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via BREAKING NEWS–POSTAL CARRIER CONFIRMED DEAD | Montgomery County Police Reporter.

Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year(s):      JEEP / WRANGLER 2008-2012 Manufacturer: Chrysler Group LLC Report Receipt Date: MAY 07, 2013 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 13V176000 NHTSA Action Number: PE11019

Component: AIR BAGS

Potential Number of Units Affected: 5,440

Summary:   Chrysler Group LLC (Chrysler) is recalling certain model year 2008-2012 Jeep Wrangler right-hand drive vehicles manufactured February 1, 2007, through October 10, 2011. The affected vehicles have airbag clockspring assemblies that could experience broken airbag circuits.

Consequence:   In the event of a crash necessitating airbag deployment, a broken electrical circuit in the airbag clockspring wiring assembly can lead to non-deployment of the driver-side frontal airbag and will not be able to properly protect the driver, increasing the risk of injuries.

Remedy:   Chrysler will notify owners, and dealers will replace the clockspring and add a steering wheel dust shield, free of charge. The recall is expected to begin May 2013. Owners may contact Chrysler at 1-800-247-9753. This recall supercedes NHTSA recall 11V-528. Chrysler’s recall campaign number is M31.

Notes:   Owners may also contact the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration Vehicle Safety Hotline at 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), or go to www.safercar.gov.Link

Recall Alert: More Than 300,000 Jeep and Ram Vehicles – KickingTires.

HARTFORD, Conn. –Aetna announced it has completed its acquisition of Coventry Health Care, Inc., a diversified managed health care company based in Bethesda, Md.

“The successful completion of our acquisition of Coventry presents new opportunities for Aetna and supports our strategy for growth in the changing health care marketplace,” said Mark T. Bertolini, Aetna’s chairman, CEO and president. “Together, we are well positioned – competitively, strategically and financially – to meet the evolving needs of the people we serve.”

The acquisition builds on Aetna’s existing resources and capabilities, and increases the company’s mix of business in higher-growth Government programs. As a result of the acquisition, Aetna has added approximately 3.7 million medical members and 1.5 million Medicare Part D members. In addition, Aetna’s Medicaid business has grown from 1.1 million members to more than 2 million members, and its Medicaid footprint has expanded from 12 to 16 states.

Bertolini continued, “An integral part of Aetna’s growth strategy is to enhance the depth and breadth of our core insurance business while increasing our presence in the fast-growing government sector, all toward expanding our relationships with local providers. Coventry helps us realize these goals.”

http://www.aetna.com/about-aetna-insurance/video/aetna-coventry-close.html

Click here to see previous announcement

News Info.

Until the issue is corrected USPS kiosks, USPS computers and telephone bidding are still functional. Should one have any difficulty with automated bidding, contact your supervisor and request a PS Form 1717-A to submit a manual bid. One should also attempt to bid at least one additional time in the automated environment prior to the closing date of the posting.

We will continue to keep you updated on this issue.

News Info.

I am just going to provide some information…

Sgt. Kim Montes, an 18-year-veteran of the Florida Highway Patrol, says the agency’s legal department reviewed the unorthodox style of mail delivery and found mail carriers are not exempt in either Florida or Federal statutes from wearing a seat belt while “performing their duties.”

The review was prompted by a three week investigation by Local 6.

Here is what the NRLCA has to say about it:  Seatbelts – Ronnie Stutts

via FHP: Rural mail carriers violating Florida’s seat belt law | News – Home.

Some Rural Carrier Associates and other non-career rural craft employees may be eligible to receive health benefits under the new law.  We will be discussing the details of coverage for eligible rural craft employees with the Postal Service and will provide additional information as it become available.

Health benefit plans for current career employees and retirees are not affected by the PPACA.

You may be receiving a brief stand-up talk about this issue in your local post office as early as today.

News Info.

Rep. Peter DeFazio has authored a petition urging the White House to support six-day delivery, solve the pre-funding crisis responsible for 80% of USPS losses the past few years, and allow the USPS to compete and generate additional revenue. This will get them on a firm financial footing and allow them to innovate for the 21st century and beyond.

Please sign this petition urging the White House to support REAL Postal Reform.

Thank you for your efforts.

Michael Uehlein/NRLCA

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1. Notate the location of the telephones if not in the same location as the scanner for pickup in the morning.
2. Record the time involved to locate a supervisor and get a different telephone, if the phone assigned in the morning fails to link properly to the scanner.  Also note any delays in getting the scanner to link.
3. Record any ACTUAL time spent waiting for the scanner to upload, when the carrier is ready and waiting to make another scan.

Please note that the upload should be taking no more than 90 seconds at the most.  This problem, we have been assured, will be alleviated with a software update in June that will allow the carrier to scan even during an upload.  Also, the carrier has the ability to postpone the upload when prompted and can continue to postpone the upload if they are in a section of the route with many scans.

David L Heather

Executive Committeeman

National Rural Letter Carriers’ Association

816-420-0620

“Yesterday’s announcement is welcome news to rural letter carriers, U.S. Postal employees, and their millions of loyal customers nationwide. With the current fiscal crisis plaguing the U.S. Postal Service, lowering service levels is simply no way to generate revenue and bring the USPS back from the brink. For decades, the Postal Service has provided consistent quality service to each and every household nationwide. Any plan that lowers this level of service is simply misguided and unacceptable.

“Our Postal Service is in need of true reform, not just misguided attempts to slash service. By re-working the Postal Service’s funding of its retiree health benefits, an obligation which accounts for 80% of USPS losses over recent years, lawmakers will have taken the easiest and most-sensible step toward getting this venerable institution back on the right page. Allowing the Postal Service to innovate with same-day parcel delivery, as it has in some regions with companies like Amazon, will provide a great opportunity to generate needed revenue and allow the USPS to remain a competitive player in the shipping and delivery industry.

“The proposal to reopen already negotiated postal labor contracts is another misguided attempt to grow the Postal Service by cutting. In previous contract negotiations, including in the most recent contract signed just this past July, rural letter carriers across the country made difficult sacrifices to help keep the Postal Service afloat. From foregoing wage increases and cost-of-living adjustments to allowing the Postal Service to contribute less toward employee health benefits, rural letter carriers have shown their dedication to the Postal Service not just on their routes but also in their sacrifices at the bargaining table.

“While many say the Postal Service should be run like a business, it has been shackled by burdensome obligations and left to drown in red ink. Misguided legislation and a dysfunctional Congress have brought the Postal Service to this point, but these problems are easily solvable. The elimination of six-day mail delivery would only further worsen this crisis.

“Also, my sincere gratitude and appreciation goes out to the tens of thousands of rural letter carriers across the country. The response of these loyal and hardworking individuals was critical to the preservation of Saturday mail delivery. We will continue to stand alongside our members as the fight to protect and defend the U.S. Postal Service moves forward.”

If you would like to download this document, please click here.

—

The NRLCA is an independent union whose members include 104,718 full- and part-time rural letter carriers. Rural carriers deliver mail on 73,461 routes, serving over 40 million customers and driving almost 3.5 million miles each delivery day in all 50 states, the US Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico. The average route is more than 47 miles long and serves 552 boxes.

via News Info.

The recent passage of a continuing resolution still maintains 6 day mail delivery through the end of the fiscal year.  In addition, a recent report by the GAO states the USPS and the Postmaster General do not have the legal authority to eliminate six-day mail delivery.

via News Info.

As part of recent action to fund government operations for this year, Congress approved language that prevents USPS from implementing the new delivery schedule that was proposed to launch in August. The new schedule would include package delivery Monday through Saturday and mail delivery Monday through Friday.

The USPS Board of Governors met April 9 to discuss this action, and has directed the Postal Service to delay implementing the new delivery schedule. The delay will continue until Congress and the president approve a law that will allow USPS to make changes that would include the authority to adjust its delivery schedule. This decision by the Board of Governors means that for the time being, we will continue delivering mail and packages six days a week.

In addition, the Board has directed Postal Service management to take other actions, including:

Seeking to reopen negotiations with the postal unions and consultations with management associations;

Taking administrative actions to reduce costs.

Evaluating further options to increase revenue, including an exigent rate increase, to raise revenues across current

product categories and products not currently covering their costs.

The Board views a new delivery schedule as a necessary part of a larger five-year business plan to restore the Postal Service to long-term financial stability, and continues to support legislative goals identified in that plan.

The Board urged Congress to quickly pass comprehensive postal legislation, including provisions that would give the Postal Service the ability to establish an appropriate national delivery schedule.

More information on the Board of Governors’ decision is available in a Newsbreak posted on employee bulletin boards.

Thank you for your attention.

via News Info.

The language change reads, The RDWL will be posted for a 2 week period. The first opportunity to sign the RDWL will be 3 weeks prior to the beginning of the new guarantee period and will be effective at the beginning of the new guarantee year. The second opportunity will be 3 weeks prior (April 13, 2013) to the first full pay period in May, and become effective the first full pay period in May  (PP 11/13, May 4, 2013).

via WIRLCA.

Question: I am an RCA and I see so many references and names for rural carrier subs.  Ive seen RCR, TRC, Aux. carrier, Substitute and more.  I am really confused about this.  Can you help with this? Thanks..

The issue in this grievance concerns waiting for any mail due to late arriving transportation which may or may not include DPS letter mail. The parties agree that when a rural carrier is required to wait for mail due to late arriving transportation that may or may not include DPS letter mail, appropriate compensation will be provided. Waiting time will not begin until all rural carrier duties are completed, to the extent possible, including casing of all available mail that requires casing. Management will determine the compensation of auxiliary assistance equivalent to the waiting time, or by utilizing 8127 for regulars or 1314-A for leave replacements. This does not change the Frisco TX step 4, that addresses when ONLY DPS letter mail is late arriving and waiting time begins after all other duties are completed to include strapping out of all cased mail and is prepared to leave the office to effect delivery, which is re-affirmed in this Step 4.

DOWNLOAD HERE

via News Info.

Keep an eye on the NRLCA website and sign up for E-Activist alerts for the latest updates on the fight to protect six-day delivery.

via Legislative Update.

March 1st – April 30th

Available for all NRLCA RCA Members

Call today to get started 1-877-817-4801

RCA Benefit Suite

Open enrollment for the RCA Benefit Suite is going on now through April 30th. Don’t miss out on these great insurance products!

Health Insurance

20-Year Term Life Insurance

Dental/Vision Insurance

Critical Illness

Accident

If you have any questions or would like to enroll call 877-817-4801 today

Applications for the Leave Replacement Program must be Postmarked by April 30, 2013 to qualify for guaranteed issue.

via Welcome NRLCA Members!.

Table One:

Carriers that were converted to regular prior to Nov. 20th, 2010

RCAs on rolls prior to November 20, 2010 and continuously thereafter, will convert to career on salary schedule Table 1.

Table Two:

RCAs hired after November 20, 2010, but prior to August 11, 2012 will be paid on Table 2 when they convert to career.

RCAs hired after August 10, 2012, will be paid on Table 2 when they convert to career.

Download the salary chart here

via News Info.

The family requests that any memorial donations be made to the American Stroke Foundation.

The NRLCA National Board

via News Info.

The new EMA rate will be effective April 6, 2013 (Pay Period 9).

via News Info.

Action is needed now! Below is a list of Senators and their contact information. Please contact your senators immediately and urge them to oppose and vote NO on the McCain and Coburn amendment that would repeal 6 day mail delivery. We need your help now!

Copy of an e-mail sent by Bruce Branning, – USPS Northeast Area. The text of the e-mail is as follows:

“The USPS and the NRLCA was unable to come to an agreement on how to handle the missed rural count days of Saturday, February 9th and Monday February 11th. Therefore, we’ve made a unilateral decision to move forward in the manner prescribed below. We believe the calculations / process outlined below is more then fair to make up for the two missing days.

Saturday, February 9th

Districts will use the three Saturdays (Feb 16th, Feb 23rd, and March 2nd) in the count and average all columns. Once averaged, these volumes and time values will be used for all line items in the count for Saturday, February 9, 2013.

Monday, February 11th

Columns 1 through 7 (Random Letters, Sector Segment, DPS Letters, Manual flats, DPS Flats, Parcels and Box Holders) for Tuesday, February 19th (day after the holiday) will be used for the missing volumes for Monday, February 11th.

In regards to the remaining columns, Districts should use the volumes and time values from Monday, February 25th.

These calculations will be performed at a District level and sent out to the delivery units for RRMC input. Once local management inputs both days into the RRMC program, carriers will be provided a copy of the daily worksheets from the RRMC program. Districts must validate the inputs were made correctly.”

I remind you, this is ANOTHER UNILATERAL DECISION by the postal service with NO UNION AGREEMENT. The issue will continue through the grievance procedure. Carriers can still file grievances based on quantity and time disagreements, nothing has changed.

As I have any additional information I will send it out. Please pass this along to your State Boards and any affected carriers.

Thank You

Paul J DeFranc
NNE District Representative
PO Box 691
Meredith NH 03253-0691
603-279-8416

Click here to find a rally near you  (Check back often as more locations are added)

via National Day of Action.

Further, the deferred payment of $62 from the January 2012 trigger will be paid in addition to this release. The total increase will be $207 per annum, $7.96 per pay period or .0995 per hour for a 40-hour route, and increased proportionally for routes over 40 hours.

NOTE: For RCA/RCR employees on rolls prior to August 11, 2012, an amount equal to the COLA paid to full-time rural carriers on an hourly basis under the 2010 Agreement will be rolled into RCA/RCR hourly rates during the first full pay period of August 2015.

Updated pay schedules will be posted at www.nrlca.org and included in a future edition of the National Rural Letter Carrier Magazine as soon as they are available.

via NRLCA News Info.

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