Open up a newspaper, surf the web, or even check out the daily headlines on Postal Employee Network and you will read about the growing chatter surrounding the state of the U.S. Postal Service. Our business services are under a powerful magnifying lens in Washington, D.C. surrounded by insiders, outsiders, and the general public-at-large. Motivational speaker Krish Dhanam at a recent seminar broke down the word politics by saying poly means many, and tics means blood sucking creatures, and he also quipped those of you who are offended can apologize to me later. The crowd busted into laughter.

I wonder how many of the decision makers on the Beltway have ever stepped inside a postal processing facility to fully appreciate the effort it takes to bind the nation together. We know there must be a facility in every congressional district. It would surely help them to make an informed decision beyond the almighty dollar toward the assessment of this living breathing organism we know as the leader in the mailing industry.

The noise level is getting louder and louder with each passing day and rather than employees standing on the sidelines watching this activity like a sporting event it’s time to text our vote for most valuable legislation. This is our opportunity to “Organize” by seriously reviewing all proposed legislation in the House of Representatives and Senate then support our Political Action Committees (PACs), labor organizations, and management associations as they lobby for the workforce because no one else will.

What these folks do on the political landscape is going to have a direct impact on “How you living.” Unions and associations don’t tell members how to vote, and they don’t use membership dollars. They do help us to select the right choices by evaluating candidates, representatives, and legislation by breaking down public strategy from the legislative arena in laymen’s terms.

For those that believe in contracts, know this! The best “Agreement” and worker protections in this country will be chopped to pieces by politicians endorsing bad laws. The sweet benefits we have today will be gone with the stroke of a pen tomorrow if big dollars fill the pockets of the wrong elected officials under pressure. Collectively we got more dollars than any one individual is willing to shell out. We are a workplace 600,000 strong and everybody knows somebody who knows somebody. Don’t let our benefits slip away. If you pay attention to local and national news it is no secret that collective bargaining negotiations are under assault in the land of the free and home of the brave. Political action protects our right to negotiate.

Here’s an overview of just a few of the bills being landscaped on the postal lawn;

Bills originating in the House of Representatives (HR)

HR 1351 – USPS Pension Obligation Recalculation/Restoration Act
Legislation would provide financial relief for our overfunded pension plans. Specifically requiring our $7 Billion FERS surplus to be immediately refunded.

HR 5746 – Civil Service Retirement System Modification Act
It would require OPM to determine if the overpaid $50-75 Billion dollars are costs from employees whose careers spanned the Post Office department and the Postal Service.

HR 137
This legislation expresses the sense that the USPS should take all appropriate measures to ensure the continuation of its 6-Day mail delivery.

HR 1262 – Reform the Postal Service for the 21st Century Act
This bill is aimed at reforming USPS to fulfill its constitutional mandate to improve its efficiency, help meet its universal service obligation, and facilitate private sector economic growth.

HR 1332 – Social Security Fairness Act of 2011
This legislation is aimed at changing the Windfall Elimination Provision because it affects how the amount of your retirement or disability benefit is calculated if you receive a pension from work where social security taxes were not taken out of your pay.

HR 2309
Congressman Darrell Issa/Dennis Ross introduced this legislation which is believed by workers could hinder collective bargaining, cut postal worker pay and benefits, hurt service by expediting closing of facilities, and establishing increased layers of bureaucracy.

HR 828
Federal Employee Tax Accountability Act. Makes an individual who has a seriously delinquent tax debt ineligible to be appointed or continue serving as a federal employee.

Senate Bills are not limited to:

S. 1010: Legislation relates to the methodology for calculation of any postal surplus or supplemental liability under CSRS.

S. 644: Public-Private Employee Retirement Parity Act. This bill introduced to prohibit coverage for annuity purposes for any individual hired as a federal employee after 2012.

S. 353: Submitted by PRC and sponsored by Senator Collins directed OPM to annually determine the postal surplus.

S. 261: Federal Employee Compensation Reform Act of 2011. It is referred to as a bill cutting workers’ comp benefit for older federal employees by requiring federal employees who are receiving total or partial disability benefits under the Federal Employee Compensation Act (FECA) to convert to the federal retirement system when such employees reach retirement age as determined by the Social Security Act and otherwise eligible for annuity under the CSRS or FERS.

Here’s what you can do: Contact your elected representatives in large numbers. We know they are counting constituents and “organizing” to stay in office beyond 2012. Send an email, make a phone call, meet in-person, send snail mail or all the above to let them know you are engaged or enraged around specific legislation. Print this article and pass it on to other postal workers without internet access, contact your labor union or management association to get more detailed advisory information. Make your voice heard for the sake of past, present, and future postal employees. Keep this universal service alive by getting involved, involving others, and sending a constructive message to our American legislators.

Ronald Williams, Jr.
For Postal Employee Network