The May / June 2025 Edition of the Keystone is available here.

    The House of Representatives will some be voting on President Trumps "Big Beautiful" 2025 Budget Plan.  This Budget includes CUTS in postal and federal employee retirement benefits.  The cuts include:

• Raise FERS contribution to 4.4% for all employees.  Employees hired before 2013 will pay between $2,000 - $3,000 more per year and get no additional benefits.  This is a wage cut!

• Eliminate the Special Social Security Supplement.  Employees who retire before they turn 62 receive this supplement from their minimum retirement age until they turn 62.  Eliminating the supplement could cost a retiree as much as $120,000 and could mean the difference between retirement and having to work until 62.  Benefit Cut! 

• Change the High-3 pension calculation to High-5.  This would add two lower earning years into the calculation which would reduce your pension.  Benefit cut!

Call:  844-402-1001

You will hear a short message from APWU President Mark Dimondstein.  Your call will then be routed to each of your Representative message board where you can tell them to "Vote 'NO' on Postal and Federal Pension cuts.

    The PPWU would like to congratulate Zachary Chilek who is the winner of the 2024 PPU John T Boxler Scholarship.  Zachary is the grandson of Paulette Sklanka who is a member of the Scranton Local. 

            Zachary will be attending King College in Wilkes-Barre, PA. 

            We'd like to remind members that the deadline to apply for the 2025 PPWU Scholarship is fast approaching.  Applications must be received no later than May 15, 2025.  Rules and an application are available HERE

    On, Friday, January 11, 2025, the PPWU Executive Board passed a motion authorizing a rebate of, up to $1,000, to any PPWU member local that sends a steward to the Postal Labor Union Summer School (PLUSS) in Morgantown, WV. 

           PLUSS is a one week intensive training session designed to equip stewards with the toold they need to provide the best representation possible.  The course is broken into two groups:  basic and advanced and will be held from April 27 through May 02, 2025.   

          This rebate will help to offset the cost of tuition, lodging, travel.  Rebates will be paid for actual costs, not to exceed $1,000 per local.  Applications for rebates must include proof of expenses.  (paid registration receipt, travels receipts, etc...) Locals wishing to apply for the rebates must contact PPWU Secretary / Treasurer Jim Snyder for instructions.  

    On Jan 13, 2024, the USPS & APWU agreed on a Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) offer with a $15,000 incentive which will be paid in two installments of:  $10k in 2025 and $5k in 2026.  To be eligible for the VER must meet one of these criteria

• 50 years old with at least 20 years of service, or

• Any age with 25 at least 25 years of service

     There is a 12% limit on employees in the Maintenance and Motor Vehicle participation.  The decision to take the VER must be made no later than March 07, 2024.  The effective date of retirement for VER employees will be April 30, 2025

       For more information, you can download a copy of the agreement here.  Additional information regarding the VER, including a series of questions and answers is available on liteblue.  To access this information, go to liteblue, then click on the "my HR" tab in the menu.  Select "Voluntary Early Retirement" in the retirement sub-menu.

        The USPS will also be conducting webinars, via Zoom, during the month of February to discuss details of the VER offer.  Dates and times for the Zoom meetings are available on liteblue. 

    The appointment of PPWU President Kim Miller to the vacant postion of Clerk Craft National Business Agent created a vacancy in the PPWU President position.  Article 8, Section 10 of the PPWU Consitution & Bylawns states that "if the office of the President becomes vacant prior to the expiration of the term, the Vice President will fill the position for the remainder of the term."   Accordingly,

•  PPWU Vice Precident Kevin Gallagher will fill the office of President for the remainder of the term.  This change necessitated other appointments to fill the resultant vacacnies which include:

• Human Relations Director Donna Welch has been appointed to fill the vacant Vice President postion. 

• Scranton Local President Coleen Simon has been appointed to fill the vacant Human Relations Director spot.