Thousands of postmasters take early retirement, buyouts
By Kedar Pavgi
4:37 PM ET, Aug. 6, 2012 - GovExec.com
Nearly 3,800 postmasters accepted incentives to
leave the U.S. Postal Service as of July 31, and hundreds more plan to join them
in the coming weeks.
Postal Service spokesman Mark Saunders told
the Federal Times that 3,776 postmasters had elected to leave at
the end of July. An additional 95 plan to separate from the agency at the end of
August, and another 233 will leave at the end of September. Saunders also said
more postmasters could opt into the early retirement and buyout program in the
coming weeks. The agency estimated
that 7,400 total employees, including the postmasters, would take separation
incentives granted in May.
Under a cost-cutting initiative known as the
Post Office Structure Plan, thousands of postmasters were facing reduced hours
or layoffs. The POStPlan would affect 13,000 post offices, served by 9,500
postmasters. Eligible postmasters received a $20,000 early-out incentive split
into payments for 2012 and 2013.
Saunders told the Federal Times
that vacant postmaster positions would be filled using internal candidates
and job announcements.
USPS is under intense economic pressure. The
agency defaulted
last week on a $5.5 billion payment to prefund retiree health benefits and
likely will miss another payment due in September.
POStPlan has come
under some scrutiny, mainly it would severely cut services at rural post
offices. These offices form the central social and information hub for many
small towns with limited Internet access.
By Kedar Pavgi
4:37 PM ET
http://www.govexec.com/pay-benefits/2012/08/thousands-postmasters-take-early-retirement-buyouts/57242/