Agreement Reached on Displaced ‘Katrina’ Employees

APWU Web News Article #15-06, March 3, 2006

The APWU and the Postal Service have reached an agreement that allows Katrina-impacted employees to elect to remain temporarily or permanently in their current assignments. The agreement amends a Feb. 8 USPS letter to displaced postal workers that instructed, “if you are working in an installation other than your home office, you must report to your installation immediately.”

“The letter in early February showed a lack of compassion,” said APWU President William Burrus, “and caused quite an uproar, especially among the many employees who are still unable to return to the homes they were living in when Katrina hit.”

The recent agreement provides an election form that impacted employees will use to elect “to remain working at their current location or report to their assigned office.” The Feb. 8 letter went to employees whose home facilities have recently become operational.

The affected employees must complete the forms by March 31, but may continue to work at their present locations during the election process.

[back to top]