This story was updated at 3:52 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 13 to include a statement from the Postal Service. A USPS spokesman initially declined to comment. This story was also updated at 4:34 p.m. to include new details about which APWU bargaining unit employees are eligible for the early retirement incentives.
The Postal Service is offering early retirement buyouts to mail handlers who work in the agency’s mail processing facilities, and other USPS employees who work in a variety of support positions.
USPS, in a memo obtained by Federal News Network, is offering lump-sum incentive payments worth up to $15,000 to eligible mail handlers who agree to a voluntary early retirement in the coming months.
The agency reached an agreement with the National Postal Mail Handlers Union, which represents 47,000 mail handlers nationwide, as well as the American Postal Workers Union, which represents 222,000 active and retired postal clerks, mail processors and sorters, as well as other USPS occupations.
Federal News Network reached out to both unions for comment.