NAPS Newsbreak: NAPS to USPS: Your MOU with UPMA is Misleading and Deceptive

March 5, 2026

NAPS Newsbreak

NAPS to USPS: Your MOU with UPMA is Misleading and Deceptive

Today NAPS President Ivan Butts addressed the recent Memorandum of Understanding between the USPS and UPMA over the scope of UPMA representation. In a letter to Michael Elston, USPS Vice President, Labor Relations, President Butts said:

USPS purports to “voluntarily” recognize UPMA as “the representative of non-supervisory, non-managerial employees” in the Postal Service. The suggestion that a distinct group of “non-managerial” employees exists within the EAS is specious and contrary to the legislative history of 39 U.S.C. § 1004(b), its judicial interpretation, USPS history, and common sense.

President Butts reminded the Postal Service that NAPS has consistently and vigorously represented all EAS personnel. "Over the past decade, NAPS consulted with USPS numerous times in connection with the pay of thousands of employees in non-supervisory positions throughout the EAS., Butts wrote. “USPS has never questioned NAPS’s eligibility to represent these non-supervisory employees in the managerial ranks, nor has it ever characterized their positions as ‘non-managerial.’” Indeed, it appears that the reason the Postal Service would prefer to deal with UPMA is that UPMA has been far less vigorous in advocating for its own members.

President Butts concluded his letter to Mr. Elston by reaffirming NAPS's mission, writing "...Regardless of any agreement the USPS may elect to reach with UPMA concerning the scope of that organization’s representation, " Butts wrote, "NAPS will continue to proudly represent all supervisory and other managerial personnel of the United States Postal Service, consistent with the mission of our association and the dictates of the law."

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