City Delivery
National Level “Office Efficiency Tool” Case Resolved
The NALC and the USPS have settled a national level interpretive dispute over management’s use of an “office efficiency tool” developed in the Greater Indiana District. A 2007 settlement (M-01664) protected Letter Carriers from management’s use of DOIS projections. M-01769 is applicable to any other tool/system/program currently being used or developed in the future to project office and street times.
A Guide for Using COR
This guide was created to take the mystery out of the workings of Carrier Optimal Routing (COR) when it is used to generate route adjustments. NALC representatives are encouraged to read this guide in advance of any proposed COR adjustments.
M-01766
NALC and USPS agree to 2011 JARAP
The National Association of Letter Carriers has entered into a Joint Alternate Route Adjustment Process (JARAP) with the United States Postal Service for 2011. There are three documents that must be read in conjunction to fully understand the JARAP 2011 process. The memorandum of understanding M-01746, the joint guidelines M-01747 and the joint training document M-01748. Key changes to the agreement include a new 3999 review process, selection of the 3999 that is closest to the selected street time, an expedited bidding process option for entire zones that are optimized under COR and NALC COR technicians to ensure COR is used fairly in future JARAP adjustments.
2011 JARAP Training and Resource Guide
Delivery Unit Optimization
M-01743
The NALC and the USPS have agreed to jointly test alternative City Letter Carrier route structures. Joint proposals will be developed at the local level by NALC and USPS representatives. The local parties will be asked to address 16 items in their joint proposals which will then be sent to Headquarters within 45 days. The joint proposals will then be jointly reviewed by the parties at the National Level. Participation in this joint test is strictly voluntary. Anyone interested in participating should contact your National Business Agent for further information.
M-01744 and M-01745
The NALC and USPS have reached agreement on two Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs) regarding the issue of Delivery Unit Optimization (DUO). Generally speaking, this is where all the letter carriers in an office are moved to a different Installation and the Post Office where they used to work stays open with window services.
M-01744 addresses resolving the differences where two or more Local Memorandums of Understanding (LMOU) are involved as well as what happens in the event USPS changes their mind somewhere down the road and decides to move the Letter Carriers back to the original Installation.
M-01745 addresses several issues involved when a Delivery Unit Optimization (DUO) occurs including who goes, notice period, seniority, hold down assignments, higher level assignments (Article 25), and previously approved annual leave. It must be noted that these MOU's do not apply in situations where there are already clear contractual provisions that govern the movement of Letter Carriers and consolidation of Post Offices. This point is outlined in both MOUs.
JARAP 2011
The following documents are included as part of the 2011 JARAP Training and Resource Guide M-01765:
- M-01750 - LTATS-Weekly Summary Report with Designation and Activity Codes - This report shows work hours transferred from one Designation and Activity Code to another. This report should be reviewed to determine if work hours have been transferred to or from a city carrier assignment.
- M-01751 - Steward, Standby and Meeting Time Report - This report will show all time recorded under the following MODS operation numbers: 613 (Steward Time), 354 (Standby) and 632 (Meeting Time).
- M-01752 - Operations Summary Report - Weekly - This report shows the total number of work hours recorded under each MODS operation code in a zip code.
- M-01753 - Flash Last Four Weeks Report - This report shows a variety of unit information compared to Same Period Last Year including volumes, work hours by function, sick leave, etc.
- M-01754 - MODS Operation Numbers Listing - This report provides an explanation of all relevant MODS operation codes.
- M-01755 - Workhour Workload Report (by Route) - This report shows the work hours, volume and any auxiliary assistance for a particular route over a specified period of time.
- M-01756 - Nationally developed Unit Stand-up Talk - This stand-up talk should be jointly presented to letter carriers before starting JARAP 2011.
- M-01757 - Local Contact Duties and Responsibilities - List of duties and responsibilities for those serving as Local Office Contacts under JARAP 2011.
- M-01758 - Carrier Consultation Script - Evaluation - This script must be used when conducting the evaluation consultation with Letter Carriers in JARAP 2011.
- M-01759 - Carrier Consultation Script - Adjustment - This script must be used when conducting the adjustment consultation with Letter Carriers in JARAP 2011.
- M-01760 - Instructions for obtaining a 3999 Audit Trail Report - Shows how to transfer a 3999 from the mainframe to the workstation in DOIS, data summary screen, function analysis screen and audit trail report.
- M-01761 - Route Review Request Form - For use by the Local Contacts when when requesting a review pursuant to JARAP 2011.
- M-01762 - COR Presentation (PowerPoint) - Joint Power Point presentation on how to use COR.
- M-01763 - Unit Checklist - For use by the District Lead Team to track and monitor the progress of adjustments.
- M-01764 - Dispute Log - For use by the Teams to track disputes in the Issue Resolution Process.
Letter carrier routes and work methods
January 10, 2011: The Memorandum of Understanding limiting management to inspecting a route on a 6-day count and inspection to no more than 3 days, and the selection of PS Form 3999 closest to the selected street time, has been extended to May 26, 2012. (M-01740)
Flats Sequencing System
July 27, 2010 - OIG Report: This report discusses the Flats Sequencing System (FSS) program status and its projected financial impact and addresses both operational and financial risks.
September 28, 2009 - OIG Report: This report presents the results of an audit on the Effects of the Flats Sequencing System (FSS) on selected delivery operations in the Northern Virginia District. This audit addressed operational risk.
June 4, 2008 - OIG Report: This report presents the results of a self-initiated audit of the Flats Sequencing System (FSS). FSS is currently the largest Postal Service mail automation investment.
Additional M-numbered documents
We added a number of new M-numbered documents to the Selected City Delivery Reference Materials page including the following:
- M-01444 - Pre-arb July 30, 2001, Q94N-4Q-C 99022154.
The issue in these grievances is whether or not the Piece Count Recording System (PCRS),
Projected Office Street Time (POST), or the Delivery Operations Information System (DOIS) violate the National Agreement.
- M-01519 is the City/Rural (dispute) Process Agreement which provides an agreed upon process and guidelines on how the USPS, the NALC, and the NRLCA are to handle disputes over whether deliveries should be assigned to the City Delivery or Rural Delivery craft.
- M-01520 are the agreed upon principles in addressing city/rural delivery dispute issues, jointly formulated by the USPS, the NALC and the NRLCA.
- M-01568 is the March 8, 2006 Memorandum of Understanding between the USPS and the NALC and the NRLCA regarding the processing of future city/rural disputes.
- M-01606 renewed the March 8, 2006 MOU (M-01568) above.
- M-01664 - July 30, 2007 - Step IV Resolution.
DOIS projections are not the sole determinant of a carriers leaving or return time,
or daily workload. As such, the projections cannot be used as the sole basis for corrective action.
- M-01680 is the April 21, 2008, National Memorandum of Understanding on Multiple Days of Inspection.
- M-01683 is the renewed (April 29, 2008) city and rural delivery National Memorandum of Understanding, renewing M-01606 above.
- M-01690 is the August 1, 2008, National Memorandum of Understanding on Minor Route Adjustments.
- M-01691 is the Flat Sequencing System (FSS) NALC/USPS Joint Task Force Report, the NALC FSS Task Force Members' Report, and the USPS FSS Task Force Members' Report.
- M-01694 is the October 22, 2008, National Memorandum of Understanding on the Assignment of City Delivery.
- M-01695 is the October 22, 2008, National Memorandum of Understanding on the Interim Alternate Route Adjustment Process.
- M-01697 is the National Memorandum of Understanding on the Approved FSS Work Methods.
April 4, 2007
Pre-arbitration settlement on jurisdiction of PS Form 3883
M-01608 is a pre-arbitration settlement on a case out of Buffalo, New York, which was pre-arbitrated prior to national level arbitration. The case was remanded to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure for further processing. The case deals with the jurisdiction (clerks vs. city letter carriers) over the generation of PS Form 3883. NALC alleges a past practice existed where letter carriers had exclusively generated this form (See M-41, Sections 335.11, b and c, and 335.15). The office was issued scanners, which allowed the user to scan articles into a computer generated form, Form 3883-A. Such work was assigned to clerks, resulting in this dispute. The agreement indicates that changing the manual form to an electronic version cannot be the sole reason for altering a past practice.
March 28, 2007
MOU on appealing rural delivery/city delivery disputes
M-01606 is a national Memorandum of Understanding providing directions on appealing Rural/City Delivery Disputes through the Grievance-Arbitration Procedure. This memorandum serves to extend the previous memorandum (MRS M-01568).
May 11, 2006
Multiple Days of Inspection MOU Extended
President Young has signed a Memorandum of Understanding with the Postal Service (M-01571) which extends the terms of the previous MOU on 'multiple days of inspection'. During a six day route count and inspection, the MOU allows management up to three 'days of inspection', but limits them to only one day of completing PS Form 1838-C. Additionally, when two or three PS Forms 3999 are completed, the MOU dictates which PS Form 3999 will be used to transfer territory when adjusting routes. The terms of the new MOU are applicable through May 26, 2007 unless mutually extended by the parties.
May 1, 2006
NALC Route Protection Program—
Minor corrections made to chapters
Background information
NALC's Route Protection Program is a comprehensive educational publication explaining route examinations, route adjustments and "minor route adjustments."
A few minor corrections to the text of the three chapters were made, effective May 1, 2006. (See errata in the index of each chapter.) The corrections were printed and mailed to branches in an RPP mailing. They are also available for download below:
- Chapter One, Route Examination and the Letter Carrier is intended for letter carriers whose routes are scheduled for a formal six day count and inspection. It contains instructions on filling out the Form 1838-C Worksheet during the week of inspection, a brief outline of how management evaluates and adjusts routes, and advice on how to ensure that the results of the evaluation and adjustment are fair and accurate. Chapter 1 (pdf, 3.71 MB)
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Chapter Two, Route Examination and Adjustment for NALC Representatives provides in-depth information focusing on the adjustment process, and is intended primarily for NALC representatives who will assist and advise carriers through the inspection process. Chapter 2 (pdf, 1.81 MB)
- Chapter Three, The Minor Route Adjustment Process describes management's use and misuse of the minor adjustment provisions in Section 141 of the M-39 Handbook. Chapter 3 (pdf, 614 KB)
- The NALC Route Protection Program Pocket Handbook is a separate, pocket-sized booklet to be used by carriers as a quick and convenient reference during the week of count and inspection. NALC has mailed a copy of the Handbook to every letter carrier who is a member of NALC. The handbook it is intended for members only and is not available online.
NALC created the Route Protection Program after Postal Service management scuttled a joint labor-mangement task force that was exploring new methods for evaluating letter carrier routes.
March 15, 2006
Memorandum on new City/Rural disputes
The National Association of Letter Carriers, the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association and the Postal Service have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding (M-01568) regarding the processing of new city/rural grievances.
Any settlements at Step A (city) or Step 1 or 2 (rural) that would result in the reassignment or assignment of deliveries require the agreement of authorized representatives of all three parties at that level.
Additionally, if a grievance is appealed to Step B (city) or Step 3 (rural), the representatives at that level will ensure the file is properly developed and documented, and forward the file along with their supported recommendations to the national level for review by the national city/rural committee.
The memorandum was set to expire in one year if not extended by the parties.
March 15, 2006
Delivery redesign cases resolved
The parties at the national level have entered into an agreement which resolves the 186 delivery redesign grievances which were being held at the Headquarters level. (M-01567) The data collection and testing conducted by the Postal Service during this initiative did not result in any changes to current work measurement systems or work or time standards. The parties agreed that a test conducted pursuant to Article 34 does not modify provisions of the National Agreement, including handbooks, manuals and published regulations incorporated through Article 19, beyond the scope of the new work measurement system or work or time standard being tested. The parties agreed that Article 8 was not amended or modified during the testing, and subsequently all delivery redesign cases involving Article 8 violations were remanded to the appropriate Step B teams through the National Business Agents to be resolved by applying the relevant provisions of Article 8 to the facts of each case.
January 28, 2005
Training Program
for Newly Hired City Letter Carriers
NALC and the Postal Service jointly developed a Standard Training Program for City Letter Carriers to be used to train newly hired letter carriers in Carrier Academies. Four city letter carrier classroom instructors in each Area received the training necessary to provide training to all the city letter carrier classroom instructors in the country.
The training for newly hired letter carriers will consist of three days of classroom training, followed by three days of on-the-job training by On-the-Job Instructors (OJIs) in the station where the new carrier is assigned. OJIs who will be training new carriers will receive training on the classroom material provided to the new carrier.
Management will select the Classroom Instructors and the On-the Job Instructors from a list of candidates provided by and agreed upon by the NALC National Business Agent and the USPS District Manager. The national parties have tasked the National Business Agents and the Area Vice-Presidents with ensuring that local instructors are selected and trained.
Postal Record articles
The Director of City Delivery writes a column in NALC's monthly magazine, The Postal Record, that covers a wide range of issues.These informative articles can be viewed using Adobe Reader. Click here for instructions for obtaining the free Adobe Reader and for viewing and downloading the files.
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