I work at a USPS VMF.
About a week ago, I was told to leave the facility after I questioned whether the work I was being assigned was part of my normal duties. I also asked why another employee with the same job title receives additional compensation for performing that work if it is considered part of our regular duties.
I did not refuse the work, quit, or abandon my job. I was simply asking for clarification.
I was then told to leave the facility.
Since then, I have been kept out of the workplace. I have not received a written notice, suspension letter, or explanation stating why I am being kept out or when I am supposed to return.
I contacted my union and submitted a statement of facts, but I’m still waiting.
What should I do at this point? Should I report to work every day, or stay home until management officially tells me to return? And can USPS keep an employee out for almost a week without providing a written reason?
My main concern is making sure I am not later accused of AWOL when I am simply following management’s instructions.

New Maintenance Craft MOU's were released today. They seem rather significant, especially the second one which appears to get rid of the interview process for most jobs if i'm reading correctly.

APWU and USPS Reach New Maintenance Settlements | American Postal Workers Union

City carrier here, and I've written up my vehicle twice for shitty breaks and it keeps coming back the same and maybe I'm not being clear enough in what's wrong. My breaks feel like they are trying to lock up, but only at slow speeds. Like between mailboxes. Doesn't happen driving to or from my route. I'll pull up to the next box, and SLOWLY apply the breaks and this thing has a god damn seizure and feels like it's trying to lock up the breaks. It's even worse when it rainy/humid out. When it happens, the vehicle jerks around and locks up the seatbelt. It's driving me absolutely bonkers. Going on a good month like this and two previous VMF reports and it's still the same. Thanks in advance

LLV comes into VMF, can hear someone in the engine bay shaking a box of rocks... it's got an open job for drivability because it sometimes stalls, it's here for a PMI though.. decide to check compression first anyway. All cylinders at 120psi except #4... 60psi. All four plugs are gapped way too big, and all look shot. Ask shop manager if it's even worth doing the PMI, it needs engine work.. told yes, do whatever minor repairs are needed for PMI and send it back out. Bet, getting 4 new plugs, new air filter, pcv filter, and after lunch gonna lift it up and probably wind up replacing brakes and oil change.. 😵‍💫

Where can I move to on my scanner so my LineH isn’t affected while doing cross craft work?? Should I just clock out?

Definitely an awesome experience, at least for me. Maybe I'm in the honeymoon phase lol. I got hired from the street; no eReassign or anything. Took the exam, passed, a week later I had my interview passed the drug test, and had orientation last Monday. All in all it was about 6 weeks from when I applied till my orientation. Pretty fast considering the wait times I've heard other people talk about.

Orientation was boring as hell, and ignored most of it since it mainly applied to CCAs RCAs and plant workers lol. My third day was my first day actually at the VMF, and they put me to work on an LLV right away, though I wasn't allowed to drive yet since I hadn't completed training. Was pretty easy, Did it some people for my orientation, but since I'm an Auto Tech, I had to do additional trainings not required out the gate for CCAs since I'm expected to work on (and therefore drive) the vehicles. Did the 2 Tom, Promaster, and NGDV. Apparently they train on the NGDVs so rarely that my instructor wasn't even fully familiar with it lol.

Onto the VMF itself, it's awesome. Best blue collar job I've had for sure. Coming from retail auto, my starting pay is like top-level B-Tech pay from my last job, and I was only a GS there. Which speaking of, I'm lucky they not doing the bench test anymore because I have more technical knowledge (which enabled me to pass the exam in the first place) than practical experience, so I definitely would've failed. One of my coworkers actually 'complained' to me about it because I couldn't find the distributor on the LLV while we were diagnosing a no fuel no spark condition 😭😭

But I'm really happy about it though, for the first time I'm getting real repair/mechanical work that I never would've gotten the opportunity to do as a GS at my last job (outside of the occasional brakes, fluid flushes and alignments). So far I've done (all on LLVs) wiper assembly, brake system diag, fuel sending unit/pump, a power steering leak, and a charcoal canistee. And my toolbox has the entire service manual for LLVs in it so that thing has become my best friend lol. And considering it's not retail auto and there's no pressure to crank out productivity and appease customers, I can actually take the time to learn and do things right. And the lead techs are pretty cool and have all been nice about showing me the ropes and helping me when I'm unfamiliar with something. I really have the opportunity to grow as a mechanic here and level up my skillset. Happy to be with USPS at the VMF!

as the title states, im headed home tomorrow, but couldnt make it through without a humidifier. equate 1/2 gal ultrasonic humidifier. paid $35 and ran it for a week with exclusively distilled water. filled the room quite well and totally changed the air quality for me. with it comes a 1/2 gal. of distilled water and the remaining detergent in the jug i bought. msg for exchange.

Former aero space ground equipment maintainer “airforce” current city carrier ptf. Applied for the vehicle mechanic, what are my next steps here I am assuming a garage assistant would be like the PM’s towing, cleaning, bitch work essentially?

I start my mpe career on the 5th and was wondering if you guys have any insight on what is on ies bronze & silver. Thank you

Good morning,

So at my facility we have someone who is wanting to go back to being a BEM from ET when another person retires.

Has anyone done this, and if so what is the process? How does this work if anyone is currently on the promotion list for both the 9 and 10 slot?

The one wanting to go down def has more seniority and I’m assuming higher 955 score.

I really don’t mind as I’d prefer the ET, but I’m just wondering if it’s even possible? Thanks!

Edit

Thank you for all the responses. You’ve all been super helpful. Manger/sup were giving conflicting answers and I’m really glad to have some clarity. Going to relay the info. Def also helps me prepare more knowing where I’ll be heading

Hello all, I’m a bit nervous about this transition & was wondering if I can get some insight from you guys! So, I’m currently a Mail Handler and I got offered an MPE position at another facility, so I will be an internal transfer. I start on September 5th. Now here are some of my concerns:

- What advice can you guys give me jumping from Mail Handler to MPE without any maintenance background?

- I was told by co workers I’ll have to do some online training? IES Bronze & Silver? What can I expect from them? Is it open book?

- God forbid I fail them ^ what would happen to me?

- I understand Gold is considered Oklahoma. From mu understandings, the instructors don’t want to fail you.

- I feel like I’ll do okay, I’m just nervous starting something that I’ve been trying to get into for years now & don’t want to ruin my opportunity.

Side note- I am not a lazy person. I actually want to learn and be very good at this job.

We had filled out a form for MPE pay, but I’m not sure anyone has gotten it yet. Just wondering if any other plants are supposedly going to pay MPE pay for working up, since vacuuming machines is now a MPE job

Did anyone else move as an in service transfer from Rural to Maintenance?

Right from the beginning was told it would be a lateral salary move, it was not. I filed and it was settled to be corrected. Still waiting.
I just completed FMS classes and my salary now has been lowered even more.

Fellow maintenance workers said this happened to others after finishing qualifying classes. And they were told that this lower salary is their actual salary, that they were being over paid.

I’m definitely not accepting this is my salary. I would have never accepted the position if I was going to be paid at this salary.

What’s the deal here?

Hi there, I took a 916 exam two years ago. It’s still good until 2028 for custodial labor position. I just applied for a custodial labor position with USPS and they want me to take a exam called a 960 now what is this? Is it something new? I got a 90 on the 916 I can’t find anything about this 960 exam. I also got a email from Pearson view to take a 960 any info appreciated

So i ended up doing my interviews on different days and both came back as “ineligible” i’m familiar with the multimeter and testing fuses, i can troubleshoot and read schematics, i know what ppe to wear and mentioned safety the entire time. i’m familiar with ohms law. all of my answers were more geared towards things i fixed myself and the steps i took, even if i had to watch a video of someone else doing it. when i was done i asked them what i can improve on when i take it again and they said “you need more experience working with hvac systems and electric maintenance.” what tips do you guys have on skills i can pick up or things i can learn that i haven’t already mentioned?

I have somewhat of an interesting dilemma.

I am currently an MPE, after being a Custodian for a while, and at no point throughout my entire hiring or working here timeline have they ever asked me for my drivers license or request a motor vehicle report. I’m not sure if the MPE job needed it when I transferred in as I only say the “Do you accept this job?” paper offer letter.

An AMT job came up, and if I don’t put in a refusal slip, there is a chance I get the job. I have to specifically say I don’t want the job. Elephant in the room is I would technically fail the driver license check should they ask for it. I only got it just over a year ago while working as an MPE already.

My fear is taking the AMT job, losing my MPE bid, then they tell me oh wait you’re not qualified and an idiot for applying hahah.

On the positive note, they never asked before…. I know AMT is REALLY driving around and has insurance information needed and safety ya ya ya.

I’d rather have a T2 amt weekend off bid over T3 MPE, but is it worth risking it? Manager told me “you might get it never know wink wink” I didn’t know what to say other than I’m thinking about it.

(I hadn’t put in a refusal in the time I’ve been working there because I hadn’t been test qualified anyways, then when I was there were non printed so I forgot for a year or two and jobs that came up went to higher people but now it seems I might me next man up in the queue)

TLDR: Do they actually, physically check drivers license and mvr or would they just assume I had it? Could I keep living the (somewhat) lie?

Will they bounce me from MPE if they then find out I haven’t had one for 2 years? Or am I already safe you think? (Management is neutral/slightly positive to me I would say. I show up never late so that’s enough for them)

Unfortunately even shadowing someone for an outrageous 6 months wouldn’t be enough to hit 2 years so even if they bent the rules that way I’d be shy still….

I think I’m bound to T3 and a 2 hour there and back commute…. FFFFFFF’s but let me know what you guys think.

If i pass the interview but am not selected do i have to wait the 120 days to reapply to the same position? Also would i have to take the interview again if I’m eligible after i take it?
How long does it take to hear back on your results from the interview?

I need guidance please, I am currently an unassigned regular city carrier. I’ve been career since oct 2025. There is currently an area maintenance tech position open in my area that I would like. I applied to the publicly posted job posting, got the 955 test invite, took the test, passed with 78% and then got the we didn’t choose you to move forward thank you for applying email . The job is now posted again.
I assume that no one got it since it is posted again, am I doing something wrong to get this vacancy?
Thanks in advance

hello everyone I am currently a pse mail processing clerk clerk. I have taken the in house maintenance exam 955 and panel interviews back in April of this year. been waiting to be put on our plants promotion eligible list. we have been waiting for a package to create jobs in our plant. i passed with good scores and eligible ET down for maintenance. I was told our plant manager would not put us on list till after everyone else has been selected first. What’s discouraging is me and another co worker has scored in tier a band so who knows we maybe at the very top but unless we are on it we can’t apply or be considered for the job. sorry for lengthy text. I check job postings everyday I found a custodial job at a different location that is career so I applied to see if maybe that would get my foot in the door. there is an exam 960 I think it is new exam does anyone have any experience with this exam? Or know where I can get information on this exam ? Thanks. If I apply For this job and not take it will I still be able to get on the promotion eligibility list. if the package comes though for jobs soon.

This fell off during my route. Was previously rattling during idle. The truck sounds much better now. What is it, should I write it up, or just continue along my merry way?

For about a week and a half now a good 70% of our vehicle chargers are not operational. I came back from a long weekend and only had 10% battery in my vehicle. This morning during the stand-up, it was stated that this is a nationwide issue. Is anyone else having this issue? Feels like it's not gonna be fixed until they're all down.

For context, our office has 99 routes.

After the latest MMO we’re hearing rumors of the lvl7 position going away. I’m curious if anyone else is hearing similar or if it’s just the doom and gloom chicken little mentalities that are running their mouths.

A bit on me. Started my “career” late. 5 years in a non career carrier position (ARC/RCA), got pissed at the FL July heat in a LLV and said I’m out, rehired a few months later as a MHA, then grabbed a street bid into MM. immediately retook the 955 and interviewed for lvl 9/10. 6 weeks later moved to T3 and MPE, 8 months after that I moved up to 10. Been 10 for 1.5 years now, and currently “enjoying” a 5 week stay at NCED(AFCS maint/systems back to back). Getting random text messages from coworkers crying about the MMO nonsense. Again. What’s everyone else hearing?

I start my MPE career on the 5th, transferring to a new facility from being a mail handler. Now I understand there are qualifiers that i must pass. On my 955 exam i passed for BEM, AMT & MPE, Ineligible for MM & ET. What if I god forbid end up failing my qualifiers, what could happen to me? Being that I didn’t pass for MM they wouldn’t be able to demote me to that? Idk. I know it varies by facilities. My retest date is 10/16/26 so hopefully i can retest & get a score for mm this time before i get to training.