Computer Error Overpays Thousands of Postal Workers

[doxieone]

http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGB4HK6KJVD.html

Computer Error Overpays Thousands of Postal Workers
The Associated Press
Published: Jun 16, 2004






WASHINGTON (AP) - Thousands of postal workers will receive overpayments this week due to a computer error, the Postal Service said Wednesday.
An extra close-out payment was due to about 1,900 employees who transferred from management positions to union bargaining unit jobs in 2002, postal spokesman Gerry McKiernan said. The payments varied, but averaged about $4,000, he said.

snip

[doxieone]

1. Title said "thousands". Article says 1900.

Dont spend they money, they recommended.

Good Luck Chuck.

[soothsayer]

2. actually, they said they recommend that they don't "spent" the money

Hoo boy. So much for grammar and editing.

[Occulus]

5. Can they legally demand the money back?

They've done some pretty rotten and blatantly illegal things to me- such as refusing to accept my FMLA certifications three times out of three, each time not challenging the certification as required under the Act.

I've read every word of the Family and Medical Leave Act, and the USPS routinely iolates it. If I get poverpaid, I intend to hold the full amount- in cash- as compensatory punitive damages.

[BJ]

6. Yep.

After my Social Security disability claim was approved I got a notice from the Office of Personnel Management that they had overpaid me by $9,000. How or why OPM overpaid has never been answered to my satisfaction but it is my responsibility to pay it back!

[Occulus]

7. That's a government agency though

The USPS is only quasi-government; we're considered federal employees only when it's convienient for management for us to BE federal employees. The postal service isn't government funded excepting emergency appropriations.

I wonder if our union could claim the sum of the overpayment as liquidated damages for the massive, severe grievance backlog it has. Given that our contract is a legal document signed by both parties, it would appear management is routinely violating that agreement.

Hmm. Any lawyers want to chime in to correct me?

[BJ]

8. I was a letter carrier for thirteen years.

And am still an associate member of the NALC. When Postal employees retire they come under the jurisdiction of OPM.

That being said, in all likelihood those who received the overpayments will be ordered to pay back the overpayment. I would take this issue up with the NALC or APWU business agent or branch or local president.

[Kelvin Mace]

3. Let's put the blame were it belongs...

Thousands of postal workers will receive overpayments this week due to a computer error, the Postal Service said Wednesday.

However, because of a programming error a computer included the extra payments in the checks of 41,434 workers, McKiernan said.

The problem was a PROGRAMMER error, not a "computer error" or "programming error". The computer did EXACTLY what it was told to do.

Next, programmers with even less skill count your votes.

David Allen
Publisher, CEO, Janitor
Plan Nine Publishing
http://www.plan9.org
http://www.blackboxvoting.com

[GarySeven]

4. I hope no anti-government conservative ...

Goes to the nearest post office with one of his constitutionally mandated firearms to "protest" this waste of taxpayer money.

[74dodgedart]

9. Another reason not to trust computer voting..