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Nice To Be Back

Nice To Be Back
By Jimmy Warden
NAPS Secretary/Treasurer

Reminiscing on March 2020: We were attending the Legislative Training Seminar (LTS) and COVID was in the news, but I don’t think we had any idea of the impact it would have on the world. Right after LTS that year, the NAPS Executive Board held its spring board meeting.

After the meeting, I returned to my hotel room where my beautiful wife Ivonne greeted me, saying the NBA season was just cancelled. Two days later, we drove back to our home in New Jersey. We made our usual stop to pick up milk and fresh bread. To our amazement, the store shelves were practically empty. Wow! Reality set in pretty quickly; what an effect some events can have on our lives.

Well, reality is setting in again for many of us. On Feb. 22, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia Circuit ruled in our favor in National Association of Postal Supervisors v. United States Postal Service and United Postmasters and Managers of America. The ruling determined that NAPS has the right to represent all supervisors, postmasters and managers, including those assigned to the areas and Headquarters. This is the position NAPS has stood by for years.

As you have read in my previous columns, membership is the framework of our association. Based on the court’s ruling, NAPS has the right to represent all postmasters. In addition, the court ruled that UPMA does not have the legal right to represent supervisors based on the interpretation of Title 39.

Pay issues also were addressed. The Appeals Court reversed the District Court’s judgement and is remanding the case for further proceedings consistent with its opinion.

Everyone has a lucky number and mine always has been two. Well, on Feb. 22, 2022, NAPS was successful in achieving success in its lawsuit and now, two years after March 2020, we are back attending LTS in person and pursuing our legislative agenda.

Now is the time to recruit nonmembers as we are the only postal management association recognized by law to have the right to represent all managerial personnel. And it’s time for everyone to be involved in NAPS’ legislative agenda.

With LTS fast approaching, I am looking forward to this year’s event more than any other. Our legislative agenda is a major priority; now, we have the best opportunity to make changes. We need to get our message to our elected officials on the importance of our legislative agenda, not just for the betterment of the Postal Service, but also for the livelihoods of all postal employees.

As I write this in late February, H.R. 3076 has passed in the House and is pending in the Senate. This extremely important piece of legislation can provide a path to helping financially stabilize the Postal Service, make the agency operationally sound and allow it to continue to fulfill its universal service obligation. And, just as importantly, it maintains six-day delivery for the American people.

Success with H.R. 3076 will help lead the path to other legislation that encompasses NAPS’ legislative agenda. This includes MSPB appeal rights for all EAS employees and amending Title 39.

On Saturday, Feb. 12, I had the honor to speak at a press conference in New York City in front of F.D.R. Station held by House Oversight and Reform Committee Chairwoman Carolyn Maloney. This took place just a few days after the House passed H.R. 3076.

On the following day, I also was honored to speak at a press conference held by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. He spoke of getting H.R. 3076 to a vote in the Senate as it is an extremely important and much-needed piece of legislation. I was accompanied to these events by local Branch 100 officers in a show of support.

Our future is now. We need to ensure our elected officials know our stance on all NAPS issues, from Title 39 to MSPB rights to fair pay. I strongly urge you to support LTS and contribute to SPAC—a major key in pursuing our legislative agenda. Without it, we don’t have a chance.

It’s important to stay focused on our legislative agenda at LTS. So, instead of offering training for NAPS secretary/treasurers, I will address pertinent issues in my monthly columns. In March, I provided information on branches filing their tax returns. In May, I will talk about branches conducting financial audits.

I’m looking forward to a great LTS and increasing our membership! Increasing membership demonstrates leadership.

Stay safe!