EARLY OUT IS IN THE AIR ... NO INCENTATIVES INDICATED!

Read the full memo  Early Out Info-PDF (source: NALC Branch #38) 7/3/08

FERS Employees Beware  (7/5/08)

There will be a lot of people eligible this time under FERS.  FERS employees should be aware that under VERA the normal age penalty for retiring before 30 years of service or age 62 is waived.  That in itself is a monetary incentive!

TSP payments are taxed as ordinary income in the years when you receive them.  A financial bonus for retirees is that they may withdraw their TSP money after retirement without a 10% early withdrawal penalty, provided he/she is at least age 55 in the year of separation.  Certain other withdrawals, including annuities, are also exempt from an early withdrawal penalty.  For more information see the two booklets:

Withdrawing Your TSP Account After Leaving Federal Service 

Important Tax Information About Payments From Your TSP Account

Don Cheney
Auburn, WA




 Attended the United Way Awards to honor our own Mary Pardo who was named United Way Labor volunteer of the Year. In attendance from our branch were Rafael Barrera and wife Gloria; Dan Torres and wife Josey; Alex Duron; and Homer Hernandez.  Rudy Trevino was in attendance but represented the AFL/CIO at their table.  Congratulations Mary!
 
  All paid Boston Convention delegates meeting on 17 July 08 at 6:30PM in the Lew Sansom Hall, 125 W. Grayson Street.


                                                              

The Food Industry Union and the Hotel Workers Union are striking in Boston.  To find which hotels are being boycott click here. 

A letter carrier on a temporary hold down will lose the opt immediately. JCAM p.41-12: "An employee on a hold-down assignment may accept a temporary supervisory position (204b). However, the hold-down must be reposted
for the duration of the remainder of the original vacancy provided it is
for five days or more. A carrier who has accepted a 204b detail only
retains the right to the hold-down until it is awarded to another letter
carrier."

 Did you know that...

This month's e-activist says:

The most exciting nomination process in recent history has now come to an end. In a very close contest, the Democrats have selected Barack Obama as their candidate for president. NALC offers its congratulations to Sen. Obama for running a superb campaign and for winning an historic victory.

Our union endorsed Hillary Clinton and she conducted a magnificent campaign. Her grit, determination and class made us very proud of that choice. We worked extremely hard and can be very proud of our effort on her behalf. Sen. Clinton made a lot of history herself.

Now that we must shift our attention to the general elections in the fall, many members are wondering where we stand. This union makes decisions differently than some others. We are not a top-down union. Instead, we allow our members to make the decisions that are most important to all of us. A presidential endorsement is that kind of decision.

A resolution will be introduced in Boston, at our national convention in July, to support Barack Obama for president. Given his progressive views and outstanding record fighting for working people over the years, and given Sen. McCain's poor record on matters affecting America's workers, I have no doubt that Sen. Obama will win the enthusiastic support of our members.

We have extended an invitation to Sen. Obama and hope he will attend our convention to be there for the endorsement vote. If our convention approves of the resolution, NALC will do everything in its power to help make him the next president of the United States.

Yours in unionism,

William H. Young, President
National Association of Letter Carriers