USPS denies Reassessment Program on hold in Pacific Area
by Dan Sullivan
June 14 - The Postal Service has denied a report that its controversial Reassessment Program has been temporarily halted in the Pacific Area.
APWU Western Region Coordinator Omar Gonzalez told delegates attending the May 18 California State APWU Convention that USPS Vice President Al Iniquez and USPS Human Resources Manager Manuel Vetello had informed him the day before that the Reassessment Program was put on hold in the Pacific Area to allow the Postal Service time to assess the impact of EEO complaints, Merit Systems Protection Board (MSPB) appeals and grievances filed over the controversial program.
Gonzalez’ remarks were reported and posted on a number of postal worker Internet sites last week.
But Kevin McGovern, the USPS Manager in charge of the program, has told APWU Human Relations Director Sue Carney that Iniquez and Vetello deny telling Gonzalez the program was put on hold.
A spokesman for McGovern has referred all questions about the Reassessment Program to the American Postal Workers Union.
Gonzalez was not available for comment today.
The purpose of the Reassessment Program is to cull injured workers from the payroll by dumping them on Workers’ Compensation and then retraining them for private sector jobs.
The project is being tested in the Western New York Region and the Pacific Area.
The Postal Service is still waiting on final approval from USPS Labor Relations Vice President Anthony Vegliante before going nationwide with the program, according to Carney.
“When it is approved, they do not expect a rapid expansion,” she says. “It is being estimated that two to three postal districts per year will be reassessed.”
At that rate it could take 10 to 15 years before the program reaches all 33 postal districts in the country.
Carney says the Postal Service has promised to notify the union when the nationwide Reassessment Program is approved and “when a schedule is formalized.”
Contact Dan Sullivan at dan_sullivan9026@hotmail.com
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USPS Reassessment Program on hold in Pacific Area
June 18th, 2006 at 1:42 pm
If Omar Gonzales says he was told by Al Iniquez and Vetello that the program was placed on hold, then I have to believe Omar, for Omar gains nothing by telling such a lie. Omar is the BEST Western Region Coordinator we have had in years; and I support him! Our NBA Woodrow Williams on the other hand is a complete idiot. but thats another subject for another day. In any event, don’t be hoodwinked by Management. When ever Management says something, I suggest you tread cautiously!
June 18th, 2006 at 4:56 pm
Western Region Coordinator Omar Gonzales is a man
who will not lie to his brothers and sisters, I
believe him and not Postal management.
June 19th, 2006 at 4:50 pm
Omar Gonzales says he was told by Al Iniquez lol !
Omar gains nothing by telling such a lie lol !
Omar is the BEST Western Region Coordinator we have had in years? Well - better than the previous one, yes - I agree especially when you look at the comparitive who used to fly 1st class to Guam for step 1s ! When ever Management says something? - wait a minute, it was Omar that said it and he isn’t denying it is he? But, of course no one can get a hold of him for comment lol!
Omar Gonzales is a man who will not lie to his brothers and sisters? Really? And you know this for a fact? lol lol lol…this is just too much for me lol lol ! Omar is the consumate politician;
just ask his “crew” at LA !
June 20th, 2006 at 3:00 pm
Many others were there in Long Beach for the Calif. State Convention and heard Omar tell the delegates that he had met with area management the day prior. He told us what they told him, and he also implied it was not believable what mgmt said. Everyone knows the Post Office lies.He met with the area the same day that Carney met with the PO at National. When has postal management ever communicated with each other. Get real here people. we go into a mgmt meeting and they say they don’t have answers, and then the next day or next week, whenever, a major event takes place. They either lie or don’t know. That is a fact! And you should be blaming the PO. Not attacking our union officials. Omar has always been there for my local since he took office. Some of the others only appear, call, etc when it’s time for elections. And I’m not bad mouthing them. Maybe they are busy. But Omar is there for you, he calls, he responds, and he gets his job done too. Lets fight who deserves to be fought, USPS. And lets help those who fight for us. And those other union officals who aren’t as productive, let them know, help them, and remind them who they work for.
Reassessment is a real threat, it’s here, lets not use this as a political tool to harm our own current officials in order to boost the political agenda of new candidates. Nothing fought with the USPS is ever resolved at the lowest level. And this issue will be unresolved for awhile.
June 21st, 2006 at 3:14 pm
Someone once said that There’s more to the truth than just the facts.I know for a fact it wasn’t Omar who said it!
As for the previous blogger I can only say that lemmings will do what lemmings are good at doing!