RE: First Update on VERA: Voluntary Early Retirement
This is the first in what undoubtedly will be a series of updates with regard to the issue of Voluntary Early Retirements for mail handlers.
The National Office has learned that the Postal Service has formally been granted authority by the U.S. Office of Personnel Management to offer a VERA to certain postal employees during the period from June 30, 2008 through June 30, 2009. The grant of this authority does not obligate the Postal Service to offer a VERA, but simply gives the Postal Service the authority to offer a VERA if, after discussions and negotiations with the affected postal unions, the Postal Service believes that a VERA would be helpful.
In the next few days and weeks, the NPMHU and the Postal Service will meet to discuss any and all early out options. Until discussions occur, there is no additional information to distribute.
As always, the National Office will continue to address the situation and will alert our members when there are substantive developments to report.