Featured News

Greetings everyone!

Welcome to the May edition of “From the President’s Desk”

As the country continues to try to reopen (or in the case of the Postal Service and other essential businesses, remain open) please make sure that you do not lose sight of the necessary precautions that must continue to be taken in order to make sure you and your families and employees stay safe.   Here in the Washington, DC area we see the governors of Virginia, Maryland and the mayor of Washington, DC trying to make sure that the people do not jump the gun on dropping the safety measures.  So, I would encourage you to be vigilant, watch the guidelines as they are put out by the pubic officials where you are and make sure that your employees follow the guidelines that have been put in place by the Postal Service, as well.   Taking the necessary precautions is in everyone’s best interest.   Until we know that they have found a vaccine, or that the numbers of cases have dropped even more dramatically then has already happened in some areas we need to stay safe.

Many of you are waiting for information on what is happening with our 2020 National Convention.    At this point I can tell you that the National Executive Board is looking at options and talking with the hotel to reach a resolution that will be in the best interest of our members, keeping in mind that we need to be responsible when it comes to the safety and health of our members.    It is the intention of the board to make a final decision next week on what we are going to do and what will happen for the remainder of this year and into the future.    At this time each of the chapters are looking at their schedules and their futures will be determined as the National Executive Board makes it determinations regarding the future of this year’s convention.    I would encourage you to stay tuned via whatever communication channels your particular chapter is using in making its determinations regarding when and what type of convention they might have.   This is just another of those many hurdles we, as an organization, need to work through now and into the future because of the COVID-19 pandemic.   As stated, we will do our best to keep you informed on what is happening as we make the final plans for this year’s national convention and then what decisions the chapters make.

There have been several questions posed to us here at the national office regarding the NPA program for Fiscal Year 2020.    As you can imagine, at this point there have been no decisions made regarding what may, or may not, be done when it comes to determining the individual offices final rankings.    I will tell you, however, that I am discussing the issue with USPS Headquarters and I will continue to monitor the numbers as we go forward and I will do my best to make sure that whatever decision is reached that it will be as fair and equitable as possible to all people involved.    For now, continue to do what you need to do to manage your offices, keep yourself and your employees safe and as healthy as possible and make sure you are getting the mail delivered.    I know that you have either just had or will soon be having your midyear with your manager.    This is, as always, your opportunity to make sure that if you have issues with budget, staffing or anything else in your office to make sure that you share that with your manager.   If you have already had your midyear and you did not share those items put them in writing in an email and share them now so that your manager will have the opportunity to make whatever adjustments need to be made, or to allow them to give you the assistance you need to correct those issues.    It is only by communicating with your managers and letting them know the issues that you will have the opportunity to address it at the end of the year through the mitigation process, if no action was taken to correct whatever the issue may be.  You need to advocate for yourself!

Since the pandemic started I have been sharing a Friday Message with the membership either via email, or on the website.   If you are interested in reading these weekly updates and want to receive them directly to your inbox, please send me an email at dheins@unitedpma.org and I will do my best to remember to add you to the list each week.   With all of the changes going on in the Postal community and the world, I felt it was important that I let you know what I am hearing here in the DC area and from the Postal Service.

While the new Postmaster General, Louis DeJoy, has not yet officially taken office I know that he is scheduling meetings with those that will be reporting to him at the Headquarters level and to the expanded leadership team within the Postal Service.    Beginning in the next couple of weeks he will also be scheduling meetings with the presidents of the management associations and the unions to introduce himself to us.   I look forward to talking with him about his vision for the future of the Postal Service and what adjustments he sees as needing to be made for the organization going forward.    Whenever we have a new PMG come on board there are bound to be changes; however, in the past when we have gotten someone from outside the Postal Service it seems those changes may be more pronounced.    With that said, the Board of Governors will be working with Mr. DeJoy to shape the future and to steer us in the direction that they believe we should be going.

Speaking of the Board of Governors, there are hearings scheduled in the Senate this coming Wednesday on the two latest nominees whose names were put forward by President Trump.  As always, we do not know the timeline that the committee doing the hearings on these individuals will put in place beyond the hearing but we will stay tuned.   Once they are approved by the committee they then need to go to the full Senate for confirmation.  As I hear things, I will do my best to keep you informed.

Thank you for your time this month and I look forward to addressing you again next month! 

Take care and stay safe and healthy whenever possible.

Daniel M. Heins
National President
United Postmasters and Managers of America