the hardships faced by today's postal workers. They have delivered through an unprecedented global pandemic and they deserve support. Show you will stand with postal workers and a public US Postal Service: sign the petition to #SaveThePostOffice www.apwu.org/petition
  2. The APWU Health Plan has been serving America’s postal and federal workers and retirees for more than 60 years. See APWU Health Plan 2021 Benefits. Open Season runs from the Monday of the second full work week in November 9 through the Monday December 14. All federal and postal employees and retirees who are eligible to enroll in the FEHB Program may become members of APWU Health Plan. See 2021 Benefits
  3. View Our Products A Better Fit for APWU Members MetLife Auto & Home provides insurance coverage tailored to your needs. Get a quote today. Voluntary Benefits Plan P.O. Box 12009 Cheshire, CT 06410 1-800-422-4492 Contact Us
  4. A Free New Benefit for APWU Members We are excited to announce that The Voluntary Benefits Plan will now be offering all APWU members discounts through The LifeBalance Program. This new program is available to all Active, PSE, Retiree and Associate APWU members. With LifeBalance, you and your household family members can save on the activities and purchases that leave you feeling fit, happy, and fulfilled. There are thousands of savings waiting for you on all kinds of fun and healthy purchases on the LifeBalance platform! Read on to learn how to access the program, and to check out popular savings and savings categories.  How to Access LifeBalance Program Discounts Getting started with LifeBalance is easy! Simply: · Visit LifeBalanceProgram.com and enter your email address (work or home email will do) · Enter your name, a password, and your zip code And you'll be all set! You can now log in to LifeBalanceProgram.com any time to utilize program discounts. This benefit is available to your household family members, as well, so don't hesitate to encourage them to follow the steps above to create their FREE accounts. Popular Program Savings Below are a few examples of savings that are currently popular with LifeBalance members! APWU members can now take advantage of these and thousands of additional program discounts! Clicking on the links below will take you to set up your free account, after which you can redeem these savings online. Get healthy meals delivered to your door! Save $60 on your first four orders from Freshly. Download or stream over 1,700 online yoga, meditation, Pilates, barre and fitness classes with YogaDownload! Members save 50% on annual memberships. Stay motivated and active with FitBit! Members receive exclusive savings on trackers that monitor activity, exercise, food, weight, and sleep. Shop in-store or online at wholesale prices! Save up to 40% on a Sam's Club membership that you can use from anywhere -- even if there are no Sam's Club locations near you. From coffee cups that keep coffee steaming hot, to tumblers that keep wine chilled, Hydro Flask has some amazing gifts on sale! Save 25% on sale items. Enjoy comfortable, durable, long-lasting footwear when you shop with KEEN! Members save 20% on purchases of $100 or more. Take a deep breath! Calm's award-winning app will help you improve sleep and manage stress. Save over 50% on annual memberships. Need meds for your furry family members? Save 15% on your purchase from 1-800-PetMeds.
  5. Welcome to Our 2020 APWU Health Plan Virtual Open Season Health Fairs! As the coronavirus continues to impact families nationwide, the Health Plan wants to be sensitive to the COVID-19 risks related to work, travel, and social distancing. While in person health fairs are being canceled, we wanted to give your employees an opportunity to meet with APWU Health Plan staff virtually. Postal, Federal, and Retirees who are eligible for the Federal Employee Health Benefits Program can access and attend our virtual health fairs safely online. During Open Season, every Tuesday and Thursday, from 12-2pm EST a Health Plan staff employee will be online to answer questions and discuss plan features. Please forward this email to your employees so that they can participate. Click on the register now to confirm your attendance. Once registered you will get an email confirmation with a GoToMeeting link and dial-in information. On the Monday before the virtual health fair date you selected, we will email you a reminder and include the dial-in information with instructions. Register Now! for any of our Virtual Health Fairs. Tuesday, November 10 - 12pm-2pm EST Tuesday, November 17 - 12pm-2pm EST Tuesday, November 24 - 12pm-2pm EST Tuesday, December 1 - 12pm-2pm EST Tuesday, December 8 - 12pm-2pm EST Thursday, November 12 - 12pm-2pm EST Thursday, November 19 - 12pm-2pm EST Thursday, December 3 - 12pm-2pm EST
  6. With the election nearing and many parts of the U.S. in the grips of COVID-19, mail-in ballots have become a prominent issue. But President Trump has disparaged both the U.S. Postal Service and the integrity of voting by mail. What effect could his criticism have? William Brangham talks to Mark Dimondstein of the American Postal Workers Union and then Spencer Cox, lieutenant governor of Utah.
  7. Our movement is growing. Together we can save the Post Office and convince lawmakers to do their jobs! Multiple bills have been introduced in the House and the Senate that would provide $25 billion in COVID-19 related relief for the Postal Service. But the clock is ticking and we mustn't run out of time. The Senate will return from recess soon. We need to push even harder to get them to vote to end this crisis. We are planning to put in 10,000 calls to Congress on July 23. Will you join us on this critical call-in day of action?? Sign Up!
  8. Take time to thank your local postal worker. Encourage others to get the word out and to focus on making every postal worker’s day just a little bit better. #NationalPostalWorkerDay
  9. TSP loan options for COVID-19-affected participants now available TSP participants affected by COVID-19 (as defined by the CARES Act, P.L. 116-136) may now apply for a TSP general purpose loan with an increased maximum loan amount. These participants may also temporarily suspend payments on TSP loans they currently have and on loans taken between now and November 30, 2020. The deadline for applying for a loan with an increased maximum is September 18, 2020. The deadline for requesting suspension of loan payments is November 30, 2020. Loan payment suspensions will last for the rest of calendar year 2020. Learn more about these temporary loan options for COVID-19-affected participants. You are subscribed to TSP Plan News for Thrift Savings Plan. This information has recently been updated, and is now available.
  10. APWU Health Plan COVID-19 Coverage Enhancements As we work together to slow down the spread of COVID 19, our lives continue to evolve and change in ways we could have never expected. The APWU Health Plan will continue to evaluate coverage enhancements as a result of COVID-19. Because the spread of the virus has slowed down considerably, we are removing the inpatient prior authorization wavier. Initially, the Health Plan wanted to remove this administrative burden as hospitals were overwhelmed. As we get back to the new “normal,” authorizations should be obtained. For the most up-to-date information visit our website at www.apwuhp.com/coronavirus-outbreak-update/ The Health Plan will: Cover telehealth (medical and mental health) visits at no cost* to the member when visits are performed through the Health Plan’s telehealth providers: High Option: Medical visits through Amwell are available at www.amwell.com and mental health visits through MDlive are available at www.mdlive/apwu at no cost* to the member Consumer Driven Option: Virtual visits through AmWell, Teladoc, and Doc on Demand are available at www.myuhc.com at no cost* to the member Cover telehealth visits to network providers at no cost* to the member when related to COVID-19 Cover COVID-19 testing at no cost* to the member when testing is prescribed by a clinical professional including antibody testing once it becomes widely available Cover health care provider office visits, urgent care center visits and emergency room visits that result in an order for or administration of a diagnostic test for COVID-19 at no cost* to the member** Cover in-network inpatient and outpatient care for COVID-19 treatment at no cost* to the member Reminder: Members are encouraged to use mail order form maintenance medications which provides a 90-day refill and the delivery is free *All deductible, coinsurance and copays will be waived **Your provider should be aware of this Families First Coronavirus Response Act and CDC guideline. If you are charged a copay or coinsurance at the time of your visit, you will be reimbursed
  11. Update on CARES Act temporary loan and withdrawal options The CARES Act allows us to offer temporary loan and withdrawal options to TSP participants affected by COVID-19. We are working as quickly as possible to add these options to our system so you can count on efficient processing of these requests. You can check this webpage for updates about these options and when they will be available to you. We will post the next update by May 15, 2020.
  12. Our number one priority during the Coronavirus pandemic is keeping members safe. It’s clear that the White House is withholding the funding that the USPS needs for safe and sustainable operations during this crisis. It’s so clear that the crisis at the Postal Service has now hit the headlines. Congress needs to hear from you! The White House refused relief for the Postal Service in the last stimulus and Congress left us out of the bill. Without immediate relief, the Postal Service could run out of cash by summer. Our jobs, our pensions and the vital service we provide is at risk. Big corporations are lobbying against the Postal Service because they want to boost their profits. We need to make sure that Congress hears us instead. That’s why you need to send a message to Congress. Congress needs to provide urgent funding in the next stimulus for the Postal Service to keep the country moving through the crisis. Everything is on the line and your voice can make the difference. Send them a message today: Tell them to provide the resources we need! In solidarity, American Postal Workers Union
  13. The APWU Health Plan will continue to evaluate benefit enhancements as a result of COVID-19. For the most up-to-date information visit our website at www.apwuhp.com/coronavirus-outbreak-update/ The Health Plan will: New! Cover health care provider office visits, urgent care center visits and emergency room visits that result in an order for or administration of a diagnostic test for COVID-19 at no cost* to the member** Cover COVID-19 testing at no cost* to the member when testing is prescribed by a clinical professional Cover telehealth visits at no cost* to member when visits are performed through the Health Plan’s telehealth providers: High Option: Visits through Amwell are available at www.amwell.com at no cost* to the member Consumer Driven Option: Virtual visits through AmWell, Teladoc, and Doc on Demand are available at www.myuhc.com at no cost* to the member Cover telehealth visits to network providers at no cost* to member when related to COVID-19 Waive inpatient prior authorization requirements related to COVID-19 Reminder: Members are encouraged to use mail order for maintenance medications which provides a 90-day refill and the delivery is free *All deductible, coinsurance and copays will be waived **Your provider should be aware of this Families First Coronavirus Response Act and CDC guideline. If you are charged a copay or coinsurance at the time of your visit, you will be reimbursed by the Health Plan
  14. The Postal Service has informed the APWU of the date that Postal Support Employees (PSEs) who have been employed in 125 workyear or larger offices for more than 2.5 years (30 months) will be converted to career status. Over 2,500 current PSEs will be converted on May 9, 2020, the beginning of pay period 11. These conversions are consistent with the Interest Arbitration panel’s award issued on March 10, 2020. Conversions of PSEs was one of the demands your negotiators made from the very start of negotiations. “Being able to achieve career status for PSEs was an important goal for us,” President Mark Dimondstein said. “These newly converted employees will see an immediate pay increase, an increase in benefits paid for by the Postal Service, guaranteed work hours, and in most cases fixed schedules.” As a reminder, as newly converted career employees, these PSEs will have sixty-days (60) from May 9, 2020 (July 8, 2020), to make benefit decisions. New career employees may choose new health insurance plans, enroll in the Federal Employee Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) plan, choose how much to contribute to the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP), where to allocate TSP funds, and other benefits decisions. The Postal Service is supposed to send each newly converted employee a “benefits” book with all the necessary forms and instructions for making these extremely important decisions. The sixty-day limit is a hard limit and cannot be extended. Employees are encouraged to begin looking at their new benefits and not wait until the very end of the 60 days to decide. “The importance of these conversions cannot be overstated,” Clerk Craft Director Lamont Brooks said. “This isn’t the end of our battle for more career employees. We are proud that the APWU did not see an increase in the allowable usage of non-career employees in our new contract and we will continue to fight for what is right — an all-career workforce.”
  15. Under the new 2018 – 2021 National Agreement, employees will receive four retroactive pay raises. The current rates went into effect on February 29, 2020 and will be reflected for the first time in earnings for Pay Period 09-2020. Pay Period 09 begins Saturday, April 11. Pay checks will be dated for May 1, 2020. Retro pay covering the period from September 24, 2018 through April 10, 2020 will follow. The Postal Service has yet to confirm a date that employees will receive retroactive pay. Recently passed laws regarding the COVID-19 pandemic providing new and additional benefits to employees require immediate and extensive programming and have delayed the Postal Service’s confirmation of the date. WHAT IF I AM NO LONGER WORKING AT USPS OR IN AN APWU BARGAINING UNIT? Employees who worked during the retroactive period will be paid the higher rates due for that work. Workers who transferred, separated, quit, retired, deceased, etc. will be compensated for any time worked when higher rates were due. The higher rates will be reflected in adjustments to TSP, Retirement, terminal leave payments, and life insurance. Retirees will eventually get any necessary adjustments to annuity payments – including retroactive annuity adjustments. NEW SCHEDULE, NEW STEPS Employees in the new pay schedule in Grades 5 through 7 could not progress beyond Step J in the last contract. With the new contract, employees in Grade 5 can progress to Step K and those in Grades 6 and 7 can move into steps K and L. Employees in Grade 8 stopped at Step K in the last contract; now they can progress into Steps L and M. The step wait time for all steps for Grades 5 though 7 is 36 weeks. For Grade 8 steps, the wait time is 30 weeks. Most employees on the new schedule are well below the previous top steps, but about 200 employees are immediately eligible to move into the new steps. Eligible employees will be moved into the higher steps in Pay Period 11, effective May 9. They will move based on time waited in the previous top step. For example, a Grade 6 Step J employee who has been in Step J for 20 weeks would wait another 16 weeks before moving to Step K. Someone who has waited 40 weeks in Step J would move into Step K in PP 11-2020 with 4 weeks of wait time credit for advancement to Step L. An employee with 72 weeks of wait time in Step J would skip Step K and move into Step L in PP 11-2020.
  16. Since the early days of the Postal Service, we postal workers have helped stitch the fabric of the country together. Even in times of crisis – whether natural disaster, conflict, or economic calamity – the Postal Service has always been there, steadily reaching every American home and business in their time of need. Today is a time of crisis unlike any we’ve seen in generations. A global pandemic threatens the health of millions and is leading to an economic collapse that could dwarf the Great Recession. Hundreds of millions of people are sheltered in their homes, avoiding the grocery, pharmacies and other stores as we attempt to slow the spread of the virus. Many workers will soon be without paychecks. Public health officials are desperate to effectively disseminate health-saving information, tests, and drugs. The United States Postal Service is critical to the country’s public health and economic stability in this moment. Postal workers are up to the task. Our network of 157 million daily delivery points, 35,000 post offices and more than 500,000 dedicated public servants is uniquely positioned to serve the country in the weeks and months ahead. The Postal Service is the only way for millions of people to receive their medications. Last year, we delivered over a billion prescriptions. It’s the only way to disseminate stimulus checks and critical public health information and supplies to every household. Vote-by-mail will be essential to holding elections in November. And, in this new era of “social distancing,” it’s still a time- tested way to connect families and friends no matter where they are. But if the Postal Service is to meet the challenge of the times, two immediate issues need to be resolved: First, postal workers must have safe workplaces. Our union is working feverishly to ensure the Postal Service provides for the health and safety of our members and the mailing public. We have already secured important changes to leave, staffing and post office policies. We remain concerned that the distribution of personal protective equipment and sanitizers has been uneven across the country. Every member from the shop floor to the national office must continue our demand that we have safe workplaces, safe staffing and the necessary equipment and supplies to fulfil our mission. Second, Congress must act immediately to ensure the financial viability of the Postal Service. We were deeply disappointed that stimulus legislation nearing passage Wednesday does not include vital relief for the Postal Service. The economic fallout of the pandemic calls for measures far beyond the prefunding repeal we’ve long sought. House legislation initially sought in excess of $25 billion in direct relief for the USPS. If Congress does not act soon and on a similar scale, the Postal Service will run out of cash in the coming months. Every member must demand of their representatives that postal relief is included in the next stimulus. Reports surfaced this week that the White House and Treasury Department oppose cash support for the Postal Service. Their resistance would condemn the country’s most trusted and highest- rated federal agency to its demise. It would destroy the one institution capable of reaching every person, hinder the country’s public health response, and cripple the $1.4 trillion mailing and shipping industry. Our union had planned to spend much of this month commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Great Postal Strike. Those plans have obviously changed. But let us remember one important lesson the 1970 strike proved: the country relies on the hard work of dedicated postal workers, especially in the toughest of times. I believe our current crisis underscores the value of our work and the universal network we uphold. Finally, let me conclude by recognizing the extraordinary role postal workers have already played in the throes of this crisis. These are unusual times and many of us are understandably anxious – for ourselves, our families, our jobs and our communities. I, like so many others, am heartened by the extraordinary courage of seemingly ordinary workers serving their neighbors in times of need. Together, let’s support each other, encourage each other, demand safe workplaces together and continue to serve each other in these extraordinary times. ----------- We constantly update resources available to members at apwu.org/coronavirus
  17. I am writing to give you an update on APWU's response to the Coronavirus Pandemic. As this Coronavirus crisis unfolds, we are in constant discussion with USPS management, demanding temporary leave policies, telework provisions where possible and better safety policies, supplies, and equipment. One thing is clear. Our very first priority is ensuring that the Postal Service provides for the health and safety of our members. Postal workers are on the front-lines of the pandemic response. We need to ensure that the hardworking people who keep medicine, medical equipment, food, supplies and other essential goods moving through the mail are protected, as the country relies on us in ways they never have before. You can find out more at APWU.org/Coronavirus about the policies we have secured from management. They include: A Maintenance Management Order for each post office to increase their cleaning standards (including using cleaning products from before the CTC implementation) and provide gloves, masks, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. New Memoranda of Understanding concerning pay, telework and leave include: Temporary Expanded Sick Leave for Dependent Care During COVID-19, Temporary Additional Paid Leave for PSEs, Telework for IT/AS unit, Customer Care Centers, and Mail & Shipping Solutions Center, and HRSSC. The newly announced policy of "Liberal Change of Schedule and Leave." It is important that postal workers come together to help each other. Please follow the recommended safety procedures, sound the alarm to your local when management has not supplied the necessary equipment or implemented improved cleaning standards, and stay home if you are not feeling well. We are all in this together. Read more about our work on Coronavirus at apwu.org/coronavirus. In Union Solidarity, Mark Dimondstein President, APWU
  18. We Have a New Union Contract!! Read the Full Article #APWUUnited https://www.apwu.org/news/new-union-contract https://youtu.be/vfdTuX0fq8A
  19. Read full report Download [1.29 MB] Source: USPS Office of Inspector General
  20. On Feb. 25, postal workers and the communities we serve are standing up for our public Postal Service. It's time to protect America's most cherished institution. The House of Representatives has overwhelmingly passed the USPS Fairness Act. Now let's get it through the Senate. We are telling our Senators to pass the Senate companion bill, S.2965. In 2006, Congress saddled our public Postal Service with an unfair and unsustainable burden of pre-funding retiree health care benefits for the next 75 years! That means paying now for USPS workers who aren't even born yet. The USPS Fairness Act will start to put that right by removing the unfair burden. By repealing the prefunding mandate, the Postal Service would then be able to focus on investing and innovating services in order to better meet its mission to service every American household and business. Join us supporting our public Postal Service. Sign up to call your Senators to support S.2965 on Feb. 25, 2020.
  21. On Thursday, Oct. 31 the APWU conducted the installation of the newly elected national officers with a message of unity and determination to fight for the future of postal workers and working people everywhere. Secretary Treasurer Elizabeth "Liz" Powell Presided The night’s theme was “Moving Forward Together” and the ceremony was presided over by APWU Secretary Treasurer Elizabeth “Liz” Powell. The guest of honor at the ceremony was AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre who administered the oath of office. After an introduction by Executive Vice-President Debby Szeredy, Gebre addressed the gathering, praising the work of APWU’s officers and leadership, “Your union, led by your president, Mark Dimondstein, has been a leader in our movement with the creation of a A Grand Alliance to Save our Public Postal Service, the successful fight to Stop Staples, the campaign to expand the role of the Postal Service, including vote by mail and postal banking -- Fighting to defend the common good, public services and public sector unionism.” He spoke of the fight during the tough times we face, with working people experiencing cruel and unnecessary hardships with low wages, unsafe workplaces, voter suppression, families ripped apart and refugees turned away. But he expressed his hope in the face of this adversity: “…Hope in each of you...serving your communities. Hope in striking teachers. Hope in the 60 million Americans who would join a union today if they could. Hope of a brighter day,” he said. AFL-CIO Executive Vice President Tefere Gebre APWU President Mark Dimondstein gave the keynote speech, congratulating all who were elected and thanking the outgoing officers for their contributions and dedication to the APWU and postal workers. With the union election over he pointed out that, “Now principled unity is key, as we battle corporate greed, Wall Street privatizers, a hostile political environment, and those in management who are undermining the Postal Service.” After summarizing our substantial progress over the last six years, Dimondstein raised, “But we cannot rest. We are working, living and struggling when there is an all-out war on workers, our families, communities and our organizations. It is Them vs Us, Wall St. vs. Main St., Capital vs. Labor,” he said. He set out some of the priorities for the coming years: “We will complete the ongoing interest arbitration for a new and good union contract… We will bolster our efforts for new opportunities for postal services, revenue and jobs, including expanding financial services and vote by mail....We will advance the ongoing efforts to gain postal legislation that strengthens the public Postal Service.” President Dimondstein Gives the Keynote Speech “A new broad union education program is already in the works,” he said and advocated that, “Our Stand Up for Safe Jobs campaign needs deeper roots among the members. And together we must find ways to improve staffing of facilities and address the ever-increasing hostile work environments.” Most importantly, Dimondstein raised, “The paramount job security battle of our time is to ensure the public Postal Service remains just that. Our jobs, our union and the people’s democratic right enshrined in the Constitution depend on our determination and success. Since the White House plans for full-blown postal privatization emerged, the APWU has mobilized all hands-on deck. With a soon to be new Postmaster General chosen by the Trump-controlled Postal Board of Governors, this critical battle will greatly intensify.” He encouraged members to, “…attend meetings, join committees, write articles, stand up for safe jobs, sign up non-members, wear union gear with pride, welcome young workers, lobby politicians, fight for postal banking, stand in solidarity with all workers, speak up and defend the public post office.” He ended with the call to action, “…We must carry on the crusade to save the public Postal Service and our collective bargaining rights and to take on corporate Wall Street power with more workers’ power! Let’s continue to stand up and fight back, hand in hand with each other, all crafts, active, retiree and auxiliary members, postal and other unions, community allies and the people who support the public post office and trust postal workers.” APWU National Officers Say the Oath of Office
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