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Washington, D.C.—The leader of the National Treasury Employees Union (NTEU) today welcomed as a good first step word that the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), acting in line with requests by NTEU and members of Congress, will create 200 new jobs this year at its Andover (Mass.) Service Center.

Roughly 1,500 positions related to the paper processing of tax returns are slated to be lost at Andover—which has thousands of employees—when the IRS closes its submission processing operation there later this year. The new jobs are in the IRS Automated Underreported (AUR) function.

“This is a welcome development,” said NTEU President Colleen M. Kelley. “While I continue to believe the shutdown of submission processing at Andover should be delayed and ultimately averted, I applaud the IRS for recognizing the quality and length of service of the workforce at Andover and in bringing new work to the facility.” She promised that NTEU will continue seeking additional new work for Andover. The agency has indicated that the employees slated to be let go will receive first consideration for these new positions.

President Kelley recognized the support of the Massachusetts and New Hampshire congressional delegations particularly Massachusetts Reps. Niki Tsongas (D) and Stephen Lynch (D), along with Sen. John Kerry (D-Mass.). “These lawmakers have shown great concern for the impacted employees as well as the ongoing ability of the IRS to achieve its mission,” said President Kelley. “Their support has been crucial to achieving these new positions.”

Rep. Tsongas said: "I am pleased that following our letters, meetings, and phone calls, Commissioner Shulman has chosen to locate these new positions in Andover. The new jobs will allow the agency to take advantage of the demonstrated skill and knowledge that these workers possess and will mitigate the effect of any jobs loss at the facility. My focus remains on ensuring that the Andover workers are treated fairly, and that additional job opportunities are made available to all employees so that they are not harmed by the IRS' existing reorganization plan. To that end, today's announcement is a good first step on which to build.

“The IRS has stated that new sites may be needed to accommodate their new Automated Underreporter Program. I believe we have the staffing and facilities ready and available at Andover to meet this increased workload. I will continue to press the Commissioner to utilize the skilled labor force at Andover to the fullest."

Earlier this year, 15 senators and House members from Massachusetts and New Hampshire called on the IRS to delay, at least until 2012, its planned shutdown of paper tax return processing work at Andover and Fitchburg, Mass., in part related to projected increases in the number of tax returns filed electronically.

The lawmakers pointed out, however, that a Government Accountability Office report last year showed only 59 percent of returns were filed electronically, a number matching the level of a year before. The congressional letter was spearheaded by Rep. Tsongas, and stressed the importance of bringing new work to the facility to retain the expertise of the workforce.

At that time, President Kelley said “the IRS is nowhere near hitting its 80 percent projection of electronic filing.”

Along with pressing for additional work at Andover, the NTEU leader said the union is actively working to put in place a variety of mitigation strategies, including early-out and buyout programs, in the event the IRS moves ahead with its planned closing.

NTEU is the largest independent federal union, representing 150,000 employees in 31 agencies and departments.