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Ask President Burrus
Question:
As a postal retiree, I am interested in returning to the workforce. Can you give the retirees an update on what is happening with the proposal that would make this happen? What do I need to do to apply?
Arthur, Retirees’ Department Member
President Burrus:
Thank you for your inquiry.
During the 2006 contract negotiations, the APWU and USPS agreed to create a task force to establish Retail Sales Associate positions in commercial establishments, staffed with employees to be hired by the union and contracted to the Postal Service.
The union’s concept was that the APWU would hire retired postal employees and contract them to the Postal Service for part-time employment. This relationship would have been necessary because, under current law, if annuitants are re-employed by a federal agency, they must relinquish their retirement annuity and health benefits.
Since we established the task force, however, Sen. Susan Collins (R-ME) introduced a bill (S. 2003) that would permit federal retirees to return to federal employment on a part-time basis, without sacrificing their annuity or health benefits. The bill would permit annuitants to work up to 520 hours during a six-month period or 1040 hours per year, without jeopardizing their annuity or health benefits.
The APWU supports this legislation, and we urge our members to contact their senators and representatives and ask that they support S. 2003. This legislation is expected to receive bipartisan support, and we hope it will pass the House and Senate in the fall.
Sept. 12, 2007
APWU President William Burrus
Telephone: 202-842-4250
ABOUT THE
APWU PRESIDENT
The American Postal Workers Union’s top officer is its president, William Burrus. The president has overall responsibility for the operations of the APWU, as directed by the Constitution and Bylaws.
