Find out IN ADVANCE, when getting New Mail Handlers (MHAs or transfers from other crafts.

• Need to have a contact in management who has knowledge of new Mail Handlers. (In Plant Support, MDO(s), Installation Head, General Clerk, etc.)
• If you are not being informed in advance of new Mail Handlers, contact the Contract Administration Department (CAD) immediately & let your Local Union officers know.

Have NPMHU Form 1187s (Sign-up forms) ready.

• Pre-fill the Form 1187s. (Type or clearly print!)
  • Try to get new Mail Handler NAMES and EINs. 
  • Dues amount (i.e. “$31.00” not “$31-“)
  • Local Union Number
  • Installation name
  • Finance number
  • Your name and Union title.
• Make it easy for the new members to simply provide their address and signature.
• Sample Form 1187

• Be on time! (In fact, be early.)
• Bring extra materials, in case more new Mail Handlers are present.

• Discuss the importance of Joining the Union!!!
  • Unity, Democracy, Strength in Numbers
  • Refer to the Organizing New Members Pamphlet for more information.
• Ask New MHAs if they were in another postal union?
  • Note: If they were (a PSE, CCA, etc.) within last 180 days, HRSSC will resume former Union dues deduction too. This will cause a double dues deduction, which should be avoided.
    • The NPMHU Form 1187 should be held and not processed until other union dues deduction ceases.
  • For transfers into the Mail Handler craft (Clerks, Letter Carriers)
    • Ask if paying dues
    • Write on the NPMHU Sign-up Form 1187 the name of the former union (NALC/APWU/RLCRA).
      • The NPMHU Form 1187 should be held and not processed until other union dues deduction ceases.
    • Important instructions for processing can be found in Step 3 (Reciprical Agreement between the Postal Unions)

• ASK!!!! “Were you in another Postal Union???” (Even if a new MHA)
  1. Have them sign a NPMHU signup Form 1187.
     1. The steward needs to write on top of NPMHU Form 1187 which other postal Union they wish to stop dues for.
  2. Hold the NPMHU Form 1187 and submit a request to National Office (National Secretary-Treasurer) to stop the dues for the other losing postal Union!
     • The National NPMHU National Secretary-Treasurer will submit a request to the losing postal Union's National Secretary-Treasurer to stop other dues.
  3. Wait for other dues to stop, then submit NPMHU Form 1187 to HRSSC as soon as possible!
• This will avoid double dues withholding.
• Note: The reciprocal agreement is processed by the National Secretary-Treasurer for all Unions. It cannot be done on the Local Union level.
  • Reciprocal Agreement

• The GOAL is to get all 1187s to HRSSC by end of week, after signing. Do not delay!
• Follow your local union’s established submission procedures.
• All Form 1187s sent to HRSSC and awaiting HRSSC processing should be tracked until dues deducted.
• Track 1187s
  • Date sent to HRSSC
  • Date received by HRSSC
• If mailed (recommend priority or express mail with delivery confirmation)
  • Keep mail tracking numbers
  • Note date received
• Or if emailed to HRSSC
  • Keep copy of sent email & replies (if any).

• ELM 924.5 Implementation of Dues Withholdings
  • “The Eagan Accounting Services begins dues withholdings with the first full pay period following the receipt of a properly completed SF 1187 at the HRSSC. In the event that an SF 1187 is received at the HRSSC without the date of delivery filled in, the HRSSC enters the date of receipt as the “date of delivery,” and proceeds to process the form, using the “date of delivery” as the anniversary date. The HRSSC sends a copy of this annotated form with an appropriate explanation to the installation of origin for transmittal to the organization.”
• ELM 924.72 Procedure in Case of Error
  • “If an erroneous dues amount is withheld, the employee follows normal payroll inquiry procedures in questioning such deduction. The personnel office maintaining the employee’s official personnel folder (OPF) rechecks the amount authorized by the employee on the current SF 1187, and the HRSSC changes the employee payroll master record if it is in error. The Eagan Accounting Services does not make a retroactive adjustment unless the Postal Service is responsible for the error in dues withholding; e.g., if it fails to process a properly submitted SF 1187, or deducts an incorrect amount, or makes deductions for the wrong organization.”

Delayed or Not Processed 1187 – Grievance Remedy:

Since the USPS failed to process properly submitted SF1187s within the first full pay period of receipt. The USPS shall make a retroactive dues payment for the delay period, not from the employee, but paid directly from the USPS to the NPMHU.

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