Outplacement Program Pilot
Submitted by mhu305 on Tue, 04/15/2008 - 16:06.
in
Updated:
December 14 2005
Employees Who Have Substained job-related illness or injury
Mr. T.J. Branch
Contract Adminstration Representative
National Postal Mail Handlers Union
1101 Connecticut Avenue, N.W. Suite 500
Washington, DC 20036-4303
Dear T.J.
This is in response to your March 16 letter posing questions on the Outplacement Program pilot about which the NPMHU was not notified by letter dated March 5. A briefing on the pilot wa held on March 17. It was during this briefing that the Postal Service addressed all thirty-two questions posed in the letter as well as four additional questions the NPMHU sent by e-mail on the morning of March 17, prior to the briefing. While initially satisfied with the verbal responses to the questions provided. The following respones to that request:
1. How is the pharse "employee who have sustained job-related illness or injury" defined?
RESPONSE: Employees who are working in permanent rehabilitation assignments or in limited duty assignments.
2. Is this program limited to "re-hab" employees or does it also include any employee who sustained a job related illness or injury?
RESPONSE: See response to previous question.
3. Will this program affect Mail Handlers currently working limited duty assignments?
RESPONSE: No.
4. Will the "work opportunties" include work with other federal agencies?
RESPONSE: Yes.
5. If so, which federal agencies?
RESPONSE: Work opportunties are determined by OWCP.
6. Will the "work opportunities" include employment with private companies?
RESPONSE: Yes.
7. Is so, which companies?
RESPONSE: Work opportunities are determined by OWCP.
8. Will the provisions of ELM Section 546 continue to apply.
RESPONSE: Yes.
9. Will these employees have MSPB right to appeal the denial of their restoration rights.
RESPONSE: The Postal Service will continue to comply with applicable MSPB rules and regulations.
10. Are these employees covered under the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 or the American with Disabilities Act?
RESPONSE: The Posatal Service employees are not covered by the ADA. They are covered by the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 if they meet the statutory criteria.
11. What rate of pay will apply?
RESPONSE: The rate at the point of injury or last day before filling a CA-7
12. Will these employees continue to receive step increases, COLAs, contract increases, etc?
RESPONSE: Yes.
13. Will USPS / OWCP make up the difference if the new position is at a lower rate of pay?
RESPONSE: The employee will be "made whole" relative to the appropriate Postal salary.
14. Will these employees continue to receive their current benefits ( health, life insurance,
etc )?
RESPONSE: They may or may not receive the same level of benefits, depending on the company for whom they are working.
15. If so, who will pay for their benefits?
RESPONSE: Their new employer is responsible for the benefits package.
16. Will these employees continue to accrue retirement credit for the time working in the positions outside the USPS?
RESPONSE: No
17. Will these employees be allowed to participate in the TSP?
RESPONSE: No, unless reemployment in the federal sector and covered by CSRS, CSRS
Offset, or FERS.
18. Will employees' work schedules be the same as their old ones?
RESPONSE: No unless by coincidence.
19. Will these employees be subject to the disciplinary procedures of the position outside the USPS?
RESPONSE: Yes.
20. Are these positions permanent or temporary?
RESPONSE: Permanent.
21. Will the employee be returned to positions in the Postal Service once the recover?
RESPONSE: Yes. They will be restored in accordance with applicable regulations.
22. Will the employees be returned to a position in the USPS once positions in the USPS within their medical limitation become available?
RESPONSE: No
23. Is participation in this [ OWCP ] program mandatory or voluntary?
RESPONSE: Voluntary.
24. What happens if the employee refuses the new position or to be rehabilitated?
RESPONSE: This question should be directed to OWCP.
25. How far away can new assignments be?
RESPONSE: This question should be directed to OWCP.
26. Who will be responsible for transportation?
RESPONSE: This question should be directed to OWCP.
27. What is the timetable for the other NY Metro districts?
RESPONSE: The timetable has not yet been determined. The union will be notified when it is finalized.
28. Will there be union involvement in the process?
RESPONSE: Yes
29. Is the Mail Handler craft the only craft involved in this process?
RESPONSE: No. The review will cover all postal employees.
30. If not, which other constructs?
RESPONSE: We don't understand the question.
31. If sufficient assignments are available in the USPS, but not in the employee's installation, will the employee be allowed to accept one of those positions outside the installation?
RESPONSE: Yes.
32. Will these employees be offered transfer opportunties within the USPS?
RESPONSE: Transfer opportunties are covered by the collective bargaining agreement.
33. What is the Postal Service's plan after the one year pilot?
RESPONSE: We plan to explan the process when protocols are tested and in place.
34. What type of rehabilitation training will be provided?
RESPONSE: That question should be directed to OWCP. We assume training will vary by case.
35. What is the projected number of employees for the pilot?
RESPONSE: A minimum of twenty-five; the total depends on individual circumstances.
36. What is the breakdown by craft?
RESPONSE: In the first phase, only city letter carriers have been affected. There are six.
37. Are management employees included in the pilot?
RESPONSE: Yes.
Doug A. Tulino
Manager
Labor Relations Policies and Programs
