NALC Branch 43

The NALC’s Official Collective Bargaining Survey is live! This survey is optional, but it allows active NALC members to voice what is most important to them regarding the bargaining platforms and positions for the upcoming contract negotiations. It takes less than 5 minutes to complete and can be done from your smartphone, tablet or computer. Those wishing to participate need only scan the embedded QR code, enter your USPS EIN, and then answer the questions that follow.

There are still available seats for the Retiree/ Veteran’s Day Breakfast, call the hall as soon as possible to reserve your spot! Branch 43 is hosting NALC President Brian Renfroe, Congressman Greg Landsman, along with OH Rep Karen Brownlee, OH State Association President Jeff Kranz, Region 11 NBA Mark Camilli, and AFL-CIO’s Brian Griffin. You won’t want to miss this!

In solidarity

A quick reminder that there are still seats available for the Veterans Day Breakfast. Come down and enjoy food, fellowship, and remarks from Guest Speakers Greg Landsman (Congressman, OH-1), Jeff Kranz (OH State Assoc. of Letter Carriers), and Brian Griffin (Exec. Secretary-Treasurer Cincinnati AFL-CIO. Please call the Branch at 513-542-6400 to reserve your spot, we look forward to seeing you!

In solidarity!

Mark Jeffreys has stood with letter carriers in the face of local (and national) issues. NALC Branch 43 voted in the October Membership meeting to endorse him for Cincinnati City Council. Read the official statement from Branch President Ted Thompson below.

James Henry and company will be arriving today in Cincinnati.

Today, in a 22-21 vote, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability (COR) advanced its budget reconciliation measure that would slash benefits for federal workers, including letter carriers.

The Republican-supported House budget resolution passed earlier this year tasked the COR committee with cutting $50 billion. This measure aims to meet this threshold by cutting federal employee benefits at a cost to the employees.

Many parts of the measure would affect letter carriers, including:

· Increasing the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) contribution rate for existing employees to 4.4 percent

· Cutting FERS retirement benefits by eliminating the FERS special annuity supplement

· Reducing FERS annuity payments by calculating a retiree's annuity based on their high-five salary average (instead of three)

Chairman James Comer (R-KY) said these cuts would save federal funds while Acting Ranking Member Stephen Lynch (D-MA) referred to it as an attack on the federal government and its workers.

Many Democratic members praised federal employees for their dedicated service and spoke against benefit cuts.

One Republican, Mike Turner (R-OH), opposed the measure. "I believe that making changes to pension retirement benefits in the middle of someone's employment is wrong. Employee benefits are not a gift. They are earned," he said.

Several amendments were introduced at the markup, but all were rejected. Notably, Rep. Emily Randall (D-WA) introduced an amendment to add the text of the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 1522). H.R. 1522 would allow federal employees, including letter carriers, to make catch-up retirement contributions for time served as non-career employees, making it credible under FERS. Although the amendment failed, H.R. 1522 remains a top priority for NALC.

"NALC completely opposes this measure," NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. "We see this for what it is – a pay cut for letter carriers and all federal employees.

“Our retirement benefits aren't free handouts. We earn them through our years of service and contributions.

“Taxpayers don't fund the Postal Service or letter carriers' retirement benefits. Cutting our benefits will do nothing to improve the federal deficit. If Congress wants to balance the budget, changes to our independently funded retirement benefits will not do it and should be off limits.

“This is a disgusting attack on every letter carrier, postal employee, and federal employee. We will continue fighting like hell against these attacks to preserve the retirement benefits that we've earned, and that we already pay our fair share for every pay period.”

The next step is for the measure to be considered by the full House. Republican House leadership has indicated it plans to vote on all reconciliation measures before the end of May.

Given the controversial and harmful elements of this package, it is unclear whether it will pass in the House. While advancing the committee was almost certain, with extremely tight margins in the House, passing in the full chamber will be more difficult.

NALC encourages all letter carriers to contact their representatives and ask them to oppose these on changes to our benefits and what we pay for them

Click on the link below to take action and contact your Congressman

PAC Action Center Reps. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Nick LaLota (R-NY) introduced H. Res.70 and Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced S.Res. 147, which calls on Congress to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the federal government...

Instillation of the officers at yesterday's meeting. Congratulations to all officers and another term for Ted as our Branch President.

https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-statement-on-dejoys-agreement-with-doge?fbclid=IwZXh0bgNhZW0CMTEAAR0ZAtuNkq0RPp8M46dd82W19LNITAjxsJZBWVBws_nRsU5d6udVpPxqwMw_aem_IHu9eweAM-A22VnyX-c6Tg

National Association of Letter Carriers AFL-CIO The National Association of Letter Carriers, NALC, is the national labor union of city delivery letter carriers employed by the United States Postal Service.