Are you one of the 18,000 people who accepted the Postal Service’s $15,000 buyout offer? Want to talk about why you took the deal? E-mail me. (Alternatively, if you didn’t accept the deal, I want to hear why not!)
I’m working on a story about the buyouts, and I’d love to include your stories. Glad to keep you anonymous, of course.
35 Comments
YES!! Took the early out because the workplace environment has gone from barely tolerable to totally intolerable. Less workers, more work for those who remain, people sitting in a room?? supervisors performing craft duties. Additionally they (for some unknown reason) moved the timecards from the entrance to almost the other end of the building & if you dare move your card there’ll be dire consequences!! Cant wait to get out of there fer sure- Woo Hoo!!
the p.o. needs to consider buy outs for highest paid cival service try 25000 a lot will go after all we are near retirement we just need that extra push and it would help both the po and old timers.
I want to take a buyout. The annunity income I will receive after 24 years of service is not enough for me to leave right now. The $15,000 incentive was not enough to make much of a difference. I would take a buyout that included a cost of living feature.
Yes, I have taken the early retirement offer this time around. I am 53 with over 31 yrs of service. For every year under the age 55 I lose 2% of my retirement , 4 % , but for every year worked over 30 I gain 2% , so I am losing 2% to retire early. I was going to go at 55 no matter what , so the $15, 000 while not that much , is enough to get me out the door. I have worked over 30 yrs on T-1, the overnight shift. Over the past 6-7 yrs or so my body is finally feeling the toll of pounding cement floors , lifting, and repetitive motion all these years. I can’t deal with all the pain anymore.
Plus I am so sick of seeing upper mgmt. run the place I used to have pride in , so far into the ground I don’t know if it can be salvaged. They may have their “excuses” but I want it known that supervisors are getting bonuses of thousands of dollars for their “good ideas” or doing a good job. Otherwise known as doing what they get a paycheck for in the first place. How dare ANY company billons of dollars in debt give anyone any extra money above their normal pay until they are operating in the black? AIG anyone? As for folks sitting around in rooms doing nothing aka standby time…. not where I work. Sure mail volume is definitely the lightest I have ever seen it , but we most often can find something productive to do.
I do look forward to my retirement , but also feel a bit of
melancholy.
Let me just add one more thing please. I know automation is a necessary part of Postal Service but for every piece of automated equipment to sort mail that a post office gets , management gets a pay raise. In my state we have one of largest mail processing plants. We have many machines that are idle for much of the time throughout a 24 hr period, not just now but always have. On my shift we have supervisors who run mail through their machines multiple times to get their “numbers” higher so they look good to their bosses. Now mulitply this nation wide. This is beyond mis-management and waste. Now when our unions contract comes up next year the lowly worker who is trying to get the mail out to the customer in spite of management , not because of them, will no doubt , be made to look like the bad guy as usual because we make so much money and have such wonderful benefits! (not) What saddens me most is the customer seems to no longer matter, it all about numbers and climbing the ladder. There will be no Post Office for anyone if this is not changed. Thank you for letting me get 30 yrs of “stuff” off my chest! Hey, you asked for it… ; )
Yes, I took the buyout. My facility is closing in a few months anyway. The only available jobs for us are between 500 and 1200 miles away. We are fortunate to be offered those but if you can’t move, that’s it. Since my job is already gone this buyout will buy me some time until I can find something else.
I didn’t take the buyout. I took the early out offered this past summer. Why? After over 30 years, which included over 20 years in management, I’ve seen the postal service evolve into a micro-managed company that had little or no need for actual managers at the local level. All opportunity to lead and manage was stripped away by district and area managers. The office that I managed led the way in productivity and revenue year after year, but it became a situation where it was never good enough. Over the past couple of years, we became impotent data entry clerks; our only responsibility was to respond to the brow-beating that we received day after day. I do not use the term “brow-beating” lightly. I have years of experience and have dealt with many types of managerial personalities, and they never bothered me to the point where I ever felt as though I was being harrassed. Until the past couple of years, the USPS was an enjoyable place to work. My colleagues in management and craft were all working together to serve our customers. Then the micromanagement advanced to such an extreme that were simply driven to produce more with less day after day. Our excellent record and continued excellent performance was now not good enough. We were treated with extreme disrespect by our MPOO and district and area managers. I would receive literally dozens and dozens of emails each and every day from our MPOO chastising us and goading us and blaming us. It became too much to deal with, and the work was no longer enjoyable, nor did I feel that we were striving for our common goal of customer service anymore. I went on a job search, found a new job to move on to, and gladly submitted my acceptance of an early retirement. I have found that work in the private sector is so much more enjoyable because I am now appreciated again, and my contributions are recognized as valuable. I find it very sad that a good career with the USPS had to end on such a down note, but the current state of management affairs has created a hostile, frustrating, impossible and unproductive environment.
I took the buyout. Best decision that I have made in three years.
I am a newer (2+ yr) ptf. I see no future for myself with the Post Office. We as ptf’s are constantly beaten over the head with the threat of layoffs, reduction of hours and then told that we can be scheduled for as few as two hours a week but must remain on call 24/7.
The ptf’s are forced to do the bulk of the work while the old time regulars who are guaranteed a job rarely, if ever put in a honest days work.
Every regular job that has been vacated has been abolished and a career as a ptf is not an option for me.
No,because the reduction in penalty,the 2 % per year is too much. OPM should tell the USPS the smart thing to do is buyout the csrs employee. They are the highest paid employee and most expensive employee. Vacancies created by these employees leaving would be replaced by FERS employees who would NEVER reach the top of the pay scale, thus the USPS would SAVE MONEY. Also eliminate all the area VP and asst VP, Jesus the little these people do and most if not all info to the field is done by the net over the computer which every post office has.
I couldn’t afford the buyout. But if the PTB will just buy my home for a cool million or so like it does the elites of the USPS, I could probably swing it.
I have a better question for you. Of the 15% reduction in management “positions” Potter was so happy to fill Congressional ears with, just how many EAS “personnel” were removed from postal service? I wager ZERO. Words mean things, and Potter is full to the brim.
Buyout not offered to carriers. Offer maximum buyout
to the civil service employees which would reduce
the highest paid employees, however only a serious
offer would be considered.
I’m a military retiree that has been with the USPS for only 2 years. I am taking the resignation buyout for several reasons. At the plant level there is no ability to move up as they keep those that are eligible to retire lingering around. Very few personnel are trained to an adequate level and the rest just keep mulling along until they are able to retire. It is very evident that the reduction in mail flow will have a devastating effect on personnel. Unfortunately, the USPS is not attempting to reorganize in a manner consistent with the modern age of electronic communication.
Finally, the mail processing is done in such an antequated format that it is not surprising that people choose other forms of communication.
After 30+years as a USPS Clerk under the CSRS, the $15000 buyout was an insult. I have 2 more years before I can retire at 62% of my “high 3”. I’ve opted to use all my accrued sick leave for total knee replacements on both knees (after decades of working 8-12 hrs/day on my feet on cement, tile or wood floors.) The USPS owes me new knees at full pay using my sick leave. ( I NEVER gave workman’s comp a thought for my knee surgery, because I didn’t want ANY involvement from the USPS with MY knees…!) Hopefully I’ll retire in 2011 to continue my life (without postal stupidity!) in a new career as an LPN—tuition for my training will be paid with my accrued annual leave, lump-sum-payment, at separation. Don’t get me wrong–the USPS has been a God-send from day one, providing benefits, salary and security for my two daughters and myself–but I can’t wait to get out of this organization!
I’m 53 years old with 34 years service. I could afford a 2 percent a year cut but just could’nt see giving 4 percent up. I just wonder how many more employees are in the same boat as I am. Surely they will come up with another offer.
I had the yrs. but not the age and I wasn’t about to lose 6 yrs of service for a measly 15k. After paying higher insurance premiums and leaving an annuity for my spouse I would have about 16k/yr to live on! I’m actually planning on staying and maxing out my retirement, I’m going to leave the USPS with as much as I can get.
I took the buyout, finally! I have 36 yrs. Only because I started working fresh out of high school. I was not old enough to leave with 30 yrs or Iwould have been gone long time ago. People often would ask me why I was still there with 35yrs. I would have gone without the buyout but the offer without it didn’t come close to the annuity that we needed to survive. But all I can say is HALLELUAH!!!!
Silly Question: Since only 18,000 took the incentive why not pay the full $15K? Like I said silly question……
oooooh Just had an epiphany – they’ll take the money they didn’t have to pay out (for the other 12,000) & place it some interest bearing account until Oct/ Nov 2010 them make payments out of the interest earned over that time period. OK I got it now……
RE: Jazzdork Couldn’t have said it better. All The Best!
Best decision I have every made. Working a full time job
that I simply love. Enrolled in school to finish a degree I
started 10 years ago . There ‘s life after the USPS.
i feel the postal retirees that retired after our postmaster told us that there would be no buyouts should be entitled to the money given to employees that did retire when it was offered.this was only three months of retirees.
I’m a military retiree and have 10.5 years at the USPS. So I took the 15k to run. With the average age in the mailhandler craft nearing 50 plus I could not see my self staying past my current 57. The more you did for management the more they wanted!! There was no recognition for a job well done, just more overtime for the OTDL. Sooner or later with no hiring going on the present workforce will be worn out and management will have to do all the work they are trying to do now. Then they will fall flat on their face. In the plant I recently retired from, since 2005 8-9 mailhandlers have retired and no one hired to replace them, not good planning on the USPS’s part. I will enjoy my retired days and hopefully get my golf game up to par.
32 years in june letter carrier in nj 52 yrs old 2 yrs 10 months to 55 csrs retirement i didnt take early vera,s penalty 2% year is too much i will be leaving at 55 yrs of age rumor has it in april they will offer 5yrs service and 5 years age to csrs employees or 25k to fers our choice anybody else hear such a rumor also the OIG found a 75Billion Dollar overpayment in to the csrs retirement fund that $ would be most sufficiant to get people off the rolls earl any thought i used to love my job still enjot my work on road but this micro management is killing all of us
the mangement in the postal service is becoming more abusive disrespectful employyes are so stressed so unhappy all managers care about is bonus,s this has to stop a bonus when we are told to do more work cause the service is broke from diminishing mail volumes wtf is going on unions wake up lets get congress more involved stop giving in the the fear of layoffs etc they are picking us apart ruining service the american people are disgusted
Why is it so hard for the leadership of the US Postal Service to see the answer right in front of them. Less than 20% of all postal employees are civil service employees, the highest paid. They all have,in May2010, less than 3 years to get 30 years required for retirement. Offer them early out without the 2% yearly cut and they leave in large numbers. Offer a cash payout with that and I think you will get more than 70%. What did the last offer get 18,000 total, not many.
Jerry your lips to gods ears we can only hope tired of it in nj
this letter was sent to congressman frank pallone and the rest of nj delegation.
Dear Congressman , I Will not be seeing you at our NJ congressionaal breakfast .I have resigned as the 6th district NALC leg liason. it has pained me to do so,I had a fantastic relationship with your office and appreciate all your support in the past 25 yrs ! But this year i cannot support the NALC unuion,s opposition to the usps 5 day delivery plan. I beleive the 5 day delivery is a must for the survival of the postal service it will trim 1/6 of the work force saving plenty of revenue !
The NALC union would have you and congress believe that 1/6 of would get laid off ( a union scare tactic) the American people were polled and the numbers say that the public is open to a 5 day delivery . I believe the NALC is more worried about membership dues and keeping their fat cat jobs, I f the union really cared about the memborship they would realize that the only way this great institution can prosper is to cut that 1 day of delivery the mail will just get delivered in 5 days save on fuel ,manpower and hey with the green inititive less polution from our mail trucks. I believe the postal service should offer another series of buyouts to CSRS employees a 5yr age 5 yr service buyout so that CSRS employees will take a buyout without penalty of 2% yr before age 55 and for a Fers employees A 25g buyout It take 12 years to reach full pay in the postal service new employees earn far less they are younger can work harder more productive . The union would like the newer employees to think a 5 day work week would result in their being laidoff if this isnt done we will all lose our jobs and the American people cannot stand for such a great loss of employment and i dont think the Obama administration would like it either ,THE ONLY DRAWBACK TO THIS PLAN IS THAT THE UNION WILL LOSE MEMBERSHIP WELL HECK WE ALL HAVE TO SACRIFICE! KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK FOR NJ FRANK HOPE TO SEE YOU SOON
Sincerley JOHN A COHEN BR 38 NJ
Dear Fred Rolando Pres National Association of Letter carriers
If we dont do something, hammer out some sort of agreement ,comprimise if you will, we the USPS cannot survive and the financial state we are in if these cuts are delayed we will not get a decent contract negotiated next year , put your self in as the arbitrator deciding the case ! We hear about the 75 mill that we are owed I dont see that happening and we believe if delayed we will get the poor contract no raises higher HB etc then they will still go to 5 day after all the fighting is over. The letter carriers who are working here deserve the job they have worked on for many years keeping union rolls filled should not be the main concern! You Sir have an obligation to protect the jobs of letter carriers who are presently employed and if the USPS needs to cut to survive then we must all do our part so at least the people who are employed now HAVE A JOB If a wage freeze or a giveback is necessary to prevent a 5 day model then what is the gain for the letter carriers now
Thank you Frank Fossetta BR 38
Dear Fred Rolando Pres National Association of Letter carriers
If we dont do something, hammer out some sort of agreement ,comprimise if you will, we the USPS cannot survive and the financial state we are in if these cuts are delayed we will not get a decent contract negotiated next year , put your self in as the arbitrator deciding the case ! We hear about the 75 Bill that we are owed I dont see that happening and we believe if delayed we will get the poor contract no raises higher HB etc then they will still go to 5 day after all the fighting is over. The letter carriers who are working here deserve the job they have worked on for many years keeping union rolls filled should not be the main concern! You Sir have an obligation to protect the jobs of letter carriers who are presently employed and if the USPS needs to cut to survive then we must all do our part so at least the people who are employed now HAVE A JOB If a wage freeze or a giveback is necessary to prevent a 5 day model then what is the gain for the letter carriers now
Thank you Frank Fossetta BR 38
eligible to retire want to retire need a buyout to make it wothhwhile get rid of us expensive csrs and make room for fers cheaper to keep them
I have 28 years+ as a clerk,[16 years on the window]. The situation has become intolerable on the work room floor for all. We don’t have enough help, the customers are complaining and don’t understand, and we are being hounded by mystery shoppers and micro-managers. I agree with Mr. Rossberg. Give us a decent bailout and we CSRS will retire. I am about to turn 60 next month, so I would take a 4 per cent cut, but with a decent amount of money I can make it work.. I know the managers want me out, but without some cash up front i simply can’t afford it. I would be glad to go as I said because of the impossible work environment.
a lot of rumors of a buyout anybody hearing them let us know Be Out by Jan 1 2011
The fact is that you all have or had too many rights. Im a casual at a processing plant and experienced nothing but lazy undeserved pay for career employees. The fact that any company would offer you money to get the [****] out because you’re useless is bogus. If you are not needed at a company (any other company on the face of the earth) you are laid off, period. What makes any of think that because you took a 473 test one day and scored above a 70% (wow thats hard) that you are deserved 30 fabulous years at a payrate that is above the average 4 year degree job pay rate. ALL OF YOU ARE USELESS UNLESS YOU ARE ACTUALLY HELD ACCOUNTABLE FOR YOUR WORK PERFORMANCE. The union was created to ensure that all of you lazy people can be lazy as much as you want, hense managers cannot tell you what to do, hense if youve retired thank you for leaving, you were wasting the governments money. P.S. I hate all of you and hope that you have to work for a dollar a day like a billion people do on the planet. Grow some sense and be thankfull for what you stole.
Your jobs are easy, if you cant handle it [*******] leave so a deserved employee can feed his family you [*** ****] imbasoles.
1-13-11 I called my union president 3 days ago to ask him about the early out rumor. He said to me that NALC and management are working on a early out package for carriers. Stand by for details down the the road .. All i was told. Hoping for $ 25,000 and 3 to 5 years added to your time it would be sweet… If i was to take a guess ? the early will be for the people under the old pension system CSRS
normal person you are probably not even an american citizen casual TE loser you sir are a loser you cant even get a real job and you blame people who are 30 year employees pleeeze find another job buddy you will soon be gone if not already GOOD LUCK