Director of Retirees
Eugene Johnson, Jr.
ARE YOU RETIRED?
DID YOU GET A RETIREE PIN?
If you have retired, but did not get a retiree pin, call the union hall! We will make sure you are presented with a retiree
pin, because we want to be sure all our retirees are properly honored.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR VOTE OF CONFIDENCE
Dear Brothers and Sisters of Branch 132 I am deeply honored and grateful for the opportunity to serve as the Director of Retirees for Branch 132. I sincerely appreciate the trust and confidence you have in me.
It is a privilege to represent our retirees and I am committed to advocating for their needs, ensuring their voices are heard, and fostering a strong sense of community among our members. I look forward to working closely with all of you to uphold the values and mission of our branch and association. This is an incredible honor; I am excited to embark on this journey and have a meaningful impact.
Best regards,
Eugene Johnson, Jr.
Director of Retirees, Branch 132 Marvlight2016@gmail.com
RETIRING SOON?
Have you received your blue book for retirement? Are you wondering where to start? Do you even know what a blue book is?
The branch has two officers to help you plan for your retirement. Earl Hibbs and Robert Hinson are available to help you make your transition to retirement as smooth as possible. If you need assistance with your blue book, call the union hall and make an appointment with either one. They will sit down with you and show you all of your options and help you decide what is best for you.
They do ask that you make an appointment beforehand, instead of just stopping by the union hall. They want to take the time to go over things thoroughly, and an appointment lets them clear their schedule so they can focus on you. Call them now, and then you can enjoy your retirement with the confidence that you covered all the bases!
Don’t let your union membership retire when you do!
Watch the mail for your Form 1189. Fill it out with your CSA number and return it to the union hall. For only $1 a month, you can keep your union membership active!
Last Punch Bunch
CONGRATULATIONS
Michael Anthony
Silver Springs – 30 Years
Jim Nguyễn
Juanita Craft 26 Years
BLACK HISTORY MONTH SPOTLIGHTS
THE CAREER OF
RETIRED LETTER CARRIER MELVIN CLAY
My career as a U.S. Postal employee began September 21, 1957. I was appointed as a PTS-HPO clerk, at the Houston Terminal. I worked at the Railway Post Office where I was required to wear a pistol, badge and an ID, while distributing mail along the train route from Houston to Brownsville. Houston Post Office distribution was by the highway. There was a bus converted to simulate a post office. I worked there for about a year and then transferred to Ft. Worth.
While working at the Ft. Worth Station, I experienced segregation in different ways. One way in particular was my breakroom experience. The colored employees’ breakroom and restroom were in the same room. Inside the breakroom was a table to eat at, and a toilet with a urinal at the end of the room. I refused to eat and use the restroom in the same space, so I was suspended. I was separated frome the Postal Service for about 1 to 2 years. While separated I was employed with the VA Hospital until 1970. I then rejoined the Postal Service, and began working at the Lancaster Kiest Station.
After being there for about 4 years, four letter carriers; William, Jim, Ronnie, and myself (Melvin) were transferred to the Pleasant Grove Station, which was an all-white station. We were the first black letter carriers at I the Pleasant Grove Station. Some patrons couldn’t believe what they saw. They referred to us as Porters and would s ask who we were working for. Our station manager reminded us not to drink from the water hoses of our patrons because some of them were hooking the hoses to their septic tanks to deter us from drinking their water. We were not welcome in most eating places, but we survived without any major catastrophes. After several years in Pleasant Grove, we moved to Zone 41, a new building on Simpson Stuart where I retired in 2000.
WHAT HAPPENS TO YOUR UNION MEMBERSHIP WHEN YOU RETIRE?
Retirement is something that we look forward to – leaving behind the bosses, the alarm clocks, the bad weather. But don’t leave behind your union membership when you retire! Staying in the NALC is a good idea for retirees:
• Every retired member receives a free $5,000 accidental death policy from the NALC.
• The NALC Retirement Department can help you solve problems with your retirement benefits.
• Your subscription to The Postal Record will continue.
• Retirees who remain members can vote in NALC elections and can serve as officers and convention delegates.
• The support of retirees gives NALC a voice with congress on retiree issues.
• Branch 132 has a quarterly luncheon and an annual banquet for retirees who remain members.
All of this – and for only $1 a month! That includes national dues of $7 a year, and Branch 132 dues of $5 a year.So how do you retain your NALC membership when you retire? The NALC mails all recently retired members a retirement packet that contains a Form 1189. If you don’t receive that packet, call Danny Hilliard at the union hall and the branch can provide you with a Form 1189. Fill out that form, and give it to a Branch 132 officer. Make sure you have your CSA number on it, which is a number assigned to you by OPM after you retire. That officer will then forward it to the national office – and that’s all you have to do! Dues will be deducted from your retirement check every month.
But wait – there’s more! After 50 years of NALC membership, you will become a life member of NALC, and no more dues are required.
The NALC encourages retired carriers to maintain their membership in the NALC. The retirees help provide history and mentoring to the new carriers, and help the NALC fight for good retirement benefits, and that helps all carriers, active and retired. Retirees can also help the NALC with legislative issues without having to abide by the onerous Hatch Act restrictions that encumber active letter carriers.
So watch your mail for your retirement packet, and make sure you return the 1189 to the branch when you retire so that you can stay a member of the NALC!