Local Memorandum Of Understanding
Between
Flourtown Post Office
And
Branch 157 National Association Of Letter Carriers
2001 - 2006
ITEM A
ARTICLE 1
RECOGNITION
This memorandum of Understanding is entered into on November 1, 2002 at
Flourtown Post Office between the representatives of the United States Postal
Service, and the designated agent of the National Association of Letter Carriers
pursuant to the Local Implementation Provision of the 2001 - 2006 National
Agreement. This Memorandum of Understanding constitutes the entire Agreement
relating to local conditions of employment.
ITEM 1
WASH UP TIME
Each Letter Carrier will be granted a reasonable amount of time to wash up prior
to leaving for the street, and his end of tour. A supervisor shall be notified
when an extra amount of wash up time is needed.
ITEM 2
REGULAR WORK WEEK
All Regular Carriers will be on a fixed or rotating work schedule, as presently
exists (rotating). Any contemplated changes will be discussed with the Union.
ITEM 3
CURTAILMENT OR TERMINATION OF POSTAL OPERATIONS
It is recognized by both parties that on occasion emergency conditions may exist
which would cause management to consider the curtailing of services, such as,
weather extremes, civil defense alerts, bomb scares, no heat in winter, no
lighting or excessive temperatures. In such cases management will take into
consideration the following factors in order:
A. The safety and health of the employee.
B. The emergency as stated and acted upon by other Governmental Authorities.
C. Management will consult with the Union before implementation of any action,
when feasible.
If local conditions warrant the non-delivery of mail or closing of their office,
the employee will not be charged with Annual Leave unless requested by the
employee. (Work must be made available.)
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ITEM 4
FORMULATION OF LOCAL LEAVE PROGRAM
1. Annual Leave will be granted in increments of units, hours, days, and weeks.
2. Annual Leave will be granted throughout the year.
3. All requests for Annual Leave will be approved or disapproved within 24
hours. A triplicate 3971 will be marked by the supervisor received. The
duplicate 3971 will be returned to the Letter Carrier at the end of the 24 hour
period, marked approved or disapproved. Where no action has been taken within
this period, the request for leave will be automatically approved.
4. Disapproval of any request for Annual Leave must be explained to the
employee, in writing, by the disapproving Supervisor and stating "Service
Needs", will not be acceptable explanation.
5. Once Annual Leave has been approved on Form 3971 by a supervisor the same may
not be rescinded by any supervisor except in a serious emergency.
6. Emergency Annual Leave may be granted at any time throughout the year
including December. Emergency Leave is defined as leave which is requested when
unforeseen events necessitate the absence of the employee from his duties. It
does not necessarily include events and activities planned in advance. An
employee who is unable to report for duty because of an emergency shall notify
the Post Office as soon as possible. Employees requesting such leave will not be
carried as AWOL or TARDY pending approval.
7. All requests for EWOP, PWOP, or SWOP may be granted. Employees requesting
such leave will not be carried AWOL. Such requests will be granted even if the
employee has no leave.
8. Blood Leave - It is agreed that employees excused from their regular tour of
duty to make donations to the Red Cross or other non-profit Blood Bank will
receive Administrative Leave in accordance with the ELM.
9. Union Activity - Any Union Official requesting Annual Leave or Leave Without
Pay to attend a Union activity throughout the year, will have same consideration
as other leave requests. It will be without loss of his choice vacation time and
it will not be charged to wither prime or non prime time.
10. Each man going on vacation is entitled to the Saturday at the beginning and
the Saturday at the end of the vacation, providing manpower is available. The
determination will be made Wednesday prior to the vacation.
11. The practice of excusing employees from duties on all Religious Holidays and
other special occasions to the fullest extent possible will be continued.
12. All Full Time Regulars and Part Time Flexibles will receive a vacation
during the choice period, if requested.
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ITEM 4
FORMULATION OF LOCAL LEAVE PROGRAM
EXCHANGE OF VACATION
Exchange of Annual Leave periods will be permitted only after all Carriers
senior to the exchanges in the station have been offered said period.
ITEM 4
CANCELLATIONS
Cancellations of choice vacation periods will be posted for five (5) days. If
less than five (5) days remain before the beginning date of the cancelled
period, the vacation will be posted for the amount of time remaining.
Cancellations of choice vacation periods may first be bid by Carriers junior to
the carrier who cancels his vacation. If no junior carriers bid on the cancelled
vacation a senior carrier can bid, in this instance seniority will prevail.
Cancellations of Annual Leave will be based on a carrier opting not to take
his/her previous selected Annual Leave period and it being posted and awarded to
another carrier. Meaning a "Body for a Body".
ITEM 5
DURATION OF VACATION PERIOD
The prime vacation will be from:
May 11 - October 12, 2003 May 7 - October 8, 2006
May 9 - October 10, 2004 May 6 - October 7, 2007
May 8 - October 9, 2005 May 11 - October 12, 2008
ITEM 6
BEGINNING DAY OF VACATION
Vacations will start on Sunday and end on Sunday.
ITEM 7
SELECTION OF WEEKS
Employees may at their option select two choices during Prime Time in units of
either 5 or 10 working days. The total not to exceed 10 or 15 days. (2 weeks
plus 1 week or 3 in a row.)
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ITEM 8
JURY DUTY, NATIONAL OR STATE CONVENTION
Jury Duty and attendance at a National or State Convention will not be charged
to the choice vacation period.
ITEM 9
NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES OFF
The number of Carriers off each week during Prime Time Vacation will be a
minimum of 18% of the station complement as of April 1, of each year.
Percentages of .5 or higher will be rounded off to the next higher number. After
April 15th carriers will be permitted to select any open days or weeks and be
granted leave based solely on the percentage (18%) Management will make every
attempt to grant additional carriers off over and above the 18% based on
operational needs.
Annual Leave will be granted for additional carrier(s) over and above the
percentage (%) based on operational needs and availability of replacement
carrier(s).
ITEM 10
OFFICIAL NOTICE
Supervisors in cooperation with NALC Steward will announce to the Carriers no
later than March 1st, that picking for vacations will be from April 1st thru
15th. A notice announcing the vacation period will be posted no later than March
1st.
When the number of Carriers off each week is determined, the supervisor will
make a chart with i space for each carrier permitted off, for each week of the
vacation period. Starting on the first day of the picking period, the senior
carrier will select his vacation and the remaining carriers will make selections
in descending seniority. The supervisor will contact each carrier who is IOD,
extended illness, detailed, etc. Carriers not prepared to select when contacted
will be bypassed till they are ready to select an will select from remaining
open periods.
The vacation schedule will be posted on the bulletin board. A duplicate copy of
the employees vacation period will be returned signed by management at the end
of the bidding period April 15th.
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ITEM 11
BEGINNING OF NEW LEAVE YEAR
No later than November 1 of each year management will notify all carrier craft
employees of the beginning of the new leave year. A written notice of this will
be posted on all employee bulletin boards. This notice will be announced to the
carriers for three (3) consecutive working days.
ITEM 12
NON PRIME TIME
On November 30th of each year the station complement will be determined.
Twelve (12%) percent of the station complement will be permitted leave with the
following guidelines:
A. Percentages of .5 or higher will be rounded off to the next higher number.
B. Leave will be approved on a first come first served basis except where
requests are submitted on the same date at which time seniority will prevail.
C. Leave requests can be submitted at any time up to 24 hours in advance, non
working days excluded. Leave will be granted subject to the above provisions
provided the allotted number of carriers are not already off.
D. Same day requests will be approved/disapproved within one (1) hour of the
requested leave.
1. On December 1 thru y leave slips will be accepted for the period January 1
thru to the beginning of prime time. 3971 leave slips will be returned by
December 15th.
2. On August 1 thru 7 leave slips will be accepted for the period from the end
of prime time till December 31. 3971 leave slips will be returned by August
15th.
ITEM 13
HOLIDAY SCHEDULE
The following will be the order for selecting employees to work on a holiday:
1. Casuals even if overtime is necessary.
2. PTF's even if overtime is necessary.
3. Full Time Regular Volunteers by seniority.
4. Full Time Regular Non-Volunteers by juniority.
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ITEM 14
OVERTIME DESIRED LIST
The overtime desired list will include all regular carriers in the office who
have designated prior to the beginning of the quarter they wish to work
overtime.
Letter Carriers will be allowed to remove their names from the overtime desired
list once (1) during the quarter. This must be done in writing, and will go into
effect the next working day after 24 hours notice.
Overtime for Part Time Flexibles will be distributed as equitably as possible.
ITEM 15
NUMBER OF LIGHT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS
There will be no limit or restriction as to the number of Light Duty Assignments
within the letter carrier craft for either temporary or permanent light duty in
accordance with National Agreement, Article XIII.
ITEM 16
LIGHT DUTY WHICH CONFLICTS
Any Light Duty Assignment which conflicts with the regular carrier force will
dealt with in accordance with Article XIII of the National Agreement.
ITEM 17
IDENTIFICATION OF LIGHT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS
It is agreed that light duty assignments for letter carriers may include but are
not limited to:
A. Casing and strapping out of a route or routes.
B. Assisting other routes setting up mail.
C. Relabeling carrier cases.
D. Rewriting or lining out of Form 3982's.
E. Rewriting carrier route books.
F. Maintenance of delivery service equipment.
G. Training new employees.
H. Casing curtailed and/or backlogged mail on other routes.
I. Any other duties which in the future could be deemed as light duty in the
carrier crafts.
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ITEM 18
REASSIGNMENTS
It is agreed that this Post Office will be known as an Installation. It is
further agreed that when it is necessary to reassign within this installation,
employees who are excess to the needs, management will consult with the Union
prior to final determination.
ITEM 19
THE ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEE PARKING SPACES
Parking spaces will be provided for all letter carriers.
ITEM 20
COVERED IN ITEM 8
ITEM 21
REPRESENTATION
A copy of letter, posted notices or communications issued by the employer to the
employees relating to policy or matters which effect the employees and/or the
Letter Carrier Craft will be furnished to the Steward prior to, at the time of
issuance.
The Stewards will be afforded prompt, proper, and due recognition by all
supervisory personnel and management officials in carrying out their duties,
responsibilities, and obligations under this Memorandum of Understanding and the
National Agreement.
The parties of this agreement will meet each quarter except in the fourth
quarter. The meeting will be held in November along with the Christmas meeting.
The meeting will be at a time to be determined.
There will be no more than two members of each craft at any Labor Management
meeting.
Two additional meetings may be held each year with one member of each craft on
the clock. Dates will be set by mutual consent.
It is agreed that agenda items for discussion at all labor managements will be
exchanged by the parties to this agreement at least one full week before the
scheduled meeting. Items not placed on such agendas will be discussed at the end
of the meeting. If no agendas are exchanged it will be understood that the
meetings will not be held.
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ITEM 21
REPRESENTATION (continued)
All items agreed to will be in writing and signed by both parties.
Branch 157 will be consulted prior to the designation of employees to all local
committees where applicable by the Postmaster and/or his staff. Letter Carrier
members of all committees will be designated by the President of Branch 157.
Committee Meetings will be held on the clock.
The President of Branch 157 (or his designee) will be provided ample opportunity
to address new employee or employees after they are hired.
Upon request to the appropriate supervisor, the steward may be permitted to
enter into any work location where a problem has been reported involving
personnel policy and practices or any other matter effecting terms or conditions
or employment of an employee or employees he represents, for the purpose of
resolving the problem with the employee or employees and/or the supervisor or
supervisors involved.
Such attempts at resolution will be conducted on the clock during the Steward's
(or his designee's) regularly scheduled work day.
The Steward or alternate of Branch 157 will be consulted by the Postmaster or
his designee, on all discipline actions concerning members of the Letter Carrier
Craft.
Stewards and supervisors will cooperate to the fullest extent in furthering the
good of the service and the employee's welfare by keeping employees currently
informed or any change in policy or procedure by the method of periodic
discussions on the workroom floor. Employees will be on the clock for the time
necessary.
Representatives of Branch 157 will have the right to the use of Post Office
telephones with permission for the purpose of performing and engaging in
official Union duties and any business related to the collective bargaining
agreement and the Local Memorandum Of Understanding.
ITEM 21
ROUTE INSPECTIONS
All carriers will be notified 2 weeks in advance of route inspections and at
that time will be given a copy of printed instructions and sample forms in
accordance with National Agreement.
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ITEM 21
COMFORT AND LUNCH STOPS
When there are no suitable places to take a comfort and/or lunch stop on a
route, a letter carrier will have the right to travel outside his route where
accommodations are available. Such travel will be discussed prior with the
Supervisor so that suitable locations may be designated.
ITEM 21
SOCIAL AND RECREATION COMMITTEE
An employee service and benefits committee will be established. Meetings will be
held with the Postmaster or his designee on the clock with a representative of
Branch 157. The meeting will be held quarterly.
ITEM 21
AIR CONDITIONING
The air conditioning will be properly maintained and serviced and will be turned
on upon arrival of the 1st employee prior to the Letter Carriers reporting for
work.
ITEM 21
INSPECTION OF OPF
1. A Letter Carrier will, upon request, have the right to inspect his official
personnel folder.
2. Upon the employees request, the Branch President and/or his designee, may
accompany the employee during the inspection of OPF.
3. Employees will be able to obtain copies of material in their folder not
already in his/her possession.
ITEM 22
SENIORITY LISTS
An updated seniority list of all letter carriers at this installation will be
posted on employee bulletin boards. The list will be updated once every six (6)
months (January 1 and July 1) or when there is a personnel change, whichever
comes first.
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ITEM 22
ASSIGNMENTS
When there is a change of more than 1 hour in the starting time of a route the
decision to post or not post will be done by mutual consent.
REGULAR CARRIER WORKING HIS NON-SCHEDULED DAY
In the event a regular assigned carrier is requested to work on his
non-scheduled day, he will be assigned to work his own route. A reserve carrier
(float) is covering one of the routes on the utilities string, he will be bumped
on a daily basis, regardless of it being a holddown. This bumping will also
happen to a part time flexible who may be filling in for a vacancy or a holddown.
Below is listed the exception to the duration clause and the bumping procedure
to be followed:
ARTICLE 41, SECTION 2 B 5
* A. Full time reserve and unassigned carriers who have insufficient work for
eight hours bump part time flexibles on temporary bid assignments.
B. Full time regular carriers who are called in to work their own route on their
non-scheduled day, bump their utility or T-6 carriers, who holding a temporary
bid assignment or one of the four routes on the utility or T- 6 string. However,
there is no bumping if there is an open route on the string.
C. There is not eight hours of work in the delivery unit for a reserve or
unassigned who may bump a part time flexible holding a temporary bid assignment
rather than be reassigned to another delivery unite where there is eight hours
of work.
* D. A reserve or unassigned carrier is the successful bidder of a permanent
vacant duty assignment.
E. A part time flexible carrier is converted to a permanent
route vacancy.
* F. Reserve and unassigned carriers bid on permanent route vacancies. Reserve
carriers, by virtue of having craft, full time duty assignments, amy not be
arbitrarily moved from their permanent or temporary bid assignments. Unassigned
carriers may be assigned to permanent route vacancies after their temporary bid
assignments have ended.
G. If nothing is available in the utility string, he will choose vacant
assignments with his seniority.
* At this time these do not pertain to this office.
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ITEM 22
PART TIME FLEXIBLES
Part time flexible employees may use their seniority to bid for their vacation
period and for available temporary assignments of five or more days. As
successful bidders, they assume the hours of duty and the schedule of work days
of the full time carrier whose assignment is being covered.
SECTION 3-0
When a Letter Carrier route or full time assignments, other than the letter
carrier route(s) or full time duty assignment(s) of the junior employee(s), is
abolished at a delivery unit as a result of, but not limited to, route
adjustments, highways, housing projects, all routes and full time duty
assignments at that unit held by letter carriers who are junior to the carrier(s)
whose route(s) or full time duty assignments was abolished shall be posted for
bid in accordance with the posting procedure in the article.
BREAKS
On July 21 of each year the Union will determine whether both breaks are on the
street or one is in the office and the other on the street.
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Pursuant to Article XXX of the National Agreement the Articles negotiated at the
Local Level and those Articles brought forth from previous Local Memorandums of
Understanding constitute the entire agreement between Branch 157, National
Association of Letter Carriers and the Flourtown Post Office.
Frank Kelly Jack Geoghegan
Postmaster President
Flourtown Post Office NALC, Branch 157
Flourtown, Pa Philadelphia, Pa
November 1, 2002 November 1, 2002
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