March 2025
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS JAMES E. PARKS, JR. BRANCH 526, VIRGINIA
MARCH 2025 NEWSLETTER
President’s Message--Lloyd B. Cox, President, James E. Parks, Jr. Branch 526
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Welcome members of Branch 526,
Greetings my fellow NAPS members. Welcome to March 2025. I hope that all is well with you and your families. Soon our branch delegates will visit Capitol Hill to speak with the Virginia’s House Representatives and Senators as part of NAPS’ Legislative Training Session. If you have not heard, NAPS, along with other organizations lobbied Congress to pass the Government Pension Offset Windfall Elimination Provision into law. If you are a CSRS employee, and do not understand how the law will help you, visit NAPS.org and find out.
You may have heard or read that the PMG has decided to leave the USPS. He has also signed an agreement with Elon Musk and the DOGE agency to examine USPS subject to certain conditions. I am not sure it is legal.
EAS are responsible only for their own time. If you are not a Time and Attendance Coordinator, you in most cases are not allowed to adjust, fix or input another’s EAS time. Only when you have been given the responsibility by your superior. There is no such thing as “only this time”.
The postal service will not tolerate falsifying or stealing time. Let’s call it what it is, fraud, potentially criminal. If you are directed or have been given the authority to make adjustments, you must get documentation (PS1260 or PS 1261) from the individual or individuals giving you permission to enter or change their time. The same rules apply for entering EAS or craft time. We have been representing EAS members who have been taking part in this illegal activity. With the many responsibilities that the front-line supervisor has to perform, managing your time is very important. Perform the most important actions first and complete tasks on time. Managers and above should assist in mentoring frontline supervisors.
Take time to visit our new 526 branch website at https://www.napsbranch526.org It has been up and running for months. The latest information is continually being added and there is a link to the NAPS national website. We are always looking for more ideas and suggestions.
A reminder that we are no longer mailing our Branch newsletter. The newsletter will be posted on the website and e-mailed to those members who have provided NAPS with
their email address. Update your personal email address with me at Lloyd.b.cox@gmail.com or one of our branch officers.
Our Branch Meetings are normally held on the 3rd Thursday of every other month (the odd months). We have returned to in-person meetings. Unless otherwise announced, meetings will be held at the Merrifield Post Office, located at 8409 Lee Highway, room 108, at 7 pm. This month’s meeting is on Thursday, March 20, 2025. NAPS will continue to work for you! Come to the Branch meeting and get involved.
If you sign up a new EAS, NAPS Headquarters will give you $50. New members help NAPS to stay strong and provides the new members with the benefits of membership. NAPS now have over 29,000 members.
Lloyd B. Cox, President, James E. Parks Jr. Branch 526
USPS Career Conference
USPS is having a career conference. It will be held at the National Conference Center in Leesburg VA May 3 – 4, 2025. Your $30 registration will give you access to Professional Headshots, Developmental Sessions, Question and Answer segments,
Networking, KSA Sessions, Interview tips, Informational Booths (Headquarters & District), and External Vendor Informational Booths. The conference times are Saturday 6-10pm, and Sunday 9am – 4:30pm. Breakfast, Lunch and Snack will be provided.
Register today, after 4/26 price increases to $40. If you register at the $30 early bird rate Branch 526 will reimburse your fee after attendance is verified.
https://www.rsvpbook.com/USPSCareerConferenceLeesburgVA
Branch 526 Member Advocates
Customer Service--Alice Jackson (703) 763-9317, Mail Processing--Deborah Farmer (301) 356-6955, Headquarters--June Brandt (412) 600-6206. If unable to reach and advocate contact Branch President Lloyd Cox at (571) 422-8749.
Contact a NAPS advocate ASAP if you are asked to participate in an investigative interview or are issued corrective action.
The following members are eligible to attend the Capital Atlantic States Convention, LTS, and other events not hosted by Branch 526. Eligibility as determined by the Branch 526 Constitution & Bylaws Article VI, Section 3 and Art XIV, Section 1.
Rose Allen, Tina Barrett, Earl Baylor, Darryl Beasley, Junemarie Brandt, Lloyd Cox, Darcy Driscoll, Deborah Farmer, Joanne Farmer, Deborah Holley, Alice Jackson, Kenny Marshall, Andrew Martin, Yvette Merkison, James Parks, James Reedy, Harold Wade, and William White.
Proposed Constitutional Change Dues Assessment
Article XIII Dues and Assessments - Current
Section 1 Membership dues of Branch 526 shall be $17.00 per pay period and shall be increased by a like amount when National or State per capita tax is increased.
Section 2 Associate membership dues of the District Branch 526 shall be $150.00 annually and shall be increased by a like amount when National per capita tax is increased.
Proposed Change
Proposed:
Section 1 Membership dues of Branch 526 shall be $20.00 per pay period and shall be increased by like amount when National or State per capita tax is increased.
Reason: National has increased the Per capita by a total of $4.00 per pay period.
Section 2 Associate membership dues of the Branch 526 shall be $200.00 annually and shall be increased by a like amount when National per capita tax is increased.
Reason: National has increased the Per capita by a total of $4.00 per pay period.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS--BRANCH 526
NAPS BRANCH 526 MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The March meeting of NAPS Branch 526 will be held on Thursday, March 20, 2025, at 7:00 PM in room 108 of the Merrifield Post Office, 8409 Lee Hwy, Merrifield, VA 22116.
A proposed change to the Branch 526 Constitution will be introduced