Raul Linares died in an off-duty motorcycle accident on March 31. Brother Linares was a member of Laredo, TX Branch 354, and he carried the mail for six years. He is survived by his parents and his five children, Desiree, Delilah, Daisy, Jenna and Daniel. He was 36.

Danielle Kelly died on Feb. 10 from a blood clot in her heart, possibly related to a knee injury she suffered while on her route on Jan. 19. Sister Kelly was a member of Jacksonville, FL Branch 53. She started as a city carrier assistant in Dec. 2021. Danielle is survived by her husband. She was 34.

Gerald Kudronowicz was found deceased in his work vehicle on Jan. 15. Brother Kudronowicz was a member of Lone Star, TX Branch 132, and he had been a letter carrier for 27 years. He is survived by his mother Mary Ann, his brother Dennis and his sister Rene. He was 65.

“NALC mourns the losses of Raul Linares, Danielle Kelly and Gerald Kudronowicz,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “We send our deepest condolences to their family, friends and colleagues.”

Annette Taylor, an NALC member who delivered mail for 32 years, introduced President Biden at the signing ceremony. Taylor, who served in the Air Force for eight years before beginning her career as a letter carrier, previously served as the president, vice president and recording secretary of Annapolis, MD Branch 651. She is the current vice president of the Maryland State Association of Letter Carriers.  

“NALC is proud to have contributed to the efforts over the last 12 years that resulted in this bipartisan legislation that brings us together today,” Taylor said. “This legislation will help position the USPS to provide the service that the American people deserve. Mr. President, the Postal Service is an essential facilitator of our democracy and our economy. We know there is more to do to secure its long-term viability, but today is a huge step forward.  My union stands ready to assist you.”

“With this bill, we're repealing the pre-funding mandate and setting the Postal Service on a more sustainable and stable financial footing,” President Biden said. “We're guaranteeing that the mail will continue to be delivered six days a week. And the bill increases transparency by requiring the Postal Service to develop an online public dashboard updated weekly with local and national service performance data. Today, we enshrine in law our recognition that the Postal Service is fundamental to our economy, to our democracy, to our health, and the very sense of who we are as a nation.”

“After 12 years of fighting for meaningful postal reform, NALC is gratified to see President Biden sign this bill into law,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “I would like to thank every NALC member who helped us get here. Your solidarity and activism were instrumental in this bill’s path to becoming law.

“I would also like to commend the bipartisan work on this bill that was led by Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney (D-NY), Ranking Member James Comer (R-KY), Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-OH). This legislation will put the Postal Service in a better position to grow and adapt to the evolving needs of America’s households and businesses.

“Today, we celebrate this historic victory for letter carriers, the Postal Service and all Americans who depend on our universal service. We look forward to continuing working with members of Congress and the Biden Administration on reforms that will further strengthen the Postal Service and improve the work and lives of our members.”

A video of the signing ceremony is available here. 

"As the elected leaders of 27 unions and worker organizations collectively representing tens of millions of working people providing essential services across our great nation, we stand together in strong support for Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s nomination to the United States Supreme Court of the United States. This historic nomination demonstrates our nation’s continued path towards becoming a more just society where all children have the opportunity to succeed regardless of what they look like, where they’re from or what their parents do for a living.

“In recent years, working families have experienced firsthand how critical it is to have an equitable, fair and balanced Supreme Court. We need justices who will uphold the Constitution and maintain fidelity to the rule of law, considering every case on its merits without favoring powerful corporations. Judge Jackson meets that test. Her impressive legal career — nearly a decade as a federal judge, service as Vice Chair and Commissioner on the U.S. Sentencing Commission, and her work representing people of various socioeconomic backgrounds as a federal public defender — demonstrates that she is more than qualified to sit on the Supreme Court.

“Working families also know a federal bench that reflects and respects the diversity of our nation is vital to robust and informed decision-making, which is imperative to fostering public trust in the judiciary. Representation matters in our justice system where cultural experience shapes the decisions made by judges. Confirming a Black woman to the Supreme Court after 233 years will not only add a needed perspective to the court, it inspires future generations and is a step towards creating a more just system by demanding a Supreme Court that looks more like America and serves all of us.

“Based on Judge Jackson’s record, demonstration of judicial temperament at last month’s Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearings, and past and current bi-partisan support, we believe senators should enthusiastically vote to confirm her. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson’s strong character and exemplary service reflect the best of our nation. Working people of all backgrounds will hold their senators accountable for how they treat this outstanding nominee when they vote in this year’s midterm elections.”

Signed:

Mary Kay Henry, International President, Service Employees International Union (SEIU)
Elizabeth H. Shuler, President, American Federation of Labor and Congress of Industrial Organizations (AFL-CIO)
John A. Costa, International President, Amalgamated Transit Union (ATU)
Dr. Everett B. Kelley, American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE)
Lee Saunders, President, American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME)
Randi Weingarten, President, American Federation of Teachers (AFT)
Sara Nelson, International President, Association of Flight Attendants-CWA
Anthony Shelton, International President, Bakery, Confectionery, Tobacco Workers and Grain Millers' International Union (BCTGM)
Chris Shelton, President, Communications Workers of America (CWA)
Jennifer Dorning, President, Department for Professional Employees, AFL-CIO
Matthew D. Loeb, International President, International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE)
Robert Martinez Jr., International President, International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers (IAM)
Sean M. O'Brien, General President, International Brotherhood of Teamsters (IBT)
Matthew Biggs, President, International Federation of Professional and Technical Engineers (IFPTE)
Ray Curry, President, International Union, United Automobile, Aerospace & Agricultural Implement Workers of America (UAW)
Lonnie Stephenson, International President, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW)
James Hart, President, Metal Trades Department, AFL-CIO
Fredric Rolando, President, National Association of Letter Carriers AFL-CIO (NALC)
Becky Pringle, President, National Education Association (NEA)
Bonnie Castillo, RN, Executive Director, National Nurses United (NNU)
Michael Sacco, President, Seafarers International Union (SIU)
Lee Blackmon, Director NAGE Federal Division, The National Association of Government Employees (NAGE)
John Samuelsen, International President, Transport Workers Union of America (TWU)
Will Attig, Executive Director, Union Veterans Council (UVC)
D. Taylor, International Union President, UNITE HERE
Anthony M. Perrone, President, United Food and Commercial Workers International Union (UFCW)
Jack W Heffling, President, United Power Trades Organization (UPTO)

This MOU can be found in NALC’s Materials Reference System on the NALC website.

NALC and the Postal Service also agreed to another temporary time limit extension on Step B and arbitration appeals (M-01977), and an agreement giving local parties the ability to mutually develop a sign-up process for full-time employees who previously did not, or could not, place their names on either the overtime desired list or work assignment list (M-01978). Both of these agreements will expire on May 6, 2022.

USPS memorandum (M-01914), which instructs managers and supervisors to allow liberal changes of schedule to accommodate employees who are dealing with childcare issues related to the pandemic has been extended through April 18, 2022. The memorandum also provides for liberal sick leave usage for employees who are sick and liberal annual and leave without pay (LWOP) to the extent operationally feasible, treats COVID-19 related leave as scheduled (as opposed to unscheduled) leave, and directs that leave taken for COVID-19 related reasons during this time may not be cited in discipline for failing to maintain an assigned schedule.

Each of the MOUs and the USPS directive can be found in NALC’s Materials Reference System on the NALC website.

Jim was an active member and a letter carrier for 25 years. Throughout his career, Brother Pollock was a member of Pocatello, ID Branch 927. He served positions at the local and state level, including as Branch 927 president and as director of education for the Idaho State Association of Letter Carriers. Jim was a Navy veteran.

Jim is survived by his daughter, Courtney Green. He was 62.

“NALC sends our deepest condolences to Brother Pollock’s family, friends and colleagues,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “We appreciate his years of leadership at Branch 927. We mourn his loss.”

This guide is designed to keep letter carriers safe in the workplace. It is a compilation of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommendations and Postal Service policies, which the USPS states are based on CDC guidance. Recommendations and policies are subject to change as the pandemic evolves. The guide will be updated online as necessary. 

Denise was a graduate of Temple University. She started working for Branch 157 in 1994. Throughout her career, she worked for six different branch presidents. As the office secretary, Denise referred letter carriers to the appropriate union representative to handle their issues, and she always followed up to ensure that their concerns were addressed. She was a dedicated employee who was beloved in the Branch 157 office and always made newcomers feel welcome.

Denise is survived by her father Robert and her stepbrother Peter. She was 55.

“On behalf of NALC, I send my deepest sympathies to Denise Dodaro’s family, friends and colleagues,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “We appreciate her years of service at the Branch 157 office and know that she will be missed there. We mourn her loss.”

We express our deep gratitude to Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), the chair and ranking member of the Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, for marshalling a huge bipartisan majority for the reform bill and for working with Democrats and Republicans in the House to craft the legislation. H.R. 3076 was a sensible set of reforms that all four corners of Congress could enthusiastically support.  

The successful adoption of the bill reflects years of steady work by NALC members and staff to build consensus among postal stakeholders and members of Congress – as well as the overwhelming support of the American people who have long embraced the Postal Service as a national treasure. We thank our fellow postal unions, the mailing industry and postal management for working together on this effort. The resulting legislation, which repeals the unfair prefunding mandate for retiree health benefits put in place in 2006 and secures the continuation of six-day delivery, puts the USPS in a position to grow and adapt to meet the evolving needs of America’s households and businesses.

Looking ahead, we will continue our efforts to ensure that postal management properly staffs the city carrier craft so that we may once again provide the highest quality of service to our customers throughout the country. And we also look forward to working with the Biden Administration to pursue further administrative and legislative reforms to achieve fair and effective postal pension policies that will further strengthen the agency.

The bill passed last night – with President Biden’s anticipated signature – is a giant step forward in the NALC’s ongoing efforts to secure a brilliant future for one of America’s oldest and most essential institutions.” 

“This is a monumental victory for letter carriers and all Americans who depend on the Postal Service for affordable and high-quality universal service,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “I want to congratulate and thank all the NALC members who lobbied their members of Congress to win passage in the Senate and the House. Thanks to your support, dedication and action, bipartisan postal reform, that was 12 years in the making, has finally passed in both chambers.”

Key provisions of this bipartisan legislation repeal the mandate to pre-fund retiree health care benefits decades in advance, and codify a minimum of six-day delivery of mail and packages into federal law. This will eliminate the need to renew the six-day requirement every year through the congressional appropriations process. The bill also maximizes the integration of future postal annuitants into Medicare.

The legislation, which was led in the Senate by Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee (HSGAC) Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) and Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-OH), reflects a broad bipartisan consensus that is supported by the four postal unions, the mailing industry and Postal Service management.

“NALC commends Chairman Peters and Ranking Member Portman for their bipartisan leadership to get this critical bill passed in the Senate,” President Rolando said. “We also appreciate every senator who voted “yes” on this bill.”

Visit the NALC Legislative Action Center to thank members of Congress who voted “yes” on H.R. 3076. 

As the bill moves through the Senate consideration process, amendments are expected to be offered. NALC continues to support a clean passage of this bill in the Senate, which mirrors the legislation passed in the House last month.

H.R. 3076 is a bipartisan bill that will improve the financial stability of the Postal Service. It includes key provisions for letter carriers, including one that eliminates the mandate that requires the Postal Service to pre-fund its retiree health care benefits decades in advance, and another that codifies six-day mail delivery in federal law. This will eliminate the need to renew the six-day requirement every year through the congressional appropriations process. The bill also maximizes the integration of future postal annuitants into Medicare.

“The Postal Service is one of our nation’s oldest and most trusted institutions, it serves as a critical lifeline for millions of Americans, including seniors and veterans, and rural communities who expect the Postal Service to deliver vital mail, including supplies and medications,” Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) said. “However, for more than fifteen years, this public service and its dedicated workers, have been hindered by burdensome financial requirements. The need to quickly pass these balanced reforms, which are broadly supported by the American people, has become increasingly urgent.”

“Everybody cares about the post office and wants to be sure it is working well and working efficiently. It is not a partisan issue; it is of importance to all Americans—young, old, urban, rural, everybody,” Ranking Member Rob Portman (R-OH) said. “I encourage my colleagues to join me in supporting this bill. Let’s put the post office in a position to succeed and provide those essential services that small businesses, veterans, and rural constituents rely on so much.”

“This postal reform legislation has been over a decade in the making,” Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) said. “These reforms will help to improve service for veterans, small businesses, rural communities, seniors, and millions of Americans who rely on the Postal Service for medicines, essential goods, voting, correspondence, and for their livelihoods.”

“NALC was pleased that the Postal Service Reform Act passed in the House with strong bipartisan support,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “But the job is not finished. We urge the Senate to pass H.R. 3076 as soon as possible and send it to President Biden’s desk.”

“I am grateful to all NALC members who have lobbied their members of Congress to support this bill, and I encourage you to continue contacting your senators and urge them to vote for the bill’s passage.”

You can contact your senators by calling 844-959-1425. For more information, visit NALC’s Legislative Action Center. 

The Postal Service has advised NALC that the PTF hourly rates in the new City Carrier Wage Schedule, effective Feb. 26, 2022, are not expected to be fully implemented until March 26, 2022 (Pay Period 8).

The Postal Service has also advised NALC that any backpay due to the delay in implementing the additional hourly holiday pay for eligible Part-time Flexible City Letter Carriers will be paid retroactive to Jan. 1, 2022.

Steven Byrd died on Jan. 30, 2022. He was a member of Upper Marlboro, MD Branch 6545 and was a letter carrier for 35 years. Steven was an Army veteran. He is survived by his wife Cheryl and his three children Steven, Jordan and Tameka. He was 64.

Ronald Cantimbuhan died on Feb. 2, 2022. He was a letter carrier for 21 years and a member of San Jose, CA Branch 193. He was 46.

“NALC mourns the losses of Steven Byrd and Ronald Cantimbuhan,” NALC President Fredric Rolando said. “We send our deepest condolences to their families, friends and colleagues.” 

Therefore, employees may earn one additional pay period’s worth of annual leave during the 2022 leave year as compared to the typical 26 pay period leave year. For a full-time employee, the extra pay period amount will be 4, 6, or 8 hours, depending on the employee’s leave earning category. Part-time letter carriers earn leave based on the number of work hours during the pay period up to the same amount of leave earned by full-time employees. CCAs are credited with one hour of annual leave for each twenty hours spent in a pay status during each biweekly pay period.

Although employees may earn one additional pay period’s worth of annual leave during leave year 2022, the annual leave carryover maximums will not increase because of it. Employees must use any annual leave in excess of the carryover limit that applies to them by the end of leave year 2022 (Jan. 13, 2023) or they will forfeit the hours of annual leave that are in excess of their carryover limit. Any additional leave earned by CCAs will be paid out when they take their mandatory break in service between appointments.