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DAY AND TAUB CONFIRMED TO POSTAL REGULATORY COMMISSION
September 29, 2023
On Thursday, Sept. 28, the Senate confirmed the nominations of Thomas G. Day and Robert G. Taub to be Commissioners of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). After being nominated to serve as PRC Commissioners by President Biden, their nominations were advanced by the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs following hearings that took place earlier this month.
As an independent agency that exercises regulatory oversight over the Postal Service, the PRC’s responsibilities include preventing anticompetitive practices, promoting accountability, adjudicating complaints, setting postal rates and helping oversee delivery service standards.
The PRC is made up of five commissioners who are nominated by the president for six-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. Taub is a two-time appointee to the Commission following unanimous confirmations by the U.S. Senate in 2011 and 2016. This will be Taub’s third term, and he previously served as the chairman of the Commission from December 2014 until January 2021. A first-term commissioner, Day will bring broad experience in both the global and domestic postal sectors, including 35 years working in senior roles at the Postal Service.
“NALC congratulates Thomas Day and Robert Taub on their confirmations to this important agency,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “We look forward to working with them to ensure the Postal Regulatory Commission fulfills its oversight responsibilities to promote a Postal Service that benefits the men and women who deliver America’s mail and our customers.”
On Thursday, Sept. 28, the Senate confirmed the nominations of Thomas G. Day and Robert G. Taub to be Commissioners of the Postal Regulatory Commission (PRC). After being nominated to serve as PRC Commissioners by President Biden, their nominations were advanced by the United States Senate Committee on Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs following hearings that took place earlier this month.
As an independent agency that exercises regulatory oversight over the Postal Service, the PRC’s responsibilities include preventing anticompetitive practices, promoting accountability, adjudicating complaints, setting postal rates and helping oversee delivery service standards.
The PRC is made up of five commissioners who are nominated by the president for six-year terms and confirmed by the Senate. Taub is a two-time appointee to the Commission following unanimous confirmations by the U.S. Senate in 2011 and 2016. This will be Taub’s third term, and he previously served as the chairman of the Commission from December 2014 until January 2021. A first-term commissioner, Day will bring broad experience in both the global and domestic postal sectors, including 35 years working in senior roles at the Postal Service.
“NALC congratulates Thomas Day and Robert Taub on their confirmations to this important agency,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “We look forward to working with them to ensure the Postal Regulatory Commission fulfills its oversight responsibilities to promote a Postal Service that benefits the men and women who deliver America’s mail and our customers.”
ENTERING THE NEXT PHASE OF NEGOTIATIONS
July 14, 2023
As previously reported, NALC has continued to negotiate for a new collective bargaining agreement with the U.S. Postal Service during the statutorily required 60-day mediation period. That period, which began with the formal expiration of the 2019-2023 Agreement on May 20, is set to expire on July 19. While discussions on the pay, benefits and working conditions of America’s city letter carriers continue to be productive, the parties have yet to reach tentative agreement.
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe and Executive Vice President Paul Barner are working closely together along with the union’s lawyers and a team of national officers and staff to reach an agreement with postal management that is worthy of the dedication and hard work of our active membership.
While reaching a voluntary settlement that properly rewards city letter carriers for the work they do delivering America’s mail remains NALC’s goal, preparation is ongoing for binding interest arbitration should that become necessary. The meticulous work of marshaling evidence and recruiting expert witnesses to make our case in interest arbitration proceedings has been going on for months.
Under the law, such an impasse would trigger the appointment of a three-member arbitration board comprised of a union advocate, a management advocate and a neutral chair to conduct a binding arbitration to set the terms of a new National Agreement.
With the deadline of the expiration of the statutorily mandated 60-day mediation period looming, NALC will continue, as has been the case in the past, negotiating with the USPS as the next phase of the process begins.
“As we have in recent rounds of collective bargaining, we will remain at the table with postal management as long as the prospects remain for reaching a tentative agreement that meets our goals,” Renfroe said on July 14. “But we will move expeditiously to invoke the procedures required by law to resolve an impasse in bargaining should that prove necessary.”
On July 14, 2023, the NALC Executive Council received charges proffered against President Renfroe by another member of the Council. The charges will be addressed in accordance with Article 10 of the NALC Constitution. This process will not distract from our efforts to achieve a collective-bargaining agreement or our preparation for binding interest arbitration. The NALC Executive Council is committed to following our constitutional process, and will not be deterred from our duties and responsibilities to fully and vigorously represent the interests of the nation’s city letter carriers.
As previously reported, NALC has continued to negotiate for a new collective bargaining agreement with the U.S. Postal Service during the statutorily required 60-day mediation period. That period, which began with the formal expiration of the 2019-2023 Agreement on May 20, is set to expire on July 19. While discussions on the pay, benefits and working conditions of America’s city letter carriers continue to be productive, the parties have yet to reach tentative agreement.
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe and Executive Vice President Paul Barner are working closely together along with the union’s lawyers and a team of national officers and staff to reach an agreement with postal management that is worthy of the dedication and hard work of our active membership.
While reaching a voluntary settlement that properly rewards city letter carriers for the work they do delivering America’s mail remains NALC’s goal, preparation is ongoing for binding interest arbitration should that become necessary. The meticulous work of marshaling evidence and recruiting expert witnesses to make our case in interest arbitration proceedings has been going on for months.
Under the law, such an impasse would trigger the appointment of a three-member arbitration board comprised of a union advocate, a management advocate and a neutral chair to conduct a binding arbitration to set the terms of a new National Agreement.
With the deadline of the expiration of the statutorily mandated 60-day mediation period looming, NALC will continue, as has been the case in the past, negotiating with the USPS as the next phase of the process begins.
“As we have in recent rounds of collective bargaining, we will remain at the table with postal management as long as the prospects remain for reaching a tentative agreement that meets our goals,” Renfroe said on July 14. “But we will move expeditiously to invoke the procedures required by law to resolve an impasse in bargaining should that prove necessary.”
On July 14, 2023, the NALC Executive Council received charges proffered against President Renfroe by another member of the Council. The charges will be addressed in accordance with Article 10 of the NALC Constitution. This process will not distract from our efforts to achieve a collective-bargaining agreement or our preparation for binding interest arbitration. The NALC Executive Council is committed to following our constitutional process, and will not be deterred from our duties and responsibilities to fully and vigorously represent the interests of the nation’s city letter carriers.
BID COUNTS RENEWED MAY 21, 2023
June 6, 2023
The USPS and NALC have renewed the bidding procedures outlined in Article 12.3.A of the National Agreement, effective May 21, 2023. This renewal allows city letter carriers to continue bidding on, and subsequently be awarded, vacant job assignments during the ongoing contract negotiations and in the event the parties come to an impasse and proceed to interest arbitration. Successful bids following May 21, 2023, will count toward the maximum bids established in the next National Agreement. A letter dated June 2, 2023, from USPS acknowledging this renewal (M-01994) can be found in NALC’s Materials Reference System on the NALC website.
The USPS and NALC have renewed the bidding procedures outlined in Article 12.3.A of the National Agreement, effective May 21, 2023. This renewal allows city letter carriers to continue bidding on, and subsequently be awarded, vacant job assignments during the ongoing contract negotiations and in the event the parties come to an impasse and proceed to interest arbitration. Successful bids following May 21, 2023, will count toward the maximum bids established in the next National Agreement. A letter dated June 2, 2023, from USPS acknowledging this renewal (M-01994) can be found in NALC’s Materials Reference System on the NALC website.
NALC AND USPS CONTINUE CONTRACT NEGOTIATIONS
May 21, 2023
NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to continue negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement, which was set to expire at 12 o’clock on the evening of Saturday, May 20, 2023, will remain in full force until a new negotiated or arbitrated agreement takes effect.
A mandatory 60-day mediation period will follow, as required by statute. NALC will continue to work towards reaching a negotiated agreement with the Postal Service during this 60-day period. Issues that remain in dispute after the mediation period would be addressed through an interest arbitration process, which would result in a final and binding decision on the contents of a new national agreement. The parties will select a neutral arbitrator to chair an arbitration board that would also include one management and one union arbitrator.
Further updates will be provided as the process moves forward.
NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to continue negotiations on a new collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement, which was set to expire at 12 o’clock on the evening of Saturday, May 20, 2023, will remain in full force until a new negotiated or arbitrated agreement takes effect.
A mandatory 60-day mediation period will follow, as required by statute. NALC will continue to work towards reaching a negotiated agreement with the Postal Service during this 60-day period. Issues that remain in dispute after the mediation period would be addressed through an interest arbitration process, which would result in a final and binding decision on the contents of a new national agreement. The parties will select a neutral arbitrator to chair an arbitration board that would also include one management and one union arbitrator.
Further updates will be provided as the process moves forward.
MAXIMUM LEAVE CARRYOVER FOR LEAVE YEAR 2024
May 3, 2023
The NALC and the United States Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (M-01993) extending the annual leave carryover limit. Regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NALC National Agreement may carry over 520 hours of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2023 to leave year 2024. The Memorandum does not change the provisions in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) for payment of accumulated leave. This MOU will expire on December 31, 2024.
The NALC and the United States Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (M-01993) extending the annual leave carryover limit. Regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NALC National Agreement may carry over 520 hours of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2023 to leave year 2024. The Memorandum does not change the provisions in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) for payment of accumulated leave. This MOU will expire on December 31, 2024.
USPS ELECTRIC MAIL TRUCK DELIVERIES DELAYED
![Picture](/uploads/9/1/8/5/91857338/published/oshkosh-ngdv-6.png?1699153876)
May 2, 2023
The existing U.S. Postal Service (USPS) delivery vehicles are a plucky but very old design, lacking modern amenities and safety features like airbags and air conditioning. They've been overdue for replacement for decades, and while it's finally happening it's been a bumpy road. The accepted proposal for a next-generation delivery vehicle (NGDV) for the mail service promises to fix those issues, as well as offer a bespoke all-electric delivery platform, which was originally criticized by the EPA but is moving forward to production ... eventually, as there's now been a delay.
In a court filing on Monday via Reuters, the U.S. Postal Service revealed that its upcoming all-electric NGDVs from the Oshkosh manufacturer would be delayed by up to nine months, with first deliveries now scheduled for June 2024, nearly a year from now. The initial order accounted for 50,000 NGDVs for a price of $2.98 billion, with initial deliveries originally expected in October later this year. The deal has the potential to expand up to a $6 billion acquisition for around 165,000 vehicles in the next decade.
Prior to December, the original plan was to acquire mostly internal-combustion (ICE) powered replacement vehicles, but the USPS has since amended the order to account for mostly all-electric versions of the NGDV, which was engineered to be adaptable to multiple powertrains; NGDVs delivered as ICE can also be retrofitted later to an EV. The USPS has announced further plans to purchase 66,000 new EVs through 2028, 45,000 of which are Oshkosh's NGDV; 9,250 Ford E-Transit delivery vans are also on order, as are an equal amount of combustion-powered vans from Stellantis.
The USPS required that the NGDV feature right-hand drive operating controls, two- and four-wheel drive options, a range of at least 70 miles, and a cost of no more than $35,000 per vehicle. People ranging from the 5th to 95th percentile are able to stand in the cargo area, the max height of the NGDV is 112 inches, and it has to store at least 155 cubic feet of mail cargo.
As reported by www.motortrend.com
The existing U.S. Postal Service (USPS) delivery vehicles are a plucky but very old design, lacking modern amenities and safety features like airbags and air conditioning. They've been overdue for replacement for decades, and while it's finally happening it's been a bumpy road. The accepted proposal for a next-generation delivery vehicle (NGDV) for the mail service promises to fix those issues, as well as offer a bespoke all-electric delivery platform, which was originally criticized by the EPA but is moving forward to production ... eventually, as there's now been a delay.
In a court filing on Monday via Reuters, the U.S. Postal Service revealed that its upcoming all-electric NGDVs from the Oshkosh manufacturer would be delayed by up to nine months, with first deliveries now scheduled for June 2024, nearly a year from now. The initial order accounted for 50,000 NGDVs for a price of $2.98 billion, with initial deliveries originally expected in October later this year. The deal has the potential to expand up to a $6 billion acquisition for around 165,000 vehicles in the next decade.
Prior to December, the original plan was to acquire mostly internal-combustion (ICE) powered replacement vehicles, but the USPS has since amended the order to account for mostly all-electric versions of the NGDV, which was engineered to be adaptable to multiple powertrains; NGDVs delivered as ICE can also be retrofitted later to an EV. The USPS has announced further plans to purchase 66,000 new EVs through 2028, 45,000 of which are Oshkosh's NGDV; 9,250 Ford E-Transit delivery vans are also on order, as are an equal amount of combustion-powered vans from Stellantis.
The USPS required that the NGDV feature right-hand drive operating controls, two- and four-wheel drive options, a range of at least 70 miles, and a cost of no more than $35,000 per vehicle. People ranging from the 5th to 95th percentile are able to stand in the cargo area, the max height of the NGDV is 112 inches, and it has to store at least 155 cubic feet of mail cargo.
As reported by www.motortrend.com
7TH AND FINAL COLA ANNOUNCEDFebruary 15, 2023 The seventh and final regular cost-of-living adjustment (COLA) for career letter carriers under the 2019-2023 National Agreement was $208 annually following the release of the January consumer price index (CPI). This increase was added to every step in Table 1 and Step P in Table 2, and then applied proportionately to Steps A through O in Table 2. The increase has been applied to the pay chart. The increase will take effect March 11. |
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URGENT MESSAGE REGARDING FRAUDULENT POSTALEASE ACCESS
December 21, 2022
USPS has confirmed that some Postal Service employees are unknowingly providing their usernames and passwords to criminal websites, while attempting to access PostalEase.
It is reported that employees are using Google and attempting to access PostalEase. Over several recent days, approximately 119 postal employees attempted accessing PostalEase using Google; however, Google’s routers redirected their searches to third-party criminally run websites that mirror the look and access of PostalEase. Unfortunately, their logon credentials were hacked, and some accounts were compromised.
The USPS Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) is working with the Postal Inspection Service to facilitate notice to the impacted employees. Formal notification to all postal employees is forthcoming.
USPS reports that representations have been made at the district level confirming Postal Inspectors are contacting impacted employees, as well as employees who may have unknowingly been compromised, and requesting their EINs and passwords.
Postal Inspectors have not contacted postal employees and requested their EINs and/or passwords. Employees should never provide usernames and/or passwords to anyone.
USPS has informed NALC that PostalEase has not been breached by any third party. Employees accessing PostalEase via the official postal website have not experienced security breaches.
Specific banking industry standards require financial institutions to provide relief in certain situations. However, several third-party websites were criminal scams, and likely, some of the lost monies will not be returned. USPS does not have the total dollar loss currently available. USPS states liability for the hacking, bank account breaches and lost monies remains with Google.
Financially impacted employees should immediately contact the Eagan ASC Helpdesk at 866-974-2733. Staff members are available to assist.
If you become aware of any employee experiencing access issues to PostalEase, they should immediately contact 877-477-3273 to request assistance.
Additionally, to assist USPS with identifying our affected members, NALC has created a section on the NALC Members Only portal of the NALC website that will allow affected individuals to identify themselves as victims of this scam. NALC members, after logging into the Members Only portal, will see in the upper right-hand portion of their Member Information page a check box with the words “Check here if you have been a victim of the fraudulent PostalEase Access” in red lettering.
NALC will then provide this information to USPS to assist in identifying those who may have been affected.
USPS has confirmed that some Postal Service employees are unknowingly providing their usernames and passwords to criminal websites, while attempting to access PostalEase.
It is reported that employees are using Google and attempting to access PostalEase. Over several recent days, approximately 119 postal employees attempted accessing PostalEase using Google; however, Google’s routers redirected their searches to third-party criminally run websites that mirror the look and access of PostalEase. Unfortunately, their logon credentials were hacked, and some accounts were compromised.
The USPS Corporate Information Security Office (CISO) is working with the Postal Inspection Service to facilitate notice to the impacted employees. Formal notification to all postal employees is forthcoming.
USPS reports that representations have been made at the district level confirming Postal Inspectors are contacting impacted employees, as well as employees who may have unknowingly been compromised, and requesting their EINs and passwords.
Postal Inspectors have not contacted postal employees and requested their EINs and/or passwords. Employees should never provide usernames and/or passwords to anyone.
USPS has informed NALC that PostalEase has not been breached by any third party. Employees accessing PostalEase via the official postal website have not experienced security breaches.
Specific banking industry standards require financial institutions to provide relief in certain situations. However, several third-party websites were criminal scams, and likely, some of the lost monies will not be returned. USPS does not have the total dollar loss currently available. USPS states liability for the hacking, bank account breaches and lost monies remains with Google.
Financially impacted employees should immediately contact the Eagan ASC Helpdesk at 866-974-2733. Staff members are available to assist.
If you become aware of any employee experiencing access issues to PostalEase, they should immediately contact 877-477-3273 to request assistance.
Additionally, to assist USPS with identifying our affected members, NALC has created a section on the NALC Members Only portal of the NALC website that will allow affected individuals to identify themselves as victims of this scam. NALC members, after logging into the Members Only portal, will see in the upper right-hand portion of their Member Information page a check box with the words “Check here if you have been a victim of the fraudulent PostalEase Access” in red lettering.
NALC will then provide this information to USPS to assist in identifying those who may have been affected.
USPS TO PURCHASE 66,000 ELECTRIC VEHICLES BY 2028
December 20, 2022
Today, the Postal Service announced its plan to purchase 66,000 electric delivery vehicles starting now and lasting until 2028. The agency will acquire a total of 106,000 delivery vehicles, replacing nearly half of its 220,000 vehicle fleet.
The 60,000 Next Generation Vehicles (NGDV) to be purchased from U.S. defense contractor Oshkosh include 45,000 electric NGDVs—meaning that 75 percent of the NGDVs will be electric. That figure is notably higher than the 10 percent that the Postal Service had previously announced in February of this year. The agency also announced that 100 percent of NGDVs purchased after 2028 are expected to be electric.
The remaining 46,000 will be commercial off-the-shelf vehicles. The Postal Service will prioritize domestic manufacturing with these purchases, and at least 21,000 of these vehicles will be electric.
All new vehicles, regardless of electrification, will include air conditioning and advanced safety technology.
The Postal Service will invest $9.6 billion dollars, including $3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act, in these vehicles.
“NALC is pleased that the Postal Service is leading the way in electrifying the federal vehicle fleet,” NALC President Brian Renfroe said. “With these delivery vehicles, letter carriers will deliver in much-needed safer and more reliable vehicles, while the Postal Service lowers its carbon footprint.”
President Renfroe attended an announcement event at Postal Service Headquarters in Washington, DC today. Postmaster General Louis Dejoy, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta, Chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory, and Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi delivered remarks.
Today, the Postal Service announced its plan to purchase 66,000 electric delivery vehicles starting now and lasting until 2028. The agency will acquire a total of 106,000 delivery vehicles, replacing nearly half of its 220,000 vehicle fleet.
The 60,000 Next Generation Vehicles (NGDV) to be purchased from U.S. defense contractor Oshkosh include 45,000 electric NGDVs—meaning that 75 percent of the NGDVs will be electric. That figure is notably higher than the 10 percent that the Postal Service had previously announced in February of this year. The agency also announced that 100 percent of NGDVs purchased after 2028 are expected to be electric.
The remaining 46,000 will be commercial off-the-shelf vehicles. The Postal Service will prioritize domestic manufacturing with these purchases, and at least 21,000 of these vehicles will be electric.
All new vehicles, regardless of electrification, will include air conditioning and advanced safety technology.
The Postal Service will invest $9.6 billion dollars, including $3 billion from the Inflation Reduction Act, in these vehicles.
“NALC is pleased that the Postal Service is leading the way in electrifying the federal vehicle fleet,” NALC President Brian Renfroe said. “With these delivery vehicles, letter carriers will deliver in much-needed safer and more reliable vehicles, while the Postal Service lowers its carbon footprint.”
President Renfroe attended an announcement event at Postal Service Headquarters in Washington, DC today. Postmaster General Louis Dejoy, Senior Advisor to the President for Clean Energy Innovation and Implementation John Podesta, Chairwoman of the White House Council on Environmental Quality Brenda Mallory, and Assistant to the President and National Climate Advisor Ali Zaidi delivered remarks.
NEW NALC NATIONAL OFFICERS
October 27, 2022
The 2022 National Election of officers is now complete. The following individuals will be installed as the new NALC national officers. Installation will take place in Washington, DC, on Saturday, Dec. 17.
President: Brian L. Renfroe, Hattiesburg, MS Br. 938
Executive Vice President: Paul Barner, Roswell, GA Br. 4862
Secretary-Treasurer: Nicole Rhine, Lincoln, NE Br. 8
Director of Retired Members: Daniel Toth, Lorain, OH Br. 583
Director of Life Insurance: James W. Yates, Long Island Mgd., NY Br. 6000
Director, Health Benefit Plan: Stephanie Stewart, Central Iowa Mgd. Br. 352
National Trustees: Charles P. Heege, New York, NY Br. 36; Lawrence D. Brown Jr., Los Angeles, CA Br. 24; Sandra D. Laemmel, Detroit, MI Br. 1
The 2022 National Election of officers is now complete. The following individuals will be installed as the new NALC national officers. Installation will take place in Washington, DC, on Saturday, Dec. 17.
President: Brian L. Renfroe, Hattiesburg, MS Br. 938
Executive Vice President: Paul Barner, Roswell, GA Br. 4862
Secretary-Treasurer: Nicole Rhine, Lincoln, NE Br. 8
Director of Retired Members: Daniel Toth, Lorain, OH Br. 583
Director of Life Insurance: James W. Yates, Long Island Mgd., NY Br. 6000
Director, Health Benefit Plan: Stephanie Stewart, Central Iowa Mgd. Br. 352
National Trustees: Charles P. Heege, New York, NY Br. 36; Lawrence D. Brown Jr., Los Angeles, CA Br. 24; Sandra D. Laemmel, Detroit, MI Br. 1
HELPING LETTER CARRIERS HIT BY HURRICANES IAN AND FIONA
![Picture](/uploads/9/1/8/5/91857338/published/nalc-disaster-relief-fund.jpg?1668643480)
October 24, 2022
Widespread devastation was wrought by hurricanes Ian and Fiona as they traversed Florida and the Carolinas, or Puerto Rico, respectively, in September. As soon as the hurricanes struck, NALC began identifying affected members to ensure that they were safe and to provide assistance through the NALC Disaster Relief Foundation.
The foundation has arranged for delivery of uniforms and supplies to stricken members and is helping them apply for grants. Assistant to the President for Community Services Christina Vela Davidson has worked closely with local branch leaders to see which members might need emergency funds because their homes were uninhabitable.
The Disaster Relief Fund was created in 2018 to make it easier for help to reach members. Many branches had asked NALC to establish a mechanism facilitating donations, grants and other assistance to carriers affected by disasters. NALC President Fredric Rolando announced the foundation’s creation at NALC’s 2018 convention in Detroit. Rolando said the Disaster Relief Fund “reflects the will of the members, who have asked for a way to help their fellow carriers quickly and efficiently.”
Using donations from letter carriers, the foundation provides aid and sometimes the directors and officers volunteer to respond to disasters. Donations go directly to individual carriers or to branches and state associations needing assistance; no administrative costs are deducted.
Donations can be sent to NALC Disaster Relief Foundation, 100 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-2144; or by credit card at nalc.org/nrdfdonate. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to the DRF may be tax deductible. It is recommended that you consult your tax advisor.
The application for a relief grant is on the foundation’s website, nalc.org/disaster. Grants are provided for property damage sustained to a primary residence, automobile or personal property from causes such as, but not limited to, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes or severe storms, and are provided only to NALC members. Members do not have to wait for emergency relief or insurance claims to be settled to apply. Applications must be received within 120 days from the date of the natural disaster, unless the applicant can provide sufficient reasons for a delay.
“These hurricanes will have long-lasting effects,” Rolando said. “Letter carriers and branches seeking to help their fellow carriers can give through the Disaster Relief Foundation.”
Widespread devastation was wrought by hurricanes Ian and Fiona as they traversed Florida and the Carolinas, or Puerto Rico, respectively, in September. As soon as the hurricanes struck, NALC began identifying affected members to ensure that they were safe and to provide assistance through the NALC Disaster Relief Foundation.
The foundation has arranged for delivery of uniforms and supplies to stricken members and is helping them apply for grants. Assistant to the President for Community Services Christina Vela Davidson has worked closely with local branch leaders to see which members might need emergency funds because their homes were uninhabitable.
The Disaster Relief Fund was created in 2018 to make it easier for help to reach members. Many branches had asked NALC to establish a mechanism facilitating donations, grants and other assistance to carriers affected by disasters. NALC President Fredric Rolando announced the foundation’s creation at NALC’s 2018 convention in Detroit. Rolando said the Disaster Relief Fund “reflects the will of the members, who have asked for a way to help their fellow carriers quickly and efficiently.”
Using donations from letter carriers, the foundation provides aid and sometimes the directors and officers volunteer to respond to disasters. Donations go directly to individual carriers or to branches and state associations needing assistance; no administrative costs are deducted.
Donations can be sent to NALC Disaster Relief Foundation, 100 Indiana Ave. NW, Washington, DC 20001-2144; or by credit card at nalc.org/nrdfdonate. The foundation is a 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions to the DRF may be tax deductible. It is recommended that you consult your tax advisor.
The application for a relief grant is on the foundation’s website, nalc.org/disaster. Grants are provided for property damage sustained to a primary residence, automobile or personal property from causes such as, but not limited to, hurricanes, floods, tornadoes, wildfires, earthquakes or severe storms, and are provided only to NALC members. Members do not have to wait for emergency relief or insurance claims to be settled to apply. Applications must be received within 120 days from the date of the natural disaster, unless the applicant can provide sufficient reasons for a delay.
“These hurricanes will have long-lasting effects,” Rolando said. “Letter carriers and branches seeking to help their fellow carriers can give through the Disaster Relief Foundation.”