National Association of Postal Supervisors
Legislative Update -- February 10, 2007


In This Issue:

Herseth Bill Would Halt USPS Involuntary Reassignment
of Postal Employees with Veterans Status


Rep. Stephanie Herseth (D-SD) again has introduced legislation (H.R. 728) in the House of Representatives to strike down Postal Service downsizing rules that attempt to deny the application of veterans’ preference job protection priority status to postal and other government employees who are military veterans.

Herseth introduced H.R. 728, the “Veterans’ Reassignment Protection Act,” on Jan. 30. She introduced similar legislation late in the 109th Congress, too late for the legislation to progress.   Early introduction of the bill this year will favor its passage in this Congress.  Rep. Herseth is the newly appointed chair of the Economic Opportunity Subcommittee of the House Committee on Veterans Affairs.  Her subcommittee has special jurisdiction over a range of veterans and service members programs designed to help those returning from military service readjust to civilian life.

Rep. Herseth worked closely with NAPS in drafting the Veterans' Reassignment Act to assure it closed the loophole that the Postal Service is using to deny the application of RIF rules and bumping rights to military veterans during downsizing actions that close or consolidate postal facilities and reassign employees to other facilities.  The Service contends that veterans’ preference protections apply only during a reduction-in-force, not a “repositioning personnel action,” largely a distinction without a difference.

          The Herseth measure destroys the USPS’ rationale by requiring that any military veteran employee of the federal government, including the Postal Service, who becomes subject to an involuntary geographic reassignment outside the commuting area during the course of a reorganization or transfer of function, is given the choice of accepting the reassignment or the opportunity to contest the reassignment in the same manner he or she would under a RIF.

          In introducing the legislation, Herseth said, “The rights and protections of our nation’s military veterans, especially in light of their continuing sacrifices in Iraq, Afghanistan and other dangerous lands, should not permit the unfair and wrongheaded employment policies of the federal government to stand.

“I am proud to support the selfless and patriotic sacrifice of our nation’s military veterans, and I urge the swift consideration and passage by Congress of this necessary and important legislation.”

          NAPS delegates to the upcoming Legislative Conference and Training Seminar, March 25-29, will devote special attention to securing cosponsors for the bill during their meetings with lawmakers on Capitol Hill.  Five House members already have joined as cosponsors of H.R. 728.

          NAPS President Ted Keating urged all NAPS members to contact their House Members to urge them to become cosponsors of the legislation.  NAPS members will soon be able to easily contact their Members of Congress through the NAPS website; details will be issued shortly. 

 

Transformation and Postal Reform Push USPS Off the High-Risk List

For the first time since 2001, the Postal Service does not appear on the Government Accountability Office’s “high-risk list” of troubled government agencies.

The high-risk list, annually compiled by the GAO, identifies the federal entities and programs most vulnerable to waste, fraud and mismanagement.

          Six years ago, the Postal Service, faced with steeply declining revenues, deepening debt and accelerating costs, was placed on the high-risk list by GAO. At the time, GAO Comptroller General David Walker told the House Government Reform Committee, “We believe that the [Postal] Service’s deteriorating financial situation calls for prompt, aggressive action, particularly in the areas of cutting costs and improving productivity.”

          Walker and the GAO also called on the Postal Service to heal itself by undertaking a transformation of its business processes and urged Congress to reshape postal law to provide greater flexibility and accountability in the agency’s business practices.

Since that time, the Postal Service has implemented several transformation plans, bringing about systemic changes to increase employee productivity and reduce staff, saving $5 billion since 2001. The new postal reform law signed into law by President Bush late last year also will help the agency address pension and retiree health-care liabilities and create a more predictable process for setting mail rates for magazine, catalog, credit card and other companies.

          Still, GAO did not give the USPS a clean bill of health. It pointed out in its January 2007 high-risk update that continuing challenges remain for the Postal Service, including:

* Generating sufficient revenues as First-Class Mail volume declines and the changing mail mix provides less revenue contribution than First-Class Mail,

* Controlling costs as compensation and benefit costs rise,

* Continuing work-hour reductions while maintaining service,

* Optimizing its infrastructure and work force to reduce costs and improve operational efficiency and

* Providing reliable data to assess performance.

          Postmaster General Jack Potter told the Washington Post, “Going forward, it is incumbent on us to continue to provide high levels of service” and to “make sure every dollar we spend is a dollar we need to spend."


Bruce Moyer
NAPS Legislative Counsel