Text version of the Letter from National

Subject: Mail Count Instructions

The national office has been receiving many calls from state stewards and other concerned carriers regarding a multitude of management edicts and directives that are being promulgated in the field. These instructions are intended to orchestrate an
unprecedented assault on Column R time, loading time, and other variable work functions. Although this paper barrage may lead one to believe that numerous work rules and procedures have changed, the fact is that nothing has changed with respect to core work rules and procedures, The only difference that might be remotely thought of as a procedural change is the re-defining of what a letter is. Yes, some fixed time standards have been reduced. However, again, nothing has changed.

Additionally, although management may be suggesting or implying that some mail count issues that have been in dispute have reached a final disposition which was unfavorable to the union, you need to know that such a representation is not reflective of reality. It is true that the NRLCA has received denials relative to certain mail count grievances. However, many of those have been appealed to national arbitration, On other issues Step 4 decisions have yet to be rendered. Therefore, all of these issues are still in dispute and the grievance procedure has not been exhausted. The subject of some of the mail count grievances are the following: (1) whether the over 5” rigid article contained in a magazine is a parcel; (2) extra time for “helicopter flats”; (3) whether an individual No Mail Receptacle markup is appropriate for mail presented to the carrier that has an address where the mail patron does not provide a receptacle, but has a P.O. Box; (4) extra time for retrieving parcel hampers that are not in close proximity to the casing area; (5) extra time for retrieving DPS mail that is not in close proximity to the casing area; and yet again, (6) credit for a collected accountable.

Should management not allow credit for any of the above mentioned items or if you
cannot resolve other mail count issues, we urge you to contact your state or assistant state steward.

 993