Layoffs - Worst Case Scenario?

Threats of privatization, Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) snooping, and government upheaval raise alarms while big banks like Wells Fargo outline what postal workers face, which is a “buy out” followed by layoffs.

More than 100,000 postal workers could face layoffs because of their tenure or employee status. Few APWU-represented postal workers have life-time protection against any involuntary layoff under the 1978 arbitrated collective bargaining agreement (CBA). The rest must earn their protection by completing six years of continuous service in pay status, with at least one hour or call-in guarantee for 20 of the 26 pay periods each year, per Article 6 of the CBA.

Forewarned Is For Armed

Per Article 6, management can “effect layoffs for lack of work or other legitimate reasons,” and the layoffs can be exercised in lieu of reassigning employees (excessing) under Article 12. Also, if Congress repeals or significantly relaxes the Private Express Statutes, which are a set of federal laws that prohibit private entities from carrying and delivering letter mail without paid U.S. postage, our

current layoff protections expire. For decades we have successfully fought off privatization, but now the snarling wolves are ready to bite. Former Postmaster General DeJoy’s agreement with DOGE claims to be driven by efficiency, but the reality equates to cuts undermining a struggling service.

How Layoff Occurs

Management identifies which employees will be laid off based on job classification in competitive areas and levels, such as Veterans' Preference, seniority, tenure location, and more. The union is given a 90-day notice, while impacted employees only receive a 30-day notice.

Preconditions include a reduction in postal support employees (PSEs) and a 20-day posting of vacancies in the installation, or commuting area, for possible selection and reassignment. Severance pay and allowances are described in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) Chapter 435. Health and life insurance coverage is subject to the ELM (see Article 6 for specifics).

The disruption that layoffs would inflict is real, but privatization or a merger into a federal department, like Commerce, is dastardly. Private companies do not have to retain our union contract. Current federal entities could void our contract and the rights of postal workers, like it did with TSA.

What You Can Do About It

You and your coworkers are the Union! No matter your political party, now is the time to protect America’s Postal Service!

Helping to protect the Peoples’ Post Office and YOUR job security is E.A.S.Y.:

Educate yourself and those around you about the threat of dismantling the USPS and how it would undermine service.

Assemble and protest! Let’s get the public on our side to stop any efforts to privatize or dismantle our Postal Service. Handout flyers and make signs for events at your local post offices.

Sell service, not postage when dealing with our public and their mail. Your job depends on it!

Your congressional representatives need to hear from you, your family, and neighbors, to support House Resolution 70 and Senate Resolution 147! Dial 844-402-1001 and urge them to protect USPS from privatization. It will only take three minutes.

For more ways to take action, visit apwu.org/action.

America’s Cornerstone

Our Post Office was established by the Continental Congress in 1775, enshrined into the Constitution by Congress in 1789, and signed into law in 1792. The history of the USPS is the history of the United States.

My fellow Coordinators Tiffany Foster, Amy Puhalski, AJ Jones, Yared Wonde, and I urge you to help us save the People’s Postal Service.

If you and every APWU member, with your coworkers, take action - the U.S. Postal Service will remain the Post Office of the People, By the People, and For the People. Will You stand up for our Post Office before it is too late? ■