NRLCA MAIL COUNT GUIDE - VARLCA

NRLCA MAIL COUNT

GUIDE (REVISED JANUARY 2006)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

................................................................................... I MAIL COUNT OVERVIEW 1 Types of Mail Counts ............................................................................................. 1 National Mail Counts ............................................................................................. 1 Special Mail Counts .............................................................................................. 1 Rural Route Inspection .......................................................................................... 1 Inspecting Rural Routes ........................................................................................ 2 Carrier Responsibilities During Mail Count ............................................................ 2

............................................................................................................ Box Count 2 Stop Count .......................................................................................................... 2

......................................................................................................... Family Count 3 ........................................................................................... Authorized Dismounts 3

Preparing to Ride the Route .................................................................................. 3 Request to Repair Roads ...................................................................................... 4

..................................................................................... Mail Box Needs Attention -4 Counting Your Own Mail ....................................................................................... 5

.......................................................................................................... Presort Mail 5 ................................................................................................ Even Flow of Mail -5 ................................................................................................. Withdrawal of Mail 5

Duties Associated with Withdrawal ..................................................................... -5 ....................................................................................... Number of Withdrawals 5

............................................................................................. Recording DUVRS -6 .................................................... Required Duties without Withdrawal Allowance 6

Widrawal - All or Nothing ................................................................................... 6 Not Part of Withdrawal .......................................................................................... 7

........................................................................................ Cutting Straps or Plastic 7 .................................................................................... Obtaining Parcel Hampers 7

......................................................................................... Pre-Count Conference -7 Pre-Count Items for Discussion ............................................................................ 8

........................................................................... Pre-Count Conference Checklist 9 .................................................................. Summary of Mail Count Principles 1 0

..................................................................................................... PS Form 4239 10 ............................................................................. ShouM Disagreements Occur 1 1

........................................ I I RURAL ROUTE COUNT OF MAIL (PS FORM 4239) 12 Column A - Letter Size Mail ............................................................................... 13 Column B . SectorISegment Mail ....................................................................... 14

..................................... Column C - Papers, Magazines. Catalogs. Flats. Other 14 ............................................................................................ Column D - Parcels 15

....................................................................................... Column E - Boxholders 16

Column F . Registered Mail. Certified Mail. Nurrlbered Insured. Express Mail. Other Accountable Mail ........................................... -16

Column G - CODs and Customs Due Received for Delivery .............................. 17 Column H . Postage Due .................................................................................... 17

................................................................ Column I . Change of Address (COA) 18 Column J . Marked up Pieces ................................................................ 18 and 19

............................................................... Column K . PS Form 3821 Completed 20 ........................................... Column L . Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) Letters 20

............................................................... Column M . Money Order Applications 21 .............................................................. Column N . Letters and Flats Collected 21

.......................................... . Column 0 Ordinary and Insured Parcels Accepted 21 Column P . Registered and Certified Accepted .................................................. 22 Column Q . Loading Time .................................................................................. 22 Column R . Other Suitable Allowance ...................................................... 22

Other Typical Column 'Rn Entries ........... 23 through 26 Column S . Purchasing Stamp Stock ................................................................. 26 Column T . Return Receipts ............................................................................... 26 Column U . Authorized Dismounts ..................................................................... 27

........................................... Column V . Authorized Dismount Distance (in feet) 27 ................................................................................ Coli~mn W . Counting Time 28

Column X . Waiting Time .................................................................................... 28 ................................................... Column Y . Intermediate Offices Served Daily 28

........................................ Column Z . Weight of Locked Pouches Carried Daily 29

Ill SUPPORT DOCUMENTS Influencing Mail Count ........................................................................ 30

................................................... Vacant for More than 90 Days (4-18-83) 31 General Delivery Not Included in Box Count (1 2.22.86) ................................ 32 Centralized Delivery ................................................................... 33 and 34

........................................................................ Mail Box Stop Illustration 35 BoxIFamily Count ................................................................................. 36

.......................................................................... LLV Fueling Allowance 37 Customer Mail Receptacles (DMM - Locked Box) ....................................... 38 Available Mail (Discarding Mail while Sorting) ................................... 39 and 40 Pre-Sort Mail ...................................................................................... -41 Withdrawing Mail from Hot Case (2-21-97) ...................................... 42 and 43 Withdrawal Allowance - Intermediate Office .............................................. 44 Henry Letter (Clarification of Loading & Withdrawal ...................... 45 through 47 Postal Bulletin 21631 (M-38 Revision - Mail Withdrawal ............................... 48 Parcel Hamper - Close Proximity (Pre-Arbitration 3-1 9-03) ........................... 49 Office Procedural Changes ..................................................................... 50

......................................................................... Template Measurement 51 Mail Collected - Face and Depositing ....................................................... 52

................................................................................ End of Run Report 53 ..................................................... Second Trip Compensation 54 through 58

................................... Sequencing Address Cards (Pre-Arbitration 3-1 9-03) 59 ............................................. Address Orientation (Pre-Arbitration 3-1 9-03) 60

......................................................... Address Orientation (Step 4 2-3-04) 61 .............................................. CD in Magazine (Arbitration Award 1-1 2.03) 62

.......................... Rigid Items in Non-Rigid Mail Piece (Step 4 12-13-05) 63 &64 ........................................................................... Counting of Catalogs -65

......................................................... Helicopter Flats (USFM 1000) 66 8167 .......................................... Non-Rigid "Do Not Bend Or Foldn Articles 68 &69

....................................................................................... Directs 70 &71 ....................................................................... Parcel Redelivery Policy -72

........................................ Rigid Article in DPS Mail (Pre-Arbitration 2-6-98) 73 ........................... Scanner (MDCD - Mobile Data Collection Device) 1-1 5.03 74

.................................... DPS Close Proximity (Pre-Arbitration 3-1 9.03) 75 &76 .......................................................... Ce~tified Mail - Restricted Delivery 77

................................................................... Postage Due Delivery -78 &79 ................................................. Delivery to Customer with Post Office Box 80 .......................................... Change of Address and UAA Mail (PARS) 81 &82 ................................................ Undeliverable as Addressed Endorsements 83

.............................................................. Return of Mail from Full Mailbox 84 ............................................... PlacingIDepositing Mail in MMM Case 85 886

........................................................................ Mail Collected in Sacks -87 ........................................................................... Mail Collected in Tubs 88

.................................................................... Replenishing Stamp Stock -89 .......................... Accountables Accepted on Route (Pre-Arbitration 3.20.03) -90

.............................. Curtailing Parcels while Loading to Prevent Second Trip 91 ..................................................... Stopwatches for Use by Rural Carriers 92

................................... Edit Book (Phillip Knoll Letter and Q & A) 93 through 97 ................................................................................ Anti-Fatigue Mats -98

................................................................. Waiting at Railroad Crossings 99 ........................................ Designated Location for Loading Vehicle 100 & 1 01

........................................................................................ Arrow Key -102 ................................................ Customer Phone Calls and Window Time 103

.......... Scanner (MDCD - Mobile Date Collection Device) 9-30-05 104 through1 05 ........................................................ Safety Talks (7-28-04) 106 through 107

.................................................. Safety Talks - Begin and End of Timing 108 .............................................. Safety Talks - Regular and Relief Carriers 109

.................................... Hold Mail - Place/Deposit at Designated Location 110 .................................................... Throwback Case - Placement of Mail 111 .................................................... Loading Satchel for Dismount Delivery 112

...................................... Change of Address (COA) Maintaining 3575 File 113 ................................. Verification of 3575 Labels (Pre-Arbitration 10-1 2-94) 114

.................................................... Dismount Deliveries - Crossing Lawns 115

............ Dismount Deliveries . Not Required to Walk Around Vehicle 1 16 and 1 17 Accepting Registered Pouch at Locked Pouch Stop ..................................... 118

VI FORMS ......................................... Rural Route Inspection Report (PS Form 4248) 119

PS Form 4239 (Rural Route Count of Mail) ............................................... 120 PS Form 4241 (Rural Delivery Statistics Report) ........................................ 121 NRLCA Mail Count Disagreement Form ................................................... 122 Mail Count Tracking Sheet (Sample) ....................................................... 123 Mail Count Tracking Sheet ................................................................... -124 Mail Count Doc~~mentation Work Sheet (Sample Only) ................................ 125 Mail Count Documentation Work Sheet ................................................... 126 Rural Route Evaluation Work Sheet (2 Week) ........................................... 127

Types of Mail Counts

There are two types of mail counts: national count and special count.

National Mail Counts

National mail counts are available to all rural routes during selected count years identified in the current National Agreement between the USPS and the NRLCA. In 2006, all vacant and auxiliary routes will be counted. The only other routes to be counted will be those in which either the Employer or the regular camier opts for a count These routes will be counted for twelve (1 2) working days beginning February 24 and ending March 9,2006. Ref: Artide 9.2. C.3.a. (5)

Additionally, the Postal Service has the right to conduct a national count of mail for all rural routes during the last twelve (12) working days in September of any year. Before the Postal Service can schedule a September national count, the Union at the national level must be notified at least thirty (30) days in advance of the commencement of the count. Ref: Article 9.2. C.3. a. (6)

Special Mail Counts

Special mail counts, pursuant to Article 9.2.C.1 I., will be conducted during the last twelve (12) working days in September as a result of one of the following three conditions:

count and evaluation. In this situation, no salary adjustment is made as a result of the count unless the evaluation of the route is changed by 120 minutes or more.

2. When an auxiliary route reaches a weekly evaluation of thirty-nine (39:OO) standard hours or more.

Whenever a 12O-minute (2 hours) or more salary adjustment is made on a route, whether due to a substantial service change or a route adjustment, and the density of the route after the change has been increased to twelve boxes per mile or more or has been decreased to less than twelve (1 2) boxes per mile. Ref: Article 9.2. C. 7 1. as revised

Special mail counts must be made during the last twelve (1 2) working days in September. Salary adjustments will be made pursuant to Article 9.2.C.9.

Rural Route Inspection

A rural route inspection is the physical observation of the official line of travel, identification of safety hazards, condition of the boxes served, adequacy and quality of service to the customer and the character and performance of the carrier. This inspection is to be made by the postmaster or a designee while accompanying the carrier on

1. When circumstances have negated the validity of the latest

NRLCA MAIL COUNT GUIDE 1

the route. This task must not be delegated to craft employees. An inspection must be conducted either during or immediately prior to a National or Special Mail Count. Ref: PO-603 Man 521

M-38 Section 511

Inspecting Rural Routes

The purpose of the inspection is to obtain current and accurate data, including route and delivery conditions, number and types of boxes served, minimum stops required to serve all boxes on the route, location, time and frequency of authorized dismounts, and the distance (in feet) required at each dismount. The route layout is reviewed to see if any changes to the line of travel could improve the efficiency andlor economy of service. Additionally, hazardous conditions, situations, and locations must be examined and appropriate action taken to eliminate or reduce the potential for an accident. Ref: PO403 Section 522

Carrier Responsibilities During Route Inspections

Rural carriers must travel their route and deliver mail precisely as they do the rest of the year. 'They must inform the postmasterldesignee making the inspection of any boxes that have remained vacant more than 90 days. They should also assist in identifying hazards andlor hazardous conditions on the route and recommend actions to eliminate or reduce them to the extent practicable. Ref: B 6 0 3 Section 524. 1

If the canier's normal vehicle will not accommodate the examiner, he/she may be requested, but not required, to supply an appropriate vehicle. Management is responsible for the safety of both the carrier and examiner, and for ensuring the accuracy of all data collected. Ref: PO-603 Section 524.2

Box Count

All boxes currently being served and temporarily vacant dwellings, apartments, and places of business with a box erected, or served via a dismount, which have been vacant less than 90 days, are counted as boxes. Do not count abandoned boxes, permanently vacant buildings and dwellings, apartments vacant more than 90 days, buildings under construction, or dwellings and businesses receiving delivery solely through general delivery or a post office box. Do not count collection compartments located in NDCBUs as boxes served. Ref: M-38 Sectiim 515.1

Ref: Step 4 H I R4H-C 12585 Menlo, KS (Pg 31) Step 4 H4R4K-C 3738 PoH( W, 1.4 (Pg 32) step 4 EOOR4E- C 02161678 Chanhasen, MN (Pg 33-34)

Stop Count

Stop count should only make a difference on routes that are served by using a privately-owned vehicle. The minimum number of stops necessary to serve all receptacles on the route; i.e., the number of times a carrier must move the vehicle in order to serve all boxes on the route, are counted as stops. Where a group of boxes can be served without moving the vehicle, record one vehicle stop for that group of boxes. (See Pg 35)


Where boxes are grouped, the determination of stops will depend upon the size of the box(es) and the distance between the boxes. As a general rule, 2 small boxes may be served with 1 stop, provided the distance between the 2 boxes is not greater than the width of a small box. Each large box normally requires one stop. Ret M-38 Section 51 5.2

Family Count

For Postal Service purposes, the term "family" is considered the same as "ho~sehold.'~ A single residence is a household consisting of only one family regardless of the number of residents or their relationship. In multi- residential buildings, each occupied separate unit is counted as a family. On routes utilizing a route and box numbering system up to five families may use the same box and use a common route and box designation. On routes utilizing a street name and numbering system customers should erect individual mail receptacles. Ref: POM 9 Section 632.526 (Pg 36)

M-38 Section 51 6

Authorized Dismounts

The total number of authorized dismounts are recorded on a daily basis. For example, a carrier is authorized to dismount at a school because of volume. The school office is closed on Saturdays. The route is credited with a dismount Monday through Friday, but would not receive dismount credit on Saturday. When determining the dismount distance, all entries must be made on the basis of the number of trips required by the carrier each day. As in the above example, where the school office was closed on Saturday, on a heavy

volume Monday, the dismount may require two or more trips. When a carrier dismounts primarily to provide other services, such as delivery and/or pick up of accountable mail, COD, Express Mail, etc., no dismount credit is authorized. Existing time allowances for accountable mail include time for dismounting to affect delivery and/or pick up. Ref: PO-603 Secfjon 535.12.~

M-38 Section 365

Preparing to Ride the Route

In preparation for accompanying the carrier on the street, it will be necessary to obtain a current PS Form 4003 (Official Rural Route Description) route map, measuring device for dismounts, and inspection worksheet for making notes concerning the route, camer performance, and to ensure the line of travel and the length of the route is correct. This work sheet can also be used to record safety concerns, condition of mailboxes and to i den t i unnecessary travel and roads that need repair. For offices using the Computerized Labeling Address Sequencing Service (CLASS), a current CLASS edit sheet would be another valuable source document to use during the inspection. This is the authorized sequence of delivery and should reflect the line of travel on the PS Form 4003. Differences would be easily identified and corrected to ensure accurate information is reflected in the CLASS data. The delivery data, regular boxes, and central boxes, entered in columns 52 thru 95 on the PS Form 4248


(Rural Route Inspection Report), should match the active deliveries reflected on the summary page of the CLASS Edit Sheet and the Form 4003. Since the information contained in the CLASS database is provided to mailers for preparation of delivery point sequence mail and is also used to generate sort programs for the Delivery Bar Code Sorters (DBCS), using the edit sheets as part of the inspection process makes good business sense.

As a result of the inspection, it may be necessary to submit a Form 4003 annotated "updated as the result of inspection" to the district office. Remember, the totals on Forms 4248, 4003, and the CLASS summary sheet should agree.

The mileage check made during a route inspection does not change the official route mileage. Route mileage can only be changed by the processing of PS Form 4003 as a result of an official route remeasurement, or the additionldeletion of mileage to the route. Ref W38 Section 623

Average daily mileage deviation for fueling up the LLV must be added to the route mileage on PS Form 4241. Ref: PO-603 Section 535.23.h

-03 Secb'on 520 W38 Section 51 0 1988 LL V MOU (Pg 37)

Request to Repair Roads

While conducting the inspection, note the condition of road and road shoulders for both cityltown and private roads. Note any area in disrepair that could obstruct delivery of mail, cause undue wear or damage to the vehicle, or present a safety hazard. Management is responsible

for completing PS Form 4024 (Request to Repair Roads), in duplicate. Retain a copy and mail the original to the appropriate highway official or individual responsible for the road. If necessary repairs are not made in a reasonable time, management may withdraw service. Ref W38 Section 51 7

Mailbox Needs Attention

Inspect the condition of all mail receptacles during the route inspection for possible irregularities. The use of an inspection worksheet completed on the route can aid in this procedure. By using codes, you can quickly identify mail receptacles in need of repair without delaying the carrier.

Form 4056 (Your Mailbox Needs Attention) is designed to notify customers of mailbox irregularities. Upon retum to the ofice, the postmaster prepares Form 4056 in duplicate, notrfying the customer of the irregularity. The carrier delivers the original to the customer the next working day, while the duplicate is kept on file for future reference by the postmaster.

In the event locks are used on mailboxes, the slot for the mail must be large enough to accommodate the customets normal daily mail volume. 'Therefore, if the slot is not sufficient to accommodate the normal daily mail volume, the canier will be compensated in column R for the additional time to effect delivery. Ref: W38 Section 51 7.2

DMM D041.2.9 (Pg 38)


Counting Your Own Mail

Carriers may count their own mail, if they wish to verify the data collected. This counting time will be without compensation.

Time used by the carrier to count mail is recorded in column W. This time is recorded to ensure it is not included in the actual time required to serve the route.

Pre-sort Mail

Undeliverable non-preferential mail, including letters, ,flats and magazines, is not to be held back by distribution clerks or managers during the mail count.

If management wishes to remove plastic wrap, strings, bands etc., in order to properly count the contents under cover or bound, management should only remove enough covering or binding as necessary to maintain the integrity of the count. Management should not take missent mail from these bundles unless this is the standard practice in the office and it will be followed all year, or until the next mail count. Ref Step 4 H1R4B-C 11305

Linden, MI 48451 (Pg 39-40) Step 4H1 R-3P-C.19988 Sumrne~7le, SC (Pg 41)

Even Flow of Mail

Mail should be distributed to ensure a normal flow on the day preceding the count period and the last day of the count period. The manager should not schedule extra clerk hours for the express purpose of clearing out mail volume prior to the count, and clerk hours should not be curtailed on the day the count should end.

All simplified address mail (boxholders) which is available at the delivery unit must be distributed to the rural camer during the count period unless a commitment has been made to a mailer to deliver that boxholder mail on a specific date other than the count period. The mailel's request must be honored on time value mail.

Carriers who normally case mail upon return to the office after completing their routes are to continue this practice on the day preceding the count and during the count period. Carriers who do not case mail upon return to the office after completing their routes will not do so on the day preceding the count, nor during the count period. Ref PO-603 %&on 534

M-38 Secb;on 526.4 EL-902 Arne 30.1.A

Withdrawal of Mail

If rural carriers are required to perform any of the withdrawal duties, they are entitled to the five minutes per day withdrawal time allowance.

The withdrawal procedures established for the mail count should be the same as that which will normally be followed the remainder of the year.

Duties Associated with Withdrawal

Number of Withdrawals

Upon reporting, the carrier will sweep the distribution cases of all letter and flat mail. No more than two additional withdrawals should be made in the


morning. Carriers will withdraw mail from distribution cases when a clerk or mail-handler has not placed the mail on their case ledge. All carriers must make a final withdrawal of preferential letters and flats from the designated distribution case immediately before leaving for their routes.

Upon returning from the route, the carrier will obtain all letter and flat mail available from the distribution case. Ref: M-38 Section 352.2

PO-603 Section 212.1

Ref: Step 4 H95R4H-C 96076679 Largo, FL (Pg 4243)) Step 4 EOOR-4E-C 02146601 Spencer, IA (Pg 44)

Required Duties of Carriers Who Do Not Receive the Withdrawal Credit

Carriers who are exempt from general mail withdrawal requirements must make a final withdrawal of preferential letters and flats from a designated case immediately before leaving for their routes. Normally the final withdrawal will be accomplished in conjunction with the loading operation. Ref: PO403 Section 212.22

If employees other than rural carriers withdraw mail, they must place it on the carrier's case ledge as described in Section 21 2.13 of the P0803. Some postmasters require rural carriers to dump sacks and do other things to prepare mail. In an official position letter, signed by William E. Henry Jr., it was clearly stated that if rural carriers are not credited with withdrawal allowance, they should not be required to dump sacks or perform any of the other duties necessary for preparing the mail for casing. Ref: Henry Letter (Pg 4547)

Withdrawal - All or Nothing

There is no provision for a partial credit for a carrier's withdrawal of mail. If a carrier is required to perform a portion of the withdrawal function, such as dumping mail from sacks, then the carrier is entitled to the withdrawal allowance. Ref: Henry Letter (Pg 4547)

When management determines it would be operationally advantageous to change the withdrawal procedures currently used in a unit, the local NRLCA steward (or state steward if a local steward is not available) must be advised of the proposed change.

If management proposes a change in withdrawal and the majority of regular carriers in the unit wish to perform the withdrawal function, all carriers in the unit will withdraw all mail, provided they agree to assume the responsibilities associated with daily unit volume recording (DUVRS). 'The recording of volume means entering the daily linear footage of letter and flat mail received in a single entry in the "Remarks" section of Form 4240 (Rural Carrier Trip Report). In addition, they should record the number of box holder sets. Ref: Postal Bulletin 21 631 (Pg 48)


Not Part of Withdrawal

Cutting Straps or Plastic

The cutting of straps or plastic wrappers is the carriers' responsibility whether they receive the withdrawal allowance or not. Ref Pg 478 of NRLCA Magazine August 13, 1983

Obtaining Parcel Hampers

Management should locate hampers in an area that is convenient to the carriers. If the hamperlgurney is not located as indicated, action should be taken to do so. See: Henry Letter (Pg 4547)

If the hamper is not located within 50 feet (round trip) the route will be provided additional credit under Column R for only the distance beyond the 50 feet. The distance beyond 50 feet will be credited at .00284 minutes per foot. Ref Pre-Arb E95R4G-C 99088097

Humble, TX (Pg 49)

Pre-Count Conference

The pre-count conference is a joint conference between rural carriers and managers. Regardless of the type of mail count, a joint conference must be held at least 15 days prior to the beginning of the mail count This is a requirement, and there should be no exceptions. Ref M-38 S&'on 525.11

This is a very important event because it is management's last opportunity to introduce administrative changes in carrier procedures. Once the conference is completed, procedures are locked in throughout the count and by extension, the remainder of the year, unless corresponding changes are made in salary for additional functions.

No changes in carrier work methods, casing equipment, or oftice procedures can be made between the date of the local conference and the mail count unless these items were specifically discussed at the conference. Ref M-38 Section 525.14

Ref Step 4 H4R4P-C 26467 Cdumbia, MO (Pg 50)

It is not necessary that the carriers agree to the proposed changes; it is necessary only that the proposed changes do not violate Postal Service policy or the USPS-NRLCA National Agreement. Ref M-38 Section 525.14. a

This section does not limit a manager's right to make operational changes at any other time other than the period specifically stated. Ref M-38 Section 525.14. b

It is additionally important to discuss count procedures so that any potential areas of disagreement can be identified and hopefully resolved prior to the actual count.

Rural carriers are well advised to take a pre-count conference checklist with them to the local conference and make notes.

Any carrier on leave 15 days prior to the beginning of the count must be conferred with before going on leave or immediately upon return. If operational changes are planned while the carrier is on leave, the conference must be held upon the camer's return to duty, when all changes must be explained,


Pre-Count Conference Items For Discussion

1. Clanfy mail processing procedures on the day preceding the count and the last day of count.

2. How to use rural template for the measurement of mail. Ref Step 4 H7-1G-C 5107

Springfield, VT (Pg 51) 3. Mail withdrawal procedures and

recording of DUVRs if carrier is required to record volume.

4. Camers have the right to observe mail count on their relief days or when they are on leave.

5. Carriers have the right to count their own mail for verification while in an on duty status.

6. Review of PS Form 4239 with an understanding of definitions. Forms must be available to carriers daily, upon request, before the mail is trayed or strapped out.

7. Cut-off times for mail. 8. Implementation of "Directs." 9. Depositing of CFS mail, hold mail,

getting stamp box, etc. 10. ClerWSupervisor intemptions for

official business, being called to the phone or counter, etc.

1 1. Collection boxes, collection compartments in CBU's, and parcel lockers.

12. Dismounts and dismount distance. Heavy volume days may require more than one trip.

13. Proper credit for collected mail:

For more than 2 separations See: Step 4 H7R4B-C 29248

Rochester, MI (Pg 52)

From collection boxes.

Certified and registered mail. Express mail. Parcels collected on the route.

14. Loading procedures, including time for moving vehicle if it is not loaded or unloaded where it is parked.

15. Intermediate office procedures for routes that work out of more than one office.

16. Misthrows. 17. Mark-ups. 18. Credit for detached-label mailings. 19. Locked pouch when transporting

unsorted mail from one post office to another.

20. High OptionILeave Commitment. 21. Safety Talks (actual time,

approximately five minutes). If two safety talks are given, compensation must be given for both.

22. Any required functions for Saturday closeouts must be credited.

23. Procedures and time values for USPS vehicles. Average daily mileage deviation for fueling up the LLV must be added to the route mileage on PS Form 4241.

24. Any local requirement that happens on a regular basis (daily or weekly.)

25. Any unique situations. 26. Delivery point sequence (DPS)

issues. 27. Service talks (actual time). 28. Proper credit for oversized letter

(over 6 118 inches) processed with DPS mail.

From collection slots/compartments. Bundled mail.


Pre-Count Conference Checklist

The Pre-Count Conference was held on

The issues have been discussed and agreed upon as listed.

Post Office

Supervisor/Postrnaster (Signature)

Rural Carrier (Signature)

Route


Summary of Mail Count Principles

Procedures used during the mail count period must be the same as those used during the rest of the year. No changes in camer work methods, casing equipment, or office procedures are to be made between the date of the local conference and the mail count, unless they were specifically discussed at the conference. Regular carriers may observe the mail count of their own route on their relief days or on days they are in a leave status. Any carrier who observes the mail count must be in a nonduty status. Regular carriers who are observing in a nonduty status may not participate in office work. The relief carrier is entitled to work hislher scheduled work days during the mail count period. Mail must be counted in the f a a l i where the carrier cases the mail, with the exception of DPS mail, which is recorded from the End of Run Report (EOR). Either the manager or the carrier may verify the piece count without additional compensation to the carrier for the time involved. Ref. End of Run Report (Pg 53) Mail is credited on the day it is cased. Mail flow procedures during the count period must be the same as the rest of the year. On the day preceding the count period, all mail available up to the normal "cut-off" time must be delivered on that day. All mail available up to the normal "cut-off time on the last day is included in the count and delivered. In Expedited Preferential Mail System offices, available mail would

be cased but not counted upon returning to the office from the route on the day prior to the start of the count. Conversely, in EPM offices on the last day of the count, available mail would be cased and entered on PS Form 4239 for that day. Honor mailer requested delivery dates for mailings even if the date falls outside the count period. Prior to the count period, no extra effort should be made to deviate from normal mail delivery or processing schedules. Mail must not be curtailed on the last day of the count period. Wrthdrawal procedures in effect at the time of the count should be the same for the rest of the year. Rural camers always have the right to venfy the daily count of mail and all entries made on PS Form 4239. If possible, disputes should be resolved immediately. Unresolved disputes should be thoroughly documented by collecting all of the relevant data. Carriers should take the time to verify the data recorded on Forms 4239 and 4241. Record mail associated with second trips appropriately.

Ref: Pre-Ad~ C95R4GC 98023318 (Mgt option) Bear. DE (Pg 54-58)

PS Form 4239

This form is designed to function as a combination work sheet and mail count record. (See 120) This important daily record provides the basic source of mail volume and time data, which is transferred daily to Form 4241 (Rural Delivery Statistics Report), and consolidated for the two, three or four week period. (See Pg 121)


A separate Form 4239 is used to record each day's count data. The 4239 is intended to be a work sheet and any other additional items such as facing slips, pads and etc. should not be used. The 4239 is the only official record of each days count data. The postmaster, supervisor, or mileage route carrier responsible for conducting the count will complete Form 4239 daily for each route.

When management completes the Form 4239, upon request it will be shown to the carrier before the mail is trayed or strapped out to allow verification. If a dispute is identified, every attempt should be made to resolve the disagreement prior to delivery of that day's mail. The postmasterlsupervisor, or carrier who conducts the count, must sign the Form 4239 daily. Remember, daily totals must be transferred to the Form 4241. Do not wait until the end of the count period to corr~plete the rural delivery statistic report.

Note: After Form 4239 (Rural Route Count of Mail) has been completed each day, the postmaster retains the original and the carrier receives a COPY. Ref: -03 535.1 12

In the case of an Intermediate Office, a separate Form 4239 is completed for all services performed at the intermediate office and forwarded under cover to the head out office daily. The postmaster at the head out office is responsible for consolidating the data from all Forms 4239, subtracting the total office time spent at the intermediate office from the route time, and transferring all data to Form 4241. Form 4241 is not completed at intermediate offices.

Should Disagreements Occur

Many times there are questionable items and issues during mail counts. When there are disagreements between the carriers and managers concerning the proper credit of an item, every effort must be made at the time to resolve the dispute. Carriers should make management aware of each repeated occumnce of disputed items. When there is a dispute pertaining to a mail piece, an attempt must be made to resolve the issue before the mail in question is delivered. If carriers are unable to resolve the differences, documentation of all information regarding the item(s) or issue(s) in dispute is critical. Include in the documentation the issue in dispute, the number of articles and any other relevant information such as dimensions that will be helpful in resolving the disagreement. Ref: Mail Count Disagreement Form (Pg 122)


RURAL ROUTE COUNT OF MAIL

R O U ~ ~ NO.

0. COD*.. CUOIO~I~ nu. Rw'd for Dollvary

1-5 mlnuhr, 68 rec.

Number of Items accepted for dellvery

K. Form 3821 Completed 2 mlnuhe arch

Om for arch COD ddlved.

Carrler mumt u r r all year.

If Umrr Im an Intmnnodlah offlce

carrler could haw two por day.

U. AuUlorlud Dlrmounb

(Explaln In Commenb)

10 ~~~~~~~~1 mlnute Authorized by nunagommt Generally, 5 or 6 day8 par mek.

Z Welght of Locked Pouches Carded Dally

Number of Pounds

DAILY WEIGHT ROUNDED

TO M E NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER

PS FORM 4239

state L z1p+4 code

F. RW.. c d , spa. D~I.. NO. l~umd. Rol. Ru.lor Iomh.. & b p n ~ Mall

I r c c N mlru. 28 recondr

Number of Accounbble lbmr accepted for drllvery.

Include Ihmr found In DPS.

J. Marked - Up 4 mark upm-1 mlnute

Mall re IdenUfled In tho P0-603, Sectlon QS.12J and

the DM M, Sadon F Exhlblt 4.1

T. Return Recrlpt "La Rout8 Only

4-1 mln. Only L route8 that ure a

Flnn Book for accounbblrr

Y. intermediate Offices Sewed Dally

Number of Offlces

THE NUMBER OF INTERMEDIATE OFFICES

SERVED

United States Postal Service post Office

Rural Route Count of A. Letter Slze

18 Ienera-1 minute

6 118' or l e u In width 318' or less In thickness

ordinary letters, cards,

newsletters type mall & circulars small catalogs DETACHED CARDS WITH SPECIFIC ADDRESSES PO not include accountables

E. Boxholdem

2511 mlnute

AII mlmpllfled

addraar mall murt not excnd the

number of hmlller or boxer

I. C.0.A. 1-2 mln.

PS Form 3575 PS Form 35752

PS Form 3546 P A R ~ O chmnflu

S.

Rererved for futurr ure.

X. WalUng Tlme

Actual Time

Carrler tlme

waltlng for mall

MIN & SEC

Signature

!I L. DPS Lenera

304 mlnute ENDQF-RUN

REPORT USED 6 1/8"0r less

Record MMM In Column A

f I I

Mail B. SectorlSegmont Letters

22.5 Ielhra-1 mlnutr

SectorlSegment & DPS must be worked on postal

automation equipment

6 118" or less In wldth

If two runs of DPS mall Is received, one run wlll be recorded as DPS and the second run Is recorded as Sector Segment.

Do not include accountables

D. Parcels

2-1 mlnute m a d c l e

exwodr any of 5" H, 18" L, or

1 W16" W DIRECTS 1

fl H. Postage Due

1 to 511 mln.

PIewr mcelved

Indlvldually

R. Other Sulbble

Allowance (Explaln In Comment.) Actual Ume for duUem parformed on a dally or weekly bemlm.

MIN & SEC

W. Countlng Tlme

Actual Tlme

Carrlor tlmo If

verlfylng mail

MIN & SEC

Carrier or Supervisor's

M. Money Order

Appllcatlons

1-3.5 mln

Mgt wlll mvlmv each appllcaUon

dally

N. Lettera & Flab

Collected

2511 mlnute QQ NOT BREAK

BUNDLES Bundler-I plrco

DO NOT: INCLUDE

COLL BOX OR NOCBU COLL COMP.

C. Nmrprpera, M w u l n r , Flab Cablogr and Roll8

10 flab-I mlnuh

USE TEMPLATE

non-letter slze & nongarcel slze Items newspapers, flats, rolls, magazlnes & catalogs

LABEL ORIENTATION IS RELEVANT

NonRigld Items cased with other mail Do not Include

Comments:

0. Ordlmry h Inrurad Parcel81 COO'e Accepbd

114 mlnuter

See Step 4 W4R4K C33288

P. Regleterad &

CerUfled Accepted

1-2 mlnutar

See Predrb #2OOR4Q C03056531

Dlst (Ft) (Explaln In

Comments) 352 ft-I mln MEASURE: To and From

dellverylcollectlor polnt One wey for Intermediate

office.

Date fl

PURCHASE of STAMPS AT INTERMEDIATE OFFICE -Actual tlme If done all year COLLECTION BOX-time requlred to open, scan wlthdraw & close Edlt Book Tlme Scanner Set Ups6 mlnutes per week CFS and Throwback Case Safety and Service Talks Rlffllng Tlme Saturday offlce closing dutles Delivery Conflrmatlon=18 sec per scan

accountables

Q. L0.d VeMcle

(If mom than 15 mln explaln In commenb) Adual Ume to load vehlcle Murt do the mame ell year.

MIN & SEC

V. Dlsmount

I certify that the above is correct Day

12

SECTION II RURAL ROUTE COUNT OF MAIL PS FORM

4239

a. Column A (LetterSize Mail)

(1) Enter in this column all letter size mail including ordinary letters, cards, newsletter type mail, and circulars six and one-eighth (6 118) inches or less in width which can be cased in the separations of the carrier cases. Small magazines and small catalogs six and one- eighth (6 118) inches or less in width and 318 or less in thickness are included in this column. Include detached address labels (specifically addressed) for sample merchandise, magazines, and catalogs in the letter count. Note: The maximum thickness of 318 inch applies only to small magazines and small catalogs. Letter-size mail is whatever ffis in the width of the case separation in use regardless of thickness. All detached address cards (with a specific address) for sample merchandise, shared mail, magazines, and catalogs are included in the letter count.

Do not include address cards received for sequencing during the mail count in this category.

Ref: Pre-Arb D95R4D-C 01039476 Lugoff, SC (Pg 59)

(2) Do not include newspapers, boxholders, flats, and rolls even though they may be cased with letter mail. Count each direct or segmented bundle (see 225.4)

distributed and tied out at mail distribution cases as one parcel, and enter in Column D. Do not count direct or segmented bundles tied out at the carrier case (see 225.5) as parcels. Do not include registered, certified, COD, number insured, Express Mail, and either accountable mail in this column. For special delivery articles, see Column F.

Small catalogs and magazines with a thickness greater than 318 inch are not counted in this column.

Undeliverable non-preferential mail, including letters, flats, and magazines, is not to be held back by distribution clerks or managers during the mail count. If management wishes to remove plastic wrap, strings, bands, etc. in order to properly count the contents under cover or bound, management should only remove enough covering or binding as necessary to maintain the integrity of the count. Management should not take undeliverable mail from these bundles unless this is the standard practice in the office, and it will be followed all year.

"According to the file, distributors in this local office normally discarded non-preferential mail of no obvious value when it was recognized as being undeliverable rather than distribute it to the rural camers. The parties at Step 4

NRLCA MAlL COUNT GUIDE 13

agreed that the discarding of mail in this manner is inconsistent with postal procedure and should be discontinued. if discontinuance of this activity resulted in an increased workload for the camers, the camers were entitled to a recount, if they desired. " Ref Step 4 H.1R45-C 11305

Linden, MI (Pg 3 9 4 )

b. Column B (SectorISegment Letters)

Enter in this column all mail up to 6 118 inches in width that is processed on automated equipment in sectorlsegment order.

Where SectorISegment is introduced, the final scheme must be jointly verified, and mail must be processed using this scheme no later than 30 days prior to a scheduled mail count.

c. Column C (Papers, Magazines, Catalogs, Flats, Other Size Mail)

Enter in this column newspapers, flats, magazines, catalogs, rolls, and other non-letter size mail that can be cased for delivery using carrier casing equipment. This includes catalogs cased with other mail or cased separately. This does not include those items specifically referenced in Column D, Parcels.

Exceptions: Count simplified address articles, including mail with detached labels, as boxholder mail and enter in Column E. Count each direct or segmented bundle distributed and tied out at mail distribution cases (see 225.4) as one parcel, and enter in Column D. Do not count direct or segmented bundles tied out at the carrier case (see 225.5) as a parcel. Do not count

registered, certified, COD, numbered insured mail, Express Mail, and other accountable mail in this column. For special delivery articles, see Column F.

The manner in which the address is oriented on the mail piece will be relevant for the purpose of recording a mail piece during a mail count as a letter or flat. For the purpose of the mail count, the width of the mail piece will be defined as the dimension perpendicular to the address label. Ref Pre-Ah Q95R4Q-C 02102188

Washington, DC (Pg 60) Ref: Step 4 QUQR4eC 03096526

Washington, DC (Pg 61)

Nonnally a CD enclosed in a magazine does not define the mail piece as a parcel. Ref Ahitratiim Award (Eishen)

E95R4E-C 990099528 (Pg 62) Ref Step 4 FOOR4F-C03096043

Rivefside, CA (Pg 63-64) Ref Step 4 RBCO108C8R4FC19357

GeUipdis, OH (Pg 65)

Catalogs are counted as flats if they will fit into the empty separation to which they are addressed. When flat separations are used, catalogs that will fit into the empty flat separations are credited as flats. Therefore, a catalog may be a flat or parcel depending on the size of the catalog and the size of the separation to which it is addressed.

Boxes of checks are counted as flats provided the box does not exceed any one of the following dimensions: 5 inches in height, 18 inches in length, or 1 9/16 inches in width.

NOTE: Helicopter Flat credit explained in Pre-Arbitration settlement. Ref PmAh E95R4E-C 991031 123

0- City, OR (Pg 66-67)


d. Column D (Parcels)

(1) A parcel is any rigid article that exceeds any one of the following dimensions: (a) 5 inches in height. (b) 18 inches in length. (c) 1 911 6 inches in width.

Examples: A rigid article that measures 4 x 15 x 1 3 4 is recorded as a parcel, because the 1 3 4 thickness exceeds the 1 9/16 criteria. However, a rigid article that measures 5 x 18 x 1 9/16 is recorded as a flat because none of the dimensions exceed the stated criteria. (This includes articles properly prepared and endorsed "Do Not Fold Or Bend" in acconlance with Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) CO1 0.8.2a).

(2) In addition, any non-rigid article that does not fit in the letter or flat separations (where flat separations are used) with other mail is considered a parcel. (This includes articles that have not been prepared in accordance with DMM C010.8.2a, even though the mailer has endorsed them "Do Not Fold Or Bend.") These non-rigid articles should be carried and credited as parcels, provided that they do not fit in the letter or flat separation (where flat separations are used) with other mail without damage to the article. Ref: Step 4 H7R4hW 29824

Bay City, MI (Pg 6 H 9 )

(3) The carrier has the option of handling odd-size articles either with flat mail or separately, regardless of how it is credited.

Column E. Only specifically addressed samples too large to be cased are included in the parcel count.

(5) Each direct or segmented bundle distributed and tied out at the mail distribution cases (see part 225.4) is counted as a parcel. Direct or segmented bundles tied out at the carrier case (see part 225.5) are not counted as a parcel. Ref Step 4 HI R-5EC 8286

Issequah, WA (Pg 7071)

(6) Registered, certif i i , COD, numbered insured, Express Mail, and other accountable mail are not counted in this column. (For special delivery articles see Column F.)

Include in Column D:

Directs tied out at distribution cases. Directs are not to be broken by the carrier. Samples with a specific address directly on the mail piece which meet the parcel size requirements. A postage due parcel is credited as a parcel and a postage due item. Credit is given in Column D where a second delivery attempt is required only in accordance with the Postal Service's parcel redelivery regulations. See: Pastel Bulletin 21824 (Pgs 71) For the purpose of the mail count, the width of the mail piece will be defined as the dimension perpendicular to the address label. Ref Pre-Arb Q95R4GC 02102188


(4) Parcels with detached labels do not belong in this column. They are counted as boxholders in


A rigid article received in DPS will be counted and recorded under Column D as a parcel if the rigid article exceeds any one of the dimensions in Part 535.1 2.d.(1) of the PO-603. Ref: Pre-Ah F91R4F-C 96020182

Sun City, CA (Pg 73)

e. Column E (Boxholders)

Enter the daily number of boxholders (families, boxes, or deliveries, as appropriate) taken out for delivery on the route. This includes all simplified address mail, including samples with simplified address (see DMM A040). When samples are received with detached address labels (specifically addressed), enter the total number of samples. (See part 535.1 2.a, Column A, for recording the label count.) Include simplified address, detached labels (no specific name or address) in this column. The number of pieces of boxholder mail must not exceed the number of families or boxes (as appropriate) on the route for each mailing. Include in this column all boxholders, whether cased or not.

Boxholders are counted only when they are delivered.

Examples: 1. A four-week mail count begins

February 15 and ends March 15. A boxholder is received in the ofice on February 12 with a requested delivery date of February 15. This boxholder would be delivered on February 15 and would be included in the count.

2. Conversely, a boxhooler received in the office on March 15, with a requested delivery date of March 16, would not be counted.

f. Column F (Registered Mail, Certified Mail, Numbered Insured Articles, Express Mail, and Other Accountable Mail)

(1) Enter the number of articles received daily for delivery in this column. Entries in this column preclude entries for the same items in Columns A, B, C, D, or H.

(2) On highdensity (L) routes where multiple accountable items are received for one address, enter the items on PS Form 3883. The route receives credit for one accountable article per page or partial page completed.

Example: If a mute received 10 accountable articles of which five were for delivery to one address, the mute would receive credit for six accountable items: one item each for the five articles for delivery to individual addresses, and one item for the five articles entered on PS Form 3883 (Firm Delivery Book for Accountable Mail) for delivery to the one address. Under no circumstances use a PS Form 3883 for delivery of only one accountable item.

(3) When a PS Form 3883 is authorized for use on high-density (L) routes, additional credit is allowed for handling return receipts on items listed in the book (see Column T).

(4) For each accountable mail piece, including Express Mail and Signature Confirmation in


Column F, an additional time allowance of twenty-eight (28) seconds will be incorporated for scanning the mail piece. This includes any time associated with scanning of the Form 3849 and the data entry of recipient names. Ref: MOU for MDCD (Pg 74)

(5) During the mail count, if the accountable cage (or location where accountables are cleared) is not within 50 feet (round trip) the route will be provided additional credit under Column R for only the distance beyond the 50 feet. The distance beyond 50 feet will be credited at .00284 minutes per foot. 'This credit will not exceed more than one round trip per day to return accountable maillreceipts in the afternoon. Ref Pn?-Arb D95R4D-C 01037983

Louisville, KY (Pg 7576)

Include in Column F:

Accountable articles found in DPS mail will also be included in Colurnn F.

Restricted delivery items Ref: Step 4 H1R-2B-C 16713

Kennett Square, PA (Pg 77)

Management shall not alter a route's mail count by withholding Express Mail from the route during the mail count.

In accordance with the PO-603 Section 313.3, a rural carrier "...must deliver Express Mail to a customer whose residence or place of business is on the carrier's line of travel. Management, however, shall not circumvent paying the additional compensation by not allowing the carrier to deliver Express Mail

during the mail count period, if during the rest of the year, the carrier has been delivering Express Mail to the customer."

g. Column G (CODs and Customs Due Received for Delivery )

Enter daily the number of articles received for delivery.

For each accountable mail piece in Column G, an additional time allowance of twenty-eight (28) seconds will be incorporated for scanning the mail piece. Ref: MOU fw MDCD (Pg 74)

h. Column H (Postage Due)

Enter the number of postage due articles taken out for delivery. Do not include postage due items in Columns A, 6, C, or L.

Note: A carrier can receive a double credit for a postage due parcel. Example: An ordinary parcel with postage due would be credited as a parcel in Column Dl Parcels, and in Column HI Postage Due.

Include in Column H:

Number of bundles of postage due (with a single due amount).

If postage due mail was not bundled prior to the mail count and a change in the procedure


to bundle postage dues for the same delivery address was not discussed during the pre-count conference, postage due items bundled during the count will be counted as individual postage dues. Ref Step 4 H7R-a42 389

Bowling Green, KY (Pg 78-79)

"Review of this case revealed before the count, the postage due mail was not being bundled, and this procedure was not discussed during the pre- count conference. It was not until September 10, 1987, that the procedure was changed. Therefore, the camer shall be credited with 58 pieces of postage due mail on his evaluation and shall receive compensation if it is warranted. "

Note: Other than for ordinary parcels that do not frt in mail receptacles, carriers are NOT required to take postage due mail to the door.

i. Column I (Change of Address)

Enter in this column the number of change of address orders (PS Form 3575, Change of Address Order, or PS Form 3546, Forwarding Order Change Notice) received and entered during the count period. PS Form 3546, initiated by the carrier, is creditable as a forwarding order, provided that it is not a duplication of a previous action. There must be no accumulation of change of address orders at the start of the count period.

Record PS Fonn 35752, Employee Generated Change of Add-, in this column.

j. Column J (Marked Up)

(1) In this column, record the number of pieces of all classes of mail marked up. Markups are mail pieces undeliverable as addressed that require the carrier to endorse the mail with the reason for nondelivery specified in DMM F010.4. Do not record mail missorted to a route as a markup. Do include missorted and missent mail in the original count of mail. This applies where routes have been adjusted, territory has changed, or the mail is routed to the wrong carrier.

(2) In instances where mailing addresses have been changed from rural routes and box numbers to street names and numbers, mail is not credited as a markup on the route where the territory transferred to or from. This is considered a hand-off and credit is given in the original count of mail.

(3) During the mail count the rural route will be credited with one bundle mark-up for all mail intended for local post office boxes and caller services. This is mail that is addressed to the street and the customer has no mail receptacle. Ref PmAh H95R4H-C 01032651

Calhoun, GA (Pg 80)

Note: Do not record the entry of a new or additional customer's name on PS Form 1564, Address Change Sheet, or on PS Form 4232, Rural Delivery Customer Instructions, as a change of address order.


(4) Markup credit is provided for the following categories of mail:

(a) Mail sorted to the Undeliverable-as-Addressed Separations or Designated Location at the Carrier Case. Credit one markup for each bundle of the following: (i) A-Z separations I

Machineable or non- machineable.

(ii) Insufficient address. (iii) Undeliverable-as-

addressed, unable to fonnrard.

(iv) Undeliverable bulk business mail.

(v) Other undeliverable bulk business mail.

(b) Excess Boxholders. Carriers will do all of the following: (i) Bundle separately each set

of excess boxholder mail. (A sack, hamper, tray, etc., may be used for this purpose.)

(ii) Endorse a facing slip In Excess of Requirements, initial, and attach to each bundle, and

(iii) Receive one markup credit for each set.

(c) Mail Individually Endorsed by the Camer. Credit a markup for each piece of mail i n the following categories: (i) Attempted-Not Known. (ii) No Such Number. (iii) Deceased. (iv) No Mail Receptacle. (v) Refused. (vi) Vacant. Only First-

Class Mail, Periodicals, endorsed Standard Mail (A) or Standard Mail (B) addressed to Occupant.

Do not endorse undeliverable bulk business mail.

(vii) Undelivera ble-as- Addressed (Parcels). Do not credit as a markup parcel post endorsed only to indicate that an attempted delivery notice was left.

(viii) No Record Mail. Credit as a markup each piece of mail given to the carrier under the provisions of the PO- 603, Sedion 242.4, whether or not the piece is marked up by the carrier.

(ix) Other required individual carrier endorsements in DMM F010.4.1, as appropriate, and undeliverable mail the postmaster or supervisor requires the carrier to individually endorse. Ref: DaigneauWARS Letter

DMM F010.4.1 Exhibit 4.1 fin 87-83)

Credit a markup for any mail piece where the manager requires the carrier to correct errors (spelling, numbers) prior to its being sent to CMUICFS or returned from CMUICFS.

Credit a markup for each piece of mail when management requires barcodes to be blotted or marked out.

Credit one markup for all additional bundles or mail pieces that management requires the carrier to endorse. Ref Step 4 F95R-4F-C 98086042

West Sacramento, CA (Pg 84) step 4 B95R4B-C 02237945 North Reading, MA (Pg 85-86)


k. Column K (PS Form 3821 Completed)

Enter only the number of completed PS Forms 3821, Clearance Receipt.

Section 431.4 of the PO-603 states, "Complete Form 3821, Clearance Receipt, showing the number of receipts and undeliverable articles returned for clearance."

Complete a separate Form 3821 for each COD article delivered. (P0-603, Section 432.4)

Complete one Form 3821 for all CODs not delivered. (PO-603, Section 432.4)

Form 3821, Clearance Receipt, is to be completed by the carrier all year long, not just during mail count. If a route serves one or more intermediate offices, it is possible to receive credit for PS Forms 3821 at each intermediate office in a single day.

I. Column L [ Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) Letters]

Enter in this column all mail up to 6 118 inches in width that is processed on automated equipment as Delivery Point Sequence mail.

Exception: If fewer than 2,400 pieces of DPS mail are averaged per week during the entire mail count period andlor the route was not validated before the count as meeting the 98 percent quality threshold, mail processed as DPS will be cased and recorded as sectorlsegment in Column B on PS Form 4241

(Rural Delivery Statistics Report), or if it does not qualify as sectorlsegment mail, recorded in Column A, Letter Size.

The end of run report piece count (or future equivalent report) from the automated equipment used to process a zone's DPS letter mail will be utilized when recording volume during a mail count. Ref End of Run Repori (Pg 53)

During the mail count, if the DPS mail is not within 50 feet (round trip), the route will be provided additional credit under Column R for onty the distance beyond the 50 feet. The distance beyond 50 feet will be credited at .00284 minutes per foot. See: P W D95R4D-C NO37982

LouisM'Ile, KY (Pg 7576)

Note: Casing of DPS mail will not change mail count procedures or time standards applied to DPS or other mail.

Questions on Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) Procedures for Rural Routes, appears in the July 15,1995 issue of "THE NATIONAL RURAL LElTER CARRl ER."

If multiple runs are received, only one run may be counted as DPS. Management will determine which run is DPS. Other runs may be counted as sectorlsegment if they qualify.

If carriers take DPS mail directly to the street, all the DPS mail they bring back, because it is out of sequence or otherwise not deliverable (hold mail,


fowardable mail, missorted mail, etc.), is recorded in Column A, Letter Size. The fact that the carrier may elect to case that mail during the mail count does not change the recording procedure. DPS mail, which would have been brought back by the carrier, is recorded in Column A, Letter Size.

Note: The mail pieces recorded in Column A, Letter Size, are not deducted from Column L, DPS.

A igid article received in DPS will be counted and recorded under Column D as a parcel if the rigid article exceeds any one of the dimensions in Part 535.12.d.(1) of the P0+03. Ref: Pre-A& F91R4F-C 96M0182

Sun City, CA (Pg 73)

m. Column M (Money Order Applications)

Record in this column the number of money order applications received on the route. If rural carriers reside on the route they serve and regularly purchase money orders throughout the year, they will receive credit. Postmasters or supervisors review each money order application daily.

n. Column N (Letters and Flats Collected)

Enter in this column the number of letters and flats collected on the route. If mail is received in bundles, count each bundle as one piece. Do not count each piece in the bundle. Do not include mail picked up from a collection box or cluster box unit (CBU) collection compartment. Centralized delivery collection

compartments receive a standard allowance. Ref: Step 4 HOR-U-C 4997

Bardstown, KY (Pg 87) Step 4 195R4I-C 99031 041 Saint Peters, MO (Pg 88)

Enter in Column R the actual time required to open the collection boxes, remove the mail, and close the boxes.

Carriers may be required to face and deposit mail in a designated location upon returning to the office. Management shall not require rural carriers to deposit mail into more than two designated locations. If more than two locations are required, additional Column R time is appropriate. Ref: Step 4 H7R4B-C 29248

Rochester. MI (Pg 52)

Part 421.2 of the Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, Handbook PO- 603 requires that rural carriers should face and deposit mail in the location designated by the postmaster or supemisor. Compensation is provided for facing and depositing mail. Management shall not require rural carriers to deposit mail into more than two designated locations.

o. Column 0 (Ordinary and Insured Parcels Accepted)

(1) Enter in this column the number of ordinary and insured parcels accepted on the route. That is: (a) Parcels that require the

carrier to weigh, rate, and a f f i postage to the article, or

(b) Parcels weighing more than 2 pounds for which postage has been prepaid.


(2) Do not enter obvious letter and flat- size mail, including film packs, etc., whether the carrier affixes postage or not. Count pre-sacked parcels for which postage has been computed as one parcel for each sack. Do not credit parcels that a customer refuses or are not deliverable as a parcel accepted.

Carriers must weigh, rate, and affix postage if management provides the necessary scales and rate charts. However, if the necessary equipment is not made available, credit for a parcel collected is still given.

NOTE: The carrier cannot be required to stand in the lobby to purchase stamps or weigh parcels. Ref Step 4 H4R-4K-C 33298

Oskdoosa, IA 52577 (Pg 89)

p. Column P (Registered and Certified Accepted)

Record in this column the number of registered and certified articles accepted on the route. Do not include in the count those articles returned when PS Form 3849 has been left for the customer. Time credit for No Response-Left Notice items is included in the time factor for delivery.

Credit is given for cetiied and registered letters that are received from rural mailboxes and business customers when the carrier completes any of the following items:

1. The rural carrier weighs, rates and affixes postage to the article, which may involve assistance from a clerk. If the carrier accepts payment for the service from the customer and presents the article to a clerk,

who weighs, rates and affotes Postage, the camer is still entitled to credit under Column P.

2. The rural camer postmarks the receipt, which may involve assistance from a clerk.

3. The rural carrier endorses and issues a receipt via Form 3800 or 3896, which may involve assistance from a clerk.

If the rural carrier does NOT complete item 1,2 or 3 above, the route will be provided credit under Column N or 0 for registered or certified articles collected. Ref: Revision to the PO403 Section 535.12.~. Ref: Pre-Ah W R 4 Q C 03056531


q. Column Q (Loading Vehicle)

Enter the time spent transferring mail from the carrier's work area to the vehicle. This time should include taking mail from the work area to the vehicle, placing mail in the vehicle, and returning the equipment to a designated location. Postmasters or supervisors must observe the loading operation daily to ensure that carriers operate efficiently. Include only the time required to place mail in gurneys or hampers in loading time if mail cannot be placed in the conveyance during strap out. In ofices where the carrier does not normally withdraw all mail for the route, the required final withdrawal from the designated distribution case, or other equipment, will be accomplished in conjunction with the loading operation, and the actual time required included in the


loading allowance. Do not include the time used for this function if the carrier receives the withdrawal allowance. Loading time in excess of 15 minutes must be fully explained in the Comments section of PS Form 4239. However, do not interpret the loading allowance to be a minimum 15 minutes daily. The actual time shown for loading the vehicle must not include time for arranging parcels in delivery sequence; this is included in the time allowance for those items in Column D. Ref Step 4 J95R4.J-C 021 08477

Gaylord, MI (Pg 91)

Mail, pulled down and strapped or trayed, should be placed directly into equipment used to take mail to the vehicle. In this case, loading time begins when the carrier begins to move the mail to the vehicle.

If mail is not placed directly into eq~~ipment used to take mail to the vehicle, loading time begins when the carrier begins to load the mail into the transport equipment.

The time required to place the mail in gurneys or hampers will be included in loading time only when the mail cannot be placed in the conveyance in delivery order, during strapping out or traying. It would also be applicable if because of space restrictions, the carrier is required to strap-out mail, place it on the floor or case ledge, and then transport it to a gurney or hamper at the end of the carrier-case aisle. This was not intended to be applied to situations where the carrier straps out mail and places it directly into a gumey or hamper in lieu of placing it on the floor. See: Henry Letter (Pg 4547)

Note: The placing of boxholder bundles into a hamper or gurney by the carrier will be included in loading time. See: Henry Letter (Pg 4547)

Obtaining the parcel hamper is not considered part of the withdrawal of mail. M-38 Section 344.23 states that gurneys and hampers shall be located convenient to the carriers.

During the mail count if the parcel hamper is not within 50 feet (round trip), the route will be provided additional credit under Column R for only the distance beyond the 50 feet. The distance beyond 50 feet will be credited at .00284 minutes per foot. 'The credit will not exceed more than one round trip per day. Ref PmAh E95R4G-C 99088097

Humble, 7X (Pg 49)

NOTE: Carrier has the right to use a stop watch for loading vehicle and other suitable allowance. Ref Step 4 J95R4.J-C 021 141 17

Adrian, MI (Pg 92)

r. Column R (Other Suitable Allowance)

Other Suitable allowance, "R time," is defined as a reasonable time allowance which may be claimed for unusual conditions, or for other services rendered on a daily or weekly basis that are not accounted for under the normal work functions. This does not include time for vehicle breakdowns. Management must authorize items for which time is claimed under this heading. These items must recur daily or weekly. Weekly safety talks must be conducted, and the actual time required (usually 5 minutes per week) must be recorded in Column R.


Some examples of " R time as listed in the PO-603 are the following:

(1) The actual time required to place Central Markup System/Computerized Forwarding System (CMUICFS) mail in the designated location is credited in Column R.

(2) Where no ofice personnel are on duty when the carrier returns from serving the route on Saturday, the carrier receives actual time allowance only for those duties performed over and above the normal functions of this day and the following workday. (This does not include time spent counting mail or completing count forms.) Ref: -03 Section 481

(3) Those carriers who serve a nonpersonnel rural un l receive a minimum allowance of 15 minutes daily for each unit served. Boxes located in these units are not included in the route totals on PS Form 4241. Additional time above 15 minutes claimed for servicing a non-personnel unit must be explained in the Comments section. Ref: P0-603 Section 372

(4) Personal time, or time used for purchasing and checking stamp stock, should not be entered. These times are credited when the evaluation is processed at the Information Service Center (ISC).

spent waiting for vehicle repair or tow while on the route is not a recurring function, and is not credited in Column R. 'The carrier accumulates 0 time.

(6) All entries in Column R require explanation in the Comments section. Note: No entries are made in this column for those routes with collection compartments or parcel post lockers located in centralized delivery equipment.

Some other typical Column " R entries are the following:

(1) Actual riming time to assess the quality of DPS mail, if separator cards are not used.

(2) Time for returning Business Reply mail to designated location.

(3) Time for changes to edit sheets (red books) beyond the time that would have been required on the back of the PS Form 4240 Trip Sheets. Ref: Phillip Kndl Letter w/ Q 8 A (Pg 93-97)

Step 4 Settlements that would include unusual conditions for Column "R" credit:

Ref: Step 4 E95R4E-C 00056816 Yakima, WA (Pg 98)

Step 4 JOORdl-C 04149356 DeKalb, IL (Pg 99)

Step 4 E004-RE4 02 16881 2 Yakima, WA (Pg 1W101)

(5) No entries are made in this column for those routes using USPS- owned or leased vehicles. The ISC will automatically credit appropriate time allowances as indicated in the PO-603, Section 535.23. Time


(4) Actual time to obtain and return amw keys, if the carner had no accountables. Ref: Step 4 F97 R4F-C 96024597

Salinas, CA (Pg 702)

"The issue in this grievance is whether the grievant is entitled to a credit for time obtaining and returning an amw key during mail count when she has no other accountables. Management should have given the grievant credit for time used during mail count to obtain and return an a m w key when she had no accountables. "

(5) Time, if required by management, to answer customer questions across the counter or over the phone, if such duties occur daily or weekly.

"If local management requires a rural carner to answer official communications or telephone calls throughout the year, an appropriate credit will be allowed if this function is performed during the mail count period. " Ref: Step 4 H4R-5R-C 47608

Sequim, WA (Pg 703)

(6) If the scanner is not located within a reasonable distance of the carner's casing area, actual time for required extra trips to secure or return the scanner. Ref MOU for MDCD (Pg 74) Ref: Step 4 EOOR-4E-C 04086896

Bemiciji, MN (Pg 704- 705)

(7) One (7) minute per day credit for acquisition, setup, and return to cradle of assigned scanners. Ref: MOU for MDCD (Pg 74)

(8) Eighteen (1 8) seconds per scan

for all delivery confirmation barcodes.

Ref: MOU for MDCD (Pg 74)

(9) Weekly safety talks must be conducted, and the actual time required (usually, five minutes per week) must be recorded in Column R.

Ref: PO-603 Section 535.72.r. 7 Ref: Step 4 QOOR-4Q-C 04707548

Washington, DC (Pg 7W707)

(1 0) Actual time for daily or w W y stand-up sewice talks in addition to sakty talks. Ref: JOORdl-C 03740433

O'Fallon, MO (Pg 108)

(1 1) An additional time credit (normally 5-minutes) must be given to the mute if management elects to repeat a weekly safety talk for the relief employees or a carner who was not present Ref Step 4 H4R-5G-C 38788

Vancouver, WA (Pg 709)

(1 2) Actual time to take mail to vacation hold and return to the case, if hold location is not at the carner's case.

Ref: Step 4 OOR-4E-C 02767832 Pequot, MN (Pg 7 70)

(73) Actual time to travel to and from throwback case. Ref: EOOFt4E-C 02250463

Gig Harbor, WA (Pg 11 1)

(1 4) Actual time to travel to and from the CFS/CMU case and place the mail in its designated location.

(1 5) Actual time to unlock, sweep, verify collection with magnet, wand or scanner, close and lock blue collection boxes


(1 6) Time for accessing key, unlocking gate, locking gate, and returning key in gated communities.

(1 7) Actual time required for atypical dismount situations such as using elevators, traversing an inordinate amount of stairs, unlocking or going through difficult doors, etc. Ref Henry Letter (Pg 4547)

(1 8) Actual time for re-loading a satchel. Ret Step 4 E95R-4E-C 01259718

Ellington, MO (Pg 1 12)

(1 9) When a non-L route camer purchases stamp stock at an intermediate office, show the actual time required to perform this function, not to exceed 5 minutes daily, in the Other Suitable Allowance column and explain in the Comments section. During the mail count period, maintain the normal frequency of stamp purchases at the intermediate office.

(20) When an L mute camer purchases stamp stock at an intermediate office, their purchases must meet the minimum requirements of 150 times the First-Class Mail postage rate in order to receive the additional allowance described above.

(21) Actual time to close up ofices in affemoons, usually on Saturday, and any other required functions in small

offices that close for lunch. In addition, Column "R" time should be given for setting alarms, locking and unlocking doors, and taking down flags, etc.

(22) Actual time to deposit collected mail in more than two separations. Ref Step 4 H7R4B C 29248

Rochester, MI (Pg 52) (23) Time to put "notice left" parcels

on the proper shelf, if required.

(24) Filing PS Form 3575, when required.

"Normally, rural camers are not required to file Forms 3575 affer return from Computerized Forwarding System or Central Mark- Up. However, if they are required to maintain such records, an appropriate time credit must be given. " Ref Step 4 H7R-2H-C 27614

Lexington, SC (Pg 1 13) Step 4 H7R4M-C 21551 Traverse City, MI (Pg 1 14)

s. Column S (Purchasing Stamp Stock)

All rural routes will be automatically credited with 20 minutes per week for purchasing and checking stamp stock.

t. Column T (Return Receipts)

On highdensity (L) routes, an additional credit is received only for those return receipts for accountable items handled via PS Form 3883 (see Column F). Enterin this column the

number of return receipts attached to those accountable items entered on

NRCCA MAIL COUNT GUIDE 26

PS Form 3883. Do not credit return receipts on accountable items other than those listed on PS Form 3883. Example: If a route received 10 accountable items and each had a return receipt aifached, but only four of the items were listed in a fim delivery book, the route receives credit for four return receipts in Column T.

u. Column U (Authorized Dismounts)

The number of authorized dismounts is shown daily. (See part 313 for those instances where dismount deliveries may be authorized.) Example: A caber is authorized to dismount at a school. The school office is closed on Saturdays, The route would be credited with a dismount Monday through Friday, but would not receive dismount credit on Saturday. Authorized dismounts must be explained in the Comments section. When a camer dismounts primarily to provide other services, such as delivery or pickup of accountable mail, COD, Express Mail, etc., do not authorize dismount credit; existing time allowances include time for dismounting. Ref: Step 4 H 1 Rdl-C443

Madison. M4 (Pg 1 15) step 4 H 1 R4T-C 7060 Lexington, KY(Pg 116-117)

v. Column V (Authorized Dismount Distance, In feet)

(1) Enter the authorized dismount distance (in feet) traveled daily by the carrier. The distance entered could vary daily depending upon the number of dismounts authorized each day (see Column U). Before determining the

authorized dismount distance, the postmaster or supenrisor must: (a) For single delivery point

dismounts such as CBUs, a school, mailroom, etc., establish the authorized parking location at the closest practicable point.

(b) For multiple deliveries requiring a dismount (such as multiple apartment buildings sewed from one park point, shopping centers, etc.), a parking location is established at the most advantageous point or points, and the authorized dismount line of travel between delivery points is laid out in the most efficient travel pattern. To avoid unnecessary trips to the vehide and to ensure employee safety, the postmaster or supervisor may authorize the use of a carrier satchel or satchel cart.

(2) When determining the authorized dismount distance, the postmaster or supenrisor must measure the most direct andlor efficient distance from the point of dismount from the vehicle to the delivery point, or points, and return to the vehicle. Record measurements to the closest foot. Make all entries on


x. Column X (Waiting Time) the basis of the number of trips required by the carrier each day.

Example: A school is authorized as a dismount delivery point. The total dismount distance from the vehicle to the delivery point and retum is 140 feet. If; on the first day of the mail count, the volume for this delivery requires only one trip by the camer, the camer would receive credit for one dismount in Column U and 140 feet dismount distance in Column V. If; however, on the second day, the volume for this delivery required two trips, the camer would receive credit for one dismount in Column U and 280 feet in dismount distance.

(3) 'There must be a reasonable expectation that the line of travel established for the dismount is available to the carrier at least 90 percent of the time. This consideration is especially important in areas that experience consistently heavy snowfalls where direct dismount routes (not coinciding with existing sidewalks) will be blocked most of the winter.

w. Column W (Counting Time)

Enter the number of minutes actually used to count the mail. Only the carrier's time is recorded and not the postmaster's or supervisor's counting time.

Enter the number of minutes the carrier spent waiting for mail after the official starting time.

y. Column Y (Intermediate Offices Serviced Daily, Services Performed at Intermediate Offices)

1) Enter the number of intermediate post offices served daily. Carriers who perform functions or services at intermediate offices for which time allowances are provided will receive appropriate time credit for these services.

(2) Record daily on PS Form 4239 all functions performed or services provided at intermediate offices, and forward in a sealed envelope to the postmaster at the carrier's originating office.

(3) When a non-L route carrier purchases stamp stock at an intermediate office, show the actual time required to perform this function, not to exceed 5 minutes daily, in the Other Suitable Allowance column and explain in the Comments section. Dl~ring the mail count period, maintain the normal frequency of stamp p~~rchases at the intermediate office. Note: For highdensity (L) route carriers to receive this additional allowance, their purchases must meet the minimum requirements of 150 times the First-Class Mail postage rate.


(4) When completing PS Form 4241 for the week, the postmaster or supervisor at the office from which the route begins will include in the proper Total columns the items applicable to the intermediate ~FFice, and wries in above the signature line the words, "Includes services performed at intermediate office." Indicate on the form, in the Comments section, the functions or services performed.

z. Column Z (Weight of Locked Pouches Carried Daily)

Enter the weight carried in pounds (rounded to the nearest whole pound) of all mail, including outside pieces, to or from designated offices. Carriers serving nonpersonnel rural units do not receive credit for a locked pouch. Note: To determine the daily weight, total the pouch weight of all days and divide by 24. 'Then divide the daily weight by the number of locked pouch stops from line C, Additional Information section, to determine the average daily weight. Enter this number in Column Z, 49-51, on PS Form 4241. Ref: Step 4 195R41-C 991 13048

Souiv Falls, SD (Pg 118)


SUPPORT DOCUMENTS

U l PQSTALILiRVKii

April 7,1999

MANAGERS, DELIVERY PROGRAM SUPPORT (AREA) MANAGERS, OPERATIONS PROGRAM SUPPORT (DISTIRCT)

SUBJECT Influenolng Mail Count

I? has come to the attendon of this d k e that. in same Instances, allorb have been made to unduly influence rural mail count volume. No one should attempt to influence mailen to avoid mailing during mail count perlods or to send out special mailings specMcally duting mall count periods.

This issue, while originally brought forward through the grievance process. Is applicable to both management and craft. Postmasters and supervisors should not influence customers to change their mailing dates solely for the purpose of affecting the results or the mall count. While personal gains are not realized by postmasters and supervisors, and customers ultirna tely decide when to maA Influence from interested parties may have the appearance of affecting the integrity of the count.

Convenely, carrlen should not attempt to coerce mailers to send out mailings spccitlcalty during a mail count period or have Mends or relatives send matlings to addresses on their mutes or to themselves (if they Ilve on their route). Thls type of infi uencina does realke a personal gain and would most definltety have the appearance of affecting the integrity of the count.

The count perlod Is artablished to be a perlod where the partles tan expect normal mall volume flow affected only by the mailers and our customers. The mission of the Postal Servlce with respect to a normal rurai mail count Is to count, case, and deliver the mail, not add b or take away from the volume by contrived schemea.

Delivery ~ o ~ k i e s and Programs

30

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 L'Enhnt Rru. SW Washington. DC 20260

A p r i l 18. 1983

Mr. Dallas N. Fields Director, Labor Relations National Rural Le t te r Carriers ' Association 1750 ~ennsy lvan ia Avenue, N.W. Sui te 1204 Washington, D.C. 20006-3399

Re : J . Wigg inton Menlo, KS 67746 ElR-4H-C 12585

Dear Mr. Fields:

On March 24, 1983, w e met t o discuss the above-captioned grievance a t the fourth s tep of our contractual grievance procedure.

The matters presented as well as the applicable cont rac tua l provisions have been reviewed and given careful considerat ion.

The question i n t h i s grievance is whether or not management violated the 1981 USPS/NRtCA National Agreement when serrrice t o a rura l box i n which mail was received was discontinued. The dwelling had been vacant fo r over 90 days.

Part 525.323, of the M-37, Handbook, c lear ly ind ica tes t h a t a dwelling which is vacant more than 90 days is not t o be included on the l a t e s t Form 4003, Off ic ia l Rural Route Description. Vacant meam not physically occupied. .

Accordingly, as w e find no violat ion of the National Agreement, t h i s grievance is denied.

Sincerely,

Robert L. ~uq6ne Labor Relations Department

31

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 L'WUlt PIur SW Wuhbqton. DC fQZlCO

M r . Dal las N. F i e l d s D i r ec to r , Labor Rela t ions Nat iona l Rural Le t t e r C a r r i e r s 1

Assoc ia t ion 1448 Duke S t r e e t , S u i t e 1448 Alexandr ia , VA 22314-3403

Re : G. Sne t s e l aa r Polk C i ty , I A 50226 AIR-4K-C 3738

Dear Mr. F ie lds :

On March 13, 1986, w e met t o d i s c u s s t h e above-captioned gr ievance a t the four th s t e p of our c o n t r a c t u a l grievance procedure.

The i s s u e i n t h i s grievance is vhether t h e r u r a l c a r r i e r is e n t i t l e d t o r e c e i v e c r e d i t - f o r mailboxes for customers vho r e c e i v e d e l i v e r y of mai l through genera l de l i ve ry .

The un ion contends t h a t dwel l ings t h a t have not been vacant more than 90-days should be included i n t h e mailbox count.

I t is t h e p o s i t i o n of t h e P o s t a l Senr ice t h a t i n accordance w i t h Handbook M-37, Pa r t 5 2 5 . 2 2 3 ~ ~ and Haadbook H-38, P a r t 526.633, ( 4 ) dwel l ings and bus inesses r e ce iv ing d e l i v e r y s o l e l y through genera l d e l i v e r y a r e not included i n t h e mailbox count.

Accordingly, t h i s gr ievance is denied.

Time l i m i t s v e r e extended .by mutual consent .

32

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson Director of Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 2231 4-3465

Re: EOOR-4E-C 021 61 678 Lowell Vetter Chanhassen, MN 55317

Dear Randy:

On several occasions, the most recent being May 7, 2004, we met to discuss the above- captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance concerns the clarification of a "mail receiving unit" when defining "centralized delivery" for the purpose of applying a rural time allowance.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following will constitute full and complete settlement of this grievance:

In Article 9.2.C.3.b.4, of the National Agreement states:

"Centralized delivery, for the purpose of establishing a rural time allowance, is defined as any mail receiving unit where the carrier has access to more than one individual customer's receptacle by opening only one door, such as Cluster Box Units, Apartment Receptacles, Delivery Centers, Postal Centers, Mailrooms, etc."

The Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, Handbook PO-603 in section 535.223, b. Centralized Boxes, provides:

"Show the number of centralized mailboxes on the route as of the last day of the count. Centralized mailboxes are defined as any mail- receiving unit where the carrier has access to more than one customer's receptacle by opening only one door. This includes such items as CBUs, apartment receptacles, delivery centers, postal centers, mailrooms, etc. Not included are boxes served through nonpersonnel rural units."

The parties agree that in the instant case the rural carrier entered through one door to make multiple deliveries. It is our understanding that the carrier did not distribute mail into a "mail receiving unit" such as a Cluster Box Unit, Apartment Receptacles, Delivery Center, Postal Center, Mailroom, etc. The parties agree that this type of delivery point would not be considered a "mail receiving unit".

33

Therefore, the parties agree for the purpose of applying a rural time allowance, this type of delivery would not be considered as centralized delivery.

Based upon the circumstances of the instant case, the parties agree that no further action is necessary.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle this case.

Sincerely,

Mnt rac t Administration (NRLCAINPMHU)

Labor Relations

~ i rec to r oY Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date:

34

Postal Operations Manual

632526 More Than One Family

If more than one family wishes to share a mail receptade, the following standards apply:

a. Route and Box Number AWressing. on rural and highway contrad routes authorized to use a route and box numbering system (e.g., RR 1 BOX 155), up to five families may share a single mail receptacle and use a common route and box designation. A written notice of agreement, signed by the heads of the families or the indiiuals who want to join in the use of such box, must be filed with the postmaster at the d i i n g office.

b. Conversbn to Street Name and Number Addressing. When street name and numbering systems are adopted, those addresses reflect distinct customer kcations and sequences. Rural and highway contract route customers who are assigned diirent primary addresses (e.g., 123 APPLE M Y vs. 136 APPLE Mv) should erect individual mail receptacles in kcations recommended by their postmasters and begin using their new addresses. Customers having different primary addmsses but wishing to continue sharing a common receptacle must use the address of the fecepbdels owner and the 'care o f address format

JOHN DOE C/O ROBERT SMITH 123 APPLE M Y

Customers having a common primary address (e-g., 800 MAIN ST) but different secondary addresses (e-g., Am 101, APT 102, etc.) may continue b share a common receptade if singl-nt delivery is authorized for the primary address. Secondary addresses should still be included in all co-ce.

CHAPTER 5 Management of Rural Delivery Services

ROUTE INSPECTIONS AND MAIL COUNTS

51 6 COUNT OF FAMILIES

51 6.1 Definition

For Postal Service purposes, the term 'family" is considered the same as "household."

5 1 6.2 Procedure

.21 ('ourit a singlc rcsidcnce as a household consisting of' only onc I'amily regardless ot' thc ntlmhcr ol' residents clr their relationship.

.22 In duplex or other multi-unit residential buildings. count each occupied separate u n i t as a houschuld consisting of only one family.

36

LLV Fueling Allowance

Routes assigned USPS vehkles will be compensated using the lollouring standard allowances: 1. Twenty-lour (24) minutes per week for completing PS

Form 4570 (Vehicle Time Record) daily, the vehicle check (as outbed on Notice 76). and PS Form 4565 (Vehkle Repalr Tag), as appropriate.

2. A 4.5-minute allowance for each fueling of the vehicle. The ttme to be added k &he weekly evaluation is determined by mulliplying the daily route miles IDRM) tlrnes six (6) days dvlded by one hundred (100) miles per fueling times the 4.5-minute fueling albwance.

3. 11 ihe (ueling location i s not on the route iine.01 travel. the deviation Is determined by measurlng the distance in miles and hundredths to a d from tho fueling sta- Lion and .the official line 01 travel. The average daily deviation mileage is added to the daily route miles utilizing PS Form 4003. The mileage addition on thc PS Form 4003 is determined by multiplying Lhe rnikage deviation times daily route miles llmes six divided by one hundred (100) miles per fueling dtvided by six (61 days equals daily average deviation.

4. In no inslance uni aroute uslng a USPS provided vehicle receive I- than th i i (30) minutes abwence per week lor the activlaies desdbed in D. 1. D.2, and D.3 aboue.

Note: Information cited fiom 1988 MOU on Long Life Vehicles.

37

Domestic Mail Manual DO4 1 Customer Mail Receptacles

WOO Basic Information

DO40 Delivery of Mail

DO41 Customer Mail Receptacles 2.9Loclred Box

A mailbox with a lock must have a slot that is large enough to accommodate the customer's normal daily mail volume. The USPS neither opens a locked box nor accepts a key for this purpose.

38

r lk . , , : !J UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

475 L'Enlmt Plus, SW Waaiqton. DC a1260 N&JA

M r . Dallas N. F i e l d s D i r e c t o r , Labor R e l a t i o n s Na t iona l Rural L e t t e r C a r r i e r s ' Assoc ia t ion 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 1204 Washington, D.C. 20006-3399

Re: Class Act ion Linden, M I 4 8 4 5 1 HlR-4B-C 11305

Dear Mr. Fields:

On January 13, 1983, we met t o d i s c u s s the above-captioned g r i e v a n c e a t t h e f o u r t h s t e p of o u r c o n t r a c t u a l g r i e v a n c e procedure.

The matters presen ted as well a s the a p p l i c a b l e c o n t r a c t u a l p rov is ions have been reviewed and given careful c o n s i d e r a t i o n .

The q u e s t i o n i n this gr ievance is whether or not management v i o l a t e d t h e 1981 National Agreement when n o n - p r e f e r e n t i a l mail addressed to a street or route, but known to be waste, .was d i sca rded r a t h e r t h a n d i s t r i b u t e d to t h e r u r a l c a r r i e r s d u r i n g the 1982 mail count .

According t o t h e f i l e , d i s t r i b u t o r s i n t h i s l o c a l o f f i c e have normally d i sca rded non-pre fe ren t i a l mai l o f no obv ious va lue when it was recognized as being u n d e l i v e r a b l e r a t h e r than dis t r ibu te i t t o the r u r a l c a r r i e r . T h i s was not specifi- c a l l y done with the i n t e n t i o n of depr iv ing the r u r a l c a r r i e r s of m a i l count .volume d u r i n g t h e two-week coun t ing p e r i o d .

Howeverr we mutua l ly -agreed t h a t the discard ing of mai l i n t h i s manner is i n c o n s i s t e n t with p o s t a l procedure and should be d i scon t inued . I f d i scon t inuance of t h i s a c t i v i t y w i l l result in an i n c r e a s e o f t h e workload of t h e rural c a r r i e r s i n this o f f i c e r t h e carriers will be e n t i t l e d t o a r e c o u n t , i f t h e y desire.

We mutually agreed t h a t i f t h e c a r r i e r s d e s i r e a recoun t under these ci rcumstances , it s h a l l be accomplished under t h e

39

Mr. Dallas N . Fields 2

special count provisions of Article 3 0 r Section 1.Cm12.a.3., of the National Agreement. The special count must be completed within 9 0 days of receipt of t h i s decision. Retroactive compensation, i f appropriater shall be from the 1982 mail count.

Sincerely,

Abert L . Eugene Labor Re1 a t ions gdpartmen t

40

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 Ls&fmt Plaza. SW Wuhinglon. DC 20260

October 21, 1983

Mr. Dallas N. F i e l d s Director , Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carr iers ' Association 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.w. S u i t e 1204 Washington, D.C. 20006-3399

Dear Mr. Fields:

On August 30, 1983, we met to d iscuss the above-captioned grievance a t t h e fourth s t e p of our con t rac tua l gr ievance procedure.

. ,

The qrievance concerns the contention by the union that all ;presort mail should be cut and sor tad 'before being given t o ' t h e r u r a l c a r r i e r on route 4.

Based on information presented and contained i n t h e grievance E l l e , the grievance i s denied. The mall i n question 1s being handled p resen t ly the same way it was handled during the September 1982 mail count. Postmasters may take s t e p s t o reduce presort errors by working t h o mail through the d i s t r i b u t i o n case before sending to the r u r a l ca r r i e r , and p r e s o r t mail that contains minimal e r r o r s may be s e n t d i r e c t l y t o the r u r a l ca r r i e r .

Time l i m i t s extended by mutual consent.

Robert L. E* Labor Rela ns Department

41

LABOR ~ ~ O N S H-70.70

a UNITED STA7Z.5 m d L SERVKE

Mr. Leo J. Root Diredor of Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 223f 4-3465

Re: H95R4i-I-C 96076679 Class Adion Largo, FL 34640-9998

Dear Mr. Root:

On several occasions, the most recent being January 29, 1997, we met to . discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourVl step of ow contractual

grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether management can require ~ r a l carriers to withdraw mail from more than one 'hot case' without additional compensation.

During ow discussion, we mutually agreed'that the following will conititute full and complete settlement of this grievance:

The parties agree that the 'hot case(s)' may be used as, and considered a distribution case in accordance with Part 212.1 1 of Handbook POd03, Rural Camer Duties and Responsibilities. Rural Carriers with withdrawal time may be required to withdraw mail 3-times each morning from all the distribution cases. However, a final withdrawal (separate from the 3 previous withdrawals) of preferential letters and flats only involves one designated letter and flat case just before leaving for the route, pursuant to Part 212.14 of the P0403.

Therefore, if the local office is requiring the rural caniers to withdraw mail from more than one hot case on the final withdrawal, just before leaving for the mute, it shall either cease or determine additional appropriate compensation.

42

Mr. Leo Root re: H95R4H-C 96076679 Page 2

Please sign and rebm the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to settfe this case.

Sincerely,

Leo J. Root Contrad Administration Director of Labor Relations (NALCNRLCA) National Rwal Letter Carriers'

Labor Relations Association

Date: A//1/97

43

UNITED STATES - - POSTAL SERVICE


Association 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria. VA 22314-3465

Re: EOOR-4E-C 021 46601 Donavan Mozena Spencer, IA 51 301

Dear Randy:

On several occasions, the most recent being May 7,2004, we met to discuss the above- captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance concerns how withdrawal credit is recorded when a rural route's official route description includes service at an intermediate post office(s).


If the "head-out" office and/or the intermediate office(s) requires the carrier to withdraw mail, the Rural Delivery Statistic Report, PS Form 4241, andlor other rural route evaluation forms, would reflect "yes" for withdrawal credit for the route.


Sincerely, I

Contract Administration (NRLCAINPMHU)

Labor Relations

~ i r ec i o r oy~abo r Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date: * 44

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 L ' E n f ~ t Plpzk sw Washington. DC 20260

RECEIVED l~ 3 2

N R L C A

June 21, 1982

Mr. Wilbur S. Wood President National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association Suite 1204 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Washington, DOC, ,20006

Dear Mr. Wood:

Enclosed is our position psper on four specific questions which we acticipate to arise during the 1982 mail count. It is provided for your information in an effort to eliminate in advance any possible misunderstanding. Should you have any questions, please contact Howard R, Carter of our staff.

S incerely ,

.Office of Grievance and Arbitration

Labor Relations Department

Enclosure

45

A Zefexence M-37, 525-12 Col. Q ~ o a d i n g ~ i n e

Quest ion Are c c r r i e r s e n t i t l e d t o lozding t ime f o r p l a c i n g bundles of mail. i n t o a ha ipe r or gurney?

Answer "The tiine requ i red t o p lace incil i n gurneys or h a p e r s w i l l x c l u d e d ia loading t i n e . " Th i s excerpt from M-37, 525.12 Col Q was intended t o eddress s i t ~ a t i o n s t h a t re-ired t h e - c a r r i e r t o load m a i l frcm the f l o o r o r o t h e r l o c a t i o n i n t o ' a hunpez or gurney f o r transport t o the vehic le . A c o n o n exanple of this' 1s boxholder mail which is n o t o r d i n a r i l y cased, Loadinu t ime - d

would iaclude the time needed to .place boxh01Zer bundles in to a hanper o r gurney. It would a l s o be agp l i czb le i f , because or' space r e s t r i c t i o n s , the carrier is r e q u i r e 3 t o s t r ap -ou tmei l ; place it on thc f l o o r or case lcdgct ~ 5 d then t r s n o p o r t it to a gurney o r hamper at the end of khe carrier-cese eisle. It was not intecsed t o 5e ez2lied to sitxztloxs where the czrrler s'zzps o u t n a i l 2nd places it d i r e c t l y &to a g m e y o r hamper i n l i e u of placing on t3e f loor .

B. References M37, 525.12 Col. Q (Sequencing p z r c e l s ) M37, 211.2, 211.3, and 524.2 Withdraw o f M r i l

Question Does ob ta in ing the parce i post h-er e n t i t l e a carrier t o the w i t h t h a w ellowance?

Answer Obtzining the p a r c e l h w p e r i s n o t considered part of with-f m e i l . I n the re fe rences cited, zn impor t rn t r e f e r e n c e has been overlooked. X-38, Sect ion 344.23 s t a t e s t h a t gurneys a d hzzipers s h a l l be located convenient t o tSe carriers- By conven- i e n t l y loca ted , it is meant f o r the h a p e r o r gurney t o be in c l o s e proximity t o t h e c a r r i e r ' s case. If the hartperfgurney is so . loca ted , and a l l oA&er mai l is prepared as required ' i n Section 2'1.3 of the 24-37, t h e m thc fact that t h c c;l~rier musf w a l k a fen steps t o obtain the p a r c e l hunper/gurney would n o t justify allowing withdrew the. Sf the p a r c e l conta iner i s n o t loca ted according t o section 240-23 of M-38, a c t i o n ' s h o u l d be taken to do so. F h a l l y , if ae physica l lay-out of t h e o f f i c e o r space constraints make it inpossible t o comply with the provisions of t h e M-38, and it i s not poss ib le t o have t h e hampers/gurneys t r a s p o r t e d t o the carrier area by a c l e r k or mailhandler , then consideration should be given to changing the procedures a t the o f f i c e t o allow f o r carrier wi-raw of - a l l ' . n a i l -

46

C. References 14-37; 211.2, 211.3 m d 524.2

Question If a c a r r i e r is required t o take mail f r o n sacks i s he e l i g i b l e f o r t h e withdraw c r e d i t ?

Paswer Section 2 1 1 . 2 ~ of the M-37 s t r t e s i n art "If. f l a t s are recexved i n sacks, remove them pronptly and steck n e a t l y on t h e f l o o r o r i n hr-pers when provided." Section 211.3a o f the 13-37 states "mil will be .placed on your case ledge o r as described i n part 211.2b and c vhen you re?ort.* Except f o r the pxovisioa for a f inal w i t h d r a w from t h e "hot case", there is no provision f o r a p a r t i a l c r e d i t f o r c a r r i e r wi'thdraw of mail. If a terrier is r e p i r e d t o perforin a portion of t h e withdrzw funct ion, such as dumping m c i l from sacks,. &&en the c a r r i e r i s e n t i t l e d t o the withdraw allowznce.

D. Refereace H-37, 525.12 Col. R

Question Are c a r r i e r s e n t i t l e d t o t i n e i n addi t ion t o sta5dard d ismomt allowance f o r unloc'king doors , climbing stairs, e t c ?

Answer The disnount cllowance was intended t o reduce t h e a c t u m e e n t r i e s mcde on the Forn 4241. It uzs designed t o be epplicable t o &he major i ty of dismount s i t u r t i c n s (i. e. : dis inont from the velhicle, eh te r ing tiLTou9h doors, t r r v e r s l n g rnlniial quzn t i t i e s of s t e ~ s , etc . ) . The time required t o ob ta in a key f rm a keyholder, unlock a door, and replace the key was never considered i n determining t h e allonance. Therefore, if this function is re-ired of a r u r a l c a r r i e r , then that crrrier is e n t i t l e d t o c r e d i t ( i n Column R) f o r the t h e associa ted with unlocking the door i n c d d i t i o n t o t% standard disinount c1lowaz.ace. Finz l ly , because t h e allowance was designed t o cover the normal s i t u c t i o n , it is probable t h a t time zdjusaents might be necessary (using Calm R) i n c e r t e i n obAer atypiccl s i tua t ions . For exmple, i f t h e carrier is requi red t o use cn e leva to r , o r t o t r ave r se an inordinate amount of s teps , e t c . , an a d d i t i o n a l t h e allowance mey be wsrranted.

Q I n ant ic ipa t ion ofhquestion t h a t the cbove explanation Eay raise, theze is no s p e c i f i c gu ide l ine as t o where a minimal amount of steps becones an inordincte n-er of s t eps . For example, it ccn't be scFd the ten (10) i s m i n i m e l e?d eleven (11) i s inordinate. That determination must be.made by the manager on the l o c a t i o n , and l i k e zll management a c t i o n s , it is challengable by the carrier through the grievance procedure. Manasers should remember that the disnount allowance i s computed a t +n average of four miles per hour f o r the d i s t znce t raveled . While the i n t e n t i o n of the al losance wzs t o n i n h i z e t h e need f o r Column R e n t r i e s , where unusual conditions e x i s t , mznagers must consider the impact of those conditions on t h e time needed t o pe r fom t h e dismount function. -

47

M 3 8 REVISION-MAIL WITHDRAWAL ON RURAL ROUTES The following change in the mail withdrawal conducted in all offices with rural delivery. Whm

policy should allow rural delivery managers to management determines it would be operationally review the current withdrawal procedure used in advantageous to change the withdrawal procedures their office and determine whether a change in this currently used in a unit, the local NRLCA steward procedure would be beneficial. Where a change is (or state steward ifa local steward is not available) proposed, the regular rural carriers in an office by must be advised of the proposed change. If man- majority vote may elect to withdraw mail if they agement proposes a change in withdrawal and the also agree to conduct the daily unit volume record- majority of regular carriers in the unit wish to per- ing. The recording of volume means entering the form the withdrawal function, all carriers in the daily linear footage of letter and flat mail received unit will withdraw all mail, provided they agree to in a single entry in the comment section of Form assume the responsibilities assodated with daily 4240, h d ~ Trip Rgwt. In addition, they should unit volume recording. record the number of boxholder sets received. In If the majority of carriers elect not to perform all instances, the procedure used should be the the withdrawal function, mail will be provided to same throughout the office. them in accordance with Pan 552.1. In these cases,

The withdrawal time allowance will be added to management will perform the daily unit volume re- or deducted from the evaluation of any route that cordina function. has the withdrawal hnction added or s"btracted in the same manner that the Postal Semce adds or subtracts time to a route when it authorizes or re- moves from a route evaluation parcel lockers, USPS ownedneased vehicles, etc.

Part 35 1 of Handbook M-38, Managnnrnt o/Rural Delivq S&s, is revised to read as follows:

3U) Coder Work Methods-Office

351 Obtaining Moil

351.1 Carriers will withdraw mail from distribution cases when the mail has not been placed on heir case ledge by a clerk or mailhandler in accordance with Pan 552.1. However, all carriers, including those exempt from general mail withdrawal requirements, must make a final withdrawal of letters and preferential flats from the designated distribution case beforr leaving for the route. 351.2 Changes in withdrawal procedures for rural routes will be made in accordance with the following.

a. Managers may change the methods, means, and/or personnel by which such operations are

Note: The withdrawal allowance will be credited to any route where a camer is required to perform any withdrawal function other than a final withdrawal from a designated final distribution case before leaving to serve the route.

b. Improvements in efficiency at the individual office and assurance that withdrawal of mail, if bv an employee other than the rural canier, i l l n i t normally require the camer to wait for mail, must be supplied in writing to the Management Section- al Center. Additionally, when it is proposed to remove the withdrawal function from rival carriers in a unit, an analysis of rural and clerical time required to perform mail withdrawal must be accomplished.

c. Assessment will be on an office-by-office basis at management discretion.

d Nomally, there should be no significant schedule changes resulting from a change in the method of withdrawing mail.

A future revision of Handbook M-38, Manage- mmt of Rural Dclivny Snvkcs, will include this revision.-Drlivny Srrviru Dtpt., 8-6-87.

48


Mr. Gus Baffa President National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association 1630 Duke Street, 41h Floor Alexandria, VA 23314-3465

Re: E95R-4G-C 99088097 Class Action Humble, TX 77338-9998

Dear Mr. Baffa:

The parties recently met in pre-arbitration discussion regarding the above referenced case.

The issue in this grievance is whether rural carriers are entitled to additional time credit, above the standard withdrawal allowance, for retrieval of parcel hampers.


All rural carriers are required to retrieve their parcel hamper without additional time credit, whether or not the rural carrier receives withdrawal credit, provided the parcel hamper is in close proximity to the rural carrier's case. The parties define close proximity as 50 feet (round trip).

During the mail count, if the parcel hamper is not within 50 feet (round trip), the route will be . provided additional credit under Column R for only the distance beyond the 50 feet. Measurement will be from the closest edge (wing) on the front side of the carrier's case to the closest edge of the parcel hamper. The distance beyond 50 feet will be credited at .00284 minutes per foot. The credit will not exceed more than one round trip per day.

The parties agree that this settlement will be applied to all mail counts subsequent to the 2003 national rural mail count and will be considered the settlement in any other grievance concerning this issue.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle the above captioned case and remove it from the pending national arbitration listing.

Sincerely,


National Rural Associa tion

riers'

Date: 3L.4 /05 a t : 3- / f )cb3

49

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE ROOM 9014 475 L'ENFANT P U 3 SW & WASHINGTON oc aao-4100

m TEL ( 2 Q 268-3816 FAX (202) 268-JOT4

OFFICE OF THE ASS~STANT POSTMASTER GENERAL LA80R RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Mr. Steven R. Smith Director, Labor Relations National Rural Letter

Carriers' Association Suite 100 1448 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3499

Re: H4R-4P-C 26467 Class Action Columbia, RO 65201

Dear Mr. Smith:

On February 1, 1991, you met with Andrea Wilson in a prearbitration discussion of the above-referenced case.

The issue in this grievance. is whether changes in office procedures that'will affect the route can be made during the mail count.

During the discussion, it was mutually agreed the following would represent full and complete settlement of this case:

Any changes in office procedures as they pertain to mail count should be discussed at the pre-count conference which is to be held at least 15 days before the start of the mail count.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle case no. H4R-4P-C 26467 and remove it from the pending national arbitration listing.

Sincerely,

5 RR-J 4 Steven R. Smith Director, Labor Relations

Grievance and Arbitration National Rural Letter Division Carriers* Association

DATE 2.5 ' 77

50

nr. Steven I. Smith Director of Labor mlatiorro Uational Rural Letter carriers' Association

Suite 100 1448 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3403

: P. Gilbert Springfield, VT 05156 B7R-1G-C 5107

Dear Hz. Smith:

O n several occa8ion6, the Most recent being Dece-r I., 1908, we met to discu8o the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The isaue in thia grievance iavolves the rrasurcwnt of Cantrrl Ylrroat Public Set~ice bill envelopms and rhetber or not the measurement exceed. 5 inchen.

During our discussion, w mutually agreed that the following constitutes full and complete settlement of this case:

when a dispute arise8 concorning the accuracy of the template measurement, a standard ruler will be subst:tuted and used to make the appropriate meabureurnt.

The parties at this level further agroed that had the grievant k e n given the requested credit for flats, it would not have changed his route evaluation.

he terms of this agreement are nonprecedential, noncitable, and apply only to this grievance.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your atknowledgment of agreement to settle this case.

6 r f >u -,:i ..f 6.d. r, ,, , fatL 74+i nuriel Aikens ~rnold steven R. Sai th Grievance r A r b i t r a t i o n Director of ~ a b o r Relations

National Rural Letter Car r ie rs * Association

51

;INlED S T A T 5 PO!SAL SEFiVlCE ROOM 30l.r 475 L-ENFANT SW WASWINGTON DC 2%!2--ITW EL ma 2 6 8 . 3 8 ~

-5 OF THE 155rS;ANt ar)r lAsTE. . GENBAL U B d R REVInONS OE?*ATNENT

Mr. Steven R. smith Director, Labor Relations National Rural Letter

Carriers' Association 4th Floor 1630 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: H7R-4B-C 29248 C Brubaker Rochester XI 48307

Dear Mr. Smith:

On October 9, 1991, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance i s whether management violated the National Agreement, specifically the rural mail count instructions when the grievant was not compensated actual time for separation of collection mail during mail count.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following constitutes full and complete settlement of this grievance.

Part 421.2 o f the Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities Handbook PO-603 requires that rural carriers are to "face and deposit mail in the location designated by your postmaster or supervisorn. Compensation is provided for facing and depositing mail. Management shall net require rural carriers to deposit mail into more than two designated locations.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this decision as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle this case.

Time limits were extended by mutual consent.

Sincerely, .

&C-kkc'- Andrea Wilson Steven R . Smith

Grievance and Arbitration Director, Labor Relations Division National Rural Letter

Carrierst Association

Date OCT 2 9 1991 52

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE AND THE

NATIONAL RURAL LEITER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION

Use of End of Run Report

The parties agree that the end of run report piece count (or future equivalent report) from the automated equipment used to process a zone's DPS letter mail will be utilized when recording volume, during a mail count. Either the rural carrier or manager may verify the piece count from the report by counting the mail, however no additional compensation will be provided for the time involved.

dndrea 6. Wilson, Manager Contract Administration

(NRLCAINPMHU) Labor Relations

oat,: ~ h 5 / m

National ~ura,Y&&d~arriers' Association

Date: 3- 1 7 - b

53


Mr. Dale A. Holton President National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association 1630 Duke Street, 4'h Floor Alexandria, VA 2331 4-3465

Re: C95R-4C-C 9802331 8 G. Mycock Ill Bear, DE 19701-9998

Dear Dale:


The issue in this grievance is whether rural carriers are entitled to additional compensation when required to perform an additional trip@) to the street due to mail that could not be accommodated on the first trip, either due to the volume of mail or the physical size of the parcels, or both.

Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, Section 141.2, Veh.icle Requirements states, 'Your personal vehicle must be large enough to accommodate the normal mail volume and constructed to protect the mail from loss or damage."


Adequate Size Vehicle

The parties agree that the above provision indicates that a rural carrier, who is required to furnish a personal vehicle, should provide a vehicle of sufficient size that will normally carry all of the mail for the route. The parties agree that generally, the carrier's personal vehicle may be of adequate size to accommodate all the mail for the carrier's route in one trip, but there may be occasions on which there are unusually large and/or numerous parcels that would prevent the carrier from loading all of the mail intended for delivery in the carrier's personal vehicle.

Additional Trip(s)

For the purposes of this agreement, an additional trip(s) is when management authorizes/requires the carrier to deliver mail that would not fit in the carrier's personal vehicle, which is of sufficient size in accordance with Handbook PO-603, Section 141.2, or the Employer provided vehicle on the first trip due to the volume of mail or the

54

physical size of the parcels, or both. In all cases, the carrier must consult with management as to the need for an additional trip(s). Management will determine if an additional trip(s) is necessary. Management may require the carrier to make an additional trip(s), utilize a leave replacement, curtail mail or take other action in lieu of requiring the carrier to make an additional trip(s).

Compensation for Additional Trip(s)

When it is determined by management that an additional trip(s) is necessary, the Postal Service agrees that a regular rural carrier (covered under Section 7(b)(2) of the Fair Labor Standards Act) or a leave replacement (when compensated on the evaluation of the regular or auxiliary route served and when actual workhours do not exceed forty hours per week) will be compensated at two minutes for each mile involved in the additional trip(s) and for actual loading time at the carrier's straight time rate (Article 8.3.A.). If an additional trip is authorized and it is more efficient for the carrier to split the route in two separate segments for delivery, management may authorize this method of delivery rather than delivering to each box on the route, then returning and delivering the mail that c o ~ ~ l d not be accommodated on the first trip. If management authorizes this method, carriers as described above, will be compensated at two minutes for each mile involved in returning to the post office at the completion of the first segment and returning to the route, as well as actual loading time at the carrier's straight time rate. The carrier, in both circumstances, will also receive Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for each mile the carrier is required to drive to complete his or her route when the total miles (all trips) for the day exceed 40 miles.

Forms 1314, Regular Rural Carrier Time Certificate, and 1314-A, Auxiliary Rural Carrier Time Certificate, will be revised to include fields for reporting the time for an additional trip(s). The parties expect revision of the forms and necessary reprogramming to be completed no later than one year from the date of this settlement. In the interim, the parties agree that such time will be recorded on Form 8127, Rural Carrier Supplemental Payment, (and the carrier will be compensated at the national average hourly rate for regular rural carriers) or the current Form 131 4-A, as appropriate.

In certain circumstances, management may elect to include credit associated with a second trip(s) in the evaluation of the route rather than providing compensation as described above.

9 Mail Count Period

Should an additional trip(s) be necessary during the mail count period, the time Y

associated with the additional trip(s) will not be recorded on the mail count forms, however the associated mail piece(s) will be recorded appropriately for the intended route and compensation for the additional trip(s) will be granted as provided above.

3 Christmas Period Ft An additional trip(s) performed by a regular rural carrier or substitute rural carrier (Designation 72) during the Christmas period will not be compensable, but the carrier will

55

receive additional EMA as prescribed above. However, a regular rural carrier or a substitute rural carrier (Designation 72) may be entitled to Christmas overtime in accordance with Article 9.2.K of the National Agreement. With the exception of the substitute rural carrier (Designation 72), leave replacements (when compensation is based on the evaluation of the regular or auxiliary route served and when actual workhours do not exceed forty hours per week) will be compensated for performing an additional trip(s) during the Christmas period as prescribed above.

Excessive Additional Trips

If it is determined that the number of additional trips required is excessive, management may require a rural carrier to provide a larger personal vehicle or may adjust the carrier's route, in accordance with the following:

Regular Rural Carrier's, Substitute Rural Carrier's (Designation 72), or RCA's (Designation 74) Personal Vehicle

If management authorizes an additional trip, utilizes a leave replacement, curtails mail or takes other action due to the size of the carrier's [regular rural carrier; or substitute rural carrier (Designation 72) or RCA (Designation 74) serving a regular route full time] personal vehicle on more than 12 days in any six month period, management may require the rural carrier to provide a larger vehicle that will significantly reduce additional trips or may adjust the route at the option of the carrier. If the carrier chooses to provide a larger personal vehicle, such vehicle must be provided within 60 days of being notified of excessive trips (or show proof of purchaselbill of sale). Additional trips during the Christmas overtime period will not count toward the more than 12 days.

Should the carrier be unable to provide a larger vehicle, management will consider assigning an Employer provided vehicle to the route if available, and if the Employer provided vehicle will significantly reduce the additional trips, prior to adjusting the route. If management adjusts a route due to the number of additional trips, such adjustment will limit the impact to the route when practicable, and will attempt to target removal of deliveries that would significantly reduce additional trips.

Employer Provided Vehicle

If management authorizes an additional trip, utilizes a leave replacement, curtails mail or takes other action due to the size of the Employer provided vehicle assigned to the route on more than 12 days in any 6 month period, management may adjust the route. If management adjusts a route due to the number of additional trips, such adjustment will limit the impact to the route when practicable, and will attempt to target removal of deliveries that would significantly reduce additional trips. Additional trips during the Christmas overtime period will not count toward the more than 12 days.

56

Leave Replacement's Personal Vehicle

If management authorizes an additional trip, utilizes another leave replacement, curtails mail or takes other action due to the size of a leave replacement's (all bargaining unit leave replacement rural carriers except Designations 72 and 74) personal vehicle on more than seven days in any 20 consecutive leave replacement workdays (excluding the Christmas overtime period), management may consider the following in the order presented below:

1) If it would resolve the situation, management will assign the leave replacement to another leave replacement vacancy in the office, provided leave replacements have been offered and declined the assignment in accordance with Article 30.2.E of the National Agreement.

2) If it would resolve the situation, management will assign the leave replacement a different second or third available assignment on the matrix.

3) If it would resolve the situation, management may grant a requested transfer to another ofice provided a leave replacement vacancy exists in that office.

4) Management may require the leave replacement to provide a larger vehicle to significantly reduce additional trips. The leave replacement will not be entitled to assignments other than their primary assignment if it may result in an additional trip until the larger vehicle is provided.

5 ) Management is not required to continue to employ the leave replacement.

In the future, if either party has a concern(s) regarding second trips, a meeting at the national level will be scheduled to discuss such concern(s).

This agreement is effective on the date signed. Compensation for the time involved in performing an additional trip(s); two minutes per mile, actual loading time and EMA as appropriate will be paid for instances occurring on or after the date of this pre-arbitration settlement. All grievances held in abeyance pending the outcome of this case will be resolved pursuant to the following:

If the grievant performed an additional trip(s), exceeded 40 miles for the day and was not provided additional compensation for EMA, the grievant will be compensated EMA for each mile in excess of 40 miles driven to complete the additional trip(s).

57


Sincerely,

William ~a igdau l t , Manager Contract Administration National Rural Letter Carriers'

(NRLCA) Association

58

UNITED STATES POflAL SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa President National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

1630 Duke Street, 4th lo or Alexandria, VA 23314-3465

Re: D95R-4D-C 01039476 W. Brazell Lugoff, SC 29078-9998

Dear Mr. Baffa:


The issue in this grievance is whether address cards, received by rural carriers during the mail count, should be credited to the route evaluation as mail.


The parties agree that address cards received by a rural carrier during the mail count are not recorded as part of the mail count. The sequencing of address cards does not warrant additional compensation.

The parties agree that this settlement will be considered the settlement in any other grievance concerning this issue.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle the above captioned case and remove it f:om the pending national arbitration listing.

Sincerely,


Date: 3/1?/0 s Association

\

Date: 3 -/9-03

59



Association 1630 Duke Street. 4'h lo or Alexandria. VA 2331 4-3465

Re: Q95R-4Q-C 021021 88 Class Action Washington, DC 20260-41 00

Dear Mr. Baffa:

The parlies recently met in pre-arbitration discussion regarding the above referenced case.

The issue in this grievance is whether the address orientation or address label placement on a mail piece has any affect on the mail piece being recorded as a letter or flat during a mail count.


For the purpose of recording a mail piece during a mail count as a letter or flat, the manner in which the address is oriented on the mail piece will be relevant. In accordance with Section 535.12.a. of Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, a mail piece 6 118 inches or less in width that can be cased in the separations of the carrier cases is recorded as a letter. For the purpose of the mail count, the width of the mail piece will be defined as the dimension perpendicular to the address label. Therefore, a mail piece measuring 5 % inches by 7 inches would be recorded as a flat if the label or address on the mail was placed parallel to the 5 % dimension. In this example, the 5 % inch dimension would be considered the length because the label orientation is parallel to the 5 '/1 inch measurement and the 7 inch dimension is the width because the address is perpendicular to the 7 inch measurement.

The parties agree that this settlement will be applied to all mail counts subsequent to the 2003 national rural mail count and will be considered the seltlement in any other grievance concerning this issue.


Sincerely,

&'A- A 4/&& Andrea 0. Wilson. Manager - Contract Administration

(NRLCNNPMHU)

Date: 3//9/~.;1

National Rural Lett Association

Dale: /ff&

60

UNITED SlZTES POST4 L SERVICE



Re: QOOR-4Q-C 03096526 Class Action Washington, DC 20260-41 1 0

Dear Randy:

On several occasions, the most recent being January 9, 2004, we met to discuss the above- captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether the address orientation or address label placement on a mail piece, defined as a rigid article in accordance with Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, Section 535.12.d, has any affect on that piece being recorded as a flat or a parcel during a mail count.


For the purpose of recording a rigid article during a mail count as a flat or parcel, the manner in which the addressjs oriented on the piece will be relevant. For the purpose of a mail count, the height of the rigid article will be defined as the dimension perpendicular to the address label. In accordance with Section 535.12.d of Handbook PO-603, a rigid article exceeding 5 inches in height would be recorded as a parcel. Therefore, a rigid article measurirlg 4 7/s inches by 5 K inches would be recorded as a parcel if the label or address on the rigid article was placed parallel to the 4 7/a inch dimension. In this example, the 4 7/s inch dimension would be considered the length because the address orientation is parallel to the 4 7/s measurement and the 5 K inch dimension is the height because the address orientation is perpendicular to the 5 K inch dimension.

'The parties agree that this settlement will be applied to the 2004 national rural mail count and all mail counts subsequent. Any other grievance concerning this issue filed prior to the 2004 national rural mail count will be considered withdrawn.


Sincerely,

- W , d i William ~aignedhlt Labor Relations Specialist Contract Administration

(NRLCAINPMHU)

Randy ~ n @ S o n 4iildLe3

Director of uabor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

61

1) Postal Service management ckd not violate Chapter 5, Section 535.12 of the PO-603 i.e., the Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities Handbook, during the 1998 mail count period, by entering a mail piece consisting of a flexible, labeled pcri- odical wrapper or envelope containing both a non-rigid magazine approximately 10 inches high and 8 inches wide and a rigid CD or computer disc case exceeding 5" in height, in Column B-Papers, Ma~azines, Catalo~s, Flats, Othcr Size Mail rather than in Column C ParccLr on Form 4239.

2) The grievance in C&C E95R-4E-C 990099528 is denied.

3) Jurisdicdon is retained for the sole purpose of resolving any disputes which may arise between the Parties regarding the meaning, application or implementation of this National Arbitration Award.

STATEOFNEWYOU ] SS: COUNTY OF TOMrKINS

On this 12th day of January, 2003, I, DANA E. EISCHEN, upon my oath as National Arbitrator, do hereby affirm and ccr- tifi, pursuant to Section 7507 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules of the State of New York, that I have executed and issued the foregoing instrument and I acknowledge that it is my Opinion and Award in Case No. E95R-4E-C 990099528.

Summary This National-level case resolved the issue of how a particular piece of mail (consisting of flat-sized magazine coupled with a CD packaged in a rigid .

plastic case) should be counted: as a parcel or flat as defined in the PO-603. The subsidiary issue was whether this case was governed by the t e r n of a 1998 Step 4 settlement known as "Sun City." The Arbitrator found that the Sun City settlement did not control, due to the marked differences in the "dimensions and characteristics" of the mail pieces in each case. Contrary to the agreement in Sun City that the mail piece met the "rigid article" definition, the Arbitrator held that the Coeur D'Alene piece was a non-rigid "flat7' containing a rigid article. In so doing, the Arbitrator relied on the fact that, if the mail piece was not a per se rigid article and if it could be cased for delivery as a letter or flat, it was more like a flat than a parcel. Accordingly, the Arbitrator denied the National-level grievance.

62



Association 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria. VA 2231 4-3465

Re: FOOR-4F-C 03096043 Class Action Riverside, CA 92507-9998

Dear Randy:

On several occasions, the most recent being December 12, 2005, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance concerns the classification of certain mail pieces during the mail count that contain rigid articles.


The current definition of a parcel as described in Section 535.12.d of the PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, is a rigid article that exceeds 5 inches in height, 18 inches in length or 1 9116 inches in width. The parties agree that the overall dimensions and rigidity or flexibility characteristics of a mail piece determine whether the article is a parcel rather than any particular item enclosed within that mail piece. Therefore, the parties present the following examples to clarify whether an item should be classified as a parcel during a mail count:

1. The flexible mail piece is greater than 6 118 inches in width, containing a rigid item exceeding any one of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d. The area of the rigid item is equal to or greater than 80 percent of the area of the flexible mail piece. This is a parcel.

2. The flexible mail piece is greater than 6 118 inches in width, containing a rigid item exceeding any one of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d. The area of the rigid item is less than 80 percent of the area of the flexible mail piece. This is a flat.

3. The flexible mail piece is greater than 6 118 inches in width, containing a rigid item that does not exceed any one of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d. This is a flat.

63

4. The flexible mail piece is 6 118 inches or less in width, containing a rigid item exceeding any one of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d. The area of the rigid item is equal to or greater than 80 percent of the area of the flexible mail piece. This is a parcel.

5. The flexible mail piece is 6 118 inches or less in width, containing a rigid item exceeding any one of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d. The area of the rigid item is less than 80 percent of the area of the flexible mail piece. This is a letter.

6. The flexible mail piece is 6 118 inches or less in width, containing a rigid item that does not exceed any one of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d. This is a letter.

The parties agree that the above examples must be applied when determining the proper classification of a flexible mail piece containing a rigid item during a mail count. There is an exception to items 2, 3, 5 and 6 above if the flexible mail piece does not fit in the letter (or flat) separation with other mail without damage to the mail piece. This is a parcel. It is also agreed that this settlement does not prohibit the Employer from making changes pursuant to Articles 19 or 34 of the National Agreement in the definition of mail pieces or time standards associated with handling mail pieces.

In the instant case, the parties agree that the mail piece in question is a flat. Based on the particular fact circumstances of this grievance, no further action is necessary.


Sincerely,

Manager Contract Administration (NRLCA) Labor Relations

Director o r ~ a b o r Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date: /z.%/t3 5

64

Bnazal Manager , Labor 2elations - ~ e n t t a l Rtq i on

On October 21, a Step 4 decision regrriing e e p r q p r countin! of catalogs was issued, i n t e r f t t i a ~ P c s t a l B u l l e t i n 21702. After fu r the r consultation bith D e l i v n q Sewices at Eeadquarters, it w2s deter;ni.rled thrf ?astd Bullet in 23202 has be9n misiatrr?reto6. Though t l e decis ion in -is particuler cese must s t a n d , the c a r r s t t ?clicy on t h ~ caunt ing of catzlogs is as follows:

xf a c a t a l g - w i l l fit i n t a cn s+c;aration, all l ike catalogs f o r that s iza searration w i l l be csunted as f l a t s , rcqardless of the fact t h a t mzre tbw one c a q ~ r n u s t be cesed i n t o t h a t separation, and regardless o f the number oS t3e number of far~i l ies or= deliveries in t h a t particuiar se?zzaticrn, 12 a c a t d q w i l l nat fit i n t o an m t v se?anfsion because of s i z e , then all like catalogs size separation will be ab1ted as parcels.

Please inf om all Anterested parties of t i is

Labor R e ~ a t i d s DeGrtnen t

cc: Delivery Services, 82

65

LABOR RELATIONS


Dale A. Holton, President National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association 1630 Duke Street, 4'h Floor Alexandria, VA 2331 4-3465

Dear Dale:

Re: E95R-4E-C 991 03123 Class Action Oregon City, OR 97045-9998

The parties recently met in discussion regarding the above referenced case, which has been presented to a national arbitrator and is pending post hearing briefs.

The issue in this grievance is whether a rural carrier is entitled to additional time credit for handling flats processed on automated equipment when the mail is not in neat orderand faced in the same direction (helicopter flats).


The parties agree that the evidence presented in arbitration by the NRLCA in the above referenced case reveals that flats processed to rural routes on the UFSM 1000 do not always provide a product that can be handled in the same manner as flats presented in relatively neat order. Therefore, except as provided below, the parties agree that effective with the next mail count after the signing of this settlement, and continuing thereafter, rural routes receiving flats processed on the UFSM 1000 will be granted an additional credit for flat volume for the added effort required to handle these flats. An additional volume credit of 17.5 percent will be recorded for flats processed to rural routes from the LlFSM 1000 during the mail count. For example, if a rural route during one day of a mail count receives 300 flats processed on the UFSM 1000, an additional 53 flats (rounded to the nearest whole number) will be recorded in Column C on Form 4239.

Processing and Distribution Centers that intend to process flats to rural routes on the UFSM 1000 throughout the year will not modify its processing operation for the sake of the mail count.

Rural routes that were counted during the FebruaryIMarch 2004 national count and received flats processed on the UFSM 1000 during that mall count will receive additional credit. The additional credit will be calculated as described above. End-of-run reports from the UFSM 1000 will be used to determine the volume of flats processed on the UFSM 1000 to each rural route from February 14 through March 6, 2004. A base hour change will then be processed on affected rural routes as soon as possible, but will be effective no later than June 26,2004.

66

The parties agree that currently, flats processed to rural routes on the AFSM 100 do not exhibit characteristics of "helicopter flats" as presented in the Oregon City, Oregon, hearing. However, in the future, should rural routes begin to receive flats processed on the AFSM 100 or any other automated equipment, on a national scale, that are in a condition similar to the flats .in the photographs presented in this arbitration hearing and described by the NRLCA as "helicopter flatsn; the parties will meet at the national level to address the problem.

As soon as administratively possible, the parties will meet at the national level to determine how to apply this settlement to the particular fact circumstances in the Oregon City, Oregon, grievance and all other grievances held in abeyance pending disposition of this case.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle the above captioned case and remove it from the arbitrator's authority.

Sincerely,

Andrea B. Wilson President Manager

Contract Administration (NRLCNNPMHU) National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

Date: ~ / 9 ~ / 0 % Date: 4 ' 2 / / /u,+

67

SATES PCSK YRvlCE am4 wlr 475 L'ENFANT 5 ' WASHINtTON OC 2o#iDll00 TEL 12M 2E+S16

Mr. Steven R. Smith Di rec to r , Labor Rela t ions National Rural L a t t e r

C a r r i e r s * Associat ion 4th Floor 1630 Duke S t r e e t Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: H7R-4M-C 29024 M. Bradshaw

Bay Ci ty , nI 48708

Dear Ur. Smith:

On 5/28/91, ve met t o d i s c u s s the above-captioned gr ievance a t t h e four th s t e p of our con t rac tua l grievance procedure.

The i6sue i n t h i s grievance i s whether management v i o l a t e d the National Agreement by c r e d i t i n g Olan H i l l s mail a r t i c l e s ( 8 " by 10" photographs) marked "do n o t crease" a s f l a t s r a t h e r than parcels .

w r i n g our d i scuss ion , we mutually agreed t h a t t h e fol lowing c o n s t i t u t e s f u l l and complete s e t t l e m e n t of this grievance:

Any non-rigid a r t i c l e t h a t w i l l not f i t i n the letter o r f l a t separa t ions (vhere f l a t separa t ions a r e used) with o the r mail is considered a parcel . [Th i s inc ludes a r t i c l e s t h a t have no t been prepared i n accordance with D M 121.42C, even though t h e mailer has endorsed them "DO NOT FOLD 01 BEND". These non-rigid a r t i c l e s should be c a r r i e d and c r e d i t e d a s p a r c e l s , provided tbat they w i l l n o t f i t i n t h e l e t t e r or f l a t care (where f l a t cases a r e used) with o ther n a i l without damage t o the a r t i c l e . ]

Although the Olan H i l l s a r t i c l e is marked "DO NOT CREASE", t h i s a r t i c l e cannot be placed i n a l e t t e r separa t ion without damage t o t h e a r t i c l e .

The terms of t h i s agreement a r e nonprccedential and nanci teable in any o t h e r grievance, a c h i t r a t i o n hear ing o r

68

Smi t h 2

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of t h i s decision as your seknowledgment of agreement t o s e t t l e t h i s ease .

Tine limits vere extended by mutual consent.

S i n c e r e l y ,

Uuriel Aikens Arnold Steven R. Smith Grievance and Arbitration Director, Labor Relations Division ~ a t i o n a l Rural Letter

Carriers' Association

Date: . m ~ 9 7 /'V)

69

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 L'trlmt P l l u SW mthinobn. DC am September 22, 1983

Hr. Dallas N. Fields Director , Labor Relat ions National Rural L e t t e r Carriers1 ~ s s o c i a t i o n 1750 ~ e n n s y l v a n i a Avenue, N.W. Su i t e 1204 Washington, D.C. 20006-3399

Re: R. Goozey fssaquah, W& 98027 R 1 R - S D . 4 8286

Dear Mr. Fields:

On August 30, 1983, we met to discuss t he above-captioned grievance a t the fou r th s t ep of our contractual grievance procedure.

The grievance concerns whether loca l management improperly established a direct holdout on Route 3 during the 1982 m a i l count.

We mutually agreed t o resolve this grievance i n the following manner :

1. Consis tent with Par t 225.4, M-37 Handbook and P a r t 123, U-38 Randbook, postmasters may au thor ize the use of separations a t the d i s - t r i b u t i o n case f o r 'd i rect s a i l ' f o r customers who receive sufficient quantities o f mail t o j u s t i f y the procedure.

2. Consis tent w i t h pa r t 525, M-38 Bandbook, postmasters must hold jo in t conferences of superv isors and rura l ca r r i e r s -to discuss changes i n mail handling procedures and instructions. N o changes i n c a r r i e r w r k methods, casing equipment, o r o f f i c e procedures can be made between the date of the l o c a l conference and t h e mail c6unt unless these items were sgecif i c a l l y discussed a t the conference.

70

Hr. Dallas N. Fie ld s

3. I f , i n t h i s pa r t i cu l a r case, a d i r e c t f o r m u t e 3 was created a t the d i s t r i b u t i o n case on t he f i r s t day of the 1982 mail count and it was not a sub jec t of discussion a t the l o c a l conference, the d i r e c t is considered improperly es tab l i shed .

4. I f the d i r e c t was improperly e s t ab l i shed , t he postmaster s h a l l conduct a 12-day count o f the mail that would go to b u t e 3 had the d i r e c t not been created, The carrier s h a l l r ece ive appropriate c red i t for t h i s mail retroactive to the d a t e the change affected the route compensation and u n t i l such an opera t iona l chatige i s properly made.

Please s ign and r e tu rn the enclosed copy of this dec i s ion as acknowledgment of agreement to resolve t h i s case.

Sincerely,

Labor ~elatip6s Department Director National Rural L e t t e r C a r r i e r s '

Association

71

NEW PARCEL REDELIVERY POLICY-Continued

Handbook P0-603, Rum/ &her MI and Re~ponslb~is

(Delete 33 1.22 and rcpluce it with the following:) 331.22 b e Outride the Box. Parcels must not be left outside the box or in unprotected locations unless the addressee has given written directions for an alternate delivery location or the mailer par ticipates in the carrier release program by endors- ing the package Carrier-Leave' If No Response. . a 1 &tshmar Aufbdzdon k have. If a customer has filed a written order stating that parcels too large for the box may be left outside the box or in another designated location, you may do so provided the weather is not inclement. 222 Muihr Adwn'zohn k hove. When a parcel is endorsed. Camer-Leave If No Response, and no one is available to receive it, you may leave it in a location that is concealed and protected from the weather, e.g., behind a storm door. Form 3849,

~ e l i v ~ / ~ o & / ~ e m i n d e r / ~ e c n ' p t , with the "It Is Lo- cated: " block completed must be left in the mail receptacle notifying the addressee of the mail left in the authorized alternate location. Par- cels.must not be left where adverse weather can affect them. Mailers who participate-in the carrier release program 'understand that there are areas where the Postal Service will not leave parcels for security reasons. Mailers also understand that carriers do not leave parcels without protection from inclement weather. If there is not a suitable location to leave a carrier release pa&el, leave Form 3849. 223 h-. By following the mailer's or addressee's instructions, the Postal Service provides customers with a more convenient way to receiv parcels. You are not liable for loss or theft when tk customer's instructions and postal regulations are followed. (Delete 332 ad rcpluce with t k following:)

t i NEW PARCEL REDELIVERY POLICY-Continued 332 Incomdete DeIiiew vou do not know if someone is ubual~v available to

332.1 When the Coder Is Not Authorized to b e Ordinary Parcels

.ll When someone is usually avalable to receive parcels. When an ordinary or unnumbered insured parcel is not delivered on the first attempt and you know that someone at the address is usually available to receive parcels. do not leave Form 3849. Delivny/Noticc/Reminder/RempL Write the date and your initials near the address and return the parcel to the office. Place the parcel in the gurney at your case. Attempt a second delivery on the next delivery day. If the parcel is not delivered after the second attempt. complete and leave Form 3849. .12 When someone is not usually available to receive parcels. If no one is available to receive the parcel and you know that someone at the address is not usually available to receive parcels, complete and leave Form 3849 after the first attempt. When

ieceive parcels. Form 3849 should bileft after the first attempt. Endorse the parcel with your initials and date. Upon returning to the office, deposit the parcel in the designated place for undelivered parcels. 332.2 Redelivery of Parcels. Except as provided in 332.1 1. make a second attempt only if requested by the addressee. If the redelivery request is made using Form 3849, take the form back to the office and give it to the accountable mails clerk. You will receive the parcel from the accountable mails clerk on the day the addressee requested redelivery. If delivery is not made on the second attempt and the addressee did not authorize the parcel to be left. leave .Form 3849, with the Final No& block checked. Endorse the parcel to show a final notice was left and return the parcel to the designated place for holding. -Deiivny, Dishibutwn, and

TransPoriation DgL . 9- 1 7-92

72

UNITED STATES POSTdL SERVICE

Mr. Steven R. Smith President National Rural Letter Camen'

Association 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 223 1 4-3465

Re: F91 R-4F-C 960201 82 M. Weiss Sun City, CA 92586-9998

Dear Mr. Smith:

On January 21, 1998, the parties entered prearbitration discussion of the above-referenced case.

The issue in this grievance is whether Management violated the Methods Handbook PO- 603, Rural Canier Duties & Responsibilities during mail count, when rigid articles of mail less than 6 118 inches in width, processed on automated equipment as Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) mail are credited as DPS mail and not parcels.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following will constitute full and complete settlement of this case:

During a ~ r a l mute mail count, a rigid artide received in DPS will be counted and recorded under Column C. as a parcel if the rigid article exceeds any one of the dimensions in Part 535.12.c.(1) of the PO-603. Rigid articles received in DPS mail that do not exceed any of the dimensions in Part 535.12.c.(1) of the PO-603 are counted and recorded under Calumn L. as DPS letten.

Please sign and return the endosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle the above-captioned case and remove them from the pending national arbitration listing.

Sincerely,

Steven R. Smith /P /&

President Contract Administration National Rural Letter Canien' Association

(NA LCIN R LCA) U. S. Postal Service

Date: A&/ '79

73

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE AND THE

NKI'IONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION

MDCD (Mobile Data Collection Device)

The parties agree that the following Mobile Data Collection Device (MDCD) time allowances and procedures will be implemented on all rural routes that receive a mail count in the 2003 National Mail Count and will continue to be applied in any subsequent mail counts. These allowances will not apply to those rural routes not counted in the 2003 National Mail Count until the next mail count of any type conducted on each of those rural routes.

All rural routes that have been assigned a MDCD will continue to receive one (1) minute per day for pick up and set up of the MDCD for use on the route and for the return of the ~ D c D ' t o its designated location upon the carrier's return to the office.

Rural carriers will utilize the MDCD to scan all Delivery Confirmation mail piece barcodes. The routes will be credited with an eighteen (1 8) seconds per piece time allowance.

The one minute credit for MDCD retrieval and the eighteen (1 8) seconds per piece for delivery confirmation will be recorded in Column R, Other Suitable Allowance.

For each accountable mail piece, including Express Mail and Signature Confirmation, the time allowance will be twenty-eight (28) seconds. This twenty-eight (28) second allowance will be credited to the route for each piece received for delivery and will include any time associated with scanning of the Form 3849 and the data entry of recipient names. This time allowance will be incorporated into the time allowances credited for Columns F and G of Forms 4241 and 4241 -X and will not be recorded in Column R.

~ n d r e a B. Wilson Manager, Contract Administration Labor Relations United States Postal Service

National Rural ~ e g r Carriers' Association

74

a UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE


Association 1630 Duke Street, 4" Floor Alexandria, VA 2331 4-3465

Re: D95R-4D-C 01 037982 Class Action Louisville, KY 40231 -9998

Dear Mr. Baffa:


The issue in this grievance is whether management's denial of additional credit during the mail count for time involved in retrieving DPS mail and returning articles to the accountable-cage violates the National Agreement.


Rural carriers may be required to retrieve DPS mail without additional time credit, whether or not the rural carrier receives withdrawal credit, provided the DPS mail is in close proximity to the rural carrier's case. Rural carriers may also be required to return articles to the accountable cage (or location where accountables are cleared) upon completion of street duties without additional tlme credit provided the cage is in close proximity to the rural carrier's case. The parties define close proximity as 50 feet (round trip).

During the mail count, if the DPS mail is not within 50 feet (round trip), the route will be provided additional credit under Column R for only the distance beyond the 50 feet. Measurement will be from the closest edge (wing) on the front side of the carrier's case to the closest edge of the container of DPS. The distance beyond 50 feet will be credited at .00284 minutes per foot.

During the mail count, if the accountable cage (or location where accountables are cleared) is not wi&hin 50 feet (round trip) the route will be provided additional credit under Column R for only the distance beyond the 50 feet. Measurement will be from the closest edge (wing) on the front side of the carrier's case to the window of the accountable cage. The distance beyond 50 feet will be credited at .00284 minutes per foot. The credit will not exceed more than one round trip per day to return maillreceipts in the afternoon.

75


. .


Sincerely,

~ . * & 4d42 drea B. Wilson. Manager

Contract Administration (NRLCNNPMHU)

Date: 3/;9/&

National Rural L Association

Date: - / ?/A3

76

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 CEntult Plur SW

WuhingtorSDC zazso

M r . Dallas N. Fields Direc tor , Labor Relations National Rural Let ter

Car r i e r s ' Association Su i t e 100 1448 Duke S t r e e t Alexandria, Virginia 2231493401

Re: Pe l i ce t t i Kennett Square, PA 19348 H1R-2B-C 16713

Dear M r . Fields:

On March 1, 1985, we met t o discuss the above-captioned grievance a t the fourth s t ep of our contractual grievance procedure.

The p a r t i e s a t t h i s level agree tha t clerk c r a f t employees s h a l l prepare a Form 3849-A o r 3849-B, as appropriate , f o r c a r r i e r de l ivery of c e r t i f i ed mail with r e s t r i c t ed delivery. The c a r r i e r g e t s f u l l c r ed i t f o r the ce r t i f i ed piece.

Accordingly, t h i s grievance is sustained.

Time l i m i t s were extended by mutual consent.

&+ Les l i e Bayliss Labor ~ e l i t i o n y ~epar tment

77

nr. Steven R. Smith Director of Labor Relations ~ational Rural Letter

Carriersr Association sxite 100 1448 Duke Street ATexandria, VA 22314-3403

Re: Grimes Bowling Green, KY R7R-23-C 389

Dear Mr. Smith:

on several occasions, the most recent being October 14, 1 9 8 8 , we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure-

The issue in this grievance is whether management violated the National Agreement when postage due mail was bundled and given to the carrier as one parcel during the mail count.

It is our position that no national interpretive issue involving the terns and conditions of the National Agreement is fairly presented in this ease, Bowever, the union did net agree.

During our discussion, we mutually agree that the following wouLd represent a f u l l settlemeat of t h i s case:

In accordance vith the Rural Delivery Carriers Duties and Rerponsibilitiec, Method Bandbook, 1-37, " A t ' l e a s t 15 days before the start of the count, postmasters will hold. joint conferences of supervisors and rural carriers to discuss these procedures and instructions.' Review of this case revealed before the count, the postage due mail was not being bundled and this pcocedu~e vas mot discussed during the pre-count conference. It was not until September 10, 1987, t h a t the procedure was changed. Theref ore, the carrier shall be credited v i t h the 56 pieces af pastage due mail an his evaluation and shall receive compensation if it is warranted.

78

Mr. Steven R. Smith 2

Please sign and return the enclosed copy o f t h i s decision as your acknowledgnent of agreement to set t le th i s case.

Time l isits were extended by mutual consent.

Sincerely,

Andrea Wilson Steve R. S d t b Grievance G Arbitrat ion Director o f Labor Relat ions - Division National Rural Le t ter Carriersf

~ssocf a t i o n

79

UNl TED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa . President National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association 1630 Duke Street, 4fi Floor Alexandria, VA 2331 4-3465

Re: H95R-4H-C 01032651 Class Action Calhoun. GA 30701-9998

Dear Mr. Baffa:


The issue in this grievance is whether rural carriers should receive markup credit for each piece of mail returned to the clerk or to the throwback case because the mail is addressed to a street address when the customer actually receives mail by caller service or from a post office box.


If a rural carrier receives mail addressed to a customer's street address who receives their mail by caller service or from a post office box, the carrier will separate the mail as a local post office boxlcaller service bundle. This is mail that the carrier does not deliver to the customer because the customer has no mail receptacle. During the mail count, the rural route will be credited with one bundle markup for all mail intended for local post office boxes and caller services. In situations such as this, the carrier will not be required to deliver any mail to the street address except Express Mail.

If a customer receives a portion of their mail by caller service or from a post office box and a portion of their mail to a street address, the carrier should case and deliver the mail that is intended for street delivery.



Sincerely,

~ d L i w -/3* kh&d drea B. Wilson, Manager

Contract Administration (NRLCAINPMHU) Association-

80

December 29,2004

Mr. Dale A. Holton President National Rural Letter Carriers'


Dear Dale:

This is in response to your December 10 letter requesting clarification on appropriate credit during a mail count for some duties associated with the Postal Automated Redirection System (PARS).

The first issue concerns the credit for the three additional endorsements; Illegible (ILL), No Such Street (NSS) and Temporarily Away (TA).

All procedures for handling change of address and undeliverable as addressed mail with proper endorsements will continue and will be properly recorded on all mail count forms. Handbook PO-603 Rural Camers Duties & Responsibilities indicates that there are additional endorsements as per the Domestic Mail Manual (DMM). The DMM reference is Exhibit 4.1 under section F010.4.0. These endorsements as listed in the DMM are considered individual endorsements for the purposes of recording Marked Up pieces on mail count forms.

Your second question concerns changes that may occur to the throwback case in the implementation of PARS. You state that Handbook PO-603, Section 535.1 2.r.2 provides for actual time required to place CMUICFS mail in the designated location therefore the layout of the throwback case is immaterial. However, the provision you referenced applies to mail that is being forwarded, and the designated location is not in the throwback case. Generally, the throwback case is used for undeliverable as addressed mail requiring carrier endorsement and missorted mail.

Pursuant to Handbook PO-603, Section 535.12.r.2, rural carriers will continue to receive credit for the actual time required to place the CMUICFS mail in the designated location during a mail count. Additionally, rural carriers will receive actual time for one trip to and from the throwback case (on a daily basis) to deposit mail during the mail count. The time recorded does not include time to separate mail at the throwback case or additional trips, unless these trips are required by management. The layout of the throwback case does not affect the credit.

81

Hopefully this will clarify the issues you raised. If you have further questions concerning this matter, feel free to contact me.

Sincerely,

William ~ a i ~ 8 e a u l t Manager Contract Administration (NRLCA)

82

4.0 BASIC TREATMENT

General Mail that is undeliverable as addressed is forwarded, returned to the sender, or 4.1 treated as dead mail, as authorized for the parbicular class of mail.

Undeliveraue-as-addressed mail is endorsed by the USPS with the reason for nondelivety as shown in Exhibit 4.1. All nonmailable pieces are retumed to the sender.

[el-041 USPS Endorsements for I R M tw Nordclhfy

Delivery Suspended to Commercial Mall ReceMng Aaencv

Mail Undeliverable as Amp~ed--Not K n m Addressed Box Closed--No Order Exhibit 4.1 Deceased

Failure to m p l y with D042.2.5 through D042.2.7.

D d b r y attempted, addressee not known at place of address.

Post office box closed for nonpayment of rent

Used only when knmm that addressee is d ~ ~ t a s e d and mail is not proply delhreraMe to another person. This endorsement must be made personally by delhrery employee and under no circumstance may it be tubber-stamped. Mail addressed h care d another is m a M to show whlch mrson is deceased.

In Dispute'

--

IlleglMe'

Insufficient Address'

I Address not readebx Mail retumed to sender bv order d chief field counsel for under D042) because d d ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ a t ~ o u t dght to delivery of maii and cannot be determined which diut 'hg party has better rlgM to mall. Mall f m another post offb without number, street, box number, route number, or geographical section d city or dty and state omit- ted and awrect address not knmm.

M, Left No Address 1 Addressee moved and filed no m f - a d d r e s s order.

No Mail Receotacle* I Addressee failed to wovkle a m t a c l e for recebt d mil.

No Such Number I Addressed to nonexistent number and corred number not known.

NO such in state* I ~ddressed to nonexistent post o w .

NO such sbeer ~~ddressedtononexlstentstreetandcorredstrwtnotknown.

Not Deliverable as I Mall undelhrerable at address given; no changeof-address order on AddreseckUnable to file; forwarding order expired. . - . . . -. - I

Outside Delivery L iL ' I Addressed to IocaUnn outside delhrew l i l t s of post 0 t h of address Hold maH far outd-bounds h e r s hgeneral delhmy fw s~ecmed mriod unless addressee filed order.

Refused' I Addressee refused to a m mall or mv wstaae c h a m on it

Returned for Better Address* Mail of local origln incompletely addressed for distrbution or deli- I _~ I --I.

Returned for Poshae I Mail without postage or lndicatkn mat mstaae fell off.

Returned to Sender Due to Mall returned to sender under false representation order and lottery l i d d B violation of I m r . Postal False Representation and Lottery Law'

Returned to Sender Due to Addressee's Violation of Postal False Representation Law'

Returned to Sender Due to Addressee's Vldation of Postal Lottery Law' Tetnmmihr Awav'

Mail returned fo sender under false representation order.

Mail returned to sender under lottery order.

Addressee temporarity away and pew for holding mail emired.

Unclaimed'

Undeliverable as Addressed, Missing PMB or

Addressee abandoned or tailed to call for mail. Failure to comply wlth D042.2.6e.

# Sign Vacant' House, apatlrrtent, office, or building not occupied. (Use only if mail

addressed "Ocwmnt?

83


Mr. Randy Anderson Director of Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 2231 4-3465

Re: F95R-4F-C98086042 Class Action West Sacramento, CA 95799-9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being November 15, 2002, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether the rural carriers were entitled to additional credit during the 1997 mail count for being required to return mail from full mailboxes. Specifically, after the initial occasion a mail box becomes full and mail is returned to the ofice, is credit appropriate if carriers are required to continue to deliver mail to the box, then return that mail when the mailbox is full again.

The parties agree that generally when a mail box initially becomes full, the mail is removed from the box and returned to the office where it is held with subsequent mail for that address. However, the parties agree that if the rural carrier was required to continue to deliver mail to the box and was subsequently required to remove the mail from the full box again, that route will be credited with one mark-up for each full box of mail returned during the mail count beyond the initial pull.

Accordingly, we agree to remand this case to the parties at Step 3 to determine if the carriers in the instant case are entitled to the additional credit. If the parties are unable to agree on the appropriate remedy,'the Union may appeal the appropriate remedy issue to arbitration.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgement of agreement to remand this case.

Sincerely,

Contract ~dministration (NRLCAINPMHU)

Labor Relations

Randy ~ n c @ m n ~ i rec tor of rabor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

84


Mr. Randy Anderson Director of Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: B95R-4B-C 02237945 Class Action North Reading, MA 01889

Dear Randy:

On several occasions, the most recent being June 22, 2004, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

This grievance concerns the 2002 Middlesex Central District's EXFC Service Improvement Guide SOP for Missequenced, Missorted and Missent in which rural carriers on DPS would deposit this mail into a separate 'MMM" case. Specifically, the issue in this grievance is whether management violated the National Agreement by not compensating carriers for segregating the "MMMn mail and placingldepositing the mail at the designated "MMM" case.


When rural carriers are required to segregate Missequenced, Missorted and Missent found in their DPS mail and deposit this mail into a separate case other than the traditional throwback case, credit during the mail count should be allowed as one markup for each required bundle.

The parties agree that if an additional trip is required to a designated 'MMM" case location, the additional trip, including the placingldepositing of mail or bundles of mail on or into the provided equipment, is compensable. During the mail count the actual time required to place the 'MMM" mail in the designated location is credited in column 'R". However, no time will be allowed for the separatinglcasing of individual mail pieces on or into the provided equipment at the designated location. This function should be performed at the carrier's case.

Accordingly, we agree to remand this case to the parties at Step 2 for possible settlement or further processing and arbitration, if necessary. The parties will also apply this settlement to grievances held jn abeyance pending the outcome of this grievance. If resolution is not reached, the grievance(s) will be processed in accordance with Article 15 of the National Agreement.

85


Sincerely,

ontract Administration (NRLCNNPMHU)

U. S. Postal Service Association

Date: 4 - 2 Y- O (/

86

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW WMHBTON DC 20260

Mr. Leo J. Root Director of Labor Relations National Rura1,Letter

Carrierst Association 4 t h ' F loor 1630 Duke S t r e e t Alexandria, .VA 223 1 4 -3 4 65

Re: HOR-2J-C 4997 CLASS ACTION BARDSTOWN KY 40004

Dear Mr. Root:

On January 22, 1993, we m e t t o discuss the above-captioned grievance a t the fourth s t e p of our contractual grievance procedure.

-The i s sue i n this grievance is whether the Pos ta l Service v io la ted the National Agreement when counting each sack of co l l ec t ion mail as one piece during the mail count on r u r a l routes 1 and 3.

The union contends t h a t i n accordance w i t h Handbook PO-603, P a r t 535.12(n) each sack should be given a parce l credit.

It is t h e pos i t ion of the Postal Service t h a t t h e col lected mail was properly counted i n accordance w i t h the PO-603, P a r t 535.12 (m) . Par t 535.12 (n) bears no r e l a t i o n t o t h i s issue a s the bundles inside the sacks consisted of l e t t e r size m a i l , not parcels. I n the absence of any contractual v io la t ion , this grievance is denied.

Sincerely,

Contract ~ d m i n i s t r a t i o n (NALCfNRLCA) Labor Re la t iow

Date f F? fi W flq3

87

UNITED TTdTES POrrd L SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa Director of Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'


Re: 195R-41-C99031041 G. Hoffman Saint Peters, MO 63376-9998

Dear Mr. Baffa:

On several occasions, the most recent being February 6, 2001, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether management violated the National Agreement, specifically the rural mail count instructions, when a single piece credit was provided for each tub of mail collected from a customer.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following would constitute full and complete settlement of this grievance:

Part 535.12.m. of the Rural Carrier Duties & Responsibilities, Handbook PO-603, defines how to properly credit letters and flats collected during a rural mail count. This section states in part, "If mail is received in bundles, count each bundle as one piece. Do not count each piece in the bundle." The parties agree that when a tub of mail is collected it is considered the same as a bundle of mail and therefore, the individual pieces of mail contained in the tub are not counted separately. Part 421.2 requires that carriers deposit mail collected on the route in the location designated by the postmaster or supervisor. Should a carrier be required to separate the mail contained in the tub collected, the carrier will be provided actual time for separation and placement of this mail in several designated locations. This time shall be recorded in Column R, Other Suitable Allowance, on the From 4241.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this decision as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle this case.

A

- ~ a t h y p . Perron Contract Administration (NRLCAINPMHU)

Labor Relations

Director of ~ a b p o n s National Rural etter Carriers'

Association

L -3 -

Date: - O/

88

UNmD SrPlTES POSTAL SERVICE L . b o r ~ D . p u a u n mL'hhn(mw

wuhlgmDC zo2604100

Mr. Steven R. Smith Dffector of Labor Relations National Rural Letter

Carriers8 Association m i t e 100 1448 DuJce Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3403

Re: Class Action Oskaloosa, U 52577 H4R-4K-C 33298

.Dear Hr. Smith:

bn several occasions, the most recent being Iebruary 3, 1989, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is vhether management should require rural carriers to purchase their stamp stock and rate parcel on the custorer side of the counter along with customers.

During our discussion, we autually agreed that the following w u l d represent a full settlerent of this case:

Rural carriers are not required to go into the lobby to replenish their stamp stock or weigh, rate and affix postage. various allovances for stamps and posting of articles incorporate the assumption that rural carriers have access to scales and stamp mtock rcplcnimhoat without going into the lobby.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknovledgment of agreement to settle this case.

Time lidts were extended by mutual consent.

Sincerely,

~ndrea Wilson Steven 8. Smith Grievance & Arbitration Director of Labor Relations

Division National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

( D a t e ) / 4 /9f'?

89

UNITED SlATES POSTAL SERVICE


Association 1630 Duke Street, 4~ Floor Alexandria, VA 23314-3465

Re: QOORdQ C 03056531 Class Action Washington, DC 20260-41 00

Dear Mr. Baffa:


The issue in this grievance involves a revision to Section 535.12.~. of Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities.

The revision identified those mail pieces that should be recorded in Column P, Registers and Certified Accepted, during the mail count.

The parties agree that a rural route will be provided two minutes credit under Column P for each registered or certified article accepted by the rural carrier on that route during the mail count, provided the rural carrier completes any one of the following items associated with accepting the registered or certified mail piece:

1. The rural carrier weighs, rates and affixes postage to the article which may involve assistance from a clerk. If the carrier accepts payment for the service from the customer and presents the article to a clerk, who weighs, rates and affixes postage; the carrier is still entitled to credit under Column P.

2. The rural carrier postmarks the receipt. which may involve assistance from a clerk.

3. 'The rural carrier endorses and issues a receipt via Form 3800 or 3896, which may involve assistance from a clerk.

The parties agree that if the rural carrier does not complete item 1, 2 or 3 above, a rural route will be provided credit under Column N or 0, as appropriate, for registered and certified articles collected by the rural carrier on that route during the mail count.


Sincerely,

/.& ,~dlkt2 'Andrea B. Wilson, Manager Contract Administration

(NRLCAINPMHU)

Date: ~/&/&fl3 Date: 3 / $8 a3

90

UNITED STATES - - -

POSTAL SERVICE



Dear Randy:

Re: J95R-4J-C 02108477 Class Action Gaylord, MI 49735


The issue of this grievance is whether a violation of the National Agreement occurred when management curtailed parcels during a mail count, therefore preventing the carrier from making a second trip to load the delivery vehicle.

After reviewing this matter, we mutually agreed that no national interpretive issue is fairly presented in this case.

Nevertheless, we mutually agreed that the following will constitute full and complete settlement of this grievance:

The parties agree that the method of placing mail into or on a conveyance used to transport mail from the carrier's case to the delivery vehicle should be done in a manner that promotes operational efficiency. However, the decision to curtail parcels distributed to the carrier solely to prevent authorizing'an additional trip to load the delivery vehicle during the mail count is inappropriate.



Sincerely,

Contract Administration (1 (NRLCNNPMHU) Labor Relations

~ i rec tor oy Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

91



Associa tion 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: J95R-4J-C 021 141 17 Class Action Adrian, MI 49221-9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being January 30, 2004, we met to discuss the above- captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue of this grievance concerns the use of stopwatches by rural carriers during a mail count.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following will constitute full and complete ,/ settlement of this grievance:

Managers must conduct and record all time measurement required for loading vehicles and other suitable allowance functions. However, there is no contractual prohibition concerning a rural carrier substantiating the accuracy of these time measurements. It is agreed that rural carriers may use a stopwatch for this purpose; however, the use of a stopwatch or any timing device should not disrupt the count, create additional allowance credit or delay the carrier in their scheduled duties. This agreement would also apply to carriers who wish to observe the mail count on their relief days or on days they are in a leave status as provided for in the M-38, Management of Rural Delivery Services, Section 526.23.


Sincerely,

Contract Administration (NRLCNNPMHU)

Labor Relations

Randy ~n@i&n ~ i rec io r owabor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date: / - 3 d - o V

92

H UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

March 23.2004

DISTRICT MANAGERS

SUBJECT: Use of Edit Books on Rural Routes

In January 1997 a memorandum was sent to all distrid managers concerning the use of Edit Books on rural routes. This memorandum induded revisions to Handbook PO-603 and a series of questions and answers addressing rural canier concerns regarding use of .the Edit Book and the CLASS labels.

Attached are revisions to, those questions and answers. These have been revised following consultation between the Postal Service and the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association. Several questions have been deleted because they no longer apply to the Edit Book process and many answers remain unchanged. Questions conceming the use of 'Be, "N", and V codes have been placed first, as these seem to be causing the greatest concern among rural carriers.

If you have any questions concerning this matter, please contad Robert West at (202) 268-3551 or Cathy Perron at (202) 2684'1 30.

~ c t i n ~ Manager Delivery Support

Attachment

cc: Managers, Delivery Programs Support (Areas)

93

RURAL ROUTE EDrr BOOK

1. When is "B" (for P.O. Box), "Nn (for nondelivery) and "V" (for vacant) used in the 1621 code block for rural routes?

Customers residing along a rural route line of travel who receive P.O. Box delivery in lieu of rural delivery are not included in the rural box count and their residence is not recorded on the edit sheet with a '6" code. Therefore, the 'B' code is not utilized on rural routes. Addresses that are on the route line of travel but not delivered, such as local P.O. Box customers, shall be recorded as code 'Nu. However, deliveries recorded with an 'N" will appear on both the edit sheet and case labels. To suppress the address from the carrier case labels, the use of cell sizes with the following standards will cause the address not to print on the labels, but will be retained on the edit sheet.

80-vacant addresses 81-PO BOX thrwvba~ks 82-intemal addresses (gated communities) 83-Mure deliveries

All of the 80+ entries to the cell size field will appear with a pound sign (#) in cell size on edit sheets.

Because the use of a V code signifies a vacant address and these addresses are not recorded in rural delivery until the vacancy is in excess of 90 days. the V code will not be used on rural routes. Once the vacancy is in excess of 90 days, the 'N" code would be recorded and the 80 cell size noted, maintaining the address on the edit sheet, but not on the case label.

2. Will carriers be required to have non-delivery locations; i.e., a permanently vacant house, people who have post office boxes, etc., included in the Edit Books and listed on the case labels?

While it is desirable to have all addresses on a rural route line of travel included in the Edit Book, there is no requirement for these addresses to appear on the case labels. As stated in the answer to question 1 above, addresses that exist on the rural route line of travel but are not delivered by the carrier must be coded with an "Nu in the 1621 column. Use of the appropriate 80 entry in the cell size field will keep this address from appearing on the case label. In those instances where the carrier is required to complete a review of the Edit Book and record all nondelivery locations, compensation will be provided in the form of auxiliary assistance or by utilizing Form 8127.

3. When the Edit Book is returned to the delivery unit, is it to be kept at the carrier's case so that changes can be entered daily?

Yes. The Edit Book is normally kept at the carrier's case for easy access. The Edit Book does not have to be specially secured within a post office however, they may only be removed from the office for official business use such as maintenance. route inspections, etc. The edit sheets within the Edit Book may not be duplicated except for purposes authorized by management.

94

4. Can rural carriers cut and write on CLASS case labels?

Rural caniers who utilize the customer name to assist them in casing the mail may write the customer name(s) on CLASS labels. To ensure easy access to the CLASS labels. rural routes are not required to utilize the plastic label guards which restrict access to the labels limiting their ability to write new addresses or customer names on the labels. However, if the new self- adhesive labels are utilized these must be placed on the outside of the plastic label guard. Cutting of labels is generally prohibited unless the carrier casing equipment being used will not accommodate CLASS labels (case ledgeslseparations do not conform to Address Management Service ofice product capability) or the case requires new labels immediately and cutting is the only solution to have the labels in proper order or sequence. Carriers concerned about cutting labels may do so where multiple addresses are being added and labels must be shifted to allow for the new deliveries to be placed in the appropriate location on the line of travel. Care should be taken to ensure blank spaces are left where new deliveries have a potential to be added in the near term and to minimize the need to cut labels.

5. Are rural carriers going to be required to complete the "Add Sheet" in the Edit Book?

No. The camer will nonally not be required to complete the Add Sheet. The Add Sheet is usually utiiized when large groups of new deliveries are added to the roLte all at once. As an example, a manager may want to add an apartment project to a route but will flag the new deliveries with an "Nu code until such time as the camer reports the customers are moving in. There is also a Line of Travel (LOT) Worksheet that is intended to be used for route adjuslments and carrier line of travel changes. This information is normally completed by the manager or a designated individual. Rural caniers will write new delivery information on the Maintenance . . Worksheet during those periods that the Edit Book is at the AMS unit, being input and having new labels generated. However, if carriers are required to complete the Add Sheet, appropriate compensation for this type of work must be provided at the time it occurs. This compensation could be in the form of auxiliary assistance or by utilizing Form 8127.

6. Are carriers required to make corrections on edit sheets for changes due to route adjustments?

No. Carriers will normally not make edit sheet changes associated with route adjustments. This is a management responsibility. If carriers are required to make route adjustment changes on the edit sheets, appropriate compensation for this type of work must be provided at the time it occurs. This compensation could be in the form of auxiliary assistance or by utilizing Form 8127.

7. Who is responsible for making changes (and maps) because of a new street on the route?

Management is responsible for making these changes. If carriers are required to make map changes, appropriate compensation for this type of work must be provided at the time it occurs. This compensation could be in the form of auxiliary assistance or by utilizing Form 8127.

95

8. Will names be printed on CLASS labels if they were included in the additional information block?

Only carriers that ordered customer names with their initial CLASS label order will have the names printed on their labels by address management. Names will not be added at a later date unless management determines that it is necessary to include a name(s) on the label for clarification purposes for a specific individual address or group of addresses. Names may be discontinued from the labels when the carrier initially ordering names leaves the route. Carriers not eligible for pre-printed names on the CLASS labels may hand write names on the labels or use some form of stick-on label applied to the CLASS labels to annotate the names.

9. By what means will a record of additions or deletions of deliveries be kept?

Carriers will record box additions and deletions on ~e edit sheets included in the Edit Book. When the Edit Book is submitted to Address Management Systems (AMS) for maintenance, carriers will record box additions, deletions and changes on the Maintenance Worksheet This sheet may be contained in the Edit Book and must be taken out and kept at the carrier case when the Edit Book has been submitted far revision. When the new Edit Book is received, carriers will copy all changes from the Maintenance Worksheet onto the new edit sheets in the Edit Book. Copies of the Route Summary Pages may be kept to ensure that changes in the number of boxes on the route are properly recorded on the front of PS Form 4240, Rural Carrier Time Sheet, and submitted on PS Form 4003, Official Rural Route Description. The average weekly time associated with additional work required for all forms contained in the Edit Book will be built into the route evaluation to ensure appropriate compensation. While Edit Book work may not be performed during the mail count period, an average weekly time associated with the additional work required will be recorded as appropriate.

I

10. Does completing the edit sheets only apply to routes receiving automated mail?

No. The Edit Book process and edit sheets will be used on all rural routes.

11. Because red ink is supposed to be used on edit sheets, will pens be provided?

Annotations made to the edit sheets should be made in red ink. Red ink is suggested because it is more noticeable to the persons inputting the data. If necessary, other colors may be used. However, these colors should contrast with the black print on the white pages of the edit sheets. Red pens will be provided wherever Edit Books are in use. Carriers are not responsible for providing red pens.

12. Are there any plans to use the edit sheets to trigger an interim adjustment?

No. The address management database does not interface with the route information data base used for payroll purposes.

96

13. Is there an understanding that management must return the edit sheets, new labels, summary sheets, etc. in a timely manner and in the order submitted?

Yes. Management expects to be able to process most Edit Books in approximately 15 days. Each Edit Book contains a tracking sheet which will show when a book was submitted to AMS and when it was returned. Books will generally be processed in order of receipt unless a special change is required in a particular ofFicelzone which would cause that office to be expedited. .

14. If not returned in a timely manner, will the carrier be compensated for any extra work required by the delay in managements action?

While the Edit Book is away being processed, ca r r i e~ will track changes on the Maintenance Sheet. If the books are processed in a timely manner, a minimal number of addresses should be on these adddelete sheets and the transfer of this data to the new edit sheet and the new case labels should be minimal. If processing has been delayed so long that the new labels and new edit sheets would require extensive reworking to make them usable, then compensation for the carriers' additional efforts should be provided.. This compensation could be in the form of auxiliary assistance or by utilizing Form 8127.

15. What criteria would management normally use to determine to have the canier do the edit sheets on an as needed basis?

Normally Edit Book submission for the purpose of incorporating edit sheet changes should be made at the time the change occurs. It is expected that when a new address(es) is recorded it should be submitted at least on a monthly basis. More frequent submissions might be necessary where delivery additions and deletions are extensive.

16. Will management be allowed to have carriers review the edit sheets each week?

Weekly review of edit sheets will not be required where the carrier properly maintains the Edit Book and appropriate worksheets.

17. How will caniers be compensated for reviewing the edit sheets?

An average weekly time required for the Edit Book and associated worksheet additions, deletions and reviews will be included in Column R time for the route during the mail count.

18. What Is the summary or history sheet?

The route History sheet is actually the Route Summary Sheet, which is usually included as the last page of the edit sheet for a route. The Route Summary Sheet includes the most current route data as reflected by the edit sheet, at the time it is retumed to that office.

97

UNITED STATES POSTdL SERVICE


Association 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: E95R-4E-C 0005681 6 Class Action Yakima, WA 98903-9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being July 23,2002, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether Management violated the National Agreement by disallowing entries under Column R, Other Suitable Allowance, of the Form 4241 for removal of anti-fatigue mats and platforms from the floor in order for custodial maintenance of the work area.


Pursuant to Section 535.12.r. of the Rural Camer Duties & Responsibilities, Handbook PO- 603, a reasonable time allowance may be claimed for services rendered on a daily or weekly basis, that are not accounted for under normal work functions. The parties agree that there is no requirement for the Postal Service to provide anti-fatigue (stress) mats for use by the rural carriers. However, if this equipment is provided by the Postal Service and the carriers are required, on a regular basis, to remove these mats from the floor to allow for custodial maintenance, then an appropriate time credit for performing this function will be provided.

Accordingly, we agree to remand this case to the parties at Step 2 to determine whether such a requirement exists and if so, the appropriate time credit to be added to the evaluation of each route.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to remand this case.

Sincerely, A

&>Y- Cathy . Perron

c o n k & Administration (NRLCAINPMHU)

Labor Relations

~irecior oflabor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

Date: g-d/- 0

98




Re: JOOR-4J-C 04149356 Scroggins DeKalb, IL 601 15-9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being July 15,2005, we met to discuss the above- captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether the rural carrier should have been granted time in Column R, during the 2004 mail count, for time required to wait at train crossings.

After reviewing this matter, we mutually agreed that no national interpretive issue is fairly presented in this case. Nevertheless, the parties reaffirm that:

A reasonable time allowance may be claimed for unusual conditions, or for other services rendered on a daily or weekly basis, that are not accounted for under the normal work functions. Such authorized time allowances are to be recorded in Column R on PS Form 4239, Rural Route Count of Mail.

Accordingly, we agree to remand this case to the parties at Step 3, for application of the above principle to the individual fact circumstances. If no agreement is reached the union may appeal this grievance to area arbitration.


Sincerely,

Sandra J. ~ & o i e Labor Relations Specialist Contract Administration

(NRLCA)

~irectbr oflabor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

99




Re: EOOR-4E-C 02 3 688 12 Class Action Yakima, WA 98903-9998

Dear Randy:

On several occasions, the most recent being August 27, 2004, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether the loading function duriqg the 2002 national rural mail count was properly credited for rural routes in the Yakima, Washington, office.


Section 535.12 Q of Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties & Responsibilities, states in part, "Enter the time spent transferring mail from the carrier's-work area to the vehicle. This time should include taking mail from the work area to the vehicle, placing mail in the vehicle, and returning the equipment to a designated location."

If the designated location is the parking lot, loading time ends when the vehicle is loaded and the equipment is at the location in the parking lot designated by management. If the rural carrier chooses to utilize the available equipment in the parking lot when returning to the offtce to assist in unloading the vehicle, no additional credit is warranted. However, if management requires the carrier to use and/or relocate the equipment when returning to the office, the time associated with transporting the equipment from the parking lot to another designated location in the building should be credited during the mail count.

100

Accordingly, we agree to remand this case to the parties at Step 2 to determine whether the routes in question are entitled to additional credit. If the grievance is not resolved at Step 2, the Union may appeal the grievance to Step 3 and arbitration, if necessary.


Sincerely,

Contract ~dministration (NRLCNNPMHU)

Labor Relations

Director of labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

Date: J& /b 2 0

101

UNl7ED STATES POSTdL SERVICE

Mr. Leo J. Root Dlrector of Labor Relations National Rural Letter Cam'ers'

Assodation 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: F91 R-4F-C 96024591 G. MILLER SAUNAS, CA 93907-9998

Dear Mr. Root:

On several occasions, the most recent being December 29,1996, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether the grievant is entitled to a credit for time obtaining and returnlng an LA key duting mail count when she has no other accountables.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following will constitute full and complete settlement of this grievance.

Management should have given the grievant credit for time used during mail count to obtain and return an LA key when she had no other accountables. In the instant case, the additional time would not have affected the mail count evaluation, therefore, no adjustment will be made.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgement of agreement to settle this case.

~QZ& Leo J. Root

Contract ~dministration Director of Labor Relations (NALCIN RLCA)

Labor Relations National Rural Letter Caniers'

Assodation

Date: &

102

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE Labor Relations Department

475 L'Enfmt Plaza. SW Washington. DC 202604100

Mr. Steven R. Smith Direc tor of Labor Rela t ions Nat ional Rural Le t t e r

C a r r i e r s v Associa t ion S u i t e 100 1448 Duke S t r e e t Alexandria, VA 22314-3403

Re: Local Sequin, WA 98382 H4R-SR-C 47608

Dear Mr. Smith:

On severa l occasions, the most recent being Harch 8 , 1989, we met t o d i scuss the above-captioned gr ievance a t the f o u r t h s t e p of our c o n t r a c t u a l grievance procedure.

The i s sue i n t h i s gr ievance i s whether or not management a t t h e Tacoma HSC proper ly disallowed time given i n the 1987 mail count f o r ansvering customer phone c a l l s and window t i m e .

During our d i scuss ion , we mutually agreed t h a t the following c o n s t i t u t e s f u l l and complete se t t lement of t h i s grievance:

The c a r r i e r s w i l l be givefl c r e d i t f o r time o r i g i n a l l y given f o r answering customer phone c a l l s and window time with customers.

The terms of t h i s agreement a r e nonprecedent ial , nonc i t ab le , and apply only t o t h i s grievance.

Please s ign and re tu rn the enclosed copy of t h i s l e t t e r as your acknowledgment of agreement t o s e t t l e t h i s case ,

. .

Since rely,

* v t : ~ CL&#., cb -q Muriel Aikens Arnold Steven R. Smith Grievance & A r b i t r a t i o n Director of Labor Rela t ions

Division National Rural L e t t e r C a r r i e r s ' Associat ion

103




Re: EOOR-4E-C 04086896 Class Action Bemidji, MN 56601 -9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being September 23, 2005, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether additional time may be credited to a rural route during a mail count in accordance with Section 535.12.r(1) of the PO-603 for scanner retrieval and return.


The parties agree that the MOU regarding the MDCD scanner, dated January 15, 2003 supersedes all previous MOUs regarding MDCD scanner use. The parties further agree that the one minute per day to pick up, set up and return the MDCD scanner is an elemental standard which is part of the evaluated system, which may not in every instance be adequate for an individual carrier, but when examined collectively, represents a fair standard. It is expected that it may take some carriers more than one minute to perform this function while it may take others less than one minute, yet all receive the standard time.

The parties further recognize that 535.12.r(1) of the PO-603 allows claims for a reasonable time allowance under unusual circumstances for services rendered on a daily or weekly basis that are not accounted for under the normal work functions. Therefore, additional time may be allowed for the pick up, set up and retum of the MDCD scanner when it is determined that unusual conditions exist.

Accordingly, we agree to remand this case to the parties at Step 3 to determine if unusual conditions exist on the routes in question. If no agreement is reached the union may appeal this grievance to area arbitration.

104

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgement of the agreement to remand this case.

Sincerely,

Labor Relations Specialist Contract Administration (NRLCA) National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date: 9 - 3 - 0 5

105




Re: QOOR-4Q-C 041 01 548 Class Action Washington, DC 20260-4100

Dear Randy:

On several occasions, the most recent being June 21, 2004, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance .is whether a memorandum distributed by an area office concerning the proper recording of SafetyIService Talks during the rural carrier mail count violates the National Agreement.


The parties agree that the January 21,2004 memorandum from the Area official does not violate the National Agreement. Nevertheless, the parties at this level have made minor modifications to ensure the memo is not improperly interpreted. The memowith the modifications is printed below:

It is important that all rural carriers receive an appropriate level of emphasis on both safety and service from local managers. Delivery unit managers and supervisors must conduct one "all inclusive" talk each week that includes safety and any other required talks such as, but not limited to service and security concerns. The actual time for this combined weekly required talk must be recorded in minutes and seconds for the purposes of the national rural mail count and recorded in Column R, Other Suitable Allowances. Further, these talks should be given on a "rotating days* basis (such as Saturday one week, Monday the following week) to assure that as many carn'ers as possible receive this information.

The evaluated compensation method calls for crediting rural carriers with average workload based on the most recent count. To that end, all activities that recur on a daily or weekly basis must be included in the route evaluation. Like mail volume, these combined talks will vary from week to week as compared to the count period, but no additional payment will be appropriate on PS Form 8727 unless there is a non- recurring event, such as a required 30-minute safety video. However,

106

management must ensure that the average weekly time for the all inclusive talk during the rest of the year does not differ greatly from the average weekly time required during the mail count period.

Example: During the mail count, combined service and safety talks account for an average of 8 minutes, but during a non-count week a total of 12 minutes was used to conduct that week's combined talk; in this instance, no additional compensation is due. However, if in addition to the talk that took 12 minutes, a 30-minute safety video was also shown, a 30-minute payment would be appropriate on PS Form 8127. Similarly, when less time is used as compared to the count period, no changes in compensation would be appropriate.

Districts must disallow PS FORM 8127's that claim credit for insignificant deviations from the time used during the count. However, additional compensation on PS Form 8127 would be appropriate for a non-recurring event. Please ensure that all rural delivery ofices are advised of this policy and are in compliance.

The parties agree that the above area policy of combining daily and/or weekly service talks with safety talks in the mail count is permitted, but not required.


Sincerely,

Labor Relations Specialist Contract Administration

(NRLCAINPMHU) National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date:

107




Re: JOOR-4J-C 03140433 Class Action O'Fallon. MO 63366-9998

Dear Randy:

On several occasions, the most recent being March 9,2005, we discussed the above- captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

'The issue in this grievance concerns the time to be recorded in Column R, Other Suitable Allowancel on Form 4239. Count of Mail (Rural Route), for a safety talk during a mail count. Specifically, when does management begin and end the timing of the safety talk.


The time to be recorded for a safety talk during a mail count begins when the manager makes the announcement for the carriers to report for and/or pay attention to a safety talk. The recording of time ends when the manager informs the carriers that the talk has ended.

The provisions of this settlement are effective immediately and do not grant payment of back pay claims for such employees previously affected.


Sincerely,

Contract ~dministration - Randy Arfeson ~i rec ior oY ~ a b o r Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

. . (N RLCA)

108

UNITED STATES - - -.-.

POSTAL SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson Director of Labor Relations National Rural ~etter' Carriers'


Re: 00R-4E-C 02161 832 Class Action Pequot, MN 56472

Dear Randy:


The issue in this grievance is whether management violated the National Agreement when management did not include the time in Column R during the 2002 mail count that rural carriers used to placeldeposit hold mail at the designated hold case.


The parties agree that when there is a centralized location for hold mail other than at the carriers' case, the carrier may receive credit for one trip to that designated location, including the placingldepositing of mail or bundles of mail on or into the provided equipment, and the actual time should be recorded in Column R, Other Suitable Allowances. However, no time will be recorded for the separatinglcasing of individual mail pieces on or into the provided equipment at the designated location. This function should be performed at the carrier's case.



Sincerely,

Contract Administration V (NRLCNNPMHU) Labor Relations

Director of tabor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date: w 110

UNITED STATES POSTJAL SERVICE


Association 1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria. VA 2231 4-3465

Re: EOOR-4E-C 02250463 Class Action Gig Harbor, W A 98335-9998

Dear and^:

On several occasions, the most recent being March 10,2005, we met to discuss the above- captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether management violated the National Agreement by disallowing time in Column 'R", Other Suitable Allowance, on PS Form 4241, for time recorded during the 2002 mail count for carriers to place mail in the designated throwback case.


The parties have previously agreed (Step 4 settlement dated 6-5-01, F95R-4E-C 00077733) that all rural carriers will receive actual time on a daily basis for one trip to and from the throwback case, including the time to deposit the mail. The time recorded in Column R does not include time to separate mail at the throwback case or for additional trips, unless these trips are required /

by management.

The grievance file in the instant case indicates that the routes in question are entitled to credit that was disallowed. Accordingly, the disallowed time will be restored to the evaluation of each route in question effective May 4, 2002. Any compensation that may result will be promptly paid.


Sincerely,

Labor Relations Specialist Contract Administration (NRLCNNPMHU)

Director of ~ a w r Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date: ?/$O/D.!!

111




Re: E95R-4E-C 0125971 8 D. Rayfield Ellington, MO 63638-9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being September 27, 2002, we met to discuss the above- captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether management improperly redlined the time credit in Column R during the 2000 mail count that was associated with loading the satchel for dismount delivery.


A rural carrier that uses a satchel for dismount deliveries will be provided time in Column R to load that satchel on the route if there is a requirement to load the satchel more than once in any given work day. Loading the satchel for the first dismount, or if the satchel is used only once, should be done at the time of pulldown and strap out and there would be no additional time credit provided. In the instant case, the additional time credit would not have affected the mail count evaluation; therefore, no adjustment will be made to the route.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreerilent to settle this case.

Sincerely,

William ~ a i g n e d t -

Contract Administration (N RLCNN PM H U)

Labor Relations

Randv' ~nd-" ~irecior of ~ i b o r Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association

Date: /</.0y"02

112

UNWED STATES POSTAL SER!ICE ROOM 9014 4;s L'ENFANT RAU SW WLWNOTON OC 20260-4 100 TEL R(m 2683816 F A X ;* zb8.3074

Mr. Steven R. Smith Director, Labor Relations National Rural Letter

Carriers' Association 4th Floor 1630 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: R7R-28-C 27614 Class Action Lexington, SC 29072

Dear Hr. Smith:

On several occasions, the most recent being narch 12, 1991, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether rural carriers who are required to file Forms 3575, Change of Address Cards, are entitled to compensation.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following constitutes full settlement of this grievance:

Normally, rural carriers are not required to file rorms 3575 after return from Computerized rorwarding System or Central Hark-up. Bowever, if they are required to maintain such records, an appropriate time credit must be given.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this decision as your acknowledgment of agreeaent to settle this care.

Time limits were extended by mutual consent.

Sincerely,

nur i el Ai kens Arnold Steven R. Smith Grievance and Arbitration Director, Labor Relations

Division ~ational Rural Letter ' carriers' Association

Date: 2 7 e d w 4 I?/

113

Mr. Leo Root Director of Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers8 Association

1428 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314-3499

Re: Gary Sauer TRAVERSE CITY MI H7R-4H-C 21551

Dear Mr. Root:

On July 20, 1994, you met with Andrea Wilson in a prearbitration discussion of the above-referenced cases.

The issue in this grievance is whether the grievant should have received additional credit for verification of change of address labels applied to PS Form 3575 after it was returned from the Computerized Forwarding System (CFS) operation.

Ourinq the discussion, it was mutually agreed that the following would represent full and complete settlement of this case.

Verification of the address label applied by the -S unit to a change of address card is not included in the change of address standard t h e allowance. The vork associated with this allowance predates the existance of the CFS operation, and this function is not incorporated into the current standard allowance.

Where the carrier is required to verify the change of address card after its return from the CFS operation, t&me should be included in any subsequent mail cnunt for that verification.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of agreement to settle the above-captioned case and remove it from the pending national arbitration listing.

T h e limits were extended by mutual consent.

Sincerely,

Leo J. Rpt' Director, Labor Relations

ce and Arbitration National Rural Letter Labor Relations Carriers1 Association,

, AFL-CIO

Date : / o / / Z / P J

114

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 47s L W U U Pkn. SW W a s h i w o n DC 2a2M

RECEIVED Jls ii ' 82

H R L C A

January 19, 1982

Mr. Dallas N. F ie lds Di rec to r , Labor Relations National Rural Le t t e r Carr iers ' Association 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW S u i t e 1204 Washington, DC 20006

Re: T. Warren Hadison, WI 53707 H1R-4J-C-443

Dear M r . F ie lds :

On Decenber 17, 1981, we met on the.above-captioned grievance a t t h e four th s t e p of our contractual grievance procedure.

The mat ters presented as well as t h e applicable contractual p rov i s ions have been reviewed and given careful consideration.

The ques t ion i n t h i s grievance is whether o r not manageaent v i o l a t e d the National Agreement by requiring r u r a l c a r r i e r s t o c r o s s lawns during dismounts, pa r t i cu la r ly , i n apartment complexes.

I t is the p o l i c y of the Pos ta l Service tha t where m a i l is t o be de l ive red by foot between del ivery points , such del ivery s h a l l be accomplished as e f f i c i e n t l y as possible. This means cross ing lawns, as determined by management, where s a f e t o do s o and t h e customer does not object.

Accordingly, as we f ind no v i o l a t i o n of the National Agreement, t h i s grievance is denied.

S ince re ly , f l

Labor Rela t ions Department

115

R E C E I V E D iiki j '03

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE 475 L'Enlrnt M r . SW Wuhinglon, DC 20260

N R L C A

Hr. Dallas N. Fields Director, Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers' Association 1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W. Suite 1204 Washington, D.C. 20006

Re: Class Action Lexington, KY 40511 81R-4T-C 7060

Dear M r . Fields:

On January 6, 1983, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance a t the fourth s tep of our contractual grievance procedure.

The matters presented as well as the applicable contractual provisions have been reviewed and given careful consideration.

The question i n th i s grievance is whether or not management violated the 1981 National Agreement when it required rura l c a r r i e r s t o walk completely around their vehicles a f t e r returning from a dismount delivery without immediate compensa- t ion. T h i s occurred af ter the l a t e s t route evaluation. Local management's position is tha t the time and actual footage f o r t h i s a c t i v i t y is to be recorded; however, additional conpensa- t ion cannot be paid unt i l an increase of two f u l l hours of evaluation is reached in accordance w i t h Article 30, Section l .E . l l . (a ) .

We mutually agreed that the dismount allowance was intended to reduce the actual time ent r ies made on the Form 4241 and was designed t o be applicable i n the majority of dismount situa- t ions. In t h i s case, walking completely around the vehicle was not a par t of the dismount allowance as determined by the l a t e s t route evaluation. Therefore, i f the ru ra l car r ie r w i l l be required to perform this recurring work function, the car r ie r should be compensated i n accordance wi th Article 30, Section l E . l l ( a ) . The work function should be computed as part of the

116

Mr. D a l l a s N. F i e l d s

t o t a l round t r i p d i s t a n c e when t h e rou te is counted. Management w i l l determine t h e time requirements f o r t h e added duty from the time it was f i r s t required u n t i l t h e rou te was counted. Any a p p r o p r i a t e adjustment of t h e evaluated compensation s h a l l be author ized.

P l e a s e s i g n and r e t u r n t h e enclosed copy of this d e c i s i o n a s acknowledgment of agreement t o r e s o l v e t h i s case.

The time limits were extended by mutual consent.

S i n c e r e l y ,

Labor elations Department Di rec to r , Labor R e l a t i o n s National Rural L e t t e r C a r r i e r s

Associa t ion

117


Mr. Gus Baffa Director of Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: 195R-41-C 991 13048 Class Action Sioux Falls, SD 571 17-7500

Dear Mr. Baffa:

On several occasions, the most recent being September 15, 2000, we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance concerns the appropriate time allowance for the duties associated with a locked pouch stop (involving less than 50 pounds) when the rural carrier accepts a registered pouch at the same stop.


Pursuant to Article 9.2.K of the National Agreement and Exhibit 531.3 of the Rural Carrier Duties & Responsibilities, Handbook PO-603, rural carriers are provided 30 minutes per week time allowance for locked pouch stops. The parties agree that the rural carrier is entitled to an additional 12 minutes per week if the rural carrier accepts a registered pouch each day at the same stop in accordance with Section 535.12.0. of Handbook PO-603.


Sincerely,

William ~ a i g h a u l t Contract Administration (NRLCAINPMHU)

Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers' Association

118

VI FORMS

I U.S. Postal Service I INSTRUCTIONS: Complete for each regular and a-y roue. T d e corrective action on I 1

I I I Carrier's Name District and ZIP Code F w No.

1 I I Cols. I (1 -6) Route Data

I

I - - -. - - - - - - -

Case Tlpc(s] Cashg Sgstem Used Avnap Separation Nwkw d Adhsses

Enter k m Number(s) One Bundle - 1 Two-Bundle - 2 Vidh (1 decind] Per Sepration

. M d h d O n c b d k - 3 . . Cols. (1-4) (51 (6-T)

V c k k Data Odometa Reading Fuel h d V h g 1 FUN 1 Hatchback SPiikup

qeater Le&d - 1 Lights 2 h t u d e l R h r r 2Sld.m 6 0 t h than 99.999 Unleaded - 2 2 Yes - lNo -2 3Comact 6USPS 3SlrVaaon 7USPS

Route No.

Cob. (7- 11)

I h d I """ IofDkmountI A p a & t ~ t ~ l " C a r k Trxspofts S~parate L&+d V d r WwkhDismwnt Deliwries Locked Pouches

obraut. (Feet) hDCBU Sicr I I 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 Enter thc number I ( Yes-1 No-2 I I

(2Ctb) Cds. (27-31) Cols. (3235) Cols. WjS) -1s. [4043) Cd% (44471 -1 (q CoL(19)( Cds.@OJH]

Ofiidal Length [2 Decimak)

0.llr.n thta Cob. (12-16)

Paved Miles [2 Decimals)

-..--.

I 1 1 1 Repats At Lqaves to Scrvc mute At ~ e t u n s to post mice ~t tnds At

I : m I 1:n-i I I I : I I r b This Schedule Roper? [If "No." caplain action to be I Is the Schedule Obse~ed? I la a Lunch Break Schedukd?

Cob ( 7 2 )

Matbaatort.

. ~

D y e s n N o & p h @ ) hat ion oi Lunch If S~hddQd

u y u Ub

If the m a t o any of the questi#rs below is Yes, U r r P Fonn 4027, emended Form 4003, and srqportinp pq~ers du#bing chmges. Skwldmgpatbnoftl*routebcominedbeoausecf ~ C n b a w l b e r ~ d b ~ o f v r o M t r e ~ n o ~ W ~ r o r d r m n t r ~ o f m + n k ~ ~ I

C&. (22-26)

Are Trip R.ports. Ronw of Cuaorrvrs a d h f F a m 3982s accurate and neat?

~ Y C S oN0 A t W h a t T r m c i r t h e ~ a t D i r p r t c h ~ ?

Cnkr-Cae Equipment k Adequate [C "No,' erpkln acihnmhtatm)

, O Y = O N o Carrin is Famiiiv with and Obscrvcs Regdatbns

Curi4c Case k bat , L h l d Propwig and Frw of Personal k m s

ayes O ~ / * I A t W h r Y a n c b ~ c ~ ~ D u c a t I h e h s t

b s the amount of mwl collected warrant thew I Are oollect~on boles locattons shown ot r m +W3?

l l l t t t t I 1 I 1 I - l t t l ~ I I I 1 ~ ~ i t t ~ l l ~ f t l - t l 1 ~ I t t Cob. (27.3 1)

road obsvuctiins or bad conditions?

=Yes =NO Cur*r~ansportsrrlilgr for city iqlmkrs [If 'Yes," h m m q v l W & J s : ~ ~ m . a l r f r / q ~ - ~ : y

=yes 0 NO

horn h route's evaluated hours shbw thnmkrdhour

PS Fam 4248, June f 993 PDC-1 I I

.%wed

Cob, (32-35)

bnga rquhing senrice?

=Yes U N o Aretkre U I ~ nl~llectiOn bones an th? rrjote? W 'Yes:'

~ Y Q S =NO

- cantiwnor?

[ 7 u e s 0"

plh.1 & k g routes. can thii be avoidd vithou lmpahmaf-?

=yes =NO

If 'Yes: docsth cirriir o&ot mail from tk41~ b w s ?

=yes =NO

O v c s =No O Y c s NO^^

S e w

Cob. (36-39)

Cunomr b o r n are n good condition, poperlg erected, and hure the boa nunbbr. a here m h r i d , stnu number shown on the bow.

f ivw n m o

Cok, (4043)

Haw customers been notiimd through the use of Form UIW?

j-qyes NO 'II thr CMS XU MIIC hours varli low IUnder I W a i n reason and action taken

BOWS

1 Cots. (4447) Cob. (485 1)

119

United S

tates Postal servicea

Ru

ral R

oute Co

un

t of M

ait

Post O

ffice S

tate (L ZIP

+4 Code

Route N

o.

V. D

lsmount

Dist. (Ft.) (E

xpl. in

Com

ments)

A.

Letter Slu

Flab C

ollecDd

H.

Postage D

ue

C. N

ewspapers, M

agazines, Flat.,

Catalogs, and R

olls B

. S

ectorlSegm

ent Letters

R. O

ther Sultable

Allow

ance (Explarr; in C

omm

ents)

D.

Parcels

0. O

rdlnaty 8I

&

W.

Counting

Tlm

e

E.

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P. R

eglatered 81 C

ertifie

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~c

ce

p~

d

I. C.O

.A. (Form

3575)

Q. Load. V

ehlcb (H m

om than 15 m

in., explain in Com

ments,

S. S

tamp S

tock "L" R

outes Only

X. W

aiting Tim

e

J. M

arked-Up

F. Rog., Cort., S

ptc. DeI., No. Inound,

Ret. Roc. for M

arch., & Exp. M

811

T. R

eturn R

ecelpt "L" R

outes Only

0. C

OD

s, D

ue R

cvd, for Delhr.

Y. Interm

ediate O

ffices Sew

ed D

ally

K. Form

3821 C

ompleted

U.

Authorlzed

Dism

ount. (Expl.

in C

omm

ents)

Z. W

eight of

LockedPouches

Carrled D

ally

I I

I

PS

Form

4239, March 1994

I - P

ostmaster

2 - C

arrier

I certify th

at th

e above is

corre

ct.

- E 1 I-

Date

Day

Carrler or S

upervlsor's Slgnature

120

US Postal Service Rural Delivery Statistics Report

Post Office, State, and ZIP + 4

JFdlow Instructions in Chapter 5 of Handbook PO-603)

Total

Total

(A)I UNaticmal Specid Amended I I Current Detour Yes No

Carriets Name D i i c t

1 1 1 1 1 1 1

Disbid ZIP Code

(B)

(C)

I Route Time ( ~ 4 EMA OEMA Govt Veh.

(D) Mail WRhdrawal Time Used During Count (Hrs. K Hund (Subtract hW2h MtdlwRoUk ( G ) R tfedon Fonn 4240

. . Net Total Time If 39:OO Plus (1) I to mula , Yes NO

I

Famifies !%wed

In season? Yes, Ul Nj

-rial Miles (Hun&&) Regular Boxes Central Boxes

(F)

Auxiliary

In the event that I am eligible to elect a b i e r mute dassification. I agree to use sufficient annual leave during the guarantee period to assure that my total actual work hours will not exceed 2,080 during the guarantee period. Number of Locked Pouch Stops

I I I I I I

Carrier's Signature

Detour Miles (Hundreds)

Seasonal Route? Yes No

Oftice

Route

Waiting and Counting Time

Date of Local Conference

Yes No

Carriets Signature

-

PS Fam 4241, May 1994 All Entrkr In Cdumn "Rg Mulit Ba Explained a

b Postmaster's Signature and Date

b Ranme. (Discard Ptenbus EMim)

(J)

(K)

Hgh Option q Yes No

Leave Commitment Yes No

121

NRLCA hlailcount Disagreement Form

Date:

Dear Postmaster

This is to inform you that 1 have not signed PS Form 4241. 1 disagree with the information on PS Form 4241 for the following reasons:

Respectfully yours,

cc: State Steward file

NRLCA MALL COUNT GUIDE

122

OF

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Additional W

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Inverted DP

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Tim

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PS

Tim

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alks

Tim

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FS

Mail

Tim

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Tim

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Tim

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IND

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UP

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Attem

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No S

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No M

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Refused

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Undeliverable as A

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No R

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Other R

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UM

EN

TA

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N

24-Feb

15 sec.

1 min. 15 sec

143 pieces

243 pieces

3

60 sec. total

5 min. 45 sec.

30 ft.130 sec.

20 ft.125 sec.

15 sec.

3 2 1

2 1

2 0 4 2

25-Feb

15 sec.

1 m

in. 25 sec.

129 piecdes

nla

2

50 sec. total

4 min.-

to RC

A

40 ft.148 sec.

20 ft.130 sec.

8 min. 4

0 sec.

0 2 3 1 1

2 3 1

2 1

27-Feb

15 sec.

2 min. 10 sec.

202 pieces

356 pieces

5

80 sec. total

0 40 ft.155 sec.

20 ft.131 sec.

22 sec.

SA

MP

LE

2 2 1

2 3 1 1

1

2

28-Feb

15 sec.

1 min. 15 sec

1 19 pieces

nla

3

55 sec. total

0 35 ft.140 sec.

20 ft.130 sec.

28 sec.

ON

LY

2 3 0 0 4 1

0 3 0

1-Mar

15 sec.

1 min.

93 pieces

nla

0

75 sec. total

3 min. 35 sec.

40 ft.145 sec.

20 ft.125 sec

0 1

3 0 2 1

2 1 1 1

2-Mar

15 sec.

1 min..15 sec

107 pieces

189 pieces

2

65 sec. total

0 35 ft.140 sec.

20 ft. 33 sec.

17 sec.

2 2 1 1

2 1 1

3 2

123

OF

FIC

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VID

ED

. A

'ITA

CH

ALL D

OC

UM

EN

TA

TIO

N

-

-

DA

TE

NA

TION

AL IS

SU

ES

Loading Tim

e-Sign O

ut

Additional W

ithdrawal T

ime

Fletters

Inverted DP

S

LOC

AL IS

SU

ES

Parcels

Tim

e- Riffle D

PS

Tim

e- Safety T

alks

Tim

e- CM

UlC

FS

Mail

Tim

e- Throw

back Case

Tim

e- Saturday D

uties

Tim

e- Edit B

ook

IND

IVID

UA

L MA

RK

UP

S

Attem

pted Not K

nown

No S

uch Num

ber

Deceased

No M

ail Receptacle

Refused

Vacant

Undeliverable as A

ddressed Parcels

No R

ecord Mail

Other R

equired by Managem

ent

-

124

OF

FIC

E

MA

IL C

OU

NT

D

OC

UM

EN

TA

TIO

N W

OR

KS

HE

ET

R

OU

TE

#

Managem

ent Signature

Date

Carrier S

ignature D

ate

ISS

UE

Edit B

ook

Riffling T

ime

-

Loading Tim

e

-

CM

UIC

FS

Markups

Parcels

SP

EC

IFIC

DE

TA

ILS

-

Received 40 seconds for total credit for verifiying edit book changes after return from

AM

S.

Actual tim

e was 1 m

inute.

Received 12 seconds per tray and received 36 trays during the entire m

ail count for a total of 7 minutes 12 seconds total

time. T

he actual time for the entire m

ail count was 12 m

inutes.

I only received 6 minutes, 12 seconds in C

olumn Q

on 3/7/06. Actual tim

e was 7 m

inutes, 20 seconds, because I had a very

large parcel that required a second trip to load the vehicle

Received tim

e to go

to and from

my case, but did not receive tim

e to place the mail into the designated location. T

he counter

stopped the clock while I w

as placing the mail into the C

FS

location. Total tim

e lost for the entire count was 1 m

inute, 36 seconds.

Received bundle credit vs. individual credit for N

o Such N

umber. Lost 16 m

arkups for the entire mail count.

I had 13 non-rigid items that contained m

edicine bottles that were counted as flats instead of parcels, how

ever these items w

ould

not fit into the case with other m

ail.

IF

ON

LY

125

58 POSTAL BULLETIN 221 57 (6-23-05)

Exhibit 531.3 - Form 4241-M, Rural Route Evaluation Worksheet [Revise exhibit to read as follows:]

Exhibit 531.3, Fonn 42414, Rural Route Evaluation HroMsheet

Total Route Time: Hours Minutes Assigned Carrier

No Option or High Option b w Option

Route Eval. I 'Items divided by 2 are rounded to one decimal poslion (Example QB / 2 = 49.5).

PS Form 4241 -M, February 2005 NOTE: Office & route time, rounded to two decimals (Example 146.5321 = 146.53)

127

NRLCA MAIL COUNT GUIDE - VARLCA

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