THE BULLETIN BOARD
February 2012
[February 16th]USPS may resort to buyouts, early retirements in aggressive downsizing
excerpted from FederalTimes.com
The U.S. Postal Service may resort to early retirements and buyout offers as a way to slash its staff by 66,000 employees this year and another 51,000 next year. Combined, the planned cuts over the next two years amount to more than one-fifth the agency's workforce.
Normal attrition removes roughly 30,000 employees a year, so it appears likely the agency will have to resort to either early retirement offers or buyouts or both to reach its downsizing targets. The agency's labor contracts generally prohibit layoffs.
Chief Financial Officer Joe Corbett told reporters in a conference call that early retirement incentives are under consideration, but he did not discuss the possibility of buyouts. "We'll announce our path forward soon," Corbett said. Asked later whether buyouts are on the table, a USPS spokeswoman said she had no "additional information."
By the Postal Service's count, 283,000 workers are currently eligible for regular or, if offered, early retirement.
In addition to the 117,000 employees the agency aims to shed between last October and September 2013, the agency aims to trim 38,000 in 2014 through 2016 for a total of 155,000 for the five-year period.
Full article available here.[February 1st]Scholarships Available to PMAPWU Members
APWU Vocational Scholarship
- Applicants must be a senior attending high school or other corresponding secondary school. Applicants must be a child or grandchild, including stepchild or legally adopted child of an active member, Retiree's Department member, or deceased member of the American Postal Workers Union.
- Type: Vocational Scholarship
- $1,000.00 for each year, up to three consecutive years
- Application is to be received no later than March 15, 2012.
- You can download an application at the APWU's website.
The APWU E.C. Hallbeck Memorial Scholarship
- Type: Academic Scholarship
- $1,000.00 for each of up to three consecutive years of college
- Applicants must be a senior attending high school or other corresponding secondary school. Applicants must be a child or grandchild, including stepchild or legally adopted child of an active member, Retiree's Department member, or deceased member of the American Postal Workers Union.
- Applications are to be received no later than March 15, 2012.
- You can download an application at the APWU's website.
You may also visit the APWU's Scholarship Programs webpage where the various scholarships are discussed.
John T. Boxler Scholarship
- Type: Academic Scholarship
- $1,000.00 for each of up to four consecutive years of college
- Graduating high school seniors, all post secondary students, and affiliated Union members attending an accredited institution, are eligible.
- Deadline to apply is May 1, 2012.
- You can view all the details and download an application from the PPWU website.
Patrick McShane Memorial Scholarship
- Type: Academic Scholarship
- Current graduating high school senior or college undergraduate whose parent or legal guardian is a current active member in PMAPWU
- Deadline to apply is May 18, 2012.
- Contact PMAPWU at 412-321-4700 for more information and an application.
[February 1st]Movement on Maintenance Craft Jobs Memo
excerpted from APWU Web News Article 003-2012
Finally, there is some movement in the Maintenance Craft on implementation of key provisions the 2010-2015 Collective Bargaining Agreement, Maintenance Craft Director Steve Raymer has announced.
Under the terms of the Q-and-A document, the Postal Service must return custodial duties to stations, branches and other facilities of an independent installation no later than May 23, 2012. Unfortunately, there will be no liability for the Postal Service's delay in returning our work.
Furthermore, the terms of the Jobs MOU regarding the use of PSEs will be followed. After posting for the craft, if the Postal Service gets to the point where it must hire from the street, a PSE can be employed. This is also where the Preference Eligible Veteran rules will kick in.
The Help Desk at the Maintenance Technical Support Center (MTSC) in Norman, OK (not the training center) is also addressed. A minimum of 10 new duty assignments will be posted for ET-11s and ET-10s will also have an opportunity to volunteer for these jobs.
The document also stipulates that an Integrated Voice Recognition (IVR) system will be designed and installed. Discussion of implementation of the IVR will continue. The additional work for the ET-11 occupational group is certainly welcome.
Past Issues of the Bulletin Board
[January 2012]
[December 2011] [November 2011]
Use our Search function to look up further back-issues of the Bulletin Board.
