As islanders deal with the recent closure of the Burton Post Office, placing additional stress on the Vashon Post Office, the United States Postal Service (USPS) is looking for new hires to support the Vashon location.

According to USPS Strategic Communications Specialist Lecia Hall, USPS is looking to fill a total of 15 openings at the Vashon Post Office. So far, seven of those openings have been filled.

The agency is immediately looking for rural carrier associates on Vashon. These employees deliver and collect mail along assigned routes, sort mail and packages to prepare for delivery, and more.

“This position is the first step to becoming a full-time, regular rural carrier with full benefits, including paid annual and sick leave, holiday pay, health care, retirement, and other benefits,” said Hall in an email to The Beachcomber.

The salary for a rural carrier associate position begins at $19.06 an hour.

“We are grateful for the patience of our customers and the hard work of our employees during this period,” added Hall.

The search for additional hires comes at a time when the island location is stretched thin.

Islander Mike Sudduth shared a voicemail with The Beachcomber he received on Monday, June 27 from Vashon’s acting postmaster after filing a complaint online.

The voicemail details a “hiring problem” on Vashon, as the post office has three regular carriers for the entire island and borrows carriers from other offices around the region that are unfamiliar with Vashon.

The postmaster added that he is trying to keep all eight routes covered and maintain consistent service with the office’s staffing challenges.

Those interested in more information about careers at USPS can find additional information at usps.com/careers.