HEROES Act Provides Relief for Postal Employees
As many Americans are still impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and members of Congress realized previous COVID related legislation was not as impactful as was intended, the House of Representatives introduced the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions (HEROES) Act (H.R. 6800) on Tuesday, May 12. Previous COVID-19 bills did not include assistance to the Postal Service, despite the USPS’ warnings of revenue loss due to the pandemic and the health risks employees take while on the job. The HEROES Act moves to provide some financial aid and hazard pay in order to get the Postal Service through this crisis.
Explicitly, the bill provides for $25 billion to make up for lost revenue, with priority given to the purchase of personal protective equipment (PPE). Additionally, the bill removes certain borrowing restrictions imposed on the Postal Service from the Department of Treasury.
Directly impacting NPMHU members, the HEROES Act would grant pandemic premium pay for all postal employees. Acknowledging that these men and women, as essential workers are placing themselves and their families at a greater risk of contracting the coronavirus, the bill calls for an additional $13.00 an hour for time worked from January 27, 2020 until 60 days after the pandemic ends. While nothing can fully make up for the physical and mental stress employees are facing, the NPMHU hopes this assistance will provide some ease to members.
The House will vote on the bill this Friday, May 15. Once passed, it will move to the Senate for approval. As the NPMHU has seen minimum support for the Postal Service from Senators, the Union needs to ensure that Senators understand the vital importance of the Postal Service and its impact on every American household. If you have not yet done so, please contact your Senators, letting them know you support the Postal Service, and financial relief for it needs to remain in the HEROES Act. Senators can be reached directly through the Capitol Switchboard at 202-224-3121
Wow an additional $13/hr for delivering the mail!! I work in a hospital and take care of people all day- I don’t get hazard pay and have been exposed to HIV, H1N1, SARS, Hepatitis, Mennigitis,COVID-19. I’ve been spit on.Almost punched. I don’t agree that federal employees delivering mail get hazard pay
I am retired P.O. Clerk. I am currently emptying trash cans, and picking up litter for my local municipality. I walk about 7 miles a day, I am healthy, and happy! I worked 36 years for the P.O. in many jobs, I know what the Unions “push”. Sad so many are brainwashed. Everybody is a hero? For doing their job? Tell that to the Mom/Pop store downtown where some stupid politician tells them they must shut down, while Home Depot remains open! These people spent a life time of toil and blood trying to make a living. Are they not heroes?
This “Heroes” bill will lead us down the road of Bankruptcy,3 Trillion dollars?
Think people! Your children and grand children’s future are at stake!
And, no, I was not in management, but I did vote for Ross Perot Twice…he was right!
I “great” leader said the Postal Service is a joke. No, he is a tragic joke. He wants to replace all the Postal officials with his lackeys to do what ever Mr. failed businessman wants. remember he filed for bankruptcy six times, told his citizens they should inject bleach and Lysol to clean out their lungs, tells lies everyday, makes up crap everyday. Last week he said that Joe Scarborough, a man with a program on cable station MSNBC, murdered a woman and should be arrested. He is planning to give the Danish island of Greenland $12.1 million in aid, however nothing for a Federal agency! The postal employees that voted for him want him to screw them, they lack self respect.
Heroes act provides relief for postal workers! It’s about time! As a postal custodian I can tell you first hand all the dangers we go thru day in and day our! All of us who work for the postal service deserve heroes or hazzard pay! We risk our lives daily and that is no joke!
I cannot believe the way Postal Employees are being treated like second hand citizens!!! The hard work they are doing each and every day should be more appreciated by our government!!