 |
 OPEN
SEASON FOR BENEFITS EXTENDED BY OPM
Open Season for the Federal Employees Health Benefit
Program (FEHBP) will be extended, the Office of
Personnel Management (OPM) announced Dec. 8 [PDF]. OPM
took this action in response to concerns over a change
in coverage in the Blue Cross Blue Shield reimbursement
that would have established a $7,500 co-pay for
out-of-network surgeries.
Although OPM instructed agencies in the federal program
to extend the enrollment period through January, the
Postal Service announced that “the
new deadline to make employee self service FEHB
elections using PostalEASE is Dec. 28, 2008, at 5 p.m.
CT.” The USPS did not offer an explanation for
its decision to close the enrollment period a month
before the deadline established by OPM.
More...
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OPEN SEASON |
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Program |
Closes |
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Health Benefits |
12/28 @ 6:00 pm ET |
|
A/L Exchange |
12/16 @ 12:59 pm ET |
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FSA Account |
12/28 @ 6:00 pm ET |
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To make Open Season selections go to
www.liteblue.usps.gov
and click on the PostalEASE
link |
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Dental & Vision |
12/08 @ 11:59 pm ET |
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To enroll in, or change selections for
the Vision & Dental Plans go to
https://www.benefeds.com/
and click
"Register & Enroll"
button |
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PPWU
APPEALS TO PA SENATORS TO CONTINUE EFCA FIGHT
The PPWU officially recognized Senator Arlen Specter and
Senator Bob Casey for their support of the Employee Free
Choice Act (EFCA). The EFCA is designed to level
the playing field during organizing efforts. If
the EFCA were to become law, employee could vote to have
union representation without fear of reprisal or
retaliation from management. In a letter to the
Congressmen, PPWU President Fran Friel thanked both
Senators for their support of the EFCA and urged them to
continue that fight into 2009 when a vote on the bill is
expected. Read the text of the letter
HERE
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NEGOTIATIONS
ON MODIFIED 10/4 WORKWEEK REACH AN IMPASSE
Discussions have been underway at the national level for
several months regarding the implementation of the
Modified Work Week known as “10-4,” where employees are
scheduled to work 10 hours per day, four days per week.
Over recent weeks these discussions have failed to make
significant progress and therefore I am unable to
project that a final agreement will be reached. Despite
the lack of progress, we will continue to explore
possibilities for reaching a settlement with management
on this matter. The subject of intense discussion at the
national level is the possibility of requiring employees
to work a modified work week as a condition of their bid
assignment. The original pilot agreed to by the parties
in 1994 limited 10-4 schedules to employees who
volunteered for them and had the option to discontinue
their participation at their discretion. Headquarters
management has proposed that the new program include a
requirement that all employees within a designated
section be required to work the modified work week as a
condition of their bid assignment.
more...
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NEW
MEMBER
The PPWU would like to welcome its newest member.
Debra Hickey
of the Lawrenceville PA Post Office has joined the PPWU
family. Members who work with Debra are encouraged
to welcome her into the union. |
PPWU
ANNOUNCES WINNER OF 2008 JOHN T. BOXLER SCHOLARSHIP
The PPWU would like to congratulate Sarah Ellis of
Wilkes-Barre, PA. Sarah is a graduate of Coughlin
High School. Two alternate winners were selected.
They are: Frank Artmont of Wilkes-Barre, PA and
Clayton Smoker from Greensburg, PA. We would like
to thank all the applicants who participated and wish
them the best of luck in the future.
REMINDER:
The deadline to apply for the 2009 Scholarship is May
01, 2009. To see the rules, download an
application, or find out about other scholarships that
may be available, click
HERE |
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PHILADELPHIA BMC LOCAL 7048 LEADS THE FIGHT TO SAVE OUR
BMCs
“Study after study shows how outsourcing Bulk Mail
Center work would hurt service,” Vince Tarducci
(Philadelphia BMC Local president), told aides to New
Jersey’s U.S. Senators, Robert Menendez and Frank
Lautenberg. “If they get away with privatizing there,
they will go on to the next group.” Tarducci is
chairman of the newly formed "Defend Our BMCs"
Committee. The committee was formed at a BMC
Conference just prior to the National Convention in
August, and held its first meeting, via teleconference,
in late September. Accompanying Tarducci to
the October 2nd meeting with lawmakers were Eastern
Region Coordinator Michael Gallagher, National
Representative-at-Large Idowu Balogun (national BMC
coordinator), Clarice Torrence (president, New
York Metro Area Local, the committee’s vice chair)
and representatives of the National Postal Mail Handler
Union. Clerk Craft NBA Robert Romanowski was
instrumental in arranging the meeting.
Read the full story |
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DUAL APPOINTMENT LIST UPDATED as of PP18
A listing of all dual appointment casuals throughout Pennsylvania is
available. Click the button (left) to access the list. |
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APWU
Health Plan Training Seminar
The PPWU will be hosting
a Health Plan Training Seminar on November 19, 2008 in
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This is not
a health plan seminar for members. It is a
training
session for local
representatives that is designed to familiarize
them with the APWU health plan so they can go home and
better educate their members. For more information
contact PPWU President
Fran Friel. |
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How to
amend, or remove documents from, your on-line Personnel
Folder
If you want remove, or
amend, a document from your eOPF, make your request in
writing on
PS Form 8043,
specifying exactly what document(s) you request be
removed / amended, and mail or deliver it to your
district personnel HR Generalist.
Note:
Discipline can only be removed in accordance with
collective bargaining agreements. Also, documents placed
in your OPF by another agency cannot be removed or
amended by the USPS without special authority to do so.
If you
haven't yet check out your eOPF you may do so by logging
on to
liteblue.usps.gov
and clicking the eOPF
hyperlink.
You will
need your employee Id an PIN number. All documents
are stored in PDF format, so dial-up users should be
patient while documents load. |
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Article
12 Withholding update
We have received notice
that the Article 12 withholding for excessing from the
Medford
(NJ) Post Office
has been lifted. Also the withholding radii for
the Philadelphia and Cleveland
(OH)
impacts have increased
from 100 miles to 250 miles. For a full listing of
Article 12 impacts affecting Pennsylvania click
HERE. |
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PENNSYLVANIA
WELL REPRESENTED AT THE NATIONAL CONVENTION
(click photo for full size image) |
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