USPS Announces the Waiving of the ASP Requirement for Impacted Employees

Following the recommendations of NAPS Headquarters and negotiations between NAPS and the Postal Service, Postal Service Headquarters has agreed to eliminate the requirement for ASP training for impacted individuals who are applying for initial level positions in Phase Three.

NAPS’ held the position that since the Postal Service halted the ASP program that it should not hold impacted employees to the requirement for ASP training as a requirement for application to Customer Service positions. NAPS believed that this restriction unnecessarily excluded individuals who had the basic skills and abilities to compete for Customer Service positions.

In agreeing with NAPS’ position and eliminating the requirement, the Postal Service has also agreed with NAPS’ proposals on training and will also simultaneously roll out a new training program to assist individuals who will be in need of specific training to become successful in Customer Services positions.

This newly designed training, which we previously highlighted in our minutes from the most recent Consultative Meeting, will be accomplished through a combination of modular training courses, eTraining and classroom training to assist impacted employees in successfully transitioning into Customer Services positions.

In the Phase Three selection process, the Postal Service has developed a standardized interview that will provide candidates the opportunity to provide responses to questions in the area of performance management and other general management information that we believe an individual who has worked in the Postal Service should be able to respond to. These questions will be standardized so that every individual will be measured with the same yardstick in their pursuit of a position to avoid the RIF.

Formal notification of this new procedure should be rolled out to the field within the next day or two.

For impacted employees who will be competing for Customer Service positions in Phase Three, we highly recommend that you sharpen your skills in the areas of basic management of employees, including handling problems in Sick Leave, work performance and other basic management techniques that will be necessary in working in Customer Services.

To download a copy of the PowerPoint presentation, please click the download link below.