As an independent agency that exercises regulatory oversight over the Postal Service, the PRC’s responsibilities include preventing anticompetitive practices, promoting accountability, adjudicating complaints, setting postal rates and helping oversee delivery service standards.

The PRC is made up of five commissioners who are nominated by the president for six-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. Taub is a two-time appointee to the Commission following unanimous confirmations by the U.S. Senate in 2011 and 2016. This will be Taub’s third term, and he previously served as the chairman of the Commission from December 2014 until January 2021. A first-term commissioner, Day will bring broad experience in both the global and domestic postal sectors, including 35 years working in senior roles at the Postal Service. 

“NALC congratulates Thomas Day and Robert Taub on their confirmations to this important agency,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “We look forward to working with them to ensure the Postal Regulatory Commission fulfills its oversight responsibilities to promote a Postal Service that benefits the men and women who deliver America’s mail and our customers.”

The PRC currently has five commissioners, who are nominated by the president for six-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. Taub is a two-time appointee to the Commission following unanimous confirmations by the U.S. Senate in 2011 in 2016. His current term expired on Oct. 22, 2022, along with an additional seat currently held by Mark Acton. Both are in a “hold-over” year until Oct. 22, 2023. If confirmed, this will be Taub’s third term. He previously served as the chairman of the Commission from December 2014 until January 2021.

The PRC’s responsibilities include preventing anticompetitive practices, promoting accountability, adjudicating complaints, setting postal rates and helping oversee delivery service standards.

During the hearing, HSGAC Chairman Gary Peters (D-MI) thanked Taub for his 40 years of public service and emphasized the importance of the PRC’s role in ensuring transparency and accountability in the United State Postal Service for the benefit of all Americans. Sen. Peters remarked that “robust oversight is especially important as the Postal Service continues to implement the Postal Service Reform Act passed last year and makes other plans that could impact Americans.”

In his testimony, Taub cited this role as the “key mission of why the Postal Regulatory Commission exists and was created,” and elaborated on how he intends to support the PRC’s efforts in meeting the challenges facing today’s Postal Service. He further pledged to work with all postal stakeholders in his role as commissioner.

Referencing the PRC’s inquiry into the Postal Service’s Delivering for America plan and its impact on costs, revenue, employees and customers, Taub expressed his position that “this is not a time of the Commission to think big thoughts or step back. We’ve got to be using our authorities—recognizing we’re the regulator, not the operator—to ensure the America public has transparency and accountability.”

In response to Sen. James Lankford’s (R-OK) questions about the financial challenges the Postal Services is navigating and how the increase in package handling could have a positive effect on revenue, Taub detailed how the Delivering for America plan seeks to accommodate package handling on a larger scale and the initial costs associated with that transformation.

Throughout the hearing, Republican and Democratic members of the Committee shared concerns affecting their constituents, such as suspended and closed post offices, mail delivery issues, and affordability and the responsiveness of the Postal Service to the issues in order to meet the demands of public interest. Taub recognized service oversight of the USPS as one of the most critical tasks and responsibilities of the PRC and referenced steps the PRC has taken to ensure the Postal Service complies with recommendations for corrective actions to meet service standards, including aspects of last year’s Postal Reform Act.

Taub’s testimony made it clear that he recognizes and takes seriously the responsibilities of the PRC in stabilizing mail delivery and modernizing the Postal Service to provide affordable, world-class service. As he stated in his opening remarks, “The fact is, for all the challenges the Postal Service faces, it still plays a vital role in our economy, our society and how Americans across this land communicate.” The renomination of Taub to the Commission will help ensure that the Delivering for America plan is executed efficiently and in a way that accomplishes its intended goals. To learn more about letter carriers’ involvement with the Delivering for America plan, see the August 2023 issue of The Postal Record.

The Committee is expected to advance Taub’s nomination next week, where he will await consideration by the full Senate. NALC encourages the Senate to swiftly advance Taub’s nomination. With regard to the other PRC seat being vacated by Acton, NALC will keep members apprised, as the White House is expected to announce a candidate to replace Mark Acton. 

The national conference is held in years between the NALC’s biennial conventions. Article 3, Section 4 (b) of the NALC Constitution states: “The National President shall, once each year except in the year of the National Convention, call a national conference. This conference shall be voluntarily attended by only State and Branch Presidents or their designees, with their expenses to be borne by the State Association or Branch represented.”

The hotel rate is $249 single/double. For reservations, go to https://book.passkey.com/e/50547129 or contact the hotel’s reservation department at 1-800-445-8667 until October 26. After this date, reservations will be accepted by the hotel based on availability and hotel rate. Click here for more information, including an airline discount offer for attendees.

• "Abandoned Position and Dereliction/Neglect of duty."
• "Neglect of Duty."
• "Conduct. Impaired driving after hours in a NALC owned vehicle."
• "Circulating False or Misleading Statements about a NALC Officer: Brian Renfroe shared and referenced confidential information about an employee matter."

Note: a finding that a charge is substantial is not a determination of guilt, but rather triggers an evidentiary hearing in accordance with Article 10. 

In accordance with Article 10, the Executive Council will appoint a panel of three disinterested members, excluding the investigator, to conduct a hearing regarding the four charges. The panel shall make a report with recommendations to the Executive Council, which shall be served on the accused officer and charging member, who may, within 15 days, file with the Executive Council objections or comments thereon.

This process will not distract from our efforts to achieve a collective bargaining agreement or our preparation for binding interest arbitration. The NALC Executive Council is committed to following our constitutional process and will not be deterred from our duties and responsibilities to fully and vigorously represent the interests of the nation’s city letter carriers.

On August 28, 1963, labor and civil rights leaders organized The March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom, a march and rally held in Washington, D.C. to advocate for the rights and freedoms of working people across the country, culminating in Martin Luther King’s historic “I Have a Dream” speech. The message of the march was clear: Every person should have the right to vote, access to a living wage, freedom from discrimination, and respect and dignity in workplace. An estimated 250,000 people attended the march, and this seminal moment in our country’s history helped galvanize significant victories for civil and workers’ rights. Sixty years later, the fight for progress continues.

Event details

Date: Saturday, August 26, 2023 
Location: Lincoln Memorial, Washington, D.C. 
Pre-program: 8–11 a.m.
*Program: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.
March: 1–3 p.m. 

*NALC members should aim to arrive for the main program at 11:00 a.m.

The entrance for the rally and program is at the World War II Memorial on 17th Street NW. NALC members should gather at the front southern corner (left side) of the Reflecting Pool near the Lincoln Memorial. Click here for a map. There will be different unions gathered there. Please look for the NALC placard. 

The march is a half mile in distance. Marchers will begin lining up at 2 Lincoln Memorial Circle NW and proceed south on 23rd Street, crossing through the median onto the southern portion of Independence Avenue toward Ohio Drive. Participants will march to West Potomac Park, serving as the dispersal point. Marchers will depart to a Metro station location, including Farragut West and Farragut North, Federal Triangle and Smithsonian. Anyone not marching will exit the Lincoln Memorial and the National Mall.

Jim Sherfey died on Aug. 15.

Brother Sherfey started his career as a letter carrier in 1964 at the age of 22. He was a lifelong member of Northern Virginia Branch 3520, where he formerly served as vice president. He spent years working in the Region 13 office, first as a part-time regional administrative assistant (RAA) and later as a full-time RAA. He retired from the regional office in 2011 and remained close with his Region 13 brothers and sisters.

He was a respected mentor and cherished friend. He was truly loved and adored by the members of Region 13.

Jim is survived by his daughter Michelle. He was 81.

“Jim was a lifelong advocate for letter carriers and a wonderful friend,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “I am grateful for his years of dedicated service in Region 13, where I know he will be greatly missed. On behalf of NALC, I send my deepest sympathies to Jim’s family, friends and colleagues. We mourn his loss.”

A memorial service will be held on Saturday, Sept. 9, 2023 at 2:00 PM at Fellowship Baptist Church, 934 Judy Lane Ext., Stanley, VA 22851.

In lieu of flowers, the family requests donations to the Hospice Foundation.

Online condolences may be made here.