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The NALC and the USPS have reached agreement on a national level settlement on an interpretive dispute regarding whether a vacant full-time letter carrier assignment may be reverted without current route inspection data. (M-01796) In the past, management would sometimes revert a route when it became vacant without current route inspection data. This was a widespread problem several years ago and has remained an issue in some places.
The parties agree that the determination of whether an established route is full-time will be made using one of the following procedures:
- A six day mail count and inspection in accordance with the provisions of Handbook M-39
- A route adjustment pursuant to Section 141 of Handbook M-39 (provided the data used is reasonably current and from the regular carrier assigned to the route)
- Evaluation through a national jointly agreed upon route evaluation process
- Evaluation through an authorized locally developed joint route evaluation process
Additionally, the settlement affirms that it in no way alters the maximization provisions of Article 7.3 of the National Agreement.