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The USPS achieved a slam dunk in this mail count.  As a result, this will leave regular carriers having to take the high option just to keep their salary.  It will also leave many of our leave replacements losing work hours. 

This page is intended to show you some of the options you have and can take advantage of after this massacre of a mail count.  

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The new evaluations will take effect on Saturday April 25th, 2009

First of all, lets cover what each route designation means:

K Route:   A regular route on which the salary is based on 5 days each week. One relief day is authorized each week. 

J Route:   A regular route on which the salary is based on 5 days one week and 6 days the other week for a total of 11 days per pay period.

H Route:   A regular route on which the salary is based on 12 days per pay period.

L route:    Any route which has a box density of at least 12 per mile at the time of a count; also called high-density route.


Route Consolidations and Guarantees
     Since we are anticipating there might be some consolidations and some routes falling sub-standard, I am posting a link to a Q and A that was released after the 2008 Mail Count.  It should answer a lot of questions you might have..  Click here
 
 BE SURE AND READ ARTICLE 12.5 OF THE NATIONAL AGREEMENT.  IT DEALS WITH EXCESSED RURAL CARRIERS AND CONSOLIDATIONS
 
You can download a copy of the contract HERE (large file)
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Mail Count Disagreements

NRLCA Protocol for Mail Count Disagreements and USPS Requirements for Disagreements 

Click here


Formal DPS Review 

If the USPS maximized the mail run through DPS during the mail count, they are obligated to keep up the same percentage all through the year.

Here are the steps to take to ask for a formal DPS review if your DPS percentages fall after mail count.

Formal DPS Review 

Article from GRLCA State Steward 

DPS Review Tracking Form 

 

UPDATE on DPS REVIEWS

USPS implemented changes in the procedures for DPS Reviews

Click here

NRLCA appeals DPS Review changes to arbitration 

Click here

NRLCA files unfair labor charge on USPS for DPS Review Changes

click here

And Below is what the NRLCA is recommending steps to take when requesting a formal DPS Review

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE POSTAL SERVICE’S IMPLEMENTATION OF CHANGES TO SECTIONS 541 AND 535 OF HANDBOOK PO-603

As you may be aware, on June 13, 2008, the Postal Service notified the NRLCA of its intent to implement changes to Sections 541 and 535 of Handbook PO-603. The NRLCA believes that the Postal Service’s changes to Sections 541 and 535 violate the current National Agreement, the 2004 National Level Arbitration Award issued by Arbitrator Richard I. Bloch, and Federal Labor Law. The NRLCA has challenged the Postal Service’s decision to implement these changes by submitting an appeal to national arbitration. The appeal serves to cover all rural carriers who may request a formal review of DPS letter mail; therefore, it is not necessary for an individual carrier to file a grievance contesting the method of the review or the application of the results of the review. However, if management rejects a request for a formal review, it would be necessary to file an individual grievance challenging management’s decision.

Furthermore, it is the recommendation of the National Board that any rural carrier requesting a review of his/her DPS percentage make that decision based on the provisions of Sections 541 and 535 as they exist today and the Bloch award rather than on the Postal Service’s changes to Sections 541 and 535, which become effective tomorrow, June 28, 2008.

Rural carriers making requests for a formal review of DPS letter mail should keep copies of all related paperwork. Additionally, copies of all related paperwork resulting from management generated formal reviews should be retained by the affected rural carriers.

June 27, 2008

http://www.nrlca.org/whats_new/whatsnew.cfm/memUpID/56

 


DPS Rebuild 

If you were counted under DPS for the first time, you are entitled to a rebuild in certain circumstances to the

evaluation before the mail count.

Click here for several documents 

DPS Rebuild Form 


High/Low Option

If you have been a regular carrier for 3 years and you earn 20 days of annual leave per year, you are eligible to choose the high option provided your route falls in the category for an option. When the route falls into two possible classifications, the carrier may choose the classification with the higher-hour evaluation, provided the carrier meets certain criteria. (The higher-hour category means more work hours per pay period, higher pay, fewer relief days)

High/Low Option explained 

If you have already chosen the LOW option, you can change to the HIGH option if eligible (At the time of a National Count, Special Count or Interim Adjustment – Most PS4003 change actions that effectively place an eligible carrier in an option category. This will include Adjustments, Extensions, Remeasurements, addition or subtraction of a Locked Pouch allowance, Consolidations, Detours, Seasonal, and Hardship deliveries. The EXCEPTIONS are - 4003’s to establish New Routes, Changes in Collection Compartments, Parcel Lockers or Vehicle Data and Convert-to-Regular actions. 


Free Saturdays 

Also, if your came back as an H or J route, or you are taking the high option, you can take advantage of the "Free Saturday" Provision.  Here are a couple of links to help with that.

 http://www.mdrlca.org/J%20Routes.htm

http://docs.google.com/View?docid=dzdzj27_13d8tw2c

http://docs.google.com/Doc?id=dfb8g5q4_53fk28wxhz


LWOP 

Article 10.4.B of the national contract states:

B. Upon request, a rural carrier shall be granted annual
leave or leave without pay on Saturday, at the carrier’s
option, provided a leave replacement is available.

So, a carrier could take the HIGH option and then use LWOP

on the remaining Saturday.  But, LWOP does have an

effect on your saved leave and your FERS retirement.

Effect of LWOP  

 

Other useful tips

If you are a K route that lost a couple of hours, think about taking annual leave before April 25th, 2009 to use your annual leave at the higher rate of pay.


If you are going from say a 43K to a 45J, WAIT until after Apr 26 to take vacation so you use your annual leave at the higher rate of pay.


Consider signing on to the Relief Day Work List when it comes open as this gives the carrier the OPTION of taking the 150% rate of pay rather than being locked into half pay and a "X" day later on. This may help some offset the loss of pay from this mail count and give the carrier more flexibility in determining his or her paycheck. Face it, management can make you work your relief day whether or not you're on the list, so this way YOU determine the amount you make


Make sure your PM or supervisor updates your 4003.  When your route gets 60 min. in the bank, your route evaluation should increase an hour.  

Turning in your edit book does not automatically update your 4003.  Your PM or supervisor has to update it for you to get credit for those boxes. Be vigilant on getting your updates..  You are entitled to them.. 


 If you are a J route, request that your day off, or J day be assigned as the second Saturday or Monday during the pay period.  That way, if you have already worked the first Saturday or Monday,   and they need you to work on your J day they have to pay you extra ie: 1/2 day pay and X day or 1 1/2 days pay.  Another way to put it is sometimes if you are assigned the first Saturday as your J day and they need you to work they will try and make you take the second Saturday as your J day and you don't get the extra pay.


 And a few more tips from Manoman

 
One possible consideration on taking the "high" option might be if a carrier is close to retirement - the high option MIGHT be used to bump up the "high three" average salary used to compute the FERS retirement annuity.

A possible consideration for TSP participants might be to tweak their TSP contribution in light of their new salary.

A carrier faced with a large CUT in salary MIGHT consider cutting their TSP contribution to help make up for some of their loss. The downside to this, of course, is that they would have less $$ in their TSP at retirement (sort of like most of us do following the recent market meltdown). Because of the USPS match (up to 5%) of the TSP, it's advisable to try to get as much of that match as possible. My "gut feeling" is that the TSP match may not last that much longer - in that case, you're probably better off with a Roth IRA, but as long as the match is there, it's like "free money", so take it if you can.

For a carrier jumping to a HIGHER salary level, if your TSP contribution is a percentage of your salary, be aware that a larger dollar amount will be going into your TSP account. Again, the 5% level is desirable for the full USPS match, but if you are putting in a higher level, you might consider changing your contribution to a DOLLAR amount (perhaps matching your present contribution) so as to get a few more bucks each payday.