History and Mission
On September 7, 1908, 50 postal supervisors from post offices in 13 states met in Louisville, KY to establish an association that comprised members who were dedicated to the welfare of supervisors and the improvement of the then-United States Post Office Department. More than 100 years later, the National Association of Postal Supervisors (NAPS) continue to work toward this goal. With a membership of more than 32,000 active and retired United States Postal Service (USPS) supervisors, managers and postmasters, NAPS works to promote the welfare of its members and to cooperate with USPS and other agencies of the federal government. NAPS' objective is to continue to improve the service, raise the standard of efficiency and widen the field of opportunity for its members who make the Postal Service their life work. NAPS has more than 320 local branches across the continental United States as well as Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands.
NAPS' representation runs the gamut of Postal employees. From first-line supervisors who work both in facilities where postal employees process mail and deliver mail, to mid-level and senior managers in every functional area of the Postal Service as well as postmasters. NAPS members work in the field and include Postal Employees from the marketing, finance, human resources and maintenance departments, to name a few. NAPS does not represent managers who work at USPS Headquarters in Washington, D.C., or senior managers in the Postal Career Executive Service who are installation heads.
Headquartered in Alexandria, VA, NAPS is very active in the national political arena. NAPS' political action committee, SPAC, has donated over $300,000 annually to various political campaigns and that number continues to grow every year. NAPS has an active letter-writing campaign and has authored several issue papers concerning NAPS issues and issues concerning the Postal Service.
NAPS is governed by 21 area and regional vice presidents who oversee branches across the nation. Three resident officers have offices in Alexandria, VA and oversee the financial, membership and legislative departments of the organization. These positions are elected every two years at a national convention.
NAPS is a management association, not a union. NAPS is unique among federal management associations in that its rights are statutory, with a high level of detail concerning its relationship with USPS. NAPS' rights are listed under Title 39 of the US Code, Section 1004.