Frequently Asked Questions

Management is telling me not to hit a clock ring returning to the office when I return late (or after 5:00).

In most cases, this is being done to give the illusion of compliance with the “window of operation.” Management is manually inputting a clock ring that shows your return prior to the target time. As long as the end tour is not altered, it will not affect your pay. It will, however, cause a distortion in your office and street times which can cause problems with the route adjustment process. If this is happening in your station, you must first follow their instruction, but then file a grievance and notify the Union office.

Will they be offering another earlier out?

As of now, there is nothing more than rumors out there. The carrier craft is still understaffed nationwide, even after all the reductions from the route adjustment programs; so, it is unlikely that we’d be included if another incentive was offered. There are always persistent rumors about incentives of time or money to get the CSRS employees to retire, but nothing has been confirmed by either the Union or the Postal Service.

What’s the latest on the 5-day delivery?

The budget provisions that require a six-day delivery have been approved for fiscal 2010 (through September). However the Postmaster General is still promoting this concept as the only was to save the Postal Service. There is some speculation out there that this is a ploy the get Congress to look at some other reforms and to have the Letter Carriers and other Unions do the lobbying for the USPS (we do a much better job and command far more respect from the lawmakers than does the Post Office).

Can the Postmaster or a rural carrier make city deliveries?

No, with exception of Express Mail. In many of our associate offices, Postmasters or rurals or even in some cases clerks have been used to deliver mail on city route, generally due to understaffing. We have won dozens of grievances on this issue, and we’re now getting escalating payments as resolutions. This is also a violation if non-carriers are bringing out overtime or pivot cuts, changing case labels or delivering parcels. This is our work and a grievance should be filed. Also, this time is not recorded and may negatively impact route adjustments.

They’re denying my sick leave even though I’ve provided documentation.

We’ve been getting reports of unilateral LWOP for hours requested as sick leave. If managers are telling carrier, in advance, that an absence will not be paid, like announcing on the work floor that no call-offs will be accepted during hunting season, we need to have witness statements saying this had happened. That will add strength to our grievance for the payment of the denied leave. If you are properly reporting off and providing requested documentation, there is no reason that sick leave should not be paid; file the grievance.

They want to add more MSP scans to my route. Can they do that?

The District Manager recently notified his managers and postmasters that all routes are to have 12 MSP scans, including nine on the street; and that these were to be implemented by January 15, 2010. The original memorandum that agreed to MSP scans stated that management would determine the number of scans. It also clearly states that these scans cannot be used to measure performance or as a sole basis for issuing discipline. We personally don’t care how many scans they deem necessary, but if they’re being used improperly, a grievance should be filed.