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NRLCA
MAIL COUNT
GUIDE

(REVISED JANUARY 2009)

 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
Table of Contents

Sections Page #
2009 Mail Count:  Things You Should Know!........................................................... 1‐11
Section 1:  Mail Count Overview……………………………………………………………………………… 12‐18
Section 2:  Rural Route Count of Mail, PS Form 4239……………………………………………… 19‐30
Forms……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………… 31‐41
Support Documents………………………………………………………………..……………………………… 42‐154

Section 1:  Mail Count Overview Page #
National Mail Counts 12
Special Mail Counts 12
Rural Route Inspection 12
Inspecting Rural Routes 12
Carrier Responsibilities During Route Inspections 13
Box Count 13
Stop Count  13
Family Count 13
Authorized Dismounts 13
Preparing to Ride the Route 13‐14
Request to Repair Roads 14
Mailbox Needs Attention 14
Counting Your Own Mail 14‐15
Pre‐sort Mail 14
Even Flow of Mail  14‐15
Withdrawal of Mail 15
Duties Associated with Withdrawal  15
Number of Withdrawals  15
Required Duties of Carriers Who Do Not Receive the Withdrawal Credit 15
 Withdrawal – All or Nothing 15
Not Part of Withdrawal 15
Cutting Straps or Plastic 15
Obtaining Parcel Hampers 15
Pre‐Count Conference 16
Pre‐Count Items for Discussion 16
Pre‐Count Conference Checklist 16‐17
Summary of Mail Count Principles 17‐18
PS Form 4239 18
Should Disagreements Occur 18
Section 2:  Rural Route Count of Mail, PS Form 4239 Page #
Column 1 – Letter Size Mail  19
Column 2 – Sector/Segment Letters 19
Column 3 – Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) Letters 19‐20
Column 4 – Papers, Magazines, Catalogs, Flats, Other Size Mail 20‐21
Column 5 – DPS Flats 21
Column 6 – Parcels 21‐22
Column 7 – Boxholders 22
Column 8 – Registered Mail, Certified Mail, Numbered Insured, 22‐23
Column 9 – CODs and Customs Due Received for Delivery 23
Column 10 – Postage Due 23
Column 11 – Change of Address (COA) 23
Column 12 – PS Form 3982 PARS Label 23
Column 13 – Marked Up Mail Pieces 23‐25
Column 14 – PS Form 3821 Completed 25
Column 15 – Non Signature “Scan” Items 25
Column 16 – Loading Time 25‐26
Column 17 – Other Suitable Allowance 26‐28
Column 18 – Authorized Dismounts 28
Column 19 – Authorized Dismount Distance (in feet) 28
Column 20 – Letters and Flats Collected 28‐29
Column 21 – Carrier Pickup “Requests”
C l 21 C i Pi k “R t” 29
Column 22 – Carrier Pickup “Items” 29
Column 23 – Ordinary and Insured Parcels Accepted 29
Column 24 – Registered and Certified Accepted 29‐30
Column 25 – Money Order Applications Processed 30
Column 26 – Return Receipts 30
Column 27 – Weight of Locked Pouches Carried Daily 30
Column 28 – Reserved 30
Column 29 – Waiting Time 30
Column 30 – Counting Time 30

Forms Page #
Introductory Letter to Forms 31
PS Form 4240 Instructions 32
PS Form 4240 (Rural Carrier Trip Report) 33
PS Form 4248 (Rural Route Inspection Report) 34‐35
PS Form 4239 (Rural Route Count of Mail) 36
PS Form 4241‐M (Rural Route Evaluation Worksheet) 37
PS Form 4241 (Rural Delivery Statistics Report) 38‐39
Rural Mail Count Information Check List 40
NRLCA Mail Count Disagreement Form 41
Support Documents Page #
Accepting Registered Pouch at Locked Pouch Stop 152
Accountables Accepted on Route (Pre‐Arbitration 3‐20‐03) 151
Address Orientation (Pre‐Arbitration 3‐19‐03) 87
Address Orientation (Step 4 2‐3‐04) 95
Anti‐Fatigue Mats 141
Arrow Key 127
Available Mail (Discarding Mail while Sorting) 58‐59
Box/Family Count 47
Carrier Pickup 73‐74
CD in Magazine (Arbitration Award 1‐12‐03) 96
Centralized Delivery 45‐46
Certified Mail – Restricted Delivery 110
Change of Address (COA) Maintaining 3575 File  139
Color Code Policy 80
Counting of Catalogs 100
Curtailing Parcels while Loading to Prevent Second Trip 120
Customer Mail Receptacles (DMM – Locked Box)      57
Customer Phone Calls and Window Time 128
Delivery to Customer with Post Office Box 113
Designated Location for Loading Vehicle 143‐144
Directs
Di t 107‐108
107 108
Dismount Deliveries ‐ Crossing Lawns 145
Dismount Deliveries – Not Required to Walk Around Vehicle 146‐147
Do Not Fold or Bend 77‐79
DPS Close Proximity (Pre‐Arbitration 3‐19‐03) 90‐91
DPS Letters for Closed School of Business 93‐94
Edit Book (Phillip Knoll Letter and Q & A) 122‐126
Employer Provided Vehicles (MOU) 48‐56
End of Run Report 89
Express Mail Delivery 111‐112
General Delivery Not Included in Box Count (12‐22‐86) 44
Helicopter Flats (USFM 1000) 101‐102
Henry Letter (Clarification of Loading & Withdrawal 64‐66
Hold Mail – Place/Deposit at Designated Location 136
Influencing Mail Count 86
Loading Satchel for Dismount Delivery 138
Mail Box Stop Illustration 42
Mail Collected – Face and Depositing 72
Mail Collected in Sacks 148
Mail Collected in Tubs 149
Mail Counts (Accurate Recording of Mail Count Data) 153‐154
Mark Ups 117
Non‐Rigid “Do Not Bend Or Fold” Articles 105‐106
Office Procedural Changes 70
Parcel Hamper – Close Proximity (Pre‐Arbitration 3‐19‐03) 69
Support Documents (Continued) Page #
Placing/Depositing Mail in MMM Case 75‐76
Postage Due Delivery 114‐116
Postal Bulletin 21631 (M‐38 Revision – Mail Withdrawal) 67
Pre‐Sort Mail 60
Replenishing Stamp Stock 150
Return of Mail from Full Mailbox 118
Rigid Article in DPS Mail (Pre‐Arbitration 2‐6‐98) 92
Rigid Article Inside a Flexible Mail Piece (Flowchart) 99
Rigid Items in Non‐Rigid Mail Piece (Pill Bottles) 103‐104
Rigid Items in Non‐Rigid Mail Piece (Step 4 12‐13‐05) 97‐98
Safety Talks – Begin and End of Timing 133
Safety Talks – Regular and Relief Carriers 134‐135
Safety Talks (7‐28‐04) 131‐132
Scanner (MDCD – Mobile Data Collection Device) 1‐15‐03 109
Scanner (MDCD – Mobile Date Collection Device) 9‐30‐05 129‐130
Second Trip Compensation 81‐85
Sequencing Address Cards (Pre‐Arbitration 3‐19‐03) 88
Shipment Confirmation Acceptance 119
Stopwatches for Use by Rural Carriers 121
Template Measurement
T l t M t 71
Throwback Case – Placement of Mail 137
Vacant for More than 90 Days (4‐18‐83) 43
Verification of 3575 Labels (Pre‐Arbitration 10‐12‐94) 140
Waiting at Railroad Crossings 142
Withdrawal Allowance – Intermediate Office 63
Withdrawal of Mail 68
Withdrawing Mail from Hot Case (2‐21‐97) 61‐62
 2009 Mail Count: Things You Should Know!
National Director of Steward Operations Ronnie Stutts
n accordance with Article 9.2.C.3.a.(2), a national
I mail count will be conducted for twenty-four (24)
working days beginning February 14 and ending
March 14, 2009.
The following types of routes must be counted and are
NOT included in the option-in election process:
 All routes in an auxiliary status as of January 23, 2009.
 All vacant regular routes with no regular carrier
assigned as of January 23, 2009.
Option-In Election Period:
 By no later than January 23, 2009 management and
regular carriers may “opt-in” a regular route to the 2009
mail count. Carriers who desire to participate in the mail
count must request an Option In Election Form from
their manager.
 Failure to complete the required form by either party
by close of business January 23, 2009 will result in a
route not being scheduled for the mail count.
 There is no requirement for a mutual agreement
between management and the rural carrier to
participate in this national count.
 There is no requirement for a regular rural carrier to
request or sign the option in form unless they desire to
participate in the 2009 National Mail Count.
Management decision to count all routes:
USPS Headquarters management, by a directive dated
December 4, 2008, has made the decision that all rural
routes will be optioned in for the 2009 National Mail
Count. However, the option in election form must still be
presented to each regular carrier. The 2009 National Mail
Count Option In Election Form must be completed for
each regular route in the office, appropriately round-
dated and presented to the regular carrier, as soon as pos-
sible, but no later than January 23, 2009. If the regular
carrier is out of the office and unavailable to have the
Option In Election Form presented to him/her, manage-
ment will place the form in the same location as the PS
Form 4240, Rural Carrier Trip report. Failure by man-
agement to properly complete and present the Option
In form to the regular carrier by close of business on
January 23, 2009 will result in the route not being
scheduled for the 2009 National Mail Count. Close of
business January 23 is defined as 5 p.m. There is no con-
tractual requirement for the carrier to sign this form when
management exercises their prerogative to count a route.
Mail count basics:
 Counting all the mail handled by the rural carrier during
the count period.
 Count mail before it is cased.
 Management must ensure that mail will be counted on
all days during the period.
 Personnel who have been officially designated to act in
a management capacity can perform the rural count. All
personnel responsible for counting the mail must be
properly trained. Examples of persons acting in a
management capacity are:
--A clerk or a city or rural carrier acting in a
management capacity: (204-B), Officer In Charge (OIC)
--A Postal Operations Administrator (POA) and a
Postmaster Relief (PMR).
--Other non-employee personnel contracted by the
USPS to count mail.
 It is unacceptable for either management or rural
carriers to take actions that affect the integrity of the
mail count. It is not permissible to create, enforce,
publish, and impose standards or limitations on
markups, loading time, and other (“column R (17)”)
time prior to and during the count “so as to make the
count data for those targeted elements conform to
perceived intended outcome.”
Ref: September 15, 2006 directive from Postal
Headquarters on National and Special Counts.
Observing the count:
 Regular carriers may observe the count on their relief
day.
 Regular carriers may not observe the count if they are
on sick leave, LWOP in lieu of sick leave, or on limited
duty.
 Carriers who observe cannot participate in any office
duties.
 Carriers who observe must not interfere or disrupt the
count.
Label/address orientation for purpose of determining
mail piece dimensions: 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 1/2 inches by 7 inches would be
recorded as a flat if the label or address on the mail was
placed parallel to the 5 1/2 inch dimension. In this exam-
1
ple, the 5 1/2 inch dimension would be considered the
length because the label orientation is parallel to the 5 ½
inch measurement and the 7 inch dimension is the width
because the address is perpendicular to the 7 inch mea-
surement. Ref: Pre-Arb, Q95R-4Q-C-02102188.
Computerized 4239: If using a computerized version of
PS Form 4239, the carrier still must receive a copy of
both the manual and computerized forms for verification
daily.
Reloading/Unloading Time (18 minutes week): This
time will be automatically credited on the PS Form 4241,
similar to other fixed credits such as stamp stock and per-
sonal time.
Do Not Fold or Bend: Any non-rigid article endorsed
Do Not Fold or Bend that cannot be cased with other
mail without damage to the item should be credited in
Column 6 as parcels. This item should be thoroughly
discussed during pre-count conferences.
Ref: DMM 601.50
Mail Pieces that Contain Rigid Articles: In accordance
with a Step 4 settlement, F00R-4F-C-03096043, the par-
ties at the national level agreed that the overall dimen-
sions 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.
Scanner Setup Time: The scanner setup time of 6 min-
utes per week (1 minute per day) will be credited auto-
matically in the same manner as personal time, with-
drawal allowance, etc. (No longer entered in Column 17).
Column 8: Includes all Registered, Certified,
Numbered insured, Return Receipt for Merchandise,
Express Mail, and Signature Confirmation, including
foreign items that are prompted for a PS Form 3849 by
the scanner
Delivery Confirmation Scans: These mail pieces were
previously credited at 18 seconds each in Column R for
the scan function and also credited as a parcel or flat, as
appropriate. A Delivery Confirmation mail piece is now
credited in both Column 15, Non-Signature Scan Items

Changes to Mail Count Elements (PS Form 4239)

NEW OLD NEW OLD

Column 1, Letter Size Column A, Letter Size Column 18, Authorized Dismounts Column U, Authorized Dismounts

Column 2, Sector/Segment Column B, Sector/Segment Letters Column 19, Authorized Dismount Column V, Dismount Distance (FT)
Letters Distance (Ft)
Column 3, DPS Letters Column L, DPS Letters Column 20, Letters & Flats Column N, Letters & Flats Collected
Collected
Column 4, Flats, Catalogs, Column C, Newspapers, Magazines, Column 21, Carrier Pickup Previously credited in column R at
Magazines, Newspapers, Flats, Catalogs and Rolls ‘Requests’ 90 seconds each.
Rolls
Column 5, DPS Flats New mail count element. Not Column 22, Carrier Pickup ‘Items’ Previously credited in column R at
currently utilized. 9 seconds each.
Column 6, Parcels Column D, Parcels Column 23, Parcels Accepted, Column O, Ordinary & Insured
Ordinary, Insured, C.O.D. Parcels/CODs Accepted
Column 7, Boxholders Column E, Boxholders Column 24, Registered, Certified Column P, Registered & Certified
Accepted Accepted
Column 8, Accountable Mail Column F, Reg., Cert., Spec. Del., Column 25, Money Order Column M, Money Order
(Signature Item) No. Insured, Ret. Rec. for Merch., & Application Processed Applications
Exp. Mail
Column 9, Customs Due Column G, CODs, Customs Due Column 26, Return Receipt, Column T, Return Receipt ‘L’
(Rcvd. for Del.), C.O.D. Rec’d for Delivery (‘L’ Route Only) Routes Only
Column 10, Postage Due Column H, Postage Due Column 27, Lock Pouch Weight Column Z, Weight of Locked
Carried Daily Pouches Carried Daily
Column 11, Change of Column I, C.O.A. (Form 3575) Column 28, Reserved Reserved
Address
Column 12, PS From 3982 Previously credited in Column R at Column 29, Waiting Time Column X, Waiting Time
PARS Label 15 seconds each.
Column 13, Marked Up Mail Column J, Marked-Up Column 30, Counting Time Column W, Counting Time
Pieces
Column 14, PS Form 3821 Column K, Form 3821 Completed Deleted from form, automatic Column S, Stamp Stock “L” Routes
(Completed) entry for all routes Only
Column 15, Non Signature Previously credited in Column R at Deleted from Form 4239, no entry Column Y, Intermediate Offices
“Scan” Items 18 seconds each. necessary Served Daily
Column 16, Load Vehicle Column Q, Load Vehicle

Column 17, Other Suitable Column R, Other Suitable Allowance

Allowance

2
for the scan function and also in Column 6 (Parcels) or
Column 4 (Flats, etc), as appropriate.
2nd Trips: This applies when carriers are required to
perform an additional trip(s) to the street due to mail that
could not be accommodated on the first trip, either due to
the volume of mail, the physical size of the parcels, or
insufficient room in the delivery vehicle. Should an addi-
tional trip(s) be necessary during the mail count period,
the time associated with the additional trip(s) will not be
recorded on the mail count forms; however, the associat-
ed mail piece(s) will be recorded appropriately for the
intended route and compensation for the additional
trip(s) will be granted as provided in Pre-Arbitration set-
tlement C95R-4C-C 98023318.
50 Foot Rule (This rule ONLY applies to three (3) cir-
cumstances): If the round trip is over 50 feet, the dif-
ference is multiplied by .00284 minutes and credited
in Column 17. (Reference Step 4 E95R-4G-C
99088097 and Step 4 D95R-4D-C 01037982).
1. Parcel retrieval: If the parcel hamper is not within
50 feet (round trip) the route will be provided addi-
tional credit for only the distance beyond 50 feet.
2. DPS Mail retrieval: Routes, whether or not they
case their DPS mail, will receive additional time if
required to retrieve their DPS mail when the location
is greater than 50 feet (round trip) from the closest
edge of the case to the staging area. The 50 foot rule
applies.
3. Return from the route trip to the accountable
cage: When carriers return the accountable items to
the accountable cage in the afternoon and the round
trip exceeds 50 feet, the 50 foot rule applies.
What are some common items credited in Column
17?:
 Trips to: Throwback case, CFS placement (if not com-
bined with another paid function), holds if not at the case,
accountable cage in the morning if you have no account-
ables and have to retrieve arrow key.
 If an additional trip is required to a designated
location to deposit “MMM” mail, the additional trip,
including placing/depositing the mail or bundles of
mail on or into the provided equipment is compensat-
ed in Column 17. (No time is given for casing or sepa-
rating individual mail pieces.) Ref: Step 4, B95R-4B-
C-02237945, North Reading, MA
 Collecting mail from a collection box.
 Actual time to complete additional edit book duties
pursuant to the PO-603 revision, beyond the time that
would have been required on the back of the PS Form
4240. The actual time required to perform the edit book
duties must be recorded in Column 17 (beyond the time
that would have been required on the back of the PS
Form 4240). While edit book work may not be per-
formed during the mail count period, an average weekly
time associated with the additional work required will be
recorded as appropriate.
 Carriers may be required to face and deposit mail that
is credited in Column 20 in a designated location upon
returning to the office. If more than two locations are
required, time credited to Column 17 is appropriate.
 Safety/Service Talks: Actual time used during mail
count. Normally, this will be 5 minutes per week. An
additional time credit must be given to the route if man-
agement elects to repeat a weekly safety talk for relief
employees or a carrier who was not present for the first
one.
 Any other required reoccurring daily or weekly activi-
ty not credited elsewhere on PS Form 4239.
DPS Riffling Process and Error Retrieval for Mail
History Tracking System (MHTS): With the introduc-
tion of the Mail History Tracking System, the DPS rif-
fling process includes MHTS error retrieval, as detailed
below:
 ROUTES THAT DO NOT USE BREAKER CARDS -
Carrier chooses a few intervals in each DPS tray, then
checks one or two mail pieces before moving further
along in the tray to provide assurance that DPS mail is in
the proper sequence. During the riffling process, carriers
will also retrieve any errors as identified by MHTS.
Credit for this work is measured by actual time recorded
in seconds in Column 17, Other Suitable Allowances.
DPS MAIL/AUTOMATED MAIL:
Inverted DPS: National dispute (pending National
Arbitration).
Flat size pieces, 6 1/8”: Letters over 6 1/8”, found in
DPS, will be counted as flats (no double credit).
End of run reports: The end of run report (for DPS
Letters Only) will be used for the DPS count provided
there are no obvious errors. Either party may verify the
machine count. Do not use the end of run for flats.
DPS Holds, Forwards, Mis-sorts, etc: Any DPS mail
brought back that was otherwise not deliverable, will
receive additional credit in Columns 1 or 4 as appropri-
ate.
If fewer than 2,400 pieces of DPS mail are averaged
per week during the entire mail count period and/or the
route was not validated (for those routes counting under
DPS for the first time) before the count as meeting the 98
percent quality threshold, mail processed as DPS will be
recorded as sector/segment in Column 2 on PS Form
3
4241 (Rural Delivery Statistics Report), or if it does not
qualify as sector/segment mail, recorded in Column 1,
Letter Size.
Fletters: Letters run on the automated flat machines and
found in flat tubs (6 1/8” & under), will be counted as let-
ters.
Flats Processed on UFSM 1000: On PS Form 4239,
each entry in Column 4 for flats received from UFSM
1000 equipment should be circled. Prior to totaling
Column 4 on PS Form 4239, total the circled entries, and
place the resulting number in the Comments section of
PS Form 4239. Multiple this number by .175 (17.5 per-
cent) and round to the nearest whole number. This calcu-
lation should be written out in the Comments section.
Transfer the result of this calculation to Column 4 as a
separate entry and place an asterisk next to this entry.
This will signify that the route has received the addition-
al credit for the flat volume.
Column 16, Loading Vehicle
Rural carriers receive credit for the actual time used to:
 Transfer mail from their work areas to the vehicle.
 Place the mail in the vehicle.
 Return the equipment used to a designated location.
 Loading time must be recorded in minutes and sec-
onds.
 If mail is placed directly into equipment used to take
mail to the vehicle, loading time begins when carrier
begins to move the mail to the vehicle.
 If mail is not placed directly into the equipment used to
take mail to the vehicle, loading time begins when the
carrier begins to load the mail into the transport equip-
ment. This applies in situations where the carrier is
required to load mail from the floor or other location
into a hamper or gurney for transport to the vehicle. A
common example of this is box-holder mail, which is not
ordinarily cased. Loading time would include the time
needed to place box-holder bundles into a gurney or ham-
per. 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 gur-
ney or hamper at the end of the carrier case aisle.
 In offices where the carrier does not withdraw mail, the
required final withdrawal from the designated distribu-
tion case, or other equipment, will be accomplished in
conjunction with the loading operation, and the actual
time required included in loading time.
 Does not include time to arrange parcels in delivery
sequence.
 If you make more than one trip, time does not stop
while you are loading the gurney for the second or third
trip (does not include time to pull down mail).
 Loading time ends when you finish loading the vehicle
and return your equipment to the designated location.
Column 11 and 12, Change of Address and PS Form
3982 PARS Label
The time allowance for PS Form 3982 PARS Label (yel-
low label from CFS) related to change of addresses
(COAs) will be 15 seconds for each PS Form 3982 label
received during the mail count (recorded in Column 12)
unless the carrier is required to perform any additional
duties of completing any of the following forms and/or
writing on the PS Form 3982. In such instances, the
route is credited for the COA in column 11 (2 minutes).
 PS Form 3575, Change of Address
 PS Form 3575Z, Change of Address (Carrier
Generated)
 PS Form 3546, Notice to Change Forwarding Order
There is no double credit for any single COA. Receipt of
the yellow 3982 label triggers the credit. If the carrier
receives a 3982 label and simply peels it off and sticks it
on the PS Form 3982, the route is credited in Column 12.
If the carrier is required to write the address on the PS
Form 3982 while processing the COA order (3575, 3546,
3575Z), then the route is credited in Column 11 when the
yellow 3982 label is received.
Note: Under PARS, the carrier should not be processing
3575s received from customers unless required to do so
by management. These forms should remain in the mail
stream (credited in Column 20 as a piece collected) and
go directly to PARS for processing. If the manager
requires the carrier to process (in any way) the 3575,
3546, etc., then the route is credited in Column 11 when
the yellow label is received.
Example 1: Carrier receives a PS Form 3575 before
count and is required by management to process the
COA. The carrier completes the form, writes the infor-
mation on the PS Form 3982 and sends it to CFS/PARS.
When the yellow label is received back, the route would
be credited in Column 11.
Example 2: Carrier receives a PS Form 3575 during
count and is required by management to process the
COA. The carrier completes the form, writes the infor-
mation on the PS Form 3982 and sends it to CFS/PARS.
The yellow label is not received during the count; no
credit in Column 11 or 12 would be given.
Example 3: Carrier receives a yellow PS Form 3982
label during the count. The carrier was not required to
previously do anything with that COA. The route is cred-
ited in Column 12.
4
Example 4: Carrier completes a PS Form 3575Z or 3546
during the count. When the yellow label is received the
route is credited in Column 11. If the yellow label is not
received during count, no credit is given.
Column 13, Mark Ups
The time allowance for this column is .25 minutes per
entry (15 seconds)
Credit one mark up for each BUNDLE of the
following:
 CFS Machineable/CFS Non-Machineable
 Insufficient Address (IA)
 Unendorsed Bulk Business Mail (UBBM & OUBBM)
 Excess box holders
 Unable to Forward (UTF) formerly Forwarding Order
Expired
 Attempted Not Known (ANK)
 No Such Number (NSN)
 No Such Street (NSS)
 No mail Receptacle (NMR)
 Vacant (VAC)
 Refused (REF)
 Illegible (ILL)
 In Dispute (DIS)
 Temporarily Away (TA)
 Unclaimed (UNC)
Credit one mark up for each PIECE endorsed:
 No Record Mail
 Deceased (DEC)
 Transcribing information on the PS Form 3982-R
 Other required individual carrier endorsements in
DMM 507-1-4-1, as appropriate and other undeliverable
mail the postmaster or supervisor requires the carrier to
individually endorse.
Carrier Pickup: Credit will be given in Column 21 for
each Carrier Pickup request received. Each item picked
up (Express Mail, Priority Mail, or International Mail)
through the Carrier Pickup Web application will be
credited in Column 22. This includes all the duties in the
office and on the street associated with the Carrier Pickup
request.
 Customers are limited to one Carrier Pickup request
per day.
 Credit in Column 21 for the Carrier Pickup request
even if the customer has no parcels for pickup.
 For Carrier Pickup items (Express Mail, Priority Mail,
or International Mail), individual credit is given even if
the mail pieces are in tubs, sacks, etc. (this does not apply
to items credited in Column 20 or 23).
Note: Prepaid ordinary and insured parcels,
Merchandise Return Service (MRS), and Parcel Return
Service (PRS) accepted or letters or flats collected in
conjunction with the Carrier Pickup items will not be
included in Column 21.
 Prepaid parcels under two pounds should be recorded
in Column 20, Letters and Flats Collected.
 Prepaid parcels weighing over two pounds or any par-
cel left by the customer with the appropriate funds for
postage should be recorded in Column 23, Parcel
Accepted—Ordinary, Insured, COD. Carriers must
weigh, rate, and affix postage if management provides
the necessary scales and rate charts. However, if the nec-
essary equipment is not made available, credit for a par-
cel collected is still given. NOTE: The carrier cannot be
required to stand in the lobby to purchase stamps or
weigh parcels.
 Merchandise Return Service (MRS) and Parcel Return
Service (PRS) mail pieces will be credited in Columns 20
or 23, as appropriate. Upon return to the office, rural car-
riers will place MRS and PRS items in a designated loca-
tion to allow for proper scanning of the piece and proper
disposition. Any duties beyond placing these mail pieces
in the designated location are not included in the credit
received in Columns 20 or 23.
If a Carrier Pickup request is completed by other than the
carrier assigned to the route that day, then the route will
not receive credit for the Carrier Pickup. It is expected
that this practice has been previously instituted and will
continue in the event the assigned carrier is not able to
complete the Carrier Pickup request due to size and/or
space constraints and management normally assigns that
duty to another carrier (RCA, TRC, etc). If the assigned
carrier is required to deviate or make a second trip to
complete the Carrier Pickup request, the appropriate
credit for the Carrier Pickup will be credited to the route;
however, the time and mileage for the deviation/second
trip will not be.
Shipment Confirmation Acceptance Notice (SCAN)—
Related Duties: The SCAN service associated with
Carrier Pickup requires carriers to count parcels and per-
form a scan of the customer’s manifest (PS Form 5630).
During the mail count, each Shipment Confirmation
Acceptance Notice will receive a credit for each scan in
Column 15.
PS Form 3982-R, Rural Boxholder Non-Delivery
Request (RBNR): Section 322 of the PO-603, Rural
Carrier Duties and Responsibilities, has been changed to
reflect Rural Boxholder Non-Delivery Request (RBNR).
5
 Time will be credited during a mail count in the fol-
lowing manner:
 One (1) markup for transcribing the non-delivery
request information on the PS Form 3982-R or annotat-
ing or discarding the form when receiving a reinstate-
ment of delivery.
 One (1) piece in Column 1, Letters, for casing the PS
Form 3982-R.
 One (1) piece credited in Column 20, Letters and Flats
Collected, for bringing the PS Form 3982-R back from
the route.
DPS for a Closed School or Business: Credit for DPS
closed school or business letter mail, whether cased or
taken to the street, will be credited in the following man-
ner:
 Credit will be given in Column 1, Letters, for each
piece when there are seven pieces or less
 Credit will be given in Column 6, Parcels, for one par-
cel when there are eight pieces or more
 These mail pieces will not be deducted from Column 3,
DPS Letters
A closed school or business is defined as one that is
closed on a recurring basis, usually weekly, and does not
have any method of delivery available on the day the
school or business is closed, which would require the car-
rier to bring the DPS letter mail back from the street.
No additional riffling time should be credited to identify
and/or hold out this mail.
Disputes should be settled on the day that they occur if
possible. If disputes are not resolved, detailed documen-
tation with all the specific information (number of pieces,
dimensions, photocopies, etc.) must be recorded. The
carrier should not sign the PS Form 4241 verifying the
validity of the count. The carrier must make a dated writ-
ten request and give it to their manager.
The postmaster/manager will also prepare a written state-
ment and both written responses (carrier’s & manager’s
positions), with all the pertinent information, are imme-
diately forwarded to the district. The district is responsi-
ble for providing a prompt written reply to the postmas-
ter advising of its decision. The postmaster/manager will
provide the carrier with a copy of the written response.
The receipt of the response from the postmaster/manager
starts the 14-day clock to file a grievance, if the carrier is
still in disagreement.
We must all realize that mistakes can happen and differ-
ent interpretations may occur over rules concerning mail
count procedures. If this happens to you, make manage-
ment aware of the disagreement in a calm professional
manner and attempt to resolve it at that level. It is imper-
ative that any disagreements should be discussed on the
day that they occur. If reasonable discussion fails, contact
your local/area/assistant or state steward assigned to your
office on the day they occur. Do not wait until the end of
mail count.

2009 National Rural Mail Count Event Dates

The following are some important dates relative to the national count and inspection of rural routes.
Where DPS is being introduced, the NRLCA representative and designated USPS manager at the unit level must jointly review
1-13-2009
the DPS sort scheme. Routes must be receiving DPS mail by this date.

1-14-2009 Rural route inspections may begin.

1-23-2009 End of the “Option In” period.

1-23-2009 All vacant regular routes with no regular carrier assigned and all routes in an auxiliary status will be scheduled to be counted.

1-30-2009 Pre-count conferences must be completed.

2-13-2009 For routes where DPS is being introduced, DPS quality of 98% must have been achieved.

2-14-2009 24-day national mail count begins where management or carrier has opted to count the route.

3-14-2009 Last day of 24-day national mail count. Inspections for routes being counted must be complete.

3-17-2009 Forms 4241 must be totaled at the delivery unit.

3-19-2009 Last day for carriers to review Forms 4241.

4-18-2009 New Forms 4241-A will be completed and sent to delivery units.

4-25-2009 New route evaluations will go into effect.

6
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide

7
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide

8
2009 National Rural Mail Count Option In Election Form

9
National Mail Count Important Dates to Remember

10
National Mail Count Important Dates to Remember

11

Note: Changes to the guide for 2009 are in bold type.
SECTION 1:
MAIL COUNT OVERVIEW
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 2009, a national mail count will be conducted for
twenty-four (24) working days beginning February 14
and ending March 14, 2009. 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 carrier opts for a count. The mail count
will be effective at the beginning of the second full pay
period in the calendar month following the count.
Ref: Article 9.2.C.3.a.(2)
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.(4)
Special Mail Counts
Special mail counts, pursuant to Article 9.2.C.11, will be
conducted during the last twelve (12) working days in
September as a result of one of the following three
conditions:
1. When circumstances have negated the validity of the
latest 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 (39:00) standard hours or more.
3. Whenever a 120-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
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
to less than twelve (12) boxes per mile.
Ref: Article 9.2.C.11.a
Special mail counts must be made during the last twelve
(12) working days in September. Salary adjustments will
be made pursuant to Article 9.2.C.9.
After a route begins to receive DPS flats and once the
route has passed any qualifications, a mail count will
be conducted in one of the three periods that follow.
The route may be counted in the national count
period set forth in Article 9.2.C.3 or one of the
following special mail count periods. A special count
may be conducted either (1) in accordance with the
period established in Article 9.2.C.11.b of the National
Agreement; or (2) during the 12 working days in May
beginning immediately after Mother’s Day. No salary
adjustment will be made as a result of a special count
unless the evaluation of the route is changed by 120
minutes (2 hours) or more.
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 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 Section 521
Ref: 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 and/or 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: PO-603 Section 522
12
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
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 postmaster/designee making the inspection of any
boxes that have remained vacant more than 90 days. They
should also assist in identifying hazards and/or hazardous
conditions on the route and recommend actions to
eliminate or reduce them to the extent practicable.
Ref: PO-603 Section 524.1
If the carrier’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 Section 515.1
Ref: Step 4 H1R-4H-C 12585 Menlo, KS (pg 43)
Ref: Step 4 H4R-4K-C 3738 Polk City, IA (pg 44)
Ref: Step 4 E00R-4E- C 02161678 Chanhassen, MN (pg
45-46)
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.
Where boxes are grouped, the determination of stops will
depend upon the size of the box(s) 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.
Ref: M-38 Section 515.2
Family Count
For Postal Service purposes, the term “family” is
considered the same as “household.” 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 47)
Ref: M-38 Section 516
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 Section 535.12.v
Ref: 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, carrier 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 identify
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
13

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 PS 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 PS Form 4003 annotated “updated as the result
of inspection” to the district office. Remember, the totals
on PS 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
addition/deletion of mileage to the route.
Ref: M-38 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
Ref: M-38 Section 510
Ref: 1988 LLV MOU (pg 48-56)
Request to Repair Roads
While conducting the inspection, note the condition of
road and road shoulders for both city/town 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: M-38 Section 517
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.
PS Form 4056 (Your Mailbox Needs Attention) is
designed to notify customers of mailbox irregularities.
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
Upon return to the office, the postmaster prepares PS
Form 4056 in duplicate, notifying 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
customer’s normal daily mail volume. Therefore, if the
slot is not sufficient to accommodate the normal daily
mail volume, the carrier will be compensated in Column
17 for the additional time to effect delivery.
Ref: M-38 Section 517.2
Ref: DMM 508.3.2.3 (pg 57)
Counting Your Own Mail
If a carrier wants to verify the data collected they may
count the mail presented to them. The time to verify or
count the mail is without compensation.
Time used by the carrier to count mail is recorded in
Column 30. 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 H1R-4B-C 11305 Linden, Ml 48451 (pg 58-
59)
Ref: Step 4 H1R-3P-C 19988 Summerville, SC (pg 60)
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 carrier 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
14
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
mailer’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 Section 534
Ref: M-38 Section 526.4
Ref: EL-902 Article 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
Ref: PO-603 Section 212.1
Ref: Step 4 H95R-4H-C 96076679 Largo, FL (pg 61-62)
Ref: Step 4 E00R-4E-C 02146601 Spencer, IA (pg 63)
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: PO-603 Section 212.22
If employees other than rural carriers withdraw mail,
they must place it on the carrier’s case ledge as described
in PO-603 Section 212.13. 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 64-66)
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 64-66)
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 PS
Form 4240 (Rural Carrier Trip Report). In addition, they
should record the number of box holder sets.
Ref: Postal Bulletin 21631 (pg 67)
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
(pg 68)
Obtaining Parcel Hampers
Management should locate hampers in an area that is
convenient to the carriers. If the hamper/gurney is not
located as indicated, action should be taken to do so.
Ref: Henry Letter (pg 64-66)
If the hamper is not located within 50 feet (round trip) the
route will be provided additional credit under Column 17
for only the distance beyond the 50 feet. The distance
beyond 50 feet will be credited at .00284 minutes per
foot.
Ref: Pre-Arb E95R-4G-C 99088097 Humble, TX (pg 69)
15

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. (Note: This
year the pre-count conference must be completed no later
than January 30, 2009).
Ref: M-38 Section 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 office 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 H4R-4P-C 26467 Columbia, MO (pg 70)
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 carrier’s return to duty, when all
changes must be explained.
Pre-Count Conference Items
For Discussion
1. Clarify 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 H7R-1G-C 5107 Springfield, VT (pg 71)
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
3. Mail withdrawal procedures and recording of
DUVRS if carrier is required to record volume.
4. Carriers have the right to observe mail count on their
relief days or when they are on annual 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. Clerk/Supervisor interruptions for official business,
being called to the phone or counter, etc.
11. 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
Ref: Step 4 H7R-4B-C 29248 Rochester, MI (pg 72)
 From collection boxes.
 From collection slots/compartments.
 Bundled mail.
 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.
A. Bundle
B. Individual
(Note: Refer to 2009 Mail Count: Things You
Should Know and PO-603)
18. COAs and 3982 labels.
(Note: Refer to 2009 Mail Count: Things You
Should Know and PO-603)
19. Credit for detached-label mailings.
20. Locked pouch when transporting unsorted mail from
one post office to another.
21. High Option/Leave Commitment.
22. Safety Talks (actual time, approximately five
minutes). If two safety talks are given, compensation
must be given for both.
23. Any required functions for Saturday closeouts must
16
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
be credited.
24. 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.
25. Any local requirement that happens on a regular basis
(daily or weekly.)
26. Any unique situations.
27. Delivery point sequence (DPS) issues.
28. Rural Boxholder Non-Delivery Request (RBNR.)
Ref: PO-603 Section 322.23
(Note: Refer to 2009 Mail Count: Things You
Should Know.)
29. PS Form 5630, Shipment Confirmation Acceptance
Notice (SCAN.)
Ref: Sample PS Form 5630 (pg 119)
30. Carrier Pickup Standard
Ref: National Grievance Settlement QOOR-4Q-C
08030088 Washington, DC (pg 73-74)
31. Service talks (actual time)
32. Proper credit for oversized letter (over 6 1/8 inches)
processed with DPS mail.
33. Proper credit for missequenced, missorted,
missent “MMM” mail
Ref: Step 4 B95R-4B-C 02237945 North Reading,
MA (pg 75-76)
34. DPS Flats (FSS)
35. Do Not Bend or Fold items that cannot be cased
with other mail.
Ref: DMM 601.50 (pg 77)
Ref: Postal Bulletin 22213 (8/16/07) (pg 78-79)
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 carrier 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
an annual leave status. Any carrier who observes the
mail count must be in a non-duty status.
• Regular carriers who are observing in a non-duty
status may not participate in office work.
• The relief carrier is entitled to work his/her
scheduled work days during the mail count period.
• Mail must be counted in the facility 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: MOU Use of End of Run Report (pg 89)
• 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.
Ref: Step 4 H1R-4B-C 11305 Linden, MI (pg 58-59)
• 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.
• Refer to clarification by USPS delivery operations
on how to color code standard flat mail with a
requested in-home delivery date that is entered at
the destination delivery unit.
Ref. October 8, 2008 policy letter from USPS
Headquarters Delivery Operations on National
Color Code Policy – Destination Delivery Unit
Entered (Flats) Mail with Requested In-Home
Dates. (pg 80)
• 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.
• Withdrawal procedures in effect at the time of the
count should be the same for the rest of the year.
• Rural carriers always have the right to verify 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 PS Forms 4239 and 4241.
• Record mail associated with second trips
appropriately.
Ref: Pre-Arb C95R-4C-C 98023318 (Mgt option)
Bear, DE (pg 81-85)
• It is unacceptable for either management or rural
17
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide

carriers to take actions that affect the integrity of during mail counts. When there are disagreements
the mail count. between the carriers and managers concerning the proper
Ref: September 15, 2006 directive from postal credit of an item, every effort must be made at the time to
headquarters (pg 153-154) resolve the dispute. Carriers should make management
Ref: April 7, 1999 Bothwell Letter (pg 86) aware of each repeated occurrence of disputed items.
When there is a dispute pertaining to a mail piece, an
PS Form 4239 attempt must be made to resolve the issue before the mail
This form is designed to function as a combination work in question is delivered. If carriers are unable to resolve
sheet and mail count record. (Note: Refer to Revised PS the differences, documentation of all information
Form 4239 dated February 2009). This important daily regarding the item(s) or issue(s) in dispute is critical.
record provides the basic source of mail volume and time Include in the documentation the issue in dispute, the
data, which is transferred daily to Form 4241 (Rural number of articles and any other relevant information
Delivery Statistics Report), and consolidated for the two, such as dimensions that will be helpful in resolving the
three or four week period. disagreement.
(Note: Refer to Revised PS Form 4241 dated February Ref: Mail Count Disagreement Form (pg 41)
2009)
A separate PS Form 4239 is used to record each day’s
count data. The PS Form 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 PS Form 4239 is
the only official record of each day’s count data. The
postmaster, supervisor, or mileage route carrier
responsible for conducting the count will complete PS
Form 4239 daily for each route.
When management completes the PS 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
postmaster/supervisor, or carrier who conducts the count,
must sign the PS Form 4239 daily. Remember, daily
totals must be transferred to the PS Form 4241. Do not
wait until the end of the count period to complete the
rural delivery statistic report.
Note: After PS Form 4239 (Rural Route Count of Mail)
has been completed each day, the postmaster retains the
original and the carrier receives a copy.
Ref: PO-603 Section 535.11.b
In the case of an Intermediate Office, a separate PS 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
PS Forms 4239, subtracting the total office time spent at
the intermediate office from the route time, and
transferring all data to PS Form 4241. PS Form 4241 is
not completed at intermediate offices.

Should Disagreements Occur

Many times there are questionable items and issues

18
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
SECTION II: RURAL ROUTE
COUNT OF MAIL, PS FORM 4239
1. Column 1 - Letter-Size Mail
(A) Enter in this column all letter size mail including
ordinary letters, cards, newsletter type mail, and circulars
six and one-eighth (6 1/8) 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 1/8)
inches or less in width and 3/8 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 3/8 inch applies only to small
magazines and small catalogs. Letter-size mail is
whatever fits 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.
Ref: PO-603 Section 535.12.a.1
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-Arb Q95R-4Q-C 02102188 Washington, DC (pg
87)
One (1) piece is credited in Column 1 for each PS Form
3982-R cased during mail count.
Ref: PO-603 Section 322.23
Do not include address cards received for sequencing
during the mail count in this category.
Ref: Pre-Arb D95R-4D-C 01039476 Lugoff, SC (pg 88)
(B) Do not include newspapers, boxholders, flats, and
rolls even though they may be cased with letter mail.
Count each direct or segmented bundle (see PO-603,
Section 225.4) distributed and tied out at mail
distribution cases as one parcel, and enter in Column 6.
Do not count direct or segmented bundles tied out at the
carrier case (see PO-603, Section 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 8.
Ref: PO-603 Section 535.12.a.2
Small catalogs and magazines with a thickness greater
than 3/8 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 carriers. The parties at
Step 4 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 carriers, the carriers were
entitled to a recount, if they desired.”
Ref: Step 4 H.1R-4B-C 11305 Linden, Ml (pg 58-59)
2. Column 2 - Sector/Segment Letters
Enter in this column all mail up to 6 1/8 inches in width
that is processed on automated equipment in
sector/segment order.
Where Sector/Segment 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.
3. Column 3 - Delivery Point Sequence (DPS)
Letters
Enter in this column all mail up to 6 1/8 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
and/or 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 sector/segment in
Column 2 on PS Form 4241 (Rural Delivery Statistics
Report), or if it does not qualify as sector/segment mail,
recorded in Column 1, Letter Size.
19

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: MOU Use of End of Run Report (pg 89)
During the mail count, if the DPS mail is not within 50
feet (round trip), the route will be provided additional
credit under Column 17 for only the distance beyond the
50 feet. The distance beyond 50 feet will be credited at
.00284 minutes per foot.
Ref: Pre-Arb D95R-4D-C 01037982 Louisville, KY (pg
90-91)
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 Letter Carrier.
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 sector/segment 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, forwardable mail,
missorted mail, etc.), is recorded in Column 1, 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 1, Letter Size.
The mail pieces recorded in Column 1, Letter Size, are
not deducted from Column 3, DPS Letters.
Inverted DPS letters are recorded for the purposes of
mail count in Column 3, DPS Letters (no additional
credit). Note: Inverted DPS letters is the subject of a
national level grievance.
A rigid article received in DPS will be counted and
recorded under Column 6 as a parcel if the rigid article
exceeds any one of the dimensions in PO-603 Section
535.12.d.(1).
Ref: Pre-Arb F91R-4F-C 96020182 Sun City, CA (pg 92)
Credit for DPS closed school or business letter mail,
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
whether cased or taken to the street, will be credited in
the following manner:
1. Credit will be given in Column 1, Letters, for
each piece when there are seven pieces or less.
2. Credit will be given in Column 6, Parcels, for one
parcel when there are eight pieces or more.
3. These mail pieces will not be deducted from
Column 3, DPS Letters.
No additional riffling time should be credited to
identify and/or hold this mail.
Ref: Step 4 J00R-4J-C04168408 Plainfield, IL 60544
(pg 93-94)
4. Column 4 - 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 6, Parcels.
Exceptions: Count simplified address articles, including
mail with detached labels, as boxholder mail and enter in
Column 7. Count each direct or segmented bundle
distributed and tied out at mail distribution cases (see
PO-603 Section 225.4) as one parcel, and enter in
Column 6. Do not count direct or segmented bundles tied
out at the carrier case (see PO-603 Section 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 8.
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-Arb Q95R-4Q-C 02102188 Washington, DC (pg
87)
Ref: Step 4 Q00R-4Q-C 03096526 Washington, DC (pg
95)
Normally a CD enclosed in a magazine does not define
the mail piece as a parcel. To define a flexible mail piece
containing a rigid item refer to the references below:
Ref: Arbitration Award (Eishen) E95R-4E-C 990099528
(pg 96)
Ref: Step 4 F00R-4F-C 03096043 Riverside, CA (pg 97-
20
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
98)
Ref: Flow chart for rigid item inside a flexible Mail piece
(pg 99)
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.
Ref: Step 4 R8-C-0108/C8R4FC19357 Gallipolis, OH
(pg 100)
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.
Helicopter Flat credit explained in Pre-Arbitration
settlement.
Ref: Pre-Arb E95R-4E-C 99103123 Oregon City, OR
(pg 101-102)
A flat item that contains a rigid article may be
considered a flat or parcel depending on whether the
mail piece can be cased with other mail without damage
to the mail piece.
When determining if the mail piece can be cased, some
re-positioning of the rigid item(s) inside the mail piece
may occur. You are not required to take extraordinary
efforts to reposition the item(s) within the piece for
casing. If you cannot case it the item is considered a
parcel in Column 6.
Ref: Step 4 E00R-4E-C 03203190 Fall City, WA (pg 103-
104)
5. Column 5 – DPS Flats
Record number of DPS flats received during count.
6. Column 6 - Parcels
(A) 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 9/16 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 endorsed “Do Not Fold Or Bend”).
Ref: Postal Bulletin 22213 (8/16/07) (pg 78-79)
(B) 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 endorsed “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 H7R-4M-C 29824 Bay City, MI (pg 105-
106)
Ref: Postal Bulletin 22213 (8/16/07) (pg 78-79)
(C) The carrier has the option of handling odd-size
articles either with flat mail or separately, regardless
of how it is credited.
(D) Parcels with detached labels do not belong in this
column. They are counted as boxholders in Column
7. Only specifically addressed samples too large to
be cased are included in the parcel count.
(E) Each direct or segmented bundle distributed and tied
out at the mail distribution cases (see PO-603
Section 225.4) is counted as a parcel. Direct or
segmented bundles tied out at the carrier case (see
PO-603 Section 225.5) are not counted as a parcel.
Ref: Step 4 H1R-5B-C 8286 Issaquah, WA (pg 107-
108)
(F) Registered, certified, COD, numbered insured,
Express Mail, and other accountable mail are not
counted in this column. (For special delivery articles
see Column 8.)
Include in Column 6:
• 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 6 where a second delivery
attempt is required only in accordance with the
Postal Service’s parcel redelivery regulations.
Ref: PO-603 Section 332.11
• For the purpose of the mail count, the width of the
21

mail piece will be defined as the dimension
perpendicular to the address label.
Ref: Step 4 Q00R-4Q-C 03096526 Washington, DC
(pg 95)
• A rigid article received in DPS will be counted and
recorded under Column 6 as a parcel if the rigid
article exceeds any one of the dimensions in PO-603
Section 535.12.d(1).
Ref: Pre-Arb F91R-4F-C 96020182 Sun City, CA
(pg 92)
7. Column 7 - 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 (DMM
602.3.2.1).
When samples are received with detached address labels
(specifically addressed), enter the total number of
samples. (See PO-603 Section 535.12.a, Column 1 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 14 and ends
March 14. A boxholder is received in the office on
February 12 with a requested delivery date of
February 14. This boxholder would be delivered on
February 14 and would be included in the count.
2. Conversely, a boxholder received in the office on
March 14, with a requested delivery date of March
15, would not be counted.
8. Column 8 - Registered Mail, Certified Mail,
Numbered Insured Articles, Express Mail, and
Other Accountable Mail
(A) Enter the number of articles received daily for
delivery in this column. Entries in this column
preclude entries for the same items in Columns 1, 2,
4, 6, or 10.
(B) On high-density (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.
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
Example: If a route received 10 accountable articles
of which five were for delivery to one address, the
route 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.
(C) 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 26).
(D) For each accountable mail piece, including Express
Mail and Signature Confirmation in Column 8, an
additional time allowance of twenty-eight (28)
seconds is incorporated for scanning the mail piece.
This includes any time associated with scanning of
the PS Form 3849 and the data entry of recipient
names.
Ref: MOU for MDCD (pg 109)
(E) 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 17 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 mail/receipts in the
afternoon.
Ref: Pre-Arb D95R-4D-C 01037982 Louisville, KY
(pg 90-91)
Include in Column 8:
• Accountable articles found in DPS mail will also be
included in Column 8.
• Restricted delivery items
Ref: Step 4 H1R-2B-C 16713 Kennett Square, PA (pg
110)
• Management shall not alter a route’s mail count by
withholding Express Mail from the route during the
mail count.
In accordance with PO-603 Section 342.21, 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
22
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
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.”
Ref: Step 4 H1R-5D-C24517 Moses Lake, WA (pg 111-
112)
Pre-Arb H95R-4H-C 01032651 Calhoun, GA (pg 113)
9. Column 9 - CODs and Customs Due Received
for Delivery
Enter daily the number of articles received for delivery.
For each accountable mail piece in Column 9, an
additional time allowance of twenty-eight (28) seconds is
incorporated in Column 9 for scanning the mail piece.
Ref: MOU for MDCD (pg 109)
10. Column 10 - Postage Due
Enter the number of postage due articles taken out for
delivery. Do not include postage due items in Columns 1,
2, 3, or 4.
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 6, Parcels, and in Column
10, Postage Due.
Include in Column 10:
• 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-2J-C 389 Bowling Green, KY (pg
114-115)
“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 carrier shall be
credited with 58 pieces of postage due mail on his
evaluation and shall receive compensation if it is
warranted.”
Other than for ordinary parcels that do not fit in mail
receptacles, carriers are NOT required to take postage
due mail to the door.
Ref: Step 4 H8R-2W-C 11821 Hilton, NY (pg 116)
11. Column 11 - Change of Address
Enter the number of forms listed below that the carrier is
required to process in accordance with PO-603 Section
241 during the mail count period.
• PS Form 3575, Change of Address
• PS Form 3575-WWW, Internet Change of Address
• PS Form 3575-Z, Employee-generated Change of
Address
• PS Form 3546, Official Change/Correction to Mail
Forwarding Change of Address Order 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.
Credit is received in Column 11 for PS Form 8076,
Authorization to Hold Mail, that is received from the
patron (substitute forms may also be included). In order
to receive credit for special orders and hold orders, the
carrier must be required to transfer the information to PS
Form 1564-B, PS Form 3982 or any other type form used
for this purpose.
Do record PS Form 3575-Z, Employee Generated
Change of Address, in this column.
Do not record the entry of a new or additional customer’s
name of PS Form 1564, Address Change Sheet.
PO-603 change; COA credit is now 15 seconds for PS
Form 3982 Change of Address, Carrier’s Case in Column
12. Credit of 2 minutes if required to write on PS Form
3982 or completion of the listed forms by giving credit in
Column 11.
12. Column 12 - PS Form 3982 PARS Label
PS Form 3982 label
Credit is given on the day the 3982 label is received by
the carrier. Management should distribute the labels
as they are received in the delivery unit. Credit is only
given for either the 3982 label or the 3575/3546 COA
card **Not Both**
13. Column 13 - Marked Up Mail Pieces
(A) In this column, record the number of pieces of all
classes of mail marked up. Markups are mailpieces
undeliverable as addressed that require the carrier to
endorse the mail with the reason for nondelivery
specified in DMM Section 507, Exhibit 1.4.1. (pg
117). Do not record mail missorted to a route as a
markup. Do include missorted and missent mail in
23

the original count of mail. This applies where routes
have been adjusted, territory has changed, or the mail
is routed to the wrong carrier.
(B) 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.
(C) A markup credit is provided for the following
categories of undeliverable mail:
(1) Mail Individually Endorsed by the Carrier.
Credit a markup for each piece of mail in the
following categories:
(a) Deceased (DEC) -This endorsement is used only
when it is known that the addressee is deceased and
the mail is not properly deliverable to another person.
This endorsement must be made personally by the
delivering employee and, under no circumstances,
may it be rubber stamped. Mail addressed In Care Of
another must be marked to indicate which person is
deceased.
(b) No Record Mail. Credit as a markup each piece of
mail given to the carrier under the provisions of PO-
603 Section 242.4
(c) Other categories as defined in Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM) 507.1.4.1 unless listed in PO-603 Section
535.12.j.3.b (bundled markups).
Credit a markup for any mail piece where the manager
requires the carrier to correct errors (spelling, numbers)
prior to its being sent to CMU/CFS or returned from
CMU/CFS.
Credit a markup for each piece of mail when
management requires barcodes to be blotted or marked
out.
Credit one markup for transcribing the non-delivery
request information on the PS Form 3982-R or
annotating or discarding the form when receiving a
reinstatement of delivery.
Ref: PO-603 Section 322.23
Credit one markup for all additional bundles or mail
pieces that management requires the carrier to endorse,
to include “MMM” mail.
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
Ref: Step 4 B95R-4B-C 02237945 North Reading, MA
(pg 75-76)
(2) Each of the following Carrier Endorsed Bundles
is credited as one markup:
(a) Insufficient (IA). Mail without number, street,
box number, route number, or geographical section
of city or city and state omitted and correct address
not known.
(b) Attempted Not Known (ANK). Addressee is not
known at place of address.
(c) In Dispute (DIS). Mail is returned to sender by
order of the chief field counsel when it cannot be
determined which of the disputing parties has the
greater right to the mail.
(d) No Such Number (NSN). Nonexistent number
and the correct number is not known.
(e) No Such Street (NSS). Addressed to nonexistent
street and correct street not known.
(f) Unable to Forward (UTF). Mail undeliverable at
address given; forwarding order expired.
(g) No Mail Receptacle (NMR). Addressee has failed
to provide a receptacle for the receipt of mail.
May be PO Box or Caller Service.
Ref: Pre-Arb H95R-4H-C 01032651 Calhoun, GA
(pg 113)
(h) Refused (REF). Addressee has refused to accept
mail or pay postage charges.
(i) Temporarily Away (TA). Addressee temporarily
away and period for holding mail expired.
(j) Unclaimed (UNC). Addressee abandons or fails to
call for mail.
(k) When carrier is required to return mail from a full
mail box a second time.
Ref: Step 4 F95R-4F-C98086042 West Sacramento, CA
(pg 118)
(l) Vacant (VAC). House, apartment, office, or
building is not occupied. Used only on First, second,
fourth and endorsed third-class mail addressed to
Occupant, Resident, etc.
(m) Illegible (ILL). Address not readable.
(n) Undeliverable Bulk Business Mail (UBBM).
UBBM with a specific customer name and address.
When a piece of UBBM with a specific name is
undeliverable as addressed, place the mail to one side
of the case ledge or in another designated location at
the case. After completing casing of all mail
designated for delivery that day, bundle this mail and
mark the top piece UBBM, put your initials and route
number on it, and leave it on the case ledge.
(o) Other Undeliverable Bulk Business Mail. UBBM
24
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
addressed to Occupant, Resident, or using the
exceptional address format (John Doe or Current
Address). Normally, this type of mail is
undeliverable only because the delivery point is
vacant or the address is incorrect. Place
undeliverable UBBM marked occupant, resident or
current resident to one side of the case ledge, or in
another designated location. After completing casing
of all mail designated for delivery that day, bundle
this mail and mark the top piece Other UBBM, put
your initials and route number on it, and leave it on
the case ledge.
(p) Excess Boxholder Mail. Place all excess box
holder mail into the appropriate container (sack,
hamper, tray, etc.); endorse a facing slip In Excess of
Requirements; initial the slip; and attach it to the
container with the excess boxholder mail.
Do not credit as a markup parcel post endorsed only to
indicate that an attempted delivery notice was left.
14. Column 14 - 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.
Ref: PO-603 Section 432.3
Complete one Form 3821 for all CODs not delivered.
Ref: PO-603 Section 432.4
PS 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.
15. Column 15 – Non Signature “Scan” Items
1. Eighteen (18) seconds per scan for all delivery
confirmation barcodes
Ref: MOU for MDCD (pg 109)
2. Eighteen (18) seconds per scan for all Shipment
Confirmation Acceptance Notices (SCAN) PS
Form 5630
Ref: MOU for MDCD (pg 109)
Ref: Sample PS Form 5630 (pg 119)
3. Eighteen (18) seconds per scan for all bar codes
associated with Delivery Unit Saturation and
Bundle Scanning.
16. Column 16 - Loading Time
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 offices
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 6.
Ref: Step 4 J95R-4J-C 02108477 Gaylord, MI (pg 120)
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 equipment 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 gurney or hamper in lieu of
25

placing it on the floor.
Ref: Henry Letter (pg 64-66)
The placing of boxholder bundles into a hamper or
gurney by the carrier will be included in loading time.
Ref: Henry Letter (pg 64-66)
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 17 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: Pre-Arb E95R-4G-C 99088097 Humble, TX (pg 69)
Carrier has the right to use a stop watch for loading
vehicle and other suitable allowance.
Ref: Step 4 J95R-4J-C 02114117 Adrian, MI (pg 121)
17. Column 17 - Other Suitable Allowance
Other Suitable allowance 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) recorded in
Column 17.
Some examples of actual time as listed in the PO-603
that would be credited in Column 17 are as follows:
(A) The actual time required to place Central Markup
system/Computerized Forwarding System (CMU/
CFS) mail in the designated location.
(B) Where no office 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
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
completing count forms.)
Ref: PO-603 Section 481
(C) Those carriers who serve a non-personnel rural unit
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: PO-603 Section 372
(D) 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).
(E) 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 spent
waiting for vehicle repair or tow while on the route is
not a recurring function, and is not credited in
Column 17. The carrier accumulates O time.
(F) All entries in Column 17 require explanation in the
Comments section. 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 17 entries are the following:
(1) Actual riffling 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 Knoll Letter w/ Q & A (pg 122-126)
(4) Actual time to obtain and return arrow keys, if the
carrier had no accountables.
Ref: Step 4 F91R-4F-C 96024591 Salinas, CA (pg
127)
“The issue in this grievance is whether the grievant is
entitled to credit for time obtaining and returning an
arrow key during mail count when she has no other
accountables. Management should have given the
26
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
grievant credit for time used during mail count to
obtain and return an arrow 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 carrier 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 128)
(6) If the scanner is not located within a reasonable
distance of the carrier’s casing area, actual time for
required extra trips to secure or return the scanner
(Scanner/Setup/Return) is an automatic credit (6
minutes). It is no longer credited in Column 17.
Ref: MOU for MDCD (pg 109)
Ref: Step 4 E00R-4E-C 04086896 Bemidji, MN (pg
129-130)
(7) Weekly safety talks must be conducted. The actual
time required (usually five minutes per week) must
be recorded in Column 17.
Ref: PO-603 Section 535.12.r.1
Ref: Step 4 Q00R-4Q-C 04101548 Washington, DC
(pg 131-132)
(8) Actual time for daily or weekly stand-up service
talks in addition to safety talks.
Ref: Step 4 J00R-4J-C 03140433 O’Fallon, MO (pg
133)
(9) An additional time credit (normally 5 minutes) must
be given to the route if management elects to repeat
a weekly safety talk for the relief employees or a
carrier who was not present.
Ref: Step 4 H4R-5G-C 38788 Vancouver, WA (pg
134-135)
(10) Actual time to take mail to vacation hold and
return to the case, if hold location is not at the
carrier’s case. Ref: Step 4 E00R-4E-C 02161832
Pequot, MN (pg 136)
(11) Actual time to travel to and from throwback case.
Ref: Step 4 E00R-4E-C 02250463 Gig Harbor, WA
(pg 137)
(12) Actual time to travel to and from the CFS/CMU case
and place the mail in its designated location.
(13) Actual time if an additional trip is required to travel
to and from a designated location and place or
deposit “MMM” mail.
Ref: Step 4 B95R-4B-C 02237945 North Reading,
MA (pg 75-76)
(14) Actual time to unlock, sweep, verify collection with
magnet, wand or scanner, close and lock blue
collection boxes
(15) Time for accessing key, unlocking gate, locking
gate, and returning key in gated communities.
(16) Unusual time required for typical dismount
situations such as using elevators, traversing an
inordinate amount of stairs, unlocking or going
through difficult doors, etc.
Ref: Henry Letter (pg 64-66)
(17) Actual time for re-loading a satchel.
Ref: Step 4 E95R-4E-C 01259718 Ellington, MO
(pg 138)
(18) 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 17
and explain in the Comments section. During the
mail count period, maintain the normal frequency of
stamp purchases at the intermediate office.
(19) When an L route carrier 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.
(20) Actual time to close up offices in afternoons, usually
on Saturday, and any other required functions in
small offices that close for lunch. In addition,
Column 17, time should be given for setting alarms,
locking and unlocking doors, and taking down flags,
etc.
(21) Actual time to deposit collected mail in more than
two separations.
27

Ref: Step 4 H7R-4B-C 29248 Rochester, Ml (pg 72)
(22) Time to put “notice left” parcels on the proper shelf,
if required.
(23) Filing PS Form 3575, when required.
“Normally, rural carriers are not required to file
Forms 3575 after 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
139)
Ref: Step 4 H7R-4M-C 21551 Traverse City, Ml (pg
140)
(24) Time to locate and retrieve errors associated with the
Mail History Tracking System (MHTS) process.
This is done during the riffling process.
Step 4 Settlements that would include unusual
conditions for Column 17 credit:
Removing floor mats
Ref: Step 4 E95R-4E-C 00056816 Yakima, WA (pg 141)
Train crossings
Ref: Step 4 J00R-4J-C 04149356 DeKalb, IL (pg 142)
Required use or relocation of hamper when retuning to
office
Ref: Step 4 E00R-4E-C 02168812 Yakima, WA (pg 143-
144)
18. Column 18 - Authorized Dismounts
The number of authorized dismounts is shown daily. (See
PO-603 Section 313 for those instances where dismount
deliveries may be authorized.)
Example: A carrier 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 carrier 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 H1R-4J-C-443 Madison, Wl (pg 145)
Ref: Step 4 H1R-4T-C 7060 Lexington, KY (pg 146-147)
19. Column 19 - Authorized Dismount Distance
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
(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 18).
Before determining the authorized dismount
distance, the postmaster or supervisor 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 served 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 vehicle 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 supervisor must measure the most
direct and/or 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
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 return is 140 feet. If, on the first day
of the mail count, the volume for this delivery requires
only one trip by the carrier, the carrier would receive
credit for one dismount in Column 18 and 140 feet
dismount distance in Column 19. If, however, on the
second day, the volume for this delivery required two
trips, the carrier would receive credit for one dismount in
Column 18 and 280 feet in dismount distance in Column
19.
(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.
20. Column 20 - Letters and Flats Collected
28
 2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
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 H0R-2J-C 4997 Bardstown, KY (pg 148)
Ref: Step 4 I95R-4I-C 99031041 Saint Peters, MO (pg
149)
Enter in Column 17 the actual time required to open the
collection boxes, remove the mail, and close the boxes.
One (1) piece is credited in Column 20 for bringing the
PS Form 3982-R back from the route.
Ref: PO-603 Section 322.23
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 17
time is appropriate.
Ref: Step 4 H7R-4B-C 29248 Rochester, MI (pg 72)
Handbook PO-603 Section 421.2 requires that rural
carriers should face and deposit mail in the location
designated by the postmaster or supervisor.
Compensation is provided for facing and depositing mail.
Management shall not require rural carriers to deposit
mail into more than two designated locations.
21. Column 21 – Carrier Pickup “Requests”
Packages picked up, only through the Carrier Pick-up
Web application, will be credited 90 seconds for each
Carrier Pickup request completed.
22. Column 22 – Carrier Pickup “Items”
Record nine (9) seconds for each pickup item received
(Express mail, Priority Mail or International Mail).
Note: Prepaid ordinary and insured parcels accepted
or letters and flats collected in conjunction with the
Carrier Pickup are not included in this standard.
Ref: National Grievance Settlement Q00R-4Q-C08030088
(pg 73-74)
23. Column 23 - Ordinary and Insured Parcels
Accepted
(A) Enter in this column the number of ordinary and
insured parcels accepted on the route.
That is:
(1) Parcels that require the carrier to weigh, rate, and
affix postage to the article, or
(2) Parcels weighing more than 2 pounds for which
postage has been prepaid.
(B) 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.
The carrier cannot be required to stand in the lobby to
purchase stamps or weigh parcels.
Ref: Step 4 H4R-4K-C 33298 Oskaloosa, IA 52577 (pg
150)
24. Column 24 - 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 certified 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 affixes postage, the carrier is
still entitled to credit under Column 24.
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.
If the rural carrier does NOT complete item 1, 2 or 3
above, the route will be provided credit under Column 20
or 23 for registered or certified articles collected,
whichever would be appropriate.
Ref: PO-603 Section 535.12.p.
Ref: Pre-Arb Q00R-4Q C 03056531 Washington, DC
29

(pg 151)
25. Column 25 (Money Order Applications
Processed)
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.
26. Column 26- Return Receipts
On high-density (L) routes, an additional credit is
received only for those return receipts for accountable
items handled via PS Form 3883 (see Column 8).
Enter in this column the number of return receipts
attached to those accountable items entered on 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 attached, but only four of the
items were listed in a firm delivery book, the route
receives credit for four return receipts in Column 26.
27. Column 27 - Weight of Locked Pouches
2009 NRLCA Mail Count Guide
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
non-personnel rural units do not receive credit for a
locked pouch. 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
27 on PS Form 4241.
Ref: Step 4 I95R-41-C 99113048 Sioux Falls, SD (pg
152)
28. Column 28 - Reserved
This column reserved for future use.
29. Column 29 - Waiting Time
Enter the number of minutes the carrier spent waiting for
mail after the official starting time.
30. Column 30 - 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.
30
Letter to NRLCA President Don Cantriel

31
 PS Form 4240 Instructions

Note: Carriers will continue to make changes (additions/deletions) to the edit

book or maintenance worksheet as appropriate. This section of the PS Form
4240 will not be used by the carrier for additions or deletions.

32
PS Form 4240

33
PS Form 4248, page 1

34
PS Form 4248, page 2

35
 United States Postal Service ® Post Office State & ZIP+4 Code Route No.
PS Form 4239

Rural Route Count of Mail

36
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
Flats, Catalogs,
Sector Segment Accountable Mail Customs Due
Letter Size DPS Letters Magazines, DPS Flats Parcels Boxholders Postage Due
Letters Signature Item Rcvd. for Del. C.O.D.
Newspapers, Rolls
Total

11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Load Vehicle
Other Suitable Authorized
PS Form 3982 PARS Marked Up Mail PS Form 3821 Non Signature "Scan" Explanation Required Authorized Dismounts Letters & Flats
Change of Address Allowance Explanation Dismount Distance
Label Pieces (Completed) Items when time exceeds 15 Explanation Required Collected
Required (Feet)
Min
Total

21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. 29. 30.
Parcel Accepted
Carrier Pickup Registered Certifed Money Order Return Receipt Lock Pouch Weight
Carrier Pickup 'Items' Ordinary, Insured Reserved Waiting Time Counting Time
'Requests' Accepted Application Processed ('L' Route Only) Carried Daily
C.O.D.
Total
Comments
I certify that the above is correct. Day Date Carrier or Manager Signature
PS Form 4239, February 2009
PS Form 4241-M

Rural Route Evaluation Worksheet (PO-603 Exhibit 531.3)

Delivery Unit: Route #:
Carrier: Count Dates:
PS 4241 Allowance Factors Allowance Factors Office Time Route Time
Ref. No. Data Description Office Time (min) Route Time (min) (mins.) (mins.)
* Route Length Miles X 12.0
* Regular Boxes (Non L) Boxes X 2.0
* Regular Boxes (L only) Boxes X 1.82
* Centralized Boxes Boxes X 1.0
* NDCBU Coll/Comp Compartments X 1.0
* Parcel Lockers Lockers X 2.0
1 Random Letters Wkly Avg *(.0555)
2 Sector Segment Letters Wkly Avg *(.0444)
3 DPS Letters Wkly Avg *(.0333)
4 Flats, Cat., Magazines, Newspapers, Rolls Wkly Avg *(.1)
5 DPS Flats Undetermined at this time
6 Parcels Wkly Avg *(.333) Wkly Avg *(.167)
7 Boxholders Wkly Avg *(.04)
8 Accountable Mail (Signature Item) Wkly Avg *(1.0) Wkly Avg *(3.466)
9 Customs Due (Rec'd for Del), C.O.D. Wkly Avg *(1.5) Wkly Avg *(4.466)
10 Postage Due Wkly Avg *(.2) round to #
11 Change Of Address Wkly Avg *(2.0)
12 PS Form 3982 (PARS Label) Wkly Avg *(.25)
13 Markup Wkly Avg *(.25)
14 PS Form 3821 (Completed) Wkly Avg *(2.0)
15 Non Signature "Scan" Items Wkly Avg *(.3)
16 Load Vehicle Actual Wkly Avg
17 Other Suitable Allowance Actual Wkly Avg
18 Authorized Dismounts Wkly Avg *(.1)
19 Authorized Dismount Distance (Feet) Wkly Avg *(.00284)
20 Letters, Flats Collected Wkly Avg *(0.04)
21 Carrier Pickup 'Request' Wkly Avg *(0.75) Wkly Avg *(0.75)
22 Carrier Pickup 'Items' Wkly Avg *(0.15)
23 Parcels Accepted, Ordinary, Insured, C.O.D. Wkly Avg *(2.0) Wkly Avg *(2.0)
24 Registered, Certified Accepted Wkly Avg *(2.0)
25 Money Order Application Processed Wkly Avg *(1.5) Wkly Avg *(2.0)
26 Return Receipt ('L' Route Only) Wkly Avg *(0.25)
27 Not Used
28 Reserved
29 Not Used
30 Not Used
* Stamp Stock 20
* Scanner (Retrieval / Setup / Return) 6
* Strapping Out Wkly Avg (1)+(2)+(4)-(13)*0.01428

* Other Office & Personal 30

* Lock Pouch Stops # of Stops *30
* Withdrawing Mail (Yes = 30) (No = 0)
* USPS Vehicle Allowance Daily Rte Miles *(6/100*4.5)+24
* Reload / Unload 18 min Wkly
Weekly Totals (Minutes)
Standard Time (Hours and Minutes)
Rural Route Evaluation - No Option
Rural Route Evaluation - Low Option
Rural Route Evaluation - High Option
Volume Only Factor
PS Form 4241-M, February 2009

37
 PS Form 4241, page 1

US POSTAL SERVICE
Rural Delivery Post Office, State and Zip + 4:
Statistics Report
(Follow Instructions in Chapter 5 of Handbook PO-603)
District District ZIP Code Carrier's Name:

Date of Count Route No. Route Miles Regular Boxes Centralized Boxes Vehicle Stops
Finance No. NDCBU Coll. Comps. Parcel Lockers
From - Through (Hundredths)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Flats, Catalogs,
Sector Segment Accountable Mail Customs Due
Date Letter Size DPS Letters Magazines, DPS Flats Parcels Boxholders Postage Due
Letters Signature Item Rec'd. for Del. C.O.D.
Newspapers, Rolls

Total
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Load Vehicle
Other Suitable Authorized
PS Form 3982 PARS Marked Up Mail PS Form 3821 Non Signature "Scan" Explanation Required Authorized Dismounts Letters & Flats
Date Change of Address Allowance Explanation Dismount Distance
Label Pieces (Completed) Items when time exceeds 15 Explanation Required Collected
Required (Feet)
Min

Total
21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. Date of Local Pre-Count Conference

Parcel Accepted
Carrier Pickup Carrier Pickup Registered Certifed Money Order Return Receipt
Date Ordinary, Insured Locked Pouch Weight Reserved High Option?
'Requests' 'Items' Accepted Application Processed ('L' Route Only)
C.O.D.
Yes No
Leave Commitment Signed?
Yes No

Rotating Relief Day?

Yes No

If 39:00 Plus, Convert To Regular?

Yes No

Current Detour?
Yes No

Detour Miles (Hundredths)

Total
National Special Amended Negated Vehicle Data EMA Govt. Veh. In the event that I am eligible to elect a higher route classification, I agree
to use sufficient annual leave during the gurantee period to assure that my
Number of Familes Served total actual work hours will not exceed 2,080 during the guarantee period.
Time used during count (hrs&hund.) (Subtract Lunch Time from Office and/or Route Time as
Reported on Form 4240)
Number of Lock Pouch Stops (If Applicable)

Mail Withdrawal? Yes No Office time Carrier's Signature for "Leave Commitment"

Seasonal Route? Yes No Route time

In Season? Yes No Net Total Time COUNT DATA CERTIFED TO BE CORRECT

Carrier's Signature & Date - Agreement With Count Data
Seasonal Miles (Hundredths) Auxiliary Office
Assistance Used
Seasonal Regular boxes Route Postmaster's Signature & Date
Seasonal Central boxes Waiting and Counting Time
PS Form 4241, February 2009

PAGE 1

38
PS Form 4241, page 2

US POSTAL SERVICE
Rural Delivery Post Office, State and Zip + 4:
Statistics Report
(Follow Instructions in Chapter 5 of Handbook PO-603)
District District ZIP Code Carrier's Name:

Date of Count Route No. Route Miles Regular Boxes Centralized Boxes Vehicle Stops
Finance No. NDCBU Coll. Comps. Parcel Lockers
From - Through (Hundredths)

1. 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.

Flats, Catalogs, Customs Due

Sector/Segment Accountable Mail
Date Letter Size DPS Letters Magazines, DPS Flats Parcels Boxholders Rcvd. for Deliv. Postage Due
Letters Signature Item
Newspapers, Rolls C.O.D.s,

WKS (1 & 2)
WKS (3 & 4)
Grand Total
11. 12. 13. 14. 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20.
Load Vehicle
Other Suitable Authorized
PS Form 3982 PARS Marked Up Mail PS Form 3821 Non Signature "Scan" Explanation Required Authorized Dismounts Letters & Flats
Date Change of Address Allowance Explanation Dismount Distance
Label Pieces (Completed) Items when time exceeds 15 Explanation Required Collected
Required (Feet)
Min

WKS (1 & 2)
WKS (3 & 4)
Grand Total
21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28. Date of Local Pre-Count Conference

Parcel Accepted
Carrier Pickup Carrier Pickup Registered Certifed Money Order Return Receipt
Date Ordinary, Insured Locked Pouch Weight Reserved
'Requests' 'Items' Accepted Application Processed ('L' Route Only)
C.O.D. High Option?
Yes No

Leave Commitment Signed?

Yes No

Rotating Relief Day?

Yes No

If 39:00 Plus, Convert To Regular?

Yes No

Current Detour?

WKS (1 & 2) Yes No

WKS (3 & 4) Detour Miles (Hundredths)

Grand Total
National Special Amended Negated Vehicle Data EMA Govt. Veh. In the event that I am eligible to elect a higher route classification, I
agree to use sufficient annual leave during the gurantee period to assure
Number of Familes Served Time used during count (hrs&hund.) (Subtract Lunch Time from Office and/or Route Time as that my total actual work hours will not exceed 2,080 during the
Reported on Form 4240) guarantee period.
Number of Lock Pouch Stops (If Applicable)
Carrier's Signature for "Leave Commitment"
Mail Withdrawal? Yes No Office time

Seasonal Route? Yes No Route time

In Season? Yes No Net Total Time COUNT DATA CERTIFED TO BE CORRECT

Carrier's Signature & Date - Agreement With Count Data
Seasonal Miles (Hundredths) Auxiliary Office
Assistance Used
Seasonal Regular boxes Route Postmaster's Signature & Date
Seasonal Central boxes Waiting and Counting Time

PS Form 4241, February 2009

PAGE 2

39
 RURAL MAIL COUNT INFORMATION CHECK LIST

Do route miles on PS Form 4241 reflect the last approved mileage on PS Form YES NO
4003? Submit new 4003 with mail count form if changes to mileage needs to be made.




Are regular boxes and central boxes current as of the last day of count? Make sure YES NO
central boxes are not included in regular box total.




Are number of stops more than total regular and central boxes? Vehicle stops cannot YES NO
be more than total boxes.




Are box holders (column 7) listed in pieces? Do not list in sets. YES NO




Are postage due (column 10) parcels included in the postage due column and YES NO
parcel column (column 6)? Postage due parcels get credit in both columns.




Are Delivery Confirmation mail pieces entered in both columns 15 (Non- YES NO
Signature Scan Items) and Column 4 (Flats, etc) or column 6 (Parcels), as


appropriate? Delivery Confirmation mail pieces must get credited for both the scan and the mail piece.

Have Carrier Pickup Requests been credited in column 21 and carrier pickup YES NO
Items in column 22? Carrier pickup requests are credit in column 21; carrier pickup items (Express,
Priority, and International Mail items only) are credited in column 22. Other items picked up in conjunction


with a Carrier Pickup Request are credited in columns 20, 23 or 24, as appropriate.

Is NDCBU collection mail and collection box mail included in column 20? This YES NO
volume is not included in letters and flats collected.




Are loading time and other suitable allowance time (columns 16 & 17) YES NO
recorded in minutes and seconds daily, then rounded up to the next whole
minute in the total column at the end of the mail count?




Is locked pouch weight totaled at the end of the count period and averaged in YES NO
the total column? Daily weight must be totaled at the end of the count period and divided by the number
of count days. This number is documented in the total column.



Is mail withdrawal marked properly? Must be marked one or the other. YES NO

Are High Option and Leave Commitment marked YES? Has carrier signed the YES NO
leave commitment? Do not mark the option as High if the regular carrier is not in a 6 or 8 hour leave
earning status. Remember, High option is more work, more money, low is less work, less money. Appropriate


markings and carrier signature must be documented for route to be placed in high option. Carriers are not
required to sign the leave commitment unless they are eligible for, and desire, High Option.

Has the carrier signed PS Form 4241 in block “COUNT DATA CERTIFIED YES NO
TO BE CORRECT”? If the carrier refuses to sign this block, he/she must submit, in writing, their
detailed reasons for not signing. The manager must send the carrier statement and a managers statement along


with the count form explain in detail reasons for not signing.

40
 NRLCA Mailcount Disagreement Form

Date: Office:

Dear Postmaster

This is to inform you that I have not signed PS Form 4241. I disagree with the information on
PS Form 4241 for the following reasons

Respectfully Yours/

Print Name Phone #

cc: State Stewa rd

file Date Received by State Steward

NRLCA Mail Count Guide 41

 Rural Route Inspection Box Count

Medium box
Large Large
Medium Small

Small Small

One stop

One stop
One stop One stop
One stop One stop

42
 B-24
r"l~
•-
I
s•
::
•••••••••
... , J
:1
....

UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE

C7SL. . . . ,...,. .
........ DC . . ~J RLeA
Aprll 18. 19 U

Mr. Dallas N. Pields

Director, Labor Relations
Rational Rural Letter Carriers' Association
1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, B.W.
Suite 1204
Wasbington, D.C. 20001-33"
Re: J. Wig9 inton
KeDlo, U "'46
IlJl-4B-e: 12585
Dear Hr. rield.:

CD March 24, 1983, we met to cUscus the above-captioned

grievance at the foarth step of oar colltraetaal grtevaDe:t!
proceclure.
':he matters pre.ented as well as the applicable coDtractual
provisions have been reviewed aDd giveD carefal con.ideration.
orbe question inth1l grievUlce ia whether or DOt aDag_ent
violated tbe 1981 DS'S/IILCA Rational Igr....Dt ¥ben .ervice to
a rural box in vbich ail vas rece1v~ vu 41acontieued. lJ.Ibe
dv.lliDCJ had beee ..ac&JJt for over to days.
'art 525.323, of the 11-37, IlaDdboot, clearly iDdicat•• that a
dwelling which is vacant laC)~e than 90 daya is not to ~e
tDcladecS on the latelt Fom 4003, Offic:ia1 aural Ioute
Delcription. Vacut. .eau Dot pbytically occupied. .
Accor4ingly, as w fiDd no violation of the lationa! A9re~ent,
this grievance is deDied.
Sucerely,

~£-
Labor Relations Department

43
 8-25
_R.tCEIVED
r'~
.
•.~.•
.. Oft 21 '86
.- .
i ==!
•••• •••
HRLCA
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
w---.oc_
""11II...
~n PIUL . .

Mr. Dalla. N. Fields

Director, Labor aelltions
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1~48 Duke Street, Suite 14~8
Alexandria, VA 22314-3403
Ie: G. $net••laar
Polk City, IA 50226
BU-4X-e 3738
Dear Mr. Fields I
On Karen 13, 19.6, ve .et to discuss the above-captioned
grievance at the fourtb step of our contractual grievance
procedure.
The issue in this grievance i. vb.ther the rural carrier is
entitled to receive credit· for ..1lboxe. for cu.tomer. vho
rec.i"e deUvery of uU. througb g.neral «s.Uvery.
The union' contends that dwellings that bave not b••n vacant
more tban 'O-days should be included in the aa11box count.
It is the position of th. Poatal service that in accordance
vith Bandbook M-37, Part 525.223c, and aandbook "-38, 'art
526.633, (4) d~lling. and bu.in••••• r.c.Lving d.liv.ry
.olely through general delivery are not included in the
uilbox count.
Accordingly, this grie.ance i. d.nied.
T~e Ii.it. vere extended .by .utual·consent~

DepartMnt

44
~ UNITEDST~TES
. . . .POST.4LSERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: EOOR-4E-C 02161678

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 tallowing 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 on~ 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 caus,
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".

475 L:ErfiwT Pl.ov. 'SN

WAlHGItlN OC 202eo-4'00
~.U6PS.COW
45
 ·2·

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,

~~~~~~'
ith. tokowski Randy on
tract Administration Director 0 Labor Relations
(NRLCNNPMHU) National Rural Letter Carriers'
Labor Relations Association

Date:· IJJ~ IDJ :Jooy

46
632.525 Postal Operations Manual

including vehicles, trash cans, and snow, that make delivery difficult.
Generally, mailboxes are installed at a height of 41 to 45 inches from the road
surface to the bottom of the mailbox or point of mail entry. Mailboxes are set
back 6 to 8 inches from the front face of the curb or road edge to the mailbox
door. Because of varying road and curb conditions and other factors, the
Postal Service recommends that customers contact the postmaster or carrier
before erecting or replacing their mailboxes and supports.
632.525 Grouping
Boxes should be grouped wherever possible, especially at or near
crossroads, service turnouts, or other places where a considerable number of
boxes are presently located.
632.526 More Than One Family
If more than one family wishes to share a mail receptacle, the following
standards apply:
a. Route and Box Number Addressing. On rural and highway contract
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 individuals who
want to join in the use of such box, must be filed with the postmaster at
the distributing office.
b. Conversion to Street Name and Number Addressing. When street
name and numbering systems are adopted, those addresses reflect
distinct customer locations and sequences. Rural and highway contract
route customers who are assigned different primary addresses (e.g.,
123 APPLE WAY vs. 136 APPLE WAY) should erect individual mail
receptacles in locations recommended by their postmasters and begin
using their new addresses. Customers having different primary
addresses but wishing to continue sharing a common receptacle must
use the address of the receptacle's owner and the "care of' address
format:
JOHN DOE
C/O ROBERT SMITH
123 APPLE WAY

Customers having a common primary address (e.g., 800 MAIN ST) but
different secondary addresses (e.g., APT 101, APT 102, etc.) may
continue to share a common receptacle if single-point delivery is
authorized for the primary address. Secondary addresses should still
be included in all correspondence.
632.527 Locks
The use of locks, locking devices, or inserts on curbside mailboxes on rural
and highway contract routes is prohibited. See the list of curbside mailbox
manufacturers for approved locking style mailboxes (a current listing of
approved manufacturers and models can be obtained from the office listed in
section 632.511). The Postal Service does not allow carriers to open locked
boxes and does not accept keys for this purpose.

348 POM Issue 9, July 2002

Updated With Postal Bulletin Revisions Through July 19, 2007

47
 L-97

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN T8E
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
AND THE
NATIONAL RURAL LETTER CARRIERS' ASSOCIATION

As soon as practicable at the conclusion of the

negotiations, the U.S9 Postal Service will revise

appropriate sections of Handbooks M-37, Rural Delivery

Carriers' Duties and Responsibilities, and/or M-38,
Management of Rural Delivery Services, to include the
following provisions concerning how and when to process
compensation changes related to the addition or deletion of
a USPS owned or leased vehicle from a rural route:

Procedures When T~e EmEloyer Provides Vehicles

A carrier has si~ty (60) calendar days to reject or accept a

USPS provided vehicle from the date notified by Management.

If the carrier accepts the vehicle, the USPS must provide
the vehicle within sixty (60) days of receiving the
carrier's decision.

Section 1. Carrier Acce,Ets USPS Vehicle

A. Once a carrier accepts a vehicle, the vehicle will

remain on the route unless removed by mutual consent of
the carrier and the USPS*

48
 L-97

8. Managem@nt will provide all relat&d vehicle c~fe~y

equipment
.... •

c. The carrier may elect to perform flat tire replacement~

CARRIERS NO The carrier will receive twelve dollars ($12) per

LONGER ALLOWED
occurre~ce for jacking up the vehicle, removlng the flat
TO CHANGE FLAT
TIRES, SEE L-99 tire, and installing the spare tire4 The USPS will bear

the eost of having the flat tire repaired or r.pl~cQd

and equip the vehicle with a jack, spare tire, lug

wrench, and wheel blocks sufficient to safely perform

the required task.

1, Carriers may reelect this option annually in

conjunction with the anniversary date. When
c~rriers change from not performing this function to

performing this function, necessary equipment will

be provided as soon as practicable.

2. If a flat tire occurs during a period of adverse

weather (severe enough to prevent the carrier from
performing this function safely), the carrier should
contact Management and road service or a replacement

vehicle will be provided. If a carrier is unable to

perform the tire change function due to a temporary
physical impairment, road service or a replacement
vehicle will be provided. In either case, the time

49
 L-97

incurred by the carrier as a result of the flat tire

w\ll be compensated in the same manner as for any

other vehicle failure in lieu of the twelve dollar

($12) fee (see Section 2 below).

D* Rout9S assign9d USPS vehicles will bQ eompe~sated u~ing

the following standard allowances:

1~ Twenty-four (24) minutes per week for completing

PS Form 4570 (Vehicle Time Record) daily, the
vehicle check (as outlined on Notice 76), and PS
Form 4565 (Vehicle Repair Tag)~ as appropriatew

2~ A 4wS-minute allowance for each fueling of the

vehicl~. The tim~ to be edded to the weekly

evaluation is determined by multiplying the daily

route miles (ORM) times six (6) days divided by one
hundred CIaO) miles per fueling times the 4~5-minute

fueling allowance_

3. If the fueling location is not on the route line of

tr~vel, the deviation is d~termined by measuring the

distance in miles and hundredths to and from the

fueling station and the official line of travel~

The average daily deviation mileage is added to the

daily route miles utilizing PS Form 4003. The

50
 L-97

mileage addition on the PS Form 4003 is determined

b~ multiplying the mileage deviation times daily

route miles time~ six divided by 100 miles per
t~eling divided by six (6) days equals daily average
(1@viationu

4. In no instance will a route using a USPS provided

vehicle receive less than thirty (3D) minutes
allowance per week for the activities described in
D.l, D.2, and D93 above.

E. The carrier may be requested, but not required, to

provida a replacsrnQnt vehiela during period~ whan th&

USPS vehicle is not available. The carrier vill receive

the equivalent of one (1) full day of the route's
regular Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) for each
day, or portion thereof, that a vehicle is provideo*

rw A carrier ~ill not be required to operate a USPS vehicle

until the carrier h~5 been ~rdined and hdS pdssed th~

standard Employer driver test for the vehicle provided~

This requirement is waived fer carriers who have a valid

OF-346 for the vehicle type being provided. Any
required training \IIi11 be- on t.he clock and the carrier
will be compensated in the s~me manner as tnat provided

for vehicle failure. The carrier 11 given every

51
 L-97

possible opportunity to qualify to operate the vehicle

being provided including at least two (2) opportunities
to' train and/or qualify if necessary.

G. In the event the carrier cannot pass the standard

Employer driver te~t for the vehiclo provid~d, the

carrier will be required to provide a vehicle at the

optional Equipment Maintenance Allowance (O£MA) rate.

~!...ction 2 ~ other Leave For Vehicle Failures/Partial

"iJIPPT" il 9"Wl! ~ V pm

.Training Days

Carrier~ will accrue other leave uncQr th~ foll¢wing

circumstances:

A. When an Employer provided vehicle fails during use by

the carrier on the route or other authorized purpose,

the carrier will accrue other leave equivalent to the
time the carrier was delayed as a result of the vehicle
failure.

B. When a carrier does not elect to perform flat tire

replacement, the carrier will accrue other leave

equivalent to the time the carrier W~B delayed as a

result of the flat tire.

52
 L-97

c. When initial vehicle training is given in partial

increments (before or after the carrier has completed

their daily route duties), the time incurred as a result
of thIs type of vehicle training will accrue other leave
equivalent to the time the carrier was being trained~

(NOTE: Full day training is paid under training pay

procedures and no other leave time is accrued).

D. When a carrier accrues eight {B} hours o£ other leave,

the carrier will be granted one (l) day's relief to be
taken within the next eight (8) weeks.

E. If a carrier should change vehicle status (e.o., mutual

agreement to remove the USPS vehicle from the route t bid
on another route without a USPS vehicle, etc.) or if a
carrier should cease to be a rural carrier (e~g.,

retirement, promotion, etc.) and the accumulated other

leave balance from the vehicle failures/training is less
than eight (8) hours, the carrier will be given one (1)
full dayi~ relief chargeabl~ to other leavQ~

F. In the event of the carrier's death, any accumulated

other leave balance resulting from vehicle failures will
be included in the carrier's death benefits.

53
 L-97

Section 3w Carrier Rejects USPS Vehicle

!f the carrier rejects the USPS vehicle, the carrier will

continue to supply their own vehicle and receive OEMA~ OtMA
is the equivalent of the cost per mile that the USPS would
incur if it provided a vehicle for the route~ That is; the
OEMA rate i$ th~ ~var~gc co~t per mile of the vehicles
provided by the USPS for use on rural routes as determined
by the year-to-date rate from accounting period 13 and will
become effective on the first day of the subsequent
guarantee period. However, the OEMA rate cannot exceed the
regular EMA rate for the routs.

A. A carrier who @lQcts O£MA instead of a USPS vehicle will

be given the opportunity to retain the OEMA or opt for

an Employer provided vehicle once each year on the

anniversary date of the priginal option selection.

8. On~e55 the carrier notifies the Employer thirty (3D)

days in advance of the anniversary date, the OeMA will
be renowed automati~~lly. The Employer will notify the
carrier of all options available sixty (60) to
seventy-five (7S1 days in advance of the anniversary
date. If the Employer fails to not! the carrier
thin the specified period, all subse~uen~ t frames
are extended aceordinglYq

54
 L-97

c. If the carrier notifies the Employer of his/her int~nt

to reyoke the election of OEMA within the specified

time, the fmploye~ will huve sixty (60) ~ays to inform

the carrier whether a vehicle will be provided or the

carrier will he returned to regular EMA.

D. If the Employer notifies the carrier of its intent to

provide a vehicle within the specified time~ thQ vehicle
must be installed on the ~oute within si~ty {60} days of

the date the Employer notified the carrier of its intent

to supply the vehicle.

Ew If the Employer decides not to provide a vehicle, fails

to respond to the carrier within the sixty (60} day
p~riod, or fai]~ to provide the vehicle within the sixty

(60) day period, the carrier is automatically placed on

regular EMA ettective the first day of the first p~y

period after the sixty (60) day Employer response

period. In this event, the Employer waives the right to

exercise the option to provide that carrier with a

vehicle for a period of two (2) years.

Section 4. Handicap2ed and Disabled Carr~~~

A. A rural carrier employee who has been safely performing

rural carrier duties, despite a physical icap, and
who would be prevented ;trom safely operating an Employer
provided vehicle, will not be require to accept a

55
 L-97

vehicle or OEMA unless the Employer offers to modify its

vehic1e to accommodate the handicapped employee,

B. A rural 'carrier craft employee who, in t.he performance

of official duties. receives a disability caused by the
operation of an Employer owned or leased vehicle that
prov~~ to be unsuitdble for the road conditions on the

route will receive all benefits provided employees under

applicable QWCP provisions. In these cases, the
Employer reserves the right to modify the vehicle or
provide a vehicle of a different type in order to

co~rect the problem~ If the Employer does not wish to

exercise this right, the vehicle may be removed from the

route and thQ route retu~ned eo ~e9ular EMA. This

section is nat intended to cover injuries or

disabilities trom vehicle accidents, driver misuse, or
other nonv@hlcle suitability issues since these items
are specifically adoressed in other USPS policies,
procedures, and regulations. Nothing in this section is
to be construed to preclude the USPS from withdrawing
service in aroas where road eonditions deteriorate to
unacceptable levels.

ltsch Da 121$ N~ Fi
stmaster General Presic;nt
ons Department Natior 1 Rural Letter
Service Carr.ers t Association

~-'f-i&

56
 Recipient Services: Customer Mail Receptacles

508.3.2

3.2 Curbside Mailboxes

3.2.1 Manufacturer Specifications

Manufacturers of all mailboxes designed and made to be erected at the edge of a
roadway or curbside of a street and to be served by a carrier from a vehicle on any
city route, rural route, or highway contract route must obtain approval of their
products under USPS Standard 7, Mailboxes, City and Rural Curbside. To receive
these construction standards and drawings or other information about the
manufacture of curbside mailboxes, write to USPS Engineering (see bUE3,8J) for
address).

3.2.2 Custom-Built Mailbox

The local postmaster may approve a curbside mailbox constructed by a customer
who, for aesthetic or other reasons, does not want to use an approved
manufactured box. The custom-built box must generally meet the same standards
as approved manufactured boxes for flag, size, strength, and quality of
construction.

3.2.3 Locked 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.

3.2.4 Mailbox Post

The post or other support for a curbside mailbox must be neat and of adequate
strength and size. The post may not represent effigies or caricatures that tend to
disparage or ridicule any person. The box may be attached to a fixed or movable
arm.

3.2.5 Advertising
Any advertising on a mailbox or its support is prohibited.

3.2.6 Location
Subject to state laws and regulations, a curbside mailbox must be placed to allow
safe and convenient delivery by carriers without leaving their vehicles. The box must
be on the right-hand side of the road in the direction of travel of the carriers on any
new rural route or highway contract route, in all cases where traffic conditions are
dangerous for the carriers to drive to the left to reach the box, or where their doing
so would violate traffic laws and regulations.

3.2.7 Address Identification

Every curbside mailbox must bear the following address information:

a. A box number, if used, inscribed in contrasting color in neat letters and

numerals at least 1 inch high on the side of the box visible to the carrier's
regular approach, or on the door if boxes are grouped.

b. A house number if street names and house numbers have been assigned by
local authorities, and the postmaster authorizes their use as a postal address. If
the box is on a different street from the customer's residence, the street name
and house number must be inscribed on the box.

904 Domestic Mail Manual • Updated 1-3-08

57
 M-52
:tTU~1-

lol

;
_ .::
..iC1~'"
IU.MUL
'"

~
• .........•
L
,, f.l J
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERViCE
475 L'Enlant Plaza SW
Washington, DC 20260 NRLCA
Hay 13. 19B3
Mr. Dallas N. Fields
Director, Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1204
Washinston, D.C. 20006-3399

Re: Class Action

Linden, MI 4a451
H1R-4B-C 11305
Dear Mr. Fields:
On January 13, 1983, we met to discuss the above-captioned
grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance
~rocedure.

The matters presented as ~ell as the applicable contractual

provisions have been reviewed and given careful consideration.
The question in this grievance is whether or not management
violated the 1981 National A9reement when non-preferential
mail addre~seQ to a 5treet or route, but known to be waste,
:was discarded rather than distributed to the rural carriers
during the 1982 mail count.
According to the file, distributors in this local office have
normally discarded non-preferential mail of no obvious value
when it was recognized as being undelive~able rather than
distribute It to the rural carrier. Tn~s was not specifi-
cally done with the intention of depriving the rural carriers
of mail count-volume during the two-week counting period.
However, we mutually-agreed that the discarding of mail in
this ~anner is inconsistent with postal procedure and should
be discontinued. If discontinuance of this activity will
result in an increase of the workload of the rural carriers in
this office, th~ carriers will be entitled to a recount, if
they desire.
We mutually agreed that if the carriers desire a recount under
these circumstances, it shall be accomplished under the

58
 M-52

Mr. Dallas N. Fields 2

special count provisions of Article 30, Section l.C.12.a.3.,

of the National Agreement. The special count must be
co~pleted within 90 oays of receipt of this decision.
Retroactive compensation, if appropriate, shall be from the
1982 mail count.

Sincerely,

,:f~~~. ~'-
~bert L. Eugene
4

Labor Relations partment

59
 rs"On.,..
P-93
11 .......... =
.- .
: _...If' •
i ~

:l ...... ::

•••••••
UNITED STATES POSTAL-SERVICE
.75 L'Enfanl "au. SW
WatlingUln, l)C aoztCI

October 24, 1983

Mr. Dallas N. rields

Director, Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1204
Washington, D.C. 20006-3399
Re: J. kasley
S~erville, SC 29483
BIR-3P-C 19988

Dear Mr. Fields:

On August 30, 1983, we met to discuss the above-captioned
grievance at tbe fourth step of our contractual grievance
procedure.
The qrievance concerns the contention by the union that all
;presort mail should be cut and sorted'before being given to
the rural carrier on route 4.
Based on information presented and contained in the irievance
file, the grlev4nc~ is ~en1ec. Tne mall in ques~1on 15 being
handled presently the same way it was handled during the
September 1982 mail count. Postmasters may take steps to
~educe preso~c errors by working the mail througb the
distribution case before sending to the rural carrierJand
presort mail that contains minimal errors may be sent
directly to the rural carrier.
~ime liMits extended by mutual consent.
Sincerel;;

?-A .---
Robert L. EUge
Rela . ns
LabOl:'

60
 H·70.70

.'

Mr. Leo J. Root .

..Dirlctor of " ' r Relations
. NIItloMl RanllIttIr CiIITI....
.Auociliion
1830 Duke StnMtt. 4th Float .
AIaInctia. VA ·2231~
Ra: H85R-iH-C 96076679
. Claa ActIon
L8tg0, FL 34640-9998
De. Mr. RoOt:
On several occaslonsw the most recent being Jan.aary 29; 1997, we met to
discuss the above-captioMd CJi'Vanc8 at the fourth step of our COl drac:tual
grievance procedure. . . .

The.issue In this gr:Ievance Is whether management can requlre.nnI carrI. . to

withdraw mall from more thin one ~ cas" ~ additional comp8nsation.
During cur discussion. we mutually asPect that the following will conStitute full
and complete settlement of this grievance: .

. The parties agree that. th••~ case(sr may be used as. 8nd
ConsIdered a distribution case In aecord8nce with Part 212.11 of
Handbooic POo603. RlnI Carrt. DutJ_1II1CI ReIpNIbI1lt1ea.
:RUraI Cn... with wIthdrawaI·tlme may be requhd to withdraw
mall3-tlmes each morning fram all the dlltributlon caIU. .
Haww.., a ftnaI withdrawal (181*81 from th8 3 previous
withdrawaJa) of PI eterentI8I IetterIInCI flats anIY Involves one
designated letter and flat Case just blforeleavlng far the route.
pursuant to Part 212.14 of the PQ.603. .

Thnfore, If th.1oca1 otrIce Is· requiring the nnJ c8rr1.... to

withdraw maD froo\ more thIin on. hot case on the tin.. withdrawal,
just befol'8.leavtng for the route, it shall either case.or detennlne
additional appropriate compensation. .

61
 H-70.70
Mr. Leo Root .
re: H95R-4H-C 96076679
. Page2

Pi. . . . wAdretLrn the ~ copy db. 1etler. yru ~

of·~It to iettle.1hIs
.
case.
.
.' .
Sincerely,

.. ."

62
 W-11
lAsOR RB.ATIONS

d UNITEDSTi1TES
POSTI1L SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: EOOR-4E-C 02146601

Donavan Mozena
Spencer, IA 51301

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 concems how withdrawal credit is recorded when a rural
route's official route description includes service at an intermediate post office(s).

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

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

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

Sincerely,

Judith Stokowski
~~
RandY~n
Contract Administration Director 0 Labor Relations
(NRLCAlNPMHU) National Rural Letter Carriers'
Labor Relations Association

Date: ffley 2 ZOo y'

475 L:ENFANT PlAZA SW
WASHINGTON DC 20260·4100

63
 M-44
J!"nsPO~

'"o~ ..,..
=
-.
.........
~ lLS-t
i
~
RECEIVED
JiJ" l.L ~ HZ
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
475 L'enfant Plaza, SW
NRLCA
Washington, CC 20260

June 21, 1982

Mr. Wilbur S. Wood

President
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
Suite 1204
1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington, D.C. .20006

Dear Mr. Wood:

Enclosed is our position paper on four specific questions

whieh WQ an~ieipate to arise during the 1982 mail count. It
is proviaed for your information in an effort to eliminate in
advance any possible misunderstanding. Should yeu have any
questions, please contact Boward R. Carter of our staff.
Sincerely,

~'llm~
Di.rector
Office of Grievance
and Arbitration
Labor Relations Department

Enclosure

64
 M-44

A. ~eference M-37, 525.12 Col. Q Loaaing Time

Question Are carriers entitled to loading time for placing
bundles of mail' into a h~"per or gurney?
Answer "The tL~e required to place mail in gurneys or hampers
will be included in loadins t~e.n This excerpt from M-37, 525.12
Col Q was intended to address situations ~~at required the carrier
to load mail from the floor or other location into·a h~per or
qurney for transport to the vehicle. A co:umon example of this'
is boxho1der mail which is not ordinarily cased. Loading time
would include ~~e time neeced to 'place boxholder bundles into
a hamper or gurney. It would also be applicable if, because
of space restrictions, ~,e carrier is required to strap-out mail;
placQ i~ on ~c fl~or or easa lodsa, and ~on ~~cpo=~ i~ ~o a
gurney or hamper a~ the end of ~e carrier-case aisle. ~t was
not in~enced to ~e a~?lied to situations ~he=e the car=ier straos
out mail and places it directly into a gurney or hamper in lieu-
of placing on ~~e floor.
B. References M37, 525.12 Col. 0 (Sequencing parcels)
M37, 211.2, 211.3, and 524.2 Withdraw of Mail
Ouestion Does obtaining ~e parcei post h~~er entitle
a carrier to the withdraw allowance?
Answer Obtaining the parcel h~per is not considered part of
witharaw of mail. In the references cited, an 1mportant reference
has been overlooked. M-38, Section 344.23 states that gurneys and
ha~pers shall be located convenient to ~~e carriers. By conven-
iently located, it is meant for the h~~per or gurney to be in close
proximity to the caJ:rieJ:'s case. If the hamper/gurney is so .
1ocated, and all other mail is prepared as required' in Section
21.1..3 of the M-3?, t:hen t;hc fac~ 'that i:hc c=rier mug~ WAll a. ~ew
steps to obtain L~e parcel hamper/gurney would not justify allowinq
withdr~w time. If the parcel con~ainer is not ~ocated according
to section 244_23 of M-38, action shou1d be taken to do 50a Finally,
if t.~e physical lay-out of the office or space constraints make it
:L"Upossible to comply with the provisions of the M-38, and it: is not
possible to have the hampers/gurneys transported to the carrier
area by a clerk or mai~handler, ~en consideration should be
given to changing the procedures at the office to allow for carrier
. withdraw of all' mail. .
--'

65
 M-44
c. References 1-1-37, 211.2, ,211.3 and 524.2
Question If a carrier is required to take mail from sacks
is he eligible for the withdraw credit?
~..nswer section 2l1.2c of the M-37 states in part "If. flats are
rece~ved in sacks, remove them promptly and stack neatly on
the floor or in ha~pers when provided." Section 21l.3a of
the M-J7 states "Mail will be.placed on your case ledge or as
described in part 2l1..2b and c when you report." Except for
the provi5ion for a final wi~~draw from the "hot case", there
is no provision for a partial credit for carrier withdraw of
mail. If a carrier is required to perfo~ a portion of the
withdraw function, such as dumpinq mail from sacks,- then the
carrier is entitled to the withdraw allowance.
D. ~eference M-37, 525.12 Col. R
Question Are carriers entitled to time in addition to the
st~~darddi$mount allowance for ~~locking doors,
climbing stairs, etc?
Answer The dismount allowance was intended to reduce the
actual time entries ma~e on the Form 4241. It was designed to
be applicable to the majority of dismount situations (i.e.,
dismount from t~e v~~icle, entering through doors, traversing
minL~al quantities of ste~s, etc.). The time required to obtain
a key from a keyholder, unlock a door, and replace the key was
neve~ considered in determining the allowance. Therefore, if
thi~ function is resuired of a rura1 carrier, then that carrier
is entitled to credit (i~ Column R) for the time associated with
unlocking the door in addition to the standard dismount al1ow~~ce.
Finally, because the allowance ~as designed to eover the normal
situation, it is probab~e that time adjust=ents mi~ht be necessary
(using Collliun R) in certain other atypical situations. ~or
ex~~ple, if the carrier is required to use an elevator, or to
traverse an inordinate amount of steps, etc., an additiona1 time
allo~ance may be warranted. .
e-
In anticipation o~question that the above explanation may raise,
there is no specific guideline as to where a minimaJ. amount of
steps becomes an inordinate numbe= of steps. For example, it
can't be said the ten (10) is minimal ~~d eleven (11) is inordinate.
That determination must be. made by the manager on ~e loeation,
and like all management actions, it is challengable by the carrier
through the grievance procedure. Managers should remember that
the dismount allowance is computed at an average of four miles
per hour for the distance traveled. While the intention of the
allowance was to minimize the need for Column R entries, where
u~usual conditions exist, managers must consider the impact of
those conditions on the time needed to perform the dismount function.

66
 POSTAL IULLmN
'f All Offirrs ll'ilh R"ral Dtlivtry
M-38 REVISION-MAIL WITHDRAWAL ON RURAL ROUTES
The following change in the mail withdrawal
policy should allow rural delivery managers to
review the current withdrawal procedure used in
their office and determine whether a change in this
procedure would be beneficial. Where a change is
proposed, the regular rural carriers in an office by
majority vote may elect to withdraw mail if they
also agree to conduct the daily unit volume record-
ing. The recording of volume means entering the
daily linear footage of letter and Oat mail received
in a single entry in the comment section of Form
4240, Daily Trip Report. In addition. they should
record the number of boxholder sets received. In
all instances. the procedure used should be the
same throughout the office.
The withdrawal time allowance will be added to
or deducted from the evaluation of any route that
has the withdrawal function added or subtracted in
the same manner that the Postal Service adds or
subtracts time to a route when it authorizes or re-
moves from a route evaluation parcel lockers,
USPS ownedlleased vehicles, etc.
Part 351 of Handbook M-38, Managnnent ofRural
Dtlivery Strviets, is revised to read as follows:
I
1.' 350 Carri.r Work Methods-Office
351 Obtoinlng Mall
351.1 Carriers will withdraw mail from distribu-
tion cases when the mail has not been placed on
their case ledge by a clerk or mailhandler in accord-
ance with Part 352.1. However, all carriers. includ-
ing those exempt from general mail withdrawal reo
quirements. must make a final withdrawal ofleners
and preferential Oats from the designated distribu-
tion case before leaving for the route.
351.2 Changes in withdrawal procedures for rural
routes will be made in accordance with the follow-
ing:
a. Managers may change the methods, means,
and/or personnel by which such operations are
PREVENT THEFT
KEEP CASH OUT OF
'n PUB'llC VIEW'
21631, 8-6-87, Pag. 11
conducted in an offices with rural delivery. 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 man-
agement proposes a change in withdrawal and the
majority of regular carriers in the unit wish to per-
form 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.
If the majority of carriers elect not to perform
the withdrawal function, mail will be provided to
them in accordance with Part 352.1. In these cases,
management will perform the daily unit volume re-
cording function.
Not.: The withdrawal allowance will be credited
to any route where a carrier is required to perform
anv withdrawal function other than a final with-
drawal from a designated final distribution case
before leaving to serve the route.
h. Improvements in efficiency at the individual
office and assurance that withdrawal of mail, if by
an employee other than the rural carrier, will not
normally require the carrier 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 rural c;~rriers
in a unit. an analysis of rural and clerical time re-
quired to perform mail withdrawal must be accom-
plished.
c. Assessment will be on an office-by-office basis
at management discretion.
d. Normally, there should be no significant
schedule changes resulting from a change in the
method of withdrawing mail.
A future revision of Handbook M-38. Managt-
mtnt of Rural Delivery StTVices, will include this revi-
sion.-Dtlivery StTVit:tS Dept.• 8-6-87.
67
 (Continued from page 477) clerk hours for the expressed purpose of clearing out mail
Deliver on first delivery trip all mail received at the central volume prior to the count and clerk hours should not be
distribution facility prior to established city delivery cut­ curtailed on the day the count should end. The mail count,
this year, will begin on Saturday, September 17, and end
off time."
on Friday, September 30. Excessive effort should not be
Section 612.12-0ther Second and Third-Class. Deliv­ exerted prior to the beginning nor should mail be curtailed
er not later than second delivery day after day of receipt on the final day of mail count.
(daily receipt to begin at 1'2:00 midnight unless Regional The worksheet for counting should be used in the same
Postmaster General approves different time). Deliver mail
manner it has been used in previous mail counts. All mail
received on Saturday, no longer than Tuesday. Deliver cir­
culars received on a day preceding a holiday no later than should be recorded on the Daily Count Form (PS Form
the second delivery date following the holiday. 4239) and a copy of that Daily Count Form should be
provided the carrier before the mail is strapped out. If any
Section 612.13-Third arid Fourth-Class Parcels. dispute over numbers contained on the Daily Count Form
Where possible, schedule delivery of parcels on a delivery are encountered, that dispute should be resolved prior to
trip which will permit achievement of publ ished service the delivery of that day's mail.
standards for these classes of mail.
For those offices under the CMU-CFS forwarding pro­
cedures, rememb er, the separation labeled "Moved, Left
Withdrawal of Mail
No Address," has been removed and a new separation
The withdrawal procedure established for the count labeled "CGA (Change of Address) and Entry Mail"
period should be the same as that which will normally should be placed on your case . Preferably, this separation
be followed the remainder of the year. should be located in front of the A-Z separations.
The most frequent dispute on withdrawal of mail re­
In a recent meeting with Postal Headquarters' Officials,
sults from a misunderstanding on dumping of sacks. If
withdrawal of mail is by employees other than rural they assured Us if mail count seminars are held for Postal
carriers, mail must be placed on your carrier ledge or, Managers, either at the MSC or District level, representa­
as described in 211.2 of the M-37 Handbook. If you tives from the NRLCA would be invited to participate in
withdraw your mail as outlined in 211 .2, you should those seminars just as we did last year.
"place letter mail on your case ledge, either in trays or
stacked loose, no more than one row high. The mail must Complete mail count instructions were contained in
be faced right with stamps down whether you place it The National Rural Letter Carrier issue dated August
loose on the case ledge or work it directly from a tray." 14, 1982. Except for those items highlighted in this article,
If you withdraw your own mail, you should "place flat the special count in September should be held under the
mail on, under, or near your case in neatly stacked piles. same guidelines as those outlined in that issue of The
If flats are received in sacks, remove them promptly and National Rural Letter Carrier magazine.
stack neatly on the floor- or in hampers when provided .
Examine sacks after dumping to insure that they are
empty. Remove sack labels and deposit empty sacks in
the designated place ."
It is on those two issues that most of the disagreements
occur if someone other than the rural carrier withdraws
mail. Section 211.3 states, "If withdrawal of mail is by
employees other than rural carriers:
a. Mail will be placed on your case ledge or as de­
scribed in Part 211.2.b and c. when you report."
That simply means if someone other than you with­
draws your mail, they must dump mall from sacks ami
stack them in neat stacks on or near your carrier case.
If you are required to dump sacks, you are entitled to
withdrawal of mail allowance. This does not include cut­
ting of straps or plastic wrappers from bundles of mail.
That is a carrier's responsibility.

Even Flow of Mail

Mail should be distributed to insure a normal flow on
the day preceding the count period and the last day of
the count period. The manager should not work extra

478 for August 13, 1983

68
 M-54
LABOR RELATIONS

~ UNITEDSTIJ.TES
a;a POSTIJ.L SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa

President
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
th
1630 Duke Street. 4 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 th is grievance is whether rural carriers are entitled to additional time credit, above
the standard withdrawal allowance, for retrieval of parcel hampers.

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

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 tisting.

Sincerely,

Ii~ l!uJLk-.u
:A.ndrea B. Wilson, Manager Gus Baffa, Pres;
Contract Administration National Rural ett
(NRLCAlNPMHU) Association
~/~1/,'1
Date: ..:J I /9! f/.o Date: 3- /1.. ·~3
475 L'5""""T '1.Al.< SW
W,lSHI"GTQN DC 2C260·410J

69
VWN/....S"S./XH
 M· 69.100

.'

lir. st.v.n R. s.~"th

Dir.ctor,'Lahor a.lations
Rational Rural, L.tt.r'
Carrier.' Ailociation
Suite '100
1448 ,DUke Str•• t
Al.xandria; VA 22314~3499
a.: 84a-4'-C 26~67
Cla•• Action
Columbia, 'xc ' 6520i
D.ar IIr. Sad th:
On F.bruarY,l, 1991, you m.tvitb Andrea Wilson in.
pr.arbitration discussion
., of the abov.-r.f.r.Dc.d c,s••
Th. issue in th~s g~i.vanc.' is wheth.r chang.. in offic.
procedur•• that will affect the rout. can h. . .d. during the
.ail count. '
During the disc~ision, it vas 'mutually agre.d ,the folloWing
wouldrepr.sent' full and compl.te ••ttl•••nt of this cas.:
,Any chang.. in office procedur•• as th.ypertain ~o
mail count shouldb. discussed at the p~e-count
conf.r.nce which is to be held at 1••• t'15 days
b.fore the start of the ..il count.
Pl.as. sign and r.turn the .nclos.d copy of this l.tt~r
your ack~ovl.dgm.~t of agr••••D~ to ••ttl.ca•• no. B4.~4p-c
,S
26467 and r••ove it fro. the p.nding na~ional arbltra~lon
listing.
Sinc.rely"

~~®~.,~v- ~~
Stev~th .
/: /Gr..df
Director, Labor,a.lations
, National aural Letter
'. Carri.rs' Association
,DATI 2 ..£ ~6 :1'1'
~CIosure

--- 70
 M-75
~
iillJ
• •
•••••••

• ~ • •t •••a a. a.!tb
Dl~.ctac af LaMC ..lat1. .
. .ttDDal &tical Lette~ • G8 _
C.cd.c.' ...octati_
hJt. lDO
lCCI Duk. It~•• t
A1••aAd~la~ VA 2231C-340)
.. : •• Gi1be~t
Ipdaffleld, f t 051S'
.,a-1G-C 5107
D.ar .~. Saitta:
OIl •••• 1'.1 ace••lo•• , th• .o.t ~ec.at bela. D.~r 1.. 19",
we _t to dl.na. tile a".-capt1ODed ,rl.....ce at 1:Jl. foa~tb
.t.p af OD~ CODt~.etaal ,~l....c. praced.~••
ft. 1.811. ia W. ,dewu" 111901.... til. _ ...~_at of
cellt~d· ftr1lDllt ....11c "~ce
1dll .....lope. aad _.tb.~ o~
DOt tb. _ ••a~_Dt esc.... 5 lacla•••

Dada, aar di.cu••ioll, ". _bally .I~••d tlaat tile faUowlll9

cGastitut•• fall aad c~l.te .ettl"'Dt of this c••e:

neD a dl.pate .rhe. cOlle.nalD, the .ccur.c:y of tb.

te-vlat. . . . . .~.... t. • .tandard rD1eE viII b.
5ub.tltuted aDd ..ed to ..ke tbe .pp~aprlate
....a~e_Dt.
lb. p.rti•• at till. 1...1 f.~tbe~ .f~ ••d that b.d tb.
fr1."Dt beea ,l.ea ~ r.~.ted c~edlt foe fl.ta, it would
aat ba•• c!IaD,ed lab ~oat. . . .lutloa.
~. t.~ of ~i• •gr....at ar. aoapr.c.d••tlal, DODcltab~••
&ad apply oaly to thia ,~l...ac••
• 1•••••1,D aa4 r.tarD tb. eaelo..d copy of thi. l.tt.r ••
you~ .ekftovl.d,..nt of .'r.....t ta ••ttl. thl. c•••.
Siae.nly,

. r r... /
.&(~~
~_
V 'fIoL .... ·..t ..
Ii r r
f...,/.,.JI::.~ ...... .... I.. L;-...a"J;.,/
JIhId.t ilie.a ArDola
Grlevanc. , Arbitration olr.ctor of Labar aelationa
DiYldon Natto••l Aur.l L.tt.r Carriers·
AI.ocl.~loll

71
 M-4
~
'INiTiO S,~TES POST,,:.. S~F;VIC5
AOOM 90''£
475 L'ENFANT Pl..AZA SW
WAS/1INQTON OC 2ll.."60·,&'00
... TEL (2021 288-3818
___ FAX 12021 288·3074

OFFICE OF THE
ASSIS':ANT POSTM.\STE.q GE!II~AL
l.A80A RElATIONS OErtARTMENT

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
aochester HI 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 grievanee is whether manageMent violated
the National Agreement, specifically the rural mail count
instructions when the grievant was not compensatea actual
time for separation of collection mail during mail count.
Durinq our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following
constitutes full and COMplete settlement of this grievanee.
Part 421.2 of the Rural Carrier ~utie$ and Responsibilities
Handbook PO-603 requires that rural carriers are to ~face
and deposit mail in the location desi9nated by your
postmaster or supervisor". Compensation is provided for
faeing and depositing mail. Management shall not require
rural carriers to deposit mail into more than twa designated
locations.
Please siqn and return tbe enclosed copy of this decision as
your acknowledgment of aqreement to settle this case.
Time limits were extended by mutual consent.
Sincerely,
.
~"E-LJL; UUk"71-J
Andrea Wilson
~~~
Steven R. Smith
Grievance and Arbitration Director, Labor Relations
Division National Rural tetter
Carriers' Association
72
Da te OCT 2 91991
 LABOR RELATIONS
C-15
~ UNITEDSTIJTES
IJii POSTJ1L SERVICE

Donnie Pitts, President

National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street
Alexandria VA 22314-3467
t

Re: QOOR-4Q-C 08030088

Article 34
Washington. DC 20260-4101

Dear Donnie:

In accordance with Article 34.6 of the USPS/NRLCA National Agreement, the parties
recently met regarding the above referenced national grievance.

The dispute concerns the proposed standard allowance for the duties associated with
the carrier pickup program and prepaid ordinary and insured parcels accepted as
determined by an Article 34 Postal Service study.

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

The duties associated with carrier pickup requests will be credited dUring a rural mail
count applying the following standard:

A route will be credited 90 seconds for each carrier pickup request completed
during the mail count and 9 seconds for each carrier pickup item received
(Express Mail. Priority Mail or International Mail). This includes all the duties in
the office and on the street associated with the carrier pickup request.

Prepaid ordinary and insured parcels accepted or letters and flats collected in
conjunction with the carrier pickup items will not be included in the new standard. At this
time. letters and flats collected and ordinary and insured parcels accepted continue to
receive the appropriate credit as outlined in Sections 535.12.n and 535.12.0 of
Handbook P0-603. Rural Carner Duties and Responsibilities.

The parties agree that this settlement will be applied to rural routes involved in carrier
pickup beginning with the 2008 national rural mail count. Rural carriers will continue to
be compensated for duties associated with carrier pickup requests pursuant to the April
8. 2004 Memorandum of Understanding concerning the Carrier Pickup Program and the
April 15. 2004 Compensation Instructions through April 25, 2008.

475 L'ENFANT PlAZA SW

WASH'4'lGT~ DC 20260.. 4100
WoMV.USPS.COM

73
 -2-
C-15
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
grievance listing.

Sincerely.

illiam Daignea
Manager
Donnie Pitts, pr~sid/~
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Contract Administration (NRLCA) Association

Date: I z. . ~,.. () ']

74
. . UN"EDST~TES
~ POST~LSERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
~exandna. VA 22314-3465

Re: B95R-4B-C 02237945

Oass 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. Mis~orted and Missent in which rural
carriers onDPS 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 "MMM" mail and placing/depositing the mail
at the designated "MMM" case~

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

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 mark-
up for each required bundle.

The parties agree that if an additional tiip is· required to a·designated "MMM" case
location, the additional trip, including the placing/depositing of mail or bundles· of mail on
or into the provided equipment,ls 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 separating/casing 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 in 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.

475 L'E!AHT Pv.zA SoN

w~ DC 20260-4100
_.USI"S.cx:N 75
Please sign and return the endosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of
agreement to settle this case.

Sincerely,

,.
iJdith Stokowski Randy
Contract Administration (NRLCAfNPMHU) Diredor 0 . abOr Relations
Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'
U. S. Postal Service Association

Date: {; - :< l./- 0 V

76
 DOMESTIC MAIL MANUAL 601

5.0 Handling, C.pntent, and Extra Service Markings

5.1 Handling, Content, and Extra Service
Certain markings may be used to identify handling, content, and extra service. Unauthorized markings not
designating price, class, address, handling, content, or extra service are not permitted. Extraneous information, which
can be confused with ZIP Codes, may not be placed next to or directly under the last line of the delivery address. Any
obsolete marking on a container to be reused for mailing must be obliterated. The following markings must be placed
in an area below the postage and above the addressee's name in the delivery address and to the right of the return
address:
a. Handling markings such as "Fragile" must be applied only to packages containing delicate items
such as glass and electrical appliances.
b. Content markings such as "Perishable" must be applied to any package containing items or
substances that can degrade or decompose rapidly such as meat, produce, plants, or certain
chemical and hazardous materials samples. Restricted and hazardous articles must be marked and
labeled under applicable standards. A container improperly identified by content is not acceptable
for mailing (e.g., a box marked "Art Supplies" that contains flammable liquid or a box marked
"Bleach" that contains clothing).
c. Extra service markings such as "Return Receipt Requested" must use the wording or label
required by the applicable extra service standards.

5.2 Method
The mailer must mark the package using material that is not readily water soluble or easily smeared or rubbed off.
The marking must be readable at a distance of 30 inches. Marking methods or surfaces must permit application and
retention of adhesive stamps, postage meter impressions, and postal endorsements made with hand stamp, ballpoint
pen, or Number 2 pencil. Any address label or envelope must be firmly affixed to the mailing container, with no more
than an 1/8-inch separation between the ends of the label or envelope and the container.

77
 DMM Revision: Clarification of Shape-based Standards
The Postal Service ™ is clarifying standards for deter-
mining flexibility and uniform thickness of flat-size mail-
pieces and deleting standards for using the marking "Do
Not Bend." We are revising the Mailing Standards of the
United States Postal Service, Domestic Mail Manual
(DMM®) 101, 301, and 601 accordingly.
We recognize that some flat-size mailpieces have
contents that are stiff but not completely rigid. Some
employees may be reluctant to administer the flexibility test
on these pieces. As stated in the Federal Register notice of·
March 30, 2007, customers may administer the flexibility
test on their own mailpieces with an employee observing.
When the customer demonstrates that a flat-size piece is
flexible according to standards, the employee does not
need to perform the test. We are adding this clarification to
DMM 101 and 301.
The requirement that nonpaper contents in flat-size
mailpieces not shift more than 2 inches is within the context
of the overall standard concerning uniform thickness. In
DMM 101 and 301, we are adding the phrase "if shifting
would cause the piece to be nonuniform in thickness," to
clarify that intent. We are adding a reminder to the same
section that some objects placed in ordinary paper enve-
lopes may need to be fixed in place or wrapped within the
other contents of the mailpiece to prevent them from burst-
ing out of the envelope. We are also clarifying when to
exclude the external edges of a flat-size mailpiece when
determining uniform thickness.
There has been a longstanding mailing standard that
rTlailers marking their mailpieces with "Do Not Bend" must
add a stiffener within the mail piece. That requirement was
included to provide a sensory reminder in case our employ-
ees did not see the marking. However, we do not guarantee
that these pieces will not be bent during processing or bent
or folded when delivered. Therefore, we are removing
references to this marking. We recommend that mailers
prepare these items (that could be damaged by bending or
folding) in boxes or similar protective containers mailed at
the applicable parcel rates, instead of adding handling
endorsements on the outside of the mailpiece.
These revised standards are effective immediately.
Mailing Standards of the United States Postal
Service, Domestic Mail Manual (DMM)
* * * * * not flats. Tight envelopes or wrappers that are filled with
100 Retail Mail
101 Physical Standards
* * * * * these standards, the employee does not need to perform
2.0 Physical Standards for Flats
* * * * * *
2.3 Minimum Flexibility Criteria for Flat-Size
Pieces
[Revise 2.3 to clarify that customers may pet10rm this test
when an employee is present, as follows:]
Flat-size pieces must be flexible. Boxes - with or without
hinges, gaps, or breaks that allow the piece to bend - are
not flats. Tight envelopes or wrappers that are filled with
one or more boxes are not flats. At the customer's option,
a customer may perform the following test on their own
mailpieces. When a postal employee observes a customer
demonstrating that a flat-size piece is flexible according to
these standards, the employee does not need to perform
the test. Test flats as follows:
* * * * *
2.4 Uniform Thickness
[Revise 2.4 to clarify when the outside edges are excluded
for determining variation in thickness and when contents
must be secured to prevent shifting, as follows:]
Flat-size mailpieces must be uniformly thick so that any
bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities do not cause
more than 1/4-inch variance in thickness. When determin-
ing variance in thickness, exclude the outside edges of a
mailpiece (1 inch from each edge) when the contents do
not extend into those edges. Also, exclude the selvage of
any polywrap covering (see 301 .3.3) from this determina-
tion. Mailers must secure non paper contents to prevent
shifting of more than 2 inches within the mailpiece if shifting
would cause the piece to be nonuniform in thickness or
would result in the contents bursting out of the mailpiece
(see 601.11.18).
* * * * *
300 Discount Flats
301 Physical Standards
1.0 Physical Standards for Flats
* * * * *
1.3 Minimum Flexibility for Flat-Size Pieces
[Revise 1.3 to clarify that customers may pet10rm this test
when an employee is present, as follows.y
Flat-size pieces must be flexible. Boxes - with or without
hinges, gaps, or breaks that allow the piece to bend - are
one or more boxes are not flats. At the customer's option,
a customer may perform the following test on their own
mailpieces. When a postal employee observes a customer
demonstrating that a flat-size piece is flexible according to
the test. Test flats as follows:
* * * *
78
 1.4 Uniform Thickness 5.0 Handling, Content, and Extra Service Markings
[Revise 1.4 to clarify that the outside edges are excluded· 5.1 Handling, Content, and Extra Service
when determining variation in thickness and that contents
must be secured to prevent shifting, as follows:] * * * * *
Flat-size mailpieces must be uniformly thick so that any [Revise item a to remove the standards for applying mark-
bumps, protrusions, or other irregularities do not cause ings such as "Do Not Bend", as follows:]
more than 1/4-inch variance in thickness. When determin- a. Handling markings such as "Fragile" must be applied
ing variance in thickness, exclude the outside edges of a only to packages containing delicate items such as
mailpiece (1 inch from each edge) when the contents do glass and electrical appliances.
not extend into those edges. Also, exclude the selvage of
any polywrap covering (see 301 .3.3) from this determina- * * * * *
tion. Mailers must secure nonpaper contents to prevent We will incorporate this revision into the next printed
shifting of more than 2 inches within the mailpiece if shifting version of the OM M and into the monthly update of the
would cause the piece to be nonuniform in thickness or online OMM available via Postal Explorer@ at
would result in the contents bursting out of the mailpiece pevusr:X3vcorn.
(see 601.11 .18).

* * * * * - Mailing Standards,
Pricing and Classification, 8-16-07
600 Basic Standards for All Mailing Services

601 Mailability

* * * * *

ELM Revision: Limited Duty and Rehabilitation Assignments

Effective August 16, 2007, Employee and Labor Rela-
tions Manual (ELM) 546.21, Compliance, and 546.23,
Types of Appointments, are revised to incorporate the
requirement to comply with the collective bargaining
agreement for the craft to which the employee who was
injured on duty is being reassigned or reemployed.
tion under the National Agreement of the craft to which the
employee is being reassigned or reemployed. Any such
assignment or reemployment must be accomplished
through Article 13 of the National Agreement applicable to
the craft to which the employee is being reassigned or
reemployed.

* * * * *
Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)
546.23 Types of Appointments
* * * * *
[Revise 546.23 to read as follows:]
5 Employee Benefits
Types of appointments available include the following:
* * * * * a. A current full-time career employee may be reas-
signed to a full-time career position through Article
540 Injury Compensation Program
13 of the National Agreement applicable to the craft
* * * * * to which the employee is being reassigned or
reemployed, if his or her job-related medical condi-
546 Reassignment or Reemployment of
tion permits.
Employees Injured on Duty
b. A current or former part-time flexible career
* * * * * employee may be reassigned or reemployed to a
546.2 Collective Bargaining Agreements part-time flexible career position through Article 13 of
the National Agreement applicable to the craft to
546.21 Compliance which the employee is being reassigned or reem-
[Revise 546.21 to read as follows:] ployed.
Reassignment or reemployment under this section must be c. A current or former noncareer employee may be
in compliance with applicable collective bargaining agree- reassigned or reemployed to the position held previ-
ments and applicable law. Individuals so reassigned or ously or, upon satisfactory demonstration of the abil-
reemployed must receive all appropriate rights and protec- ity to meet the job requirements and in accordance

79
80
 l.ABOR REi..ATIONS

~ UNITEDSTiJTES
~ POSTiJL SERVICE

Mr. Dale A. Holton

President
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 23314-3465

Re: C95R-4C-C 98023318

G. Mycock III
Bear, DE 19701-9998

Dear Dale:

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

The issue in this grievance ;s whether rural carriers are entitled to additional
compensation when required to perform an additional trip(s) 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, Vehicle
Requirements states, "Your personal vehicle must be large enough to accommodate the
normal mail volume and constructed to proted the mail from loss or damage."

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

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 P0-603, Section 141.2,
or the Employer provided vehicle on the first trip due to the volume of mail or the

475 L'ENfANT Pt..AzA SW

WASHNGTON DC 20260-4100
WNW.USPS.COM
81
 -2-

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 Tripes)

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 tripes) 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 retuming and delivering the
mail that could 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 retuming 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
tripes). 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 1314-A, as appropriate.

In certain circumstances, management may eject to include credit associated with a

second trip(s) in the evaluation of the route rather than prOViding compensation as
described above.
.~ Mail Count Period
Should an additional trip(s) be necessary during the mail count period, the time
associated with the additional tripes) 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.

Christmas Period
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

82
 -3-

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 purchase/bill 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.

83
 -4-

Leave Replacement's Personal Vehicl@

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 offiGe 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). .

84
 -5-

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,

~.~Dale A. Holton, President

National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association

Date: _-.:>---:"'-r/~/....L.i....,~
__ iJ_S- _
r I

85
 M-58.40

iiiilWuNnmsmru..-_---------- _
CiM1'OST4" SikV1a

April 7, 1999

MANAGERS, DELIVERY PROGRAM SUPPORT (AREA)

MANAGERS, OPERATIONS PROGAAM SUPPORT (O'STIRCn

SUBJECT: Influenolng Mall Count

It has come to ttl. dentlon of this onte. that, In lome Instances, efforts have been
made to unduly influence rural mail count volume. No onB should attempt to
Influence mailers to avoid mailing during mall ccunt periods or to send out special
mailings specifically during mall count pertods.
This issue, whO, originally brought folWard through the grievance process. Is
applicable to both management and craft. Postmasters and supervisors should not
Influence customers to change their malDng dates solely for the purpose of affecting
the results cfthe mall t:Ounl VVhile J)e~lJnal galn~ are not realized by pg,tma$ters
and supervIsors, and customers ultimately declcle When to mal" lntruence rrom
Interested parties may have the appearance of affecting the Integrity of the count.

Conversely, carriers should nat attempt to c:aerce mailers to send out mailings
spec,ncaUy during iii mail count period or have friend, or relatives send mailings to
addresses on their routes or to themaelves (If they live on the'r route). This type of
influencing does realize a personal gain and WOUld most dennltely have the
appearance of. affecting the integrity
. at the count.

The count period II IItabU,hed to be a period where the parties can eXJ)eet nonnal
mall volume now atrected only by the mailers and our CU$tomers. The mIssIon 01
tne Postal ServIce With respect to a normal rural mall count Is to count, case, and
deliver the maU, not add to or take away from the volume by contrived :sGhemes.

Aj~,
A~~W~er
DeliverY Policies and Programs

86
 M-58.20
L.A8OP RElAr:O's

~ UNITED STATES
~ POSTIJL SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa

President
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4 th Floor
Alexandria, VA 23314-3465
Re: Q95R-4Q-C 02102188
Class Action
Washington, DC 20260-4100
Dear Mr. Baffa:

The parties 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.

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

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 1/8
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 Y:! inches by 7
inches would be recorded as a flat if the label or address an the mail was placed parallel to the 5
Yz dimension. In this example, the 5 Yz inch dimension would be considered the length because
the label orientation is parallel to the 5 Y2 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 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 i~ from the pending national arbitration listing.

Sincerely,

a-d~,e!
B.
Andrea
a!&nJ
Wilson, Manager
Contract Administration
(NRlCAlNPMHU)

Date: ,J/!9/t?.. 3 Date: :9 - I f- 03

475 L8or-~NT PLAZA SW
WASI<\NG-QN DC 20260·4·00
_.usPS.COM
87
 I~
,

M-58.30
ii:w UNITEDSmTES
. .POST.4LSERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa

President
NaUonal Rural Letter Carriers'
AslOClation
1630 Duke Street, 4111 Aoor
AleJcandrla. VA 23314-3465
Re: D9SR-4D-C 01039476
W. Brazell
Lugoff. SC 29078-9998
Dear Mr. Baffa:

The partles recently met In pr8-Bl'bitration discussion regarding the above ref.renced case.

The issue In this grievance is whether address cardl. received by rural canieF'$ dUring the mail
count, should be credited to the route evaluation as maR.

During our discussion. we mutu8Uy agreed that the following will constitute fuH and complete
settlement of this grievance:

The parties agree that address cards rec:elved by a rural carrier dUring the mal count are not
recorded as part of the maD count. The sequencing of address cards does not warrant Idditlonal
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 from the pending national arbitration listing.

Sincerely,
,.
.
~1$.td4rJ
B.df8a WDson. Manager
Contrad Administration
(NRLCAlNPMHU)
\
Date: ·..3/It/()~ Date: :3 --/ 'r{) 3

475 ~~l F'.N1' sw

W""ftllllN DC 202e0-.:OO
_.l,$IlLCl:IW

88
 M-66

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
AND THE
NATIONAL RURAL LETTER 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.

Gus Baffa, Pre

National Rura
Association

a'
Date: ......:~~A1......:19.:......:1t_t7_:.3 _ Date: 3- /7-03

89
 M-57
lABOR RELAT'ONS

~ UNiTEDSTJJTES
J!a POSTAL SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa

President
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1h
1630 Duke Street, 4 Floor
Alexandria, VA 23314-3465

Re: D95R-4D-C 01037982

Class Action
Louisville, KY 40231·9998

Dear Mr. Baffa:

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

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

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

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 time
credit provided the cage is in close proximity to the rural carrier's case. The parties define close
proximity as 50 feer(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 dislance 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
within 50 feet (round trip) Ihe roule 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 mail/receipts in the afternoon.

475 L'!;"<A>JT PLAZA SW

WN;Hl"G-ON DC 20260-4100

90
 M-57
-2-

The parties agree that this settlement will be applied to all mail counts subsequent to the 2003
national rural mail count and will be consider~d 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,

Date: --"'=---"-+-----==:::....-_

91
 M-69.68

Mr. Steven R. Smith

President
National Rural Letter camers'
AsIocidon
1630 Duke Street, 4th F100r
Alexandria. VA 22314-3485
Re: F91R-4F-C 9S020182
M. Weill
Sun City, CA 92586-9998

Dear Mr. Smith:

On January 21, 1998, the parties entered prearbitration discussion of the abcve-referencad
case.

The issue in this grievance is whether Management violated the Methods Handbook PO-
603, Rural Carrier Duties & Responsibilities during mail count. when rigid articles of mail
less than 61/8 inches in width, processed on automated equipment as Oeavery Point
Sequence (CPS) mail are crecflted as OPS maD and not parcels.

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

During a rural route mail count, a rigid article l'1tC8ived 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 artides received in
OPS maD that do not exceed any of the dimensions in Part 535.12.c.(1) of the
PQ.603 are counted and recorded under Column L as OPS letters.

Please sign and return the enclosed copy of thiS letter as your acknowledgment of
agreement to settle the above-c:aptioned case n remove them from the pending national
arbitration Osting.

Sincerely,

~'---- Steven R. Smith

Manager President
Contract Administration National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
(NALClNRLCA)
U. S. Postal Service
Date:
------~--~--
92
 LABOR RELATIONS

~ UNITEDSTllTES
I!ii;j POSTllL SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3467

Re: JOOR-4J-C04168408
Mary Iverson
Plainfield, IL 60544

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being December 21, 2007, we discussed the
above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance procedure.

The issue in this case concerns the credit given during a mail count when DPS letters
are received for a closed school or business and were unable to be delivered.

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

Credit for DPS closed school or business letter mail, whether cased or taken to the
street, will be credited in the following manner:

1. Credit will be given in Column A, Letters, for each piece when there are seven
pieces or less.

2. Credit will be given in Column 0, Parcels, for one parcel when there are eight
pieces or more.

3. These mail pieces will not be deducted from Column L, DPS Mail.

A closed school or business is defined as one that is closed on a recurring basis, usually
weekly, and does not have any method of delivery available on the day the school or
business is closed, which would require the carrier to bring the DPS letter mail back from
the street.

No additional riffling time should be credited to identify and/or hold out this mail.

475 L'ENFANT PLAZA SW

WASHINGTON DC 20260-4100
INII\IVv'.USPS.COM
93
 - 2­

The parties agree that the above method of applying credit for closed school or business
DPS letter mail will be utilized during future mail counts. Further, it is agreed that the
terms of this settlement apply solely to the specific issue in this case and do not set
precedence to any other current or future DPS dispute between the parties.

The above-captioned grievance is remanded to the parties at Step 3 to apply the terms
of this settlement to the fact circumstances of the instant case.

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

Robert M. Olohan
Labor Relations Specialist
Contract Administration (NRLCA)

Date: _..:..../_-_.,l_..-_C}_Y'
_ _ _ __ Date: /-dv -, CJ g

94
. . . UNlTEDSTlSTES
~ POST&SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street. 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: OOOR-4Q..C 03096526

Class Action
Washington, DC 202~ 110

Dear Randy:

On several ~slons, 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
man piece, defined as a rigid article in accordance with Handbook PO-603. R~ral Carrier Duties
and Responsibilities, Section 535.12.d, has any affect on that piece being recorded as a flat or a
parcel during a mall count

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

For the purpose of recording a rigid article during a mail count as a lIat or parcel. the manner in
which the addressjs oriented on the piece wlll be relevant. For the purpose of a mall 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 measiJring 4 ~ Inches by
5 'Ya inches would be recorded as a parcel if the label or address on the rigid article was placed
parallel to the 4 % inch dimension. In this example, the 4 % inch dimension would be considered
the length because the address orientation is parallel to the 4 ~ mea~urement and the 5 Yz Inch
dimension ;s the height because the address orientation is perpendicular to the 5 Yz 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 mall count will be considered wIthdrawn.

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

Sincerely.

J~~t:"iJ-
William Daigne it
Labor Relations Specialist ~~
Contract Administration National Rural Letter Carriers'
(NRLCAlNPMHU) Association

475 L·e......, Pu.ZA sw Date: ~/~.dl60s/

wisHNG10N DC 20260 95
Mail Count Issue - Coeur d'Alene, Idaho

AWARD OF THE NATIONAL ARBITRATOR

CAS~ NO. E95R-4E-C 990099528

1) Postal Service management did 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 peri-
odical wrapper or envdope 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, Magazines, Catalogs, Flats, Other Size Mail
rather than in Column C P"rcels on Form 4239.
2) The: grie:vance: in Ca~e E95R-4E-C 990099528 is denied.
3) Jurisdiction is retained for the sole pllrposc of resolving any disputes which may arise between the Parties regarding the
meaning, application or implementation of this National Arbitration Award.

STATE OF NEW YORK } S5:

COUNTY OF TOMPKINS

On this 12th day ofJanuary, 2003, I, DANA E. EISCHEN, upon my oath as National Arbitrator, do hereby affirm and cer-
tify, pursuant to Section 7507 of the Civil Practice Law and Rules of the State of New York, that I have executed and issued
the toregoing 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 terms 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"
defmition, the Arbitrator held that the Coeur D'Alene piece was a non-rigid
"flat" 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.

96
. .UNfTEOST4TES
. .POST.4L SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: FOOR-4F-e 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 mall pieces during the
mati count that contain rigid articles.

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

The current definition of a parcel as described In Section 535. 12.d of the P0-603. Rursl
Carrier Duties and ResponsiblUties, 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 overan 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 1/8 inches in width, containing a rigid
item eKceedlng anyone 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 1/8 Inches in width, containing a rigid
Item exceeding anyone of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d. The area of the
rigid item is less than 80 percent of the area of the flexibtemail piece. This is a
flat.

3. The flexible mall piece is greater than 81/8 InChes in width, containing a rigid
Item that does not exceed anyone of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d. This is
a flat.

4'T!) ~E_ PLAZA SN

W~T04 DC 2O~100
"'-.USPS.ooo.o

97
 -2-

4. The flexible mail piece is 6 1/8 inches or less in width, containing a rigid item
exceeding anyone 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 1/8 inches or less in width, containing a rigid item
exceeding anyone 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 61/8 inches or less in width, containing a rigid item that
does not exceed anyone 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.

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

Sincerely,

td~~;... i/-
William DaiQ suit
Manager
Contract Administration (NRLCA)
~National Rural Letter Carriers'
Labor Relations Association

Dale: t.V~;& S

98
 amID AM'RleLB 1118IDB A FLBXIBLE

FLBXIBLE
mAlLPIBeB
mAlLPIBeB

mIUAPAae&L?
mIUAPAae&L?

.
Does the flexible mail piece that contains the rigid item fit into the letter
...-
-
[or flat] separation with other mail without damage to the mail piece?

4E~
~
NO

Does the rigid item

V
inside the mail piece I IrS A PARCEL I
exceed 5" in height,
18" in length or 1 9/16" Is the flexible mail piece that contains
in depth?
NO> the rigid item greater than 6 1/8"
in width? (Address orientation)

YES 4E~ ~~
Irs A FLAT Irs A LETTER
I II
I

0
Is the flexible mail piece that contains the rigid item greater than 6 1/8" in
width? (Address orientation)

Is the area of the

NO ~ rigid item equal to
NO IrS A LETTER I
YES
nI or greater than 80CYo
of the area of the
flexible mail piece? YES Irs A PARCEL

lJ
Is the area of the rigid item equal to or greater than 80CYo of the area of the
flexible mail piece?

YES NO

-====- ~ -====- ~
IrS A PARCEL
IrS A PARCEL IT'S A FLAT
IT'S A FLAT
I I I I

* When determining whether the mail piece can be cased, some re-positioning of the rigid item(s) inside
the mail piece may occur during the normal casing process. Management may not require the carrier to
make extraordinary efforts to rearrange Irelocate the rigid item(s) within the mail piece in an attempt to
case a mail piece that could not otherwise be cased.
99
 Save:be; za, 19S0 M-53
LaJ20:WAStefl:bs
1JEC1': Step 4 ~ecision Regarain; ~talo;·Count in Gallipolis, OS
na-C-0108/CSR4FClS3S7

~neral Manager, Laoor aelations

Central 1'.ec; ion

On Octebe: 21, a Step 4 decision re;a~di?g the proper

counting of cat.logs was issued, inte~p~e~in; Postal Bulletin
21702. Atter further consultatlor. -"1':.0. Deliv'!:;{ Servic~s at
He~quarters, it was dete=mined that rQstal Bulletin 21202
has been misinterpretec. Thou90 t.1:e cec:ision in this
particular case must 5~and, the C~~=9C~ policy on tha
counting of catalogs is as follows:
If a cata.l~ .will fit into i!n eD1?"ty secara-:icn,
all like catalogs for ~~at size sepa~a~ion will be
cQunted as fla~sr rega~dless of the fact that m~=e
than one catalog mus~ be cesed in~o tha~ separation,
and regardless of the number af the number of families
or deliveries in that ~articular separ3tion. If a
ca~aloq will ~ fit into an e==ty s.~aration because Qf
size, then all like catalogs !o~ ~~~t size separa~iQn
will be '<::)~"1ted as pareels.
~lease info~ all °neerested pa:~ies c! ~~is L~terp~etatiQn.

Wi~i~S~~
LilQor :lel~tions De_
\
rt:nent

uEe 11eiJ

100
iirW UNrrEDSTJJTES
JJ!!'iijf POST.oL SERVICE

Dale A. Holton, President

National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 411'I Floor
Alexandria, VA 23314-3465
Re: E95R-4E-C 99103123
Class Action
.Oregon City, OR 97045-9998
Dear Dale:

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 order' and
faced in the same direction (helicopter flats).

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following will constitute full and co~lete
settlement of this grievance:
. .
The parties agree that the evidence presented in arbitration by the NRLCA in the above
referenced case reveals that flats pr~ssed 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 tne 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 fro~ the UFSM 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 FebruarylMarch 2004 national count and received
flats processed on the UFSM 1000 during that mail 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 offlats processed on the UFSM 100Q 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.

475 L:E/RHT F'I.AZA sw

w~ DC 20260-4100
_.lS'S,C:OW 101
 -2-

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, Or$gon, 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, Ulat are in a condition similar to
the flats jn the photographs presented in this arbitratiqn hearing and described by the
NRLCA as "hel/copter f1ats-; 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 ot.her grievances held in abeyance pending disposition of this case.

Please sign and retum the enclo~ copy of this letter as your acknowledgment of
agreement to settle the above captioned cas,e and remove it from the arbitrator's authority.

Sincerely,

Andrea B. Wilson ' Dale A. Holton .

Manager President
Con~ct Ad!'"inistration(NRLCAlNPMH U} National Rural Letter carriers' Association

Date: ~&-~/(lt= Date: 3R;1./o tf

7 7 ;

102
 lABoR RElATIONS
M-2
. . . UN"EDSTJlTES
~ POSTJlL SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: EOOR-4E-C 03203190

Class Action
Fall City, WA 98024-9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being January 12, 2006, we met to discuss the
above captioned grievance at the fourth step of our grievance procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether a non-rigid mail piece, containing a rigid cylindrical
item (pill bottle) that exceeds anyone of the dimensions in Section 535.12.d of Handbook
P().603, was property recorded as a flat during the 2003 national mail count

After reviewing this matter, we mutually agreed that no national interpretive issue is fairly
presented in this case. It is recognized that, due to the variety In packaging and the shape
of the contents in same or similar mail pieces, determining the proper classification during a
mail count must be done on a case by case basis. The parties do agree that:
• The overall dimensions and rigidity or flexibility characteristics of the mail piece
determine the classification of the mail piece, rather than any particular item
enclosed within that mail piece.
Unless a determination can be made by application of the settlement in
grievance FOOR-4F-C 03096043, the classification of a non-rigid mail piece
which is the same as or similar to the one defined in the issue above will
depend on whether the mail piece can be cased with other mail, without
damage to the mail piece.
When determining whether the mail piece can be cased, the parties agree that
while some re-positioning of the rigid item(s) inside the mail piece may occur
during the normal casing process, management may not require the carrier to
make extraordinary efforts to rearrange/relocate the rigid item(s) within the
mail piece in an attempt to case a mail piece that could not otherwise be
cased.

475 L'ENF.WT PLAZA SW

WASHINGTON DC 20260-4100
WIIW.USPS.COU
103
 EOOR-4E-C 03203190

M-2
Accordingly, we agree to remand this case to the parties at Step 3. If no agreement is
reached the union may appeal this grievance to area arbitration.

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

Sincerely,

~~211MLi-
J.
Sandra S vOle
Labor Relations Specialist
Contract Administration
~
La~
Randy
Director
rson

National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association
(NRLCA)

Date: / - /3 -o{P

104
 w,lTED
ROOM 9014
STATES POSTAL

475 L ENFANT
WASHINGTON
PLAZA SW
DC 20260-4100
SERVICE
M-75
* N TEL 1202) 268-3816
B FAX ,202) 266-3074

OFFICE OF THE
ASSISTANT POSTMASTER GENERAL
LABOR RELATIONS DEPARTMENT

Mr. Steven R. Smith

Director, Labor Relations
National Rural Letter
Carriers’ Association
4th Floor
1630 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: H7R-4M-C 29824

M. Bradshaw
Bay City, MI 48708
Dear Mr. Smith:

On 5/28/91, 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 crediting Olan Mills mail
articles (8” by 10” photographs) marked “do not crease” as
flats rather than parcels.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the

following constitutes full and complete settlement of this
grievance:

Any non-rigid article that will 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 121.42(3,
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 will not
fit in the letter or flat case (where
flat cases are used) with other mail
without damage to the article.]

Although the Olan Mills article is marked

“DO NOT CREASE”, this article cannot be
placed in a letter separation without
damage to the article.

The terms of this agreement are nonprecedential and

nonciteable in any other grievance, arbitration hearing or
for any other purpose.

105
 M-75
Smith 2

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,

Muriel Aikens Arnold Steven R. Smith

Grievance and Arbitration Director, Labor Relations
Division National Rural Letter
Carriers' Association
Date: IllN 17 /WI

106
 M-56
:f""P'OS~
.~=
: ~~ ~t~' eEIYED
z~ ~.,
- a
........ I..' ..•1 :3
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
.75 L'!nfpt Plaza. SW
Wut\inglDn, DC 211110
September 22. 1983

Mr. Dallas N. Fields

Director, Labor aelations
National Rural Letter Carriers' Association
1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Suite 1204
Washington, D.C. 20006-3399

Re I R. <:Oo%ey
Issaquah, ~ 98027
H1R-SD:-C 8286
Dear Mr. Fields:
On August 30, 19B3, we met to discuss the above-captioned
grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance
procedure.
The grievance concerns Whether local management improperly
es~ablished a direc~ holdou~ on Ao~te 3 during ~bQ 1~a2 mail
count.
We mutually agreed to resolve this grievance in the following
manner:
1. consistent with Part 225.4, 1-37 Handbook
and i'art 123, K-3a Handbook, PQ~tma5ter.l5 may
authorize the use of separations at the dis-
tribution case for -direct mail 8 for customers
who receive sufficiaftt ~antities of ~il to
justify the p~ocedure.
2. Consistent with Pa~t: 525, x-3Q Handbook,
postmasters must hold joint conferences of
supervisors and rural carrie~s -to discuss
changes in mail handling procedures and
in3tructiona. No changes 1n carrier work
methods, casing equipment, or office procedures
can be made between the date of the local
conference and the mail COunt unleCi theA.
items were specifically discussed at the .
conference.

107
 M-56

Hr. Dallas N. Fields

3. If, in this particular case, a direct for

Route 3 was created at the distribution case
cn the first day of the 1982 mail count and 1t
was not a subject of discussion at the local
conference, the direct is considered improperly
established.
4. If the direct was improperly established, the
postmaster shall conduct a 12-d&y count of the
mail that ~uld go to Route 3 had the
direct not been created. The carrier shall
receive appropriate credit for this mail
retroactive to the date the ch&nge affected
the route compensation and until such an
operational change is properly made.
Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this decision as
acknowledgment of agreement to resolve this case.
Sincerely,

(D,4:;' ~ tJ- ~ ik..

Dallas N. i'lels
Director
National aural Letter Carriers'
Association

108
 M-107

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
AND THE
NATIONAL RURAL LEITER 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
MDCD to 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 (18) seconds per piece time
allowance.

The one minute credit for MDCD retrieval and the eighteen (18) seconds per piece for
delivery confirmation will 1.Jt:: It:l;urut::u ill CUIUIIlII R, Olllf:H SuilalJlt: Allowi;U/<;t:.

For each accountable mail piece, including Express Mail and Signature Confirmation,
the time allowance will be twenty-eight (20) seconds. This twenty-eight (20) 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
rccipicnt namC:3. Thi:J time allowance will be incorporated into the timc allowancc3
credited for Columns F and G of Forms 4241 and 4241-X and will not be recorded in
Column R.

t}~h.u(/ A trLu,-,J
Andrea B. Wilson Gus Baffa
Manager, Contract Administration President
Labor Relations National Rural Letter Carriers'
United States Postal Service Association

-=s--t.I,---,,-;Lt:J~cJ_..3_ _
Date: ---:;.0"":'/-4-£"":""/

109
110
 , E-66

• UNITED STATES' POSTAL SERVICE

475 L'Entant Ptaza, SW
Washington, OC 20260

Mr. Dallas N. Fields

OEC - 6 1984
Director, Labor Relations
National Rural Letter
Carriers' Association
Suite 100
1448 Duke Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314-3401
Re: C. Keith
Moses Lake, WA 98837
HIR-SD-C 24517
Dear Mr. Fields:
On November 7, 1984, we met to discuss the above-captioned
grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grievance

•
procedure •
The question in this grievance is whether management is
proper in requiring a rural letter carrier to deliver Express
Mail to a customer who is on the carrier's line of travel.
During our discussion, it was mutually agreed that the
following would represent a full settlement of this case:
In accordance with the M-37 Handbook, 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 compensatio·n 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 this customer.
Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as
your acknowledgment of agreement to settle this case •

•
111
 E-66

Mr. Dallas N. Fields 2

•
Time limits were extended by mutual consent.
Sincerely,

(
/~
) \ ~
~.
! ,
I\ 1'/ /.? 7J.--
N/ i ./1'. .e..;;:=:f?.-...--- /
,'j''"''
I ~
Dallas N. Fields '
Director, Labo'r Relations
National Rural Letter
Carriers' Association

•
112
 M-63
lABoR RELATlCNS

~ UNITED STATES
*iii POSTI1L SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa

President
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
th
1630 Duke Street, 4 Floor
Alexandria, VA 23314-3465
Re: H95R-4H-C 01032651
Class Action
Calhoun. GA 30701-9998
Dear Mr. Baffa:

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

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.

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

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 wifl separate the maif as a local post office
box/caller 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.

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,

~ulUJu A· tdUn£!
drea B. Wilson, Manager Gus Baffa. Pres'
Contract Administration National Rural
(NRLCNNPMHU) Association

"/i 9~-z'3
")

Date: Date: :3" 17/[>3

~ 75 L'Er-FM-lT po.AlA SW
W,l$HINGTON DC 20260-4 100
WNW.U'>PS COM

113
 M-69
.t"llt ~If~
•::Il~:•c
...-
,,'-..... .
.. .. ...
&_;;
~

UNITEO SiATCS POSTAL SEHVICE

LCor A.'-bons Dtpanment
47; cent.,. PluL. SW
Watlington. Oc 20280-4100

~r. Steven 1. Smith

Director of Labor Aelations
National Rural Letter
Carriers' ASsociation
5l:i te 100 OCT 2 7 1~6J
1448 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3403

Ite: Crimes
Bowling G~een, KY
H71l-2J-C 389
Dear !lr. Smi th:
On several occa5ion$, the most receot bein~ October 14, 1988,
we met to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth
step of our contractual grievance procedure.
The issue in this grievance is whether .anage~ent violated
the National Agree.ent when postage due mail was bundled and
given to the earrier as one parcel during the mail count.
It is our position that no national interpretive issue
involving the teras and conditions of the National Agreement
is fairly preGented in this ca£@_ lowever, the union did not
aqree.
During our discussion, we mutually agree that the following
would represent a full settle.ent ot ehis case:
In accordance with the Rural nelivery Carriers
Du~ie£ and R.&ponsibili~i.c, A.thad Handbook, M-21,
-At least 15 days before the start of the count,
postaasters will hold joint conferences of
supervisors and rural ~arriers to discuss these
procedures and instructions. w Review of this case
revealed before the count, the postage due mail was
Dot being bundled and this procedure vas not
d15cus~ed duripq the p~e-cQunt conferenee~ It was
not until September 10, 1981. t~at the procedure was
changed. Therefore, the carrier shall be credited
with the sa pieces of post&ge due .ail on his
evaluation and shall receive compensation if it is
warranted.

114
 M-69
Mr. Steven R. Smith 2

Please sign and return the enclcsed copy of this decision AI

your acknowledqaent af agree_ent to settle this case.
Time limits vere extended br mutual consent.
Sincerely,

115
 P-59
~tf.S~
.
.,.~ ..II
...

.-.
z- ...... -c
::I u.uua. ;

a ••••••

UNncOSTATESPOSTAlSER~CE
475 LI£n'ant Plaza. SW
Wuhingwn. DC lO26O

Ka.rch 11. 1982

Mr. Dallas Fields

Director, Labor Relations
National aural Let~er Carriers'
Associat.ion
Suit.e 1204
1750 Pennsylvania Avenue, N. W.
Washin9ton, D. C. 20006
Re: Union
Bilton. NY 14468
B8R-2W-C 11821
))ear Mr. Pields:
On February 9, 1982, we met with you to discuss the
above-captioned grievance at the fourth step of our
-~on:~aetu41 grievance procedure.

The mat.ters presented by you as well as the applicable

contractual provisions have been reviewed and given careful
consideration.
It is our mutual understanding that under the circumstances
of ~b1s grievance/no rQral carrier has been 1nstructea to
attempt door aelivery of all postage~ue mail. ~he !-1
Handbook does require the rural carrier to sign a postage-due
109. when ~.c.ivin~ poc~a9.-du • .ail.
. ... ..

We mutually agreed to resolve this grievance on the above

basis'.
Please sign the attached copy of this deeision as your
acknowledgment of aqreement to resolve this case.
Sineerely,

Dallas N. '-elds
Director, Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Assoeiati.on

116
Mailer Services: Treatment of Mail

507.1.4.1

Exhibit 1.4.1 USPS Endorsements for Mail Undeliverable as Addressed

ENDORSEMENT REASON FOR NONDELIVERY

Attempted - Not Known Delivery attempted, addressee not known at place of address.

Box Closed- No.Order* Post office box closed for nonpayment of rent

Deceased Used only when known that addressee is deceased and mail is not properly deliverable to
another person. This endorsement must be made personally by delivery employee and
under no circumstance may it be rubber-stamped. Mail addressed in care of another is
marked to show which person is deceased.

Delivery Suspendedto Commercial Mail Failure to comply with bOR through b08, 'j<9':3.
Receiving Agency

IIlegible* Address not readable.

In Dispute* Mail returned to sender by order of chief field counsel· (or under SOB, -1 ,0 and
because of dispute about right to delivery of mail and cannot be determined which
disputing party has better right tomai!.

Insufficient Address* Mail without number, street, box number, route number, or geographical section of city or
city and state omitted and correct address not known.

Moved, LeffNoAddress Addressee moved and filed •no change-of-address order.

No Mail Receptacle* Addressee failed to provide a receptacle for receipt of mail.

No Such Number* Addressedtononexistent number.and correct number not known.

No Such Office in State* Addressed to nonexistent post office.

No Such Street* Addressed to nonexistent street and correct street not known.

Not Deliverable as Addressed- Mail undeliverable at address given; no change-of-address order on file; forwarding order
Unable to Forward expired.

Outside Delivery Limits* Addressed to location outside delivery limits of postoffice of address. Hold mail for
out-of-bounds. customers. in general· delivery forspecified •period unless·addressee filed
order.

Refused* Addressee refused to accept mail or pay postage charges on it

Returned for Better Address * Mail of local origin incompletely addressed for distribution or delivery.

Returned for Postage Mail without postage or indication that postage fell off.

Returned to Sender Due to Addressee's Man returned to sender under false representation order and lottery order.
Violation of Postal False Representation
and Lottery. Law*

Returned to Sender Due to Addressee's Mail returned to sender under false representation order.
Violation of Postal False Representation
Law*

ReturnedtoSender Due to Addressee's Mai/returned to sender under lottery order

Violation ofPostal Lottery Law*

Temporarily Away* Addressee temporarily away and period for holding mail expired.

Unclaimed* Addressee.abandoned or failed to call for mail.

Undeliverable as Addressed, Missing Failure to comply with 508, '1.9.2e,.

PMB or# Sign

Vacant* House, apartment, office, or building. not occupied. (Use only if mail addressed
1I0ccupant.")
* Alternative addressing formats may not be used on the following: Express Mail pieces; mail with any special service; mail sent with any
ancillary service endorsement; mail sent to any overseas military post office. When an alternative addressing format is used on Periodicals
pieces, the publisher is notified of nondelivery only for those reasons marked with an asterisk (*).

Domestic Mail Manual • Updated 1-3-08 801

117
~ UNrrEDSTi!TES
~ POSTi!L SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314·3465

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
office, 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 subsequenUy required to remove the mail
from the full box again, that route will be credited with one mark-up tor 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,1he 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,

uL;) ~ """ If-

William Daignauit
~~)
Contract Administration Director of Labor Relations
(NRLCAlNPMHU) National Rural Letter Carriers'
Labor Relations Association

Date: /..<I It ~-t.

.1•
<175 L'~ FV.zA SN
W/.Sl*GTOH DC 20260·4100
_.USPS.co.; 118
 ~ UNITED STIJTES Shipment Confirmation
I!a POSTIJL SERVICE ® Acce lance Notice
Note To Mailer: The labels and volume associated to this form Shipment Date: _

_
online, must match the labeled packages being presented to the
the

uspg@ employee with this form. From:

Shipped From:
Name _

Type of Mail

Priority Mail Service®

Express Mail Service®­

Service®-
--------------------------J t----~~----------------------

International Mail·
­
------------
Other
­
------------.- ._ .. ------ ­
- - - - - - -

·Start time for products with service guarantee

and items receive individu

ase scen upon pickup or receipt of mail. Leave form with customer or in
customer's mail receptacle.

USPS SCAN

11111111111111111 IIII

91500268 3733 10000001 14

PS Form 5630. November 2006, PSN 7530-{)8-000-4335

119
-=- UNITED STATES
~ POSTAL SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: J95R-4J-C 02108477

Class Action
Gaylord, MI 49735

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 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.

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

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

Sincerely,

~ National Rural Letter Carriers'

Association
4TS L'EN;iHr P\..AzI. SN
w ~ DC 202tlO-4100
120
iii=!!I!I UNITED STdTES
~ POST~LSERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria. VA 22314-3465

Re: J95R-4J-e 02114117

Class Action
Adrian, MJ 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 o~ our contractual grievance 'procedure.

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

During our discussion, we mutually agreed.that the following will constitute fuJI 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 Nral
carrier substantiating the accuracy of these time measurements. It is agreed that Nral 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 canier 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.

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

Sincerely,

Randy An
Director 0 abor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association

Date: / - 30 -0 l/

47!l t.:&<F.wT f\I.;:... sw

w~ DC 20260-4100 121
_.USPS.COM
irIW·UNITEDST4TES
"I'OST~LSERVICE

March 23. 2004

DISTRICT MANAGERS

SUBJECT: Use 01 Edt Books on Rur8I Routes

In January 1997 a rnemqrandwn was sent to all distrtct managers concerning the use Of Edit
Books on nnI routes. This memorandum lnducIed revisions to Handbook PO-603 and a series
of questions and answerS addressing Nral CBITfer concems regll'dlng 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 RInl Letter Carriers' Association.
Several questions have been deleted because they no longer apply to the Edit Book process and
many answers remain unchanged. Questions concernklg the use of "8-, -N", and V codes have
been plac;ed first. as these seem to be causing the greatest concern among rural carriers.

If you have any qUestions concerning thls matter, pIe8se contacI Robert West at (202) 268-3551
or Cathy Perron at (202) 268-4130.' .

~~Acting Manager
Delivery Support

Attachment

cc: Managers. Delivery Programs Support (Areas)

475 L"ENF~ PLAZA SW

WASHlOGTON DC 20260
_.lJSPS.c:ew 122
 RURAL ROUTE EDIT BOOK

1. When I. "S- (for P.O. Box). "Noi (for non-c:leUvery) and "V" (for vacant) u.ed In the 1821
code block for rural route.?
. .
Customers residing along a rural route nne of travel who receive P.O. Box delivery In lieu d rural
delivery are not Included ., the rural box count and their residence Is not recorded on the edl
sheet with a -8"' code. Therefore. the "8- code Is not utlized on 1UI81 routes. Addresses that rn
on the route line d tnweI but not delivered. such as local P.O. Box customers. shall be recorded
as code "N". However. deliveries recorded with an -N" wlI appear on both the edit Sheet and
case labels. To suppress the addreII from the carrter case labels. the use of cell sizes with the
following standards wi cause the address not to print on the labels. but will ~ retained on the
edit sheet

• 8O-vaeant adc1ress8s
• 81-PO Box IhrDwbBcks
• 82-1ntema1 add...- (gated communities)
• 83-futln dellvertes
All d the 80+ enlries to the eel size field wil appear with a pound sign (t#) In ceH size on edit
sheets.

Because the use d a V code slgnlftes a vacant address and these addresses are not recorded
in rural delivery untB the vacancy is In excess d 90 days. the V code will not be used on rural
routes. onCe the vacancy Is In exc.s of 90 days. the 'N' code would be recorded and the 80
cell size noted. mantalnlng the address on the edit sheet. but not on the case label.

2. Will caRie,. be I'8qUlred to have non-delJvery locations; I•••• a perman.ntly vacant

hCRJSe. people who have polt oftIce box.., etc., Included In the Edit Books and listed on
the cue labe..?

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. n stated In the
answer to quesUon 1 above. addresses that exist on the rural route line of travel but are not
delivered by the carrier must be coded with an -N-In the 1621 column. Use of the appropriate 80
entry in the ceU size field will keep this address from appearing on the case label. In those
instances where the carrier Is required to complete a review d the Edit Book and record an non-
delivery locations. compensation wal be provided In the form d auxiliary assistance or by utlJzing
Fonn 8127.

3. When the Edit Book f, returned to the delivery unit. 1,1t to be kept at the carrie". case
so that chang•• can be entered dally?

Yes. The Edit Book is normally kept at the carrier's case for easy access. The Edit Book does
not have to be speciaRy 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.

123
 4. Can rural carriers cut and ..... on CLASS case labels?

Rural carrierI who ~ ~ custoiner name to assist them In casing the mal may write the
customer name(s) on a.ASS labels. To enst.n easy eccess to the CLASS labels, rural ruutes
81'8 not requi'ed to utilize the plBStic I8bel guards which restrict access to the labels limiting their
abUIly to wrtIe new ack:Jrelses or customer names on the labels. However, If the new self-
adhesive labels . . utftlz8d these must be placed on the outside or the plastic label guard.

accommodate CLAS$ lab.

Cutting or labels is generally prohibited unles. the carrier casing equipment being used will not
(case ledgeslseperations do not confonn to Address Management
Service ofIice product cepabllty) or the case requires new labels tnvnedlat8ly and cutting Is the
only solution to have the IaI*s In proper order or sequence. Canien conc:emecl ~ culling
label. 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 Iile or travel. Crn should
be taken to ensure blank s~ are left where new ~eIJveries have a potential to be added in the
near term and to minimize the need to cut labels.

5. Are rural carriere going to be required tD ~mple" the -Add Sheer' In the Edit Book?

No. The carrier wi normally nat be required to complete the Add Sheet. The Add Sheet Is .
usuelly utIizad when large groups Gf new deIiv8rieI are added to the roUte .. at once. As.,
example. 8 manager may want to add an 8pII1ment project to a rouIa but wi ftag the new
deliveries with an ~. code una such 1m. 81 the carrier reports the customers are moving n
There Is also a Line of TI1IV8I (LOT) WOI1cIheet Ih8t Is Intended to be used for route adjustments
and canter line of trBveI changas. ThIIInformaIIon Is normaIy CQq)Ieled by the manager ar a
designated IndlYldual. Rural carrierI wli wrIe new deltv.'y Information on the Maintenance ..
Wor1<sheet during those periods that the Edit Book Is at the AMS unl, being Input and haWlg new
Jabels generated. However, If carrierl81'8 requi'ed 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 or auxUlary assistance or by utilizing Form 8127.

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

No. C8rTIers WI'I normally not make edI sheet changes associated with route adjustments. This
Is a managerhent responslbDIty. If carriers 81'8 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 ofauxilJary assistance or by utilizing Form 8127.

7. Who 1s responsible for making chang.. (and maps) becaus. of a new street on the
route? .

Management is responsible for makrlg these changes. If car.rters are required to make map
changes, appropriate compensation for this type of work must be provtded at the time It occurs.
This compensation could be In the form of auxiliary assistance or by utilizing Form 8127.

124
8. Will nam.. be prtnted on CLASS I.els " they were Included In the additional
Information block?

Only carriers that ordwed customer names with Ihei' initial CLASS label order wi have the
names printed on their labels by'address management. Names wtI 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 Ie8ves the route. Csrriers
not eligible for pre-prfnted names on the ClASS labels may hand .write names on the labela or
use some form of stlck-on label applied to Ihe CLASS labels to annotate Ihe names.

9. By what m.ans will a record of additions or deletions of d.,Iv.". be kept?

carriers will record box additions end deletions on Itie edit sheets Included In the Edit Book.
When the Edlt Book Is submitted to Address ~t S)8tems (AMS) for rnaHenance,
can1erw wi record box additions. deletions end ch8nges on the Mamtenance WOl1csheet. ThIs
sheet mey be confaned In the EdI Book and must be tIIk8n out 8I'ld kept at the CIII'Iter C8I8 when
the EdI Book has been aubmIIIed for revision. When Ihe new Edt Book II received. CIIIrienI wID
r:t:IfIY II ch8nges from the Mainterwlce Work8heet ontD the new edt sIieIta In the edit Book.
CopIes of the Route St.mmary Pagel may be kept to ensan that changea In the number of boxes
on the route 8/'8 property I'IICOI'ded on the front of PS Form 4240. RurIlI Canter TIme Sheet. and
submItI8d on PS Form 4003. 0fftcIaI Rur8I Route~. The aY'8I'8g8 weekly Ime
associated with addlllonal work requhd for all forms corttalll8d n the Edl Book wi be bult Into
the route evaluation to enstn appropriate compensation. Whle Edit Book work may not be
performed during the mag count period, en average weekly tme assoclaf8d with the additional
work required will be recorded as appropriate.

10. Does compl.tlng the edit sh..ts only apply to routes receiving automated man?

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 shHts, will pens be provided?

Annotations made to the edit sheets should be made In red Ink. Red 10k Is suggested because It
is more noticeable to the persons inputtilg the data. If necessary, other colors may be used.
However, these colors should contrast with ~e btack print on the white pages of the edit sheets.
Red peni will be provided wherever Edit Books are In. use. Carriers are not responsible for
providing red pens. .

12. Are the,.. any plans to us. the edit shHts to trigger an Interim adjustment?

No. The address management database does not Interface with the route lnformsUon data base
used for pa)'l'Oll purposes.

125
 13. Is there an under~dlng th. management must return the edit sheets, nWllabel.,
summary sheet&, 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 tracklng sheet which wi! show when a book was submitted to AMS
and when It was returned. Books wi! generally be processed In order of receipt unless a special
change is required in a particular officeIzone which would cause that office to be expedited•.

14. If not r.turned In a timely manner, will the carrter be compensated for any extra work
required by the delay In mana~enl's action? . .

WhUe the Edit Book Is WNBy being processed. ~ will track changes on the MairUnance
Sheet. If the books are processed In a timely manner, a minmal number of addresses should be
on these addIdelete sheets and the transfer of this data to the·new edit sheet and the new case
labels should be minimal. If processilg has been delayed so long that the new labels and new
edit sheets would require extBn81ve rewartcing to make them usable, then compensslIon for the
C3rier1' addftionaI etroI1i IhoUId be provtded.. ThJI compenlBIion could be In the form of
auxiliary assls1ance or by utilizing Form 8127.

15. What crIt8rIII would management nonnal.y u.. to determine to have the canter do the
edit sheets on an _ 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 addressees) is recorded it
should be submitted at least on a monlhly basis. More frequent submissions might be necessary
where delivery addJtions and deletions are extensive.

16. Will management be allowed to have carrie,. review the edit sheets .ach wHk?

Weekly review of edit sheets will not be required where the c8rr1er proper1y maintains the Edit
Book Blid appropriate worksheets.

17. How will c.rie... be compensated for reviewing the edit .h.ets?

An average weekly time required for the edit Book and associated worksheet additions. deletions
and reviews will be Included In Column R tirne for the route during t!,e mal count

18. What Is the summary or history shHt?

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 returned to that office.

126
 K-ll.50
WoR RELATIONS

. . UNITED ST!l.TES
~ POST!l.LSERVICE .'

Mr. Leo J. Root

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: F91 R-4F-c 98024591

G. MILLER
SAUNAS, CA 93907-9998

Dear Mr. Root:

On several occasions, the most recent being December 29, 1998, 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 returning an LA key during mail count when she has no other
accountables.

During our discussion, we mutually agreed that the following will constitute full and
complete ~ettJement of this grievance.

Management should have given the grievant credit for time used during mail count to
obtain and retum an LA key when she had no other accountables. In the instant ease,
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.

~ ~. / ,
Sincerely,

bjBQr··~d--
William Oaign;Uit
.~4.
Leo J. Root
Contract Administration Director of Labor Relations
(NALCJNRLCA) National Rural Letter Carriers'
Labor Relations Association

Date: /h9h7
~~4

475 L'ENFAHT PUoZA SW 127

WAlIHINQTON DC 20260-4100
 .
:",n
.~.
1lOS~
.
•-R _ , .•I
~
.......
-=:
UNITED SWES POSTAL SERVICE
Ubor AIIatianI Departrnlnl
m L:lnIMI PIazL SW
WuhingUln. DC 20280-4100

ftr. Steven a. Saith

Director of Labor aelations
National Rural Letter t.fAR 23 198$
Carriers' Association
Suite 100
1448 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3~03
ae: Local
Sequia, RA 98382
s4a-Sa-C ~7608

Dear JIIr. Saith:

On several occasions, the .ost recent being Karch 8, 1989, we
aet to discuss the above-captioned grievance at the fourth
step of our con~ractual grievance procedure.
The issue in this grievance il vbether or not aanageaent at
the Taco.. sse properly disallowed tiae given in the 1987
aail count for answering custaaer phone calls and window
tiae.
Daring our discussion, ve .utually agre.d that the following
constitutes full and co.plete settleaent of this grievance:
The carriers vill be given credit for tiae
originally given for answering custoaer phone calls
and window tiae with cu.to.ets.
The ter•• of this ag.reeaent are noaprecedential, nonci table,
and apply only.to this grievance.
Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as
your ackuowledgaent of agreeaent to settle this case.
Sincerely,

'~~:jiC~·.- C~ef -~"1 ~/~

fturiel Aikens Arnold Steven R. SalEh
Grievance , Arbitration Director of Labor Relations
Division National aural Letter Carriers'
Association
(Da te ) (:.'.~ ~ 3 '989

128
;;w UN"EDSTIJTES
~ POSTIJLSERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: EOOR-4E-C 04086896

Class Action
Bemidji, MN 56601-9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being September 23, 20OS, we met to discuss the
above-eaptioned 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 retum.

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

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 retum the MDCD scanner is an
elemental standard which is part of the evaluated system, which may not in every
instance be adequate for an indMdual 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 P0-603 allows claIms for a
reasonable time allowance under unusual circumstances for services rendered on a
daily or weekly basis that are not aCCX)unted 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.

475 L'&I;tHr Pvv. &N

W ~ D C 20260-4100

_.I.SPS.COW 129
Please sign and return the enclosed copy of this letter as your acknowledgement of the
agreement to remand this case.

Sincerely,

~JtW<
nctrar 'e Randy
Labor Relatials Speclatist Director Labor Relations
Contrad Administration (NRLCA) National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association

Date: 9-30-OS

130
~ UNITEDSTIJTES
~ POST4L SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th I=/oor
~xandria,VA 22314~3465
Re: QOOR-4Q-e 04101548
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 Safety/Service Talks during the rural carrier mail
count violates the National Agreement.

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

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 improper1y interpreted. The memo·with
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 mlnagers and supervisors must conduct one 'aU inclusive' talk
each week that Includes safety and any other required talks such as,
but not limite"d 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 carriers as possible receive
this information.

The evaluated compensation method calls for crediting roraJ carriers

with average workload based on the most recent count. To that end, all
activities that recur on a dally or weekly basis must be included in the
route evaluation. Ukemail v.olume, 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 8127 unless there is a non-
recurring event, such as a required 30-mlnute safety video. However,

475 L:ew- Pv.v. SoN

W.r.IHNGTCN DC ~ 100 131
_.lIl'S,CCIIoI
 management must ensure that the average weeldy time for the an inclusive
talk during the rest of the year does not differ greslJy from the average weekly
time required during the mal 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 3D-minute safety video was
also shown, a 3D-mlnute 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 offices 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.

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

Sincerely,

,;~a;'."tr
iiilam signa1{lt
Labor Relations Specialist
Randy
Director Labor Relations
Contract Administration National Rural Letter Carriers'
(NRLCAlNPMHU) Associatioh

Date: zPBjoi

132
 8-5.30
LABOR RB.ATIONS

ifr!!1!!f UNfTED STIJ.TES

I!iii POSTAL SERVfCE
Mr. Randy Anderson
Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

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 Allowance, 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.

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

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.

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

Sincerely,

Randy A e son
Director 0 Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association

Date: 3-;l3-0S
475L'~~SW
WA5Hl«lTON DC 20260-41 00
WIM.USPS.r::DM
133
134
 8-5
Mr. Steven R. Smith 2

Pledse sign dnd return the enclosed copy of this letter as

your acknowledgment of agreement to settle this case.
Time limita were extended by mutual ~onG.nt.

Sincerely,

.aLd.. . l.-~~ d t,,{t~'I'/.1

Andrea B. W11son
~rievance , Arbitration
Steven R. Smith
Director, Labor Relations
Division National Rural Letter Carriers'
AIIsociai:ion

135
. . UNITEDST.4TES '--.
~ POST.4LSERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter' Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314·3465

Re: OOR-4E-C 02161832

Class Action
Pequot, MN 56472

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 is whether man~gement violated the National Agreement when
management did not include the time in Column R during the 2002 mati count that rural
carriers used to place/deposit hold mail at the designated hold case.

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

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 placing/depositing of mail or bundles of mall 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 separating/casing of individual mail pieces on or into the provided
equipment at the designated location. This function should be performed at the carrier's
case.

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,

.@:h~)
~bor
;Judith Stokowski
Contract Administration Relations
(NRLCAlNPMHU) Rural Letter Carriers'
National
Labor Relations Association

Dale: ~ 2 200'1'
475 L:&9Nr PI.RA sw
W~1ON DC 20260-4100
_,LJJPll.COhl
136
 M-70.10
~ UNITEDSTLJTES
I!ifiI POSTi1L SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: EOOR-4E-C 02250463

Class Action
Gig Harbor, WA 98335.9998

Dear Randy:

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.

After reviewing this matter, we mutually agreed that no national Interpretive issue is fairly
presented in this 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. Arty compensation that may result will be prompUy paid.

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

.Sincerely,

udith Stokowski Randy Ander

labor Relations Specialist Director of La .r Relations
Contract Administration National Rural Letter Carners'
(NRLCA,-NPMHU) Association

Date: 3#0 IDS:/

475 L:er- P!.NA '!;oN

WA$4NGTON DC 20280-4100

137
 C-111
lABoR RB.ATlONS

~ UNITEDSTI3TES
'-ifj POST13L SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural LeUer Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: E95R-4E-C 01259718

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.

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

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 agreement to
settle this case.

Sincerely,

William Daigne It
Contract Administration
~Director of Labor Relations
(NRLCAlNPMHU) National Rural Letter Carriers'
Labor Relations Association

475 L'E",FANT PLAZA SW

WASHINGTON DC 20260-4100
WIYN.USPS.COM
138
 C-28

Kr. St.ven I. Salth

Dir.ctor, Labor aelationl
National Bural Letter
C.rriers' Alsoei.tion
4th Floor
1'30 Dule Str•• t
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465
.e. 17a-ZI-C 27514
Cl••• Action
L.xinfton, IC 29072
D.ar IIr. Salth:
on ' ••er.l oecalionl, the aa.t recent beln, Karch 1~, 1991,
w••• t to di.cul. the above-captioned ,rie.ance at tb.
fourth step of our contractu.l 9rievance procedure.
Th. i ••ue In thi. ,rie.anc. i. wheth.r rural c.rrier. who
are required to file ror.. 3575, CbaDge of Addr••• Card.,
are entitled to c08pen.ation.
DuriDg our di.cu••ion, ve autuallf a,r••d that the
fol1owiD9 constitute. full ••tt1e..at of tbl. grie••nce.
Hor••11y, rural c.rri.r. are not requir.d to file
ror.. 3515 aftlr r.turn fro. co~tlrilid
Forwarding Sflte. or Central R.rt-up. Bow.v.r,
if they .re required to ..lntain auch ricarda, .n
appropriate ti., credit ault b, ,l••n.
'1•••• lign aad r.turn the enclos.d copy of Chi. deci.ion
al your acknowledg.ent of .fr••••nt to .ettl. thi. c••••
Ti•• limitl vere extended by mutual COD•• nt.

Sinci rely,

'u,,~()..~~c.~J.
Kuriel Alk.na Arnola
Grievance .nd Arbitration
Division
~/:'/~
s~s.i£il
Director, Labor a,lation.
Rational Rural L'tta~
. Carrier.' A••ociation

--- 139
 C-30
iir§I UNITEDST47ES
"IIOnaLSEIMCE
JIr. Lao Root
Director of Labor RalatiODS
.ational Rural La~c
carriers' laaoeiation
1428 Duke Street
Alexandria, VA 22314-3499
:Re: Guy Sauer
'1D.VDSE ern HI
1l71l-4!l-c 21551

Dear I!r. Root:

On July 20, 1994, you .et with Andrea Wilson in a
prearbit:ration discussion ot the above-reterenced cases.
'!'he issue in this qrievanca is wbethar the grievant should
have received addi'tioDal credit tor verification ot chang-a ot
address labels applied to PS faa 3575 attar it vas re'turned
trODl the computeriZed :ronrardinq Syst_ (elS) operation.
Darinq the discasaioD, it was autually qreed. that 'the
tollowinq would rapreset full and complete .ettl_nt ot this
c:aaa.
Verification ot the adrk_ libel appUed },y the as unit 1:0 a
=anqe of add:Aaa card is not 1ncluc1e4 in tJle chaDg-a of
address staztdard t1ma allovanca. The work ...ociated. with
this allowance pr.c1a~ the exiat:anee ot t:tuI as operation,
aDd this tunction is DOt incorporated into the current
stanciard allowance. .
Where the curier is required to verity the chanqa of address
card attar its return from tha as operation, ti:me should be
iDeluded in any nJ:)saquezrt _il CQunt for tJlat verification.
Plus8 siCJD and ra'turn the enclosed =py at this latter as
your acknowle~t at .eemant to settle the above-captioned.
case and remove it .trOll the pandinq Datioaal arbitra'tion
listiDq.
Time liJIits were extend.ed by JIlUtual consent.
Sincerely,

Leo J.
Director, Labor Relations
National Rural Le1:1:er
car.riers' Association,
_AFL-<:IO
67S L.....' JI'_ SIN
WAIi _ oc 2llZlIlI Date: I (J
I
In. I/9'lf
140
. . UNITEDSTJJ.TES
~ POST.ALSERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: E95R-4E-C 00056816

ClassAdlon
Vakina, WA 98903-9998

Dear Mr. Anderson:

On several occasions, the most recent being July 23, 2002, we met to discuss the above.captloned
grievance at the fourth step of our contractual grtevanca procedure.

The Issue in this grievance is whether Management violated the National Agreement by disallowing
entries under Column R. Other Suitable Allowance, of the Fonn 4241 for removal of antl-fatlgue mats
and p1atfonns from the floor in order for custodial maintenance of the wortt area.

During our discussion, we muluaDyagreed that the following wli constitute fuB and complete
settlement of this grievance:

Pursuant to Sec:Uon 535.12.r. of the Rursl Carrier DutIes & ResponsIbIIJtJes, Handbook PO-
603, a reasonable time allowance may be claimed for services rendered on a dany or weekly
basIs, that are not accounted for under nonnal work functions. The parties agree that there Is
no requirement for the PO$ta1 servtce to provide antl-fatlgue (stress) mats for use by the rural
carriers. However, if this equipment Is provided by the Postal 8ervIce and the can1ers 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 detennlne whether such a
requlr8ment exists and If so, the appropriate time credit to be added to the evaluation of each route.

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

Raridy
Director of Labor Relations
NatJonal Rural Letter CarTlers'
Association

Date: g-«./- O:k

475l:~ FtozA sw
WASHNi!'G'f DC 20260-4100
_.IJSI'S.CCM
141
. . . UNITEDSTIJTES
. .POSTIJLSERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
AssocIation
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
AJexandria,VA 22314-3465
Re: JOOR-4J.C 04149356
Scroggins
DeKalb, IL 60115·9998

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 nonnal work
functions. Such authorized time allowances are to be recorded in Colurm 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.

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

Sincerely,

~kit
Sandra J. S oie Randy
Labor Relations Specialist Director of bar Relations
Contract Administration National Rural Letter Carners'
(NRLCA) Association

Date: -H ~ 1, r1J~I)S

415 L'EwNfT PwA SW

w~ DC 20260-4100
_.lSPS.COW

142
. . UN"EDST.4TES
~ POST.4L SERVICE

Mr. Randy Anderson

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: EOOR-4E·C 02168812

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 grieva~ce procedure.

The issue in this grievance is whether the loading function during the 2002 national rural
mail count was properly credited for rural routes in the Yakima•. Washington. office.

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

Section 535.12 Q of Handbook PC-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 locatio,,:

If the designated location is the parking lot, loading tim!! 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 utllize'the available equipment in the parking lot when returning
to the office 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
retuming 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. .

(75 L,'!:>F.- F'w.o sw

W.-oH DC 2026D 143
 -2-

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.

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

Sincerely,

iJ6~, ... iI-

William Daigneat Randy n
Contract Administration Diredor 0 aOOr Relations
(NRLCAlNPMHU) National Rural L,etter Carriers'
,-abor Relations Association

Date: ,~4</

144
 · 0-54
RECEIVED
Ju IQ t82
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
_.1..... DC..-
QI~""""""_' NRLCA
January 19, 1982

Mr. Dallas N. r1e14.

Director, Labor "lations
Hational Rural Letter Carriers' Association
1750 'ennsylvania Avenue, III
Silite 1204
.ashin9ton, DC 20006
.. : 'l" • Wan-en
Kadi.m, WI 53707
aU-tJ-e-443
Dear Mr. Fields:
OftDecember 17, 1981, we met on the' abo"e-captiofted grievance
at the fourth step of our contractual 'grievaftee procedure.
~e satters presented .. -.11 as the applicable contractual
provisions have been reviewed and given careful coa.1deration.
The question in ~is grievance 18 whether or DOt aanag. .nt
violated the Bational Igre. .ent by requiring rural carriers to
cross lawns clurine) clia-oanu, particularly, in apar1::JUDt
complexes.
It is the palia!, of the po.~ Service that where 11&11 1s to
be aelivered by foot betvea aelige1:1' poinu, suctl aelivery
shall be accomplisbed as efficiently .. po.aible. !bi•
• e&DS c=o••iDCJ laws, u detem1net5 by aaD&g. .ent, vbere safe
to do ao aDd the custoaer do•• DOt object.
Accordin91y, as ve find no violation of the Bational
Agr....nt, this grievance is clenied.
Sincerely,

~~Z-..
~Euge'ne
tabor Relations Department

145
 . 0-57
"..~
•••.~.•s•
- .
·........
I ..... ; RECEIVED
iUi J' l83
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
4JIL~"",,1W
........... DC . .
HRLCA
Karch 4, 1983

Mr. Dallas H. Field.

Director, Labor Ralatiofts
"tional Rural ~tt'r Carriers' Association
1750 Pennsylvania Avenu., H.W.
Suite 1204
Washington, D.C. 20006

Re' Clus Action

Lexington, ICY USll
Bla-4tr-C 7060
Dear Mr. rields:
On January 6, 1983, we aet. to discus. the above-captioned
9~1evance at the fourth st.p of our contractual grievance
procedure.
The matters pr.sented as vell as th. applicabl. coDtractual
provisions bave be.n revieved and giveD careful coDsia.ration.
'l'h. question in this 9t'ievanc. is vb.tber or not. management
violat.d the 1981 National Agr....nt wh.n it required rural
carri.rs to walk coaplet.ly aroand their .ehicl.s Ift.r
returning from a diSlOunt delivery witbout immediat. compens.-
tion. Tbi. occurred aft.r the lat.lt route evaluation. Local
a&n&g•••nt's polition i. that tb. time and actual foot.g. for
this activity i. to be r.cordedJ bown.r, additional coapensa-
tion cannot be paid ~atl1 an incr.... of two full hours of
evaluation 18 r.ache4 in accordanc. vith Articl. 30,
S.ction l.B~ll.(a)•
•• IIUtually agr••4 that the disaount allowanc. v.. intended to
reduce tb. actual time .ntrie. aad. on the Fora 4241 and va.
a•• i9ned to b. applicabl. in tb. majority of disaount situa-
tions. In this cue, walking coap1et.ly around tbe vehicle vas
not a part of the dismount allowanc. &I d.t.raiD.a by the latest
ro~t. evaluation. !her.for., if the rural carrier v1l1 b.
r.quired to perform this r.curri~ work function, th. carrier
should b. compen.ated 1n accordance with Articl. 30, Section
1. B .11 (a). Th. work f~nction should be collput.d as part of the

146
 0-57
Mr. Dallas N. Fields 2

total round trip d1st.nce Vb.n tbe rout. is counted. Management

vill d.t.~in. the tim. requir...nts for the added duty fro. the
till. it vas first r~uir.4 until the rout. v•• count.d. Any
.ppropri.t. .dju.taent of the evaluated compensation shall be
authorize«! •
Pl•••• sign and r.turn th• •nclosed copy of tbls d.cis1on as
ac:knowle4gaent of 'gl:'e.ent to resolve this c••••
'!'be time liJIits vere utended by mutu.l consent.
Sincerely,

~~,IP
~Q7Iug.n. C
fi\ ~A ~<-?1J£~
l ~ P &iR.
Labor Relations D.partm8nt Dir.ctor, Labor Relations
.ation.l RDr.l Let'er CArri.rs
AI.ociation

147
..

M~61.70
UNITED STATES ~AL ~
471 L,..ANT PLAZA." .
w~aclD8

Kr. %.eo J. Jtoot

cirec1:or ot ~ 181&tioll8
.•ational auni· JAtte
.CUrie.· &uociaUon F.EBO 31993.
4th' ·floor
1630 lNke s:tr.e't
Alexanc:lria,.VA 2231"-3465
Ie: .BOR-2J-e 4997
CLASS ACr1:011'
• JWtDftOWN n 4000..

Dear Mr. Root:

011 JanUary 22, 1993, wa .et to discus. the a))ove-captioned
. grievance at the fourth step of ow:. cOl1trac1:Ua.l CJ2:ievanca
procec!ure.." "
-The issue 111 w.s" gri~ 18 whether the Postal service
violated the .a'tional ~_ant vheD count1ncJ each sack of
collact.iOD ...il" U ODe piece dur!Dg the . .11 count on Z'Ural
"rout_ 1 an4 3. ,"
"
The mUon contends that in accorc!a.nce with !landJ:)ook 1'0-603,
Part 5~5.12(n) each sackshaUld be gJ,ven a parcel credit.
" .
mail va.
It is" t.he position of the Pos1:ai Service that the collected
propely c:ouirtad 111 accordaDce with the PO-603,
Part: .535.12(a). Part 535.12(n) ~s· no relatiqn to this
18ne u the .buncU" iDsiele the -c:ks CQDaiate4 ot le1:1:uo
sile Dail, not parcell. ID the" aJ:tleDce ot any contractual
violation, ~i8 gri~e i. daDieel." .
Sincerely,

148
~ UNrrEDS'mTES
"'I'OSJaLSERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural letter Carriers'
Association
1630 Duke Street, 4th Floor
AJexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: 195R-4I-e99031041
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 PQ-603, defines
how to properly credit letters and flats colleded 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 colleded on the route in the location designated by the postmaster or supervisor.
Should a carrier be required to separate the mall 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

c!~L
cathy . Perron
Contrad Administration
(NRlCAlNPMHU)
labor Relations

475 L'CHFNIr PI.AzA SW

WAIHIGTON DC 20260 149
 8-59
ij1
......
• ,•
lJNnB) srR'ES POSW. SEfMCE
Labar ""lIa _ ~
471L ,...,.
WIlINa DC - - . . 0
Bc. Ste.ea a. Ia1 th .1M 0 l 'SSi
Dlcecco~ of L&ba~ aal.tlaD•
..tloaal aucal Lette,
caccler.' As.oclatloa
hlta 100
144' DUka Itcaat
AlasaDdrla, ~ 2231.-3.03
.e ~ CIa.. Action
O.taloo.a, 1& 52577
.4JI-4~-C 332"

.Dea' IIr. saitJu

Oft ••veral oeeaaioaa, ~ .aat r.c.a~ b.la. r.braar,r J. It.,,
.. _t to disC1l8. tM uoya-capticmad fd.nac. at the fourth
.tap of oar coDtractaal ,ri~c. procedure.
fte 1.l1Ie iD thi. ,rhy.c. 1. wb.ther aaap_at Aoulcl
r.qalce racal carri.c. to purcba.e thelc .~ .toct aDd cat.
pacc.l aD the C'lIstoaac .lde of th. coaatec alOia' wi th
cu.toaeca.
DaC1Df ouc cSl.cusslaa, .. .atually afc•• d that th. follovla,
would cepc••eat a fall ••ttl...at of tbl. c.s.:
Rucal carcl.c••ce Got cequlc.d to 90 lDtO the
lobby to ceplelal.b tbelc .taap .tock or velfb, c.te
aDd aff1z posea,e. vadoa. a11ovuc.. for .~aap.
aDd poatiD, of article. lDcorporate th. a'l1I8Pticm

.to.. .•
that rucal carcler. be.. acc••s to ac.l.s aDd .taap
~ 1••1.....~ vi~~ ,ol., lata ~o lobby.
~l.a.e siID aDd retucD th• •aclo.ad oopy of thi. lett.c a.
your actDovl.d~at of .gc....at to •• ttl. tbi. c••••
'fl•• 11a1ts wce est.Del.d ~ ..tual cODnDt.
SlDc.rely,
.
~~~
ADana WUSOD
/A"e~
sE.yea
sii th &.
Gci.vaDc. 'ArbitratioD Dlr.ctoc of Laboc lelatioD.
DivisioD .atloGal Bvral L.tt.c Clrcl.rs'
AlaoclatloD
(Dah) / #",.. .f /f'rtf

150
 C-26
LASOi'l RELATIONS

;;;;::'!!§ UNITEDST.oTES
*-ii:I POST/iL SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa

President
National Rural Letter Carriers'
Association
th
1630 Duke Street, 4 Floor
Alexandria, VA 23314-3465
Re: QOOR-4Q C 03056531
Class Action
Washington, DC 20260-4100
Dear Mr. Baffa:

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

The issue in this grievance involves a revision to Section 535.12.p. of Handbook PO-603. Ruraf
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 anyone 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 derk. 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.

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,

4<u/.,¢.tr./d.u.~
'Andrea B. Wilson, Manager
Contract Administration
(NRLCAlNPMHU)

Date: 4/;Lo/~?l..3 Date: 3 . . bLt> ~ 03

475 (ENFANT PLAZA SW
WA3~I"C;TO" DC 20260·4100
,,"WW.USPS.CO'"
151
 Lt.soR RELATIONS

-=- UNITEDSTJJTES
~ POSTIJL SERVICE

Mr. Gus Baffa

Director of Labor Relations
National Rural letter Carriers'
Association
1S30 Duke Street, 4th Floor
Alexandria, VA 22314-3465

Re: 195R-4I-e 99113048

Class Action
Sioux Falls, SO 57117-7500

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 aHowanee 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.

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

Pursuant to Article 9.2.K of the National Agreement and Exhibit 531.3 of the Rural
Carrier Duties & ResponsibRities, Handbook P0-603, 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.s03.

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

Sincerely,

~=~"tf
William DaigmJlt .
Contract Administration
us Batra
Director of La elations
(NRLCAlNPMHU) National Rural Letter Carriers'
Labor Relations Association

Date: '1-- /.!>-- a.¢.

£fteleet:lP8

475 L'fI&<NfT PWA f1!N

152
W_ON DC 2026().4 100
. .UNITEOS'mTES
_I'OS'mLSERVICE

Sel)tember 15, 2006

2006

MANAGERS, DELIVERY PROGRAMS SUPPORT (AREA)

(AREA)
MANAGERS, HUMAN RESOURCES (AREA)
(AREA)

MANAGERS, LABOR RELATIONS (AREA)

(AREA)

MANAGERS, HUMAN RESOURCES (DISTRICT)

(DISTRICT)

MANAGERS, OPERATIONS PROGRAMS SUPPORT (DISTRICT)

(DISTRICT)

SUBJECT: NaUonal and Special Rural Mall Counts

Counts

Management, at some postal facilities will be conducting special rural mail. counts

counts
beginning September 18, 2006. The purpose of this directive Is to make certain those

those
counts, and all subsequent rural mall counts, are conducted In accordance with the

the
decision by Arbitrator Dana Eischen in his naUonal award Involving the 2002 rural mail

mail
counl This award may be found on the corporate intranet at:

at:

http://blue.usDs.govldelivervlruraVrural mall count elschen award.pdf

The emphasis of this award is that tile basic purpose of a mail count is an accurate
recording of mail count data to determine the route's evaluation. It is not permissible to
create, enforce, pUblish, and impose standards or limitations on markups, loading time
and other C-column R") time prior to and during the count "so as to make the count data
for those targeted elements conform to preconceived Intended outcomes."

It has always been tile Postal Service's position that it is unacceptable for either
management or rural eaniers to take actions that affect the integrity of the mail count. It
is essential that only the actual time be recorded for elements that are timed, and actual
piece counts be recorded for elemerJts that are counted. These principles are of central
Importance. We recognize that the strategy of establishing benchmarks for columns J,
Q, and R predicated on national averages has not been utilized in any SUbsequent mail
counts since the 2002 national mall count. This memo is simply Intended to ensure that
we continue to management'Mure mall counts without limIting legitimate credit based on
actual time or pieces of mall.,

'15 L'ew_ P-..o.v. sm

W~OC202SO
W~OC202SO

153
 -2­
-2-

ConsJstent with the above, areas, districts, and subordinate postal facilities shall not
establish, expliclUy or ImpliclUy, any caps, ceilings, benchmarks, targets. or thresholds
based on averages that may be designed to limit the time or credit for any element of a
mail count in advance of or during the mall count However, postal management should
continue to take steps to ensure that the most efficient and best practices are followed In
every mail count and may continue to target and review legitimate ouUlers or inappropriate
credit.

~~;;;:/!;
Contract Administration (NRLCA)
Patrick S. Co d
Manager, Rural Delivery
Labor Relations Delivery Programs

154