by Dan Van Minnen
The Postal Service got more takers than they wanted. The projection was for 20,000 employees to take the VERA nationwide. Approximately 25,500 employees have opted to retire or resign. In our little local we had 6 who decided to take advantage of this program so I would like to personally extend my best wishes to you all. Most of the people who are leaving are eligible for retirement. Those employees requesting early retirement account for 19 percent nationwide of the total, and employees who decided to resign to receive the incentive amounted to only 1 percent. The Aurora Local 6315 would like to congratulate and give best wishes to all of the APWU represented employees who are retiring as you will be sorely missed. With this many employees retiring, the Post Office will be hard pressed to fill all of the vacant positions. In the VERA agreement it states that the postal service can hire and maintain as many PSE’s as they want without regard to our PSE cap. This is allowed for only 90 days. After 90 days if they are still over the caps, they must convert some PSE’s to regular to get back under the PSE caps.
Management will continue to look at ways to reduce our already reduced work force by not filling the vacated positions. All reversions need to be reported and grieved. Once again, those of us not leaving should thank those who are, for their long service and dedication to the Post Office and the Union. I sure wish that I was one of them, but alas I do not have the years in service or the age to be eligible to retire. All in all I wish you fair winds and following seas to a paradise of your dreams!
Maintenance Issues
Locally, there has been little movement for the Custodian Craft that has resulted after the DUO process that involved the Fletcher Station to Hoffman Heights move on October 6th, 2012 and then the Altura Station to AMPO move on October 20th, 2012. Staffing was not affected and most disruptions were absorbed within the guidelines of our agreements. The word from SSCS Andy Weaver is that there will be a forthcoming Function 3B Staffing Package as a result of these DUO’s but as I write this there is still no changes to report to the membership.
I would like to extend a sincere thank you to custodian Ernie Romero who has decided to retire effective January 31st, 2013 under the retirement incentive offer. Best of Luck to you and your family, enjoy retirement and know that we will miss your smile and enthusiastic manner.
Management has posted the job that Ernie vacated and it will be filled in accordance with Article 38. PAR sheets have been sent out and if you have any questions or concerns please feel free to give me a call. It appears that building cleanliness and employee safety are once again concerns at the AMPO and at Hoffman Heights. This has come from the additional personnel and equipment that is on the workroom floor and from Management’s lack of increasing the frequencies for cleaning. There are many issues involving a lack of floor care and other duties being assigned that the Custodian is not receiving proper credit for on the PS-4852’s. If you have any concerns please contact your Union by requesting a steward, or fill out a PS-1767 form they are located at the time clocks. You can also contact OSHA. This was done as a result of improper egress for employees at the Hoffman Heights station and we are awaiting an outcome on this matter. As always, the struggle continues.