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November 8, 2025
Arbitrator Issues Decision in Dispute Over Two-Tour Initiative
Arbitrator Das denied the union’s grievance challenging the Postal Service’s two-tour initiative.
November 8, 2025
The Government Pension Offset Why It Should Be Repealed
During the last Congress, bills were introduced in the House and Senate to repeal the Government Pension Offset provision of current Social Security law. Although the legislation had many co-sponsors, it never made it ou...
November 8, 2025
USPS Reassessment Process Background
The Postal Service aggressively monitors limited duty and rehabilitation assignments, and in May, 2005 notified the APWU that the USPS would begin a reassessment of rehabilitation jobs and limited duty assignments. The t...
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, Sept. 30, 2011
Postal Unions Rally All Across the Country for H.R. 1351 McCain Introduces Version Of Issa’s Bill in the Senate Multiple U. S. Reps. Introduce Postal Legislation APWU President Guffey on MSNBC’s Ed Show and CSPAN H.R. 13...
November 8, 2025
We’re Not a Fee-for-Service Organization
There seems to be a misconception that labor unions are fee-for-service organizations. This notion is likely fostered by the fact that union dues fund activities that serve union members. Dues enable unions to negotiate...
November 8, 2025
HCR Subcontractor Safety Records
A Web site of the Department of Transportation (DOT) that provides safety information on trucking companies may be a valuable tool for members of the MVS Craft. The site lists information about accidents and tickets incu...
November 8, 2025
Happy Birthday, EAP
On Nov.12, the USPS Employees Assistance Program turned 40 years old. The first postal EAP program — then known as the Program for Alcoholic Recovery (PAR) — opened its doors in San Francisco. From those humble beginning...
November 8, 2025
Dual Casual Reports
Dual casual reports are provided to the union on an Accounting Period basis. The report monitors the use of Postmaster Reliefs, Rural Reliefs and other employees whose primary appointment is outside of the APWU crafts,...
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, May 20, 2014
Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), Chairman of the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, has not been able to garner support for his extreme and anti-worker postal reform bill, H.R. 2748. As such, he has adopted a new...
November 8, 2025
Arbitrator Rules ‘Separation of Casuals’ Language in Article 12 Applies Only to Casuals in the Impacted Craft
In a recent National Association of Letter Carriers’ (NALC) national arbitration award, Arbitrator Shyam Das ruled that “[t]he provision in Article 12.5.C.5.a (2) for ‘separation of all casuals’ applies to casuals in the...
November 8, 2025
Know Your Credit Score
Credit card companies and lending institutions are tightening their approval standards, making it harder for people with low credit scores to get new lines of credit. Everyone should know their credit score, which is the...
November 8, 2025
Dispute Over USPS Refusal to Accept FMLA Medical Certification Appealed to Arbitration
The APWU has appealed to arbitration a dispute over the Postal Service's refusal to accept medical certification for chronic conditions covered under the Family and Medical Leave Act if not submitted at the time of the a...
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, Jan. 24, 2014
S.1486 Postal Reform Act of 2014 Amended “Carper/Coburn Bill” Breaking News: Bureau of Labor Statistics 2013 Union Membership Report
November 8, 2025
Happy Grandparents Day!
Sunday, September 7 is Grandparents Day. In Ohio, Alliance members are celebrating the day with an event in Cortland. In Illinois, Alliance members in the East St. Louis area are celebrating the holiday today with Rep. W...
November 8, 2025
Operation Care Package
Care packages provide warm messages and familiarities from home. Packages are sent to servicemen and women serving in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan. Recipients include members of all branches of the military, from eve...
November 8, 2025
Up Next: Preparing for Local Negotiations
The 2010-2015 collective bargaining agreement has been ratified by the membership, and it is now time to move to the enforcement phase of our new contract. This agreement has many sweeping changes, and there is much work...
November 8, 2025
Dispute: Non-Traditional Full-Time Assignments in Function 5 and Function 7
This Step 4 dispute protests Postal Service instructions to the field authorizing the creation of Non-Traditional Full-Time (NTFT) assignments in Finance (Function 5) and in Bulk Mail (Function 7).
November 8, 2025
Summary of Regulations Governing COPA Solicitations
Summary of Regulations Governing COPA Solicitations
November 8, 2025
Waste Management
In the January-February issue, the regional coordinator’s article addressed the Postmaster General’s DRIVE (Delivering, Results, Innovation, Value, and Efficiency) program and what management was planning for you — inclu...
November 8, 2025
Reviews Can Lead to Upgrades
Veterans who believe they received an inaccurate disability rating may be eligible to have their award reviewed by the Physical Disability Board of Review. The PDBR was created to address inconsistencies in disability ra...
November 8, 2025
Award on Applicability of TCOLA to Promotion Pay Anomaly Payments [pdf]
This is an NALC case in which the APWU intervened. The issue was whether the Postal Service's failure to pay Territorial COLA (TCOLA) as part of the promotion pay anomaly payments due under the June 13, 1990 Memorandum o...
November 8, 2025
Intermediate Travel for Training Settlement
This settlement (case #H0C-NAC 19002) reinstates the language of Section 716.123 of the ELM that existed prior to 1991, which permits intermediate travel (for employees on an extended duty assignment) to a location other...
November 8, 2025
Leyman Lift Gate Problems
Survey for Locals about problems with International and Freightliner trucks
November 8, 2025
USPS Revises Standard Operating Procedures for Handling Hazardous Materials
The Postal Service has revised its Standard Operating Procedures for the Handling of Hazardous Materials.
November 8, 2025
e-Team Report, July 7, 2012
Check Your Mail! Mitt Romney and the Postal Service Frankly Speaking Businesses Feeling the Impact of Declining Service
November 8, 2025
PMG’s Credibility In Doubt Again
At Senate hearings in September on proposed postal legislation, "Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe made several statements that once again call his credibility into question," notes APWU Executive Vice President Greg Be...
November 8, 2025
Contract Manual Helps Resolve Grievances
November 8, 2025
Building Self-Esteem
Of all the judgment calls we make, none are as important as the ones we make about ourselves. Low self-esteem can lead to a wide range of personal problems, often masking what is truly wrong, and resulting in underachiev...
November 8, 2025
USPS Unleashes NRP (Phases 1 & 2)
In mid-December, the APWU was notified that Phase 1 of the National Reassessment Process had been implemented nationwide. The Postal Service estimates that 33,707 limited duty and rehabilitation employees will be reasses...
November 8, 2025
Activate Your List Protect Your Right to Vote
In the January-February issue of this magazine, I asked readers to make a list of contacts who will serve as a support network for the midterm elections. Now that you have your list together, it’s time to put it into act...