Aug. 11, 2023 Pre-career employees now eligible for dental, vision benefits The Federal Employee Dental and Vision Insurance Program is now available to Postal Service pre-career employees. The program, also known as FEDVIP, includes comprehensive dental and vision benefits for employees who choose self, self plus one, and self and family coverage. Premiums for FEDVIP are paid by the employee with no agency contributions. Several national and regional plans are available, and participating pre-career employees will pay premiums post tax. Enrollment is open now through September 24. After this date, you will only be able to enroll during the annual open season period or within 60 days of a qualifying life event. To enroll, go to www.benefeds.com (“w-w-w DOT b-e-n-e-f-e-d-s DOT com”) or call 1-877-888-FEDS. The TTY number is 1-877-889- 5680. To stay abreast of the benefits available to you, sign up for text message updates by texting “PRECAREER” to 39369. Standard rates may apply. Thanks for the great job you do every day. # # #

Jobs MOU Violation Remedy Payments Scheduled for August 4 - September 1, 2023

The Clerk Craft reached a $67 million dollar settlement with the USPS on the Jobs MOU violation. The Postal Service was required to provide 800 additional jobs, of which 362 had yet to be created and posted. These positions were the Human Resource/Training Technician jobs that were supposed to have been created in the bid clusters for the sixty-seven (67) Districts. The monetary settlement follows a ruling by Arbitrator Stephen Goldberg that the Postal Service violated Arbitrator Goldberg’s previous award.

Arbitrator Goldberg determined the specific offices where the violations took place. Only those employees identified as receiving payments will have a payment listed. If your name is not found and/or there is no payment, then you were not identified as being a part of the payout remedy. There are approximately only one thousand (1000) employees in the entire country identified for payment. The zero amount is in instances where there was an end result of an overpayment, yet the Agreement states there will be no Letter of Demand issued for the overpayment to the employee.

   Implementation Agreement Reached for Clerk Craft Jobs MOU Remedy Summary
   MOU Implementation Clerk Craft Jobs Monetary Remedy Payment 071123

Lamont Brooks
Director
Clerk Division

https://apwumembers.apwu.org/APWUMembers/MembersOnly/Payouts/GOLD/IndividualSearch.aspx

Workers from 10 Roads Express in Brandywine, MD are celebrating a win after voting 27 - 3 in favor of joining the American Postal Workers Union.

The Maryland-based drivers, who perform mail transportation services for the Postal Service, are the fourth 10 Roads Express location to unionize with the APWU since 2022. They petitioned to join the union because of management disrespect, favoritism, lack of safety, and not being paid for all hours worked.

During the organizing campaign, management sent union busting consultants to their job sites in an attempt to intimidate workers from joining the union. However, the workers prevailed with an overwhelming majority to unionize with the APWU.

“Congratulations to the workers of [the] 10 Roads Express company for taking this monumental step to unionize. It has been a pleasure meeting with and learning from each of you, while planning your election through the APWU Outside Organizing team,” said Nations Capital Southern MD Area Local President, Dena Briscoe.

“10 Roads management must get the message that we no longer want to [be] disrespected, treated as expendable, and dismissed at will” said 10 Roads Express driver and organizer, Elias White. “As a union driver protected by the union… we have an equal playing field to voice ourselves without being easily replaced… I am glad that I was part of this movement that [is] taking place around the country with 10 Roads drivers.”

“I congratulate the 10 Roads Express drivers in Brandywine on this overwhelming victory and welcome these new members into our union,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein. “I’d like to thank lead organizer Rich Shelley and Nations Capital Southern MD Area Local President, Dena Briscoe for their efforts in supporting this campaign for dignity, respect, and protection against unfair decisions made by management. There is power for workers when they join together collectively and form a union.”

In accordance with the 2021-2024 Collective Bargaining Agreement (CBA), career employees represented by the APWU will receive a $0.48 per hour cost-of-living adjustment (COLA), effective Aug. 26, 2023 (separate CBAs covering IT/AS and HRSSC provide COLAs but on a different cycle).

The COLA boosts pay by $998 annually for full-time, career workers. It will appear in paychecks dated Sept. 15, 2023 (Pay Period 20-2023).

The increase is the result of a rise in the July Consumer Price Index (CPI-W).

Because Postal Support Employees (PSEs) do not receive cost-of-living increases, they have received several additional increases beyond the annual general wage increases that all employees receive under the 2021 contract. However, when PSEs convert to career, the COLA increases are also included in their wages going forward.

Total cumulative COLAs under 2021 Contract equals $2.39 per hour, or $4,971 annually

The COLAs are separate from and additional to annual general wage increases and step increases. This is the fourth cost-of-living increase under the 2021 CBA.

The first COLA, effective in February 2022, amounted to $0.63 per hour or $1,310.00 annually. The second, effective in August 2022 was $1.18 per hour or $2,455.00 annually. The third, effective March 11, 2023, was $0.10 per hour, or $208.00 annually. The total cumulative amount received so far in COLAs during the 2021-2024 CBA is $2.39 per hour, or $4,971 annually.

“After two years of high inflation, our union-won COLA is more valuable to postal workers and our families than ever,” said APWU President, Mark Dimondstein. “Postal Workers are some of the few U.S. workers who receive these increases and no one should take these benefits for granted. Even in the postal world, the APWU is the only postal union that has maintained full COLA in our contracts.”

Now is the Time to Continue to Build our Union!

Having a full COLA is a big deal that benefits us all, and maintaining it is no small feat. Our COLA comes from our union negotiated contract, but the contract is only as strong as our membership. Next year (2024) the APWU will be in negotiations for a new Collective Bargaining Agreement.

We All Have a Role to Play!

Building union power makes us all stronger. Every new member of the APWU is a new postal worker’s voice speaking up for good jobs at the USPS, whether it be a voice for better pay, better benefits, better service or demanding a better work environment with respect. Our Strength is in our numbers!

By stepping up and committing to organizing for a strong APWU you are helping build a better tomorrow for us all.

What Can You Do to Build Our Union?

• You can talk to your non-union coworkers about why they should join the union – and sign them up!
• You can attend a union meeting and other union activities -- and encourage your co-workers to join with you.  
• Join a union committee within your local/state organization, or consider becoming a shop steward.

In August 2022, President Joe Biden signed into law the bipartisan Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics (PACT) Act. The Act expanded VA health care and benefits coverage to the many veterans who were exposed to toxic burn pits and other hazardous substances, such as Agent Orange.

The Department of Veterans’ Affairs (VA) has announced that veterans or their survivors seeking backdated claims under the PACT Act have until Aug. 9 2023 to file the claim, or submit an “Intent to File.”  Eligible applicants can have their claims backdated to August, 2022.

After the Aug. 9, 2023 deadline, affected veterans will still be able to apply for benefits, but their claims will not be backdated.

“I encourage our impacted veteran members who may have eligibility under the PACT Act to apply for these benefits. You can apply any time, but Aug. 9 is the deadline for backdated claims,” said APWU President Mark Dimondstein.

For veterans who want to learn more, visit VA.gov/PACT or call 1-800-MYVA411.