National Day of Observance is NOT a Holiday…well…not exactly anyway.

To keep Our Members informed with the most accurate information, I am E-mailing this Shout-Out about the upcoming National Day of Observance on January 09, 2025.

Many Members of Our Local (and Management, too) have contacted me with many different and yet the same questions about January 09, 2025.  Since a National Day of Observance is not exactly a Holiday and is a rare event with a history of confusion in the past that had occurred when a President proclaimed an Executive Order, there have been many negotiated MOUs signed for the clarification of the regulations for a National Day of Observance.  Some of us old-timers were counting how many National Days of Observance we had.  And it was a very short list of old timers who had the most at 5.

I remember back in 1994 when President Clinton announced a Day of Mourning for the passing of former President Nixon, there were really no hard set rules or obligations that were attached to the passing of a former President.   Even back then, there were naysayers and bean counters who complained that the Government would lose over $300 million dollars in payroll for the one day of closing federal offices.

I remember that the Postal Service suspended regular mail delivery and window service for the day, but we still had to work in mail processing and transportation because Special Delivery and Express Mail was going to be delivered.  About 6 years later in 2000, The APWU and the Postal Service negotiated a signed MOU for clarification and less employees worked because of the Administrative Leave that would be granted in addition to the paid work hours.  But unlike the Executive Order signed by President Biden to give federal employees a day off for Christmas Eve, the Postal Service will follow the Executive Order in regard to the National Day of Observance for January 09, 2025.

Basically these were the scenarios asked about and go something like this:

*      PSEs will only be compensated for the actual work hours that they are directed to work on January 09, 2025.

*      Full-Time, PTR and NTFT employees whose scheduled work day includes the National Day of Observance and do not work on January 09, 2025, will be granted Administrative Leave equal to their hours scheduled for that day and not to exceed 8 hours.

*      Full-Time, PTR and NTFT employees whose scheduled work day includes the National Day of Observance and who are directed to work on January 09, 2025, will be granted Administrative Leave equal to the hours scheduled and worked for that day and not to exceed 8 hours.

*      Full-Time, PTR, and NTFT employees whose non-scheduled work day includes the National Day of Observance, and do not work on January 09, 2025, will be granted Administrative Leave equal to the average number of daily paid hours for their service week not to exceed 8 hours.

*      Full-Time, PTR, and NTFT employees whose non-scheduled work day includes the National Day of Observance, and do work on January 09, 2025, will receive overtime pay for all hours worked plus will be granted Administrative Leave not to exceed 8 hours.

*      Part-time Flexible employees should be scheduled based on operational needs.  PTFs who are directed to work on January 09, 2025, the National Day of Observance will be granted Administrative Leave equal to the number of hours worked for that day and not to exceed 8 hours.

*      Part-time Flexible employees should be scheduled based on operational needs.  PTFs who are not directed to work on January 09, 2025, the National Day of Observance will be granted Administrative Leave equal to the average number of daily paid hours during the service week previous to the service week in which the National Day of Observance occurs and not to exceed 8 hours.

Of course there are negotiated regulations and procedures for other scenarios like employees on paid leave during the National day of Observance, OWCP, Continuation of Pay, AWOL, suspension or pending removal on the National Day of Observance.

While it’s important to note that any Administrative Leave granted must be taken within 6 months from the date of the National Day of Observance or by the end of the current fiscal year, (September 30, 2025) whichever is later.  Even though the Administrative Leave will be at the employee’s option, the granted Administrative Leave must be taken within the prescribed time limits and all at one time.  This Administrative Leave can be used in substitution for previously scheduled but not yet used annual leave and will be governed by the leave procedures of the Local MOU.  Even with all the strings attached to the Administrative Leave granted from the National Day of Observance, if the Postal Service follows past patterns, they will most likely avoid or drastically minimize paying work hours along with any granting Administrative Leave, by not allowing employees to work on January 09, 2025, despite knowing that the next delivery day we will be buried and have to work double hard to get caught up to avoid delayed mail.

If you have any questions or information to share about the upcoming National Day of Observance, please contact me.  And as always, thanks for being a Member of Our Local.

Be Safe.  Be Well.

In Solidarity,

DOMINIC J. CORSO, PRESIDENT

YOUNGSTOWN OHIO AREA LOCAL #443

OPWU STATE CLERK CRAFT DIRECTOR

APWU NATIONAL ARBITRATION ADVOCATE

Cell:  330.518.9729