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Contract negotiations update

Back in December of 2018, you were notified that NRLCA officers have continued their efforts to reach an agreement on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement with the Postal Service. The parties have held several meetings, the most recent being this past week. The Union has clearly laid out a number of important, … Read more

NRLCA: New Leadership for USPS Oversight Committees in the 116th Congress

With the new session of Congress to begin on January 3, 2019, leadership of the Congressional committees charged with oversight of the USPS is set for a shakeup. Rep. Jim Jordan (R-OH) will take the ranking member position for Republicans in the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee, while Rep. Elijah Cummings (D-MD) is expected … Read more

NRLCA : Death in the Byrum Family

It is with great sadness that we share with you the passing of Linda Byrum, wife of former National Chaplain Doug Byrum. Linda passed away on Thursday, December 6, 2018. She was a former Auxiliary President for the state of North Carolina. Arrangements are pending due to the expected inclement weather this weekend. We will … Read more

NRLCA: Task Force on the Postal Service Releases Their Report

On December 4th, the Task Force on the United States Postal Service released their report on increasing the financial stability of the Postal Service. While the report is non-binding, it did make recommendations the Postal Service can take to reduce labor costs. These steps include eliminating collective bargaining over pay for postal employees, increasing employee … Read more

NRLCA: UPDATE: National Day of Observance – December 5, 2018

After discussion with USPS HQ, the attached Memorandum of Agreement from May 2000 will be applied to the National Day of Observance tomorrow (December 5, 2018). Regular carriers who are normally scheduled and are directed to work tomorrow are limited to working ONLY on their assigned route. They will be paid the evaluation of the … Read more

NRLCA: National Day of Observance for Former President George H.W. Bush

President Donald J. Trump has proclaimed Dec. 5 as a national day of mourning throughout the United States and has called on the American people to pay homage to the memory of former President George H.W. Bush on that day. Out of respect for President Bush, the nation’s 41st commander in chief, and to honor his vast … Read more

Step 4 on Scheduling PTF Rural Carriers on Their String Routes

The issue in this grievance is the scheduling of PTF Rural Carriers on their “String” routes. Local management took the position that they could schedule a PTF on any route and bypass the PTF for work on one of their string routes provided the PTF was provided with work equal to the total evaluated hours … Read more

Step 4 on Adjusting Routes to Level Out the Evaluations

The issue in this case involved management adjusting a route that was not overburdened for the stated reason of “leveling out the evaluations of the routes.” The parties agreed that no national interpretive issue is fairly presented in this case. The parties further agree that, though management may provide relief of rural routes as outlined … Read more

NRLCA: Step 4 Settlement on Salary Advances

The issue in the grievance is management refusing to issue an emergency salary advance, claiming that the grievant had been “terminated” when, in fact, the grievant was not. The parties agree that:   “Handbook F-101, Field Accounting Procedures, Section 23-3, Employee Emergency Salary, outlines the authorized and unauthorized conditions for issuance of an emergency salary advance. The … Read more

NRLCA Veteran’s Day Tribute

Veterans are near and dear to the heart of the NRLCA. More than one in five rural carriers are veterans, and many of us have friends and loved ones serving their country at home and abroad. It is on this day in particular that we pause to recognize those brave men and women who have … Read more

Kent County Health Department News Release: Early Cluster of Flu-Like Illnesses Confirmed as H1N1 Strain

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 24, 2018 For additional information contact: Steve Kelso at (616) 632-7274 or Steve.Kelso@kentcountymi.gov   Early Cluster of Flu-Like Illness Confirmed as H1N1 Strain   GRAND RAPIDS – The Kent County Health Department (KCHD) and the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) have identified the strain of influenza that has now … Read more

NRLCA: Influenza Virus Affects National Convention Attendees in Grand Rapids

At the close of the National Convention in Grand Rapids, we began to receive reports that some attendees were experiencing flu-like symptoms. It is possible that 100 or more convention attendees have been affected. We have been in contact with the Kent County Health Department, which has epidemiologists closely monitoring reports of Influenza A. The … Read more

Election Results: 2018-2019 NRLCA National Board

It is with great pride that the National Rural Letter Carrier’s Association announces its newly-elected National Board for the 2018-2019 Association year: President: Ronnie W. Stutts Vice President: Donald L. Maston Secretary-Treasurer: Clifford D. Dailing Director of Labor Relations: David L. Heather Director of Steward Operations: Susan T. Knapp Executive Committee Chairman: Shirley Baffa Executive … Read more

National Arbitrator Das Confirms Postal Service Must Provide NRLCA with “Final Worksheets” Comparing Rural and CDS Costs Prior to CDS Contract Renewal

On June 25, 2018, National Arbitrator Shyam Das issued his award in the long-awaited renewal of contract delivery service case. The Union’s grievance, filed in 2014, concerns the process the parties negotiated related to renewing CDS contracts pursuant to the 2012 Clarke interest arbitration award. The relevant contract language in Article 32 of the 2010-2015 … Read more

NRLCA: H. Res. 993 Introduced Opposing the Privatization of the Postal Service

On July 16, a bipartisan House Resolution, H. Res. 993, was introduced “expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization.” Ten members of the House, five … Read more