November 21, 2008 – Annuity estimates will begin being mailed to eligible employees.
November 28, 2008 – VER Offer packages will begin being mailed to VER eligible employees.
December 03, 2008 through January 16, 2009 – VER Window Period
The VER effective date is Tuesday, March 31, 2009.
More information will follow when received.
APWU Web News Article #80-08, Sept. 4, 2008
With news that the Postal Service will offer Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) to Motor Vehicle Services and Maintenance Craft employees – except Electronic Technicians – APWU President William Burrus is reiterating his advice to union members: DON’T GO!
“My reasoning is simple,” he said. “Every APWU-represented employee who leaves early will save the USPS hundreds of thousands of dollars, yet the Postal Service is refusing to offer cash incentives.”
The following was posted in a NAPS discussion group by a member (not by the official NAPSHQ account), so it may or may not be accurate:
From: napshq
Sent: Thu, 21 Aug 2008 11:14 am
Subject: Responses from USPS HQ
Executive Board Members:
On Wednesday, August 20, 2008, the following questions (shown in bold) were sent to USPS Headquarters relative to the freeze that has been placed on EAS positions. This morning (August 21st) we received the following responses (shown in italics):
Questions:
Does the current freeze include positions that have already been posted, closed and/or interviews have been conducted and/or selections have already been made or positions have been awarded but not yet filled?
Response: The immediate freeze that was placed on all field non-bargaining unit positions should not affect positions that are currently in the pipeline.
What circumstances would have to occur that would cause the Postal Area Vice President to authorize a position to be filled?
Response: There may be situations that the position need is critical and the decision to fill a position will be made at the Area level.
What is the status of filling positions at Postal Headquarters and headquarters related functions?
Response: There has been a freeze on Headquarters hiring since the beginning of the calendar year with exceptions that have been made on a case-by-case basis.
What impact will this freeze have on ASP classes that are currently in training?
Response: There should be no impact to any ASSP classes that are now underway. Graduates of ASP classes will be placed in operational assignement as they normally have been.
What impact will this freeze have on ASP classes that are scheduled to start in the next 90 days?
Response: The decision on future ASP classes is under the jurisdiction of the USPS Area Vice President
NAPS is highly recommending that all national officers communicate with all RIF impacted members to advise them to contact their District Manager of Human Resources to discuss their inclusion in the RIF avoidance process and to make sure that opportunities for positions are still made available to RIF impacted members.
As other information becomes available, you will be advised.
NAPS Headquarters
National Association of Postal Supervisors
Legislative and Regulatory Update – July 22, 2008
In This Issue:
* USPS Announces Early Out Details for Some Supervisor Positions
* House Hearing Will Examine USPS Network Realignment Plans
* PRC Universal Service Study Could Moot Congressional Inquiry on 5-Day Delivery
Read the rest of this entry »
APWU President wants you to have the option to retire early, but he doesn’t think you should exercise it?
With news that eligible employees will soon be receiving notice from the Postal Service about an offer of Voluntary Early Retirement (VER), APWU President William Burrus is advising union members to delay making a decision as long as possible.
“The decision about when to retire is a personal one that is influenced by family obligations and lifestyle,” Burrus said. “But the attractiveness of ending a career early should be weighed with consideration of factors that may not be readily apparent.”
From the NAPS.org forum:
For those that are not aware there was a symposium in the Great Lakes area the last few days for Lead Plant Managers and PMs. During the symposium Mr. Donahoe and Mr. Ward made the announcement. The USPS has put a request in with the OPM for a VERA for all USPS employees with the exception of Electronic Technicians. The OPM should be able to notify the Postal Service by August. I was told to say to ALL who inquire that there will be NO INCENTIVES! I repeat No Incentives. The Postal Service will not make the same mistake that it made in 1992 with cash incentives. The number that we need to reach is 40,000 employees. I was told that under current conditions they will not reach the 40k goal. Our mail volume has dropped to the 2004 volume and our anticipated attrition is down 50% do to gas prices and the economy.
