November 2025
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS
JAMES E. PARKS JR. BRANCH 526
NOVEMBER 2025
President’s Message
Hello Branch, 526 members,
Another Peak season is upon us. USPS performance is sure to be closely scrutinized by the American public and by Congress. Despite the money spent on facility consolidation, revamped logistics, and upgraded automation, the financial performance of the Postal Service has not improved. Even after lowering service standards earlier in 2025, service goals have not been met. While your part in the overall picture might be small, it is important to make your best effort while maintaining your integrity. No matter what pressure is put upon you, do not falsify information. Report factually. During daily operations, package scans will be missed, mail curtailed, and deliveries not made. Do not attempt to avoid the displeasure of your manager by changing data or manipulating scans. Communicate with your manager about expectations and how to resolve issues. Your NAPS representative is much more likely to be successful defending a member for performance issues than trying to justify falsification.
The APWU has recently been awarded additional monetary settlements due to USPS violating the terms of the TACS settlement. In nearly all situations, TACS duties are to be performed by a clerk craft employee. Make sure you are complying and that your employees are trained. If you have questions, please call Labor Relations.
The USPS has presented NAPS with the final EAS pay package that will run through May 2026. The short duration is due to the language of Title 39 and the structure of union contracts. There will be increases to the minimum and maximum ranges of EAS pay levels effective in January 2026 as well as some positions changing to from Exempt to Special Exempt status. The percentage EAS employees contribute to health benefits will be unchanged. While complete details are available at naps.org, NAPS North Central Area Vice President Dan Mooney has written a concise explanation of the agreement. Dan’s clarification is printed below.
I wish you and your loved ones a peaceful holiday season and health and prosperity in the New Year.
Lloyd B. Cox, President, James E. Parks Jr. Branch 526
Pay agreement analysis: Dan Mooney NAPS North Central Area VP
NAPS represents over 500 different positions in the USPS, we can’t cover every position.
There are no give backs in this agreement
This agreement expires in May of 2026, historically, we have worked under expired pay agreements until we get another pay agreement. The current NALC contract expires the end of May 2026. “If” they don’t settle right away then it could be longer and we don’t get first blush of a pay agreement till 45 days after they settle, then its another 60 days minimum before we would get our next pay agreement. Could be the end of FY26 before we get the next pay agreement, much like what just happened.
Block 4 payout goes from 2.5% to 3% - Block 5 payout goes from 3.0% to 3.5%
In FY24 62% of EAS were in Block 4 & Block 5. Some of the other 38% were in blocks higher than 5 with higher decent payouts, which leaves fewer EAS that will get the same amount from NPA, nothing lower.
This means approximately 2 out of 3 EAS will benefit by .5% more money rolling into their base pay until the next pay agreement.
With the 3% raise in minimum and maximum for level 17-21 this means
Federal employees are scheduled to get a 1% raise to their pay levels in 2026
Guaranteed 3% raise for those at the minimum pay range, for those levels (17-21), that aren’t in a job covered by SDA. If you get less than a 3% raise from NPA, you still get a 3% raise.
For those in a SDA covered position, if you are making the minimum salary, and you get hardly any NPA payout and cost of living is low. The SDA could be less than 3%, BUT you get a 3% raise to the minimum because of the pay agreement.
Also means with top scale increasing 3% each year, more of your NPA (that just increased for most) rolls into your salary and not a lump sum. Which also increases your high 3 which means higher retirement payout for years and years to come
1% raise to top and bottom level for level 22 and above: Unless you are at the top of your pay level (which reduces the number of people impacted) this WILL NOT affect you. Again, you will get more if not all your NPA payout rolled into your salary not a lump sum.
Health benefits contribution: Remains the same, USPS pays 72%. Rare that employer pays that much!
EAS-18B & EAS-20 FLSA-exempt Postmasters in installations designated as a Sunday hub and without an authorized supervisor position will be classified as special exempt, eligible for ADDITIONAL pay. Definitely a plus!.
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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 an advocate contact 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.
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📬
Resolve to be a professional—before & after the New Year: Junemarie Brandt
As a USPS EAS employee, your job is hard enough without getting yourself into situations that could lead to trouble. Too often NAPS advocates need to defend employees who have shared passwords or misused their government credit card. Do not give a manager an excuse to reprimand you
USPS recently reissued its Dress Code Policy for Career Non-Bargaining Employees. I have summarized the policy below. As a reminder, “Postal Service employees are responsible for being properly dressed for their duty. They are expected to maintain high standards of professional appearance, representing to the public the best tradition of service and efficiency while performing their official duties.”
For EAS employees whose jobs entail in-person or virtual interactions with customers are required to wear professional business attire. If you are not an employee who deals with the public, you are expected to wear business-casual attire that is appropriate for a business environment.
Acceptable business-casual attire includes dress pants, skirts, dresses, dress shirts, blouses, sweaters, dress jackets, polo-type collared shirts, blazers, sports coats, and collared shirts. Appropriate business-casual footwear in an office environment includes dress shoes, loafers, open-toed shoes, boots, and dress sandals.
Employees on a workroom floor must follow the safety requirements for footwear, clothing, and jewelry. Footwear for the workroom floor must be Fully Enclosed at the heel, toe, and sides, made of leather or substantial synthetic leather-like material, and have heels no higher than half an inch. Hats, caps, and visors are not acceptable work attire while in Postal facilities or when meeting with customers. When conducting non-customer-related official duties outside the Postal facility, hats, caps, or visors may be worn only if they have a Postal Service logo.
It should be common sense to dress in a professional manner daily. EAS professionals need to be aware that some types of clothing are not acceptable in a business environment. Examples of clothing specifically mentioned by USPS as non-professional are blue jeans, spandex or other tight clothing, athletic attire, sweatshirts or sweatpants, t-shirts, stretch pants, leggings, team jerseys, tank tops, halter tops and spaghetti straps. Unacceptable footwear includes flip flops, hiking boots, hiking sandals and athletic shoes.
A reminder was also issued for behavior during electronic meetings on platforms such as Zoom or Teams.
If your camera is on, be sure no confidential USPS information is displayed in the area behind you and minimize other applications if sharing your screen. If using a background image, be sure it is appropriate. Never use backgrounds that are unprofessional, distracting or otherwise inappropriate. Avoid moving or flashing backgrounds that could distract from the meeting’s focus. Don’t use backgrounds that violate the Hatch Act, such as an image of a political party, elected official, or candidate. Similarly, logos of sports teams or non-postal organizations should not be displayed. Ensure that you are properly identified with full name. Get assistance if needed to change your screen name and profile picture. Be aware of your surroundings and background noise. Mute your audio when there is talking or other noise in the background. Muting your audio is especially important when attending large video conferences with multiple invitees. Un-mute yourself if you need to speak. Talking while muted wastes time, requires repeating of comments and can cause confusion.
If possible, utilize headphones instead of the computer speaker to keep discussions private and prevent them being overheard by nearby workers. This will also reduce noise and distractions for others working near you. If you dial into a meeting on a USPS landline, do not place the call on hold. Some offices have a hold message that will play over the video conference until you return or are muted by the host. Such distractions are unprofessional and waste time.
Give your full attention to the meeting. Attempting to multi-task can prevent you from focusing on the subject matter. Avoid eating during the meeting, especially if on camera. A manager can require you to have your camera turned on during a meeting unless the meeting is being recorded. When recording is occurring, using the camera is optional.
Open Season—November 10-December 8, 2025
It's that time again–The Annual Open Season for the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHB) begins November 10 and runs through December 8 for enrollments in the 2026 plan year. There is information on Lite Blue including Checkbook’s Guide to PSHB Plans which allows you to compare plans based on your individual needs. During Open Season you can also make changes to coverage through vision or dental plans. You can also sign up for a Flexible Spending Account (FSA) for 2026. Remember that coverage changes outside of Open Season are only possible in conjunction with a qualifying life change event.
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS
JAMES E. PARKS JR. BRANCH 526
BRANCH 526
NOVEMBER MEETING THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 20, 2025
The November meeting of NAPS Branch 526 will be held on Thursday, November 20, 2025, at 7:00 PM in Room 108 of the Merrifield Post Office, 8409 Lee Hwy, Merrifield, VA 22116
