WINTER 2021 THE MAIL HANDLERTHE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE NATIONAL POSTAL MAIL HANDLERS UNION COVID PANDEMIC FAR FROM OVER MAIL HANDLERS PERFORM ESSENTIAL SERVICE AS VACCINE DISTRIBUTION BEGINS PRESIDENT’S REPORT – NPMHU RELEASES NPMHU WOMEN’S 4 THE COVID CRISIS IS FAR 15 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA 30 COMMITTEE- WOMEN FROM OVER FOR THE 117TH CONGRESS IN LEADERSHIP 69785_NPMHU_Magazine_Winter_21.indd 1 3/5/21 7:44 PM Go to the App Store or Google Play and search “NPMHU” to install and use at no charge INSTALL THE FREE NPMHU MOBILE APP FOR YOUR IPHONE OR ANDROID SMARTPHONE We are pleased to provide this communication tool to all Mail Handlers. You can access the latest news, updates, events, and information of organizational importance. THE APP’S FEATURES INCLUDE: + C urrent NPMHU news with periodic push notifications of importance + L egislative and Political NPMHU Action Center + Quadrennial Convention Information + NPMHU Women’s Committee + Current Wage Charts + C OVID-19 Resources 69785_NPMHU_Magazine_Winter_21.indd 2 3/5/21 7:44 PM WINTER THE MAIL 2021 HANDLER NATIONAL POSTAL CONTENTS MAIL HANDLERS UNION Secretary-Treasurer’s Report NPMHU Recognizes 2020 NATIONAL EXECUTIVE BOARD 6 19 A Year in a Pandemic, PAC Contributors By the Numbers Paul V. Hogrogian Mail Handlers Support JDRF National President Contract Administration 26 10 Department Report Michael J. Hora MHBP® Health Plan Report Understanding Relative 28 Secretary-Treasurer Standing and Seniority Mail Handlers June Harris 34 Across the Country Vice President Legislative and Central Region 12 Political Report See pictures of various meetings and functions th John A. Gibson NPMHU Presses 117 across the country Congress for Postal Reform Vice President Eastern Region David E. Wilkin Vice President Northeastern Region Lawrence B. Sapp Vice President Southern Region Don J. Sneesby Vice President Western Region ON THE COVER: The Mail Handler, ISSN:1098-5689, Mail Handlers is published quarterly by the perform critical vote National Postal Mail Handlers by mail mission in Union, 815 16th St, N.W. Suite 5100, midst of Coronavirus Washington, DC 20006. Periodicals pandemic postage paid at Washington, D.C. and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to The Mail Handler, 815 16th St, N.W. Suite 5100, Washington, DC 20006. Copyright 2021: National Postal Mail Handlers Union. All rights reserved. Reproduction without permission is pro hibited. The Mail Handler is published for the members of our union. For additional copies please send $2.00 to: National Postal Mail Handlers Union—National Headquarters, 815 16th St, N.W. Suite 5100, Washington, THE QUARTERLY PUBLICATION OF THE DC 20006, (202) 833-9095. NATIONAL POSTAL MAIL HANDLERS UNION 69785_NPMHU_Magazine_Winter_21.indd 3 3/5/21 7:44 PM PRESIDENT’S REPORT THE COVID CRISIS IS FAR FROM OVER Paul V. Hogrogian, National President ear Members: cap for COVID-related reasons remain The latest numbers reflect that there With the year 2021 just begin- subject to a separate MOU. are approximately 5,800 postal employ- D ning, already the NPMHU has The bottom line is that the Postal ees who are infected with another been aggressively representing Mail Service has been granted short exten- approximately 4,000 in quarantine. Handlers across the country. sions for Peak MHAs, during a time Since the onset of the pandemic, On Christmas Eve, the NPMHU and when the pandemic continues and approximately 3,700 Mail Handlers the USPS finalized a historic MOU COVID-related MHAs are being utilized, have tested positive for the COVID that provided for additional Mail and in return the NPMHU has been virus. The number of COVID related Handler staffing in 183 installations. guaranteed at least 5,291 MHA conver- deaths of postal employees is at least As set forth in more detail in the sions to full-time career status by March 160 (including at least 17 Mail Handlers). MOU, the Postal Service has agreed 13, 2021. The National Office and the Although a vaccine is becoming to convert 5,291 MHAs to career status National Executive Board concluded available on a limited basis, the COVID in these 183 installations by March that this MOU presented an oppor- crisis is far from over. We cannot fall 13, 2021. The number of conversions tunity to increase Mail Handler craft victim to “COVID Fatigue.” We cannot will vary by installation based on the staffing and provide career employ- allow ourselves to be lulled into a false Postal Service’s determination. The ment for more than 5,000 MHAs, while sense of security. We must remain vig- Postal Service also has committed to maintaining the Postal Service’s flexibil- ilant and continue to protect ourselves creating 5,291 Mail Handler positions ity during the COVID-19 crisis. and our co-workers. We must continue in the listed installations. In exchange, The 5,291 conversions are in addition to follow the protocols put in place, any facility not included among the to those MHAs converted to career sta- especially those concerning social 183 listed installations was required to tus resulting from application of the distancing and the wearing of face cov- separate all Peak MHA hires (MHAs Residual Vacancy MOU. The NPMHU erings and masks. hired for reasons unrelated to COVID- Please contact your Union represen- will continue its efforts to convert more 19) necessary to comply with the 24.5% tatives if your facility is not following MHAs and include more installations MHA installation cap no later than any of these protocols (Face Coverings, under this new MOU. Also, nothing in January 22, 2021. In addition, any facil- Supplies, Social Distancing, Stand-Up this MOU precludes Local Unions from ities that were included in the MOU Talks, Cleanings, etc.). pursuing increased staffing and addi- converting five or fewer MHAs would NPMHU representatives at the tional MHA conversions through the also come into compliance with the National, Regional, and Local levels grievance-arbitration procedure. 24.5% cap by January 22, 2021, except continue to meet on a regular basis these facilities could maintain extra * * * with their counterparts in postal man- Peak MHAs equal to their number of agement to discuss the Postal Service’s conversions (from 1-5) until March 27, The COVID-19 pandemic continues response to the outbreak of the virus 2021. Those listed installations con- to have a devastating effect on the and to ensure that the proper proto- verting more than five MHAs must Postal Service and all postal employ- cols are in place during ever-changing separate any non-COVID related Peak ees. Mail Handlers and postal workers circumstances. The NPMHU, as well MHAs on or before March 27, 2021. In from around the country continue to as the APWU, NALC, and NRLCA, all situations, the separation of any courageously perform essential fed- continue to have discussions with Peak MHA will follow the procedures eral service under the extraordinary senior Postal Management to imple- of the National Agreement. MHAs circumstances created by the COVID- ment a “temperature taking” process fired in excess of the 24.5% installation 19 pandemic. in postal installations. Details such as 4 | National Postal Mail Handlers Union 69785_NPMHU_Magazine_Winter_21.indd 4 3/5/21 7:44 PM procedures when an employee exceeds workers, be protected and be given such status provided that the need for reap- that threshold, return to work protocols, priority access to the vaccine. pointment arises within twenty-four and protections for privacy concerns The NPMHU reached agreement (24) months of separation. are still being finalized. Discussions with the Postal Service to further extend The Families First Coronavirus are also taking place regarding which several Memoranda of Understanding Response Act (FFCRA) expired on installations will implement “tempera- (MOUs) and policy statements until December 31, 2020. This means that ture taking” procedures. Finalizing March 26, 2021. These MOUs provide the 80 hours of Emergency Sick Leave these details has become more compli- protections for Mail Handlers in the (ESL) provided by the Act is no longer cated than expected, but we anticipate form of Liberal Leave while ensuring available to postal employees. Instead reaching an agreement soon. for proper Mail Handler staffing in all of stepping up and providing more Discussions with the Postal Service postal installations. protection to its employees during are also taking place regarding making The MOU on the Temporary MHA the pandemic, the Postal Service has COVID-19 testing available for postal Exception Period contains a provi- taken the opposite approach. While employees at postal facilities. The sion that protects the rights of those the Postal Service will continue to NPMHU believes that this would be Mail Handlers who have signed the grant Administrative Leave to those a positive step in ensuring that Mail Overtime Desired List. “The MHAs will employees who are quarantined due to “close contact” while at work, they will now force employees who quarantine due to “close contact” outside of work Please contact your Union representatives to use their own leave. This short- sighted reversal of policy will only put all postal employees at risk. Faced if your facility is not following any of with the possibility of loss of pay, many employees who by all medical these protocols (Face Coverings, logic should be in quarantine, will now report to work and possibly infecting Supplies, Social Distancing, Stand-Up Talks, their co-workers. The NPMHU urges the Postal Service to reverse this ill-ad- Cleanings, etc.). vised decision and do the right thing. The NPMHU is also working with the new Congress, advocating that the Emergency Sick Leave provisions of Handlers and all postal workers are not be used to the detriment of Mail the FFCRA be restored. protected from the COVID-19 pan- Handlers on the Overtime Desired I remain confident that through the demic.