Bobby Koontz – Funeral 

Bobby Koontz, former AVP/Branch President of Newark P&DC has unfortunately passed away.

The Home Going service for BOBBY KOONTZ is scheduled for Thursday May 18th, at St. James AME Church, Newark. NJ. Viewing 10 – 11am, and service to immediately follow.

Annual Leave Expanded Benefits

MOUs signed to (again) increase carryover limit from 440 hours to 520 of accumulated annual leave from 2023 to 2024 leave year. Additionally, Annual Leave Exchange up to 80 hours.

New Memoranda of Understanding -Annual Carryover for Leave Year 2024 and Annual Leave Exchange Option for Leave Year 2024

Religious Accommodation –Groff vs DeJoy Supreme Court Case

NPMHU Contraction Administration statement on the recent USPS Supreme Court Case on Religious Accommodation.

Groff vs DeJoy Supreme Court Case

Update: Postal Ease is Back!

The USPS has re-activated the ability to make allotment and net-to-bank changes in PostalEase via Liteblue.

The following actions have also been taken to safeguard employee information.

• Established Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) for all LiteBlue applications including the Self-Service Profile
• Continued monitoring and reporting of fake LiteBlue websites
• Automatic password reset for anyone observed interacting with a known fake website
• Strict configurations and controls on the MFA application
  • New device/new location blocks login
  • Impossible travel, example: login from California and another from Florida within an impossible timeframe
  • Known blocks for international IP address attempts
• Developed algorithms to determine patterns of fraud and prevent automated bot attacks
• Delivered Stand Up Talk with best practices for interacting with websites on the internet.

Update on PostalEASE

NY Yankee Game – Local 300 Member Event

Local 300 is sponsoring another Member Event to see the NY Yankees vs. the San Diego Padres, scheduled for Sunday 5/28/23 @1:35PM (Note game is subject to MLB time change).

Tickets $20 each, limit 10 tickets per member

Checks or money orders made payable to:

NPMHU Local 300 

20 West 33rd Street, Suite 8a

New York, NY 10001

Attn: Treasurer

Must provide full name and email

Deadline 5/19/23. Limited seats available. First Come first served.

Local 300 NYY Game 2023

MHA Career Opportunities On Lite Blue

There is a new procedure for MHA Career Canvassing. No service talks will be given. MHAs should check on LiteBlue 2x a month. Career Opportunities for MHAs will be posted on the 1st and 15th of the month and be open for 10 days. These opportunities will be open for all MHAs within 50 miles of the career position. MHAs are advised to look on LiteBlue 2x a month (between 1st to 10th & 15th to 25th).

We will update the Local 300 webpage & smartphone app when we receive notification that career vacancies are available for MHAs within the Local 300 area.

MHA Career Opportunites – eReassign information

Current career positions below will close on April 15th…

• FULL-Time Regular (FTR) position is available in Newark, NJ
  • ​Position Schedule:
    • 0400-1230
    • SUN/THU Days off
      
    • Weekly hours: 40 hours

Implementation Dates for the 2022 National Agreement

The following are the implementation dates for various sections of the 2022 National Agreement.

• Non-Economic Issues/Work Rules – April 8, 2023
• One Time Conversions for MHAs in 200 work year offices with a relative standing date prior to 2.5 years from the ratification date (March 13, 2023) of the 2022 National Agreement  – May 6, 2023
• New wage rate which will reflect the November 2022 general wage increase and the March 2023 COLA  – PP09-2023 (04/08/2023).
• Date of new Step B for MHAs – PP14-2023 (06/17/2023)
• Date of Elimination of Step BB – PP14-2023 (06/17/2023).
• Date that step waiting period will be changed to 48 weeks – PP14-2023 (06/17/2023).
• MHA Automatic Conversions/Step Changes/Employee Classification of MHAs in 200 work year offices who have reached 24 months of relative standing – PP14-2023 (06/17/2023).
• Date of Advanced Annual leave for eligible MHAs and PTFs – PP 14- 2023 (06/17/2023)
• Retro Pay – Pay Period 19, check dated 9/15/2023
• Clothing Allotment Carryover – Is still to be determined

Implementation Dates for the 2022 National Agreement (pdf)

NST Michael Hora Announces Retirement — Kevin Tabarus Named Next Secretary-Treasurer, Resigns as Local 300 President  Effective June 10, 2023

April 6, 2023 Statement from NPMHU President Paul Hogrogian (pdf)

LP Resignation Effective 6-10-23

Dear Members of NPMHU Local 300,

I am writing to inform you that our National Secretary-Treasurer, Mike Hora, will be retiring from the NPMHU effective June 9, 2023 after a long and distinguished Union career, and that the National Executive Board has selected me to be the new National Secretary-Treasurer of the NPMHU.

This gives mixed emotions. First, I hope you join me in congratulating Mike for all his accomplishments throughout his long and illustrious Union career. Because of Mike’s efforts the NPMHU is financially strong and as respected as it is today. Not one National-Secretary Treasurer in the history of  the NPMHU has had to plan and coordinate the NPMHU 2020 Convention three (3) times due to the COIVD-19 Pandemic. Through Mike’s hard work and that of President Paul Hogrogian, our Union is one of which all members can be proud.

I am honored to have been selected National Secretary-Treasurer and look forward to facing the challenges that lie ahead. However, I am also sad that I will be leaving Local 300 after serving as a Local Officer since 2001 and Local President since 2015. I will miss working with all the officers, stewards and members who I have had the pleasure of knowing over the years. I will forever remain a devoted member of Local 300.

I would also like to express my sincere appreciation for all the hard work performed by Local 300’s officers and stewards during my tenure. I look forward to working for and with you in my new capacity. I know with all the great Union representatives from Local 300 and from around the nation, our great Union will continue to successfully move forward.

I will be assuming the office of National Secretary-Treasurer effective June 10, 2023. According to our Union’s constitution, Local 300’s Executive Board has the responsibility of selecting the next Local 300 President. Once the Executive Board has completed the process, you will be immediately notified about who will serve as the new Local 300 President.

Once again, all the members of Local 300 have my heartfelt gratitude for their assistance and dedication over the last 22 years. I hope that as National Secretary-Treasurer I can count on your continued support.

Fraternally, Kevin Tabarus President

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $208

Effective November 19, 2022, Pay Period 25-2022 (and retroactively applicable)— For career mail handlers, the basic annual salary for each grade and step of Table One and Table Two shall be increased by an amount equal to 1.3% of the basic annual salary for the grade and step in effect on September 20, 2022. This is the first of three-scheduled general wage increases as outlined in the 2022 National Agreement. In addition to the general increases provided in Section 9.1, wage schedule RSC M reflects an additional 1% increase for steps AA-A and 1.3% increase effective November 19, 2022 (PP25-2022) for all other steps. Lastly, MHAs will receive a 2.3% general increase and a $0.50 wage adjustment effective November 19, 2022 (PP25-2022)

Cost of Living Increase and Wage Chart Effective March 11. 2023 (Pay Period 07-2023) pdf

General Wage Increase and Wage Chart Effective November 19. 2022 (Pay Period 25-2022) pdf

Local 300 LMOU Training

On March 23rd, 2023 Local 300 held a training on Local Negotiations for the Local Memorandum Of Understanding (LMOU). The training was given by National Shop Steward Trainer John Gibson & Local 300 President Kevin Tabarus.

Attending the training: Yvette Johnson – Vice President, Ray Bermudez – Recording Secretary & DVD Branch President, Lucy Lombardo NYSEBM & JFK Branch Pres., Charles Valentine – NJSEBM, James Smith – CTSEBM & Stamford Branch Pres., Marie Chery – NJI NDC Branch Pres., Alberta Prieto – Westchester Branch Pres., Peter Bilotta – Western Nassau Branch Pres., Alan Sacks – Bethpage Branch Pres., Trevor Stuart – Flushing Branch Pres., Irene Delgado – NYC Branch Pres., Latina Crenshaw – Greater Newark Branch Pres., Mark Chandler – Teterboro Branch Pres., Malik Sheppard – Brooklyn, Atika Muhammad – Brooklyn, Linda Gibbs – DVD, Michelle Draganigos – Flushing, Sediqua Perry – Greater Newark, Dan Danzo – JFK,  Bob Cappuccio – Mid Island, Dennis Weinheim – Mid Island, Sunil Babu – NJI NDC, Erica Williams – NYC, Annesia Williams-Arnold – NYC, Tracey Guzman – Westchester, Shirley Ramos – Bronx

Local 300 Women’s Caucus Newsletter

Celebrating Women’s History Month

Click here for the latest issue

WE NEED YOU to HELP PROTECT YOUR JOB

We need your help. The Union representatives of Local 300 cannot do it alone. The members are the eyes and ears of this labor organization. We want your help in protecting your job.

What we need is more MEMBER INVOLVEMENT. When you see someone other than a Mail Handler doing Mail Handler craft work, you must report it to the Union. However, more information is needed besides telling a steward, “Hey, Joe Schmoe the supervisor is doing Mail Handler work on the platform!” More information is needed proper to file a grievance.

Getting involved could result in you or other members receiving $$$ as a result of a grievance settlement. Even if you do not directly receive money, you are helping the Mail Handler craft and protecting your job. If non-Mail Handler personnel are allowed to do Mail Handler work without a grievance, we risk losing the jobs that we have been fighting to retain for decades.

Only Mail Handlers should be performing Mail Handler craft work.

Local 300 – Witness Statement

Local 300 Newsletter

NPMHU Local 300 News – Winter 2023

Local 300’s newsletter is being mail to all members. Look for your copy in your mailbox.

Multifactor Authentication Now Required for LiteBlue Access

On Sunday, January 15, the USPS is deploying the MFA (Multifactor Authentication) solution for LiteBlue as an additional security measure to protect employees’ IDs, passwords, and other personal data from unauthorized access and misuse. At this time, employees are required to sign up for MFA to obtain access to LiteBlue. As a part of the MFA implementation, there are a few steps employees must complete. These steps include:

1. Reset their Self-Service Profile (SSP) password.
2. Verify answers to security questions.
3. Verify the last four digits of their Social Security Number (new security enhancement).
4. Establish MFA preferences.

Protecting LiteBlue
Multifactor authentication now required

To protect employees and the organization from cybercriminals, the Postal Service will require multifactor authentication (MFA) for access to LiteBlue after Jan. 15. Multifactor authentication is an identity verification method in which users provide two or more confirmation factors to gain access to an online account. It is frequently used by banks and other institutions dealing with sensitive personal information.

When employees log into LiteBlue, they will be required to set up their MFA preferences. Once an employee’s MFA setup is enabled, these ID confirmation factors will be required each time he or she logs in.

Employees can click on “Multifactor Authentication” on the LiteBlue login page at www.LiteBlue.usps.gov for more information and to view support materials. The Postal Service provided the following resources pertaining to Multifactor Authentication for LiteBlue:

• Multifactor Authentication Posters (pdf)
• Multifactor Authentication for LiteBlue – Mandatory Stand-up Talk (pdf)
• Multifactor Authentication for LiteBlue- Home Mailer (pdf)
• Multifactor Authentication for LiteBlue- Updated User Guide (pdf)

Postal Ease Update

The external link to PostalEase is being disabled today as employees are still clicking onto fake LiteBlue sites. A notice will be sent from Postal HQs regarding this information. Employees should call the help desk at 877-477-3273 for assistance with their LiteBlue needs until Postal Headquarters can resolve this issue. See below from USPS HQ…

“We continue to receive reports of employees clicking on fake LiteBlue websites, allowing cyber criminals to steal their usernames and passwords. A limited number of employees have reported changes to their net to bank or allotment changes due to this activity.

The USPS has taken multiple steps to combat this activity through enhanced communications, stand-up talks, working with internet providers to identify the sites as fraudulent, and proactively identifying potential victims.  Unfortunately, some employees continue to access the fake websites.

The VP, CISO has recommended disabling the external link to PostalEase today, December 29, 2022.

Taking this action will prevent any net to bank or allotment changes to occur unless employees log-in from a USPS issued device in a USPS facility to further protect employees against fraudulent websites. The Chief Information Office is working to expedite the deployment of a multi-factor solution which will prompt employees for a second identification factor, such as a one-time passcode through text or email or through an authenticator application that will be in addition to their usernames and passwords.

In the interim, please inform employees to call the help-desk at 877-477-3273 for assistance with their urgent LiteBlue needs.

(USPS) Headquarters is working diligently to resolve these security issues and enable LiteBlue to be available ASAP.”

USPS Issues Employee Communications Update Regarding PostalEASE Website Fraud

Please see the latest information that we just received regarding the PostalEase website fraud.

1. Securing Your Personal Data Employee Mailer (pdf) – Letter to be sent to all postal employees making them aware of the potential risk.

2. Keeping Your Private Information Secure Employee Handout (pdf) – Handout to be included in letter to all employees to provide examples of fake sites and steps on how to update personal contact information.

3. PostalEASE Website Fraud: Impacted Employee Notification (pdf)– Letter to be sent to only impacted employees notifying them of their situation and share information and next steps.

Please note, Headquarters is also preparing a Stand-Up Talk to support these communications. Additonal information will be shared when made avaialble to the NPMHU.

The United States Postal Inspection Service and the Office of Inspector General, in coordination with the Postal Service’s Corporate Information Security Office (CISO), are currently investigating counterfeit LiteBlue websites advertising on GOOGLE, which are being used to collect employee usernames and passwords.

The Postal Service has taken precautionary measures to prevent further activity including forcing password resets, email notifications to employees when PostalEase changes occur and enhanced monitoring for counterfeit websites.

PostalEase Security Issues!!!

VP Heather Dyer and the Inspection Service have confirmed Postal Service employees are often unknowingly providing their usernames and passwords to criminal websites, while attempting to access PostalEase.

Employees are using Google and attempting to access PostalEase; however, Google in-turn has been redirecting them to criminally run websites that mirror the look and access of PostalEase.

VP Dyer and the Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) are working with the Postal Inspection Service and drafting letters to the impacted group of approximately 119 employees, while also preparing a second letter addressed to all postal employees.  Both drafts are currently under review by the Privacy Office and Law Department.

We have received reports representations have been made at the district level confirming Postal Inspectors are contacting impacted employees, as well as employees who may have unknowingly been compromised, and requesting their EINs and passwords.

Please note . . . Postal Inspectors have not contacted postal employees and requested their EINs and/or passwords.

If you know of any financially impacted employees, please have them immediately contact the Eagan ASC Helpdesk at 866-974-2733.  Staff members are available to assist.

If you become aware of any employee experiencing access issues to PostalEase, please recommend they immediately contact 877-477-3273 to request assistance.

VP Dyer, the CISCO Team and the Postal Inspection Service continue working around-the-clock to enhance the security of PostalEase.

Mail Handlers Reach Tentative National Agreement with USPS

Bargaining Update #12- SUMMARY OF TENTATIVE AGREEMENT ESTABLISHING TERMS OF 2022 NATIONAL AGREEMENT (pdf)

CONTRACT RATIFICATION PROCEDURES (Adopted November 2022) (pdf)

Labor deal: USPS, union reach tentative agreement 

Local 300 Scholarships Awarded

2022 BERNARD HOLLOWAY, JOHN A. ORCHARD, EDWARD J. MILLER, WALLY MERWIN, AND AARON PRESTON MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS

The Local Union Council and members of Local 300 of the National Postal Mail Handlers Union are proud to announce the winners of the annual competition for the Bernard Holloway, John A. Orchard, Edward J. Miller, Wally Merwin, and Aaron Preston Memorial Scholarship Awards.

This year we have awarded five (5) $1,000 scholarships for study at an accredited college, university, or trade school.

Marina Rezk – Daughter of Samah Rezk of the DVD Branch. Marina is attending Rutgers University and her major field of study is Pharmacy.

Kerissa Henry – Daughter of Gregory Henry of the DVD Branch. Kerissa is attending Rutgers University and her major field of study is Veterinary Medicine.

Beshoy Rezk – Son of Samah Rezk of the DVD Branch. Beshoy is attending Middlesex County College and his major field of study is Engineering.

Aniya Mayo – Daughter of Vallie Mayo of the Greater Newark Branch. Aniya is attending Rutgers University and her major field of study is Psychology.

Angelica Cimirro – Daughter of Lawrence Cimirro of the DVD Branch. Angelica is attending Kean University and her major field of study is Elementary Education.

Updated Wage Charts

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $2,455

Effective August 27, 2022, all career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive a cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2019 National Agreement. This is the last of six possible COLA increases under the terms of the current agreement. This COLA increase is based on the upward change in the relevant Consumer Price Index (CPI) following release of the July 2022 Index, using the July 2019 CPI index as a base.  The increase will appear in paychecks dated September 16, 2022 (Pay Period 19-2022).The resulting calculation provides an annual increase of $2,455 or $1.18 per hour for all Steps in Table 1 and for Step P of Table 2. The remaining Steps in Table 2 will receive the proportional COLA increase percentages as outlined in Article 9.3 of the National Agreement.

Wage Chart (pdf)

Night Differential Charts (pdf)

2022 Contract Update #10

Labor Day Parade

Local 300 members, families, and friends all marched together in solidarity up 5th Avenue in the 2022 NYC CLC AFL-CIO Parade. It was a great day to celebrate that Union Workers are Essential to America!!!

Special thanks to Joe Palau & Shirley Ramos for organizing the parade event!

See more Labor Day Photos on NPMHU Local 300’s Flickr page

NPMHU National Convention – Local 300 Delegates – Denver, Colorado 2022

37 elected Delegates from Local 300 attended the NPMHU 2020 National Convention held in Denver, CO in August 2022. This convention was postponed twice due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Local 300 and 35 other NPMHU Local Unions from all over the country,  gathered together for important administrative business regarding the governance of the NPMHU. Changes were made to the NPMHU National and Uniform Local Union Constitutions.

Reports were provided by the National Officers, Constitution Committee, Resolutions Committee, Rules Committee, Credentials Committee, NPMHU Women’s Committee, Legislative and Political Committee

Local 300 was represented by the following 37 delegates at the NPMHU Convention…

Local President: Kevin Tabarus, Vice President: Yvette Johnson, Treasurer: Wilfredo Delgado, Recording Secretary & DVD Branch Pres.: Ray Bermudez, NY State Exec. Bd. & ISC-JFK Branch Pres.: Lucy Lombardo, NJ State Exec. Bd.: Michelle Kimber, CT State Exec. Bd. & Stamford Branch Pres.: James Smith, NJI/NDC: Joseph Costigan, Tommy Russo, Ann Goodlow, Jason Espinal NYC: Irene Delgado, Joe Palau, Erika Williams, Annesia Williams-Arnold, Brooklyn: Howie Spindler, Atika Muhammad, Kim Pinkney, DVD: Linda Gibbs, Lawrence Cimirro, Bethpage: Alan Sacks, Frank Schultz, Mid Island: David Lang, Flushing: Trevor Stuart, Jessie Lewis, Saieda Brown, Westchester: Alberta Prieto, Tracey Guzman, Phil Hester, ISC/JFK: Dan Danzo, Teresa Start, Greater Newark: Latina Crenshaw, Sediqua Perry, Teterboro: Mark Chandler, Western Nassau: Pete Bilotta, Stamford: Don Utz, Bronx: Shirley Ramos

See more NPMHU Convention – Local 300 Delegates on NPMHU Local 300’s Flickr page

OWCP & FMLA Training

Local 300 conducted OWCP & FMLA training on 9/15/22 at Local 300 HQ. Officers and Stewards were given instruction on OWCP & FMLA procedures and enforcement. Training given by National Shop Steward Trainer John Gibson, Recording Secretary & OWCP Representative Raymond Bermudez and Local 300 President Kevin Tabarus.

Vice President Yvette Johnson, Bethpage: Alan Sacks & Frank Schultz, Brooklyn: Atika Muhammad, Malik Sheppard, DVD: Larry Cimirro, Linda Gibbs, Nina Hinton, Flushing: Antonio Sanchez & Roland Phillips, Greater Newark: Latina Crenshaw, Sediqua Perry, Rasheerah Landrum, ISC – JFK: Lucy Lombardo, Ralph Gonzalez, Mid Hudson: Peter Letizia, Mid Island: Bob Lussos, Bob Cappuccio, Dennis Weinheim, Norbert Cirne, David Lang, NJI/NDC: Marie Chery, Michelle Kimber, Sunil Babu, Charles Valentine, New York City: Irene Delgado, Gail Tolbert, Yolanda Urena, Davis Wong, Lafia Sang, Stamford: James Smith, Teterboro: Mark Chandler, Westchester: Alberta Prieto & Jasmine Mills, Western Nassau: Pete Bilotta

Steward Training

Local 300 conducted Steward training on 9/14/22 at Local 300 HQ. Stewards were given instruction on representation, grievance procedure, etc. Training given by National Shop Steward Trainer John Gibson and Local 300 President Kevin Tabarus.

Bethpage Branch: Denny Lindo, Brooklyn Branch: Michael Vincent, DVD Branch: Randorf Asiama, Greater Newark Branch: Lakira Davis, ISC-JFK Branch: Charles Cooper, NJI/NDC Branch: Jennifer Williams, Romerson St Juste, Rishi Kishan, Tamika Hinnant, James Smith, NYC Branch: Davis Wong, Diana Bennett, Peter Jaipinta, Greg Anderson, Edward Bravo, Stamford Branch: Devin Gritten, Michelle ONeal, Myra Williams-Orr, Sandy Robinson, Tina Inabenet, Jamie McKenzie, Staten Island Branch: Alex Dew, Western Nassau Branch: Marvin Banos, Priscilla Wilson.

USPS Lists Post Offices and Facilities to Consolidate Operations

Articles have been published online indicating consolidations of various postal installations, without naming the affected installations.

Information has been shared with Postal Headquarters and the Union. This initiative is part of Postmaster General DeJoy’s “10 Year Plan.”

Currently, no plans to consolidate installations within the Local 300 area would adversely impact the membership.

We have been informed of plans to consolidate some delivery operations into  Mid Hudson and a location in Brooklyn. Creating new Sorting and Delivery Centers (S&DCs).

Mid Hudson P&DC is projected to have delivery (Letter Carrier) operations from 17 nearby post offices. We expect to gain work in Mid Hudson.

At a new location in Brooklyn (Alabama Ave.), it is projected to have “Foot/Parcel Delivery” operations from up to 7 nearby post offices.

There are several other S&DCs proposed around the country, involving hundreds of post offices.

In addition, there are proposals to create super processing centers, called new Regional Processing and Distribution Centers (RPDCs). Initial plans are for Atlanta and Indianapolis. There are no immediate or future plans named for RPDCs in the Local 300 area.

As soon as we know of any changes to your installation, you will be immediately informed.

STC Arbitration Won!!!

We are extremely pleased to announce that the NPMHU has prevailed in National arbitration concerning the Postal Service’s decision to subcontract Mail Handler work at the Kansas City Surface Transportation Center or STC.  A copy of the decision is attached.  The award also should apply to several other STCs that have been subcontracted, and favorably interprets several prior National awards under Article 32 and related contract provisions.

This case began in August 2019, when the Postal Service first notified the NPMHU at the National level that the Postal Service had decided to subcontract all mail handler work at the Kansas City STC, scheduled for opening and staffing in September 2019.  The National Union initiated a grievance at the Step 4 or National level, followed by additional grievances during subsequent months arising from similar situations in Chicago, Orlando, Atlanta, Washington DC, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Southern California, and Northern California.

In short, this Brent Award should help to restrict or even end the USPS practice of subcontracting Mail Handler work to private employers without first considering the views of the Union on all issues properly presented.

The Brent Award remanded the issue of remedy to the National parties, meaning that the remedial portion of this Award and its impact on subcontracting at the STC in Kansas City, and in other locations, is still to be determined.

Click here for more information

Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $2,455