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General Time Line Set for Early Outs
Burrus Update # 12-03, June 20, 2003
Executive Vice President Cliff Guffey and I met with postal officials today to discuss implementation of the agreement to offer early retirement to eligible APWU-represented employees. A general time line has been established for management to notify eligible employees, for employees to express their interest in early retirement, and for workers to make their final decisions.
Postal headquarters will instruct area-level officials to identify eligible employees and send them Letters of Interest for Early Retirement. The letters will require a response by a specific date. Postal headquarters will also instruct managers to review the personnel file of each employee that is considered eligible to ensure they meet the criteria for early retirement. A specific date for the initiation of the process will be determined at the area level, and is mutually expected to begin by the second week of July.
It is expected that voluntary early retirements will take effect during October 2003 and February 2004, so they will not adversely affect operations during heavy mailing periods. The final determination on dates will depend on the number of employees in an installation who elect to retire early and their skills.
At the time early retirement is approved for an employee, a specific date will be established for termination of their USPS employment. In those circumstances where employees who elect to retire cannot be replaced from the existing complement, discussions will occur on other means of replacing them through reassignment, training or transfer.
Contrary to announcements by some area-level postal officials, opportunities for early retirement will be offered to all eligible APWU employees, pursuant to the terms of the Collective Bargaining Agreement and within the rules established by the Office of Personnel Management (OPM).
Agreement has been reached to hold a tripartite meeting with officials of OPM. The meeting will be held at the earliest possible date, depending on the availability of the three parties.
William Burrus,
President
