‘Taking Care of Business' the NAPS Way

‘Taking Care of Business’ the NAPS Way
By John Aceves
Former NAPS Secretary/Treasurer

Just like the song, NAPS continues to take care of business with all the changes being thrown in the mix by USPS Headquarters. Recent developments, including implementation of Sectional Sorting Centers (SSCs), Regional Distribution Centers (RDCs) and other consolidations have introduced significant changes. These changes raise several questions regarding staffing, position levels and plant rankings that remain to be fully addressed. The USPS continues to proceed with these adjustments and informing NAPS as required by Title 39.

The USPS is sending “Notice of Proposed Non-Disciplinary Reduction in Grade (Position Reclassification)” letters to many EAS positions following directives from Headquarters. NAPS President Ivan D. Butts urges anyone receiving such notices to immediately contact their NAPS representatives. According to ELM 55, section 415.23, Position Reclassified to a Lower Grade, employees are reduced to the lower grade as soon as their position is reclassified.

The employee’s salary is handled in one of two ways:

  • If the employee’s salary is within the salary range for the lower grade, the salary is continued and there is no saved salary.
  • If the employee’s salary exceeds the maximum salary of the lower grade, saved salary is granted for a period not to exceed two years. At the end of the two-year period, if the salary exceeds the maximum of the new grade, the salary is immediately reduced to the grade maximum.

Given these developments, what is the plan for service work credits (SWCs), work service credits for station manager levels and Form 150 workload credits associated with postmaster levels? How will USPS Headquarters evaluate how many supervisors go into a zone, manager and postmaster position levels, who and how they will be assigned to large SSCs and/or RDCs and more?

We have many questions and need more answers. It’s our responsibility to maintain our work schedules. If any changes occur that are not an “operational” reason(s) and if you unexpectedly receive a Form 50, it means a change has been made by someone or something. We should stay vigilant and manage our responsibilities or others may act before we have a chance to respond.

Your local and state officers, area and regional vice presidents and resident officers can facilitate education and training for members, helping establish a communication network for sharing updates about job changes or management practices at the local level. A grassroots approach in NAPS supports member relations and organizational presence.

Our involvement regarding recent negative USPS legislation ensures our concerns were and continue to be heard on Capitol Hill. “Taking Care of Business” the NAPS way is beneficial to the USPS and our organization.

Hasta luego.