American Postal Workers Union (APWU) News Bulletin  

The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) approves requests by federal agencies and the USPS to offer Voluntary Early Retirement.

According to OPM, to be eligible, employees must be at least 50 years old and have at least 20 years of creditable service, OR may be any age provided they have at least 25 years of creditable service.

OPM’s approval of the Postal Service’s VER request [PDF] applies to Clerk, Mail Handler, and initial-level supervisory employees agency-wide. The offers can be made to eligible employees “from June 30, 2008, through June 30, 2009.”

The USPS estimates that nearly 57,000 clerks, and about 16,000 mail handler and supervisory employees are eligible. It projects that 6,496 clerks, 1,552 mail handlers, and 693 supervisors will accept the VER offer.

The Postal Service has told the APWU that it plans to request approval to offer early-outs to other categories of employees, including some members of the Maintenance Craft and city and rural carriers.