USPS Submits Request for
Early Retirement Authority to OPM

Burrus Update # 01-04, Jan. 28, 2004

The Postal Service submitted a request to the Office of Personnel Management (OPM) Jan. 23 [PDF] seeking authority to offer Voluntary Early Retirement to APWU-represented employees, in accordance with a Dec. 19, 2003, agreement with the union. The request to OPM covers Maintenance Craft and Motor Vehicle Craft employees in Level 6 positions and above, as well as employees covered by the IT/ASC or Operating Services Collective Bargaining Agreements.

Management excluded these employees from a previous request for early-out authority, in violation of the Collective Bargaining Agreement extension, which was ratified in December 2002.

The Dec. 19, 2003, agreement requires management to offer voluntary early retirement once it receives authorization from OPM. The agreement also requires the USPS to offer early outs to employees who were eligible as of Oct. 31, 2003, but did not receive a Statement of Interest letter from the Postal Service, and those who completed a Statement of Interest but were not permitted to retire early or received no response to their Statement of Interest.

In addition, the Dec. 19, agreement requires management to identify employees who became eligible or who will become eligible for early retirement during the period from Nov. 1, 2003, through Feb. 29, 2004, and offer them VER. In a supplemental accord reached Jan. 12, the APWU and the USPS agreed that employees who were offered - but declined - early retirement on Oct. 31, 2003, will be given another opportunity.

William Burrus
President

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