APWU Local Presidents Call For Resignation of PMG Donahoe
for bargaining in bad faith…
Overview of National President’s Conference by APWU Southwest Florida President Sam Wood:
Here are my notes from the National President’s Conference in no particular order. I did my best documenting this information. Please beware that the information may not be 100% accurate, but is the best I could do with information flowing quickly. (note: a couple of paragraphs were taken out) Read more
USPS Early Retirement Offer With Incentives Coming?
APWU President Cliff Guffey told the delegates to the APWU National Presidents Conference in Las Vegas, NV today, I am certain there will be an early retirement offer for APWU members with incentives once the Postal Service fully complies with our demands.
USPS To Offer Early Retirement
PMG Pat Donahoe has announced a new senior management structure representing a flatter, leaner organization with the flexibility to more quickly adapt to coming changes.
Donahoe also said:
“The Executive Leadership Team and I have worked collaboratively with many others to create a smaller, more efficient structure that will empower senior executives with authority and provide the resources necessary to lead significant change.”
There are organizations that do not continue under the structure announced today and the total number of officer positions has been reduced by six. The structure establishes a small number of new positions, and reflects changed reporting relationships.
Donahoe said the changes provide a more integrated focus toward accomplishing the key USPS strategic goals of strengthening the business-to-consumer channel; improving the customer experience; competing for the package business; and becoming a leaner, faster and smarter organization. The PMG and Executive Leadership Team have been working since early December to develop the structure.
“Today’s actions and announcements are the beginning of a much larger process that will involve every organization within the Postal Service,” said Donahoe.
“As we continue our restructuring, we anticipate that a reduction in force (RIF) and a voluntary early retirement (VER) process will be initiated by the end of this fiscal quarter,” said Donahoe. “We will provide as much information as we can and will be as transparent as possible about goals and objectives throughout this time.”
Donahoe said he understands that changes like those announced today are difficult for many people. “I thank all employees for continuing to do a great job delivering for America,” he said. “It’s imperative that we all help the Postal Service continue its evolution as a forward-thinking, fast-acting company capable of providing quality products and services for customers — and a welcoming, diverse, professional work place.”
A full organizational chart will be shared within the next few months, according to Donahoe, and he committed to employees to keep all levels of the organization informed as the Postal Service moves forward.
Postal Employee Who Retired Under Early Retirement Is Challenging OPM Over FERS Annuity Supplement
Filed under: FERS, legal cases, opm, postal, postal news, retirement, usps, vera
My name is Lennis B. Reynolds I am a retired Postal employee who took a VER/Incentive offer in August 2009. I am taking OPM to MSPB about the FERS Annuity Supplement. The difference without the Supplement is $1000.00 per month in retirement income.
To : Honorable Howard J. Ansorge
Administrative Judge
Central Regional Office
230 South Dearborn Street, Room 3100
Chicago, IL 60604-1669
Dear Judge Ansorge:
I, Lennis B. Reynolds CH-0841-10-0788-I-1,CSA 8 436-635 desires an in-person hearing, I will conduct the hearing in this appeal by telephone .The telephone hearing will be held: Date: September 13, 2010 Time: 2:00 p.m. Central time (3:00 p.m. Eastern) I am requesting a in person hearing.
PREHEARING SUBMISSIONS
The issue is a employee who retires under their MRA under FERS is eligible for the FERS Annunity Supplement when retiring on VERA. OPM position is that you have to be MRA to collect the FERS Annuity Supplement, but according to the THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM ACT OF 1986 legislation clearly states it allows only four types of retirement benefits :Unreduced, reduced, ‘involuntary, and deferred vested annuities.
Under the THE FEDERAL EMPLOYEES’ RETIREMENT SYSTEM ACT OF 1986 a employee who retired inVoluntary would have to wait to MRA not Voluntary(See exhibit 1). When Voluntary Early Retirement Laws Enacted in the 107/108th Congress under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority. Under both CSRS and FERS, a federal employee is eligible for an IMMEDIATE UNREDUCED RETIREMENT annuity at age 55 with 30 or more years of service. Under voluntary early retirement authority (VERA), the age and service requirements are reduced to 20 years of federal service at age 50 or 25 years of service,regardless of age. (see exhibit 2).
The Homeland Security Act (P.L. 107-296) provides that with the approval of OPM, an agency undergoing restructuring or downsizing can offer voluntary early retirement to employees in specific occupational groups, organizational units, or geographic locations. Reductions in annuity amounts for early retirement will continue to apply . In your offer (the “agency”) must submitted a request to OPM for a grant of authority to offer voluntary early retirement in conjunction with a proposed major reduction in force (“RIF”). OPM/ agency must have this in your offer letter see (JOSEPH T. TORRES,Petitioner,v.OFFICE OF PERSONNEL MANAGEMENT.(see exhibit 3)THIS WAS NOT IN MY offer letter ONLY a VER offer was issued NOT a proposed major reduction in force (“RIF”)this was not INCLUDED IN MY OFFER LETTER.
I was offer to retire voluntary. .(see exhibit 4.) I also took a look at my form 50 and I looked up how agency/OPM retired me I was retired Involuntery (see form 50 Nature of Personnel action(Nature of action code is (303) Description (Retirement-Special-option .(see exhibit 5.) Chapter 30. Retirements (Natures of Action 300, 301,302, 303, and 304).then go to Table 30-B. Remarks Required for Retirement Actions rule(see exhibit 5 A1) .
According to voluntary Early Retirement Laws Enacted in the 107th/108 Congress under Voluntary Early Retirement Authority I retired(voluntary with unreduced benefits the same way that a regular employee /special groups retirement it is Voluntery. Note: only the age and service requirements are reduced not the benefits. OPM retired me under Early retirement provision under CSRS not Voluntary Early Retirement under FERS it is a big diffence see chapter 43 fers(see exhibit 6). OPM retired me as an Early-Optional retiree when I should have been retired on Voluntary Optional.(see exhibit 7) I was not in a MAj-RIF must be in my offer voluntary early retirement in conjunction with a proposed major reduction in force (“RIF”). this was noted in my offer letter.
If you have any question please feel free to call XXX-XXX-XXXX this is a major case on all FERS employees who retired under VER and who is under their MRA. Note: I had a prehearing telephone conference call with the Honorable Howard J. Ansorge and OPM Agency Representive James Wiliams. In the conference call OPM claims that they retired me under 8414b (1) B. OPM cannot retire any FERS employee who retired voluntary under 8414 b (1) B unless the agency is undergoing a RIF and they must be documented in the offer letter as a reasonable offer. Therefore under U.S Code 8421 Annuity Supplement paragraph a(2) only applies to people who retired involuntary not voluntary. The only way a FERS employee can retire,. who retired voluntary is under U.S. Code 8412 IMMEDIATE RETIREMENT. The decision will be on September 13, 2010
Sincerely
Lennis Reynolds
former non-commissioned officer/retired Postal employee:
**This article may not be reprinted or republished without the approval of PostalReporter.com or Lennis Reynolds.
Early Retirement Rumors: Again, APWU Says: Don’t Go!
Burrus Update
Rumors about Voluntary Early Retirement offers are once again circulating throughout the Postal Service, and employees are evaluating the possibilities.
Let me state plainly:
* There have been no discussions with postal management about offering new monetary incentives as an enticement for retiring.
* If incentives are contemplated at some future date, the law says they must be negotiated with the union.
* Any rumor that monetary incentives are under consideration is false.
In recent years the Postal Service has offered Voluntary Early Retirements (VERs) — without monetary incentives — without the union’s involvement. Management may do so again in the future.
The APWU has challenged these VER offers in the appropriate forums. As we noted in grievances protesting non-incentive VERs, the National Agreement requires the payment of severance pay to employees who voluntarily terminate their employment through early retirement.
We await final disposition of the dispute. In the meantime, it is very likely that postal management will pursue further reductions in the employee complement through Voluntary Early Retirement offers.
The union repeats the advice we offered regarding prior VERs without incentives: Don’t Go!
William Burrus
President
Update: USPS To Offer Early Out Retirement To Employees In San Francisco and Bay-Valley Districts
Clerks, Mail Handlers, Custodians, Maintenance Operations Support Clerks and EAS in Select Offices to Receive Early Out Notices
Bay-Valley District -OaklandFor the following offices only: Oakland P & DC, SF NDC, District Cusotmer Service, Antioch, Berkeley, Brentwood, Carmel, Concord, Cupertino, Danville, El Cerrito, Fairfield, Hayward, Hollister, Lafayette, NAPA, Newark, Oakland PO , Pittsburg, PLeasanton, Richmond, Salinas PO, San Leandro, Santa Clara, Saratoga, Union City, Vallejo, Walnut Creek and Watsonville.
San Francisco District: This week, April 5 – 9, annuity estimates and Voluntary Early Retirement (VERA) offers are being mailed to approximately 1,000 VERA eligible employees in the San Francisco District. The notices are being sent ONLY to Clerks, Mail Handlers, Custodians, Maintenance Operations Support Clerks and EAS employees who are domiciled south of the Golden Gate Bridge. North Bay and Northern California employees WILL NOT receive a VERA offer in the mail.
USPS has announced that it is offering early out retirement only to employees in selected offices. Postal facilities on the list have been notified and will schedule a stand-up very soon with employees.
VER is being offered to Clerks, Mail Handlers, Custodians and EAS employees.
You may retire if you meet the age and service requirement shown below:
- Age 50 with 20 years of Service
- Any age with 25 years of Service
Shared Services will be mailing out letters and annuity estimates from April 5-13 to VER-eligible employees. VER retirement application deadline and irrevocable date will be May 21, 2010. The effective date is June 2010. There is no incentive with this early out retirement offer.
Civil Service Retirement system (CSRS): Your annuity benefit will be reduced by 2% for each year (1/6% per month) that you are under age 55 on date of retirement and the reduction is permanent.
Federal Employees Retirement System: If you meet the above requirements, your annuity benefit will not be reduced with age. Special Retirement Supplements are payable until age 62 when you reach the minimum retirement age (55-57). Social Security benefits begin when you reach age 62.
Copy oif Notice from San Francisco District
USPS ‘Incentive’ Program Results In 19,000 APWU-Craft Retirements
Approximately 19,000 USPS employees in APWU-represented crafts will retire or separate from the Postal Service before Dec. 1 and receive a $15,000 incentive under an agreement negotiated by the union.
A Memorandum of Understanding creating the incentive program was signed on Aug. 24. “This agreement achieved a long-standing objective of the APWU,” said union President William Burrus.
The agreement applied to non-probationary career postal employees in the APWU bargaining unit; the incentive was offered to eligible employees who terminated their service through Optional (Regular) Retirement, Voluntary Early Retirement, or separation. (Eligible PTR and PTF employees received offers of proportional percentages of the incentive.)
It included employees in the Clerk Craft, Maintenance Craft, Motor Vehicle Services Craft, mail equipment shops, material distribution centers, and occupational health nurses, with some exceptions and limitations.
Not covered by the agreement were employees who were issued a notice of discharge on or before Aug. 24; MPE 9s, ET 10s, and ET 11s who could not be replaced without training; Operating Services employees; employees in the Accounting Services section of the IT/ASC bargaining unit, probationary employees, and Transitional Employees.
Depending on whether they were eligible for early or regular retirement, employees were required to apply for retirement by Sept. 25 or express interest by that date. Some employees can revoke their decisions until the effective date of retirement, so the final tally could be significantly lower than the 19,738 reported by the USPS.
According to the unofficial numbers as of Sept. 25, approximately 3,000 Mail Handlers, who received an offer virtually identical to the APWU-negotiated agreement, also took part in the USPS retirement-incentive program
Requests Optional VER Separations Total
Week ending Sept. 4 10,164 0 111 10,275
Week ending Sept. 11 3,387 1,056 38 4,481
Week ending Sept. 18 1,913 1,073 107 3,093
Week ending Sept. 25 940 667 282 1,889
TOTAL 16,404 2,796 538 19,738*
* All figures are unofficial. Because some employees can revoke their decisions until the effective date of retirement, the final tally may be lower. source: APWU
Union Address Concerns About USPS Retirement Incentive Offer
Burrus Update 15-2009, Sept. 22, 2009
The union has received inquiries about the possibility that some applicants for the $15,000 retirement/separation incentive may be excluded because the agreement negotiated by the union limits the number of recipients to 30,000. This concern is especially troubling for employees applying for Voluntary Early Retirement (VER), because the right to revoke applications will expire on Sept. 25, before employees know whether they will receive the incentive.
To date, fewer than 21,000 employees have applied for the incentive or expressed interest, so there may be no reason for concern; however, in the event that the number of applicants reaches 25,000, pursuant to the Memorandum of Understanding between the APWU and the USPS, the union and management will meet at the national level to decide the distribution of the remaining 5,000 slots between Mail Handler applicants and APWU-represented employees.
If it is anticipated at that time that the 30,000 limit will be reached, we will also decide who among the eligible employees will receive the incentive. Included among the options for consideration will be increasing the number of employees who will receive the incentive or permitting employees to cancel their retirement.
Employees should not be concerned that they will have committed to retire without assurance that they will receive the incentive.
William Burrus
President
APWU: Effective Dates of Retirement, Separation Limited
APWU News
The USPS and APWU have agreed that employees who as of Aug. 24 had a scheduled retirement date of Sept. 30 or earlier will be permitted to retire or separate on the date they selected, and will be eligible to receive the $15,000 incentive negotiated by the union and management. All other employees not identified above who elect to retire or separate in order to receive the incentive will be assigned a retirement or separation date of Oct. 31 or Nov. 30. Agreement may be made at the local level to permit employees to select either of the two dates. The change in the effective dates was agreed to because Shared Services is unable to process the necessary paperwork for the expected number of applicants.
Click here to read about questions and answers concerning the incentive program
“We created a new, signed document to respond to the questions,” APWU President William Burrus said, “because it is essential that the union and management provide the same information to employees who are faced with a short time period to make important life-altering decisions.”