Brother Edgemon devoted his life to his family, his union and his fellow letter carriers. A proud member of NALC for more than four decades, Edgemon’s leadership and dedication, including his service at the national level as director of city delivery, left a lasting impact on NALC members.

Edgemon began his postal career in 1957 as a letter carrier in Burlingame, CA. A trusted advocate for his union brothers and sisters, he served as president of Eugene, OR Branch 916 for seven years and as secretary for three years. His dedication extended to the Oregon State Association of Letter Carriers, where he served as education director before stepping into national leadership roles.

From 1974 to 1994, Edgemon served as national business agent for Region 2. Known for his pragmatism and resourcefulness, he provided steadfast representation to members, particularly in grievance and arbitration cases. In 1994, Edgemon was appointed director of city delivery, a position he held until his retirement in 1998.

Edgemon is survived by four daughters, eight grandchildren and one great-grandchild.

“Brother Edgemon’s dedication to the NALC and his commitment to improving the lives of letter carriers will be remembered by all who worked with him,” said NALC President Brian L. Renfroe.  “On behalf of the NALC, I offer our deepest condolences to Jim’s family, friends and all who had the privilege of knowing him.”

Please note that the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) reports that there will be a delay in processing some PSHB participants’ change of enrollment forms (Form 2809). As a result, some participants who requested a change in plan for 2025 in the first PSHB Open Season may be temporarily enrolled in their auto-enrolled plan instead—generally the same plan they enrolled in 2024. OPM aims to finish processing these forms by the end of January. Carriers in this situation have health insurance coverage in their old plan for the period before the Form 2089 is processed—and USPS will make retroactive payroll adjustments as needed.

Please note: Members who enrolled in a plan in 2024 that is not participating in the PSHB program in 2025 were auto-enrolled in Blue Focus, the lowest-cost health plan in the PSHB program without membership dues, as required by regulation. If such members are affected by the OPM’s delay in processing their Form 2809 or have other enrollment questions, please contact Blue Focus directly.

Finally, any NALC HBP-covered employee or annuitant who has not received their new insurance card should call 888-636-NALC (6252) to ensure that the Plan has the correct mailing address. 

NALC continues to stand with our members affected by the wildfires in the Los Angeles area. These fires have devastated communities. Homes have been destroyed.  A number of our members have been displaced from evacuation zones. While the situation remains critical, together we will persevere.

Letter carriers are more than just deliverers of mail. We are an essential part of our communities. In times of crisis, we step up for the people we serve and for each other. Many of our members have adjusted rapidly to ensure the safe delivery of mail and service to our communities. These members exemplify the standard of service we proudly provide.

The NALC Disaster Relief Foundation (DRF) is here to assist members who have been affected. If you have experienced property damage due to wildfires, we encourage you to immediately apply for aid through the DRF. The fund provides grants rapidly when assistance is needed most. The application and more information can be found at nalc.org/disaster.

For those able to contribute, I ask you to consider donating to the DRF during this crisis. Every dollar donated goes directly to helping letter carriers in need—there are no administrative costs deducted. Your generosity ensures that our fellow members can begin rebuilding their lives as quickly as possible. Donations can be made by mail or online, and since the DRF is a 501(c)(3) organization, contributions may be tax-deductible.

As the fires continue to affect so many, NALC is here to support you. Whether you need help or want to assist others during this difficult time, we are stronger together. Stay safe and keep taking care of one another.

Wildfire emergency resources

Compiled by SAG-AFTRA

Resources & information

• Mutual Aid LA Network and its list of 150+ wildfire resources. View here

• 211 LA Wildfire Information. View here

• City of Los Angeles Fire Department. View here

• LA County Emergency Incident Response real-time updates. View here

• Watch Duty App. View here 

• CA Department of Forestry and Fire Protection (Cal Fire). View here

• SoCalEdison’s Power Outage Map. View here

• LA Department of Water & Power Outage Maps & Alerts. View here

• South Coast AQMD Air Quality Monitors and Forecasts. View here

• LA Unified School District Updates. View here

Safety & preparedness

• Listos California. View here

• CalFire’s Evacuation Safety Guide. View here

• CalFire’s ‘Go Bag’ Emergency Supply Checklist. View here

• CA Fire Foundation Preparedness Guides. View here

• American Red Cross Safety Guide. View here

• CDC Wildfire Smoke Safety Guidelines. View here

• LA Times: How to protect yourself from the smoke caused by L.A. wildfires. View here

Financial assistance

• CA Disaster Help Center’s list of state government social services available to victims of natural disasters. View here

• CA Fire Foundation offers $250 gift cards to households that experienced more than 25% damage to their home/apartment. Contact the LA Fire Department by calling 213-978-3800 to receive a gift card, and click here for more information. View here

• The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is now accepting applications for individual assistance from impacted Los Angeles County residents, apply here or by calling 800-621-FEMA (3362).

Shelters & temporary housing

• American Red Cross’s list of open shelters and evacuation centers (zoom in on the map to LA County). View here

• Trinity Lutheran Church Bad Weather Shelter. View here 

• Airbnb and LA 2-1-1 are offering free temporary housing. View here

• Hotels offering discounted rates: Read here and here.

• Showers and phone-charging stations: All Planet Fitness facilities in Los Angeles County are open for anyone affected by the fires to use their facilities to rest, charge their phones, and/or shower.

Transportation

• Metro is still operating despite the fire and wind conditions. Fares are temporarily suspended, so residents can ride buses and trains for free. Learn more

• Uber: Residents in Los Angeles County who’ve been ordered to vacate their homes can get a credit from Uber to get to an evacuation site. The $40 will only be valid for trips to an active shelter and by using the code WILDFIRE25.

• Lyft: Lyft announced it will be offering $25 vouchers, valid for two trips, to 2,000 customers from now until midnight on Jan. 15. Use the code CAFIRERELIEF25 to get the promotion.

• Latest updates on freeway closures CALTrans District 7. View here

• Latest updates on road closures. View here

Child care

• YMCA is offering free child care at 12 locations across the county for students TK-8th grade. Learn more 

• Bumo is providing up to three days of child care camps or nannies to those affected by the fires. Apply here

Food assistance

• Hollywood Food Coalition. View here

• LA Regional Food Bank. View here

• Food Share of Ventura County. View here

• Local Food Pantries. View here

• Restaurants Offering Free Meals to Evacuees and First Responders. See here and here.

• See Labor Community Services information above (under financial assistance).

• LAUSD has Grab & Go meal services at 16 schools, and can provide two meals per student. See more information here. 

• World Central Kitchen operates four food distribution sites. View here

Mental health

• SAMHSA Disaster Distress Crisis Counseling: call or text 800-985-5990, and learn more here. 

• National Alliance on Mental Illness. View here

• LA County Department of Mental Health. View here

Animal assistance

• Animal Evacuation Centers:

• For Large Animals—Los Angeles Equestrian Center (480 W. Riverside Drive, Burbank, CA)
• Pierce College Equestrian Center (7100 El Rancho Drive, Woodland Hills)
• Agoura Animal Care Center (29525 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills, CA)

• Pasadena Humane & Pasadena City College Pet Supply Distribution Site. View here

• Best Friends Animal Society. View here

• LA County Animal Care Foundation. View here

• LA City Animal Services Emergency Preparedness Guides. View here

Recovery after the fires

• CalFire’s “After a Wildfire” Recovery Guide. View here

• CalFire’s list of government and non-profit disaster recovery programs. View here

• Statewide Recovery Resources. View here

• USDA Post-Fire Disaster Assistance. View here

An informal public hearing on the proposed rule is scheduled for June 16. The complete proposed rule is available in the Federal Register.

“NALC has fought for years to protect letter carriers from the increasing dangers of excessive heat,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “This proposed national standard is the ultimate solution to achieve that protection for letter carriers and other workers who are exposed to heat while on the job. We appreciate OSHA’s commitment to this necessary regulation and stand ready to help in any way possible to move this proposed rule forward.”

“The passage of the Social Security Fairness Act is a monumental win for retired letter carriers and other public servants, ensuring they receive the full Social Security benefits they’ve earned and deserve,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “We extend our deepest gratitude to the members of the House and Senate, and especially to the NALC members who fought tirelessly to make this law a reality.”

The Social Security Fairness Act repeals the WEP and GPO provisions in Social Security law that previously unfairly reduced or eliminated Social Security benefits for certain CSRS federal annuitants, including letter carriers.

As he prepared to sign the bill into law, President Biden thanked labor leaders and reflected, “Today is a victory for the dignity of work and the dignity of workers.”

With this landmark legislation now signed into law, public servants who have dedicated their careers to serving the country will no longer face unjust financial penalties, ensuring they receive the full Social Security benefits they have earned.

NALC will be in touch with more information regarding the enactment and timing of these changes for affected members.

Beginning on Dec. 9, active letter carriers eligible to vote in the contract ratification process were mailed a ballot to vote on the proposed 2023-2026 National Agreement between NALC and USPS. Mailing of ballots to the 185,894 eligible active letter carriers was completed on Dec. 16.

Due to delays in the Postal Service delivering ballots in some locations and to ensure adequate time for replacement ballots to be delivered and returned, the deadline for receiving returned ballots in the contract ratification election has been extended. To be counted, ballots must now be received by January 27, 2025. The previous deadline was January 13.

If you are eligible to vote on the proposed agreement and have not received a ballot, you may call NALC Headquarters at (202) 393-0614 (9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Eastern time) to request a replacement ballot. A replacement ballot will be mailed after eligibility is verified.

“The members of NALC join all Americans in mourning the loss of President Jimmy Carter. He lived a remarkable life of service, compassion, and strength. The unwavering kindness and character he displayed throughout his 100 years of life will forever be an inspiration to us all. We are grateful to the entire Carter family for all they have shared and offer our sincerest condolences.”

President Joe Biden designated Thursday, January 9 as a National Day of Mourning. The Postal Service will observe the day. Administrative leave will be granted to eligible employees in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding Re: Clarification of Regulations for National Day of Observance on page 184 of the National Agreement.

“This is a massive victory for letter carriers and our fellow public servants,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “For the first time in decades, affected CSRS retired letter carriers won’t have their Social Security benefits unfairly reduced. They, alongside thousands of other public service annuitants, will finally receive justice by receiving the full benefits that they earned.

“I want to congratulate and thank every NALC member who lobbied their members of Congress to get this bill through the House and Senate. Our union has worked for years to repeal the WEP and GPO. Thanks to the unwavering dedication and advocacy of our members, this repeal is finally being signed into law.”

The Social Security Fairness Act will repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO). These are parts of Social Security law that unfairly reduced, or sometimes eliminated, Social Security benefits of certain Civil Service Retirement System (CSRS) federal annuitants, including letter carriers.

Beginning on Dec. 9, active letter carriers eligible to vote in the contract ratification process were mailed a ballot to vote on the proposed 2023-2026 National Agreement between NALC and USPS. Mailing of ballots to the 185,894 eligible active letter carriers was completed on Dec. 16.

While we have received many reports of ballots being received throughout the country, we have also been made aware of a few locations in which ballots have yet to be delivered by USPS. It is anticipated that ballots in these locations will be delivered by early next week, however we will continue to monitor the situation and provide future updates as necessary.

As previously stated, if you are eligible to vote on the proposed agreement and do not receive a ballot you can call NALC Headquarters at (202)393-0614 (9 a.m.- 4:30 p.m. Eastern time) to request a replacement ballot. A replacement ballot will be mailed after your eligibility is verified.

The Senate will begin with procedural votes on Monday evening that require 60 votes, or two-thirds of the members present to proceed to a final vote. With 62 bipartisan supporters of the Senate companion bill, we need to ensure every cosponsor votes to advance and pass H.R. 82.

We encourage all letter carriers to contact their senators through the congressional switchboard at 202-224-3121 or visit nalc.org/action to ask their senators to vote ‘YES’ on ALL PROCEDURAL VOTES and H.R. 82. 

“NALC members have been fighting for years to finally repeal the WEP and GPO,” NALC President Brian L. Renfroe said. “We are closer than we’ve ever been, and I urge all letter carriers to call their senators so we can finish the job.” 

More on H.R. 82
H.R. 82 would repeal the Windfall Elimination Provision (WEP) and the Government Pension Offset (GPO), which are parts of Social Security law that unfairly reduce or sometimes eliminate Social Security benefits of federal annuitants, including letter carriers. 

Last month, the House voted overwhelmingly to pass H.R. 82.

Click here for NALC’s fact sheet.