Starting Nov. 2, the Hollister Post Office will be without two employees with a total of 55 years of experience in the postal service. Margie Valderrama and Emma Reynoso will be officially retiring from the postal service on Oct. 31, after 30 and 25 years of service, respectively.
Valderrama, a mother of six, grandmother of 19 and great-grandmother of 15, said she will "enjoy her family" now that she will be retired. She will not actually be at her last day of work Oct. 31 because she will be on a cruise for her 50th wedding anniversary. Even though the amount of mail has become "sparse" over the years, she said the post office is "a great place to work."
Reynoso began her career as a mail carrier in San Jose and after a quarter century, she also said the post office has "been a great place to work." She plans to travel with her husband, who has been retired for three years, and also visit her family.
To retire from the postal service, an employee needs to fill two requirements, both age and length of employment. The employee needs to be at least 60 years old and have worked 25 years for the postal service or be 55 years-old and have worked 30 years.
Valderrama held down two different positions over her 30-year postal career, one as a window clerk for 10 years and one as a distribution clerk for the remainder. She is able to collect an incentive from the postal service because due to a decline in the volume of mail, the Washington D.C.-based organization is offering $15,000 for clerks to retire early.
The best part of the job for Reynoso and Valderrama was the friends made at the post office and spending time with them during breaks, including supervisors.
Reynoso said there is a misconception that postal work is an "easy job" but added is not easy and it is "stressful and hard." But the two women appear to be leaving at a good time, as many newer employees at the office are not even working 40 hours per week.
"You don't know what tomorrow holds for us," Reynoso said. "We were blessed."
The two women both easily recalled the date of their first day of work like it were yesterday - Nov. 5, 1979 for Valderrama, and June 18, 1984 for Reynoso - and after stints of 30 and 25 years, it's time for both women to relax.
"It's time to go and enjoy the fruits of our labor," Reynoso said.
Colin McConville Colin McConville is a reporter with the Hollister Free Lance. You can reach him by email or at (831) 637-5566.
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