Take a step to protect yourself
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POSTAL ISSUES:H.R. 3011 - USPS Shipping Equity Act. Legislation that would allow USPS to ship alcoholic beverages to consumers. Click here for co-sponsors. Click here for a press release quoting President Maston.
H.R. 1522 -Federal Retirement Fairness Act. Legislation that would allow rural letter carriers to buy back their time spent as an RCA. Click here for co-sponsors. Click here for a form letter to send to your Representative. Click here to download our Fact Sheet.
H. Res. 70/ S. Res. 147- Expressing the sense of the House of Representatives that Congress should take all appropriate measures to ensure that the United States Postal Service remains an independent establishment of the Federal Government and is not subject to privatization. Click here for co-sponsors in the House. Click here for co-sponsors in the Senate. Click here for a form letter to send to your Representative. Click here to download our Fact Sheet.
H.R. 1065/S. 463-the Protect Our Letter Carrier Act. Click here for co-sponsors in the House. Click here for co-sponsors in the Senate. Click here to download our Fact Sheet. Click here for a form letter to send to your Representative or Senator.
Buyback Grassroots Letter
| buyback_grassroots_letter.docx |
Dear Representative [Name]:
I am writing as a rural carrier and constituent of your district to voice my strong support for the Federal Retirement Fairness Act. I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 1522, a bill introduced by Rep. Gerald Connolly. “To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that civilian service in a temporary position after December 31, 1988, may be creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System, and for other purposes.”
Many federal employees, including Rural Carriers, start their careers as temporary employees. The Postal Service has a classification of Rural Letter Carriers called Rural Carrier Associates (RCAs). RCAs are part-time carriers who do not earn health or retirement benefits until they acquire full time career status. Most rural carriers start out as an RCA and on average it takes about six years for them to become a Regular Carrier, but it is not uncommon for it to take 10-plus years to become a regular career employee. The current retention rate of RCAs is extremely low, with approximately 60% leaving the Postal Service. This results in the Postal Service spending millions of dollars for the training/hiring process. Retention of RCAs would benefit the Postal Service by reducing overtime payments to RCAs and Regular Carriers attributed to the lack of RCAs.
Under this act, federal employees that gave their time and effort for years before achieving permanent status would be able to make catch-up retirement contributions so they may retire on time. This is not a new idea. Before the Federal Government changed to a new employee retirement system in 1989, temporary employees could make catch-up payments.
Please support H.R. 1522 so that the Federal Government can return to a fair retirement benefits system for all employees. We need your support to end the penalization of temporary employees who bring so much value to organizations such as the Postal Service. By cosponsoring this legislation, you will help ensure that the government can attract and retain quality talent as well as ensure that our valued employees are not still struggling to achieve normal retirements.
Thank you for your continued dedication and attention to this issue. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about my request.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
I am writing as a rural carrier and constituent of your district to voice my strong support for the Federal Retirement Fairness Act. I urge you to cosponsor H.R. 1522, a bill introduced by Rep. Gerald Connolly. “To amend title 5, United States Code, to provide that civilian service in a temporary position after December 31, 1988, may be creditable service under the Federal Employees Retirement System, and for other purposes.”
Many federal employees, including Rural Carriers, start their careers as temporary employees. The Postal Service has a classification of Rural Letter Carriers called Rural Carrier Associates (RCAs). RCAs are part-time carriers who do not earn health or retirement benefits until they acquire full time career status. Most rural carriers start out as an RCA and on average it takes about six years for them to become a Regular Carrier, but it is not uncommon for it to take 10-plus years to become a regular career employee. The current retention rate of RCAs is extremely low, with approximately 60% leaving the Postal Service. This results in the Postal Service spending millions of dollars for the training/hiring process. Retention of RCAs would benefit the Postal Service by reducing overtime payments to RCAs and Regular Carriers attributed to the lack of RCAs.
Under this act, federal employees that gave their time and effort for years before achieving permanent status would be able to make catch-up retirement contributions so they may retire on time. This is not a new idea. Before the Federal Government changed to a new employee retirement system in 1989, temporary employees could make catch-up payments.
Please support H.R. 1522 so that the Federal Government can return to a fair retirement benefits system for all employees. We need your support to end the penalization of temporary employees who bring so much value to organizations such as the Postal Service. By cosponsoring this legislation, you will help ensure that the government can attract and retain quality talent as well as ensure that our valued employees are not still struggling to achieve normal retirements.
Thank you for your continued dedication and attention to this issue. Please feel free to contact me if you have any questions or concerns about my request.
Sincerely,
[Your Name]
Contact information
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Colorado Senators
Bennet, Michael F. (D - CO) 261 Russell Senate Office Building Washington DC 20510 (202) 224-5852 Email: www.bennet.senate.gov Hickenlooper, John (D-CO) Hart Senate Office Building 120 Constitution Ave NE, Suite SH-316 Washington DC 20510 http://www.hickenlooper.senate.gov Colorado Representatives DeGette, Diana (D - District 1) 600 Grant Street, Suite 202 Denver, CO 80203-3525 Phone: (303) 844-4996 Neguse, Joe (D - District 2) Boulder Office 2503 Walnut Street Suite 300 Boulder, CO 80302 Phone: (303) 335-1045 Fort Collins Office 1220 S. College Avenue Unit 100A Fort Collins, CO 80524 Phone: (970) 372-3971 |
Jeff Hurd (R - District 3) 1641 Longworth House Office Building Washington DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4676 Boebert, Lauren (R - District 4) 1713 Longworth House Building Washington DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4761 Crank, Jeff (R - District 5) 1029 Longworth House Building Washington DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-4422 Crow, Jason (D - District 6) 1323 Longworth House Building Washington DC 20515 (202) 225-7882 Pettersen, Brittany (D - District 7) 348 Cannon House Building Washington DC 20515 Phone: (202) 225-2645 |