Tonya Casey

Chairperson

 

      One could expect there to be a natural transition period needed while the MISALC Board is coming together as a new mix of people. I want to ensure you, that it has taken us no time to see what our focus is… and that’s you. WE all want to do our part in maintaining our union: educating where we can and working to build a political and legislative support system for our letter carriers.

 

      At our first Board Meeting, we conducted it in two parts. The first part, the Board of Trustees and the Treasurer met and conducted the audit verifying that: state funds were properly managed, documented and used solely for the members benefits. Checking financial records, including bank statements, receipts, and expenditures. Making sure that all funds and assets were used legitimately.

 

      While reviewing these documents the trustees decided that there was a need to improve the policies, on what should qualify as proper documentation for financial transactions such as: Lost Time, Mileage, and Voucher Approval. We discussed what should be classified as Per Diem vs Actual Expenses, and what type of policies we would like to see enacted, to protect against financial mismanagement.

 

During our audit we found no misuse of state funds; but wanted to see more supporting documentation.

 

      The second part of the Board Meeting, took place the next day where we discussed our findings with the entire Executive Board and presented our recommendations of updating these policies. Which was accepted and agreed upon; because systems need updating with solutions not excuses.

 

      The State board exist to build positive relationships among carriers as well as our political leaders. These relationships are accomplished though Letter Carrier Congressional Liaison (LCCL’s). These are union members appointed by the state association, who maintain direct, ongoing relationships with a specific member of the U.S. House or Senate and their staff, within that carriers home district. Representing and advocating for legislation that impacts the Postal Service. If this is something you may be interested in doing, please reach out and let us know.

 

Until next time stay safe and informed

 

Elizabeth Bays

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Happy 2026!

      I hope this publication finds everyone well. There are a couple of things I would like to address: safety and the Letter Carrier Political Fund (LCPF). Both of these issues are extremely important for different reasons.

 

      Safety is first and foremost for all letter carriers. Management preaches that safety is paramount, yet many carriers feel this is just lip service. Management gives service talks, sends RIMS messages, and displays posters throughout the buildings regarding safety, but too often that's where it ends. There are agreed-upon contract provisions regarding safety in the National Agreement (Article 14), the ELM (Chapter 8), handbooks EL-801, EL-802, and EL-809.

 

      Here in the Michigan-1 district, there are a few issues demonstrating why carriers don’t believe the Postal Service's Guiding Principle ‘Employees are our most valued resource. Our employees must be provided a safe and healthful workplace.’ (ELM 811.23.a)

• Snow removal for postal parking lots - Every single parking lot I have seen has been deplorable. The contractors make one pass, leaving excess snow, ice, and slush behind for carriers to traverse.

• Vehicles - No heat, exhaust leaks, inoperative lighting (brake, hazard, turn signal, and reverse lights), inoperative windshield wipers, and inadequate tire tread. When these vehicles are written up, they are often given to another employee. The exhaust leaks reported, carriers are told to drive with the windows down (despite the temperature being below freezing). Management is encouraging carriers to continue driving vehicles with reported issues because no replacements are available. Carriers are being told VMF is no longer allowed to order parts.

• Comfort stops to warm up - Management allegedly is not allowed to schedule NS Day ODL carriers in many offices because the district feels they can cover open assignments through pivoting. Carriers are stressed over meeting their reporting expectations and skipping breaks and comfort stops.

• Accidents - Carriers are given pivots despite driving/walking conditions and weather conditions.

 

      At the end of the day, carriers are responsible for their own safety. I encourage anyone who feels there is a hazard/safety concern to complete PS Form 1767 (Report of Hazard, Unsafe Condition or Practice) and submit it to their immediate supervisor. PS Form 1767 is used to report hazards/unsafe conditions not only at the post office but also on routes. Management must respond to a properly submitted PS Form 1767 and provide a copy to the employee detailing the steps being taken to abate the hazard/unsafe condition. The instructions are clearly defined on the back of the PS Form 1767.

 

      We all know we are to work diligently, but we are also required to work safely. Inform management by completing PS Form 3996 if you are of the opinion that you will need additional time to complete your assignment, or send a message on your scanner to inform management and have management advise you on what they want you to do. If you need to take comfort stops, then take them, but don’t abuse them. Take it slow in ice and snow; don’t rush while driving or walking. If you need additional time because of driving or walking conditions, inform management and have them advise you on how to proceed.

 

      You are the Postal Service's most valuable resource! Please report hazards and unsafe conditions, not just for your own safety but for your coworkers as well. The Postal Service repeatedly expresses its concern for our safety. Let’s start holding them to it! There isn’t a single delivery that is worth jeopardizing your safety. Talk to your steward or a branch officer if you are experiencing workplace safety issues.

 

      Lastly, the Letter Carrier Political Fund (LCPF). For those of you who don’t know, the Postal Service, as a government agency, is very political. The only thing our collective bargaining agreement covers is our wages, hours, and working conditions. Everything else is controlled through acts of Congress. Simple changes, such as allowing the Postal Service to deliver tobacco and alcohol, require an act of Congress. Changing a law that was created due to the prohibition of moving these items across state lines. These laws haven’t been enforced in decades, however until Congress addresses this, the Postal Service is prohibited from offering these services

 

      Changes in our federal benefits are controlled by acts of Congress. On any given day, you can hear or read about new legislation being proposed that would affect federal employees. Letter carriers are Federal employees. We have to be more vigilant and proactive in protecting our benefits. We can do that by taking action, contacting our Representatives, and contributing to the LCPF. The Letter Carrier Political Fund identifies and contributes to candidates who support issues important to letter carriers, and provides letter carriers with the opportunity to build electoral and legislative power required to ensure decisions that impact our lives are made with our best interests in mind, such as the Federal Retirement Fairness Act (H.R. 1522). This legislation would allow letter carriers to purchase retirement credit for time spent in non-career positions, providing greater retirement security. Union dues are not used, and cannot be used, for political contributions that would generate revenue for these products.

 

The February 2026 Postal Record includes a list of all LCPF contributions detailed by state and branch. If you haven’t done so, take a look at pages 56-59. Michigan letter carrier participation is at 10.58%. Approximately 10 of every 100 city carriers here in Michigan contribute to LCPF.

 

Jennifer Rake

 

      Happy New Year to my fellow union brothers and sisters, I hope this year is off to a happy and healthy start for everyone. As we move closer to another political voting season I would like to impress upon the importance of the Letter Carrier Political Fund (LCPF) and our job security as letter Carriers. Contributions to LCPF are crucial in getting our message to Congress on bills we would like to see established into Legislation.

 

      Many are unaware of the impact legislation can have over the USPS in general and it is one of the responsibilities of the State Association to make sure our members are made aware and kept informed of the legislative issues we are fighting for.

 

      We are working on getting more House co-sponsors to be able to advance several bills to a vote on the house floor. Included in this newsletter are the talking points of those bills and a QR code you can scan on your phone to get the fact sheets on each of the bills we are trying to get movement on. Please take a moment to read over them, as each of them impacts all of us as Letter Carriers in some capacity.

 

      Job security and safety are huge hurdles we are all striving to solve and LCPF is a major factor in getting to those goals. LCPF is bipartisan; regardless of political affiliation LCPF is used for anyone who supports our Letter Carriers and the vital legislation we need to prosper.

 

      Contributions are easy to set up, either via an allotment or checking account and it doesn’t have to break the bank. Contact your local Branch and they can also help you set up your contribution. Working together and getting legislation passed is how we will remain a viable company in the future.

 

   

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Benjamin Dixon

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Advocating for a Strong Postal Future

 

      Hello fellow union members.As proud member of the Michigan State Association of Letter Carriers, I am actively working to secure national-level support for legislation that protects and strengthens the United States Postal Service. The Postal Service is more than a delivery network—it is a vital public institution that connects communities, supports commerce, and ensures universal service to every address in America.

 

      In today’s evolving economic and legislative environment, it is critical that policymakers understand both the operational realities and the long-term needs of the Postal Service. To that end, We all have to be directly in contact with members of the United States Senate and the United States House of Representatives to advocate for bipartisan support of bills designed to secure the Postal Service’s financial stability and operational future.

 

      My outreach efforts focus on getting up and speaking and each and every meeting reminding our members of pending legislation and joining our political action fund.

 

      The future of the Postal Service depends on informed leadership and sustained advocacy. I remain dedicated to engaging national policymakers, advancing responsible legislation, and championing a strong, resilient Postal Service for the American public.

 

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Kevin "Ohio" Walker

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What is an HBR?

 

Article 4 of the NALC National Constitution requires all subordinate branches to have an elective office of Health Benefits Representative.

 

Article 6 section 8 goes on to describe the duties of an HBR as:

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Health Benefits Representative Sec. 8. The Health Benefits Representative shall perform such duties as the Constitution and Laws of the National Association of Letter Carriers Health Benefit Plan require. They shall, whenever requested by the President, and at the end of their term, make a report showing their receipts, disbursements and amount of money on hand; deliver their books, papers and money to their successor in office, when installed; and to insure the faithful performance of their duties, they shall be required to furnish a bond in such sum as the Branch may direct.

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Still not very illuminating, I find the instillation speech gets a little closer, if a little grandiose:

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Your duties are of such a nature as to almost appear to be a connecting link between life and death, to keep a record of the insured member from birth, and an accurate account with them and the Director of Life Insurance and the Director of Health Insurance, so that should any of them be summoned hence, or be disabled while you hold your office, those left dependent upon them will have no cause to complain.

 

The Health Plan keeps as a guiding principles in Section 1 and 2:

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To unite all letter carriers who are members in good standing in the National Association of Letter Carriers and to establish Health Benefit Funds from which pay contributing members holding Health Benefit Certificates who become lawfully entitled thereto, certain benefits as indemnity against loss resulting from the expense of hospital, surgical and other medical expense due to bodily injuries or sickness of the member and enrolled dependent members of their family, and from which to defray the necessary running expenses of the Plan.

 

What does the HBR do for your branch?

 

If you ask the Health Plan, it is to promote the NALC Health Plan (and only ours).

 

This can be done through several ways:

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• Actively talking to letter carriers

•  Faithfully attending branch meetings and giving a report about the Plan

• Writing articles in branch and/or state newsletters

• Utilizing the contractual right to discuss the Plan under Article 17.6

•  Having a booth at local health fairs or branch events

 

      Perhaps, because of my start as steward in my office, I see the HBR role expanded from merely promotion. It is one that requires an HBR to act as a bridge to the Plan and an advocate on behalf of the member, by helping to them navigate a complicated system to achieve the best outcomes possible. It requires being able to break down legalese that is not often intuitive. HBRs will often crunch the numbers with a member or decode an Explanation of Benefits.

 

How can MISALC be of service to an HBR?

 

      Being an HBR can often feel a little like you are on an island. I feel I have gotten my head around a new change when I can break it down to a member in plain language. I have had the extreme advantage and privilege of being able to work with and rely on my mentor in the HBR role, John Dick.

 

      Recently, John and I have been stumped on how to best communicate to our members a new change in the prescription drug coverage. We were both impressed by the breakdown of the change coming from Saginaw’s HBR and agreed to start pushing it out as is (I will be liberally stealing it for my next branch newsletter).

 

      The bylaws of MISALC do not currently provide for an office of HBR statewide. However, I have no problem putting carts before horses if a need might be there. I am proposing on an ad-hoc basis to developing a network of Michigan’s HBRs that can collaborate, share strategies & successes.

 

      I would like to be able as a group of seasoned veteran HBRs grow to support branches that have need. For example, some branches not been able to send their HBR to the Plan’s seminar and may not be as plugged in to the wild ride it has been for HBR the last few years, or have recently elected a new HBR that needs guidance on how to prepare and get through their first open season.

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