EMAIL FEED FROM REGION 4 NBA'S OFFICE
posted 7-29-2025
Greetings:
USPS Correspondence dated July 16, 2025, regarding the Postal Service replacing FSAFEDS with lnspira Financial as the Flexible Spending Account (FSA) program vendor, informed NALC that the Postal Service will be mailing a letter to each employee that actively enrolled for 2025 with the lnspira Financial FSA program and had unused funds from their 2024 health care account with FSAFEDS. The letter will notify these employees that the unused funds from 2024 with FSAFEDS, not to exceed $640 as set by the IRS, will be automatically credited into their lnspira Financial 2025 health care FSA account on August 1, 2025.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 7-24-2025
Greetings:
Today, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe testified before the House Subcommittee on Government Operations at a hearing on mail theft and crime.
Please visit the link below for more information on President Renfroe’s testimony, as well as the link to the entire Subcommittee Hearing on YouTube:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Greetings:
Today, H. Res. 70 reached a bipartisan majority in the House with 218 representatives—202 Democrats and 16 Republicans—co-sponsoring. The resolution calls on Congress to take all appropriate measures to ensure the Postal Service remains an independent agency of the federal government and not subject to privatization.
While we celebrate this achievement, there is still work to do to increase House co-sponsors and reach majority support for the Senate companion resolution, S. Res. 147.
Visit the link below for more information and the link to Take Action on S.147:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Posted on 7-18-2025
Greetings:
National Arbitrator Margo R. Newman has ruled that non-probationary postal employees separated due to unfavorable background check results are entitled to due process and may challenge their removals through the grievance and arbitration procedure.
Arbitrator Newman rejected the Postal Service’s claim that the separations were outside the scope of the contract, noting that the National Agreement does not exclude such disputes from arbitration. She emphasized that the only explicit exclusion from grievance applies to probationary employees. In addition, Arbitrator Newman maintained that the Postal Service must prove it had just cause for the separation, as required by Article 16 of the National Agreement. Read the award here: C-37276.
Visit the link below for more information and the link to the Arbitrator’s Award:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Greetings:
NALC and the Postal Service have released a jointly developed document with the national parties' mutual understanding on specific sections of Article 8 of the 2023-2026 USPS/NALC National Agreement. The document, M-02011 (attached) is in NALC's Materials Reference System (MRS), and answers commonly asked questions about recently implemented provisions of the contract. You can also visit the link below to access it.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted on 7-11-2025
Greetings:
USPS has informed NALC that due to a testing issue, implementation of advanced annual leave provisions for city carrier assistants (CCAs) and part-time flexibles (PTFs), which was scheduled for July 12, 2025 (Pay-Period 16-2025), has been delayed to Aug. 19, 2025 (Pay Period 19-2025).
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 7-2-2025
Greetings Region 4 Branch President’s and Activists,
Attached are copies of two standup talks that will be given in the coming days in all offices with city letter carriers. The first talk explains the implementation of the New Employee Experience Retention and Mentoring Program (NEERMP) and gives a brief explanation of what the program entails. The second talk explains the mentoring portion of the program and it solicits letter carriers to volunteer to become mentors to new employees. Also attached is the NEERMP MOU.
Those who are interested in becoming mentors will submit their names to their supervisors/postmasters and stewards/branch presidents. The names will be provided to the NBAs and DMs who will ultimately make the selections. Those who are selected to be mentors will get 30 minutes on the clock to do a self-study of the Mentoring Guide for City Carriers. I have attached that guide for your reference as well. Volunteer mentors will also attend an on-the-clock training session via Zoom to further learn their roles and responsibilities.
Last week we brought 50 teams together in Kansas City, one per district (one USPS manager and one NALC representative), for training on how the NEERMP works. Those teams will now spend the next month conducting trainings in their respective districts for all USPS postmasters, supervisors, and 204Bs as well as all NALC branch presidents, stewards, and alternate stewards in offices with city letter carriers. The goal of the training is to raise awareness to the program and hopefully promote compliance with the new provisions.
Currently we are finalizing a set of Q&As on the NEERMP, and I expect to distribute them to you in the next day or so. They will also be distributed by USPS to the field as well as to our 50 teams in the districts.
Our designees for rolling out the training are:
Carrie Johnson – AZ/NM District
Roy Zuniga – CO/WY District
Casey Ritchie – AR/OK District
Our office will be sending the names of those desiring to be mentors to each Branch President for their respective areas and ask that you vet those folks as we do not want to blindly approve anyone to be a mentor. Please see the mentoring program standup talk and guide for an understanding of who we are looking for.
Thank you for everything you do to represent letter carriers. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us.
In Solidarity,
Dan Versluis
National Business Agent
NALC Region 4
posted 6-27-2025
Greetings:
A former U.S. Postal Service mail carrier in Grand Junction, CO, who stole 19 ballots in October has been sentenced to five years in prison. Please see the link below for the full article:
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Posted 6-24-2025
Greetings:
Today, the House Democratic Caucus selected Rep. Robert Garcia (D-CA) to serve as the next ranking member of the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform.
Please visit the link below to see NALC President Brian Renfroe’s statement:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted on 6-20-2025
We've included several updates from the NALC on many different topics. Sorry for the lengthy email, but all of this is critical information and we want to make sure each of you get it delivered to you in case you don't get it at branch meetings.
We’ve been made aware that some uniform allowances have not been credited correctly after the May 21 increase. USPS IT has an error list and is working to correct the balance for those who were only credited $499 rather than $536. As a reminder, the increase is only applied on a carrier’s anniversary date. If an anniversary date was before May 21, $499 would be the correct amount and those carriers will receive $536 in their next allotment.
If you have questions regarding this, you can send me the carriers name, and I can have USPS check the name against the error list to make sure everyone gets the full allowance.
As an additional reminder, the new allowance roll-over provision is not currently in effect. The contract language gives the service a year to put this process in place. When we get a date for implementation of the roll-over, we will inform you.
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Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs (HSGAC) Chairman Rand Paul (R-KY) released its portion of the Senate reconciliation bill. While the proposal is not the same as the House-passed legislation, threats remain as the process unfolds over the next few weeks.
As a direct result of NALC’s action in the Senate, HSGAC’s text does not include the provision in the House-passed reconciliation bill that would eliminate the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) Special Annuity Supplement, a critical benefit for FERS-covered letter carriers who retire before they are eligible for Social Security at 62.
The fight is far from over.
Unfortunately, the committee is seeking to take back any unspent money designated for Postal Service electric vehicles and require the agent to sell all its electric vehicles and associated infrastructure.
Like the House-passed bill, HSGAC also included language imposing a fee for Merit Systems Protection Board Claims and Appeals, which will impact Postal Service employees. NALC opposes this provision.
Next Steps: Each Senate committee will continue to release its priorities. So far, nine of 16 committees have released their text. Once all Senate committees release their text, full Senate consideration will follow. Notably, the Senate Budget Committee released text that does not include the government-wide provisions mentioned above. Whether HSGAC or the budget committee’s text will be used in the final version is unclear.
If the Senate can pass its legislation, which only needs a simple majority as opposed to the usual 60 votes, the House and Senate will go to conference to reconcile the differences in their bills and vote on a final package.
Please visit the link below for more information:
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In late-May USPS HQ gave notification the Postal Service is disseminating a mandatory stand-up talk (SUT) to remind employees of the organization's sick leave policies in Section 513 of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM). Additionally, a postcard was mailed to employees' addresses of record reiterating the information provided in the SUT. Included with the correspondence is a copy of the SUT, USPS Sick Leave Policy Reminder and postcard relevant to this notification.
This notification creates a negative impact to the carrier craft. The SUT and postcard include a requirement that employees use the eLRA for unscheduled leave and implies that this requirement is consistent with the ELM. The SUT and the postcard are misleading and misrepresent provisions of the ELM.
Furthermore, USPS should be providing carriers with time on the clock to read policies they are expected to follow. A grievance should be filed to address the SUT and the postcard. The Postal Service should rescind them both immediately and inform carriers that the message is inaccurate.
(Attachment included)
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Last summer USPS attempted to conduct management initiated special inspections simultaneously with 271g inspections. We were very successful nationwide in stopping this practice; however, we expect they may attempt to do the same this year. USPS inspecting routes during June, July and August that did not request special inspection under Handbook M-39, Chapter 2, Section 271g , in our opinion, is a violation of Articles 19 (M-39) and 41 (41.3.S). Management may be including routes that they believe are less than 8 hours using the justification of M-39, Chapter 2, Section 271b. The JCAM on page 41-31 specifically states: “Management -initiated regular or special route inspections are conducted between the first week of September and May 31, excluding December.” This, in our opinion, prohibits management from inspecting routes they believe are short during June, July and August. This also would prohibit them from including additional routes in the inspection because they are adjacent to the 271g route and must be inspected to move territory through them. These inspections may be occurring now, in some locations, and hopefully we are requesting information and preparing grievances. In preparing case files and making arguments, consult pages 41-30 through 41-32 of the March 2022 JCAM which includes the applicable Step 4 settlements that should be referenced. (Pay particular attention to the August 12, 1991, Award of Arbitrator Britton, C-11099)
We also believe that if management is prohibited from inspecting these additional routes, they are also limited to the relief that can be provided to the 271g route. Unless there are multiple 271g routes involved that are adjacent to each other, they are unable to move territory to routes that did not request the 271g. This means that permanent relief would be limited to creation of additional auxiliary routes or the use of routers ( See M-00885, M-00915 and M-00916). Simply assigning router time to a route in DOIS is not an acceptable form of relief. Most likely, management will argue that the language in M-39, Chapter 2, Section 272, gives them the right to include these additional routes as part of special inspections in June, July and August as special inspections are to be conducted in the same manner as the formal count and inspection. This is where the August 12, 1991, Arbitrator Britton award comes into play as he discusses the differences in conducting formal counts and special inspections.
The above is, of course, in addition to all of the other violations that management may create in the conduct of these special inspections which will need to be grieved.
(4 attachments included)
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Attached is a presentation regarding the New Employee Experience, Retention and Mentoring Program, and Article 8 changes. Also attached, are the two ODL sign-up sheets, and a Work Assignment List sign-up sheet.
Please use them if you wish, for training your stewards/membership.
(4 attachments included)
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Effective July 12, 2025 (Pay Period 16-2025), city carrier assistant (CCA) and part-time flexible (PTF) carriers meeting the criteria will receive advanced annual leave.
In accordance with the National Agreement Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) Re: PTF Advanced Annual Leave, 40 hours of annual leave will be advanced to PTF employees, prorated to the end of the leave year for their first leave year as a PTF, and annually thereafter, unless and until the employee converts to full-time status.
Similarly, in accordance with the MOU Re: CCA Advanced Annual Leave, upon completion of an initial 360-day appointment as a CCA, and immediately upon reappointment to any subsequent appointments thereafter, CCAs will be advanced 40 hours of annual leave. Upon initial implementation, CCAs will receive annual leave prorated to the end of their 360-day term.
Eligible CCAs and PTFs should see the credit to their annual leave balance reflected on the Pay Period 16-2025 earnings statement.
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USPS Correspondence has notified NALC HQ that the Postal Service will celebrate its 250th anniversary on July 26, 2025.
USPS further states:
To commemorate this very important milestone, USPS will issue every employee a lapel pin featuring the 250th anniversary "Eagle in Flight” design to wear with pride throughout the year. Distribution of the pins will begin on July 21st. All employees are encouraged to wear these pins from the time of
receipt through July 4, 2026, when the entire country will celebrate the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
These pins are an authorized exception to Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) section 933.8, Apparel Worn for Promotional Purposes and can be affixed to Postal uniforms.
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USPS has announced implementation dates for CCA wage increases and pay table changes in accordance with Arbitrator Nolan’s March 23, 2025, interest arbitration award.
Effective June 14, 2025 (PP 14-2025), all city carrier assistants (CCAs) pay rate will be increased to reflect an additional $0.50 per hour. This increase is in addition to their cumulative general wage increases.
Also, effective June 14 (PP 14-2025), all city carriers currently in Step P in Tables 1 and 2 will receive a one-time pay increase to an amount that is equal to a flat dollar amount of $1,000. Carrier technicians will receive $1,021. These increases are in addition to the general wage increases and COLAs.
The Postal Service expects the eliminations of Table 2 Steps AA and A to be effective July 12, 2025 (PP 16-2025). In conjunction with the elimination of Steps AA and A, all city carriers in those steps will be advanced to Step B and begin a new 46-week waiting period to be completed before advancing to the next step.
USPS indicates that back-pay calculations are ongoing and expects payment in August 2025. The retroactive pay will include the Nov. 18, 2023, and Nov. 16, 2024, general wage increases (plus the 1 percent additional increases for CCAs on those dates) and the first four COLAs for career carriers.
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Yesterday, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe testified in the Occupational Safety and Health Administration’s (OSHA) informal rulemaking hearing for the proposed Heat Injury and Illness Prevention in Outdoor and Indoor Work Settings rule.
OSHA will hear testimony from labor representatives, industry stakeholders, and others with positions on the rule over the next few weeks. After the hearings conclude, a post-hearing comment period is expected to last 90 days.
Please visit the link below for more information and other links to watch President Renfroe’s testimony and see his full submitted testimony:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 6-9-2025
Greetings:
This week, the administration released its $2.6 trillion Fiscal Year (FY) 2026 budget proposal, setting the stage for the House and Senate as they begin work to set priorities through Sept. 30, 2026. The proposal comes while Congress continues work on its FY 2025 reconciliation package.
The White House budget calls for eliminating “official time,” and more specifically, “steward time” at the United States Postal Service. NALC’s collective bargaining agreements (CBA) with USPS have longed provided for payment of stewards for performing steward activities permitted under the CBA.
“This budget proposal is a calculated attack on our collective bargaining rights, letter carriers, and our union,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “Any attempt like this to infringe upon what we have bargained in good faith will be met with the fiercest of resistance from hundreds of thousands of America’s letter carriers, postal employees, and the hundred of millions of Americans we serve every day.
Visit the below link for more information and please continue visiting NALC’s Legislative Action Center to contact your members of Congress on our most pressing issues:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 6-9-2025
Greetings:
Now available on the NALC website is a Special National Agreement Issue of the NALC Activist. Click the link below for access to it:
https://www.nalc.org/workplace-issues/resources/body/2023-2026-National-Agreement-Activist.pdf
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 6-9-2025
Greetings:
Please see the below message from Dan regarding the upcoming Region 4 Rap Session I Eureka Springs, AR.
This is a reminder that rooms that are not reserved by August 21, 2025 (30-days out) will be released. Please book your rooms by this deadline!
Also, as always, I am asking for your input on any subject that you would like to see us cover this year. Please respond to this email with any suggestions. I would really appreciate.
If you have any questions, feel free to call our office.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Posted 5-28-2025
Greetings,
As most of you may already know, the House narrowly passed the Republican-led One Big Beautiful Bill Act (H.R. 1) by a vote of 215–214–1. Passage of H.R. 1 marks a major step forward in the budget reconciliation process, which allows the Republican-led Congress to fast-track sweeping budget cuts to reduce federal programs and spending.
Following aggressive lobbying efforts by NALC and the federal employee community, lawmakers removed two harmful provisions, including a 4.4 percent across-the-board increase for all employees’ contributions to the Federal Employee Retirement Systems (FERS) and recalculating retirees’ annuities based on their high-five salary average (instead of high-three).
However, despite our best efforts, a key threat to postal employees did pass in the House: elimination of the FERS special annuity supplement, a crucial benefit for FERS-covered employees who retire before becoming eligible for Social Security at age 62.
Other anti-federal employee provisions were advanced, including forcing new federal hires to choose between at-will employment or paying an increased FERS contribution of 9.4 percent and imposing a fee for Merit Systems Protection Board Claims and Appeals. While these provisions do not impact letter carriers, they are clear attacks on job security and union protections for hundreds of thousands of federal employees.
H.R. 1 now heads to the Senate, where they have their ideas for changes to the House-passed bill. The Senate can remove the elimination of the FERS special annuity supplement from its version of the reconciliation package.
Visit the link below for more information and access the link to TAKE ACTION, to ask your Senator to oppose any cuts to letter carrier retirement benefits.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 5-19-2025
Greetings:
Letters of demand for health benefits premium related indebtedness
NALC Headquarters has been made aware of some of our members receiving invoices from USPS regarding non-payment of health benefit premiums. These should not be ignored, and each instance should be individually investigated and grieved if the invoice is in error.
The Postal Service has informed us that approximately 3 percent of Postal Service Health Benefits (PSHB) Program enrollees did not have premiums withheld for one or more pay periods. If you find the indebtedness is legitimate, follow the instructions in the letter to either pay the amount in full or pay through salary offset.
Please use the link below to share the link with your members:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 5-19-2025
Greetings:
The anti-privatization resolution (H.Res. 70) has reached 208 bipartisan co-sponsors. Only 10 more co-sponsors are needed to reach 218, the magic number for majority support in the House.
Meanwhile, on Capitol Hill, the House is finalizing the budget reconciliation package. Today, the House Budget Committee voted to reject the full package, but cuts to letter carrier retirement benefits are still on the table.
Visit the link below to TAKE ACTION and more information more information on H.Res.70 and the proposed cuts to letter carrier retirement benefits:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 5-7-2025
Greetings:
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe released the following statement:
As the union representing 295,000 active and retired letter carriers, the National Association of Letter Carriers (NALC) strongly condemns the reported selection of David P. Steiner to lead the Postal Service. Steiner comes directly from service on FedEx’s board of directors, presenting a clear conflict of interest. Steiner didn’t just stroll in from the private sector—he comes straight from one of the Postal Service’s top competitors.
His selection isn’t just a conflict of interest—it’s an aggressive step toward handing America’s mail system over to corporate interests. Private shippers have been waiting to get USPS out of parcel delivery for years. Steiner’s selection is an open invitation to do just that.
During his tenure as Waste Management, Inc.’s CEO, Steiner took a stand against unions. He built his brand on union-busting, slashing jobs, and replacing workers with machines. He has publicly bragged about shrinking the union footprint. Now, he’s being handed the keys to one of the nation’s largest unionized employers. At a time when collaboration with workers helped USPS turn a $144 million profit in the last quarter of 2024, this decision flies in the face of everything that’s working.
This isn’t just bad policy—it’s a direct assault on the workers who keep the mail moving and the public connected. The damage will hit rural communities hardest, where the Postal Service isn’t just a convenience—it’s a lifeline. And make no mistake: if this appointment stands, it threatens 7.9 million jobs tied to the postal industry and service to over 300 million Americans.
The nation’s letter carriers are outraged that the Postal Service Board of Governors has chosen an anti-union postmaster general with a major conflict of interest. The board has the responsibility to do what is best for USPS. This decision is not only a failure in that responsibility but shows open contempt for the work of America’s letter carriers and the public good.
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 5-7-2025
Greetings:
As an update to the latest email regarding the Possible Interpretive Issue-Blue Hampers in the S & DC- this issue has been resolved.
See the attached resolution along with the associated National Case Number (6X 19N 6X-C 23546250) which states:
On May 10, 2024, you were informed that the above-referenced case was referred for review of a
possible interpretive issue in accordance with Article 15. The issue in this case involves the use
of "blue hampers" at the Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC).
After reviewing the matter, the parties agree that no national interpretive issue is presented in this
case. It is understood that the "blue hampers," also known as large capacity hampers, have been
in use since 2015 and are designed to be a replacement/equivalent to the 1046p hamper.
Use of these hampers in S&DCs and other units should be guided by the Job Safety Analysis
(JSA) titled, Carriers Using Large Capacity Hampers, dated July 18, 2024.
Spring-loaded hamper elevation platforms/inserts may be used to raise the level of trays/tubs of
mail to reduce the lift height in loading and unloading mail. In the absence of the spring-loaded
platforms, the parties agree that placing inverted plastic trays in the bottom of the hamper as an
insert is one way, among others, to address any local bending and lifting concerns if the need
arises.
The parties agree to resolve this issue as outlined above. Additionally, any cases held pending
this referral should be handled in the same manner.
I’ve attached the JSA-Carriers Using Large Capacity Hampers which is listed in the resolution.
Please ensure any cases held pending this issue are decisioned accordingly.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 5-1-2025
Greetings:
Yesterday, in a 22-21 vote, the House Committee on Oversight and Accountability (COR) advanced its budget reconciliation measure that would slash benefits for federal workers, including letter carriers.
The Republican-supported House budget resolution passed earlier this year tasked the COR committee with cutting $50 billion. This measure aims to meet this threshold by cutting federal employee benefits at a cost to the employees.
Many parts of the measure would affect letter carriers, including:
- Increasing the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) contribution rate for existing employees to 4.4 percent
- Cutting FERS retirement benefits by eliminating the FERS special annuity supplement
- Reducing FERS annuity payments by calculating a retiree's annuity based on their high-five salary average (instead of three)
The next step is for the measure to be considered by the full House. Republican House leadership has indicated it plans to vote on all reconciliation measures before the end of May.
NALC encourages all letter carriers to contact their representatives and ask them to oppose these changes to our benefits and what we pay for them.
Please visit the link below for full details and to Take Action!
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Posted 4-30-2025
Greetings:
NALC and USPS reached a resolution regarding a class action grievance concerning the use of “blue hampers,” also known as large capacity hampers, at a Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC). This issue was initially identified as a possible interpretive issue and was referred for review in accordance with Article 15 of the National Agreement on May 10, 2024.
The large capacity hampers, in use since 2015, were introduced as a replacement and/or equivalent to the 1046p hamper. The resolution aligns itself with the Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Carriers Using Large Capacity Hampers, dated July 18, 2024. In addition, the parties addressed the ergonomic issues of bending and lifting mail into and out of the hampers by agreeing that spring-loaded hamper elevation platforms/inserts may be used to raise the level of trays/tubs of mail to reduce the lift height in loading and unloading mail. In the absence of the spring-loaded platforms, the parties agree that placing inverted plastic trays at the bottom of the hamper as an insert is one way, among others, to address any bending and lifting concerns at the local level if the need arises.
This agreement can be found in NALC’s Materials Reference System on the NALC website.
You can also visit the link below for the agreement, as well as the Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Carriers Using Large Capacity Hampers:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 4-18-2025
Greetings:
USPS has notified NALC that the Postal Service is updating the Heat Illness Prevention Program (HIPP) for 2025. Included with the correspondence are the following:
The Heat Illness Prevention Program:
o HIPP documents
o Safety Talk #2068, Heat Illness Prevention Program
o Poster 326, Prevent Heat Illnesses. Know the Signs and Act.
HIPP FAQs
HIPP Publication brochure titled Beat the Heat! Understanding Heat Illness Prevention
Safety Talk #2501, Heat Illness and Prevention - Annual Refresher
Poster 326, Prevent Heat Illnesses. Know the Signs and Act.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 4-4-2025
Greetings:
Attached is a summary of the 2023-2026 National Agreement. It will probably be posted on the NALC website tomorrow but feel free to share in the meantime if you wish.
Several people have also asked us about LMOU guides and National Agreements. Those are both in the final stages of being edited and should be made available digitally by early next week and in print shortly afterward. An LMOU training presentation is also being finalized. We will update you on the status of those as they become available.
In unity!
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 4-3-2025
Greetings:
Effective April 19 (date is tentative), all city letter carriers will begin earning new pay rates that include the following increases pursuant to the terms of the 2023 National Agreement set by Arbitrator Dennis R. Nolan in the interest arbitration award dated March 21, 2025:
For career city carriers:
$978 Cost of Living Adjustment effective Aug. 26, 2023
1.3% General Wage Increase effective Nov. 18, 2023
$353 Cost of Living Adjustment effective March 9, 2024
$978 Cost of Living Adjustment effective Sept. 7, 2024
1.4% General Wage Increase effective Nov. 16, 2024
$416 Cost of Living Adjustment effective March 8, 2025
*Cost of living increases referenced above are adjusted and paid proportionally to each step’s percentage of Step P for city carriers in Table 2 in accordance with Article 9.3.D of the National Agreement.
For city carrier assistants:
1.3% General Wage Increase and an additional 1.0% increase effective Nov. 18, 2023
1.4% General Wage Increase and an additional 1.0% increase effective Nov. 16, 2024
These new pay rates for all city letter carriers are tentatively scheduled to be reflected in the May 9 paychecks.
Backpay will be calculated from the effective dates of the pay increases indicated above through April 19 (tentative). The Postal Service has indicated that it will take some time to calculate the back pay for more than 210,000 letter carriers but tentatively expects the process to be completed and payments made sometime in August.
Below is the link to the new letter carrier pay schedule:
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/body/paychart-04-02-25.pdf
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 4-2-2025
Greetings:
We have been informed that carriers in some areas have been interviewed by postal management regarding the use of seatbelts in postal vehicles. Postal management has relied on “Driver Seatbelt Exceptions” reports to identify instances when a carrier has been driving a vehicle without engaging the seatbelt.
Please send us the following information if it has happened in your branch:
- A list of stations where postal management has been using “Driver Seatbelt Exceptions” reports to interview carriers in your branch about the use of seatbelts.
- The documentation that postal management relies on when interviewing the carriers.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
720-828-6840 Office
posted 3-31-2025
Greetings:
Today, Sens. Gary Peters (D-MI) and Dan Sullivan (R-AK) introduced a Senate resolution (S.Res. 147) that calls on Congress to take all appropriate measures to ensure that the Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the federal government and is not subject to privatization.
Four senators joined the bipartisan leads as original co-sponsors: Sens. Lisa Murkowski (R-AK), Susan Collins (R-ME), Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Maggie Hassan (D-NH).
The Senate version is identical to the House version (H.Res. 70), which was introduced by Reps. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) and Nick LaLota (R-NY) in January and currently has 180 co-sponsors.
Please visit the link below for more information links to Take Action and Fact Sheet:
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/senate-introduces-anti-privatization-resolution
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted on 3-26-2025
Greetings:
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe issued a statement regarding an Executive Order President Donald Trump signed yesterday. The statement reads in part:
This Executive Order is stacked with blatant lies to undermine the nation’s free and fair election process by placing restrictions on voter access to the ballot box.
Letter carriers take pride in our work and have safely, securely and successfully delivered ballots since the Civil War. In the 2024 election, letter carriers delivered 99.22 million ballots to and from voters, tens of millions of which were cast for President Trump. In 2020 at the height of the COVID pandemic, as millions of Americans sheltered in place, letter carriers delivered a record-breaking 135 million ballots.
Please visit the link below for the full text of President Renfroe’s statement.
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-statement-on-executive-order-limiting-ballot-access
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 3-26-2025
Greetings:
Arbitrator Dennis R. Nolan has issued a final and binding arbitration award that sets the terms of a three-year collective-bargaining agreement between the National Association of Letter Carriers and the U.S. Postal Service, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe announced on March 24. Pursuant to an agreement reached by parties on Feb. 26, Arbitrator Nolan conducted mediation with the parties in Washington, DC, March 17-18 while serving as the sole and neutral arbitrator to resolve their collective-bargaining impasse.
Visit the link below for more details as well as a link to the award:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 3-26-2025
Greetings:
Yesterday, NALC President Brian L. Renfroe issued the following statement regarding Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's exit from the Postal Service:
Today was Postmaster General Louis DeJoy's last day at the Postal Service. During his tenure, NALC worked in good faith with DeJoy on behalf of our 295,000 active and retired members.
The USPS Board of Governors' search for a new leader of the agency comes at a critical time for letter carriers and everyone who depends on our service.
The next postmaster general must continue modernizing and investing in USPS' infrastructure while maintaining quality universal service funded by postage, not taxpayer dollars.
They must value and empower the 640,000 Postal Service employees, 73,000 of whom are veterans, who serve the American people.
They must work in good faith with NALC, our sister unions and other stakeholders to get necessary retirement fund investment and accounting policy changes done in Congress.
Finally, the next postmaster general must fundamentally believe in the agency as a public service and be committed to guaranteeing the universal service Americans rely on.
NALC urges the board to seek out a candidate who meets these criteria. The future of the Postal Service is on the line, and choosing someone with innovative ideas and appreciation for our Constitutionally mandated service is essential.
NALC stands ready to work with whoever the board selects as the next postmaster general. We will fight like hell to ensure our members' perspectives and experiences are considered when the next postmaster general makes decisions that affect letter carriers' working lives.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 3-26-2025
Greetings:
This morning the National Press Club hosted a panel on postal issues. Below is a link to the video:
https://www.youtube.com/live/OEMuwmzVCUM?si=KViD50FEhG7ryVTh
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 3-18-2025
Greetings:
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe issued the following statement:
"We are aware of a document circulating on the internet that purports to be communication from USPS Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino dated March 17, 2025, regarding our upcoming interest arbitration process. That document is completely fabricated. It is fake. Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino did not author or distribute the document."
We are fully prepared and looking forward to beginning the interest arbitration process on Monday, March 17."
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 3-14-2025
Greetings:
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe released a statement following Postmaster General Louis DeJoy’s agreement with the General Service Administration (GSA) and the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE). It states in part:
NALC is aware of the agreement between the Postal Service, GSA and DOGE to assist with “identifying and achieving certain efficiencies.” We remain in contact with the Postal Service regarding DOGE’s efforts at USPS and any potential impact on NALC members.
The safety of our members always comes first. That includes their information and data. Prior to DOGE’s engagement with the Postal Service, we prepared for potential legal action if DOGE was to gain access to our members’ information in USPS records in violation of any applicable laws and regulations. We also expressed our concern over the privacy of our members’ information to Postal Service leadership. Our understanding of the agreement between USPS and DOGE is that it does not grant such access. We commend the Postal Service leadership for protecting employee information. Still, we will continue closely monitoring the situation and will fight like hell against any attack on the rights and privacy of NALC members.
Please visit the link below for the full text of President Renfroe’s statement.
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/nalc-statement-on-dejoys-agreement-with-doge
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 3-12-2025
Greetings Region 4 Branch President’s and Activists,
We have been made aware of an issue with carrier’s health benefits being dropped when coming back to work after being out on OWCP. USPS states that unfortunately this is an ongoing issue and that they are aware of it.
If you know of any carriers that are being affected by this issue, please send me their names, EINs, work locations, when they went out and when they returned from OWCP. We will get that information over to USPS HQ so they can validate the carrier’s eligibility to resume coverage and work to reinstate coverage if eligible.
In Solidarity,
Dan Versluis
National Business Agent
NALC Region 4
posted 2-26-2025
Greetings:
Yesterday, the Social Security Administration (SSA) announced that starting this week (Feb. 24, 2025), the agency is beginning to pay retroactive benefits and will increase monthly benefit payments to people who were affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO).
Beneficiaries who are owed retroactive benefits will receive a one-time retroactive payment. This payment will date back to January 2024, the month when WEP and GPO no longer applied.
Social Security benefits are paid one month behind, so most affected beneficiaries will begin receiving their new monthly benefit amount in April 2025 (for their March 2025 benefit).
The agency has expedited payments through automation but cautioned that complex cases cannot be processed automatically and will require additional time.
Affected beneficiaries are urged to wait until April to inquire about the status of their retroactive payment since these payments will be processed incrementally throughout March.
For more information, please visit SSA’s Social Security Fairness Act:
https://www.ssa.gov/benefits/retirement/social-security-fairness-act.html?tl=2
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 2-26-2025
Greetings:
A block of rooms has been reserved at the Hilton Fort Collins Hilton 425 West Prospect Road Fort Collins, CO 80526, for the Colorado State Association of Letter Carriers - State Convention 2025 with a Tuesday, April 15, 2025 arrival. Please call (800) 768-0605 and ask for the Colorado State Association of Letter Carriers - State Convention 2025 or reserve using the link below.
Guests will be able to book in the block at the group rate of $114.00 per room, per night, single/double occupancy, for a standard room with one king or two double beds. Room rate, room block, and parking will be available until Saturday, April 19, 2025, or until it is sold out, whichever happens first.
To Reserve Online:
https://www.hilton.com/en/attend-my-event/coloradostateassociationoflettercarriers2025/
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 2-26-2025
Greetings Region 4 Branch President’s and Activists,
Today NALC is conducting a Day of Action! We are asking you as branch leaders to share this information with every letter carrier in your branch or station and ask them to take action today.
Feb. 26 Day of Action! Tell the White House: Hands Off the Postal Service: https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/feb-26-day-of-action-tell-the-white-house-hands-off-the-postal-service
It has been posted on social media as well. This is the best avenue for our members to make our voices heard by the White House.
We have had questions from members asking about communicating with Members of Congress on this issue. The threat is purely from the administration. We are working many Members behind the scenes that could influence the administration due to the potential political impact of damaging or destroying the Postal Service.
Any communication from our members with Members of Congress should be to ask them to cosponsor HRes 70, our anti- privatization resolution, the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act, and the Federal Retirement Fairness Act, which was reintroduced today. Please direct members that wish to contact their representatives to make these asks.
In Solidarity,
Dan Versluis
National Business Agent
NALC Region 4
12015 E 46th Ave. Suite 550
Denver CO 80239
Posted 2-26-2025
Greetings:
Reps. Gerry Connolly (D-VA), Nikki Budzinski (D-IL), David Valadao (R-CA), and Don Bacon (R-NE) introduced the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 1522). This bipartisan bill would allow certain federal employees, including letter carriers, to make catch-up retirement contributions for time spent as non-career employees after Dec. 31, 1988, making it credible service under the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS).
Please visit the link below for more information and to TAKE ACTION!
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/federal-retirement-fairness-act-reintroduced-in-house-2025
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 2-25-2025
NALC Region 4 Branch President’s and Activist,
I know that you most likely have heard the most recent news regarding the USPS and the Trump Administration’s plan to take over the USPS. Please see the attached message from NALC President, Brian Renfroe.
https://x.com/brianrenfroe19/status/1892930249643458814?s=46&t=f99yGb8gQd9jI1vL9Lz7Kg
Dan Versluis
National Business Agent
NALC Region 4
posted 2-25-2025
Sisters and brothers:
NALC released a statement regarding reports from The Washington Post that President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order firing the members of the Postal Board of Governors and placing the agency under the control of the Commerce Department. Visit the link below to read the statement.
We also urge you to immediately make a call to Speaker Johnson @ 202-225-2777, and tell him to put a stop to this!
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 2-19-2025
Greetings:
The NALC Executive Council met today to consider the progress made during the 15-day negotiation period that followed the reopening of contract negotiations with the Postal Service on Feb. 3, pursuant to Article 16 of the NALC Constitution. The Council voted unanimously to not agree to terms with the Postal Service that would have produced a modified tentative agreement to be sent to eligible members for a second ratification vote. NALC has notified USPS officials that we are now at impasse on the terms of a new collective bargaining agreement.
The parties’ ongoing dispute over terms of a new agreement will now be decided in the interest arbitration process. The parties have selected Arbitrator Dennis R. Nolan to serve as the chair of the three-person arbitration panel. Information on hearing dates for interest arbitration will be shared as soon as the schedule is confirmed.
See the link below for more:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Posted 2-18-2025
Greetings:
Postmaster General Louis DeJoy is planning to step down from his role, and is calling on the Postal Service Board of Governors to start looking for his successor.
Visit the link below for the full story:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
posted 2-12-2025
Greetings:
USPS notified NALC of future sites they have identified for conversion to S&DCs during 2025-2027. USPS indicates that there is no anticipated relocation/insourcing of additional spoke offices into the sites on this list, however, this is subject to change based on future studies. See the list below for planned sites:
The list immediately below includes the S&DC sites and locations planned to launch April 19, 2025:
SURPRISE AZ S&DC
SUN CITY - SURPRISE BRANCH 14955 W BELL RD SURPRISE AZ 85374
The list immediately below includes the S&DC sites and locations planned to launch July 26, 2025:
FORT COLLINS CO S&OC
FORT COLLINS - MAIN OFFICE 301 BOARDWALK DR FORT COLLINS CO 80525
The list immediately below includes the S&DC sites and locations planned to launch May 16, 2026:
LAKEWOOD CO S&DC
DENVER • LAKEWOOD BRANCH 10799 W ALAMEDA AVE LAKEWOOD CO 80226
The list immediately below includes the S&DC sites and locations planned to launch July 11, 2026:
BOULDER CO S&DC
BOULDER - VALMONT STATION 299555THST BOULDER CO 80301
CENTENNIAL CO S&DC
AURORA - TOWER STATION 18555 E SMOKY HILL RO CENTENNIAL CO 80015
The list immediately below includes the S&DC sites and locations planned to launch September 5, 2026:
AURORA CO S&DC
16890 E ALAMEDA AURORA - MAIN OFFICE PKWY AURORA CO 80017
LITTLETON CO HIGHLANDS S&DC 9609 S UNIVERSITY
LITTLETON - HIGHLANDS RANCH BRANCH BLVD LITTLETON CO 80130
The list immediately below includes the S&DC sites and locations planned to launch October 31, 2026:
SPRINGDALE AR S&DC
SPRINGDALE - MAIN OFFICE 2811 SPRINGDALE AVE SPRINGDALE AR 72764
FLAGSTAFF AZ S&DC
FLAGSTAFF - MAIN OFFICE 2400 N POSTAL BLVD FLAGSTAFF AZ 86004
LITTLETON CO KEN CARYL RANCH S&DC
LITTLETON - KEN CARYL RANCH BRANCH 8200 SHAFFER PKWY LITTLETON CO 80127
The list immediately below includes the S&DC sites and locations planned to launch March 20, 2027:
LAKE HAVASU CITY AZ S&DC 1750 MCCULLOCH BLVD
LAKE HAVASU ClTY - MAIN OFFICE N LAKE HAVASU CITY AZ 86403
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Posted on 02-07-2025
Greetings:
Yesterday, bipartisan lawmakers in the House and Senate reintroduced the Protect Our Letter Carriers Act (POLCA) (H.R. 1065/S.463). Reps. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA) and Greg Landsman (D-OH) introduced the House version, and Sens. Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY) and Josh Hawley (R-MO) co-led the Senate version.
The bills are identical to the House and Senate versions introduced last Congress and include three measures to deter the increasing crimes and assaults committed against letter carriers on the job:
$7 billion in funding (appropriated over five years) to replace and modernize postal infrastructure that criminals often seek out.
Designation for an assistant district attorney in each judicial district to prioritize cases involving an assault against a letter carrier in a timely manner.
Standardizing sentencing guidelines for those who are found guilty of committing these crimes.
Please visit the link below for more information, and the links to take action and the fact sheet:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Posted 2-07-2025
Greetings:
Just over one month into 2025, it is clear that our 280,000 members have a fight on our hands this year. From the founding of our union 135 years ago until now, NALC members have fought like hell for everything we have achieved and against every attack that has come our way. This year will be no different. We are ready to fight like hell.
Our most pressing fight is our ongoing fight for a fair contract. While we continue the fight for a fair contract, we’re also fighting to defend the health care and retirement benefits we’ve earned.
We’re still fighting against the heinous crimes and assaults we see committed against letter carriers nearly every day. The fight for safety doesn’t stop at ending the crimes and assaults against our members. We need a national heat safety standard to protect us, and all workers, who are exposed to extreme heat. We will fight like hell until the Department of Labor’s proposed rule is passed.
We’ll be in the fight against privatization until every member of Congress co-sponsors H.Res. 70.
The Federal Retirement Fairness Act, which would allow eligible letter carriers to buy back this time, will be reintroduced soon. We will fight like hell to get this bill passed so we can achieve retirement fairness for all letter carriers.
Let’s stand together in this fight and put up a united front!
NALC invites you to join us as at the Fight Like Hell! kickoff event in Washington, DC, at NALC Headquarters on Thursday, Feb. 13, at 2 p.m. This event will bring NALC members and allies together to demonstrate our strength and commitment to securing what we deserve. It’s a chance to unite, make our voices heard, and send a powerful message that we are ready to stand strong in this fight.
See the link below for full details and to download the event flyer:
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/fight-like-hell
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
Posted 2-07-2025
Greetings:
Sorry to hit you with so much this morning but I figured we can all use a little good news!
Please see the link below for the U.S. Postal Service Reports First Quarter Fiscal Year 2025 Results:
In untiy,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
POSTED 1-31-2025
Greetings:
The Social Security Administration (SSA) has created a web page for updates and frequently asked questions regarding the implementation of the Social Security Fairness Act, which was signed into law on Jan. 5.
The law requires the SSA to adjust benefits for more than 3 million people affected by the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). Under the law, December 2023 was the last month that the WEP and GPO applied.
In the latest update, the agency said it expects it could take more than a year to adjust benefits and pay all retroactive benefits. Funding, staffing shortages, and an ongoing hiring freeze are all factors in the implementation process.
The web page also advised that the SSA’s national 800-number has an automated message about the law’s application. Waiting to speak with a representative will not provide further information at this time. Thousands of daily callers continue to wait for a representative, ultimately slowing down workflow and implementation efforts.
Please visit the link below to find the link for the SSA web page as well as the link for affected retirees to subscribe to receive the latest updates.
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/social-security-fairness-act-implementation-information
NALC will keep letter carriers updated as more information is available.
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
POSTED ON 1-31-2025
Greetings:
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe issued the following statement:
We are aware of a document that has been circulating on the internet that appears to be a letter from USPS Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino regarding communication between USPS and NALC about the likely outcome of the counting of ratification ballots. That document is fake. Deputy Postmaster General Doug Tulino did not author or distribute the document.
Additionally, the 15-member Ballot Committee, chaired by Paul Roznowski of Branch 3126, Royal Oak, MI, has released the following statement:
On January 27, the Ballot Committee, working with Survey and Ballot Systems of Eagan, MN, took receipt of the returned ballots from the Post Office and later began the tabulation process. The count of ratification ballots is still ongoing and there is no result or count of any kind available at this time.
Once the tabulation process is complete, the results will be certified by the Ballot Committee and furnished to the membership and the NALC president in accordance with the NALC Constitution.
The above is available at the link below:
In unity,
John Robles
Regional Administrative Assistant
NALC Region 4
POSTED 1-31-2025
Greetings:
On Jan. 20, President Donald Trump issued a presidential memorandum (PM) instituting a hiring freeze on federal civilian employment. The Office of Management and Budget and the Office of Personnel Management issued a memorandum to provide guidance regarding the PM. The guidance includes the following:
“4. Other exemptions. For the following exemptions, hiring of veterans may be prioritized. In addition, the following exemptions to the Federal civilian hiring freeze are permitted:
…
d. Hiring by the U.S. Postal Service.”
The Postal Service is exempt from the hiring freeze. Veterans’ preference is not altered and will continue in accordance with applicable laws and postal regulations.
See the link below:
https://www.nalc.org/news/nalc-updates/omb-and-opm-confirm-usps-exempt-from-hiring-freeze
In Unity,
John
