Lockport Union-Sun & Journal — The U.S. Postal Service is looking to fill 300 positions within the Western New York area. But while they aren’t regular positions, the jobs could lead to permanent employment, the agency says.

The Postal Service is looking to hire 300 city carrier assistants, a new category of non-career employees with a path to possible future employment as a career letter carrier. Assistants are used to carry mail for routes where the regular carrier is out of work.

Karen Mazurkiewicz, a Postal Service spokesperson, said the carrier assistants perform the same duties as regular carriers with a few differences. They don’t receive full benefits or a pension and there is no set route or guarantee of 40 hours per work week.

For years, the U.S. Postal Service has used transitional employees to fill carrier needs, Mazurkiewicz said. The difference is, transitional employees could not move up to regular full-time carrier status.

“Some transitional employees have been with the post office for years,” Mazurkiewicz said.

The change came when a new agreement was reached with the National Association of Letter Carriers. All past transitional employees must apply again.

Those who are interested have until Sunday to apply. They can by going to the agency’s website, www.usps.com/employment and applying there.

Mazurkiewicz said the Postal Service broke the region down into nine locations. Those include Buffalo, Fredonia, Jamestown, Olean, Rochester, Warsaw, Lyons, Elmira and Lockport.

An applicant can apply to that place, but could be called to fill a route at a post office within a 50 mile radius of that location. For example, those who apply for a spot in Lockport could go to Medina or Lewiston to work.

City carrier assistants are appointed for a term of 360 calendar days and may be re-appointed for another 360-day term after a five-day break in service. Salary and limited benefits include $15 an hour, paid vacation days and eligibility for health care benefits as required by law, or after the first 360-day term.

Candidates must have a valid driver’s license, good driving record and two years driving experience. To apply a candidate profile and application must be completed online using eCareer on the Postal Service’s website.

Mazurkiewicz suggested people should keep checking the website for information. The Postal Service could see a number of retirements coming in the near future, as it is offering a retirement incentive to workers.

FOR MORE INFORMATION • Check out www.usps.com/employment

Contact reporter Joe Olenick at 439-9222, ext. 6241.