The NPMHU’s Committee on the Future was established to engage in long-term strategic planning on issues that are confronting the Union over the coming months and years. The Committee most recently met in March 2026 to discuss several important issues facing Mail Handlers today and into the future.
The Committee on the Future is comprised of all members of the National Executive Board, National President Paul Hogrogian, National Secretary-Treasurer Kevin Tabarus, Eastern Region Vice President John Gibson, Central Region Vice President June Harris, Northeastern Region Vice President Dan St. Marie, Southern Region Vice President John (JR) Macon, Western Region Vice President Don Sneesby, as well as various Local Union Presidents, including Marcenia Yvette Johnson of Local 300, Tony Coleman of Local 302, Jim Haggarty of Local 307, Charles Charleston of Local 311, Nick Mosezar of Local 318, Bernie Gonzalez of Local 320, Kelly Dickey of Local 322, Jeff Larsen of Local 323, Edvina Tesch of Local 332 and Sheldon Adams Local 334. Also in attendance were Katie Maddocks, Political and Legislative Director; Teresa Harmon, CAD Manager; Nina Gallauresi, Executive Director MHBP; and Matt Clash-Drexler, General Counsel.
The Committee focused on several key issues facing the NPMHU: extended Contract Negotiations for the 2025 National Agreement; USPS financial situation; USPS network redesign; Political and Legislative issues; USPS automation and other technological changes; National Union finances; NPMHU 2028 National Convention; the status of national level grievances, and protecting our Mail Handler jobs with jurisdictional national level (RI399) grievances.
The Committee began with President Hogrogian leading the Committee discussions on the financial state of the Postal Service and implications of declining volume trends within each mailing category. Secretary-Treasurer Tabarus provided a review of various matters including National Union finances, planned projects, upcoming meetings, new membership recruitment, the national associate member billing program, membership trends for regular Mail Handler members and associate members with discussions on areas of necessary improvement.
There have been over 58,862 Mail Handler Assistants (MHAs) converted to full-time regular (FTR) since Arbitrator Fishgold mandated the new employment category in 2013. However, employee turnover and new membership recruitment continue to be a major concern.
The Committee discussed and adopted organizational priorities and the NPMHU’s Legislative Agenda for the 119th Congress. President Hogrogian led discussions with Legislative and Political Director Maddocks on key pieces of the Legislative Agenda including maintaining union dues payroll deduction, stewards’ duty time, protecting vote by mail, and gaining congressional support opposing Postal privatization of any form. Legislative and Political Director Maddocks also reviewed the NPMHU Political Action Committee (PAC) donation history with the Committee.
Nina Gallauresi, Executive Director MHBP reviewed and discussed the successes of MHBP with increased enrollment, negotiation, and preservation of health benefits during collective bargaining. The Committee also reviewed MHBP in context of the overall Federal Employee Health Benefit (FEHB) and Postal Service Health Benefit (PSHB) programs, discussing the impact of membership growth and insurance industry trends on future pricing and marketing goals for the plan.
