July 2023
President’s Message, --Lloyd B. Cox, President, James E. Parks Jr. District Branch 526
Hello Branch 526 members,
While reading about the current dramas within Congress, I thought about visiting Capitol Hill in March of this year with Branch 526 members. Our branch joined hundreds of NAPS members from around the country as part of our yearly grassroots efforts to persuade members of Congress to co-sponsor and vote in favor of postal issues that would better the life of all EAS employees. If you couldn’t join us on Capitol Hill, you can visit your Congressional representative at their local office or email them to urge support of issues concerning NAPS and USPS. For more information, check the Legislative section at naps.org.
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy spoke and took questions at the Legislative Training Seminar. As he reviewed the State of the Post Office, he credited all improvements and positive changes in USPS performance to his Delivering For America plan. He told the NAPS delegates, “It is a waste of time to visit the Congressional leaders because they aren’t going to do anything for us.” Was he belittling the very reason we were there as an inside joke or was he serious? Over the years I have personally seen the impact of NAPS visits to Capitol Hill and developed personal relationships with members of Congress and their staffs. I feel that NAPS legislative efforts have been vital in gaining their support for legislation that has improved the lives and careers of all EAS employees.
Our NAPS Resident Officers have been hard at work getting things done for us. They have achieved higher starting salaries for all frontline supervisors, who are the backbone of the USPS. Additional Supervisor, Customer Service Support positions, and a new category, Supervisor, Customer Service Relief are posted or will be posted soon. The Relief jobs provide an excellent opportunity for craft employees to gain promotion to EAS. It is hoped they will help alleviate the heavy workload for EAS personnel in larger delivery offices.
The NAPS Executive Board continues its legal efforts to gain payment that was unfairly denied to EAS employees for FY17 and FY18. Two different courts have concurred that the PFP system was flawed and did not adequately compensate EAS employees. Yet USPS refuses to pay what was earned.
Be sure to keep your address current with Branch 526 and NAPS Headquarters Office. If you are not receiving the NAPS National Magazine, The Postal Supervisor, then they do not have your correct address. Visit naps.org and update your address or contact us for assistance. Please make sure to provide NAPS with your non-postal email address. This is vital as Branch 526 will be moving to an online only newsletter in the near future.
NAPS has always consulted with USPS on salaries for most EAS employees and now we are included as an official Management Representative in Postmaster pay consultations as well. If you know of any new EAS Supervisor(s) in your unit, ask them to join us. If you need materials explaining benefits of membership, just contact anyone of our officers. You can receive from $25 from NAPS National Headquarters for each new member you sign up and an additional $50 from our branch once they appear on the rolls. It takes about 60 days for the paperwork to be processed. Remind nonmembers that they must join NAPS within 60 days of being promoted to gain immediate representation rights. If an EAS employee waits to join, and find they need assistance, they will be required to wait 60 days to fully avail themselves of NAPS representation resources. NAPS is not statutorily required to represent nonmembers. NAPS is a nonprofit management organization, and we only assist members. There is strength in numbers. Sign up a new member, it will benefit both of you!
Please check out our branch new website www.napsbranch526.org. There you will find a lot of valuable information you may be looking for and need. Make sure your email address is updated with NAPS as we will be transitioning to a digital newsletter and no longer mail hard copies.
Stay Safe, and hope to hear from you soon!
Lloyd B Cox
President
James E. Parks, Jr. Branch 526
NAPS BRANCH 526 MEMBERSHIP MEETING VIA ZOOM THURSDAY, JULY 20, 2023 – 7:00 pm – 9:00 pm
ZOOM Meeting ID: 826 1280 6501
Passcode: 641528
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
ZOOM Meeting ID: 826 1280 6501
Passcode: 641528
This proposed amendment to the NAPS Branch 526 Constitution will be read at the July 2023 membership meeting:
Constitutional Proposed changes
Article XIII Dues and Assessments
Section 1 Membership dues of District Branch 526 shall be $15.00 per pay period and shall be increased by like amount when National or State per capita tax is increased.
Proposed:
Section 1 Membership dues of District Branch 526 shall be $17.00 per pay period and shall be increased by like amount when National or State per capita tax is increased.
Rationale: NAPS National Headquarters has increased the Per capita by $2 per pay period
Section 2 Associate membership dues of the District Branch 526 shall be $100.00 annually and shall be increased by a like amount when National per capita tax is increased.
Proposed
Section 2 Associate membership dues of the District Branch 526 shall be $200.00 annually and shall be increased by a like amount when National per capita tax is increased.
Rationale: The Associate member dues need to be adjusted to reflect branch costs
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS--BRANCH 526
NAPS BRANCH 526 MEMBERSHIP MEETING
The July meeting of NAPS Branch 526 will be held on Thursday, July 20, 2023, at 7:00 PM
THE MEETING WILL BE HELD VIA ZOOM, PLEASE SEE DETAILS INSIDE THIS NEWSLETTER
A PROPOSED CHANGE TO THE BRANCH CONSTITUTION WILL BE INTRODUCED
