The UPMA 2021 Legislative Summit

LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT: from Gerri Swarm

Will you be attending the 2021 Legislative Summit, September 26-29? It is time to reserve your room at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City, 2799 Richmond Highway, Arlington VA 22202, 800-233-1234. Use group code PSTI when making your reservation. The room rate of $179 will be honored until August 15, 2021, or until the room block is sold out, whichever comes first. Visit the UPMA website for the Summit registration form and to reserve a room online. (Note the room rate; registration forms and web postings are being corrected. The hotel link is correct.)  

https://www.unitedpma.org/events/events/events-details/2021/09/26/default-calendar/upma-2021-legislative-summit

UPMA to Postpone the 2021 Legislative Summit                   1/12/2021
The United Postmasters and Managers of America National President Daniel Heins announced on January 12, 2021, that the Legislative Summit scheduled for February 21-24, will be postponed until September 26-29, 2021.

This decision was made based on the issues with the COVID-19 Pandemic that continue to plague the nation and the fact that the UPMA members that would attend in February would not have access to the members of Congress on Capitol Hill. This is not a decision that was reached easily; however, Heins felt that this was the best choice for our membership at this time.

In the interim we will be offering some Legislative training classes via ZOOM in the coming weeks. The information on those sessions will be shared with the membership through email and on the national website unitedpma.org.

We are rescheduling for September because the Government Relations Team and Mr. Heins feel it is very important that we have a presence on Capitol Hill at some time this year, This need is heightened with so many new members and the urgent need to get some type of long term meaningful Postal Reform legislation passed.

President Heins stated that it is his prayer that by the end of September the nation will be able to reopen after the vaccine has been made available to the majority of the country and we will be able to once again walk the halls of Congress. If you have registered for the conference this year your registration will be brought forward for the September dates unless you request a refund. If you choose to receive a refund, you can contact Gerri Swarm at the UPMA National Office and she will see that your fee is returned. Gerri’s email address is gswarm@unitedpma.org. 

HOTEL CANCELLATION FOR LEGISLATIVE SUMMIT: from Gerri Swarm 
The 2021 UPMA Legislative Conference has been rescheduled for September 26-29, 2021. If you are holding a room reservation at the Hyatt Regency Crystal City for the February dates, please be sure to cancel the reservation. The hotel must hear from the individual holding the room. Their phone number is 800-233-1234.

Members of our Ohio Chapter have joined UPMA members converging on the nation's capital to lobby for universal postal services at every crossroad in America, fair treatment for postal employees and retirees, and congressional assistance to enable the Postal Service to move forward into the future. 

PMG BRENNAN AT 2020 LEGISLATIVE CONFERENCE: 
notes from Linda Carter
Four hundred twenty (420) UPMA members arrived early to greet PMG Megan Brennan with a zealous, loud, and lasting welcome as she spoke informally to members, joining them in declaring that "The USPS matters to America!" After recognizing Retirees and Veterans, she publicly thanked UPMA National President Dan Heins for working with USPS leaders in the best interest of UPMA members and the USPS, especially with his input in NPA improvements. Other highlights of her discussion included:
- The USPS continues to be the most trusted private or personal company in America.
- Service standards remain at all-time high despite the challenges of postal managers.
- The Walmart delivery test in Central Florida resulted in 99.8% delivery rate.
- Goal to ensure USPS employees return home in same condition as they reported to work resulted in a 12% reduction in accidents.
- How we will finance the USPS in future has been challenge since 2007. Without major changes, we will run out of cash in 3-4 years.
- Many think we have been "crying wolf" for several years because we continue to provide exceptional service and the mail is still getting delivered. Need to stress urgency of congressional interaction to help define future. The USPS can have a bright future but legislation cannot keep our hands tired. Just let us do it!
- Other stakeholders also suffer, envelope makers, logistics, etc.
- Our strongest investments are our people and infrastructure.
- We are monopoly in "statue" only; we have competition in every area of our business.
- Ten year projection: mail will continue to decline, packages will continue to increase.
- We need to look at infrastructure. Re-purpose space, structural reform.
- We continue to deliver less mail to more addresses.
- The unwritten threshold of number of mail pieces to move to 5-day delivery may happen this year. There is currently no support on Hill to change number of delivery days.
- President Task Force did not recommend privatization. Previous thoughts on privatization have "evolved".  
- USPS continues annual assessment of Postplan Level 18s , but have not acted on results.
- Fleet of 13,000 "commercial off-the-shelf" vehicles have been approved.
- We respect and trust YOU as leaders and managers of USPS!