Tell Congress: Say No to Pension Cuts!

House Committee Advances Dangerous Cuts to Federal and Postal Retirement Benefits

On April 30, the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform narrowly approved a package of harmful cuts to the retirement benefits of postal and federal workers. The measure passed by just one vote, 22-21, and will now be included in the broader reconciliation package that Republican leadership is expected to bring to the House floor later this month.

If enacted, these changes would have devastating consequences for POSTAL employees and other federal employees, including:

• Elimination of the FERS Social Security Supplement
  This benefit currently allows eligible workers to retire before reaching Social Security age. Its removal would force many to delay retirement or face significant financial hardship.
• Increased FERS Annuity Contributions
  All current employees under FERS would see their required contribution jump to 4.4%, effectively cutting take-home pay for workers across the board.
• High-3 Replaced with High-5 for Annuity Calculations
  Changing from a "High-3" to a "High-5" calculation for retirement annuities would lower the average benefit amount for retirees.

The bill also includes alarming provisions that target federal employees more broadly, such as:

• Filing Fees for MSPB Claims and Appeals
  This would impose new financial barriers on workers seeking to challenge unjust disciplinary actions.
• Attack on Job Protections for New Hires
  New federal employees would be forced to choose between at-will employment—with no job security—or paying a drastically increased FERS contribution rate of 9.4%. Although this provision does not yet apply to postal workers, it sets a dangerous precedent that could erode job protections across the entire public sector.

Act Now:
Contact your House Representative today and urge them to oppose any cuts to federal and postal retirement benefits. These attacks on our hard-earned retirement security must be stopped.

President Biden has signed the Social Security Fairness Act into law. And now millions of hardworking Americans will see retirement fairness and full retirement benefits restored to them.

During Ronald Reagan's administration, the government cut the hard-earned retirement benefits of millions of proud teachers, firefighters, postal workers, letter carriers, and other public service workers. Their Social Security checks were slashed if they took a second job after they retired, and benefits were even reduced for their surviving spouses. America?s labor unions took the lead to fight this injustice. And this legislation, signed on Sunday, will make a huge difference in the lives of millions of workers. Everyone deserves to retire with dignity?and now, thanks to your tireless efforts, millions of workers will be able to do that. From AFL -CIO website

Urge your Representatives and Senators to Support the USPS Shipping Equity Act

The National Postal Mail Handlers Union is joining with the Distilled Spirits Council,APWU, NALC, and Brewers and Distillers to request members of Congress to cosponsor the USPS Shipping Equity Act, H.R. 3287/S. 1663. As this legislation overturns Prohibition Era regulations, the USPS will be able to meet the demands of customers to ship directly from producers and will generate $190 million annually for the Postal Service. 

Please use this link to contact your members of Congress and Senators 

Spiritsunited.org