Home - Branch 2589

Welcome To NALC Branch 2589 Lubbock

Union Meeting is held every 3rd Thursday of the month at 7:00pm

President Report:

Well here we are starting summer, and I am really stretching to find some good news to share with you. With all the recent route adjustments it may surprise many of you to know that in May and June basically every route in the U.S. will be adjusted using the new MIRAP (Modified Interim Route Adjustment Process), and then reviewed and adjusted again this September. If you take the time you are using daily on your route and deduct any time that you were on waiting time, training time, red book time, etc…, and the remaining time is less than 8 hours, you will probably be added on to. That is why it is imperative that you watch your times. More

Secretary Report:

The Regular Branch Meeting of NALC Branch 2589, Lubbock, Texas, was called to order by President Mitch Terral at 7:00 P.M. The invocation was given by N. Cruz. The membership then said the Pledge of Allegiance. The roll call of officers was taken. All officers were present. N. Cruz moved to add H. Steffens and D. Sieler to the attendance list for tonight. The motion was seconded by E. Odle. Motion carried. A. Rodriguez moved to add A. Sears to the November 20, 2008, Union Meeting, due to illness. Motion was seconded by N. Cruz. Motion carried. More

NALC Latest News and Resources:

2010 Leadership Academy applications now being accepted: The form is posted here and is available from your National Business Agent. In order for candidates to be eligible for 2010 training, forms must be postmarked by September 30. Application

NALC and USPS agree to Modified Interim Alternate Route Adjustment Process: The NALC and the Postal Service have entered into a Memorandum of Agreement on a Modified Interim Alternate Route Adjustment Process for 2009. M01702 | Bulletin article

Early retirement offer will cover city carriers: The Postal Service has informed President Young that city letter carriers will be included in its new Voluntary Early Retirement offer. See The Postal Record report on last year’s VER here, and the initial USPS announcement here.

Budget won't raise carriers' benefit contributions: President Young announced today that the Obama administration will not pursue a proposal to raise postal employees’ benefit contributions in the 2010 budget. Vice President Joseph Biden confirmed the action when he met with President Young at the AFL-CIO Executive Council meeting in Miami on Thursday.

“It’s a pleasure to work with a friendly administration for a change,” President Young said. “I look forward to working with the new administration to find ways to strengthen the Postal Service in the face of the current economic crisis.”

The cost-shift proposal was conceived by the Office of Management and Budget during the transition between the Bush and Obama administrations. Once the NALC and other postal unions pointed out that the proposal would infringe on the collective bargaining rights of letter carriers and other postal employees, it was withdrawn from consideration.

President Young applauds Obama election: "Letter carriers have been on the front line all across America helping to deliver votes to Senator Obama and we are excited and inspired by his election and what it means for the future of this nation," Young said. Press Release

Layoff report is false: A news story that asserts the Postal Service is preparing to layoff 40,000 employees is false. In a press release, national USPS spokesman Gerald McKiernan said the story, originating from Shreveport, LA is not accurate. McKiernan also said 3,685 employees have accepted the voluntary early retirement (VERA) offer to reduce the USPS workforce. USPS press release

Legislative News

To Save the Postal Service, Congress Must Approve H.R. 22: A new PowerPoint slide show about H.R. 22, a bill of critical importance to anyone concerned about the Postal Service, is now available to local, state, and national officers for use at union meetings.

USPS Seeking Contractor To Create New ID Cards For Postal Employees: All Postal Service career employees will be issued a uniform identification and access card that may be interoperable with Postal Service physical access control systems (PACS) depending on the PACS type.

Legislation to improve FERS, TSP benefits passes in House: The House approved legislation April 1 that addressed two long-standing disparities in treatment between workers in the Federal Employees’ Retirement System (FERS) and those in the Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS). More

Battle for Employee Free Choice Act heats up: The legislation to make it easier for workers to form unions was introduced March 10 in both the House and Senate. NALC believes the legislation is vital to pulling the nation out of the economic crisis and rebuilding the middle class. More | Bulletin article

H.R. 22 is vital to USPS future: President Young has asked that members contact their house representatives and ask them to co-sponsor H.R. 22. He also told state legislative chairs at their recent training session in Washington to make sure every senator and representative knows how important passing H.R. 22 is to letter carriers and the Postal Service. Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA), ranking Republican on the committee that oversees USPS, addressed the chairs’ gathering as well. And Young released a response to reports that PMG Potter is seeking to curtail mail delivery to five days. Statement | Bulletin | H.R. 22 fact sheet

Postal News

USPS Requests Authorization To Offer Early Retirements For Remainder of Year -

Postmaster General: Mail Days May Need To Be Cut

USPS In Financial Crisis, PMG Potter Tells Congress

73.4 million pounds collected In food drive: People across the country donated in record amounts during the 17th annual "Stamp Out Hunger" food drive May 9. "This is an amazing testimony to the generosity of the American people even as they themselves struggle to make ends meet in these hard times,” said NALC President Bill Young. Press release | Food Drive page | Bulletin | Postal Record article.