NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF POSTAL SUPERVISORS
January 5, 2012
Mr. Fang Wong
National Commander
American Legion
Post Office Box 1055
Indianapolis IN 46206
Dear Commander Fong,
National Headquarters
1727 KlNG STREET, SUlTE 400
ALEXANDRIA, VA 22314-2753
Phone (703) 836-9660
As an organization that represents the interests of our nation’s veterans, we would like to bring to your attention a serious matter that will undoubtedly impact the future employment of hundreds if not thousands of veterans who now work for the United States Postal Service
The United States Postal Service is one of the largest employers of veterans in the country. It is estimated that around 25% of the Postal Service’s 590,000 employees are veterans of our armed forces. Many of these veterans are employed at Postal Service mail processing facilities, which serve a vital role in sorting and preparing mail for delivery.
Our organization is fighting to stop the Postal Service plans to close over 250 of these mail processing facilities throughout the country due to the Postal Service’s current financial condition. Congress is debating several bills that could resolve the Postal Service’s financial crisis.
While the legislative debate continues, the Postal Service has plans for cost cutting that will impact thousands of postal employees, including large numbers of veterans and disabled veterans.
The Postal Service’s current plans call for the closure of up to 250 medium and large sized processing facilities throughout the country. This plan was moving along swiftly to be implemented early in 2012. But, due to Congressional pressure, the Postal Service has imposed a five-month moratorium on moving on facility closures until May 15, 2012. The moratorium will not suspend Postal Service’s planning efforts to implement these drastic cuts that will displace thousands of employees in a fragile economy.
We are concerned about the Postal Service’s plans for several reasons, but importantly our reason for contacting your organization due to the impact that these closures will have on veterans.
We need to bring to your attention the application of Reduction-In-Force (RIF) rules that the Postal Service utilizes in the total closure of a facility. In the United States Postal Service, each post office and facility is considered its’ own competitive area.
Representing supervisors, managers and postmasters in the United Slates Postal Service
When the Postal Service reduces the size of a workforce in an office or facility, veterans within that facility receive protection from the Reduction-in-Force and maintain employment through their right to be placed into an assignment that remains in the post office/facility that they are qualified for. However, when a post office or facility is closed, the competitive area is eliminated. In these instances, veterans do not have the same “bumping rights” that are afforded when positions are simply reduced .
Additionally, with the closure of a competitive area (such as a post office or processing facility), veterans do not enjoy any preference eligibility and can ultimately be impacted by a Reduction in Force (RIF) and be left unemployed.
We realize that the Postal Service must realign its’ workforce and that some positions need to be eliminated. Our organization has developed a plan that could reduce the impact of the Postal Service’s closure plans. Our plan calls for “right-sizing” mail processing facilities by reducing employee staffing at most facilities, instead of closing them, which requires reassigning employees to new, remote locations, and increasing the mail transportation and environmental costs.
Our plan makes closures of facilities a last resort, instead of the first option. If implemented, our plan could still achieve significant reductions in labor costs, while maintaining current service levels and, most importantly, continue sustaining and protecting the good-paying jobs of thousands of current and returning veterans.
We know that your organization has a long history of ensuring the rights of veterans who have given much in the protection of the liberties we enjoy in this country. We would appreciate your support in bringing this issue to the attention of the Congress so that the rights of veterans are not abridged as a result of the Postal Service’s current plans.
We would welcome an opportunity to discuss with you our concerns for the interests of veterans that both our organizations represent.
Sincerely yours,
Jay Killackey, Executive Vice President
National Association of Postal Supervisors
1727 King Street #400
703-836-9660
NAPS Letter to American Legion regarding USPS Veterans Preference Policies
NAPS Letter to the Veterans of Foreign Wars regarding USPS Veterans Preference Policies
NAPS Letter to the Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans of America regarding USPS Veterans Preference Policies
Send all these useless EAS morons packing. I’ve never met one that was worth a sh*t, much less the huge salaries these idiots draw.
Mr. Killackey, how does it feel now that the shoe is own your foot??? Let’s start the right sizing by getting rid of all you worthless pukes in managwement. Yea, I remember you confronting Jimmy Hunter-you ain’t nothing but a big worthless bully. May you be the first to get Riffed. I’m sure there is a McDonalds hiring in your neighborhood(my apolgies to the employee’s of McDonalds)
Create a new t6 position for daily operations and have the 6 most senior carriers switch off every day. This way we will be managed by our peers and not make work inbred micro- managers. The current management scam has no accountability and think the postal service needs them. WE DON’T! The other crafts can do the same.
Eliminate 110,000 managers equals 7 billion 150 million dollars in savings. Create 10k new t6’s to replace management costs only 500 million. It can be done. This is what our union should be pushing for. Then we won’t have to negotiate with a middle man like we are with management. It will be with an arbitrator. It goes to arbitration every contract anyway.
Veterans preference is null and void if an installation is closed. If an installation isn’t closed but the installation needs to be,” right sized” excessing rules would apply.
EAS employees, supervisors, etc. have Veteran Rights because they can have a reduction in force. Craft employees who are veterans have no reduction in force rights because there will be no reduction in force in the craft. They will be excessed and offered a job. It will be up to them to accept or decline. If they decline they just RIF’d themselves.
Veteran craft employees have no RIF rights…. period.
It’s a cryin’ shame stuporvisors and mismanagers who make every effort to fire us for the least infraction and then joke about it over coffee and donuts will get the shaft too.
There ain’t no justice!
Just a heads up here folks:
Don’t expect the other 88% (500,000 craft workers, many Vets with NO protection) to give it a hoot iffin they separate the whole lot of you with NO notice.
quote
“However, when a post office or facility is closed, the competitive area is eliminated. In these instances, veterans do not have the same “bumping rights” that are afforded when positions are simply reduced .”
Isn’t this backward? I thought facility closure to a gaining facility is the ONLY time ‘bumping’ or ‘full rebidding of jobs’ is allowed.
quote
Additionally, with the closure of a competitive area (such as a post office or processing facility), veterans do not enjoy any preference eligibility and can ultimately be impacted by a Reduction in Force (RIF) and be left unemployed.
I think this is also wrong. Vet Pref IS used in a RIF action. Of course, there is NO guarantee how many will have a job!