The National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees is an independent labor Union that is composed of three tiers: the National – headquartered in Washington, District of Columbia; Nine Districts – with a division of the fifty states, the U. S. Virgin Islands and Puerto Rico; and various Locals – located within the fifty states, U. S. Virgin Islands, and Puerto Rico.
This is your Union and your participation will contribute to the greatness of the National Alliance.
It is true that being Federal employees, strikes and lockouts are beyond the realm of our personal experiences. It is also true that we have much in common with people in non-federal employees union's because we are a significant part of American Labor. This is why it is important to understand the philosophy and the history of the movement not only of the Alliance but of trade unionism in general.
The steward is your union representative right on the job. He or she is elected directly by the members in your job unit, or is appointed as provided by Local by-laws. Stewards are your contact point for information about the union and its activities. They handle grievances as they arise, accepting them from the members and seeking to adjust them with first-line supervision. They refer unsettled grievances to the proper Local Officer, so that they may be processed according to the grievance procedure.
If your seniority rights have been ignored, if you have been unjustly discharged, if you have improperly been denied a promotion to a better job, or if you have any other grievance, see your Alliance steward without delay.
In the spirit of genuine helpfulness, the N.A.P.F.E. offers these friendly words of advice. Learn as much as possible as quickly as possible about your duties as an employee. Inquire whenever necessary of the proper authority about those matters concerning your employment with which you are unfamiliar.
Pay particular attention to all instructions. Obey all orders promptly. Avoid any semblance of an altercation or dispute with your fellow or supervisory employees. Now, if you do have difficulty, which means friction, remember there is a right way and a wrong way to deal with it. If you protest verbally on the spot, do it with courtesy and firmness. If in doubt as to either the method or result, consult the Labor Relations Officer of your local of the National Alliance of Postal and federal Employees.
Punctuality is a must. When you are scheduled to work, you are most definitely expected to show up. Only a good reason that will bear inspection can relieve you of these obligations. If you can't show up, phone in early, so other arrangements can be made. If you like the service and are proud of it, this will be reflected in your good conduct both on the job and in the street.
In other words be efficient, well informed, courteous and punctual. In this way, your value as a federal employee will be enhanced.
And, last but not least, be an active member in the Alliance. Share your ideas about the advantages of belonging to your Union with new employees and other people you meet at work. The National Alliance needs you and your ideas.
Persons paying full membership dues, holds membership in a Local and are entitled to actively participate in all Union functions.
The National and each District, by majority vote in convention, and each local by a majority vote in a regular membership meeting may elect persons of distinction to honorary membership. Such membership carries no right to vote, hold office or to participate in this organization's affairs.
Person employed in an installation where a Local has not been established. Representation is provided by the National Office designee (Members at large are afforded the right to vote in national elections. However, they may not hold an office or serve as a delegate).
Any regular member retaining "Regular Membership" status for a minimum of five (5) years, retiring from employment, and pays the required dues and assessments to the Local, District, and National. Retired members are entitled to all rights and privileges afforded to regular members.
Any person who has been a member of the Alliance for forty (40) years or more, shall receive a dues exempt Life Membership.
Person meeting all the requirements of the "Retired Member", whose residence has changed to an area where a Local has not been established or the Local is inactive.
Persons who are relatives of NAPFE members are eligible to join the Auxiliary and serve as officers and delegates at the Local, District and National levels.
Persons between the ages of eight (8) and eighteen (18), who are dependents of NAPFE members, are eligible to join the Youth Council and serve as officers and delegates at the Local, District and National levels.
NAPFE members holding a supervisory position in the Postal or Federal Service, are eligible to join the Management Division and serve as officers and delegates at the Local, District and National levels.
All postal or federal employees may make application for membership in this organization. Each member of the Alliance must belong to the local in the postal or federal installation where he or she is employed. At installations where no local has been established, employees shall belong to the nearest local within their district, except that present members-at-large may remain as such.
Your right granted by law
(a) At any stage in the processing of a complaint, including the counseling stage 1614.105, the complainant shall have the right to be accompanied, represented, and advised by a representative of complainant's choice.
(b) If the complainant is an employee of the agency, he or she shall have a reasonable amount of official time, if otherwise on duty, to prepare the complaint and to respond to agency and EEOC requests for information. If the complainant is an employee of the agency and he designates another employee of the agency as his or her representative, the representative shall have a reasonable amount of official time, if otherwise on duty, to prepare the complaint and respond to agency and EEOC requests for information. The agency is not obligated to change work schedules, incur overtime wages, or pay travel expenses to facilitate the choice of a specific representative or to allow the complainant and representative to confer. The complainant and representative, if employed by the agency and otherwise in a pay status, shall be on official time, regardless of their tour of duty, when their presence is authorized or required by the agency or the Commission during the investigation, informal adjustment, or hearing on the complaint.
(c) In cases where the representation of a complainant or agency would conflict with the official or collateral duties of the representative, the Commission or the agency may, after giving the representative an opportunity to respond, disqualify the representative.
(d) Unless the complainant states otherwise in writing, after the agency has received written notice of the name, address and telephone number of a representative for the complainant, all official correspondence shall be with the representative with copies to the complainant. When the complainant designates an attorney as representative, service of documents and decisions on the complainant shall be made on the attorney and not on the complainant, and time frames for receipt of materials by the complainant shall be computed from the time of receipt by the attorney. The complainant must serve all official correspondence on the designated representative of the agency.
(e) The Complainant shall at all times be responsible for proceeding with the complaint whether or not he or she has designated a representative.
(f) Witnesses who are Federal employees, regardless of their tour of duty and regardless of whether they are employed by the respondent agency or some other Federal agency, shall be in a duty status when their presence is authorized or required by Commission or agency officials in connection with a complaint.
NAPFE Endowment Fund
On August 14, 1992, the delegates to the 40th Biennial National Convention in New York City, by unanimous decision, voted to establish the NAPFE Endowment Fund. This was a spectacular moment in the history of this union. More than $20,000 was pledged by the convention delegates.
The fund is to be endowed by voluntary contributions from Alliance members to provide financial security for the National Alliance. The goal is to raise $1 million or more in a two-year period with only the interest being used and not the principal.
The National Alliance is a union of people who serve the Nation as rank and file employees in the federal and or postal service. The motto of the Alliance "Ad Mortem Fidelis" (Faithful unto Death) is fulfilled by the Union in all its activities for its members.
REMEMBER: the equality and dignity the National Alliance seeks and fights for is the right for any American citizen to hold any job and position for which he or she is qualified or can be trained to handle; the right to that training; the right to promotion to higher skilled work; and the end to unsanitary, unsafe and low paying work that has been traditionally reserved for black men and women.
