January 2024
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS
JAMES E. PARKS JR. DISTRICT BRANCH #526, NORTHERN VIRGINIA
JANUARY 2024 NEWSLETTER
President’s Message, --Lloyd B. Cox, President, James E. Parks Jr. District Branch 526
Welcome to 2024 Branch 526 members! Some of you are surprised that 2024 is here. You didn’t think it would ever arrive and are now thinking about retirement. If you are just joining the EAS ranks and do not have many years at USPS, you are thinking, it is going to be awhile before I can retire. Don’t fear, your retirement date we creep up on you! My wish is that this year you focus on self-care. It is especially important and not focusing on self-care can lead to extremely poor health and impact many areas of your life. Please understand, the Postal Service is a job. A job that requires family support but cannot be allowed to overshadow the importance of your family and your wellbeing.
You move the nation’s mail, and it takes everyone in a unit to do so. You have been chosen to be the leader of your part of the puzzle. Whether you are a supervisor, manager of postmaster, you all are important to your unit’s success. NAPS members have different titles and jobs to help move the train forward. You are the frontline success builders. Each day you move the mail, enabling the nation’s communication and commerce.
Our NAPS Executive Board continue to move the needle with small victories. There is still a lot of work to me done and they are winning the battle for fair pay and treatment, one bite at a time.
For 2024 there have been increases to the minimum and maximums on the pay scale for frontline supervisors. There was a 5% upward movement of the maximum limit for each pay grade. This allows long serving EAS to get the money they have earned into their salary, contributing to their high three or retirement calculation. We all can make a case that more money should be given to our position, or to overall EAS pay. This is one step toward higher pay for all NAPS members.
Big changes to USPS processing and delivery are here, and the retooling has begun. Become an expert at what you do. Continue to gain information and improve your performance. Mentor new and lower-level EAS, so that when you leave the postal service, they are positioned to become successful leaders.
Take time to visit our new 526 Branch website https://www.napsbranch526.org
It’s been up and running for few months. It has a lot of information about our Branch, and a link to NAPS National website and we are always looking for more ideas and suggestions.
You will no longer receive a hard copy newsletter announcing the Branch meeting dates and times. They are held on the 3rd Thursday of every other month (odd months).
In March, we will be returning in-person meetings. They will be held at the USPS Merrifield facility, located at 8409 Lee Highway, Merrifield, VA 22081. The meetings will begin at 7:00 pm in room 108.
NAPS will continue to work for you! Come out to a Branch meeting, get introduced to new people, and get involved. If you sign up a new member, NAPS Headquarters will give you $25. If is a new member for Branch 526, we will give you an additional $50. That’s $75 for signing up as a new 526 member!
Lloyd B. Cox
President, James E. Parks Jr. Branch 526
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NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS--BRANCH 526
NAPS BRANCH 526
JANUARY 2024 MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The September meeting of NAPS Branch 526 will be held on Thursday, January 18, 2024, at 7:00 PM.
THE JANUARY MEETING WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM,
Meeting ID: 829 3715 8032
Passcode: 150254
If you do not have Zoom capability on your computer or mobile device, you can dial 301-715-8592 and join using the meeting ID and password.
If you are having difficulties connecting to the meeting, please text Deborah Holley at 757-377-5679.
If dialing in use the same meeting ID and password
Meeting ID: 829 3715 8032
Passcode: 150254
Branch 526 Member Advocates
Customer Service--Alice Jackson (703) 763-9317, Mail Processing--Deborah Farmer (301) 356-6955, Headquarters--June Brandt (412) 600-6206
Contact a NAPS advocate ASAP if you are asked to participate in an investigative interview or are issued corrective action.
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Delegate Eligibility 2024
Under the provisions Article XIV, Section 1 of the Constitution of the National Association of Postal Supervisors, James E. Parks Jr. Virginia District Branch 526, the following members have met the criteria to be delegates at the Legislative Training Session, Capitol-Atlantic Area States Convention, and NAPS National Convention in 2024.
Rose Allen, Tina Barrett, Earl Baylor, Darryl Beasley, Junemarie Brandt, Lloyd Cox, Darcy Driscoll, Deborah Farmer, Joanne Farmer, Deborah Holley, Alice Jackson, Kenneth Marshall, Andrew Martin, Yvette Merkison, James Parks, James Reedy, Harold Wade, and William White
Work Smart!
Always inform your manager if you are unable to complete something on time. Let them know the obstacles your face and keep them updated. Reach out for help if needed.
Don’t let the stress of the job cause you to make bad decisions. We all face different situations and new challenges each day. You are responsible for the actions and choices you make. Reach out to your manager or Postmaster for help.
Always keep your personal integrity! With all the pressure to achieve a near perfect percentage in scanning or unrealistic office performance goals, it is tempting to make the decision to use an easy way to get past the situation you are in. If you have to ask yourself, “Is it wrong to do this?”-- you have already answered your own question!
Act with integrity--there are many supervisors getting in trouble for irregular entries made in TACs or ERMs. Never make changes without a PS Form 1017-A Time Disallowance Record, PS Form 1017-B Unauthorized Overtime Record, PS Form 1260 Non-Electronic Badge Reader card or other necessary paperwork to back it up. Clock ring changes or disallowances must be discussed with the employee.
NEVER share your login or password information for any programs. If a 204-B or OIC does not have access, report it to your postmaster or manager. YOU are responsible for anything done under your login credentials. In addition, you can face disciplinary action for failure to follow cyber security procedures.
Deal with customers in a courteous manner. Rude treatment captured on video can be quickly shared. Treat employees you supervise, your peers, and all others you encounter with dignity and respect.
Legislative News
Political inertia has resulted in only 34 Public Laws, few of any importance, being signed in 2023, the first year of the 118th Congressional session. However, we need to make sure our House members and Senators are aware of the challenges facing USPS employees. Please urge your representative to co-sponsor NAPS supported legislation and help educate them on the importance of these issues.
NAPS Supported Legislation
H.R. 82: Social Security Fairness Act of 2023
H.R. 594: Postal Supervisors and Managers Fairness Act of 2023
H.R. 595: Postal Employee Appeal Rights Amendment Act of
H.R. 866, the Equal COLA Act
H.R. 3005: The Postal Police Reform Act
H.R. 3721, the USPS Shipping Equity Act
H.R. 4260, the Public Servants Protection and Fairness
H.R. 5995: Federal Retirement Fairness Act)
H.R. 716: Fair COLA for Seniors Act of 2023
S. 597: Social Security Fairness Act
S. 3194, the Equal COLA Act
S. 3356: The Postal Police Reform Act
You can send an email directly from the NAPS Legislative Action Center at naps.org to make your views known!