We Need Better Treatment of RIF-Impacted Veterans

We Need Better Treatment of RIF-Impacted Veterans
By Jordanna Garland
Reporter and Office Manager for the Golden Valley News, the local newspaper in Beach, ND

In his column this month, NAPS President Ivan D. Butts discusses the differences between the USPS and GSA treatment of veterans in a RIF, positing the USPS could do better. Jordanna Garland interviewed NAPS member Randall Daugherty, a RIF-impacted veteran, to discuss his experience.

Garland: How long were you in the military? What branch did you serve in and what positions did you hold?

Daugherty: I’ve been in the military for approximately 40 years. I joined the Army in 1983 and got out in January 2023. I started as an E-1 and made it all the way up to E-8 as a first sergeant.

I was active duty for seven years, five months and 21 days. I was deployed to Korea, as well as Iraq and Saudi Arabia. I was at Fort Campbell, Kentucky, for a little over four and a half years, which was my last active-duty station.

I next went into the reserves in the 14th Quartermaster Company, Greensburg, PA—home of the famous 14th Quartermaster Detachment. In Operation Desert Storm, the detachment suffered the greatest number of casualties of any allied unit. Thirteen soldiers were killed and 43 wounded from an Iraqi scud missile attack on Feb. 25, 1991; 81% of the unit’s soldiers were killed or wounded.

After 20-plus years in the unit, I had a knee replacement and no longer could perform my duties or lead by example, so I decided to leave the military. I decided next to take the Postal Service test, not really having any ambition of working in a post office.

I was hired and decided to leave school and go to work for the Postal Service.

Garland: How were you notified of the RIF?

Daugherty: I was notified by an email. The agency emailed my RIF notice seven times, telling me I was a RIF employee and would be placed in a Tour 1, Level-17 supervisor, Distribution Operations, position.

Daugherty: I was notified by an email. The agency emailed my RIF notice seven times, telling me I was a RIF employee and would be placed in a Tour 1, Level-17 supervisor, Distribution Operations, position.

I am currently a Tour 2 manager in a Level-20 position and have been a manager on Tour 2 since 2006. I previously was RIFed in a Level-19 position, then went to Maintenance as a manager in a Level-19 position. I came back into mail processing as a Level-20, right back into the same position when I was a Level-19, Tour 2 manager, where I have remained.

When I received the recent RIF email, I emailed the RIF system and was told to send all emails and ques-tions to a specific email address, which I did. On my seventh request, I received a reply and was told my military service was reviewed by a committee, but the Level-17 position was the best position they could offer.

I responded there was a Level-20 position available in which I could bump out the current person because it was my current pay grade. I was told I could not do that because I was not qualified and did not have the knowledge to learn the position.

I responded, “Who are you to judge regarding what I can and cannot learn?” I reaffirmed my military and Postal Service career—started in 1993 as a PTF, was a 204(b) and manager by 2008. All I was asking for was to be given the opportunity to try and get a job in round one and, if unsuccessful, try in round two.

I was told, “You only have the option in round one. You cannot choose in round two because you no longer are a RIF employee; you were assigned a position in round one.”

I pointed out that I had not asked to be assigned to a position and this was different from the previous RIF; the rules change each time. Following the ELM and emails I sent, I should have the opportunity to get a job in round one and round two. I should not be placed in the Level-17 supervisory position because there are other positions I could bump, including the available Level-20.

I stressed the unfairness of the process at being placed in the Level-17 position when I am qualified for the Level-20 position. I felt my military career had not been taken into consideration. I am at the highest level of the RIF—a 10-point veteran and 40% disabled.

Long story short, the Level-20 was not available in round one. I emailed HRSSC numerous times, as well as many others. I talked to my plant manager who tried to help me; back and forth we went. The position was awarded to someone else.

I feel veterans are not being treated correctly and not being given any benefits. We are being put at the back of the pack and not being given the opportunity to apply for positions in round two. Instead of taking into consideration being a 10-point veteran and 30% disability, we are just placed into a position; this is not how it is supposed to work.

Garland: You touched on this a little bit, but how has the RIF impacted you—your position, salary and location?

Daugherty: The RIF has impacted me personally. I go to work every day and wonder, “Do I have a job, do I not have a job?” The anxiety, stress and aggravation on myself and my family are tremendous. My wife has many medical issues. She doesn’t need this extra stress and anxiety and should not have to deal with it.

It affects me daily. I haven’t missed a day of work since 1993 that wasn’t scheduled and never have called off sick. I have called off twice on emergency leave.

At the end of this year, I’ll have 40 years in the Postal Service with my military service. I go to work early and stay late. We’re paid for eight hours on the clock. As a manager, there are things that need to be done that you must do; it’s part of your position. I put forth 150% effort, whether I’m at work or not.

Garland: What actions do you think the Postal Service should take to help RIF-impacted veterans?

Daugherty: RIF-impacted veterans should be given the opportunity to try and get a position in round one, as well as round two. Wherever the Postal Service feels we should be slotted in, tell us. But if we can find a position better suited, then we should be able to try and attain that position. No one should be able to tell me or another employee, “You only are qualified to do this.”

How do they know what I’m qualified to do? They used the information on my eCareer, but never talked to me or my manager. They never talked to anyone in my facility regarding what I do, my strong suits, weaknesses, etc.

I was told a committee made the determination, but I could not get the names or phone numbers of the committee members. The least they should be doing is calling my manager and getting their assessment of my abilities and the jobs I am capable of performing. This is not fair treatment.

Military veterans are not being treated fairly because they are not being given opportunities to apply for jobs in round two. The Postal Service is automatically downgrading them and slotting them into positions, as I was—from a Level-20 to a Level-17.

Despite being told I have saved-grade for two years, that’s not the position in which I have been. I have not updated my eCareer since 2015; there was no need. No one spoke to me, but a decision was automatically made.

Garland: Are similar issues happening to other postal veterans?

Daugherty: I know of another similar situation where a veteran was slotted into a job. It comes down to knowing a little bit about everything in my facility—whatever the tour, position, etc. If pointed in a different position, give me the opportunity to be successful. But, instead of being given the opportunity, the decision is being made for me; that’s across the board.

Garland: What would you like other RIF-impacted veterans to know?

Daugherty: I want other veterans to call their legislators. Also, push back against the Postal Service when these decisions are made. Put in for as many jobs as you can. It’s frustrating because we are not being given opportunities in round two.

Garland: As a veterans-preference employee, were you placed in a position?

Daugherty: Yes, I was placed in a Level-17, Tour 1, supervisor, Operations Distribution position. I was asked to read, sign and return my RIF letter. I never signed the letter because if you sign it, you are accepting it. I’m not accepting that position. I know of two jobs in my facility that will open in round two. But, because I was slotted into a position without my permission, I am ineligible to apply in round two because I no longer am considered a “RIF-impact-ed” employee.

Garland: You said there were higher-level positions for which you were minimally qualified?

Daugherty: Correct. There is a brand-new Level-20 position for in-plant support that would make two Level-20 positions. I could have filled that without bumping anyone, but I never got the opportunity. I was told I was not qualified, despite my many years’ experience.

Garland: Did you try and use the ELM provision to request a lateral or downgrade?

Daugherty: I went ahead and talked to the RIF Committee via email; nobody wants to talk to you over the phone. I asked about being lateraled into the Level-20 job, but was told I was not qualified. There was nothing more I could do. I was not going to downgrade to a Level-17.

Garland: What was the USPS’ re-sponse to the request?

Daugherty: At first, it took seven rounds of sending the same email to get a response. Employees are told, “We are here for you. All you have to do is send an email. We will answer any of your questions. But on the tel-econ, we only will answer generalized questions.”

I was able to get on three telecons. I asked general questions, but got no answers. I went ahead and sent a long email—no response. Every day, I sent the email with additional responses on my end. After I sent the seventh email, I received a response that read, “We’re reviewing it.”

How are they reviewing it? I could not get any information. I was told I was not qualified for the Level-20 and was placed in the Level-17 position, of which they knew nothing about. It is the most-junior Level-17 in the facility.

Despite my asking about attaining other positions, I was told I was not qualified. I would have driven to Postal Headquarters and stood in front of a panel of five people to ask me questions, face to face.

Garland: Do you feel the USPS is honoring your and other veterans’ service to our nation during RIFs?

Daugherty: I feel veterans are being badly mistreated. We are considered RIF employees in round one, but not RIF employees in round two. What changed? We have military preference, but were placed in a position so we no longer are a RIF-impacted employee.

How am I not a RIF-impacted employee? I lost my position! Just because someone decided to place me in a position I did not want does not mean I no longer am a RIF-impacted employee. I still lost my position and am a RIF-impacted employee. I should have the opportunity—as well as every other veteran—to get a job in round two.

Garland: What do you think should be done to make the USPS process better for all employees?

Daugherty: All RIF employees should be given the opportunity for a position one and position two. When both go, all employees who are RIF-impacted should be given the opportunity. In round one, the agency is letting anyone get a job because it will open up other jobs for round two.

But military veterans don’t have that opportunity. Everyone RIF-impacted should be able to get the opportunity for round two, as well. And if you are a veteran and don’t keep a job from round one or two, then tell me, “These are the available jobs,” and let me pick one.

There should be a standing order based off your years of service for the pecking order of who’s picking first.

Garland: Is there anything else you would like to say?

Daugherty: I feel the Postal Service is badly mistreating people. Leadership at Postal Headquarters say “We want to have a team. We want everyone to work together. We want you to advance. When you have new employees, we want you to do from A to Z.”

They want you to do a lot with new employees to try and keep them and have a concept of teamwork—everybody work together, good atmosphere, good working conditions. But this is how you treat people?

You treat people badly, yet you want teamwork? You want cooperation? I have almost 40 years in the Postal Service and this is how you treat your employees?

You want me to promote teamwork and say how great it is here, how good we have it. We are supposed to push the message of how good the Postal Service is and how it looks out for you.

Instead, you are a number; that’s all we are. I am highly disappointed in the Postal Service. The anxiety and stress the agency is causing me and my family is so wrong.

Garland: Thank you so much for speaking with me today. I really appreciate it.

Daugherty: I am happy to do it. I’m proud of my military uniform and what I did in the military. I love the military; I love my position. But I’m disappointed in the Postal Service.