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NAPS Looks Out for Its Members

NAPS Looks Out for Its Members
By Ivan D. Butts
NAPS National President

Hello, my NAPS brothers and sisters. As I write this column, we are heading full speed into the fall mailing season. This is the third year of the PMG’s 10-year “Delivering for America” (DFA) plan, moving full steam ahead with a total transformation of the postal network as we know it.

NAPS Headquarters has supported members through five RIFs thus far under the plan; we have at least two more RIF events before the end of 2023. We remain confident all impacted NAPS members will find a position in order to continue delivering America’s mail, despite the anxiety these organizational changes bring.

We also see growing concerns over projected financial losses in the next fiscal year. The USPS reported an investment of nearly $500 million for the DFA plan to redesign the agency’s operational network. Currently, approximately one regional processing and delivery center (RPDC) and 30 sorting and delivery centers (S&DCs) are operational.

The DFA plan is designed to realign USPS logistics for ground transportation of mail across the country via RPDC to RPDC, while still using air support for premium products. What has yet to be realized is service improvement associated with these operational changes.

The USPS website that tracks service reports a 2% decrease in service from SPLY. Interestingly, the service area impacted by the first RPDC shows a 5% decrease in service to SPLY.

As president of our great association, I remain challenged by the “just wait and see” approach from those with oversight over America’s Postal Service amidst the negative impacts we are seeing thus far under the DFA plan. We will remain vigilant to all actions undertaken in the name of the “Delivering for America” plan.

During this month of Thanksgiving, I want to thank you for the work you have been doing—boots on the ground—in reaching out to newly promoted EAS supervisors, managers and postmasters and convincing them to join the NAPS family. Nearly 50% of postmasters now are NAPS members.

This unity among EAS employees only will make NAPS stronger. Please keep up your excellent work when NAPS Headquarters sends you promotional reports via our NAPS Executive Board members.

Nov. 11 is Veterans Day. Thanks to all of you who have made the ultimate commitment to our country to stand on the front line of freedom and defend our great nation—go Air Force!

You may have heard me say I am so honored to serve our members as NAPS president; there is no higher statement I can make. I am blessed by you giving me the opportunity to serve.

In solidarity …