Form Fill PS Form 1767 added!

OPEN SEASON - Postal Service Health Benefit Program Info

           Open Season is fast approaching.  The Postal Reform Acto of 2022 requires the creation of a new health benefit program, within FEHB, that will be exclusive to US Postal Service employees.  This new program, the Postal Service Health Benefit Program (PSHBP) will still be part of FEHB and will still be administered by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).

     During Open Season 2024, all employees and retirees will:  a) Be moved into a PSHBP plan, b) Choose a PSHBP plan, or c) be placed into a PSHBP plan.  You control which happens to you.  All employees should receive a letter in October informing them if their current health plan is being offered in the new PSHBP.  

• If your current FEHB plan is offered in PSHBP, and you want to stay with that plan, you will not have to do anything.  You will be slotted in that same plan PSHBP.

• If your present plan is not offered in PSHBP, OR you want to change plans, you will make a selection.

• If your present plan is not offered in PSHBP and you do not make a selection, OPM will place you in the cheapest plan that does not have a deductible and you will be stuck in that plan until the nest Open Season.

All employees should receive a letter in October informing them if their current health plan is being offered in the new PSHBP. 

     The USPS has been providing information about the changes which also include the requirement to enroll in Medicare when you turn 65, or stop working (whichever comes first).  An informational booklet was sent to all employees in August.  If you did not receive this booklet you can find it HERE.

     The USPS is also conducting virtual meetings to deiscuss PSHBP and Medicare Integration.  These meetigns are open to all employees and retirees.  The meetings are held twice per month, two times per day usually at 1200 pm and 400 pm.  You can participate on your computer, cell phone, landline or tablet. 

COLA - Effective September 07, 2024

           The sixth, and final, Cost of Living Adjustment (COLA) under the 2021-2024 contract will be effective September 07, 2024 and will add $ 0.47 per hour  ($977 per year) to the base rate of all career APWU represented employees.      

       In total, the six COLAs, achieved through our contract, have increased APWU represented employee’s base rate pay by $ 6,302.  These combined COLAs are the equivalent of an 8.5% pay increase for top step employees and 11.6% increase for new career employees.  Next time a non-members tells you the Union does nothing for them, ask them how they like that COLA increase the Union secured.

      This is also a good time to mention that the APWU is the only postal union that provides full COLA for all employees!  The Letter Carrier and Mail Handler unions, for whatever reason, negotiated a graduated, or “stepped”, COLA formula that is based on years of postal service.  Senior carriers /mailhandlers in pay table one and top step of pay table 2 get the full COLA amount.   It’s worth repeating:  The APWU is the only postal Union that ensured full COLA for all career employees.

       Full COLA for all career employees is fundamentally right and something the APWU will continue to fight for.  National President Mark Dimondstein pledges that, “We will continue to fight to maintain full COLA provisions during contract negotiations.” In light of the fact that Postal Support Employees (PSEs) do not receive cost-of-living increases, they have received several additional increases.  COLAs are added to the base pay schedule, so PSEs will recoup these increases when they convert to career status.  

PSEs/PTFs and Rural Mail Counts

            The USPS is conducting Rural Carrier mail counts and the PPWU would like to take the opportunity to remind members of some considerations for mail counts.

Have Travel & Mileage Questions?

The PPWU has put together s short slideshow discussing Travel and Mileage pay for PPWU members.  The presentation was breated by Central Business Agent Timothy Thompson and was presented to the members in attendance at the August 7th Virtual Informational Meeting.

       PPWU President Kim Miller is providing that Travel & Mileage presentation here as a resource for PPWU members to use to maximize their benefits.  You can download it HERE.  If you have additional questions regarding travel or mileage pay, contact your Area Business Agent.

NEW FORMS PAGE ADDED! - Check it out in the menu (above)

PPWU Scholarship Extended!

A/L Carryover & Exchange Limits Raised

  2024 Constitution & Bylaws Posted  (click here to read)

DeJoy pushes onward with "some" Network Plan Changeses

    In a new letter to Senators, PMG Louis DeJoy has indicated that, despite the pause in implementation of operational changes, he plans to move forward with several Regional Distribution Center (RDC) and Sortation & Distribution Center (SDC) projects.  The SDCs, scheduled for September 2024 implementation.  These planned SDC changes include the Wilkes-Barre, PA SDC and the York, PA SDC.

     Additionally, DeJoy made it clear, to the Senators, that he is going to continue pushing forward with planned changed to transportation.

     In, what can only be described as a, "nyah nyah!" (sitcking his tounge out) at Congress move Dejoy now claims that any "pause" in Network Plan changes was his choice and was already part ofof his plan and has nothing to do with Congressional objections.  In this most recent letter, DeJoy claims that waiting until January 01, 2025 to implement these changes was part of his original plan and that it fits in with his already determined schedule.   Instead of being a flex, it comes off more as a Pee Wee Herman "I meant to do that!" moment.

USPS Pauses Network Plan Consolidationsns

    Postmaster General Dejoy has announced that the USPS is pausing some planned mail consolidations that are part of his 10-year Network Modernization plan.  This action comes in response to a letter signed by 26 Senators expressing concern that the Network Plan is deterioirating service to the American People.   Additionally, DeJoy also indicated that he would not move forward with any consolidation plants with first informing Congress.

     APWU Preisdent Mark Dimindstein commended the "union ranks, our community allies and many friends in Congress who have made and will continue to make their voices heard loud and clear."

        The APWU has requested a full, and accurate, list of consolidations that will be put on hold, as well as any potential impact on excessing of employees from one facility to another.r.