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* Unofficial Site

JUNE 23-27, 2001

HOLIDAY INN BEAUMONT

Committee members:

• Jean Lyles, Porter, Chairman
• Helen Stautmeister
• Hazel Sorters
• Lynne' Mize
• Lila Caraway

REPORT OF RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE

TEXAS RURAL LETTER CARRIERS ASSOCIATION

HOLIDAY INN, BEAUMONT

JUNE 23-27, 2001

WE THE RESOLUTIONS COMMITTEE PRESENT THE FOLLOWING RESOLUTIONS OF THE TEXAS RURAL LETTER CARRIER ASSOCIATION DULY ASSEMBLED AT THE 97TH ANNUAL CONVENTION IN BEAUMONT, TEXAS, JUNE 23-27, 2001.

WHEREAS:
GOD HAD OFFERED HIS RICHEST BLESSINGS UPON US AND HIS PROMISES Ofn THINGS TO COME, THEREFORE BE IT

A. RESOLVED:
THAT WE THANK GOD FOR ALL THESE BLESSINGS.

B. RESOLVED:
THAT WE PLEDGE OUR ALLEGIANCE AND ASSISTANCE TO OUR COUNTRY AND ITS GOVERNMENT AND THE POSTAL SERVICE AND ITS OFFICIALS AND PROMISE OUR CONTINUED SUPPORT AND COOPERATION TOWARD THE BEST POSSIBLE SERVICE FOR OUR CUSTOMERS
.
C. RESOLVED:
THAT WE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT TO THE LEADERS OF OUR COUNTRY AND ARMED FORCES. .

D. RESOLVED :
THAT WE EXPRESS OUR GRATITUDE TO OUR STATE AND LOCAL OFFICERS FOR THEIR EFFORTS IN OUR BEHALF.

E. RESOLVED:
THAT WE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION AND TO THE TRLCA AUXILIARY FOR ITS SUPPORT AND ASSISTANCE AND FOR ALL THE PROGRAMS IT SPONSORS.

F. RESOLVED:
THAT WE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION AND SUPPORT FOR ALL EFFORTS OF QWL/EI FOR THE BETTERMENT OF THE POSTAL SERVICE AND THE TRLCA.

G. RESOLVED:
THAT WE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE SOUTHEAST TEXAS LOCAL 073 FOR THE WORK AND EFFORT THEY HAVE PUT FORTH TO MAKE THIS A SUCCESSFUL CONVENTION.

H. RESOLVED:
THAT WE EXPRESS OUR APPRECIATION TO THE HOLIDAY INN, BEAUMONT FOR THEIR COURTEOUS AND EFFICIENT HANDLING OF THE SPECIAL EVENTS WITHIN THE HOTEL.

I. RESOLVED:
THAT WE EXPRESS OUR THANKS TO OUR NATIONAL OFFICERS FOR THEIR WORK ON BEHALF OF THE RURAL LETTER CARRIERS.

NON-BINDING RESOLUTIONS

1.WHEREAS:
Two weeks prior to the beginning of each guarantee period at each delivery unit, regular rural carriers desiring to work their relief days shall place their names on the relief day work list.
BE IT RESOLVED:
Within two weeks of becoming a regular rural carrier or within two weeks of a route evaluation becoming a J or K route the carrier will be able to add their name to the existing relief day work list. Passed

2.WHEREAS:
Two weeks prior to the beginning of each guarantee period at each delivery unit, regular rural carriers desiring to work their relief days shall place their names on the relief day work list.....
BE IT RESOLVED:
Two weeks prior to the beginning of each guarantee period and when a service change occurs on a regular rural route, regular rural carriers desiring to work their relief days shall place their names on the relief day work list. Additionally, newly appointed PTF's and /or RCA's shall be allowed to place their names on the RDWL at the time of appointment as a designation code 71. Passed

3. WHEREAS:
Compensation at 50% of the carrier's daily rate of pay, in additional to receiving an X day within twelve weeks as scheduled by the employer.
BE IT RESOLVED:
For relief days worked that have exceeded the 12 week time frame payroll shall AUTOMATICALLY generate the appropriate compensation, plus a late penalty of 10% of the gross. Passed

4. WHEREAS:
No present language
BE IT RESOLVED:
Employer agrees to bereavement pay for 3 days.
A. For regular rural carrier who are a step 1 and above.
B. For RCA's who have 4 years 6 months of continual service
C. For RCA's who have exceeded 236 weeks of service
D. For weekend to be excluded. Passed as amended

5. WHEREAS:
Currently RCA's that convert to regular status and regulars serving routes that change to an authorized relief day classification (J or K) after the start of the guarantee period are not allowed to opt into the Relief Day Work List.
BE IT RESOLVED:
RCA's that convert to regular status and regulars serving routes that change to an authorized relief day classification (J or K) after the start of the guarantee period are allowed to opt into the Relief Day Work List for a period of two (2) weeks after such conversion and or route classification change. Passed

6. WHEREAS:
The employer will accept volunteers from the regular carriers that have not opted in to the Relief Day Work List and these carriers are only eligible for option two (2) of Article 9.2.C.5.f (50% of the carrier's daily rate of pay, in addition to receiving an X day within twelve (12) weeks as scheduled by the Employer)
BE IT RESOLVED:
Regular rural carriers on the relief day work list and regular Rural carriers that volunteer to work the relief day will select From options 1,2 or 3 unless mandated to work by juniority. Passed

7. WHEREAS:
New Regular Carrier Appointees may have served the Rural Craft and the Employer without benefits and under various Hardships prior to conversion.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That all days worked be credited to New Regular Carrier Appointees and that a calculation of six days equals a week Of satisfactory service, so as to determine the appointee's Attained step progression.Passed

8. WHEREAS:
Bargaining Unit Leave Replacements experience the same cost of living as regulars, but do not get the cost-of-living-allowance when regulars receive them.
BE IT RESOLVED:
Bargaining Unit Leave Replacements receive COLA increases at the same time as regulars. Passed

9. WHEREAS:
If an office has an available leave replacement assigned to each regular route in the office, i.e., full coverage, then this process will not be utilized (Non-Saturday Relief Day Formula Implementation). ANALYSIS LANGUAGE
BE IT RESOLVED:
If an office has an available leave replacement assigned to each regular route authorized a relief day in the office, i.e., full relief day coverage, then this process will not be utilized (Non Saturday Relief Day Formula Implementation). Passed

10. WHEREAS:
Payroll does not automatically generate compensation for X days not scheduled by the employer within the twelve (12) weeks.
BE IT RESOLVED:
Payroll automatically generates compensation for X days not scheduled by the employer within the twelve (12) week period. Passed

11. WHEREAS:
Payroll does not automatically generate compensation for X days not scheduled by the employer within the twelve (12) weeks.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That the carrier schedule an X day within twelve (12) weeks of expiration of MGMT's twelve (12) week period or authorize compensation for the X day. Passed

12. WHEREAS:
A regular rural carrier that works on a designated holiday receives the daily rate of pay for such a day in addition to holiday leave pay.
BE IT RESOLVED:
A regular rural carrier that works on a designated holiday receives one and one half (1 ½) times the daily rate of pay in addition to the holiday leave pay. Passed

13. WHEREAS:
There is no incentive for MGMT. to aggressively pursue leave replacements hires once the formula has been implemented.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That in an office that has implemented the formula, all leave replacements in that delivery unit receive the schedule 2 wage, that normally applies to rural carrier associates and rural carrier relief employee on the rolls prior to August 24,1991 as an incentive for new hires and for MGMT. to genuinely work for abolishing the formula implementation. Passed

14. WHEREAS:
When substantial service changes occur, an increase or decrease of two (2) full hours (120 minutes) in the evaluation of a rural route's hours as determined by the formula in this paragraph, which indicate possible eligibility for, or adjustment of evaluated compensation, the Employer shall promptly adjust the route evaluation and shall make a prompt adjustment in the compensation. Such interim adjustment shall be made by application of a formula based upon (1) the appropriate box allowance added to the volume factor multiplied by the boxes added to or subtracted from the route since the last evaluation and (2) the change in miles multiplied by the appropriate factor.
BE IT RESOLVED:
When substantial service changes occur, an increase or decrease of one (1) full hours (60 minutes) in the evaluation of a rural route's hours as determined by the formula in this paragraph, which indicate possible eligibility for, or adjustment of evaluated compensation, the Employer shall promptly adjust the route evaluation and shall make a prompt adjustment in the compensation. Such interim adjustment shall be made by application of a formula based up on (1) the appropriate box allowance added to the volume factor multiplied by the boxes added to or subtracted from the route since the last evaluation and (2) the change in miles multiplied by the appropriate factor. Passed

15. WHEREAS:
RCA's in a formula office are working full time.
BE IT RESOLVED:
Rural Carrier Associates (hired from a register or reassigned from Rural Carrier Relief or Auxiliary Carrier positions) assigned to a formula office will be considered Career employees. . They should receive all the benefits that they deserve, Step increases also. Passed

16. WHEREAS:
RCA's in formula offices are already performing more than the minimum hours required of PTF's.
BE IT RESOLVED:
All non-probationary RCA's in offices which implement the formula shall immediately be converted to PTF (designation code. Failed

17. WHEREAS:
There is no provision for hourly wage carriers to be paid for working a holiday or designated holiday.
BE IT RESOLVED:
When a rural carrier craft employee is being compensated on a hourly basis, holiday pay is to be paid at the rate of 200% of the basic hourly straight time rate for all hours actually worked on the holiday or designated holiday. Failed

18. WHEREAS:
On the day the regular carrier works the relief day, …Administrative errors in the assignment of work to regular carriers on relief days will not result in monetary remedies.
BE IT RESOLVED:
Strike bolded language. Passed

19. WHEREAS:
There are J routes who don't want Saturday for a relief day.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That carriers may exercise an option to choose another day than Saturday as their relief day assigned to J routes may be assigned a non-Sat relief day in formula offices. Passed as amended

20. WHEREAS:
Carriers are being mandated to work relief days when there are no Leave Replacements available in the delivery unit.& Whereas: There are Leave Replacements available in the other delivery units within the office.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That the employer will not allow <mandate> a regular rural carrier to work a relief day in accordance with their personal wishes when a qualified leave replacement is available in the Office. Passed as amended

21. WHEREAS:
Some Management consider that leave replacements are unavailable when they are in jeopardy of or are in an overtime situation.
BE IT RESOLVED:
New language be added to reflect: That leave replacements who are in jeopardy of or are in an overtime situation still be considered available. Passed

22. WHEREAS:
Carriers mandated to work their designated holiday only receive their daily rate of pay for that designated holiday.
BE IT RESOLVED:
Carriers that work on a designated holiday shall receive 200% the daily rate of pay for such day in addition to holiday leave pay to which the employee is entitled. Passed

23. WHEREAS:
If a regular … is required to work on the designated Christmas holiday such carrier shall receive 1 ½ times the daily rate of pay…
BE IT RESOLVED:
If a regular … is required to work on the designated Christmas holiday, such carrier shall receive 200% the daily rate of pay… Passed

24. WHEREAS:
There are no instances in which a PTF-RC may have the right to refuse conversion to rural carrier.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That the PTF have the right to refuse conversion to regular rural carrier. Passed

25. WHEREAS:
Discipline should be corrective not punitive.
BE IT RESOLVED:
If the same issue is grieved <and substantiated and is not a discipline issue> more than once in a one year period at the same installation, the supervisor, manager, postmaster will immediately receive a letter of warning from their immediate supervisor. Passed as amended

26. WHEREAS:
Relief days are assigned by seniority in formula offices.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That when ever the formula is recalculated, relief days are to be realigned by seniority. Passed

27. WHEREAS:
Currently when notices of Route Postings are announced, they are posted with the day of week authorized relief day for that route.
BE IT RESOLVED:
All notices of Route Postings be announced, without the day of the week authorized relief day for that route (since that will be determined by the carrier's seniority standing in the office). Passed

28. WHEREAS:
Currently carriers can only sign on to the relief day work list the two (2) weeks prior to the guarantee period.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That carriers be able to sign on to the relief day work list quarterly. Passed

29. WHEREAS:
Currently RCA's that convert to regular status and regulars serving routes that change to an authorized relief day classification (J or K) after the start of the guarantee period are not allowed to opt into the Relief Day Work List.
BE IT RESOLVED:
RCA's that convert to regular status and regulars serving routes that change to an authorized relief day classification (J or K) after the start of the guarantee period are allowed to opt into the Relief Day Work Day List for a period of two (2) weeks after such conversion and or route classification change. Passed

30. WHEREAS:
RCR's have been performing the same duties as RCA's for 15-20 years.
BE IT RESOLVED:
<That PAC diligently seek a way to convert> RCR's shall be converted to Rural Carrier Associates entitled to schedule 2 <wage.> effective at the signing of this contract. Passed as amended

31. WHEREAS:
RCAs in a formula office are working full time.
BE IT RESOLVED:
RCAs assigned to a formula office will be considered career employees, receiving benefits and step increases (a new designation code will be needed to be created). Failed

32. WHEREAS:
Option 2 under the Relief Day Work List allows management the right to schedule the carrier's X day.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That all carriers working their relief day be allowed to schedule their X Day at the carrier's option. Passed

33. WHEREAS:
<The ELM and National Agreement are vague on the subject of approving leave in advance> I believe A Step 3 exists on this matter. The ELM is vague and refers to article 10 of our AGREEMENT which is also vague!
BE IT RESOLVED:
Leave requests should be submitted no sooner than twelve months, and no later than two weeks before the carriers scheduled leave dates. Leave requested within the two weeks prior to leave should be considered on a case by case basis and should not be unreasonably denied. Management shall be required to approve/ disapprove the request within three calendar days(72 hours) upon submission of the request. The request should be approved or disapproved and not held for future disposition at management's discretion. Example: "Pending Coverage", should not be a means with which to approve and later disapprove a leave request. Passed as amended

34. WHEREAS:
Post the vacancy at the vacancy post office, including stations and branches, for all regular rural carriers, substitute rural carriers, and rural carrier associates (RCAs) with one (1) year of continuous service as an RCA. The notice shall be posted for ten (10) calendar days.
BE IT RESOLVED:
Post the vacancy at the vacancy post office, including stations and branches, for all regular rural carriers. The notice shall be posted for ten (10) calendar days. If no bids are received on the route, repost the vacancy district wide for all regular rural carriers, substitute rural carriers, and rural carrier associates (RCAs). Award the route based on total amount of rural carrier service. The district wide notice will be posted for twenty(20) calendar days. Failed

35. WHEREAS:
(1). 9.2.M.2. When involuntary reassignments of rural carriers occur, the carrier may be scheduled…follows:
(2). 9.2.M.3. When a voluntary reassignment of a regular rural carrier occurs…Employees.
(3). 9.2.M.4. When a regular rural route is substantially changed by major additions of territory, the regular rural carrier serving…following:
BE IT RESOLVED:
(1). 9.2.M.2. When involuntary reassignments of rural carriers occur, the carrier will be scheduled…follows:
(2). 9.2.M.3. When a voluntary reassignment of a regular rural carrier or leave replacement occurs…Employees.
(3). 9.2.M.4. When a regular rural route is substantially changed by major additions of territory, the regular rural carrier and leave replacement serving…following. Passed as amended

36. WHEREAS:
No Present Language
BE IT RESOLVED:
The residual vacancy shall be awarded to a rural carrier (regular, substitute, or RCA) within the district based on total rural carrier employment time. Passed

BINDING RESOLUTIONS

37. WHEREAS:
The TxRLCA is authorized for more NRLCA visits than currently we are utilizing.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That the TxRLCA promote a Steward's Weekend Workshop to be attended by Texas Stewards and interested craft membership for the purpose of Steward Certifications, Recertification and Training. With National Guests preferably the Director of Steward Operations and the Director of Labor Relations as well as other guest State Stewards from across the Nation. Passed

38. WHEREAS:
National makes available to the State Secretary/Treasurer a listing of previously passed resolutions at the national conventions within the duration of the current Agreement.
WHEREAS:
This listing could prevent needless duplication at State Conventions if this listing were made available to Local Resolutions Committees.
BE IT RESOLVED:
That this listing be made electronically available to Local Resolutions Committees in a computer file as soon as available to the State Sec/Treasurer or posted on the National Web site. Passed

Several resolutions were presented from the floor... please let me know if there were more.

Non-Binding:

• REFERENCE:
  DPS standards
• WHEREAS:
  Mis-sent mail is not counted as an error in DPS qualification at the 98% threshold,
• BE IT RESOLVED:
  That all mis-sent mail be included in the error rate for the DPS quslification of 98%. (Mis-sequenced, mis-sort and mis-sent)

Passed

• REFERENCE:
  Contract Article 8 Section 5 Paragraph A
• WHEREAS:
  Present language reads: Two weeks prior to the beginning of each guarantee period at each delivery unit, Regular Carriers desiring to work their relief days shall place their names on the Relief Day Work List…
• BE IT RESOLVED:
  Two weeks prior to the beginning of each guarantee period at each delivery unit, Regular Carriers, excluding 204Bs, desiring to work their relief days shall place their names on the Relief Day Work List…
• INTENT OF/REASON FOR CHANGE:
  To exclude carriers electing to join management from the same benefits as a Regular Carrier on a route. Passed

• WHEREAS:
  FLSA allows 10 minute breaks after 4 hours, and
• WHEREAS:
  Carriers are not allowed on the clock breaks,
• BE IT RESOLVED:
  That carriers be allowed a 10 minute break on the clock for each 4 hours of evaluation. Passed

• WHEREAS:
  Leave replacements earn leave after 90 days of working on a route (Aux or Vacant), but stop earning leave when the Aux is converted, or a route becomes vacant,
• BE IT RESOLVED:
  That there be no lapse for leave replacements in a leave earning status until after conversion AND until the route is posted and awarded.
• INTENT OF/ REASON FOR CHANGE:
  To stop the USPS from taking away benefits that Leave Replacements are earning and should continue to earn while they are working on the vacant or converted route. Passed

• WHEREAS:
  Rural carriers are allowed 30 minutes for lunch,
• BE IT RESOLVED:
  Rural craft carriers may stop for not more than one hour. Lunch may be taken in segments of less than one hour at the carrier's option, provided the time taken does not exceed one hour.
• INTENT OF/ REASON FOR CHANGE:
  Recently, the Post Office has been requiring carriers to deduct every downtime from the carrier's lunch break, that it is possible for a carrier to use up their lunch time with coffee breaks, smoking breaks, or any break from work. Passed