Congress Finally Approves FERS Sick-Leave Credit!

Finally a victory for FERS employees! In an end to a long and hard fought battle, FERS employees (postal and federal workers who fall under the Federal Employees Retirement System) will now receive credit for unused sick leave when they retire. By a 68-29 vote margin Thursday, the Senate approved a compromise version of the 2010 Defense Authorization bill which includes the new benefit. The measure, which includes a number of pay and retirement provisions (see below) was previously approved in a House-Senate conference on Oct. 7 and adopted in full by the House the following day. Click here to see how your senators voted.

Mirroring a benefit already enjoyed by Civil Service Retirement System employees (CSRS), the new provision allows FERS-covered workers to receive a 50 percent credit for unused sick leave until Dec. 31, 2013 then beginning Jan. 1, 2014, they will begin receiving full credit.

President Obama is expected to sign the bill into law although there is some concern over the fact that the legislation contains an additional $130 billion in funding for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan including $7.5 billion earmarked for training of Afghan security forces.

The bill also includes:

• A provision that would allow employees who choose to work part-time toward the end of their careers to use a higher salary figure in calculations for how the reduced work factors into their retirement benefits.


• A provision that would move workers in Hawaii, Alaska, the Virgin Islands and other U.S. territories from cost-of-living adjustments to a locality-pay system; Territorial COLAs would be applied differently to postal employees than to other federal workers. The T-COLAs would not be taxed and would not be credited towards retirement; for other federal employees these earnings would be taxed and would be credited toward retirement.


• A provision that would allow FERS employees who left and then returned to government service to redeposit savings in the retirement system and earn credit for years they had previously worked.

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To read the full story at APWU.Org

Dispelling the Myths

The APWU has published a flyer challenging some of the fallacies and false assumptions being reported as fact by news agencies regarding the cause(s) of the financial crisis in which the Postal Service now finds itself. The flyer, titled [Fact & Fiction ] rebuts claims and assertions recently put forth by a variety of news outlets.

President Burrus Announces Retirement in 2010

Bringing his 53-year career to a close, APWU President William Burrus announced he would not seek re-election in November 2010; he plans to retire at the end of this term. Burrus made the emotional announcement Sept. 30th, during his closing remarks at the union’s All-Craft Conference. Throughout his celebrated career he has fought for and won better wages, working conditions and benefits for hundreds of thousands of postal workers.

“I am in good health and I love what I do,” he said. “But I want to move on to another part of my life. He introduced his wife to the assembly saying, “I want to spend more time with my wonderful wife, Ethelda. She has been by my side throughout my 37 years as an executive officer of this union.”

“I have looked forward to every day that I have served our members, and I look forward to the next 13 months. This is not the end, but effective November 2010 it will be time for me to turn the page and move on to the rest of my life. “In the interim, I intend to continue my commitment to the membership, every hour, every day.” Conference participants responded with two standing ovations. More than 2,000 members were in attendance.

Burrus’ retirement coincides with the expiration of the current contract (November 20, 2010) and the wrapping up of negotiations for a new collective bargaining agreement.

Finally! A Little Breathing Room

Senate Approves Short-Term Relief for USPS
The Senate approved an appropriations bill Sept. 30 that includes emergency financial relief for the Postal Service. The Fiscal Year 2010 funding measure (H.R. 2918) passed by a vote of 62-38. The postal provision gives the USPS one year of financial relief, allowing it to make a reduced payment to the Postal Service Retiree Health Benefits Fund for future-retiree health benefits. President Obama signed the legislation that evening. [full story]