THE NPMHU
LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR THE 115th CONGRESS J U LY 2 01 7
E
very two years, the Committee on the Future of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union adopts a comprehensive legislative agenda for the new Congress. This year is the first session of the current 115th Congress, which will be in session during 2017 and 2018, and once again a legislative agenda has been developed. Included on this agenda are specific legislative goals, as well as various political matters on which the NPMHU National Office will be working during the next two years. After the 2016 national elections, the political landscape in Washington, DC changed dramatically. President Trump has taken over the White House, and both Houses of Congress have strong Republican majorities. The political atmosphere is more polarized than ever, even more than almost anyone could have expected. The two years covered by the 115th Congress, therefore, are likely to be dominated by anti-worker, anti-union, and anti-USPS rhetoric and proposals that pose serious risks for the NPMHU and all mail handlers. As always, the NPMHU will continue its fight to protect the legislative interests of all mail handlers and promote deeper involvement of its members in the legislative and political arenas.
24 | National Postal Mail Handlers Union
PRESERVING AND PROTECTING THE FUTURE OF THE POSTAL SERVICE This is the primary objective of the NPMHU in the current legislative session, and was the focus of this year’s Legislative Conference. Preservation and protection of the Postal Service means:
• Enacting comprehensive postal reform legislation, represented by H.R. 756 and H.R. 760, which already were passed on March 16, 2017 by voice votes of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. • Halting subcontracting or other privatization schemes, and retaining six-day, if not sevenday, delivery, as these positions also will protect the Postal Service brand and its ability to develop new and better products during the coming years. • Restoring the Postal Service’s financial stability by eliminating or delaying payments to the Retiree Health Benefits Fund and correcting pension errors in both the CSRS and FERS Retirement Systems. • Reversing the January 2015 changes to USPS service standards and/or adopting a moratorium on additional closings or consolidations of mail processing facilities.
WORKING TO PREVENT HARMFUL LEGISLATION The NPMHU will work, together with similarly interested parties, to prevent legislation harmful to mail handlers and other postal employees, including the following:
• H.R. 3257, the Promote Accountability and Government Efficiency (PAGE) Act, which would make the following changes for federal employees: providing at-will employment status for new federal employees; allowing for the immediate suspension of employees for misconduct or poor performance; limiting certain appeal rights; restricting pay raises; forcing the forfeiture of CSRS or FERS annuity for any employee convicted of a felony; and limiting official time and use of government resources in carrying out union activities. • Other legislation that would limit official time for federal employees. • Potential changes to the workers’ compensation system that is now part of the Federal Employees Compensation Act and its governing regulations. • Efforts in Congress to allow the Postal Service to reduce guaranteed six-day delivery to all residential addresses.