Voluntary Early Retirement:
Alternate Dates to Be Set Next Spring

Burrus Update #22-03, Oct. 23, 2003

A number of inquiries have been made to national officers regarding the options of employees who have been approved for voluntary early retirement (VER) on Oct. 31, 2003. Some of these employees have asked whether they may select Jan. 31, or Feb. 29, 2004, as the effective date of their retirement. I have contacted postal headquarters and have been informed that employees approved for the Oct. 31, 2003, retirement date will not be permitted to postpone their retirement date to January or February 2004. However, I have been informed these employees will be permitted to retire later in 2004. (Letter from USPS Labor Relations)

Postal management has informed the union that it will offer additional early retirement opportunities in 2004, and has said that employees who meet the eligibility requirements, including those who qualified in October 2003, January 2004, and February 2004, will be afforded the opportunity. A specific date has not been established, but a commitment has been made for additional opportunities next year. The specific date will be announced no sooner than April 2004.

This means that employees who were offered but declined early retirement in October 2003, January 2004, or February 2004, will be provided another opportunity in 2004, in addition to employees who become eligible in the interim.

Employees who have been approved for retirement in October 2003, January 2004, or February 2004, but who would prefer to retire at a later date in 2004, must submit a revocation form by the date specified on their "VER Offer" letter.

This information does not affect the union's continuing disagreement over the restrictions management has imposed that deny categories of employees the opportunity to retire. A hearing is being held in federal court today (Oct. 23), seeking to compel the Postal Service to arbitrate that dispute expeditiously.

William Burrus
President

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