KENTUCKY BRANCH OF THE NATIONAL LEAGUE OF POSTMASTERS
Updated: 5/1/2013
Contact us at: kyleaguepm@yahoo.com
The National League of Postmasters is Committed to the welfare of Postmasters, OICs, PMRs and EAS employees, the LEAGUE represents all its members through alliance with officials of the U.S. Postal Service and members of Congress on Capitol Hill.
May 31, 2012
POStPlan Earned SOV Formula Certified Correct
We have received the attached memo from Dean Granholm, Vice President of Delivery and Post Office Operations. The attached Power Point has the formula that Mr. Granholm has certified on slide 8. I encourage each impacted Postmaster to verify their POStPlan daily earned hours using this formula. The Power Point shows you how to get to SOV on the Postal Service Blue Page. Type in SOV and follow the slides. Once on the Summary page click on your office and the Variance Summary opens. Follow the three steps on the Retail/Admin section. It is important that you use the correct retail days and total operation days from your FY/11 data. If you sort mail at all on Saturday you will be dividing your Workload Value hours by 308 if completely closed then divide by 257. If you have Saturday retail hours you will divide the retail by 282.5 and if no window operation on Saturday then divide by 257. This is the daily earned hours for the POStPlan SOV that is used to determine the level of offices under POStPLan.
Until the mapping is finalized you will not know if the office is a PTPO and meets any of the three exceptions from the POStPlan
June 8, 2012
The Postal Service has released Updated/Consolidated Frequently asked Questions (FAQS) Related to POStPlan. The update includes a new question #1, which is a summary overview of POStPlan and the summary includes links to three additional sites for detailed information on the VER; the incentive; and the Organization Change FAQs, where employees can find current information about issues such as severance pay, effects on benefits and leave when moving to a part-time career position, retirement, social security and many other topics.
June 14, 2012
The Postal Service has released an update to the POStPlan FAQ's, they changed the question to FAQ #6 to include all career postmasters (it previously read career full-time) and added the link to the Organization Change FAQ #56 that provides detailed information about Discontinued Service Retirement (DSR).
June 15, 2012
Today, the LEAGUE office received the attached LINK outlining the opportunity for optional eligible and VER eligible Postmasters who retire to be hired back to PMR positions to continue to serve their communities and not affect their annuity payments.
Postmasters retiring can apply for PMR positions in the 2 and 4 hour offices they request to work at and supplement their retirement income while utilizing the valuable postal knowledge they have. The attached FAQs answer a number of questions that Postmasters may have about this opportunity. Postal Headquarters will be sending letters to all VER and optional retirement eligible Postmasters with this offer. Those interested Postmasters should contact their District Human Resource office.
July 9, 2012
On Monday the National League of Postmasters received these PMR FAQs that answer a great deal of questions Postmasters and PMRs had asked about the retention and hiring of PMRs after POStPlan begins. These FAQ address some of the salary questions for newly hired vs. those that are currently working in some of the impacted offices. There are also a few FAQs on Postmaster promotions and relocations benefits
August 29, 2012
The USPS has released the attached announcement looking for assistance with the upcoming rural count. The announcement also includes information regarding the hiring of retirees for PMR positions in the level 2 and 4 offices. Anyone wanting more information should contact their District HR department
October 2, 2012
Presidents Message - The community meeting dates and surveys started their weekly cycle of being mailed out, the first going out the week of August 29 and the first community meetings starting October 9, 2012. Many customers are receiving them now and a lot of questions are coming in as a result of this. There are over 1500 meetings schedule for October alone. The media has been doing a pretty good job regarding the surveys and the community meetings but one thing they do not emphasize is how critical the surveys are to the results. I want to remind everyone that these community meetings and surveys are for vacant POStPlan impacted offices only. View Details and More Information
Presidents Message - The community meeting dates and surveys started their weekly cycle of being mailed out, the first going out the week of August 29 and the first community meetings starting October 9, 2012. Many customers are receiving them now and a lot of questions are coming in as a result of this. There are over 1500 meetings schedule for October alone. The media has been doing a pretty good job regarding the surveys and the community meetings but one thing they do not emphasize is how critical the surveys are to the results. I want to remind everyone that these community meetings and surveys are for vacant POStPlan impacted offices only. View Details and More Information
October 23, 2012
NEWSBREAK - On October 6, 2012 POStPLan level 18 offices with incumbent Postmasters received their upgrades. The LEAGUE national office has received numerous inquiries from these Postmasters who were recently upgraded to level 18s and have since been classified to a non-exempt status. Many of these Postmasters have been exempt Postmasters for years and still meet the criteria of being exempt. The LEAGUE office has notified Postal Headquarters officials that it is our position that EAS 18 Postmasters who manage two or more full time equivalent employees (FTEs) should be classified as exempt. FLSA law has not changed and this fact is not disputed by Postal Headquarters.
Headquarters officials have responded to the LEAGUE by saying that they are looking into the matter and will provide a clarification as soon as possible. An update will be posted on the LEAGUE website as soon as information is received from USPS headquarters. Mark
November 5, 2012
NEWSBREAK - Last week LEAGUE and NAPUS Presidents met with Postal Headquarters regarding FLSA changes and level 18 Postmaster jobs. The classification of the upgraded level 18 Postmasters jobs to non-exempt when in fact most of these positions were exempt continues to be a problem in the field. Headquarters has assured the organization heads that this issue will be fixed expeditiously and the correct status applied to each position. The FLSA law has not changed and there is no disagreement on what justifies a non-exempt vs. an exempt position. This will be corrected on those impacted Postmasters soon. More Information
December 3, 2012
Incentive Payment Information
The LEAGUE office has been getting a number of questions regarding the incentive payments for those Postmasters that took the VERA with the $20,000 incentive this past summer. The LEAGUE office received the following information regarding those payments.
The incentive payment is an adjustment that is included/generated in the normal payroll period pay cycle. The first installment is scheduled to be paid in PP 26/2012 (included on payroll checks dated 12/21/2012). The second installment is scheduled to be paid in PP 26/2013 (included on payroll checks dated 12/20/2013). Because these payments are included in the normal payroll cycle, they follow the normal payroll mailing cycle.
These checks will be mailed to the installation from which the employee retired or separated. They are included with the other checks normally sent to the office each pay period (like terminal leave payments). Former employees make arrangements with their former installations for picking up incentive payments or having those payment mailed to the former employees. There is an exception concerning employees who retired and are reemployed as PMRs. Employees who are due the incentive payment and who have been reemployed as non-career Postmaster Reliefs (PMRs) will have the incentive payments processed as part of their current pay. The incentives will be included on the checks sent to their current employing offices (or included with their Net-To-Bank amounts if that is what they have set up for the handling of their current pay.) We have approximately 275-300 employees that have come back as PMR’s.
Former employees can pick up the checks at the installations from which the employees retired or separated, or they may provide PS Forms 3077 to their final employing offices to have the checks mailed to the addresses provided by the employees on PS Forms 3077 or to the employees’ addresses of record. PS Forms 3077 must NOT be submitted to the Eagan ASC. Anyone having issues with the incentive payment can contact the Accounting Help Desk at
1-866-974-2733 for assistance
December 5, 2012
POStPlan Staffing of 6 hour Postmaster Positions
Today we received a final document outlining the steps that will be taken to fill vacant part time 6 hour Postmaster positions in the field. LEAGUE and NAPUS has been working with Postal Headquarters to find the best way to fill these jobs while continuing to find a landing spot for impacted Postmasters. These jobs can only be made available after the community meetings have taken place. The initial posting on 12/18/2012 will include most all those offices that have had community meetings so far and the 30 day notice requirement to the community has been met. Future staffing of 6 hour Postmaster positions will repeat this process when the community meetings have taken place.
It is important that Postmasters considering non-competitive downgrades to these jobs start thinking about their choices now as the limited area of consideration (LAC) opportunity to request a downgrade will only be 9 days from 12/18/2012-12/26/12. These positions will then be available in eCareer for all eligible employees to apply. There is a brief description of how to request a non-competitive downgrade on the attached document.
Here is a brief summary of the attached.
• LAC is for EAS Postmasters and EPM Postmasters in Levels 51-55
• LAC is 12/18-12/26
• Postmasters must request a voluntary non-competitive placement
• Level 16 and below will receive saved salary through September 30, 2014. (See FAQs on Saved Salary).
Although not perfect, this LAC will give more opportunity to place impacted Postmasters into positions prior to October 2014.
December 19, 2012
Release of 2013 Pay Schedules and NPA Update
The LEAGUE National Office received the non-bargaining unit salary schedules (PDF) for 2013. These schedules will go into effect January 12, 2013. Although there were no pay increases for 2012, the new schedules will raise the caps on most all EAS positions.
PFP salary determinations for FY/2013 will be subject to the Postal Service’s review of compensation practices throughout the United States economy. Based on this review, PFP program ratings will either be suspended or applied to salary determinations. For FY2014 and FY2015, PFP rating will be applied to salary determinations.
Last week, LEAGUE and NAPUS started preliminary meetings with Postal Headquarters regarding NPA and the Administrative Rules. These rules will have to be updated to remove CORE requirements. Much of the discussion centered on the need for continued communication and goal setting for Unit and Corporate goals. For 2013, NPA will be weighted with 60 percent of the NPA composite coming from Corporate goals and 40 percent coming from the Unit goals. Clearly the need to discuss how these goals can be met, progress on how we are doing during the year, and the end of year results need to be part of the process. The need for individual mitigating circumstances on Unit goals was also one of the items being discussed. The LEAGUE office will keep you updated on the final changes and complete new Administrative Rules when they are available.
January 8, 2013
The LEAGUE has received the Zone Tolerance ( ZOT) information for POStPlan Click to view the Zone of Tolerance (ZOT) details (PDF)
January 18, 2013
Temporary Suspension of Delivery Unit Optimization ( DUO).
The LEAGUE has received an update from Postal Headquarters on the suspension of Delivery Unit Optimization
(DUO) that began January 11, 2013. This past week the Postmaster organizations met with Postal Headquarters to discuss concerns and listen to possible changes to the current process. The LEAGUE has provided a number of ideas that could improve the process. It is our hope that this exchange of ideas will provide a better DUO process for the future. On Thursday, January 24, 2013 national rollout of the new DUO process will take place and DUO activities will resume. As mentioned in the January 8, 2013 memo, the DUO moratorium for those offices that have rural routes being counted is still in place. The LEAGUE will continue to keep you updated as to changes with the current process.
January 27, 2013
LEAGUE Office Receives Notice of Release of DUO Suspension And New Timeline for Second Round of Level 6 Postmaster Jobs.
On Friday, January 25, the LEAGUE office received a memo from Postal Headquarters releasing the temporary suspension of Delivery Unit Optimization (DUO). On January 11, 2013 DUO was temporarily suspended while adjustments to the financial worksheets for DUO were completed and changes to the process were made that would require approval of the Area Vice President prior to dates of implementation assigned. These changes have been completed.
On Thursday, January 24, training was completed with the Areas and Districts on the new financial worksheets and approval process. LEAGUE leadership received this training and overview and has been involved in the changes presented.
With this training completed the temporary suspension has been lifted and DUO activities will resume. It is our hope that the changes will improve the process.
The LEAGUE office also received a letter on Friday giving notice of the second posting of 6-hour offices under POStPlan. The first 540 offices previously posted, some of which Postmasters have requested placement in was effective January 26, 2013.
The second list of postings will be available in eCareer starting on March 5 and closing on March 20. This posting will be generated from offices where POStPlan has been implemented, making them 6-hour offices effective either February 9, February 23, or March 9, 2013. For those Postmasters requesting placement, the effective date will be May 4, 2013.
This attachment shows the timeline for future postings that will occur between April 24th and June 29, 2013. The attachment also has language concerning eligibility and pay. In every posting of newly implemented 6-hour positions the process repeats itself and are made available in eCareer to EAS and EPM Postmasters, District-wide or Area-wide under a Limited Area of Consideration (LAC).
February 6, 2013
Postal Service Announces New Delivery Schedule - Six Days of Package Delivery, Five Days of Mail Delivery Begins August 2013
A meeting at Postal Headquarters is scheduled for today with the Mark Strong, League President and the other management organizations and postal unions. Updates will be posted as they become available.
February 6, 2013
National League of Postmasters 43rd Legislative Forum in DC Ends with Hill Visits
LEAGUE members by the hundreds took to the legislative offices of senators and representatives on Tuesday, February 5, 2013, to inform both new and continuing members of Congress of the important concerns and issues in regard to legislation needing to be passed to enable the Postal Service to continue to provide universal service to all Americans in the most timely and efficient way given changes needed due to economic circumstances.
In encouraging LEAGUE members in their efforts, Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT) spoke at the general session Monday at the Crystal Gateway Marriott Hotel in Arlington, noting, “We are not fighting for the status quo … the Postal Service has got to change … but let’s grow the business, not do layoffs, and adapt to the changing era. Postal reform should not close post offices and distribution centers, but give us tools to succeed in the 21st century.”
Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-11-VA) spoke earlier about where the House was on developing new legislation following the failure of “flawed” legislation in the last Congress. “You can close every single rural post office and not save a billion dollars … closing post offices destroys communities and the bill formerly proposed would have done that.”
Both Sen. Sanders and Rep. Connolly encouraged LEAGUERs to make contact both in the home district and on the Hill to make sure the legislators get the real facts on what is needed, i.e., resolving the prefunding and the retirement benefit issues. As to the Postal Service’s look to eliminate Saturday delivery, both legislators commented on it as not a good proposal when, they felt, other avenues to reduce costs were available. (More specifics on their ideas coming in the March Advocate.)
Challenge conventional wisdom, they encouraged, “Build on your momentum … on the need to make changes … these are not insurmountable …”
PMG Patrick Donahoe addressed many Postmaster concerns of what was happening in the field and/or going wrong as POStPlan went forward. He was optimistic that legislation could be passed this year but that it needed to be comprehensive and not just on the prefunding and retirement issues. He said the Postal Service continues to pursue taking over health insurance in-house, stating that it would provide better coverage and save money. He also talked about revenue options with a number of new products on the table and new opportunities, such as beer and wine delivery.
“We’re looking to create more opportunities for secure digital messaging for what people want and will pay for and that whatever we do, it falls in the realm of protecting our brand,” said PMG Donahoe.
President Mark Strong noted that the LEAGUE visits to the Hill came at a critical time … to educate legislators on the Hill of the facts. “We’re starting here,” he said, “and I hope that after being on the Hill and preparing here, we can go back home and make a difference with local legislative contacts as well.”
“Our time has come to grow,” said President Strong. “We will bend, we will not break and we will weather the storm.”
Kentucky Postmasters visit KY Congressmen and Senators during this year's Legislative Forum in DC - see Legislative page for info and photos.
February 13, 2013
Senate Holds Hearing on Postal Crisis
Today Senator Carper (D-DE) chairman of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee held a hearing on Solutions to the Crisis Facing the U. S. Postal Service. The LEAGUE submitted a statement for the record to be part of the hearing today. The hearing lasted three hours with three panels and nine testimonies. Congressman Issa (R-CA) was one of those testimonies. He focused on two points and discussed the possibility of the Postal Service taking their own health care in house. The first point Congressman Issa made was the need for flexibility for the Postal Service to run its business. He also stated that current law never intended for the Postal Service to run at a loss, including forcing them to deliver mail six days a week when the business model has changed so much. The Congressman also mentioned the savings that could be realized from moving the mail delivery from the door to cluster boxes.
Of course Postmaster General Donahoe was one of the nine testimonies and he stayed true to form on the legislative agenda he has shared with us. On the Postal Link today is the full testimony and bullets of requested legislation. The Postmaster General asked that Congress not stop the new delivery schedule going to five days a week on August 5th. He asked that the Postal Service be able to sponsor their own health care which he predicts could produce a savings of 7 billion dollars a year; 5.6 of which is the prefunding requirements. The Postmaster General also asked that a proper audit be completed on the FERS pension funds and that any surplus returned to the Postal Service.
Senator Carper, along with the full committee, stated that they want to get Postal Legislation done soon. He stated they are in the first overtime period of a football game and have no desire to go to a second overtime. Neither do we, this game has gone on far too long.
Click the link watch to the video of the entire hearing.
.Join us for National convention July 21st-26th. See Events for more info & registration form.
March 29, 2013
Level 18 Two Percent Promotion Cap Lifted
The LEAGUE has received a memo (PDF) from Postal Headquarters rescinding the 2 percent salary promotion cap placed on level 18 Postmaster jobs on June 19, 2012. Promotion increases to level 18 Postmasters as well as all others will follow postal policy as outlined in the June 24, 2011 memo (PDF) from Anthony Vegliante. The June 19, 2012, letter (PDF) was sent to the field regarding the 2 percent cap on all promotions to level 18 Postmaster positions just prior to the two rounds of postings limited to Postmasters only last year. The Postmaster organizations had been asking that this cap be lifted since the intent of the policy has run its intended course of action and are pleased to see these Postmaster promotions receive the same raises as all other positions.
