Congressman Asks Boston Postal Managers For Explanation Of Outsourcing Vehicle Maintenance Work
Filed under: APWU, maintenance, motor vehicle services, outsourcing, postal, usps
From the American Postal Workers Union:
Expressing concern about the outsourcing of maintenance and repair work on postal vehicles, U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch (D-MA) wrote to the USPS Boston District Manager on Sept. 22, [PDF] and asked for an explanation of USPS policy.
“It is my understanding that the vehicle maintenance work is currently being contracted out at an hourly rate which exceeds that of USPS” employees, he said. In addition, Lynch said he had seen documentation indicating that some of the work failed to adhere to maintenance guidelines and risked harm to the environment.
“Also of grave concern is that these contactors have access to universally familiar USPS vehicles” and are authorized to remove them from postal premises. Lynch said he was concerned that contractors may not have been vetted to ensure that they pose no threat to homeland security.
“It is my hope that you can provide a detailed explanation of USPS motor vehicle maintenance policy and the process by which these contractors are selected,” Lynch concluded.
Rep. Lynch wrote the letter in response to complaints from Boston Metro Area Local Motor Vehicle Services Craft President Bill Weaver. In a letter to Postmaster General John E. Potter, [PDF] Weaver outlined concerns about the security of the mail, the lack of training of subcontractors, and the cost of subcontracting, as compared with assigning the maintenance and repair work to postal employees.
APWU national officers praised the activities of the members of the Boston Local and of Rep. Lynch. “We have always gotten a good turnout from Boston,” Assistant MVS Director Michael O. Foster said. “This is exactly the kind of grass-roots effort we need.
“Motor Vehicle Craft employees and local leaders have to get involved,” he said. Foster noted that Rep. Lynch authored the Mail Network Protection Act (H.R. 4236), which would require the Postal Service to bargain with postal unions before it engages in significant contracting-out. The APWU enthusiastically supports the bill and has encouraged union members to urge their congressional representatives to sign on as co-sponsors.
Postal Service Announces VER Timeline For Letter Carriers, Maintenance, EAS, PCES
Filed under: Postmasters, early out, maintenance, retirement, scams, usps, ver
Headquarters / Headquarters-Related EAS & PCES; Motor Vehicle; Maintenance (excluding Electronic Technicians); Rural Carriers; City Carriers
The Postal Service recently received approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer voluntary early retirement to eligible employees nationwide.
Automation and technological advances coupled with mail volume reductions has the Postal Service continuing to look for ways to voluntarily reduce its workforce while maintaining excellent customer service.
This offer is open to employees in those positions who meet the OPM conditions, and who are at least 50 years of age with 20 years of creditable federal service or any age with 25 years of creditable federal service.
Please Note: The age and years of service criteria must be met by the effective retirement date of this VERA: February 28, 2009. If you don’t meet the criteria by February 28, 2009, you are not eligible for voluntary early retirement.
For your convenience, a timeline of activity related to this VERA can be found by clicking on VER Steps At-a-Glance. Read through this timeline carefully and consider your retirement options. It’s important to note that November 21, 2008 is the date when an employee’s voluntary choice to retire becomes irrevocable (cannot be withdrawn) under this VERA.
As a reminder, a voluntary early retirement is just that — voluntary. But if retirement is part of a near-future plan for you, make sure to navigate through all the information on this website and get all the information you need to make an informed decision.
VER Information Sessions
While Local Services won’t have any additional information regarding VER eligibility lists, HQ and HRSSC will work together to coordinate and set up information sessions to provide opportunities for Q&A dialogue. VER Information Sessions include reviews of eligibility requirements, the pre-established timeline and the Retirement Seminar DVD. Watch for local announcements within your District on times and locations.
In the meantime, don’t waste time; it’s your retirement, after all! Look through all the information provided on this website and view the retirement videos along with the workbooks to prepare prior to the VER Information Sessions.
Timeline
October 10, 2008 – Annuity Estimates are mailed out to all VER eligible employees.
October 15, 2008 -VER Offer Packet mailed out to all VER eligible employees.
October 20 – November 21, 2008 -VER eligible employees must decide whether to apply for retirement during this period.
October 20, 2008 -HRSSC begins sending out Retirement Forms to all early retirement applicants.
November 21, 2008 – 8:30 p.m. (Eastern time) -Required documents must be received at the HRSSC to take advantage of VER offer.
November 21, 2008 – 8:30 p.m. (Eastern time) -Sent in your retirement application and changed your mind? SUBMIT REQUEST TO WITHDRAW BEFORE THIS TIME.
Mid-January, 2009 -HRSSC begins notification to employees on status of VER applications.
February 28, 2009 -Effective retirement date for approved EAS and PCES in Headquarters and Headquarters-related positions (excluding bargaining unit positions and Area positions). Maintenance, Motor Vehicle, City Carrier, and Rural Carrier positions.
https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/ver2008/effective_retirement_date_022809.htm
Clerks, Mal HAndlers, Supervisors FAQs
https://liteblue.usps.gov/news/ver2008/effective_retirement_date_123108.htm
APWU Wins $48 Million Settlement In MS-47 Handbook Grievance
The APWU and the Postal Service have finalized a $48 million payout to “remedy” the USPS violation of staffing procedures for custodial employees. The settlement will be in the form of lump-sum payments of $2,700 to more than 17,000 employees occupying custodial positions, with payments to be made by April 18
USPS Puts Custodial Exam on Hold Until 2008
Re: Suspension of Custodial Exam 916 (8/27/2007)
From: Steve Raymer, Director, Maintenance Division via Gary Kloepfer, Assistant Director, Maintenance Division
There have been inquiries from the field about the suspension of the custodial exam. This is to provide some information to the field so please forward along as appropriate.
We have received notification from the USPS that requirement to pass the Test 916, Custodial Exam, is suspended until September 30, 2008 for all purposes.
A meeting with the Service at this level is scheduled for Friday, August 31, 2007.
We believe this suspension may be a good thing (pending the responses at the above meeting) and possibly a step towards the total waiver of the Test 916. That would put us in the same position as with the old custodial exam, Test 911. The Test 911 had long been waived for career employees but the Service did not permit waiver or substitution of the Test 916.
As background, the Service had taken a position (in National case Q98C4QC02005533) that they could ignore or waive the exam at their discretion (for example, in cases of excessing) yet maintain that minimum qualification requirement for members of the Maintenance Craft. As one example of the absurd situation this creates; current maintenance employees could not down grade or be promoted into custodial duty assignments because they were not qualified (in the USPS’ position) due to not having the Test 916 on their record. Our position is the Service can’t have it both ways, either waive the requirement for everyone or it must be enforced across the board and cannot be selectively waived.
We will, as always, keep the information coming when we have an update to give
Gary Kloepfer
Assistant Director
Maintenance Division
(202) 842-4213
(202) 289-3746
(202) 251-1495 – Cell