Federal Daily - October 3, 2008

APWU Leader Warns of Layoffs

American Postal Workers Union (APWU) President William Burrus warned members that anticipated Postal Service operating losses of $2.3 billion for Fiscal Year (FY) 2008 could mean layoffs for thousands of postal workers for the first time in USPS history. That’s because the FY 2008 losses—the result of a 12 percent decline in mail volume—cannot be covered by postage rate increases due to restrictions imposed by the 2006 Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act. And invoking the emergency clause contained in the law to raise rates only would speed the public’s move from hard-copy to electronic communications, Burris said in a Web update to union members. To make matters worse, Burris said, additional anticipated losses of $2 billion in FY 2009 will force the Postal Service to borrow $5 billion over a two-year period. As a result, Burris said, the Postal Regulatory Commission, Congress and the next president will be under tremendous pressure to privatize the Postal Service. To see more go to: http://apwu.org/news/burrus/2008/update11-2008-093008.htm.

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TRICARE Makes Trial Waivers Permanent

TRICARE Management Activity (TMA) on Oct. 2 announced it was making permanent a demonstration project that offers annual deductible waivers to families of activated National Guard and Reserve members. Under the seven-year-old demonstration project, beneficiaries saved up to $300 with the waiver, said TMA Deputy Director Maj. Gen. Elder Granger. Guard or Reserve families often meet annual deductibles under their commercial plans before they get activated—so waiving the TRICARE Standard and Extra deductibles means eligible families will not have to pay additional deductibles under TRICARE, Granger said. “National Guard and Reserve members and their families make huge sacrifices to protect our freedom. We don’t want to see them sacrifice even more by paying deductibles twice in one year,” Granger said. The regulation also contains provisions that make it easier for Reserve and Guard members to continue to see their family physicians by potentially increasing the amount that can be paid to out-of-network health care providers. To see more, go to: www.tricare.mil/pressroom/news.aspx?fid=462.

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OPM Releases No FEAR Report, Guidelines

The Office of Personnel Management on Sept. 30 released a report that looks at agencies’ best practices for taking disciplinary action against employees who violate antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws—and lays out advisory guidelines for moving forward. The study, mandated by the Federal Employee Antidiscrimination and Retaliation Act of 2002 (No FEAR Act), examined actions taken by 11 agencies and five agency components in Fiscal Year 2006. “I strongly encourage agencies to draw on the best practices discussed in the report and follow the advisory guidelines to strengthen compliance with the antidiscrimination and whistleblower protection laws,” said OPM Acting Director Michael W. Hager. “Federal agencies cannot be run effectively if those agencies practice or tolerate discrimination.” To see more go to: www.chcoc.gov/Transmittals/TransmittalDetails.aspx?
TransmittalId=1558.

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