Tennessee Rural Letter Carriers' Association
ADDRESS CHANGES
Members, if you have moved, please send your new address to the Secretary so that your address will be correct in the database. This is how you receive your newsletters, county meeting notices, and any other correspondence from this Association. We do not necessarily get the change of address just because you gave it to the post office. You may text or call your new address and/or phone number to 865-740-3162 or 865-859-0042.
*********
2023 STATE CONVENTION RESERVATIONS
The Tennessee Rural Letter Carriers' Association will be holding the 118th State Convention from June 24 through June 26, 2023. The Convention will be held at the Cool Springs Marriott, 700 Cool Springs Blvd., Franklin, TN. You may make your reservations by clicking the link below until May 23, 2023. The group rate is $147 per night plus tax. The hotel phone number is 615-261-6100 if you need assistance.
**********
2023 OUTSTANDING MEMBER OF THE YEAR FORM
Nominations for "Outstanding Member of the Year" must be received in the state secretary's office no later than June 9, 2023. Scroll to the bottom of the page for a printable form.
**********
national delegate election ballotS
are in the mail
You should have received your National Delegate Election Ballot in the mail by now. Please take a few minutes to vote for those on the ballot whom you believe will vote as you would vote. It is important that we all take time to properly cast our votes, and mail the ballot using the preaddressed envelope which is included. Remember to put your name and address in the upper left corner of the mailing envelope, use only blue or black ink, and make not additional marks on the ballot. Do not vote for more than 41 nominees; you may vote for less than 41 but not more. Let's get these in the mail today! They must be received in the PO Box by June 22.
**********
dispute process extended
until close of business june 2, 2023
The USPS and the NRLCA have agreed to extend the time frame for submission of Evaluation Dispute Form -1, until the close of business Friday, June 2, 2023. This form is completed by the rural carrier and the manager at the local level.
This extension will allow additional time for collecting necessary data which would support the dispute. The documentation supporting the dispute should be specific to the data field(s) on the 4241-A. If your manager is having difficulty in providing the necessary data, they should contact the district for support. If your manager is unable to provide the data at the local level, the manager should timely send the Evaluation Dispute Form - 1 to the District.
**********
Updated NRLCA App for iOS and Android
An updated version of the NRLCA app is now available to download from the Google Play Store (Android devices) and the App Store (Apple devices.)
**********
NRLCA and USPS Sign MOU to Carryover
annual leave for Leave Year 2024
The NRLCA and USPS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing that for leave year 2024, regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NRLCA Agreement may carry over 520 hours (65 days) of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2023 to leave year 2024.
In all other respects, the ELM provisions for payment of accumulated leave are not changed because of this Memorandum. This MOU will expire December 31, 2024.
**********
2023 National Convention reservations
To make your reservation online, visit: https://book.passkey.com/e/50382926
Group Rate for All Hotels: $139/night (single/quad)
Amway Grand Plaza Hotel/Amway Grand Tower Curio
187 Monroe Avenue NW
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Reservations Phone: 800-253-3590
**********
Letters of Demand Being Issued for Exceeding 2240
Carriers, please be aware that the Postal Service is sending out invoices for carriers that exceeded 2240. Do NOT pay these invoices. Per the Step 4, E95R-4E-C 01267089, if the carriers exceeded 2240 through no fault of their own, the Letters of Demand would be waived. These invoices say that they are for information only but there may be managers who still issue the Letter of Demand.
Contact your steward immediately if a Letter of Demand is issued and file a grievance and a waiver of claim, PS Form 3074.
**********
liteblue is back onlinE
All PostalEASE functions which were previously disabled, have been reactivated in LiteBlue. However, some people are still having difficulties gaining access to the site. CISO is currently working on rectifying those issues. The following actions were taken to continue to safeguard postal employees' information:
-
Established strict configurations and controls on the multiple function authorization for LiteBlue
-
Continued monitoring and reporting of fake liteblue websites
-
Automatic password reset for anyone observed interacting with a known fake site
-
New device/new location blocks login
-
Impossible travel: an example would be someone logging in from CA and another from FL within an impossible travel timeframe
-
Known blocks for international IP address attempts
-
Developed algorithms to determine patterns of fraud and prevent automated bot attacks
Do:
-
When accessing LiteBlue, enter liteblue.usps.gov (“w-w-w dot l-i-t-e-b-l-u-e dot u-s-p-s dot g-o-v”) directly into the address bar and bookmark as a favorite.
-
Report suspicious activity to the Cybersecurity Operations Center by e-mailing cybersafe@usps.gov or call 1-866-877-7247.
Don’t:
-
Use an online search engine to navigate to sites requiring a password.
-
Click on suspicious links or attachments
**********
New EMA Rate Effective
April 8, 2023 (Pay Period 09-23)
On March 14, 2023, the Bureau of Labor Statistics released the February Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) which established the Private Transportation Index at 261.223, a decrease from the November 2022 Index of 266.492. Therefore, based on the February 2023 CPI-W release, the Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for rural carriers will decrease 2.0¢ to 91.5¢ per mile. This EMA rate will be effective April 8, 2023 (Pay Period 09-2023).
Your EMA includes the following components:
New/Used Motor Vehicles: 45%
Motor Fuel: 24%
Motor Vehicle Insurance: 17%
Motor Vehicle Maintenance & Repair: 8%
Motor Vehicle Parts & Equipment: 3%
Motor Vehicle Fees: 3%
TOTAL: 100%
Rural Carriers:
In accordance with the provisions of Article 9, Section 2.J.3 of the USPS/NRLCA National Agreement, effective April 8, 2023 (Pay Period 09-2023), the Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) will decrease to 91.5¢ per mile, or a minimum of $36.60 per day, whichever is greater.
Auxiliary Rural Carriers, Rural Carrier Reliefs, Rural Carrier Associates, Rural Carrier Part Time Flexibles, and Auxiliary Assistance
Employees providing auxiliary assistance or serving auxiliary routes under the provisions of Article 9, Section 2.J.5, will receive EMA of 91.5¢ per mile or $9.75 per hour, whichever is greater. This EMA should not exceed the amount provided in the special EMA chart for route stops and miles.
This was the fourth opportunity for an EMA adjustment under the terms of the 2021-2024 USPS/NRLCA National Agreement. The next quarterly adjustment will occur after the release of the May 2023 Consumer Price Index for Urban Wage Earners and Clerical Workers (CPI-W) and will be effective the second full pay period after release of that index.
**********