2008 EARLY OUTS - VERA

We are posting here any and all news we receive or can locate regarding the proposed early outs. Should you know of or receive any new information please Contact PEN.

Please Note: We cannot answer RIF or retirement related questions. PEN Editor.

March 2009

USPS National VER Offering - Early Out Information
New March 2009.

November 7, 2008
Source: Postal Bulletin

RIF Competitive Areas for the Postal Service

The Office of Personnel Management requires agencies covered by reduction-in-force (RIF) procedures to establish Competitive Areas and to publish them for their employees. Competitive Areas are organizational units under separate management authority within which preference-eligible employees compete during a RIF. Listed below are the Competitive Areas for the Postal Service™ as of October 20, 2008. Please click here to read the Competitive Areas Chart

October 25, 2008
Source: Don Cheney

What Happened to Pre-Retirement Counseling?

Did you notice that the Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) paperwork does not include a phone number to call with retirement questions? The USPS VER website says PLEASE: DON'T CALL HRSSC and omits their phone number. HRSSC's phone number is not listed anywhere in the mailed out VER packets. HRSSC's phone number is not posted on bulletin boards in my office. Is it posted in yours?

HRSSC supposedly took over individual pre-retirement counseling from local personnel offices beginning in 2005. About 800 personnel jobs were eliminated nationwide. Wait times for people who do find the phone number are as long as two hours. When they get through, they are told to wait until HRSSC contacts them or to search online for the information. Requests for annuity estimates like the FERS Special Retirement Supplement are ignored. The FERS annuity supplement is a substantial amount for someone between their Minimum Retirement Age (MRA) and age 62.

Retirement counseling for a so-called "voluntary" early retirement is now AFTER a person applies for retirement on SF 3107 (FERS) or SF 2801 (CSRS). This contradicts OPM's instructions to agencies in the CSRS and FERS Handbook for Personnel and Payroll Offices, available on OPM's website. In past VERs a person filed a Statement of Interest by a deadline, received retirement counseling and then applied on the forms provided if still interested. The deadline to withdraw in previous VERs was four days before the effective retirement date, well AFTER a person received retirement counseling and had time to think about their decision. To deny a person's request to withdraw their early retirement application in these circumstances is COERCIVE and unlike previous VERs in the USPS.

Don Cheney
Auburn WA
 

This statement is inaccurate: "Anybody with less than 5 years in USPS will gone next year." That could only be true for letter carriers.

The Mailhandlers and the APWU have a MOU that prohibits laying off ANY career employee on the rolls before November 21, 2006. "Each employee who is employed in the regular work force as of November 20, 2006, and who has not acquired the protection provided under Article 6 shall be protected henceforth against any involuntary layoff or force reduction during the term of this Agreement."

In the rural carrier craft, "It is agreed by the Employer that NO employees employed in the career work force will be laid off on an involuntary basis during this Agreement." So that leaves only letter carriers and PTFs of any craft significantly vulnerable.

There are preconditions before laying off any career craft people. See Article 6.B. The APWU Step 4 settlement at http://www.apwu.org/dept/ind-rel/awd-set/060607severancepayset.pdf would be applicable to letter carriers and mailhandlers as their Article 6 contract language is identical.

The talk of layoffs is probably a scare tactic, except for maybe EAS employees. It would be very costly to layoff craft employees--if management followed the contract. I know that hasn't stopped them before.

Don Cheney
Auburn WA


APWU & NALC Article 6.B - NPMHU Article 6.3

4. Before implementation of reassignment under this
Article or, if necessary, layoff and reduction in force of
excess employees within the installation, the Employer
will, to the fullest extent possible, separate all casuals
within the craft and minimize the amount of overtime
work and part-time flexible hours in the positions
or group of positions covered by the seniority unit
as defined in this Agreement or as agreed to by the parties.
In addition, the Employer shall solicit volunteers
from among employees in the same craft within the
installation to terminate their employment with the
Employer.

Employees who elect to terminate their employment
will receive a lump sum severance payment in the
amount provided by Part 435 of the Employee and
Labor Relations Manual, will receive benefit coverage
to the extent provided by such Manual, and, if eligible,
will be given the early retirement benefits provided by
Section 8336(d)(2) of Title 5, United States Code and
the regulations implementing that statute.

5. No less than 20 days prior to effecting a layoff, the
Employer will post a list of all vacancies in other seniority
units and crafts at the same or lower level which
exist within the installation and within the commuting
area of the losing installation. Employees in an affected
seniority unit may, within 10 days after the posting,
request a reassignment under this Article to a posted
vacancy. Qualified employees will be assigned to such
vacancies on the basis of seniority. If a senior non-preference
eligible employee within the seniority unit indicates
no interest in available reassignment, then such
employee becomes exposed to layoff. A preference eligible
employee within the seniority unit shall be
required to accept such a reassignment to a vacancy in
the same level at the installation, or, if none exists at the
installation, to a vacancy in the same level at an installation
within the commuting area of the losing installation.

If the reassignment is to a different craft, the employee’s
seniority in the new craft shall be established in accordance
with the applicable seniority provisions of the new craft.
 

ELM 435 Severance Pay confuses many people as it says you can get severance pay or early retirement, never both. That language is obviously in conflict with Article 6.B.4 of all crafts except rural carriers and will need to be revised. The APWU Step 4 settlement at http://www.apwu.org/dept/ind-rel/awd-set/060607severancepayset.pdf was agreed to only last year and I suspect some in management are unaware of it.

Don Cheney
Auburn WA

October 23, 2008
Source: Don Cheney

More on Riff's

If bargaining-unit RIFs are planned, then the USPS must follow the Article 6.B.4 preconditions, which include offering voluntary separations with severance pay and, if eligible, early retirements. Severance pay can amount to one year's pay! See ELM 435. The only craft that may be excluded from VERs with severance pay are the rural carriers. NO career rural carriers can be laid off on an involuntary basis during the life of their national agreement.

When PMG Jack Potter discussed the possibility of RIFs recently, he may have been unaware of this important Step 4 settlement negotiated by President Burrus: Step 4 settlement. This language is not yet reflected in ELM 435. A RIF of the few unprotected craft employees would be VERY expensive and is therefore unlikely. President Burrus thinks it is time for PMG Jack Potter to start on focusing on boosting revenues and mail volumes. I agree. See http://www.apwu.org/dept/presvp/magart-08novdec.htm

Also see: http://www.apwu.org/dept/presvp/atp-replies/atp-081021-vera_incentives.htm

October 21, 2008
Source: PEN Reader

RIF Competitive Areas for the Postal Service

As it states in ELM 354.11 the RIF provisions that apply to bargaining-unit employees are in their collective bargaining agreements, specifically Article 6 - APWU. There are LOTS of "Preconditions for Implementation of Layoff and Reduction in Force" in Article 6 that don't apply to EAS employees, including advance notice to the Union and the affected employees, the separation of all casuals within the craft, and the minimization of overtime work and part-time flexible hours.

Volunteers who separate during the precondition period before a RIF are entitled to severance pay AND an early retirement annuity if eligible--see Article 6.B.4. Those who wait until the RIF and separate will get an annuity or severance pay--not both.

Publication 164 does a good job explaining some subjects, except that Question 5 doesn't incorporate the recent Step 4 settlement.

Each bargaining unit, except NALC, has a MOU on Layoff Protection that extends additional protection. In the APWU it states: "Each employee who is employed in the regular work force as of November 20, 2006, and who has not acquired the protection provided under Article 6 shall be protected henceforth against any involuntary layoff or force reduction during the term of this Agreement."

NOTE: Also see:

RIF Competitive Areas for the Postal Service
Last published in PB 22198 (1-18-07).

http://www.usps.com/cpim/ftp/bulletin/2007/html/pb22208/info.5.6.html
 

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Please Note: We cannot answer RIF or retirement related questions. PEN Editor.
 

October 3, 2008

VERA TIMELINE: Field EAS, Field PCES, Postmasters and Area Office PCES and EAS

Details for Field EAS, Field PCES, Postmasters and Area Office PCES and EAS employees are now available on Blue and LiteBlue.

March 31, 2009 is the effective date for the third round of voluntary early retirement offers to eligible Field EAS, Field PCES, Postmasters and Area Office PCES and EAS employees. Sample documents, retirement tips and at-a-glance dates to remember are available on the VERA website. The deadline for submitting VERA requests for the third round is Jan. 16, 2009.

The second round of offers went to eligible employees in the following positions: Maintenance (excluding ETs), motor vehicle, letter carrier, rural carrier, Headquarters and Headquarters-related PCES, EAS and attorneys. The retirement effective date is Feb. 28, 2009, and requests must be submitted by Nov. 21, 2008.

The first VER offer went to eligible employees in Mail Handler, Clerk, Supervisor, Distribution Operations, Supervisor, Customer Services positions. The retirement effective date is Dec. 31, 2008. Eligible employees should have submitted their requests by Sept. 30, 2008.

October 2, 2008

Many of you have asked questions concerning a possible USPS RIF - please see this page for RIF questions.

Please Note:
PEN cannot answer RIF, VERA, or retirement questions.

September 11, 2008

- Early-Retirement Info Wrong, Burrus Tells Postal Service
APWU President William Burrus has notified the Postal Service of significant errors in information the USPS provided to employees eligible for Voluntary Early Retirement (VER), and has requested management’s “immediate attention to these matters” so that employees do not suffer irrevocable harm as a result. Read Burrus Letter

September 4, 2008

VER Steps - Info - Timeline and FAQ's For:
Headquarters / Headquarters-Related EAS & PCES; Motor Vehicle; Maintenance (excluding Electronic Technicians); Rural Carriers; City Carriers

VER Steps - Info - Timeline and FAQ's For:
Clerk; Mail Handler; Supervisor, Distribution Operations; Supervisor, Customer Services

PLEASE NOTE
HRSSC Assistance Regarding VER Retirement
from USPS

We’re always here to help but where the VERA is concerned, the HR Shared Service Center cannot verify whether employees are on the eligibility listing or discuss individual questions/concerns until application for early retirement is submitted and approved.

PEN: We're sorry but we cannot answer any retirement related questions.

August 29, 2008

USPS authorized to offer additional voluntary early retirements

The Postal Service has received additional approval from the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer voluntary early retirement to all eligible employees in Motor Vehicle, Maintenance (excluding Electronic Technicians), Rural and City Carriers, Field EAS and Postmasters. 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.

The Postal Service has already received approval from the OPM to make a similar offer to eligible employees in clerk, mail handler, supervisor of distribution operations and supervisor of customer services positions, as well as all eligible Headquarters and Headquarters-related employees — that includes service centers, organizational units and Area offices — in EAS and PCES positions.

USPS is shifting operations in a continuing effort to improve efficiency and manage costs. The Postal Service’s objective is to remain a viable organization well into the future and to continue to provide universal service at reasonable rates.

Details of the program are still being developed and will be announced soon. Once they are announced, they will be posted to the VERA website on Blue and LiteBlue.

No incentive package will be offered for employees who choose early retirement.

Source: USPS NewsLink

August 28, 2008

OPM approves early outs for letter carriers
The Office of Personnel Management has informed the Postal Service that it may offer voluntary early retirement to members of the city letter carrier craft. NALC President William H. Young said details of an early retirement agreement are being worked out and will be released once finalized.

Please Note: We cannot answer RIF or retirement related questions. PEN Editor.

August 20, 2008

ANOTHER VERA APPROVAL
USPS authorized to offer more voluntary early retirements

The Postal Service has received approval from the Office of Personnel Management to offer voluntary early retirement to all Headquarters and Headquarters-related employees - that includes service centers, organizational units and Area offices - in EAS and PCES positions.

Details of the program are still being developed and will be announced soon. Once they are announced, they will be posted to the VERA website on Blue and LiteBlue.

No incentive package will be offered for employees who choose early retirement.

August 2, 2008

NPMHU President - Third Update on VERA
"...there is no guarantee that everyone who applies will be approved. In other words, just because a mail handler gets a VER offer in the mail will not – we repeat, NOT – guarantee a VER."

July 29, 2008

NALC Pres. Young on VERA for Carriers
President Young told delegates at the NALC Convention in Boston last week that “very little has been decided” about the possibility the Postal Service will extend to city letter carriers its pending “Voluntary Early Retirement” program for clerks, mail handlers and their supervisors. Young, who is in close contact with USPS on the issue, emphasized that if there is an “early out” offer to city letter carriers, it would be limited and not likely to occur before 2009. Even with the advent of flat sorting equipment and the decline in volume, he reminded the delegates there are still 145 million delivery points that need service by carriers. If any substantial information becomes available, members will be notified promptly, President Young said.
 

July 16, 2008

USPS Releases VER Details
The Postal Service has released details of the voluntary early retirement (VER) offer recently authorized by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) for USPS employees in clerk, mail handler, supervisor of distribution operations and supervisor of customer services positions. 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 — FAQ are available here or LiteBlue.

On Aug. 18, an annuity estimate will be mailed to all VER-eligible employees from Eagan, MN. In addition, on Aug. 22 a VER offer packet will be sent to all eligible employees containing a cover letter, an application and a list of questions and answers. Interested employees will have from Aug. 25 to Sept. 30 to submit their application. It’s important to note that Sept. 30 is the date when an employee's voluntary choice to retire becomes irrevocable.

By mid-November, the Human Resources Shared Services Center (HRSSC) will notify employees as to the status of their VER application. At that time retirement counseling will be made available. Employees receiving approval will have an effective retirement date of Dec. 31.

As a reminder, a voluntary early retirement is just that — voluntary. This timeline only applies to employees in clerk, mail handler, supervisor of distribution operations and supervisor of customer services positions who meet the eligibility requirements.

FAQ are available here or LiteBlue

Burrus to VER-Eligible Employees: ‘DON’T GO’
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. -

Who Will Be Eligible for the ‘Early-Out’ Offer?
According to OPM, to be eligible, employees must be at least 50 years old and have at least 20 years of creditable service, OR may be any age provided they have at least 25 years of creditable service. Read OPM's Approval of VER Request - Also see Early Retirement Information from OPM -

July 10, 2008
First Update on VERA: Voluntary Early Retirement
NPMHU - Mail Handlers
The National Office has learned that the Postal Service has formally been granted authority by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to offer a VERA to certain postal employees during the period from June 30, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The grant of this authority does not obligate the Postal Service to offer a VERA, but simply gives the Postal Service the authority to offer a VERA if, after discussions and negotiations with the affected postal unions, the Postal Service believes that a VERA would be helpful.

July 11, 2008
Postal Service starts discussions on early retirement offers
Source: GovExec.com

U.S. Postal Service has started meeting with unions to discuss the voluntary early retirements it expects to offer at least 20,000 clerks and mail handlers in response to a decreasing volume of mail, an agency spokesman said Thursday.

Representatives from the American Postal Workers Union met with USPS officials on Wednesday to discuss the agency's plan for the voluntary retirements. APWU President William Burrus said USPS is required to bargain with the union over such programs.

"We do not oppose voluntary early retirements, but we do object to any plan to offer them selectively and exclude some employees from eligibility," Burrus said. "We also believe that for this VER, which is not the result of contract negotiations, severance pay must accompany an offer of early retirement."

The Office of Personnel Management on Tuesday approved USPS' request to create a voluntary retirement program for employees in the clerk, mail handler and some supervisory positions, said David Partenheimer, a USPS spokesman.

"The OPM action is only a first step," he said. "It authorizes us to offer the early retirements, but we need to work out the details."

Partenheimer said the number of employees affected will depend on eligibility requirements and other details of the program that remain under development. The agency has not yet established a timeline, he said.

The move comes after an announcement by USPS in late June that it would implement a reorganization plan designed to streamline agency operations. Partenheimer said the agency needs fewer employees because of continuing automation and technological advances as well as a drop in mail volume.

Partenheimer said USPS is "consulting with all the affected unions on this issue."

A spokesman for another major union representing postal employees -- the National Association of Letter Carriers -- said Thursday that the union is waiting for more information before commenting.

Source: www.GovExec.com - 7/11/08

July 9, 2008 - USPS Statement to News Media
Today PEN received a copy of a USPS press releases sent to various news media outlets from USPS dated July 8, 2008.

The USPS Press Release dated July 8, 2008 and states:

The Postal Service has received approval from the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to offer voluntary early retirement to postal employees in Clerk and Mail Handler positions nationwide. Details of the program are still being developed and will be announced at a later time. No incentive package will be offered for those employees who choose early retirement.

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. OPM’s approval could result in a staffing reduction of up to 20,000 positions.

July 9, 2008
National Assoc. of Postal Supervisors
A PEN member sent information from NAPS regarding a possible 2008 VER - or early out. Source says forget USPS paying any incentive for early outs...won't happen. Read the NAPS statement.

July 3, 2008 - USPS EARLY OUTS
On this date we received an email copy supposedly sent from Shirley Payne Ford: USPS Organization Change Manager. This email referenced a national VER - voluntary early retirement. It states:

This is an update of where we are with the upcoming implementation of the National VERs for craft and supervisory positions. We expect to have an OPM approval for the initial VER request for the clerks, mail handlers, SDO and SCS positions as early next week. We do not expect to receive the second OPM VER approval for Maintenance, Motor Vehicle, Carriers and Rural Carriers crafts until the end of July.

Some of you have asked for the list of VER eligibles but because we have not established a firm VER effective date, these names will not be provided. For your planning purposes, we can provide raw numbers of VER eligibles by districts and by craft for the first group (clerks. mail handlers, supervisors) with a proposed VER effective date of December 31, 2008. These reports will be available to you by the middle of next week. The second group (MV. Maintenance, Carriers) will have a later VER effective date and this report will be provided the week of July 7.Once we have established firm VER effective dates, we will provide the names of VER eligibles as a part of our normal process to implement VERs - timelines and guidelines.

In the meantime, we have started to develop preliminary plans for the implementation of the national VER, including discussions with HRSSC and Eagan as it relates to the massive volume of VER offer packages and annuity estimates that will be mailed. Labor Relations (Bill Jones and John Dockins) will coordinate national notifications and we plan to have a national Communication Plan (Maria Pell) A teleconference will be scheduled within the next two weeks to get your input and to discuss the preliminary plans for the implementation of the VERs,

Shirley Payne Ford, Manager
Organization Change Management

More Early Out Information

OPM VERA Rules
Find detailed information from OPM (office of personnel management) regarding Voluntary Early Retirement Authority. Go Here

2004 USPS VER
http://www.usps.com/vera/

We will update this page as necessary.

Submit news or VER information: Contact PEN

Please Note: We cannot answer RIF or retirement related questions. PEN Editor.

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