March 23, 2023

Branch Meeting Minutes

Meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM.

Roll Call of Officer: Absences: David Bugay

Minutes from previous meeting: Motion to accept made by Joe Shouse, seconded by Mike Schuler. Motion passed.

Secretary/Treasurer’s Report: Gary Bluestone notified the members that the Branch received and  filed the LM-2 (Labor Organization Annual Report) and he sent paperwork to our Auditors to file our Form 990 (Return for non-profit organizations). Those filings complete our year-end 2022 reporting obligations. Gary reviewed the balances in each account, and they are available to any member in good standing. Motion to accept the Treasurer’s report was made by Mike Schuler, seconded by Joe Shouse. Motion passed.

State Association President: Paul Rozzi spoke of the upcoming lobbying trip to Washington DC with a select few of our Branch members to speak with Congress and their staff on April 26 – 28th.There has been 7 meetings schedules so far. He stated to members of Congress that have been confirmed are Chris DeLuzio and Glen Thompson. Topics that need discussed are the HR-82 and buying back time for TE’s and Casuals. The more involved members get regarding your local Congressmen, the better chance we have getting what we need. The Postal Reform Bill is proof. We will be able to get rid of issues a lot quicker and possibly get what we are asking for. Looking for a Mass Involvement.

HBR/MDA/ACLC: Alex Criego mentioned that the Postal Reform Act that was passed last year and the two main areas that relate to our health care. One is changes to the FEHB program and the other is  Medicare integration. Effective on January 2025, the Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) program will be divided into 2 groups. Postal Employees (who will retain their FEHB enrollment benefits) and Federal Employees. The insurer (NALC) has the potion to participate in both plans for postal & federal employees FEHB Plans. Under the MEDICARE INTEGRATION COMPONENT OF THE POSTAL REFORM ACT, future Postal Service employees will be required to enroll in Medicare A & B. If you previously did not sign up for Med B when eligible, the special enrollment period will be Spring 2024 allowing annuitants to enroll without paying the Medicare late penalty. Alex urges all if they have a subscription to the Pittsburgh Post Gazette to cancel until the Strike is over.

Westmoreland County Labor Council: Mike Hartung told the members that at last month’s meeting for the Labor Council there were quite a few new Officers elected. He also wanted the mebers to know that the Westmoreland County Labor Council sent a check for $500 to the Food Bank on behalf of the Letter Carriers.

MBA: Carole Ann Connelly told the members how she has several handouts and pamplets for  anyone interested in disability insurance.

Safety: Jason Bialek spoke of the multiple rollaways that have been occurring. Take the keys out of the ignition and ALWAYS apply the Emergency Brake. These are very old vehicles and are constantly being driven. There are cameras everywhere and your statement of events are very important. This week he will have site visits in Blawnox, Pleasant Hills, and Greentree. He is scheduled to visit Altoona and State College next month.

Parade: N/A

LCPF: N/A

Vice President’s Report: N/A

Executive Vice President’s Report: N/A

President’s Report: Ted Lee discussed the following items:

  • The final COLA under the 2019-2023 National Contract in the amount of $208 annually, went into effect on March 11, 2023 and will be in the March 31, 2023 paycheck.
  • On March 12 – 15, 2023, all 3 Full-Time officers, Don Watkins, and several stewards attended the Region 12 Training Session in Atlantic City. NALC President Brian Renfroe was in attendance. They received good training regarding:
  • TIAREAP- Joint Route Inspection Process
  • OWCP GRIEVANCE GUIDE
  • Dignity and Respect
  • Steward-Grievance Basics
  • Article 16 & Just Cause Principles

NALC President Brian Renfroe said that the 3 main things that we got out of Postal Reform:

  1. 6-day delivery is permanent
  2. Repealed pre-funding of our health benefits
  3. Provisions in the Bill that was signed into law (HR 3076) by President Biden last year to integrate health care for retirees

There are two main parts of Medicare:  PART A (no monthly premium) & PART B ($160 monthly premium). There will be two groups that need implemented by 2025. The First Group is the retired or still active at 65 or older as of January 1, 2025. The Postal Reform bill will give them the opportunity to enroll and the USPS will pay the penalty during a 6-month window and once this group is signed up within that 6-montth window, the Post Office will pay their penalty for the rest of their lives. The Second Group is active as a letter carrier under 65 as of January 1, 2025. For the Second Group when 65 and retired and eligible for Medicare Part A you will be required to enroll in Part B unless you have no Medicare where you live and/or you have insurance from a different source.

President Renfroe also spoke about Medicare Part D (prescription drug benefits) and Medicare Part C (Advantage Plan). He then moved on to the main objectives:

  1. Long-Term sustainability for the USPS beyond the Postal Reform Act
  2. Nominations to the Board of Governors
  3. Staffing
  4. Crime against Carriers
  5. HR 5376 (Inflation Reduction Act)
  6. Political Action Fund
  7. Challenges in Collective Bargaining
  8. Replace Arrow Key with Technology
  9. Higher Starting Wages
  10. New Route Adjustment Process (TIAREAP)
  11. New Employee Experience Pilots
  12. De’Joye’s 10-year Plan
  13. Carry Over of 520 Hours Permanent?
  14. The next trip out of town will be the DC Legislative lobbying trip on April 26 – 28, 2023. Only a handful of delegates will be attending.
  15. MEMO 4966 (dated March 1 ,2023) – Employees must use their assigned EIN badge. This means they may start badge enforcement.
  16. April meeting date change- Motion to move the Executive Board and Branch meeting from April 27th to April 20th due to officers being out of town for the DC Lobbying trip made by Joe Shouse, seconded by Mike Schuler. Motion passed.
  17. The newsletter will be out early April.
  18. All 3 Full-Time officers were in Bethel Park on March 9, 2023 to interview every carrier regarding their treatment by management.
  19. Ted Lee wrote a letter to the OIG in Virginia over a Greentree supervisor’s actions towards a member.
  20. Pat Rothwell and Dave Bugay conducted a meeting for Allison Park carriers on March 21, 2023 at the Clubhouse. There were 10 carriers in attendance and they spoke on contractual issues and the new TIAREAP Route Adjustment Process which lasted about 2.5 hours.
  21. State President Paul Rozzi is speaking in Harrisburg about the NALC Food Drive in front of Governor Shapiro and other government officials. He has requested that we send some delegates there for his speech. We will be sending a car load to Harrisburg on May 8, 2023 to hear his speech and support him.
  22. 201 Grievances this year
  23. 28 New Hires since last month
  24. Conversions – 14 in the City of Pittsburgh & 4 in the A/O’s
  25. PS Form 1106 Arrow Key – Daily Accountable Log — is NOT a valid PS Form under Article 19 and promulgated according to the ASM. There are no current handbook or manual provisions authorizing use of this form. It should not be used in delivery units, and carriers should not be signing this log.
  26. Overtime Violation- Article 8 Reminders; If you are on the OTDL and management holds you to 8 hours while handing out OT or “pivots” to nons—there is no deal between management and the Union stating that you cannot work your L/O if you work Amazon Sunday.

Unfinished Business: Cristy Lewis asked about a route being put up for bid since the carrier hasn’t carried it in some time which cannot be done until the carrier either resigns or bids another route.

New Business: N/A

Good of the Association: Randy Ball suggested to members to look into getting into a ROTH for retirement.

Paul Miller spoke of the current ongoing strike at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and that there is a strike fund that the Branch can contribute to help strikers who have been out of work. We will take up a collection at next month’s meeting, half of the 50/50, and pass the hat to help these strikers.

Alex Criego strongly suggests members to be careful in health care choices because you must carry your own insurance 5 years before retirement in order to be covered once retired.

Gary Bluestone told the members that the Branch would like to hold a weekday Bingo in April or May for retirees having a lunch and cash prizes. More detail will follow.

Ed Heide spoke of an Amazon driver that was parked unsafely on a steep hill and how the Amazon driver told him that his company doesn’t care about his safety. Ed Heide just wanted all members to be aware and to work safely.

Meeting adjourned at 8:40 PM.

Respectively submitted by Tamara Hartman.

— Published February 15th, 2026 by Branch84