USPS TEMPORARILY SUSPENDS FERS CONTRIBUTIONS

 

      Our employer, the United States Postal Service, has suspended its employer contributions to the Federal Employees Retirement System (FERS) annuity, starting April 10, 2026, to conserve cash. The USPS looks to save $2.5 billion this fiscal year, and this is meant to ensure continued payroll and supplier payments amid a "cash crisis.” This does not impact current or future retiree benefits.

 

COMMITTEE OF LAWS APPROVES PROPOSED BYLAWS

 

      The NALC Committee of Laws, consisting of Mack Julion (Chairperson), James Yates (member) and Mauel Peralta Jr. (member), have approved our Branch’s proposed bylaw changes as of 04/17/2026. The committee stated as follows:

 

“Dear President McGregory: The Committee of Laws has reviewed the proposed By-Law amendments of Branch 2184, and finds that they do not conflict with the National Constitution.

 

Article VI, Section 7. — Approved

Article VI, Section 9. — Approved

 

Therefore, inasmuch as they are the wish of your membership, the proposed By-Law amendments are approved.”

 

      The Retiree and Health Benefits Officer shall be a retired member and a member of the NALC Health Benefit Plan. The Retiree and Health Benefits Officer shall coordinate all activities of the retired members of the Branch. He/she shall be the legislative advocate and the Congressional liaison for the retired members of the Branch. The Retiree and Health Benefits Officer shall exchange information with the National and State Directors of Retirees and shall advise all members on retirement matters. The Retiree and Health Benefits Officer shall perform such duties as the NALC Constitution and General Laws of the NALC Heath Benefit Plan may require, and shall counsel, advise, and assist participation in the plan. He/she shall be knowledgeable of all major PSHB programs and be available to assist members.

 

      The Retiree Officer and Health Benefit Officer positions are now combined going forward as of the start of the 2027-2029 term of office. This will take effect following the installation of officers and stewards for the new term here in Branch 2184.

 

COMMITTEE OF PRESIDENTS MEETING (COP)

 

      The 2026 Spring NALC Committee of Presidents (COP) meeting was held April 19–20, 2026, at the Hilton Ponce Golf & Casino Resort in Ponce, Puerto Rico, hosted by Branch 826.

 

Branch Presidents from around the country gathered and networked about current issues facing letter carriers today.

 

      President Brian Renfroe spoke to all of us in attendance for a few hours on Sunday April 19 about the current economic status of our employer and how contract negotiations were going. President Renfroe stated that the Postal Service was running out of cash and had already borrowed the legal maximum of $15 BILLION DOLLARS in the past. President Renfroe told us that the borrowing limit for the USPS had to be increased for the USPS to effectively be able to continue to do business and serve the American public at least six days a week as it currently does.

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      President Renfroe went on to tell us that he expected that we may not have a negotiated contract and that we were probably going to interest arbitration for our next contract. Our current contract expires May 22, 2026. If there is not a newly negotiated contract by then, the terms of our current contract will still be in effect until there is an arbitrated or negotiated successor contract.

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NALC Collective-Bargaining Conference June 1-3 in Washington, DC

 

      I have an arbitration hearing on June 3, 2026; thus, Executive Vice President Jackie McGregory will be attending this event in my place. EVP McGregory will report on this event at the September 2, 2026, Branch membership meeting.

 

OUR BRANCH PICNIC

 

Branch leadership has decided to change the Branch 2184 picnic this year to the month of July instead of its previous date in June. The picnic will be here on the union hall grounds on Sunday July 19th, 2026, from Noon until 6:00 p.m. We look forward to seeing you!

 

BRANCH 2184 FACEBOOK PAGE

 

      As of 05/04/2026, there are 261 members on the Branch’s Facebook page. The page is growing daily. If you are on Facebook, please search for our page. You will have to answer a few questions sch as who your steward(s) are and what building work out of, and you will be approved. If you are retired, just let us know what building you retired from and who your steward(s) were. There is up to date information about what is going on within your branch, at the state, regional, and national level of NALC. There are always contractual updates and information.

 

      Take a moment to look at it. Our Facebook page is only for current Branch 2184 members. No former members or nonmembers are allowed.

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-- Walt McGregory

President

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