National Association of Letter Carriers Non-Profit Org. Joseph P. Considine Branch 34 NALC, AFL-CIO U.S. Postage 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 3950 PAID Woburn, MA 01801-6396 Boston, MA Permit No. 54631 Address Service Requested

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BOSTON, MA NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS The Award-Winning Newspaper of Joseph P. Considine Branch 34 NALC, AFL-CIO Volume XLIX, Number 4 September-October 2020

Please check out BRANCH 34’s CLAN the dates, times and locations for all CELEBRATING 130 YEARS OF UNION PARTICIPATION AND ACCOMPLISHMENTS H 1890-2020 upcoming Membership Meetings on the President’s Report BRANCH 34 WEBSITE at Not Out of the Woods Yet! nalcbranch34.com et’s start out with some good news! All corrective measures being taken after a Any mail sorted Lroute inspections have been cancelled positive in a particular station. after this time is for the month of September and there is a Management has the opportunity to the next days mail good possibility that the entire Fall schedule get a jump on this Crisis, but they are not and sell any late could follow. COVID-19 is not beneficial taking the appropriate actions. After five priority packages GERALD (Jerry) McCARTHY to route inspections. I’m really hoping that people are put out in a station as a result for overtime or a President Upcoming Meetings Upcoming we return to a sense of normalcy soon and of the Coronavirus it is too late for those CCA with a late one event to help put this back on track is employees, but you can prevent the future start of say 10 AM. Carriers working till Taking the “DeJoy” Out the Retiree Luncheon has been rescheduled contamination to the remaining employees 9 or 10 PM has to stop. This is not brain of the Postal Service for May 16th, 2021. working in that station. Where have stag- surgery so let’s not make it that way. How Page 2 As of the writing of this Article we have gered start times gone? Staggered start is working till 9 PM going to work in had 248 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in times, rotating week to week was a great January or February when it is 8 degrees Election Notice for the Boston District, and this is up from 187 idea, but this only can work if the latest start outside? Carriers are exhausted from these Delegates to the 2021 on June 9th, 2020. Management is currently time is 8 AM. Management has caved in due current working conditions and then after MSLCA Biennial State in a holding pattern with their dealings with to political pressure and changed start times a week or two they themselves have to this deadly disease. The major complaint again to coincide with the all up bell in each take a sick day to heal up and charge the Convention out of the offices that have had positive(s) individual station. Machines to sort the mail batteries. Your Branch officers will con- Page 3 is the cleaning of these sites or the lack have been dismantled or shut down. These tinue to field these issues and follow up thereof. When the Coronavirus first invaded same machines only a decade ago were with every Steward till this crisis passes. The American Dream the Boston District the first positive was in going to save the Postal Service allowing As I’m typing up this article I am watch- Page 4 Braintree. Braintree received a deep clean- for more efficiency and reduce the number ing the 9/11 ceremony on the news. It has ing under the supervision and active partici- of employees needed to move the mail. been 19 years since that faithful day and When the Postal Service pation of Postmaster Leroy Middleton. Let’s The Postal Service has shown all through everyone still remembers exactly what use JFK as an example: During the week of the Month of August that they have no is- they were doing and where they were. My Was the Bomb! August 24th, the JFK Station had three posi- sues with delaying the mail, so let’s have thoughts and prayers go out to all the Vic- Page 5 tives and an additional two employees were an all up bell every day at the same time. tims and their Families both then and now. quarantined. The remaining employees were Motorizing Kenmore? deeply concerned to say the least. There was Page 5 no additional deep cleaning done after this Branch 34 Rallies in outbreak. One of JFK’s employees decided to take Inside Branch 34’s CLAN 34’s Inside Branch Branch 34 some action to attempt to lower the stress, Malden and Cambridge to Salutes Its Retirees anxiety and fear of just coming in to do your Pages 6 - 8 job. Letter Carrier Phil Tammaro followed Save the U.S. Postal Service up with a company that totally disinfects Newton Centre Carrier buildings using the newer technology Passes Away During that is being used in schools and airplane His Own Route cleaning. This cleaning kills all pathogens Page 10 in less than one minute and in an updated article on Yahoo news, in some cases the area is still pathogen free a week later. The T/781-281-1133 cost of this technology is the same or less than what the Postal Service is doing if they F/781-281-1127 bring in a cleaning crew on a Sunday. After nalcbranch34.com this disinfectant cleaning is done, general maintenance will keep these pathogens at bay. The other benefit of this cleaning is the New 24/7 Branch 34 psychological side, employees will be more Emergency Number willing to return to work knowing that the USPS is doing all they can to safeguard their 781-420-0950 employees. Managements plan is to begin attendance reviews and deal with Non- COVID related absences with corrective Link to Branch 34 Website action. Discipline is not the vaccine we need. Management has definitely become laxed on their preventative measures to stop the spread of the Coronavirus. CCAs are still being sent from station to station when management deems it necessary to move the mail that they have been responsible for delaying in the first place. Information that was being sent to the unions is being delayed Branch 34 President Jerry McCarthy with Area Steward Laura Wood Fahey and Malden residents. See more rally photos by Management concerning positives and on page 9. Know Your Rights! et me start off by saying, I hope you are ment officers who carry firearms, make discarded deliver- Lall doing well and you continue to be arrests, execute federal search warrants, able mail. Gen- safe, considering the uncertain times still and serve subpoenas. Inspectors work erally, if you are in front of us. Please remember as easy with U.S. Attorneys’ Office, other law asked a question as it may be, DO NOT let your guards enforcement, and local prosecutors to concerning some- down, we still need to protect ourselves investigate cases and prepare them for thing you alleg- from COVID-19. Each day remember court. Inspectors throughout the country edly did wrong, BERNADETTE ROMANS to take all necessary steps to ensure your enforce roughly 200 federal laws related you should rea- Vice President BRANCH 34 safety by washing your hands as often as to crimes that adversely affect or entail sonably believe that discipline could STATION STEWARDS possible and keeping facial coverings on fraudulent use of the U.S. Mail, the postal result and you should request a steward. Allston...... Gerardo Rosario when unable to social distance. It is up system, postal employees, and custom- The steward cannot exercise Weingarten Arlington...... Anthony Falco to you to put yourself first, because the ers. Office of Inspector General (OIG) Rights on the employee’s behalf. And Sean Mullett Postal Service will not. They DO NOT agents are utilized by the Postal Service unlike “Miranda Rights” which involve Auburndale...... Thomas Keirstead care about you that’s why it’s important to investigate internal crimes and frauds criminal investigations, the employer is Back Bay...... Lucy Warren for YOU to keep yourself safe. Manage- against the Postal Service. These agents not required to inform the employee of the John DiBlasi ment will have you believing everything is conduct investigations in areas such as: • Weingarten right to representation. You Belmont...... Salvatore Celeste back to business as usual---Just ask them. Contract Fraud • Financial Fraud • Health- must ask for representation. You can ask David D’Agostino Stay safe Sisters and Brothers. care Fraud • Internal Mail Theft • Official at any point during an interview, even if Braintree DMU...... Richard Fraser Misconduct • Technical Investigations • you didn’t ask for it in the beginning. No Robert O’Donnell Special Inquiries • Whistleblower/Repri- matter how smart you think you are, no Brighton...... Roshon Butts Weingarten Rights sals OIG agents also investigate bribery, matter how innocent you are, you should Brookline...... Joseph DeMambro rior to employees being disciplined kickbacks, extortion, conflicts of interest, never under any circumstances participate Dean Gonatas Pby management, generally they will and allegations against Postal Service ex- in an investigative interview without a Cambridge – be given a pre-disciplinary interview ecutives. In addition, the Office of Inves- steward present. Employees also have Central Sq...... William Wilkins (PDI) or an investigatory interview (II) by tigations combats fraud and theft through the right under Weingarten to a pre- Robert Liberatore management. If you are given one of these the Countermeasures Directorate’s crime interview consultation with a steward or Cambridge – interviews, there is no doubt your supervi- prevention efforts. Weingarten Rights other union representative. Federal courts Porter Sq...... William Cresitelli sor or manager is looking for information have been afforded to employees because have extended this right to pre-meeting John Dickenson to use against you so they can issue you of federal labor law which was created in consultations to cover Inspection Service Cohasset...... Judi Aronson discipline. All letter carriers, including the U.S. Supreme Court ruling NLRB v. interrogations as well. No matter who is Chestnut Hill...... Thomas Conville CCAs (regardless of how long they have Weingarten, INC., 420 U.S. 251 (1975). questioning you, if you believe the ques- Dorchester Center ...... Marc Babin been employed) have Weingarten Rights, After that ruling from 1975, it created tioning could lead to discipline, then you East Weymouth...... Artie Matthews which means you have the right to have what is known as the Weingarten rule, giv- have the right to have union representation Fenway...... Tony Cinelli a union steward present during a meeting ing each employee the right to representa- present during the line of questioning. In Fields Corner...... James Hudson in which management asks you questions tion during any investigatory interview a Weingarten interview the employee has Fort Point...... Benny Faletra that could lead to discipline. Stewards which he or she reasonably believes may the right to a steward’s assistance, not just Christopher Thompson can assist you in any investigation by lead to discipline. This rule applies dur- a silent presence. The employer would Hingham/Hull...... Michael Bertrand management and help ensure you get ing any investigatory interview - whether violate an employee’s Weingarten Rights Hyde Park...... Joseph DeBerardinis your “day in court.” If called to a meeting management is searching for facts and if it refused to allow the representative to IMC – Chelsea...... William Lang with management, U.S. postal inspectors, trying to determine the employee’s guilt speak or tried to restrict the steward to the IMC – East Boston...... Emelio Leone or an Office of Inspector General (OIG) or deciding whether or not to impose dis- role of a passive observer. Although postal IMC – Winthrop...... John Fanning agent, read the following statement to the cipline. These questions could be posed employees are required to cooperate with IMC – Everett...... Tom Ciulla person you are meeting with before the during a closed door meeting, through postal investigations, the carrier still has IMC – Charlestown...... Vacant meeting starts: “If this discussion could in text messaging, a phone conversation or the right under Weingarten to have a stew- IMC – Somerville...... John Fucile any way lead to my being disciplined or through an informal conversation at the ard present before answering questions. Jamaica Plain...... Robert Damatin terminated, or affect my personal working supervisor’s desk. In any situation, if the In the event a steward is not made readily Charles Zimmerman conditions, I respectfully request that my employee reasonably believes that disci- J.F.K. Station...... Robert Amirault available or if a steward is not present after Alex Taylor union representative, officer, or steward pline could result, they have Weingarten you have asked for one, you may respond Kenmore...... Dan Abellard be present at this meeting. Without my representation rights. Whether or not an that you will be happy to cooperate in any Lexington...... Tony Scrivano Union representation present, I respect- employee’s belief is “reasonable” de- investigation, but you will only answer John Lucey fully choose not to answer any questions pends on the circumstances of each case. questions once a steward is provided. All Malden...... Laura Fahey or participate in this discussion.” U.S. Some cases are obvious, such as when a of the above information can be found in Chris Dineen postal inspectors are federal law enforce- supervisor asks an employee whether he the Joint Contract Administration Manual. Mattapan...... Fuming Chen Medfield...... Christopher Pacitti Medford...... Jon Holmberg Taking the “DeJoy” Out of the Postal Service Stephen White ou can say a lot of things about the fielding questions from family, friends, ing to slow down Milton...... Robert Leighton Ynew postmaster Louis DeJoy, but and customers asking us what is going the processing of Needham...... Diane Butera boring is not one of them. At no time in on with the USPS. Will you keep your the mail, which in Brian Senior the history of this organization we call job? Are you going to be laid off? Is the turn will impact Newton Centre...... David Ward the United States Postal Service has one election process going to be corrupted the delivery and Newton Highlands.... Shawn Tierney individual captured the attention of an by delayed ballots? Is the Postal Service eventual collect- Newtonville...... Thomas Duff entire nation, (or at least not since Benja- going to close down? ing of voter bal- (A) Heidi White min Franklin). This bull in a china shop De Joy has many controversial affilia- lots. It also casts a North Quincy...... Cathy Cooper has hit the ground running in the midst of tions that taint the position he now holds. shadow, and puts North Weymouth...... Mike Davis a global pandemic that has contributed to And his ownership and investments are into question the BOBBY DAMATIN Quincy...... Amy Baker Financial Secretary Brendan Finn paralyzing the world’s economy. Calling in direct conflict with being postmaster necessity and vi- Revere DMU...... David O’Connor for the closure of Post Offices, being ac- of this agency. He still retains $30 to $75 ability of what we do, and our reputation Melrose...... Vacant cused of removing thousands of ballot million dollar equity of his company, XPO as the most trusted government agency. Roslindale...... Adam Difazio boxes, (I mean blue mailboxes), ordering Logistics, which is also a contractor to the He’s also been accused of trying to cripple Roxbury...... John Galvin the dismantling of hundreds of millions of USPS. He has been a huge donor to the the post office from within, and bringing Keith Meredith dollars of automated machinery, eliminat- current President, and was recently the about our demise. We have billions and Grove Hall...... Samie Smith ing tons and tons of wing cases from car- Republican National Committee’s money billions of dollars in land holdings across Scituate...... Justin Vo rier units, and in a matter of three months man in North Carolina. He divested him- the nation, which could potentially be sold South Boston...... Michael O’Connor has amassed more frequent flyer miles to self of stock in United Parcel Service in off to the highest bidders. So. Weymouth...... Rusty Craven the nation‘s capital than anyone else in the June, but then turned around and bought With the fox taking up residence in Stoneham...... Joseph Mangano country! And if that’s not enough, he owns stock in Amazon. And they both use and the hen house, the majority of the USPS Waban...... Rich Farrell stock in companies that do business with compete with the Postal Service. He’s also Board of Governors seemingly in the Waltham...... Edward Walsh us, and is now being accused of political being accused of instructing his former pocket of the President, and the future Rick Nourse corruption at his company where he was employees to make political donations, of this institution in question, how could Watertown...... William Huber CEO. Wow, now that’s a calling card! then enriching them by over reimbursing anything positive be salvaged from this Wellesley Square...Charles Iantosca And as bad as this may look with the them. And shockingly, it turns out to be position we all find ourselves in? Wellesley Hills...... Kevin McMahon irreparable damage that he could inflict on illegal to do that! Incredibly, the eyes of the nation nowa- Weston...... David Demarco this agency, not since the Great Strike of Another conflict is his elimination of days are upon us daily. At no time in the West Newton...... Vacant 1970 have postal unions been presented infrastructure within the Postal Service. last 40+ years has an opportunity such as West Roxbury...... Michael Walter a once in a generation platform to spell He has dismantled mechanization that this been presented to the unions of the Sandino Blaise out to the American public the problems moves the mail, as well as eliminating United States Postal Service. On social Weymouth Landing....Mario Venturelli with this organization, emphasize our wing cases which are used to organize and print media, blogs, and broadcast, Woburn...... Vigo Conte value and importance to America, and and prepare the mail for delivery in thou- and everywhere in between, we’re in the Richard Bucci its economy. sands of offices across the country. This top five news stories every day. And many Wollaston...... Thomas Rooney, Jr. Most of us, on a daily basis, have been lends to the conspiracy that DeJoy is try- (continued on page 10) 2 BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 BOSTON, MA I Didn’t Know That? NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS n every issue of Branch 34’s CLAN, I clock to resolve some operational issue schedule are not Itry to share some knowledge with my like how do you pull down a certain route? entitled to PDC brothers and sisters on various topics that Or to find out if you had a package for this Teletime for that BRANCH 34’s CLAN may interest them. Whether it’s how to house or that house? If that’s something telephone call. 400 WEST CUMMINGS PARK, SUITE 3950 WOBURN, MA 01801-6396 deliver parcels, file a CA-1 for a traumatic they regularly do to you then they’re go- (Emphasis Add- T/781-281-1133 F/ 781-281-1127 injury, Q & A on hold-downs or retirement ing to start owing you some money. In ed) Founded May 1971 information my goal is always to inform the F-21 Handbook you’ll find this gem: MICHAEL MURRAY the membership of our rights. Well, in this Recently in Secretary-Treasurer AWARDS issue instead of focusing on one or two 223 PDC-Teletime/Guarantee one of our downtown office’s manage- International Labor bits of information I’m going to introduce Teletime/Guarantee Tele ment came up with the bright idea of Communications Association to you several different things you may Overtime withdrawing the delivery of accountable GENERAL EXCELLENCE – find interesting and useful. 223.1 Definition mail to the individual offices. This will LOCAL UNION PUBLICATIONS – Any Letter Carrier who has delivered 223.11 Bargaining unit employees come as no surprise to anyone paying CIRCULATIONS of 2,500 to 9,999 to an apartment building, a triple decker or who are called via telephone or attention, but management failed to in- First Place, 2003 any multi-family dwelling has wondered paged by management to assist in vestigate to see if this was something they National Association of “shouldn’t these customers have an apart- resolving operational problems while had the right to do. Alas, they don’t. The Letter Carriers ment number on their mail?” The answer in an off-duty status will be entitled to POM addresses this issue as well and in BEST ORGANIZED – is a simple yes, they should. The Postal pay for the duration of the call(s) or 1 section 617 it reads: LARGE BRANCH Operations Manual (POM) addresses this hour of pay, whichever is greater, that First Place, 2018 issue in chapter six and it reads in part: occurs during each 24-hour period 617 Other Delivery Procedures First Place (tie), 2014 starting at the end of the employee’s 617.1 Delivery in Multiple-Floor GENERAL EXCELLENCE – 631.54 Apartment Houses scheduled tour. (Emphasis Added) Buildings LARGE BRANCH PUBLICATIONS – MORE THAN 1,500 MEMBERS 631.541 General Accountable mailpieces and/or items First Place, 2018 Delivery of mail to individual boxes in 223.12 “Teletime” is paid to employees that do not fit into the mailbox or parcel First Place, 2016 a residential building containing apart- for the actual duration of the call(s) locker are attempted in person to the First Place, 2014 ments or units occupied by different ad- that occur during each 24-hour period addressee or authorized agent, without First Place, 2012 dressees is contingent upon USPS conclud- starting at the end of the employee’s regard to the floor on which his or her of- First Place, 2010 ing the following requirements are met: scheduled tour. fice or apartment is located. (Emphasis First Place, 2008 a. The building contains three or more First Place, 2002 Added) First Place, 1996 units (above, below, or behind — 223.13 “Guarantee Teletime” is paid Exception: If there is no working eleva- First Place, 1994 not side by side) with: to employees Grade 19 and above tor in buildings with more than three (3) Second Place, 2006 (1) A common building entrance in an amount to equal 1 hour when floors, delivery of accountable mailpieces Second Place, 1992 such as a door, a passageway, combined with “Teletime” of less than 1 and/or items that do not fit into the mail- Third Place, 2004 or stairs; and hour in a 24-hour period starting at the box or parcel locker (if available) will be Honorable Mention, 1982 (2) A common street address (some end of the employee’s scheduled tour. delivered to one (1) authorized, designated Judges’ Commendation, 1988 part of the address is shared) location on the first floor, or PS Form 3849 BEST EDITORIAL OR COLUMN approved by local or municipal 223.14 “Guarantee Tele Overtime” is will be completed and left in the customer’s Honorable Mention, 2016 authorities. paid to employees Grade 18 and below mailbox. BEST STORY b. The installation and maintenance in an amount to equal 1 hour when Cooperation of customers is requested, First Place, 1996 of mail receptacles are approved by combined with “Teletime” of less than 1 however, in making arrangements for Third Place, 1990 2 Honorable Mentions, 1992 the Postal Service. hour in a 24-hour period starting at the mail to be delivered on the first floor. Honorable Mention, 1990 c. Each apartment is provided one end of the employee’s scheduled tour. BEST CARTOON OR PHOTO box, including that of any resident Yes, brothers and sisters, that includes First Place, 2006 manager or janitor, unless the man- It’s clearly a little old as they refer to parcels that don’t fit in the mail receptacle PROMOTING UNIONISM agement has arranged for mail to being “paged.” Well no one’s been paged or parcel locker in both office buildings be delivered at the office or desk for First Place, 2018 in decades but we’re certainly getting and apartment complexes. Third Place, 2018 distribution by its employees. texts from management. Obviously, in If you’ve ever wondered if there are Third Place, 1992 d. The grouping of the boxes for the the context and spirit of this provision special instructions on delivering mail to Judges’ Commendation, 1988 building is at a single point readily “paged” and “texted” would mean the Postal Officials, there is. The POM has so BEST WEBSITE accessible to the carrier. Note: The same thing. As the intent of the parties is much info that it even has instructions on First Place, 2018 tenant’s correct mailing address to pay employees for being contacted by how to deliver mail to a supervisor or any BRANCH 34’s CLAN is the Official Publication of is the address of the entrance at management outside of work. member of Postal Management. It doesn’t Branch 34 of the National Association of Letter Carriers, which the mail receptacles are If you start filing grievances for this identify them as “Postal Management” AFL-CIO. The Boston Branch was Chartered by the located, and should include the they’ll either stop contacting you outside but we can all read between the lines. That NALC on June 18, 1890. BRANCH 34’s CLAN is published six times each year. apartment number or designated of work or you’ll start making a little extra scenario is addressed as follows: It presents the various issues of the day that are of mailbox number. cash, either way it’s a win. And before concern to the membership. The views and opinions expressed in the articles and columns do not necessarily (Emphasis Added) you get too excited this does not include 612.3 Mail Addressed to reflect the official position of the NALC Branch 34 or being called for OT as described below in Incompetents its officers, but rather those of the author. Who hasn’t been assigned a route and section 223.22 of the POM. If a person is legally declared incompe- Any articles submitted for publication in BRANCH 34’s CLAN must be typewritten, double-spaced and when you go to get the arrow keys there’s tent, that person’s mail may be delivered received at the Branch office no later than the close other keys attached to the keychain? Usu- 223.2 Eligibility under the order of his or her guardian of business on the first of the month of publication: January, March, May, July, September, and November. ally it’s a route with a lot of apartment 223.21 PDC bargaining unit employ- or conservator. Where there is no legal The Editor reserves the right to amend articles and/or buildings and the keys are to gain access to ees are the only employees eligible to representative, the mail is delivered as delay their publication due to the limited availability the mail receptacles. This is improper. No receive PDC Teletime/Guarantee Teletime/ addressed. of space. Permission is hereby granted for the REPRINTING of carrier should accept any keys to access a Guarantee Tele Overtime. any article that originates in this paper provided an customer’s mailbox. It’s the responsibility Hopefully, this was enlightening and appropriate credit line also appears and a copy of the reprint in its new publication is sent to: Editor, NALC of the property owner to provide an elec- 223.22 Employees who are called if you should ever have any questions on Branch 34, 400 West Cummings Park, Suite 3950, tromechanical door lock system or a key solely for the purpose of being “called- anything don’t hesitate to call the Union Woburn, MA 01801-6396. keeper box for the carrier to gain access in” to work outside of their regular work Hall. BRANCH 34’s CLAN enters the Postal Service as third-class, non-profit material. Any change of address to the mailboxes. This is also addressed should be sent to: Editor, NALC Branch 34, 400 West in the POM and it reads in part: Cummings Park, Suite 3950, Woburn, MA 01801-6396. Election Notice for Branch 34 Delegates to Ross Murray, Editor 632.2 Keys to Customer’s Private the 2021 MSLCA Biennial State Convention Jerry McCarthy, Associate Editor Mail Receptacle Bob Simpson, Associate Editor 632.21 General he election of delegates to the Massachusetts State Letter Carriers Association (MSLCA) will be held at the December Branch 34 meeting. 2019-2022 BRANCH 34 NALC Carriers are prohibited from ac- T BOARD OF OFFICERS Nominations will be taken from the floor and there will be no nomination cepting keys for locks on private mail Jerry McCarthy President receptacles, buildings, or offices, except papers necessary to run in this election. Any potential nominees who cannot be Bob Simpson Executive Vice President where an electromechanical door lock in attendance must submit a letter of acceptance at the time of nominations. The Bernadette Romans Vice President names of all the nominees will be read off by the close of the meeting. Michael Murray Secretary-Treasurer system or a key keeper box located within Bobby Damatin Financial Secretary convenient reach of the door is used. Both If necessary, the election will take place at the December meeting. All delegates Ross Murray Editor devices must incorporate an Arrow lock must be elected by a plurality vote. The vote shall be counted and tabulated at Laura Wood-Fahey Area Steward that time. John Fucile Area Steward to access the key or device needed to gain John Lucey Area Steward entry to the building. If customers place Delegates to the MSLCA Convention will not receive financial assistance Dave O’Connor Area Steward locks on their receptacles, the receptacles unless they attend 16 to 24 meetings in the prior two years. Alternates will not Joseph DeMambro Health Benefit Officer be entitled to financial assistance, unless they become delegates. The Sergeant- Dan Kelley Sergeant-at-Arms must have slots large enough to accom- Rich Galvin Clerk, MBA/NSBA modate their normal daily mail volume so At-Arms will validate proof of attendance with the regular monthly meeting Paul Roche Chairman, Trustees that delivery may be made by the carrier signature book. Vigo Conte Trustee without using a key. (Emphasis Added) – Michael Murray, Dan O’Connor Trustee Secretary-Treasurer, Everyone at one time or another has Branch 34 Boston 208 been contacted by management off the BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 3 It’s Not Over Yet! By Ross Murray, I wear it because for all I know, there to devastate com- “Branch 34’s CLAN” Editor could be someone in the building who has munities. i everyone! Let me just start by say- a pre-existing condition that could be seri- Now, I’m not Hing that I hope you all had a safe and ously exasperated by COVID-19. There necessarily asking wonderful summer. I hope that even in could also be someone who LIVES with you to wear it for this crisis, you were able to find some someone who has a pre-existing medical the entirety of your time to relax and enjoy some well-earned condition. shift, only when Annual Leave. I wear it because I know that while you are not able to Some of you remember in the May- most people have a good chance of sur- socially distance. June issue of “Branch 34’s CLAN,” I viving this disease, and some may have Think, workroom wrote an article expressing the importance mild symptoms, there are those that aren’t floor when you of wearing face coverings and even docu- so lucky. Even if you survive COVID-19 leave your case to mented the proper and improper ways of you could still suffer symptoms for weeks sweep mail, use wearing these items. The article was so or MONTHS after getting sick. Addition- the restroom, or get well received that it even caused a Super- ally, this disease can cause permanent your accountables. visor to have a brief moment of mental respiratory damage, as what unfortunately Or with staggered clarity and post a copy of that article next happened to a carrier out of the IMC. shifts when the sec- to a timeclock. Since then, I have seen a But most importantly, I wear it because ond tour of carri- sharp spike in mask usage amongst carri- I understand that wearing a mask (and ers comes in whilst ers and I thank each and every one of you! wearing a mask PROPERLY) plays a you’re still in the However, recently I have noticed a key part in slowing down the spread of office. When you’re on the street, make business or inside an apartment building disappointing new trend on the work- a serious disease that has the potential sure you wear it when you deliver to a or walking on a crowded sidewalk. I know room floor of Supervisors, Clerks, and it’s not fun but it’s the right thing to do! even some of our fellow Carriers have I have included another guide on the started wearing their masks improperly The American Dream right and wrong ways to wear a mask. or not at all! he late George Carlin had a famous you pay 1.45% Remember, surgical masks and reusable Now look, I don’t like wearing a mask comedy routine called The American into Medicare, two layer masks are the most effective. as much as the next guy. It doesn’t play T Dream, if you haven’t seen it, google it, honestly if your Be safe and carry on! well with my facial hair, fogs up my because it is more fitting today than when CSRS, I’m not glasses, and is just flat out uncomfortable! he said it 15 years ago!! sure if you pay NALCREST But I still wear it. “You know what they want? They Medicare or not I wear it because for all I know I could Apartment Bids: want more for themselves and less for ev- (I apologize), but have the disease but be Asymptomatic. In erybody else. I’ll tell you what they don’t if you do it still Two-Week Intervals- layman’s terms, be sick with no symptoms want. They don’t want a population of applies just on a Sign Up NOW!!! but still able to spread it. citizens capable of critical thinking- well- smaller scale. So LAURA WOOD FAHEY isted below are the weeks available for Area Steward informed, well educated people capable in total if you are LNALCREST, in Lake Wales, Florida. Don’t Be A SCAB! of critical thinking. That doesn’t help a FERS employee you pay 7.65% to these The rental fee for the one bedroom apart- Urge them to pay their fair them. That’s against their interest. They payroll taxes and the PO matches them. ment is $195.00 per week, plus a $55.00 share and join Branch 34! want obedient workers, people who are This new executive order is going cleaning fee for a total of $445.00 for just smart enough to run the machines to give you back that 7.65% every two two weeks. Back Bay and do the paperwork and just dumb weeks, but I remind you this is not a tax Anyone interested in renting the apart- THOMAS N. CONCANNON enough to passively accept all these cut, it is a tax deferral, there is a big dif- ment, should submit their requests to ROBERT A. ROMIKITIS increasing shit jobs with the lower pay, ference. Branch 34, 400 West Cummings Park, the longer hours, the reduced benefits, The difference is if it’s deferred and not Braintree Suite 3950, Woburn, MA 01801, in care MOLLY LONG the end of overtime, and the vanishing at tax cut or forgiven then you will have of Michael Murray. (This is for Branch 34 pension that disappears as soon as you to pay it back at some point in time!!!! members and their families only) Brookline come to collect it.” As I have poured over numerous The weeks start on Monday and runs CHRISTINE M. BAILEY And now they’re coming for your articles, all of which seem to have the through Sunday. A random lottery will LINDA M. HAZELL Social Security money. They want it same general tone, you will pay either determine the selection if more than one back so they can give it to their criminal the federal government at tax time or request is submitted for the same weeks. Cambridge – Porter Square friends on Wall Street, and you know your employer back, it is unclear who BLANCA I. TEEBAGY You can submit multiple choices, but the what, they’ll get it. You know why? It’s you would pay back as it seems like each apartment is only available for two week Chelsea Carrier Annex (IMC) a big club, and you ain’t in it. You and employer and payroll department gets to intervals. For the weeks beginning De- SANDRA GIORDANO I ain’t in the big club. They don’t care figure it out on their own. cember 21, 2020 – January 3, 2021 have about you at all, you know, and nobody And here’s the issue with that, just be- your bids in by Saturday, November Fenway seems to notice, nobody seems to care.” cause you’re not paying the payroll taxes 14, 2020 and I will begin awarding the BEVERLY A. SCANLON –George Carlin right now does not mean the PO is off the bids that day. After that it’s first come I have reached out to HR and was told hook, for what you would have owed. So Fort Point first served. that this will not affect us as we did not WAYNE J. CHIN even though you haven’t paid your ½ of October 12 – October 25, 2020 fall under the executive order, and that the payroll taxes the PO still has to pay the Hingham-Hull the PO WILL NOT DEFER YOUR full freight for our ½ and their ½. Again October 26 – November 8, 2020 MARK J. DION PAYROLL TAXES, but it’s coming at some point the Post Office will want November 9 – November 22, 2020 from HR so I’m going to warn you any- the money back, and the way it has been November 23 – December 6, 2020 Malden way, to watch your check!!!! floated around is that that most employers December 7 – December 20, 2020 EILEEN M. FINN I hope all of you know by now, that as will recoup that money from you is by December 21, 2020 – January 3, 2021 Medford on August 8, 2020 there was an executive doubling the amount you owe come the GERALD M. LYTES order instituted that will defer payroll 1st pay check of 2021!!!!! January 4 – January 17, 2021 taxes from September 1, 2020 – the end I advise you whole heartedly to pay January 18 – January 31, 2021 Milton of the year!!!! attention to your pay check!!!!! Until, February 1 – February 14, 2021 CHARLES S. ROSEN Sounds great you’ll have a couple of there is clarity on this issue, put 7.6% extra bucks in your pocket, well the the- of your pay every two weeks away, so February 15 – February 28, 2021 Needham ory sounds good but in actuality you and that if HR made a mistake, you won’t March 1 – March 14, 2021 TAMI L. JOHNSON anyone in your family who is working, be caught off guard!!!! March 15 – March 28, 2021 may very well be completely f%$#ed Newton Highlands Fingers crossed HR was right and March 29 – April 11, 2021 SIMON CHAN...... CCA come the first paycheck of 2021!!! (Have your pay check has not been effected, ROBIN I. DEVITTO your family members check with their but if they were wrong, then you are April 12 – April 25, 2021 employers!!!!) ahead of the game because you’re pay- April 26 – May 9, 2021 Scituate The first big problem with this, is no ing attention to your paycheck!!!!! May 10 – May 23, 2021 KAREN M. LYNCH one knows exactly what it means, and And don’t forget that if we all stop pay- May 24 – June 6, 2021 the Administration did not give any guid- ing into Social Security for any extended Stoneham June 7 – June 20, 2021 TINA M. DOHERTY ance until the day before it was supposed period of time beyond this so called defer- to start, and that guidance is to say the ral, then you will not get Social Security June 21 – July 4, 2021 Waltham least is, not helpful. when you go to retire, all that money you July 5 – July 18, 2021 DAVID BAHM So every two weeks if you are a FERS have so diligently paid into it will POOF, July 19 – August 1, 2021 JOSEPH REGNA...... CCA employee, when you get paid you pay BE GONE!!!!!! We apologize in advance if your name 6.2% of what you make to Social Secu- I hope that you all had a great summer August 2 – August 15, 2021 appears on this scab list in error. This information is forwarded to us from our rity, so when you retire you can collect and Labor Day!!! And to all the parents of August 16 – August 29, 2021 National Headquarters and we do our best Social Security, if you are a CSRS em- kids who are currently “remote learning” August 30 – September 12, 2021 to ensure its accuracy. If you are still not ployee you do not pay into Social Securi- don’t forget to utilize the CARES ACT – Michael Murray, in the Union, it’s time to step up and pay ty, unless you have another job outside of FMLA, if you and your family need to your fair share. No excuses. Contact your Branch 34 Secretary-Treasurer, Boston Station Steward to join NOW! the Post office. Also as a FERS employee do so!!!!! 4 BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 When the Postal Service Was the Bomb! I hope everyone had a safe and Postmaster General Arthur Sum- mately 3,000 Massachusetts good summer, a customer of mine left merfield had anexplosive idea to win letters, all of me out this article. I thought everyone the public’s trust. whichhad Congressional would get a good laugh reading it. Stung by the bad publicity, Sum- been written Delegation H H H H H H H H H H merfield looked for a way to show and signed by By Bob Greene his commitment to providing swift him. Each en- U.S. SENATE he Postmaster General was in and reliable mail service. Within two velope bound The Honorable Elizabeth Warren Ta pickle. years, he had worked out a plan. for a U.S. des- Hart Senate Office Bldg., Rm. 317 He had fooled with mail deliv- Operating in secrecy with the tination bore Washington, D.C. 20510 202-224-4543 Fax: 202-224-2417 ery in a way that had infuriated the U.S. Navy, he arranged for the use a four-cent DAN O’CONNOR www.warren.senate.gov public, put members­ of Congress of the submarine U.S.S. Barbero, first-class Trustee in the hot seat with their constitu- which was engineered­ to launch stamp. The letters were addressed The Honorable Edward J. Markey Dirksen Senate Office Bldg., Rm. 218 ents, and backed the president into nuclear missiles.­ Then he requested, to various government officials and Washington, D.C. 20510 a political corner. He was looking for and was granted, access to a five-ton dignitaries. 202-224-2742 Fax: 202-224-8525 a way to re-elevate his national Regulus 1 missile. An ebullient Summerfield believed www.markey.senate.gov stature. Summerfield’s plan was to re- this advanced his theory: “Before man So he commandeered a missile move the part of the missile that reaches the moon, mail will be deliv­ U.S. HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES with the capability of carrying a held the warhead, and re ­place it ered within hours from New York First Congressional District nuclear warhead. As comically bizarre with a container full of mail. to California, to England, to India or The Honorable Richard E. Neal as this may sound – like a plot that Then, from out at sea, the Navy Australia by guided missiles.” Postal Rayburn House Office Bldg., Rm. 341 Washington, D.C. 20515 even a demented B-movie producer would launch the missile toward a workers at the Naval base hustled 202-225-5601 Fax: 202-225-8112 would reject – it happened. In 1957, distant target. When it got there, the letters­ onto trucks, enroute to neal.house.gov the U.S. Postmaster Gen­eral Arthur Summerfield would retrieve the their finaldestinations. Second Congressional District E. Summerfield at­tempted to deal letters and have them delivered to There would never be another­ The Honorable James P. McGovern with a budgetary shortfall by doing their addressees, thus providing a missile delivery of U.S. Mail. Sum- Cannon House Office Bldg., Rm. 408 what, to him made sense. He decided preview of the speed of future mail. merfield’s enthusiasm­ aside, no one Washington, D.C. 20515 to cut back on delivery days by getting On a spring morning in 1959, in government­ wanted to pursue 202-225-6101 Fax: 202-225-5759 rid of the Saturday mail. from 100 miles out in the At­lantic it. In ensuing decades, electronic mcgovern.house.gov The idea backfired. The public Ocean, the crew of the Barbero advances made the delivery of writ- Third Congressional District was enraged when, on Saturday, launched the missile in the direc- ten information instanta­neous. Next The Honorable Lori Trahan April 13, no mailwas delivered. tion of Mayport Auxiliary­ Naval time you’re walking­ down the street Longworth House Office Bldg., Rm. 1616 Elected officials knew they had to fix Air Station, near Jacksonville, FL. checking email on your phone, be Washington, D.C. 20515 202-225-3411 Fax: 202-226-0771 things, and fast. Within three days, Twenty-two minutes later, the re- grate­ful you don’t have to instead trahan.house.gov Congress had passed an emer­gency motely con­trolled missile, equipped scan the sky for screaming squad- appropriation and President Dwight with landing gear, arrived with its rons of incoming postal rockets. Fourth Congressional District H H H H H H H H H H The Honorable Joseph P. Kennedy III D. Eisenhower had signed off on payload intact. Waiting for it was the Cannon House Office Bldg., Rm. 304 it. The next Saturday, the mail was Postmaster General himself. Bob Greene’s books include “Chev- Washington, D.C. 20515 back. He helped to unload the approxi- rolet Summers, Dairy Queen Nights.” 202-225-5931 Fax: 202-225-0182 kennedy.house.gov Represented Communities: Brookline, Newton, Needham, Motorizing Kenmore? Wellesley, Dover, Medfield, Millis, Medway, Milford, Hopkinton, Hopedale, Bellingham, Franklin, Norfolk, ostal management in their infinite livery unit or parking area. b. Issue Wrentham, Plainville, Foxboro, Sharon, Attleboro, Pwisdom has decided to mount the (6) Fuel conservation. 30-day North Attleborough, Mansfield, Norton, Easton, Seekonk, Kenmore station. For those who don’t b. Following the first survey, a sec- can- Rehoboth, Taunton, Raynham, Dighton, Berkley, Lakeville, Freetown, Somerset, Swansea know, the Kenmore station moved to ond survey will be conducted by cella- the GMF about a year ago after they local management. Initiate and tion Fifth Congressional District lost their lease. They gave the regular complete PS Form 4315, Evalua- no- The Honorable Katherine Clark foot carriers a vehicle to get to and Rayburn House Office Bldg., Rm. 2448 tion of Routes for Motorization, tices RICH GALVIN Washington, D.C. 20515 Clerk, NBA/NSBA from their route but they continued to in original and two copies, to re- on dri- 202-225-2836 Fax: 202-226-0092 have combination truck routes deliver flect present and proposed costs veout agreements. katherineclark.house.gov relays and parcel post. only for those letter routes being c. Assure that all carriers are quali- Represented Communities: Arlington, Belmont, The PO recently decided to mo- considered for motorization. fied to drive the vehicles that will Framingham, Lexington, Lincoln, Malden, Medford, Natick, torize the station and as a result they A separate PS Form 4315 must be assigned to them and hold a Revere, Stoneham, Waltham, Watertown, Wayland, abolished most of the combination be completed for each delivery valid state driver’s license. Weston, Winchester, Winthrop, Woburn truck routes. They did this without do- unit. Before actual conversion, d. Relabel the case to conform to Sixth Congressional District ing anything that they were supposed the unit manager must evaluate new delivery pattern. The Honorable Seth Moulton to do. When the PO is considering and adjust routes as necessary. e. Make adjustments at the time of Longworth House Office Bldg., Rm. 1127 motorizing a station they have to do a Washington, D.C. 20515 Use the formula dealing with implementation. 202-225-8020 Fax: 202-225-5915 number of different things. The M-39 Route Adjustment Without f. Revise remaining parcel post, moulton.house.gov is managements handbook; just like Special Inspection. (See 141.1.) relay, and collection schedules. the M-41 is our handbook the M-39 Seventh Congressional District g. Make arrangements for removal The Honorable Ayanna Pressley is theirs. The following language We had a meeting with manage- of relay boxes declared surplus. Longworth House Office Bldg., Rm. 1108 can be found in the M-39 handbook ment to discuss these changes and Washington, D.C. 20515 on how motorizing a station is to be none of this had been done. That’s 154 Route Inspections 202-225-5111 Fax: 202-225-9322 handled: right, they decided to do something Inspect routes 30 days after start pressley.house.gov without doing any analysis first. If of motorization except for vehicles Represented Communities: Boston, Cambridge, Chelsea, Everett, Milton, Randolph, Somerville 15 City Delivery Service anyone’s ever been to Kenmore Sq. assigned during accounting periods Motorization they know it’s a congested area of 3-9-10-11-12. Schedule inspections Eighth Congressional District 151 Surveys downtown Boston that’s not condu- The Honorable Stephen F. Lynch within 15 days after these abnormal Rayburn House Office Bldg., Rm. 2109 Two types of operational surveys cive to being motorized. Where are periods. Make final route adjustments are to be conducted to determine Washington, D.C. 20515 these vehicles going to park? Obvi- and complete the after cost section of 202-225-8273 Fax: 202-225-3984 feasibility of motorization, as follows: ously, management didn’t do any PS Form 4315 as a result of count and lynch.house.gov a. The first study will be an op- survey to figure that out. inspection. Further attention must be Represented Communities: Abington, Avon, Boston, erational review of each delivery Since they didn’t do any of the work given if actual after cost per delivery is Braintree, Bridgewater, Brockton, Canton, Cohasset, unit having foot routes to see if it they’re required to do before making greater than proposed cost per deliv- Dedham, East Bridgewater, Hingham, Holbrook, Hull, Milton, is practical and feasible to install their decision it should come as no ery shown on PS Form 4315. Norwood, Quincy, Raynham, Scituate, Stoughton, Walpole, Weymouth, West Bridgewater, Westwood, Whitman vehicles. Consider: surprise that they didn’t implement (1) Area and type of delivery it correctly either. The M-39 goes on Since then we’ve had a meeting Ninth Congressional District The Honorable William Keating serviced by each delivery to discuss how that is to be done as with the carriers of Kenmore, we unit. Rayburn House Office Bldg., Rm. 2351 follows: gathered their concerns and had an- Washington, D.C. 20515 (2) Availability of parking facili- other meeting with management. We 202-225-3111 Fax: 202-225-5658 ties, docking, and maneu- 153 Preparation for Conver- discussed the lack of steps completed keating.house.gov vering area. sion by management and the lack of any Represented Communities: Norwell, Rockland, Hanover, (3) Street, road parking, and After District approval to proceed valuable data at this time due to the Hanson, Pembroke, Duxbury, Halifax, Plympton, Kingston, traffic conditions. with motorization and before the Coronavirus. We were successful in Middleborough, Carver, Plymouth, Fall River, Westport, Dartmouth, New Bedford, Acushnet, Fairhaven, Rochester, (4) Distance, travel time, and vehicles are assigned, the delivery unit convincing management to put off type of transportation nec- Mattapoisett, Marion, Wareham, Bourne, Sandwich, manager shall: any adjustments. And all inspections Falmouth, Sandwich, Mashpee, Barnstable, Hyannis, essary to transport the foot a. Notify the craft organization have been postponed for the month of Yarmouth, Dennis, Brewster, Harwich, Orleans, Chatham, carriers. representative as promptly as September. The Branch will keep the Eastham, Wellfleet, Truro, Provincetown, Aquinnah, (5) Night time security for the possible of the date changes will members informed as more informa- Goswold, Chilmark, West Tisbury, Tisbury, Oak Bluffs, vehicles while parked at de- be made. tion becomes available. Edgartown, Nantucket BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 5 Branch 34 Salutes Its Retirees South Boston’s Michael Kidd

Branch 34 Vice President Bernadette Romans presents South Boston’s Michael Kidd with his Retirement Jacket.

South Boston Letter Carriers give Michael Kidd a Grand exit with a Cake and other fun surprises.

South Boston’s Michael Kidd makes his last swipe.

6 BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 Brookline’s Billy Moroney

Billy loving his Retirement Jacket and Watch.

Billy loving his Retirement. Captain Billy Moroney, Braintree Shop Steward Rick Fraser and their friend Woburn’s Tommy Butera Steve celebrates 1st place win in a Fishing Tournament.

Branch 34 President Jerry McCarthy presented Woburn Retiree Tom Butera with his Jacket and Watch.

Woburn Shop Stewards Richard Bucci and Vigo Conte celebrating with Tom Butera.

West Roxbury’s Dave McQuire West Roxbury’s Dave McQuire makes his last swipe.

Brookline’s Ronald “Ron” Richardson Branch 34 President Jerry McCarthy along with West Roxbury Shop Steward Mike Walter and Retiree Dave McQuire.

Brookline retiree Ronald “Ron” Richardson makes his final swipe.

Brookline Shop Stewards Joe Demambro and Dean Gonatas along with Branch 34 President Jerry McCarthy celebrate Ron’s retirement. Wishing you a Happy Retirement, Ron!

BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 7 More Branch 34 Retirees Saluted Wellesley Square’s Kevin Pinkham

Wellesley Square retiree Kevin Pinkham with Shop Steward Charles Iantosca and Branch 34 Wellesley Square Letter Carriers wish Retiree Kevin Pinkham a Happy Retirement. President Jerry McCarthy. Cambridge-Porter Square’s James Robbins

Cambridge-Porter Square Letter Carriers help celebrate James’s last day. James Robbins from Cambridge-Porter Square retires. Branch 34 President Jerry McCarthy presents him with his Retirement Jacket and watch. South Weymouth’s Rusty Craven & Andy Pelley CCAs and Your 4-Hour Guarantee? here has been a lot of questions, con- hour guarantee is Tcerns, and confusion regarding the addressed by the scheduling of CCAs. parties in the Joint There has been a mixed batch of is- Questions and sues from: Answers 2011 BERNADETTE ROMANS Vice President • “I was scheduled to report to work, USPS/NALC and I received a call from manage- National Agreement, Joint Contract ment prior to leaving my residence Administration Manual (JCam) dated instructing me not to report.” July 2014 . The complete Joint Q & A’s • “I was scheduled to report to work , are found on JCAM pages 7-20 through and as I was traveling in, I received 7-30. See the guarantee language below: a call from Management instructing Question #23. Do CCAs have a work me not to report.” hour Guarantee? • “I was scheduled to report to work, Answer #23. Yes, CCAs employed and I reported, but I was told by in Post Offices and facilities with 200 or Management that they had over- more work years of employment have staffed and they no longer needed a four-hour work guarantee and CCAs South Weymouth Shop Steward Rusty Craven and Letter Carrier Andy Pelley Retire. me.” To help celebrate the wonderful occasion is Branch 34 President Jerry McCarthy. employed in all other post offices have a • “I was scheduled to report to work, two-hour guarantee. and I reported, but management All Letter Carriers should be aware overstaffed and they were looking of what your RIGHTS are! for volunteers to go home, so I vol- unteered.” Branch 34 • “I was scheduled to report to work, President and I reported and worked less than Jerry McCarthy 4 Hours! presents Retiree The only scenario above that In Memoriam Rusty Craven and does not apply to the 4-Hour Guar- Bruce McCormack* Andy Pelley with antee is if Management calls you Retired Member – South Weymouth their retirement prior to you leaving your residence jackets and and instructs you not to report. Shelton Tutin* watches. All the other scenarios listed do apply Retired Member – Mattapan to the 4Hour Guarantee...YOU ARE James Wu GUARANTEED 4 HOURS OF PAY! ACTIVE Member – Newton Centre If you are not sure if your scenario ap- * Denotes Gold Card Member plies or not sure if you were properly paid, please see your Shop Steward, or call the Rest in Peace Union Hall for guidance. The CCA work 8 BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 Retirement Information hether you’re eligible to retire now or years away from Wretirement here’s a few things you should know about the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS): FERS covers every employee hired after January 1, 1984. Prior to that the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) covered federal employees. There are three components to the FERS: • Basic Benefit Plan (+ Special Annuity Supplement) • Social Security • Thrift Savings Plan (up to 5% matching) MICHAEL MURRAY The Basic Benefit Plan is a defined amount you’ll receive Secretary-Treasurer every month. The amount depends on how long you work. Annuitants receive 1% for every year they work (1.1% if you’re 62 or older and have at least 20 years of service). That 1% is based off of your high three years of salary (sorry it doesn’t include OT). So, if you retired today as a Grade 1 carrier with 34 years of service your annuity would be $1,803 a month. For those who started their career later in life you need to have 5 years of credit- able service and be at least 62 years of age to be eligible for an immediate retirement with unreduced benefits. Depending on when you were born you can retire anywhere from age 55 to 57 with at least 30 years of service. Obviously, you can work as long as you’d like but if you’re looking for early parole that’s your minimum retirement age (MRA). For everyone born after 1969 your MRA is 57. I know what you’re thinking Branch 34 President Jerry McCarthy long with Cambridge Letter Carriers Bobby Tremarche and Enzo DeMello. “I won’t be able to afford early parole on that amount.” But there’s more; for those who retire voluntarily at their MRA, with at least 30 years of service, but prior to turning 62 the FERS has a supplemental annuity. Which Branch 34 Letter Carriers is essentially a bridge to get you from your MRA to age 62 when you’ll be able to collect your Social Security. You don’t have to collect your Social Security at age 62 Rally in Cambridge & Malden but the supplemental annuity ends at 62 regardless of what you decide to do. I know what you’re thinking “how much will I get?” Unfortunately, It’s a formula that’s not uniform so I can’t give you an exact amount. That formula is: • Get Social Security estimate of projected age-62 benefit • Multiply by years of FERS coverage (rounded to nearest whole number) • DO NOT INCLUDE BANKED SICK LEAVE, MILITARY, ETC. • Divide by 40 The NALC gives the following example, if the employee’s estimated full career Social Security benefit would be $1,000 and he or she worked 30 years under FERS, OPM would divide 30 by 40 (.75) and multiply ($1,000 x .75 = $750). You can get your Social Security estimate by logging onto the Social Security website at https://www.ssa.gov/. I just did my estimate and at 62 it was considerably higher than $1,000. My estimate was $1,890 at 62 and I would have to work 34 years to reach my MRA. So, I divided 34 by 40 (.85) and multiplied that by $1,890 which equaled $1,606.50. And early parole is within sight! Social Security is the second part of the FERS benefit package. You can log onto the website above or wait for your statement in the mail to see how much your estimate is. Branch 34 Area Steward Laura Wood Fahey along with Cambridge Letter Carriers. The third part of our FERS benefit is the Thrift Savings Plan (TSP). Which is kind of like a 401(k). The amount an annuitant will receive from the TSP depends on a number of factors, such as: how much the employee contributes, what funds they invest in and the performance of those funds in the stock market. No one has to participates in the TSP, it’s completely voluntarily. But starting in October of 2020 the PO will automatically contribute 5% of your basic pay to the TSP. From there the PO will match 100 percent of the first 3% of basic pay you contribute, and match you 50% for the next two percent you contribute. To make that easy, if you contribute 5% of your basic pay the PO will match it and it’ll be equal to 10% of your basic pay. And you can invest it however you’d like. According to my most recent TSP projected annuity estimate at 62, I’m due $2,314 a month. This is not a guarantee and they used an annuity interest index of 3.250%. That interest index changes based on the funds you’re invested in. So, crunch those numbers brothers and sisters you may have more coming to you in retirement than you think. Based on my numbers if I were 57 I’d be getting about $65,000 a year for not coming to work. Retirement benefits are like any of the other benefits we enjoy today brothers and sisters. They weren’t given to us, they were fought for and won. The Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) took over 100 years to get signed into law in 1920. And the day after it got signed into law I’m sure there was someone working on trying to take it away. It’s been a hundred years since we won retirement benefits and there are still plenty of people looking to strip them away from us. How many of us have heard the narrative they push on the American worker: “I don’t have it, so why should you?” Rather than: “you have it, why don’t I?” Don’t let their narrative go unchallenged. Only through vigilance and political engagement can we protect retirement benefits for ourselves and the next genera- tion of letter carriers.

Branch 34 Area Steward Laura Wood Fahey with a Malden Resident. ATTENTION RETIRED LETTER CARRIERS: H To Our Troops! H Thank You For Your Service Anyone who meets the 50 year and Your Sacrifice! requirement to receive a GOLD CARD, please contact the Union NALC BRANCH 34 Office at 781-281-1133 to provide and SUPPORTS YOU! receive more information.

BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 9 Thank You from Branch 34 Scholarship Recipients Colin S. Graham ’d like to extend my gratitude to the nomination of the history department. INational Association of Letter Carriers This program develops leaders and Branch 34 for awarding me this generous promotes the democratic system by scholarship. I will be attending the modeling the levels of American University of New Haven and studying government. During my week at Boys Criminal Justice with a concentration in State, I was appointed by the Board of Investigative Services in the fall. Selectmen as the Police Chief, ensuring My interest in studying the criminal the safety of all citizens of our town, justice system stems from my early “Iwo Jima.” Through this experience, teenage years. where I took interest I was able to critically think through in television programs involving law difficult situations that arrose in our enforcement. Cops and Live PD were town and state government. I believe this among them. My interest expanded to skill will help me in my career in law government and civics as I advanced in enforcement. my high school career. I was offered the Following receiving a degree in James Wu with his girlfriend, Rachel. opportunity to take AP U.S. History and criminal justice, I intend to start my AP U.S. Government and Politics, as career in law enforcement. At this time, I well as Street Law. I thoroughly enjoyed am unsure on which level of government those classes. Through this exploration I will serve, whether that be on the of U.S. history. U.S. politics, and the federal, state, or local level, but I will civil and criminal legal system, my put forth my best effort in achieving that interest in criminal justice was further goal. Once again, I’d like to thank the strengthened. National Association of Letter Carriers I was afforded the opportunity to Branch 34 in assisting me to work attend the 75th Annual Massachusetts toward my degree. Boys State program in 2019 through the Kelly Joyce want to sincerely thank you for award- Psychology next year at UMass Amherst I ing me this generous scholarship. with the hopes of being a Clinical During my time in high school, I Psychologist. After more schooling, I played volleyball, basketball, soft ball and hope to continue being involved at UMass outdoor track. I also enjoyed leading clubs by playing Club Volleyball. such as, the Rotary, PALS, UNICEF, Peer The scholarship will be extremely Mentoring and serving on the Red Devils helpful in assisting me to achieve my Athletic Leadership Team. I plan to study educational goals. Madeline Rufo y name is Madeline Rufo and I’m in nursing. I will also be a part of their Mso grateful to have received this Cross Country and Track teams, which scholarship. I am really excited about! My biggest In my free time I enjoy running, bik- academic goal is to become a pediatric ing, and spending time with family and nurse! Again, I am sincerely thankful that friends. In the fall, I will attend UMass you have extended your generosity to help Dartmouth’s Honors College and major me fulfill this goal! Newton Centre Letter Carrier Corner Passes Away While Delivering His ur fundraising efforts have taken a big The Hancock Tavern Own Route Ohit due to the Coronavirus. But we Quincy Yacht Club ALC is deeply saddened to learn that 54-year old letter carrier and Branch do have at least one bright spot to report. Pete’s Bar & Grille N34 member James Wu passed away August 18, 2020, while delivering his North Quincy Steward, Cathy Cooper Coop’s Bar & Grille route. Brother Wu worked at the Newton Center Post Office in Boston, where had a number of bars, restaurants, clubs, Cagney’s Pub he was also an on-the-job instructor. On the day of his death he was training a posts and other businesses in the city Rags Tavern new employee when he suffered a cardiac event, became unresponsive, and of Quincy sell MDA Shamrocks. Even Morrisette Post unfortunately was unable to be resuscitated. though the lockdown happened before Malachy’s Saloon “On behalf of the NALC, we mourn the loss of Brother Wu,” NALC President St Patrick’s Day, these businesses came The Irish Pub Fredric Rolando said. “Earlier this year, James celebrated 14 years of service through. They raised a total of $994.00 QCA with USPS and he dedicated many of those years to training new employees for the MDA!!! Fowler House how to be professional letter carriers. He served them, as well his customers, If you should ever find yourself in Early American very well. We send our thoughts and prayers to Brother Wu’s family, friends, Quincy and are looking for a place to eat Sly Fox Tavern coworkers, and loved ones.” or have a cocktail, please consider one of Quincy Elks these places: Thank you to Cathy Cooper! It’s Manet Lounge people like her that help make this world Taking the “DeJoy” Out of the Postal Service… Nickerson Post a little brighter. (continued from page 2) Squantum Cutters Fraternally, times right on the front page of those me- phones to those offices must be rung. All Ehrlich Pest Control George Adams, diums! Louis DeJoy is a wanted man, and of us can play a crucial role in deliver- Maggie’s Lounge Branch 34 MDA Chairman Congress has subpoenaed him to appear ing the Postal Service from its current before their committees to answer for his dilemma. Whether speaking with friends, recent transgressions. At no time in our family, or neighbors, calling, writing, or Congratulations Retirees! collective past have we meant so much tweeting our congressmen, women and to so many people, and we cannot afford senators, we all need to be at the ready, n behalf of President McCarthy, the John Keegan...... Cambridge A to tactfully, and strategically miss the boat and on message about what’s going on, Board of Officers and the Brothers O Michael Kidd...... South Boston in explaining to all interested parties the and the need for Union – guided change. and Sisters of Branch 34, we extend our impact of the current administration on Americans want a viable postal service, wishes for a long, happy, healthy and Dave McQuire...... West Roxbury our operation, but just as importantly, but they need to know the facts, and well-deserved retirement to the following William “Billy” Moroney...... Brookline show them the road map to a stronger aligning themselves with us will only recently retired members: Andy Pelley...... South Weymouth and more vital Postal Service. We must strengthen that cause! At no time in Lawrence Atkinson ...... IMC Chelsea Kevin Pinkham...... Wellesley Square explain this is what happens when labor our history do we need them fighting Tommy Butera...... Woburn John “Jay” Princiotto, Jr...... Fort Point doesn’t assist in piloting an agency that by our sides like we do right now. So it Rusty Craven...... South Weymouth Ronald “Ron” Richardson...... Brookline exists exclusively for the American is imperative that the message we send James Robbins...... Cambridge-Porter Sq. Public. DeJoy has no business leading brings them into the fold, and spells out Charles “Chuck” Hanegan...... Brookline the USPS, and should’ve never been to all Americans the necessity for our appointed in the first place. The doors future existence. And first things being of Congress must be knocked, and the first: Show Louis DeJoy the door! 10 BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 SIGN ME UP! How to Contribute to the Letter Carrier Political Fund (NALC’s PAC)

Using Using Postal EASE – ONLINE Enrollment Postal EASE – Enroll by PHONE

Using Using ELECTRONIC FUND TRANSFER Your Retirement ANNUITY

By making a contribution to the Letter Carrier Political Fund, you are doing so voluntarily with the understanding that your contribution is not a condition of membership in the National Association of Letter Carriers or of employment by the Postal Service, nor is it part of union dues. You have a right to refuse to contribute without any reprisal. The Letter Carrier Political Fund will use the money it receives to contribute to candidates for federal office and undertake other political spending as permitted by law. Your selection shall remain in full force and effect until cancelled. Contributions to the Letter Carrier Political Fund are not deductible for federal income tax purposes. Federal law prohibits the Letter Carrier Political Fund from soliciting contributions from individuals who are not NALC members, executive and administrative staff or their families. Any contribution received from such an individual will be refunded to that contributor. Save Your Job! Use Your Voice! Contribute to the Letter Carrier Political Fund!

BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 11 firstprioritycu.com

Members Are Our First Priority Since 1924 Convenient Locations and Hours IMPORTANT!! Certi cates of Deposit,IRAs, Home Equity Loans/Lines of Credit Money Market Accounts Online Mortgage Center Business Accounts Mortgage Products: Residential, Free OnlineALL Banking &LETTER Bill Payment CARRIERS Jumbo, Commercial Mobile Banking, eStatements, Auto Loans & Personal Loans Telephone Banking and more Checking and Savings Accounts KneeContact us to and become aHip Member today!ARTHRITIS is the Silent Federally insured by NCUA. Shares and Deposits inO excessCCUPATIONAL of NCUA limits are fully insured by MSIC .DISEASE that No One 800-949-7628 | 100 Swift St., East Boston | 25 Dorchester Ave., Boston IMPORTANT!!Tells You About. ALL LETTER CARRIERS If You . . . IMPORTANT!!1. Have had a hip/knee replacement; or Knee and Hip ARTHRITIS is the Silent ALL LETTER2. Have beenCARRIERS diagnosed with leg arthritis; or OCCUPATIONAL DISEASE that No One Knee and Hip3. ARTHRITIS Have chronically is the sore Silent knees; or OCCUPATIONALTells You About. DISEASE4. Have That had No knee One surgery Tells You for About. ANY reason; then If You . . . YOUIf you… MAY BE ENTITLED TO: 1. Have1. hadHave a hip/knee had a hip/knee replacement; replacement; or or 2. Have been diagnosed with leg arthritis;SUBSTANTIAL or COMP 3. Have2. chronicallyHave been sore diagnosed knees; or with leg arthritis; or 4. Have3. hadHave knee chronically surgery for soreANY reason; knees; then or BENEFITS YOU4. Have MAY had BE knee ENTITLED surgery forFor TO: ANY more reason; information then call: SUBSTANTIALYOU MAY BE COMP ENTITLED TO: SUBSTANTIALBENEFITS COMP BENEFITS For more informationFor more call:information call: 888844 NALC DOL Atty Law 888.625.2529844.365.2889 ServingServingServing Letter Federal Letter Carriers CarriersEmployees forfor for Over OverOver 30 40 30 Years!Years! Years 888 NALC Law 12 BRANCH 34’s CLAN SEPTEMBER-OCTOBER 2020 888.625.2529 Serving Letter Carriers for Over 30 Years