The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth

The Whole Truth and Nothing but the Truth
By Chuck Mulidore
NAPS Executive Vice President

If you are a viewer of police dramas or even “Court TV,” you might have seen witnesses taking the stand, raising their right hand and swearing an oath to tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth. Now you may be wondering, other than revealing some of my TV preferences, what this has to do with you.

Well, I recently was reminded of that process when another management organization in the Postal Service sent out messages full of untruths and misrepresentations about NAPS. So, in the spirit of “Court TV,” here is the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!

That small organization, of which less than 50% of its members actually are working postmasters (the majority of their members are retired postmasters), took NAPS to task because it says we represent supervisors mostly in plants and logistics, which I assume is beneath them. Memo to that organization’s leader: NAPS is proud to represent those EAS employees and thousands more!

That other organization also claimed that NAPS “held up” the faulty and delayed 2024 NPA process it seemingly supports. In fact, NAPS waited for the final USPS presentation, received in early January 2024, before reviewing and providing the Postal Service our concerns and lack of agreement on the 2024 NPA process. NAPS does not “carry the water” for the Postal Service as that organization does.

The other organization also says its membership primarily is postmasters, which actually is one of the few facts espoused by that organization. So, here is the truth: NAPS membership is approximately 27,000 EAS employees representing over 500 positions in the postal management ranks. Interestingly, approximately 5,000 postmasters also are NAPS members, meaning NAPS has nearly as many active postmaster members as that other organization!

Oh, and we do not inflate our numbers with craft employees—as does that other group—and take their dues money, even though it cannot represent them. Most impressively, over 95% of NAPS members are actively working EAS employees: supervisors, managers, postmasters, SDOs, MDOs, MMOs, plant managers, HR personnel, OPS and district, area and Headquarters employees.

NAPS—and only NAPS—represents all EAS employees, making us the best, largest and most effective management organization representing EAS employees in the Postal Service. NAPS is strong, growing and financially stable.

The U.S. Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, in siding with NAPS in our lawsuit versus the Postal Service, stated NAPS is the only organization that can represent all Postal Service EAS employees—all 47,000 of them. Sorry, other organization, but that is truth.

That other organization even sided with the Postal Service against NAPS in our lawsuit! The victory awarded NAPS in its lawsuit will benefit all EAS employees, including postmasters, because NAPS now represents postmasters in pay and benefits consultations with the USPS. Yes, other organization, that also is more truth.

Perhaps the most egregious untruth from that other organization is discussing the NAPS DDF—Disciplinary Defense Fund—that is included as a benefit of membership in NAPS, but not in that other group. Imagine being an EAS employee facing an adverse action and a rep from that organization told you to pay $3,000 toward your own defense, assuming they even accept your case.

Really? Well, here is more truth: As a NAPS member, you would pay nothing. That other group seems to not understand how that is possible; they come up with all types of fake scenarios about what your cost really would be as a NAPS member.

Remember, now, nothing but the whole truth here. As NAPS executive vice president, I administer the DDF. No one has paid out of pocket for their representation—no one! You see, at NAPS, we do not deal in conspiracy theories or fake news; we represent our members!

Of course, our primary focus always has been to educate and train our members how to stay out of trouble. But if, by some chance, something adverse should happen to you as an EAS employee, we will be there with world-class representation.

NAPS is well prepared to meet the challenges of the future and meet them we will! Your resident officers at NAPS Headquarters, your Executive Board members across our country and your local branch leaders are committed to maintaining the standard of effective representation and excellence that has been the hallmark of NAPS.

You see, we tell the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth!