National Postal Mail Handler Union, Local 316
A Division of LIUNA-AFL-CIO
Don Sneesby
Don Sneesby, Western Region Vice President and Local 316 President Local 316’s headquarters is located in Seattle, Washington. The Local has 11 branch offices serving Mail Handlers in the states of Washington and Alaska. Our mission is to provide prompt, professional representation while protecting our member’s rights.
NPMHU Call to Action
Dear Sisters and Brothers,
The week after our productive legislative conference, the House of Representatives voted on its budget reconciliation bill, H.R. 1. As we discussed during the conference, there were several provisions in the bill that targeted FERS benefits. Because of collective lobbying and grassroots efforts, the language for across the board increases to employee contributions and moving from a high-3 to a high-5 were not included in the in final bill voted out of the House. However, calls to eliminate the FERS Supplement and tying union membership to FERS contribution rates remain.
The FERS Supplement provides a bridge for those who qualify for retirement before they reach Social Security age. The elimination of the supplement puts those approaching retirement in the next few years at a financial disadvantage.
Every employee within the Postal Service and the federal government has the right to choose whether or not to join a union. Besides the payment of dues, there is no other financial requirements. However, H.R. 1 calls for new employees who elect union representation to contribution an additional 5% to their FERS benefits – bringing the total to 9.4%. This would create a financial burden for those starting their postal careers, not to mention would put them at an extreme disadvantage when it comes to job protections.
The Senate will now review the language and we need to ensure Senators understand how detrimental these changes are.
Our call to action has been updated, and I ask you use the following link to contact your Senators and let them know how harmful these provisions are. Please share the link with your members and encourage them to do the same.
https://npmhu.quorum.us/campaign/121771/
Thank you for your time and attention.
In Solidarity,
Katie Maddocks
Legislative & Political Director
National Postal Mail Handlers Union
Mail Handlers Receive Night Shift Differential Increase
As provided for in Article 8.7 of the NPMHU 2022 National Agreement, effective May 17, 2025 (PP12-25); the flat dollar amount at each pay grade and step for night shift differential in Tables Three and Four shall be increased by 2.0%. All increases will be applied to the most recent night shift differential table preceding the increase. The increase is applicable for time worked between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This is the third of three Night Shift Differential increases negotiated in the 2022 National Agreement.
NPMHU President Hogrogian Joins Members of Congress to Speak Out on Cuts to FERS
On Wednesday, May 14, National Postal Mail Handlers Union National President Paul V. Hogrogian joined other postal and federal workforce unions to discuss current threats to the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS) with Democratic members of the U.S. House of Representatives.
Retirement benefits for most Mail Handlers are currently under attack with the budget reconciliation package calling for increases to employee contributions with no corresponding increase to benefits; changing annuity computation from “high 3” to “high 5” average salary; eliminating the FERS supplement for those who are eligible to retire before they qualify for Social Security; and, tying FERS contribution rates to union membership for new hires.
NPMHU and these groups have been educating members of the House on how these changes would be devastating to Mail Handlers, and all postal and federal employees.
Commenting on these threats, President Hogrogian commented, “The reconciliation plan is nothing but cuts to the take-home pay of not only the middle-class workers of NPMHU who work in Postal facilities spread throughout the country in states and jurisdictions large and small, but for 640,000 postal employees and 2 million federal employees across the country.”
Statement of National Postal Mail Handlers Union National President Paul V. Hogrogian on the Appointment of David Steiner to USPS Postmaster General
During its open session on May 9, the United States Postal Service Board of Governors announced the appointment of David Steiner as the seventy-sixth Postmaster General.
Mr. Steiner previously served as the CEO of Waste Management and currently sits on the board of FedEx, a role he is expected to leave by the time he joins USPS in July. As the NPMHU prepares to go into collective bargaining with USPS, we are anxious to see how Mr. Steiner will negotiate with our Union to protect our pay and benefits, ensure workplace safety, and fight any threats of privatization that would impact not only Mail Handlers but also postal customers.
The NPMHU is encouraged by Mr. Steiner’s commitment in maintaining the Postal Service as an independent establishment of the executive branch. The NPMHU looks forward to having a productive relationship with Postmaster General Steiner while we jointly work to maintain the Postal Service’s status as one of the most trusted agencies of the Federal Government. We will educate Mr. Steiner on the needs of Mail Handlers to successfully process the mail and how any changes to the network cannot be disruptive to the service standards our customers expect. It is the number one priority of NPMHU to protect our members while promoting the sustainability of the Postal Service.
NPMHU Call to Action: Tell Congress No Cuts to Federal Retirement
As Congress prepares a federal spending plan, proposals include drastic changes to the Federal Employee Retirement System (FERS).
They are: requiring all enrollees, regardless of hire date, to contribute 4.4% of their pay to FERS, without an increase in benefit; utilize the five highest salaries instead of the highest three to calculate annuities; eliminate the FERS supplement plan for those who are eligible to retire early; and, tie employees’ FERS contributions to whether or not they elect to be in a union. These cuts would directly result in a reduction of Mail Handlers’ take-home pay.
We are working hard here in DC to let Congress and their staff know how harmful these changes would be to our members, but they still need to hear directly from constituents. As Congress moves forward to finalizing a spending plan, we need to do all we can to ensure these proposals are not included in the package.
Please use the following link to send a prepared message to your member of the House of Representatives urging them to protect earned federal retirement benefits, and make sure to also share it with your members.
Join the Union, Join the Fight!
CALL: Stop Trump’s Federal Worker Union-Busting
While the latest attack on federal sector unions does not apply to the Postal Service, we stand in solidarity with our fellow unions and support their call to action.
Below is a link to a concise call-to-action page that the AFL-CIO just put out to support AFGE and other federal unions and the entire federal workforce.
NPMHU Statement on USPS/DOGE Agreement
On the night of Monday, March 10, the Postmaster General (PMG) and Deputy PMG met with members of the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) at the United States Postal Service Headquarters. Mail Handlers have seen the DOGE team dismantle federal agencies, impacting services provided to Americans across the country, and are therefore rightly concerned about the potential impact on the work of the Postal Service generally and the work of the more than 54,000 dedicated mail handlers across the country. Our response will be guided by the following principles.
First and foremost, the independence of USPS – and its governance by the Board of Governors – must remain.
Second, the National Postal Mail Handlers Union (NPMHU) will fight any attempts to privatize our work. Our processing and distribution work is vital within the postal network, and privatization or subcontracting of our jobs would jeopardize not only the earned pay and benefits of mail handlers across the country, but also the flow of service that postal customers and the public at large rely upon every day. Privatizing the Postal Service will threaten customers’ ability to receive packages and letters ranging from Social Security checks, necessary medications, government correspondence, and mail from loved ones.
Finally, while we have been told that the Postal Service will not grant DOGE access to employee records and data, should this not be the case, the NPMHU stands ready, along with the other postal unions, to take all necessary action to protect the privacy of our members.
The NPMHU will remain cautious and vigilant and is prepared to fight against any ill-conceived attempts by DOGE to dismantle this American institution.
Memorandum of Understanding Re: One-Time Retirement Incentive Dispute Process
MOU Re: One-Time Retirement Incentive Dispute Process (pdf)
The Memorandum of Understanding – Re: One Time Retirement Incentive provides a process for handling any disputes that arise under this MOU. It provides that any disputes are to be referred to the National Administrative Committee (NAC) for discussion and resolution.
If you believe that you have an issue/dispute regarding the One-Time Retirement Incentive/VER, you should:
- Contact your local union official regarding the issue/dispute.
- The union will have you fill out the 2025 One Time Retirement Incentive/VER Appeal Form.
- The Appeal Form along with any supporting documents will be emailed by your local union to Tharmon@npmhu.org at National NPMHU Headquarters.
- Once the dispute is received at the National NPMHU, a copy will be forwarded to the USPS Headquarters representatives on the National Administrative Committee which will meet expeditiously to discuss the dispute.
NORTHWEST PASSAGES
THE OFFICIAL NPMHU LOCAL 316 NEWSLETTER FOR MAIL HANDLERS OF ALASKA AND WASHINGTON
October 2024
May 2024
Passport
First-time applicants and people who aren’t allowed to get a new passport by mail.
REAL ID
On May 7, 2025, U.S. travelers must be REAL ID compliant to board domestics flights.
The TSP Mobile App
With the TSP Mobile App on your personal device, you can access your TSP information anywhere, anytime. Download the TSP Mobile App from the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store, the only authorized sources for our app.
Mail Handler Assistant (MHA)
In this role you will load, unload and move mail and packages. You will also perform other duties incidental to the movement and processing of mail. If you enjoy staying active in a team environment that emphasizes safety and ergonomics this could be a great fit for you.
Job duties include:
- Loading, lifting and carrying moderate to heavy mail from trucks and sorting equipment
- Separate outgoing bulk mail and load onto mail trucks for distribution
- Operate machinery and carry mail to distribution area
- May perform a variety of duties such as rewrapping damaged parcels and weighing mail
The new L 2070 Fund
Like all Lifecycle Funds (L Funds), the L 2070 offers simplicity and diversity and is designed to grow with you over time.
2025 PAC
You too can become a NPMHU political activist. Your contributions help preserve and save job.
Wage Charts Effective March 8, 2025 (PP 07-2025)
Cost-of-Living Adjustment (COLA) set at $416
Effective March 8, 2025 (PP 07-2025) all career Mail Handler craft employees are scheduled to receive a cost-of-living (COLA) adjustment as outlined in Article 9.3 of the 2022 National Agreement. This is the fifth 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 January 2025 Index, using the July 2022 CPI index as a base. The resulting calculation provides an annual increase of $416 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.
Mail Handler Wage Charts Effective March 8, 2025 (PP 07-2025) PDF
New Annual Leave Carryover for Leave Year 2024 and Annual Leave Exchange Option for Leave Year 2025
The first MOU allows for additional Annual Leave Carryover for the 2025 Leave Year. In the 2022 National Agreement, the MOU on Annual Leave Carryover allows regular work force employees to carryover 440 hours of accumulated annual leave. The new MOU on Annual Leave Carryover for Leave Year 2025 expands that limit and allows regular work force employees to carryover 520 hours of accumulated leave from leave year 2024 to leave year 2025.
The second MOU deals with the Annual Leave Exchange Option for the 2025 Leave Year. The Annual Leave Exchange Option MOU for Leave Year 2024 will allow career employees to sell back a maximum of 80 hours of annual leave prior to the beginning of the leave year provided the following criteria is met: 1) The employee must be at the maximum leave carryover ceiling (440 hours) at the start of the leave year and 2) the employee must have used fewer than 75 sick leave hours in the 2024 leave year.
Mail Handlers to Receive Night Shift Differential Increase
May 10, 2024– As provided for in Article 8.7 of the NPMHU 2022 National Agreement, effective May 18, 2024 (PP12-24); the flat dollar amount at Steps A through P at each pay grade for night shift differential in Tables Three and Four shall be increased by 1.5%, the flat dollar amount at Steps A of Table 3 and Steps BB and AA for Table Four through P at each pay grade for night shift differential in Tables Three and Four shall be increased by 2.0%. All increases will be applied to the most recent night shift differential table preceding the increase. The increase is applicable for time worked between the hours of 6:00 p.m. and 6:00 a.m. This is the second of three Night Shift Differential increases negotiated in the 2022 National Agreement.
UNIFORM VENDORS
In the 2022 National Agreement, the NPMHU successfully bargained for the carry over of our members uniform allowance.
Unused portions of an eligible employee’s annual allowance for uniform and work clothing will be carried over and available for use beginning twelve (12) months after the end of each anniversary year. An eligible employee’s uniform and work clothing allowance balance may not exceed the sum of two (2) years of the employee’s annual allowance entitlement. This uniform and work clothing program adjustment will be implemented no later than twelve (12) months from the ratification date of the 2022 Agreement.
In order to access this benefit, follow the steps below.
- Login into LiteBlue.
- Go to MyHR.
- Click on the Pay & Benefits drop down.
- Select Uniforms.
While in in LiteBlue, you can find approved uniform vendors using the USPS uniform vendors list. However, not all vendors listed on the USPS vendors list carry Mail Handler uniforms.
Uniform and Work Clothes Annual Allowance Carry Over
Re: Uniform and Work Clothes Annual Allowance Carry Over (pdf)
Unused portions of an eligible employee’s annual allowance for uniform and work clothing will be carried over and available for use beginning twelve (12) months after the end of each anniversary year. An eligible employee’s uniform and work clothing allowance balance may not exceed the sum of two (2) years of the employee’s annual allowance entitlement. This uniform and work clothing program adjustment will be implemented no later than twelve (12) months from the ratification date of the 2022 Agreement.
Members Resource
