FY 2015 House GOP Budget Proposal Targets Postal and Federal Employees – eNAPUS Legislative & Political Bulletin
Yesterday, the House Budget Committee approved a “budget resolution” that is authored by its chairman, Rep. Paul Ryan (R-WI). In part, the measure proposes to cut postal and federal employee pay, increase postal employee premium contributions for health and life insurance, and enact unspecified postal legislation. The details are included in the April 3 edition of the eNAPUS Legislative & Political Bulletin. It is expected that the bill will be considered by the House next week. NAPUS opposes the bill. The measure, even if approved by the Senate, which is doubtful, would not, in and of itself have the force of law. Rather, the budget recommendations must be included in separate legislation to be enacted. In addition, the eNAPUS Newsletter covers the status of postal legislation and postal chairmanship possibilities after the November elections.
The Ryan budget also takes aim at the postal workforce. It proposes that postal employees increase their share of premium contributions to the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) and the Federal Employees Group Life Insurance (FEGLI) program. In addition, the proposal appears to create a placeholder for postal reform legislation, stating: “The budget recommends giving the Postal Service the flexibility that any business needs to respond to changing market conditions, including declining mail volume, which is down 25 percent since 2006.” Conspicuously, absent from the committee narrative is any reference to the Postal Service’s universal or public service obligations. And, just as important, the document ignores the fact that a major component of the USPS’ financial woes is the 2006 statutory requirement to pre-fund 80% of its future retiree health benefits by 2017. If not for this debilitating obligation, the Postal Service would have netted a surplus for FY 2014. It is not clear if the Senate will consider a budget bill, because the end-of-year 2013 budget agreement covers FY 2015, making a budget bill unnecessary.
POStPLAN PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
The Postal Service and NAPUS President, Tony Leonardi along with League President, Mark Strong continue to discuss final POStPLAN implementation.
Post Offices were scheduled to be notified of their daily earned workhours using FY 2013 data by close of PQ II (03/31/2014). The delay in notification by Postal Service was due to ongoing discussions and validation of data.
A determination and timeline on implementation is expected soon. We will update our website when information is finalized.
How about a bill that will give me off weekends like the rest of the world? 5 day delivery or bust!!!!!
“Get real”, YOU ARE SO RIGHT!
I’ve said all along, the union will be the downfall of this place. Members and overtime are all the union work toward. There has got to be a happy medium! But alas, save jobs even though the whole place is crumbing around us…but we’ll have jobs! (just not a place to work at)
@get real- Did you thank your union today for the great pay and benefits you have? Didn’t think so.
get real = clueless loser
Get over losing that petty grievance you filed!
If the Unions had worked with the PMG on orderly downsizing and the elimination of Saturday delivery, Congress wouldn’t have their noses stuck in the middle of our business….Everyone will lose now thanks to the greed ingrained in the Unions……to hell with benefits as long as we keep head counts high, thats the Union mantra……
Seriously,
How About a bill to reduce or eliminate pre-funding, You say their is a lack of mail how about eliminate non-essential employees and leave the employee’s that have been there the longest alone. How about we get better and newer equipment. Seems the only thing people at the top are concerned with is how to reduce the wage-earners pockets to line their own with. We got supervisors who are trying to run everyone ragged and adding more to the jobs we have been doing for years, not to mention that in recent years i see more news about mail theft, accidents and plain bullying from both management and new employee’s who got hired on as a result of having some relation to upper management why are they allowed a job when we have more veterans today, who can’t even get a job because of economic whoa’s.
WTF with you Wisconsin, this Paul Ryan, Scott Walker, your voters rights, what next? The cold has numb your brains.
Does anyone even knows what goes on in these facilities .Were treated like crap and congress and senate are clueless,we have supervisors who are not capable of baby sitting my gold fish.Now they want to take more away from us!!
What does the PEFR (Postal Employess For Republicans) have to say about the proposal. LOL!
“If not for this debilitating obligation, the Postal Service would have netted a surplus for FY 2014”
If my aunt had balls, she would be my uncle!