The NALC and USPS have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding that would allow hiring retired letter carriers to work during the four-week December 2014 period: MOU Re: Holiday Carrier Assistants. The APWU had a similar initiative for APWU retirees in the 2006-2010 Contract. APWU Retirees Director Judy Beard wrote in 2008:
The APWU continues to pursue the re-employment of postal retirees in new retail outlets. One of the crowning achievements of the 2006 contract negotiations was the agreement under which Postal Service retirees would be eligible for part-time positions in retail outlets.
However, this agreement was never implemented because federal law stipulates that when retiree annuitants return to work for a federal agency, their annuity must be offset by the salary they earn. The Office of Personnel Management (OPM) may grant waivers of this requirement, and if a waiver is granted, there is no offset. This exception should be the rule.
The APWU POStPlan arbitration win will create more than 6,000 PSE Level 6 jobs in POStPlan offices. APWU retirees may be interested in these jobs. OPM has already granted a permanent waiver for Temporary Relief Carrier (TRC) and Postmaster Relief (PMR) positions. The Postal Service should ask OPM to add Postal Support Employees (PSEs) to the list. A noncareer postal appointment with an OPM waiver is limited to 180 days of actual work in a calendar year. Any days worked beyond the allowable limit are subject to a salary or annuity reduction. The USPS would benefit by getting an experienced employee already trained in handling USPS products and services.