George Herbert Walker Bush, the 41st president of the United States, whose long life in the public sphere was defined by service to his country, has died. He was 94.

His wife of 73 years, Barbara Bush, died in April and Mr. Bush was hospitalized the day after the funeral to be treated for an infection in his bloodstream. He suffered a number of health issues in his later years, including vascular parkinsonism, a condition similar to Parkinson’s disease, and used a wheelchair to get around.

His son, former President George W. Bush, issued a statement calling his father “a man of the highest character and the best dad a son or daughter could ask for. The entire Bush family is deeply grateful for 41’s life and love, for the compassion of those who have cared and prayed for Dad, and for the condolences of our friends and fellow citizens.”

On June 12, 2018, Mr. Bush celebrated his 94th birthday with family members in Kennebunkport, Maine, becoming the first U.S. president in history to reach that age. “I see history as a book with many pages, and each day we fill a page with acts of hopefulness and meaning,” he said in his 1989 inauguration speech.
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*****President Trump has declared a National Day of Mourning for Wednesday to honor Bush and has ordered U.S. flags to be flown at half-staff for 30 days. Trump also issued an executive order closing federal agencies and departments on Wednesday, Dec 5, 2018.

Postal Workers were granted a day of observance in honor of former President Gerald R. Ford and President Ronald Reagan. USPS has not announced as yet the date for the Day of Mourning.

Two national-level agreements between the APWU and USPS outline the provisions for granting APWU-represented employees a day of observance when a National Day of Mourning is declared by the president of the United States. NALC and USPS also signed a MOU in 2000 outlining rules for Day of Mourning.

NALC, USPS National Day of Mourning MOU from 2000 (PDF)

USPS National Day of Observance Policy

519.4 National Day of Observance

519.41 General

In the event that the postmaster general or designee determines that the Postal Service will participate in a national day of observance (for example, National Day of Mourning) subsequent to the declaration of a national day of observance by Executive Order of the President of the United States, administrative leave is granted to employees.

The policy shown below applies to executive and administrative schedule (EAS) employees, Postal Career Executive Service (PCES) employees, and other employees not covered by union agreements concerning national days of observance and is consistent with the agreements developed for that purpose. Employees in the following unions should refer to the memorandums of agreement or understanding between the Postal Service and their unions regarding regulations for national days of observance:

1. American Postal Workers Union, AFL–CIO.
2. National Association of Letter Carriers, AFL–CIO.
3. National Postal Mail Handlers Union, AFL–CIO.
4. National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association.
5. Fraternal Order of Police, National Labor Council, USPS No. 2.

519.42 Leave Granted

519.421 Full-Time Employees

Full-time employees whose basic work week includes the national day of observance are granted administrative leave as follows:

1. Those with the national day of observance as a scheduled workday:
   1. If not directed to report for work, are granted administrative leave for that day.
   2. If directed to report for work, are granted a day of administrative leave at a future date, for the number of hours equal to their regular workday.
2. Those with the national day of observance as a nonscheduled (relief) workday:
   1. If not directed to report for work, are granted a day of administrative leave at a future date, for the number of hours equal to their regular workday.
   2. If directed to report for work, are granted overtime pay, if eligible, plus a day of administrative leave at a future date, for the number of hours worked, up to the number of hours equal to their regular workday.

519.422 Part-Time Regular Employees

Part-time regular employees whose basic workweek includes the national day of observance are granted administrative leave as follows:

1. Those with the national day of observance as a scheduled workday:
   1. If not directed to report for work, are granted administrative leave for that day, for the number of hours scheduled to work.
   2. If directed to report for work, are granted a day of administrative leave at a future date, for the number of hours scheduled to work on the national day of observance.
2. Those with the national day of observance as a nonscheduled (relief) workday:
   1. If not directed to report for work, are granted a day of administrative leave at a future date, equal to the average number of daily paid hours in their schedule for the service week previous to the service week in which the national day of observance occurs, up to 8 hours.
   2. If directed to report for work, receive straight time pay (or overtime pay if appropriate), plus administrative leave at a future date for the number of hours worked on the national day of observance, up to 8 hours.

519.423 Part-Time Flexible Employees

Part-time flexible employees are granted administrative leave for the national day of observance as follows:

1. Those directed to report for work are granted a day of administrative leave at a future date, for up to 8 hours.
2. Those not directed to report for work are granted a day of administrative leave at a future date, equal to the average number of daily paid hours during the service week previous to the service week in which the national day of observance occurs, up to 8 hours.

519.424 Transitional Employees

Transitional employees receive pay only for actual workhours performed on the national day of observance. They are not granted administrative leave.

519.425 Employees on Paid Leave

Employees on paid leave on the national day of observance receive administrative leave on that day in lieu of requested leave for up to the number of hours equal to the employee’s regular workday. (See 519.423b for part-time flexible employees.)

519.426 Employees on Continuation of Pay, Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs Pay, and Leave Without Pay

Employees on continuation of pay (COP) and employees on leave without pay (LWOP) not associated with Office of Workers’ Compensation Programs (OWCP) on the national day of observance are granted a day of administrative leave for up to 8 hours.

Employees working part days on the national day of observance as a result of an injury on duty (IOD) receive administrative leave equal to the hours normally worked.

Employees not working as a result of an IOD and employees on OWCP pay on the national day of observance are not granted administrative leave.

519.427 Employees Absent Without Leave, Suspended, or Pending Removal

Employees absent without leave (AWOL), suspended, or pending removal on the national day of observance are not granted administrative leave.

Note: An employee returned to duty and made whole for a period of AWOL, suspension, or removal may be eligible for administrative leave for the national day of observance consistent with the rules of the provision of 519.4 for that employee’s group if the period of suspension or removal for which the employee is considered to have been made whole includes that day.

519.428 Individuals Not Eligible for Administrative Leave

Individuals not eligible for administrative leave include the following:

1. Postmaster relief employees.
2. Rural carrier relief employees.
3. Substitute rural carrier employees and rural carrier associate employees who are not in leave–earning positions.
4. Temporary employees.
5. Noncareer officer–in–charge employees.
6. Contractors.

519.43 Leave Taken at a Future Date

Administrative leave to be taken at a future date:

1. 1. Must be granted and used within 6 months of the national day of observance or by the end of the fiscal year, whichever is later.

Note: Administrative leave is not granted to an employee who is on extended leave for the entire period between the day of observance and 6 months from that date, or between the day of observance and the end of the fiscal year, whichever is later.

1. Must be taken all at one time.
2. May, at the employee’s option, be substituted for previously scheduled but not used annual leave.
3. Should be requested by using the same procedures that govern the request and approval of annual leave consistent with 512.41 and 512.42.

 

No regular retail, delivery operations on Tuesday
Federal agencies will honor the memory of former President Ford

President George W. Bush has issued an Executive Order directing federal government agencies to close Tuesday, Jan. 2, 2007, as a mark of respect for former President Gerald Ford, who died Tuesday, Dec. 26.

For USPS, this means that Jan. 2 is a “National Day of Observance” and there will be no regular mail delivery or retail service. Express Mail delivery will be available. All postal units, including Headquarters, Area and District administrative offices, will observe this day of mourning. Local postal managers will advise employees regarding staffing levels for Tuesday, Jan. 2, to maintain operations in preparation for resumption of delivery on Wednesday.

Regular retail and delivery service will resume Wednesday, Jan. 3. Flags at all USPS facilities will continue to fly at half-staff through Jan. 25.

Pay and leave administration for the “National Day of Observance” for affected bargaining unit employees is governed by Employee and Labor Relations Manual 519.4 and provisions of May 4, 2000, Memorandums of Agreement between the Postal Service and its unions.