The Demo Site

Around the country, post offices are preparing for the Modified Interim Route Adjustment Process. What seems to be agreed upon by NALC Presidents across the country is the ability of the union to oversee the route adjustments.

Though the NALC may agree that adjusting routes is preferable to layoffs, there is also the fact that carriers will loss their routes. During this period of adjustment, the most consistent advice given by NALC branch Presidents is to do your route 'by the book'. Which includes following flow charts, taking all allotted breaks and following all safety procedures.

The following excerpts are taken from the NALC The Courier Branch 51 Fall River, Mass. newsletter, written by branch President Paul Knarr. This is a good representation of information and advice being passed around to all union members during route adjustments.

"With the implementation of FSS, the interim route adjustments, and the projected decline in mail volume the USPS is looking to eliminate 1,861 carrier positions in the Northest, which translates to a loss of between 18-20% of city carrier routes in the Northeast."

"They are projecting that the FSS machines will sort 80% of the flat volume and that they can anticipate 40-50 minutes of savings in the office per route. Once again, their projections."

"DOIS and under time: There are some supervisors who review the DOIS numbers and inform the carriers that they have under time and they should have time to assist on another route.

1) The base data is still not accurate in the system, but it is being worked on. There are numerous errors in carriers % to standard, and fixed office time which can skew the DOIS numbers.

2) Just because I may be leaving the office 30 minutes early, that does not mean that I have an extra 30 minutes to give them on the road. My route may show I have 6 hours on the road and 2 hours in the office, hence 30 minutes under time. But because I have Red Plum, or 5 trays of DPS, or 15 parcels, or had a long service talk, my 6 hours of road time reflected in DOIS could easily take 6 1/2, thereby eliminating the 1/2 hour under time.

3) The carrier determines if they have under time. Remember that if management feels that a carrier is overestimating their workload then they always have the option of walking with the carrier. DOIS is just a tool for management, but if you hold a hammer upside down it doesn't work very well.

4) There may be days when your column is down, you don't have a 3rd bundle, don't have a lot of parcels, no occupant in the DPS and you are leaving the office early. On these days you may legitimately have some under time and may be able to assist on another route."

Branches around the country are seeing both positive and negative responses to the adjustments. The bottom line is, that the adjustments are going to happen. The best way to approach these proceedings is in a professional manner befitting a letter carrier.

May 29, 2009