Branch 9 NALC

Views of Minneapolis

__RECENT NEWS____________
Resolution Forms for Precent Caucus to preserve 6 day, door to door service. DFL print pages 1 & 2 GOP print page 3
NOTICE TO ALL BRANCH 9 MEMBERS Any proposed amendments to the Branch 9 Bylaws must be presented in writing to the Recording Secretary no later than the February 28, 2012 General Membership Meeting
Please call Sen. Amy Klobuchar at (202) 224-3244 and Sen. Al Franken at (202) 224-5641 and ask both to oppose S. 1789 in its current form. The legislation is deeply flawed and needs significant changes before the Senate should consider passage of this bill. The legislation: Allows for five-day delivery in two years' time if the Postal Service is not turning a profit, but fails to give the Postal Service any flexibility to achieve that profit. Phases out door-to-door delivery in favor of curbside and centralized delivery. Fails to recoup the $55 billion to $75 billion in CSRS pension surplus funds.
USPS declines to extend contract talks: On Friday, the USPS declined to extend collective-bargaining negotiations with the NALC, triggering an impasse that will automatically send the matter to mediation. “I am disappointed by the Postal Service’s decision,” NALC President Fredric V. Rolando said. “We have been making steady progress in negotiations. NALC continues to believe that a negotiated agreement is in the best interests of the parties, the businesses that rely on us and the nation we serve. We will continue to negotiate in good faith as mediation takes place.” Click here to read the president's complete statement.

A bipartisan majority in the House backs six-day mail delivery: The NALC has learned that 218 House members from both parties—a majority—have now signed on as co-sponsors of H.Res. 137, the measure introduced by Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) that expresses the sense of the House that the USPS should take "all appropriate measures" to ensure continuation of six-day delivery. "Our members' hard work continues to pay off," NALC President Fredric Rolando said. "This level of support will shore up our defense against the attempts by Congressman Darrell Issa and others to 'save' the Postal Service by cutting service—a counterproductive proposal that would surely fail if implemented." Click here to find out whether your representative is among this majority, and if he or she is not, click here to find out how you can ask your House member to become a co-sponsor of H. Res. 137

One million signatures! On Oct. 16, at the National Rap Session in Las Vegas, NALC President Fredric Rolando asked all members of the NALC to collect signatures in support of protecting the future of the United States Postal Service—and you delivered! From active and retired letter carriers, from big cities to small towns, more than1,000,000 signatures have been collected. The message is clear: America supports first-rate mail delivery service, six days a week, and our customers will do everything they can to protect it. Click here to read more. .

Closings moratorium announced: In response to a request made by a number of Senators, the USPS agreed on Dec. 13 to delay closing or consolidating any post offices or mail-processing facilities until May 15. "This is a positive step"

POSTAL FACTS: On Wednesday afternoon, Hudson Valley Merged Branch 137 letter carrier Jason Dang was delivering mail when he suddenly found himself on the scene of a house fire along his Rye Brook, NY route. The carrier helped his customers, a retired couple, quickly find safety in a neighbor's house. Stories highlighting Dang's heroism were carried in The Daily Rye and The Journal News. Click here to read more in POSTAL FACTS.
• Click here for a point-by-point guide to help you spread the truth about the Postal Service and the need for immediate congressional action.
• Click here to find out how the NALC Communications Department can help you get the NALC's message out.

Speaking to the press: NALC President Fredric V. Rolando held a well-attended press conference Nov. 21 at the National Press Club in Washington. He announced a new approach to health benefits that would save the U.S. Postal Service $20 billion, and he spoke about the need for a positive business model for the Postal Service's future. Click here to read his remarks.

NALC runs veterans ad on national TV: see it here

H.R. 2309—A plan to dismantle the USPS: The GOP-controlled House Oversight and Government Reform Committee "marked up" read more.

Letter carriers help Northside schools read story

Commercial takes aim at unfair financial burdens imposed by Congress click here

Postal Workers: The Last Union by: Allison Kilkenny, Truthout | News Analysis- read it

The NALC National Committee of Laws approved the following by-law submission which added language to Branch 9 By-Law: Article V. Section 2. “Eligibility for payment of any delegate for the 2012 National Conventionin Minneapolis will include attendance at 9 of 12 General Membership Meetings preceding said convention.”

NALC President Fredric V. Rolando has issued a statement to denounce Postmaster General Patrick Donahoe's latest "radical" legislative proposals. "Let me be clear," Rolando said. "We would never agree to any benefit plan unilaterally designed by postal management." Click here to read more.

Postal Service's "Big Lie," read Branch 9's response- News by Nine

POSTAL FACTS: William B. Cook, president of Northeastern New York Branch 358 and state director of legislation, wrote a guest essay in the Saturday, July 16 edition of the Post-Star of Glen Falls, NY. Click here to read the essay, plus more POSTAL FACTS.

NALC and USPS agree to new JARAP more *route protection materials here

Preserving six-day mail delivery: Rep. Sam Graves (R-MO) has introduced H.Res. 137, which expresses the sense of the House that the Postal Service should take "all appropriate measures" to ensure continuation of six-day mail delivery service. If your representative isn't a co-sponsor yet, contact them and ask them to sign on.
Bachmann, Michele, Minnesota, 6th
Cravaack, Chip, Minnesota, 8th
Ellison, Keith, Minnesota, 5th
Kline, John, Minnesota, 2nd
McCollum, Betty, Minnesota, 4th
Paulsen, Erik, Minnesota, 3rd
Peterson, Collin C., Minnesota, 7th
Walz, Timothy J., Minnesota, 1st

H.R. 1351:
228
co-sponsors

H.R. 1351: In the House, 227 members from both parties are co-sponsors of the USPS Pension Obligation Recalculation and Restoration Act, introduced by Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA). Is yours? Find out here, then go here to look up members' contact information and ask yours to sign on.

H.Res. 137:
216
co-sponsors

H.Res. 137: So far, 214 House members from both parties are co-sponsors of H.Res. 137, which expresses the sense of the House that the USPS should take "all appropriate measures" to ensure continuation of six-day delivery. Find out if your rep has signed on, or click here to find members' contact information.

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S. 1789 is a job-killer: President Rolando has condemned the Senate's postal bill. "S. 1789 would cause irreparable harm to our nation’s Postal Service," Rolando said in a statement.Click here to read the full statement.

H.R. 2309 would dismantle the USPS:The GOP-controlled House Oversight and Government Reform Committee passed its radical , partisan postal reform bill offered by its chairman, Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA). It now waits for a full House vote. Click here to read more.

Visit msnbc.com for breaking news, world news, and news about the econom

POSTAL FACTS: On Friday, Oak Brook, IL Branch 825 letter carrier Melissa Rakestraw apeared on MSNBC's "The Ed Show" to describe how she calmly defended the Postal Service to Rep. Joe Walsh (R-IL) during his recent headline-grabbing meet-and-greet.Click here to watch the video.