General Information

Peak Season Exception Period MOU and PSE District Cap MOU Ramp Up Period- 2022

Postal Service Updating COVID-19 items

1. The Postal Service is no longer asking people to quarantine—rather if an employee is exposed the Postal Service is telling them to wear a high-quality mask for 10 days and get tested on day 5 after exposure.
2. However, the Postal Service still recommends isolation (don’t go to work) when you are sick and suspect you have COVID-19 and to follow the CDC isolation guidelines if you have not been tested. (See slide 2 of brief presentation)
3. If you do test positive, employees stay home for at least 5 days and once you leave home wear a mask through day 10. (see slide 2 of brief presentation).
4. The “Decision Tree” no longer grants administrative leave under any circumstances. The Postal Service says employees are to use Annual, Sick, or LWOP for their absences.
5. Close contact tracing is no longer done by the Postal Nurses but returned to local health departments to conduct. I believe they did this so that it is an outside agency or medical provider who is telling the employee to stay off work instead of the Postal Service.
6. Remember, employees who are contract COVID-19 can still qualify for OWCP and Continuation of Pay (COP). The eligibility to apply under the loosened standards lasts currently through January 27, 2023. However, the APWU Legislative Department is working hard to have Congress extend this date.  You can learn more here: How to File an OWCP Claim When Diagnosed with COVID-19 | American Postal Workers Union (apwu.org) or contact the Human Relations Department with your OWCP questions.

President Dimondstein Signs Annual Leave Exchange and Annual Leave Carryover MOUs

President Dimondstein signed off on the two additional MOUs: one that allows for the increased annual leave carry over from leave year 2022 to leave year 2023 and one that allows for additional annual leave exchange prior to leave year 2023.

To view original article & MOUs click here.

USPS Has Created Resources to Be Sent to Employees for 2022 Open Season

To all APWU family,

Please find attached the notification received from the Postal Service providing the dates and information for this year’s 2022 Open Season for Health Benefits. Open Season is from 11/14/22 through 12/12/22. Open Season is a critical time for employees to review their current health benefits and ensure that the benefits they have selected best fit their needs and the needs of their family. Unless an employee has a Qualifying Life Event (OLE) during the remainder of the year, this is their once-a-year opportunity to make any changes to many of their benefits. Please read all of the attached carefully.

The Open Season Benefits Fair will be conducted virtually.

The fair will be held virtually on the following dates:
November 14th 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. EST
November 22nd 10:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. EST
November 30th 1:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. EST
December 6th 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. EST
There will be live and on-demand presentations, live chats, and Q&A sessions with experts.
Visit https://2022uspsopenseasonbenefits.vfairs.com to register. Participation is voluntary.
Non-exempt employees may only participate off the clock or during authorized breaks.

Click here to read the full PDF document