*disclaimer* This document was typed in by me, and is not an official document. Although I made every effort to accurately reproduce the local agreement, I strongly recommend referring to an official document to verify content. Please e-mail me if you find any discrepancies.

ITEM 1: WASH-UP PERIODS

1. Article 8. Section 9 of the 1994 National Agreement provides reasonable wash-up time for a letter carrier who performs dirty work.
   
   
2. It is the position of the United States Postal Service, that any letter carrier should be granted such time as is reasonable and necessary for washing up after preforming dirty work or incident to personal needs as currently established.
   
   

ITEM 2: WORK SCHEDULES

The determination of fixed or rotating work schedules for full time letter carriers assigned to routes will be made on the basis of past local practice unless otherwise agreed between the local parties. However, fixed work schedules may be established by the Installation Head for certain operational situations such as, but not limited to, parcel post delivery and business routes. The President of Branch 78 shall be advised of any such work schedules.

ITEM 3: EMERGENCY CONDITIONS

It is recognized by both parties that on occasion, emergency conditions may exist which would encourage the employer to consider the curtailment of operations. Prior to taking action to curtail the operations due to emergency conditions, the employer shall notify the union as soon as practicable of its decision and plan of implementation. In cases of such emergency conditions, the employer will, prior to making a decision to curtail the operations, take into consideration such factors as:

1. The degree of emergency as stated by and acted upon by responsible governmental authorities.
   
   
2. The requirements and reactions of it's customers to the emergency.
   
   
3. The accessibility of postal operations and its customers to the employer and employee.
   
   
4. The safety and health of its employees.
   
   
5. Any carrier who fears for his/her personal safety or health shall immediately call the office, relate the condition to his/her immediate supervisor and/or manager and request further instructions.
   
   
6. Responsible postal officials shall examine the situation immediately when local emergency conditions warrant the wholesale closing of businesses and other local industries. In accordance with the impact on letter carriers, appropriate postal officials may grant Leave Without Pay, Annual Leave and/or other leave as deemed appropriate.
   
   
7. The President, Branch 78 will be notified as soon as possible when the breakdown of air-conditioning or heating units result in abnormally warm or cold working conditions.
   
   
8. Responsible postal officials shall not only consider temperatures, but also humidity, air movement and other factors that can affect the climate of the working environment.
   
   
9. Postal officials will make the safety of letter carriers their prime concern, taking appropriate action to protect letter carriers.
   
   

ITEM 4: FORMULATION OF LOCAL LEAVE PROGRAM

Carriers shall make their prime time vacation choices during the period from the first working day in January through February 15 of the calendar year, providing that each eligible letter carrier is given the opportunity to make his/her first choices. If the vacation list is started late, the ending date for vacation choices shall be extended an equal number of days to ensure that each eligible letter carrier has sufficient time to make his/her first choice. The parties agree that the station manager and union steward shall work together to ensure the timely and proper application of this provision.

The senior carriers at the station must be notified personally, and have the right to select their choice of vacation period(s) by signing their names in the appropriate space(s) of the vacation for the period, by seniority. The number of carriers who may make their selection at one time will be the same number that the unit manager/supervisor has determined can be granted vacation each week during the choice vacation period as defined in Item 9.

The next senior carriers must be notified personally and make their selection as above, and on down the line in seniority sequence until the junior carrier has made his selection. If a senior carrier makes no selection within two (2) working days after he/she has beeen notified personally, he/she shall lose his/her right for that round.

This procedure shall be followed in selecting the second and third vacation periods, but not until all first choices have been exhausted. Any vacation period or portion assigned to a carrier, but not used by that carrier , must be posted once for re-bid only if given up by the Wednesday prior to the period. The period, in eight (8) hour increments, will be re-bid, including the scheduled day off of the canceled vacation period and awarded by seniority. The bidding will cease on the Thursday, prior to the week given up, at 5:00 PM. Any carrier transferring to another station shall be granted his/her vacation period as was assigned and the losing station shall not re-bid the vacation assignment. Vacation shall be assigned by city-wide seniority within the station as stated in the agreement.

ITEM 5: THE DURATION OF THE CHOICE VACATION PERIODS

The choice vacation period shall be from the first full week in February through the last week in November.

ITEM 6: THE DETERMINATION OF THE BEGINNING DAY OF AN EMPLOYEE'S VACATION PERIOD

The beginning day of a carrier's vacation period shall be Monday.

ITEM 7: WHETHER EMPLOYEES AT THEIR OPTION MAY REQUEST TWO SELECTIONS DURING THE CHOICE VACATION PERIOD, IN UNITS OF EITHER 5 OR 10 DAYS

Vacations shall be granted in one (1) week periods by seniority beginning on Monday and ending on Sunday. Reasonable variations may be made provided they are consistent with local service requirements and the carrier's desires. A carrier may at his/her option, request two (2) selections during the choice period in units of either five (5) or ten (10) working days, the total not to exceed the ten (10) or fifteen (15) working days allowed by the National Agreement. These choices may be consecutive if seniority permits. Employees must have sufficient annual leave to cover their choice vacation selections. An insufficient annual leave balance will be deemed to void their vacation selection. Vacant weeks as a result of this provision well be handled in accordance with the re-posting provisions in Item 4.

ITEM 8: WHETHER JURY DUTY AND ATTENDANCE AT NATIONAL OR STATE CONVENTIONS SHALL BE CHARGED TO THE CHOICE VACATION PERIOD

Jury duty and attendance at national or state conventions will not be counted in the complement of employees, agreed upon, to be simultaneously let off during the choice vacation period.

ITEM 9: DETERMINATION OF THE MAXIMUM NUMBER OF EMPLOYEES WHO SHALL RECEIVE LEAVE EACH WEEK DURING THE CHOICE VACATION PERIOD

The following percentages (%) shall be used in determining the maximum number of carriers who shall receive leave each week during the choice vacation period.

When the application of these percentages to the unit equals more than a whole number, 0.5 or higher shall be rounded up to the next whole number.

ITEM 10: THE ISSUANCE OF OFFICIAL NOTICES TO EACH EMPLOYEE OF THE VACATION SCHEDULE APPROVED FOR SUCH EMPLOYEE

At the end of the sign-up period, as outlined in Item 4, a copy of the assigned vacation schedule shall be posted.

ITEM 12: THE PROCEDURES FOR SUBMISSION OF APPLICATIONS FOR ANNUAL LEAVE DURING OTHER THAN THE CHOICE VACATION PERIOD

Applications for annal leave during other than the choice vacation periods, will be made on Form 3971 to the carrier's manager/supervisor. The following procedures will be used:

1. 3971's will be accepted by a carrier's manager/supervisor up to forty (40) calendar days prior to the requested annual leave date.
   
   
2. The manager/supervisor will sign and date submitted 3971's in the section designated "Signature of Supervisor Notified and Date" in the presence of the submitting carrier. 3971's not signed and dated by the accepting manager/supervisor or not handed directly to the manager/supervisor will not be considered submitted.
   
   
3. Request for annual leave will be approved or disapproved within a seventy-two (72) hour period commencing from 6:00 PM of the day the 3971 is submitted, with this exception; annual leave contained in a week with a Monday holiday shall approved or disapproved within three (3) working days commencing with 6:00 PM the day the 3971 is submitted.
   
   
4. Management shall respond as soon as possible to the annual leave requests that are submitted within less than 72 hours prior to the actual leave period requested.
   
   
5. Failure to inform the employee within the 72 hour period will be considered approval of said request.
   
   
6. If more than one (1) carrier requests the same period of annual leave on the same date of submission, seniority will be used to determine the carrier granted the leave.
   
   
7. A carrier, upon request two (2) weeks in advance, but not later than, will be granted one (1) day annual leave on his/her birthday, excluding non-scheduled days and/or holidays.
   
   
8. Jury Duty--In order to have uniformity and consistency, schedules shall be revised to include both hour changes, as well as a change in non-scheduled days, in accordance with the provisions outlined in Section 516.44 the Employee and Labor Relations Manual.
   
   

ITEM 13: THE METHOD OF SELECTING EMPLOYEES TO WORK ON A HOLIDAY

In establishing and posting schedules for holiday and days designated as carriers' holidays, the following priorities are to be followed.

1. Casuals, even if overtime is necessary.
   
   
2. Part-time flexibles, even if overtime is necessary.
   
   
3. Full-time and part-time regular carriers who have volunteered to work on the holiday or their designated holiday when such day is part of their regular work schedule, on a rotating basis by seniority.
   
   
4. All other full-time and part-time regular volunteers, on a rotating basis by seniority.
   
   
5. Full-time and part-time regulars who have not volunteered and who will be working on what would otherwise be their non-scheduled work day, on a rotating basis by juniority.
   
   
6. All other full-time and part-time regulars who have not volunteered on a rotating basis by juniority. This rotating plan to be by section.
   
   

ITEM 14: WHETHER "OVERTIME DESIRED" LISTS IN ARTICLE 8 SHALL BE BY SECTION AND/OR TOUR

1. The names of carriers listed for the "Overtime Desired List" will be limited to a Zip Code within a Station or Branch to which he/she is regularly assigned.
   
   
2. In order to insure equitable opportunities for overtime hours worked and opportunities offered for those carriers on the "Overtime Desired List" only, will be posted and updated quarterly, using the following method:
   
   
   1. A chart will be made as follows:
      
      
      1. First block of each day will show the number hours offered at the rate of one and one-half (1 1/2) times the base hourly straight time rate.
         
         
      2. Second block of each day will show the number of hours offered at the penalty overtime rate of two (2) times the base hourly straight time rate. Penalty overtime pay will not be paid for any hours worked in the month of December. In accordance with National guidelines.
         
         
      3. A (+) sign for overtime hours worked and a (-) sign for overtime hours offered and turned down, shall be used to insure equitable opportunities offered and will be posted and updated each calendar quarter.
         
         
   2. First offer for over-time will be made to the carrier with the least total hours offered and worked.
      
      
   3. In the event a regular assigned carrier is requested to work on his/her non-scheduled workday, he/she shall be assigned to work his/her own route, provided that the T-6 carrier can be moved to another route in his/her T-6 duty assignment.
      
      
   4. Part-time flexibles shall not be required to be on call.
      
      

ITEM 15, 16, & 17: THE NUMBER OF LIGHT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS WITHIN EACH CRAFT OR OCCUPATIONAL GROUP TO BE RESERVED FOR TEMPORARY OR PERMANENT LIGHT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS. THE METHOD TO BE USED IN RESERVING LIGHT DUTY ASSIGNMENTS SO THAT NO REGULARLY ASSIGNED MEMBER OF THE REGULAR WORK FORCE WILL BE ADVERSELY AFFECTED. THE IDENTIFICATION OF ASSIGNMENTS THAT ARE TO BE CONSIDERED LIGHT DUTY WITHIN EACH CRAFT REPRESENTED IN THE OFFICE

1. When a city letter carrier properly requests temporary or permanent light duty, in accordance with Article 13 of the National Agreement, such request will be consided in accordance with the provisions of that article.
   
   
2. If temporary light duty is approved, first consideration will be give to:
   
   
   1. Casing routes, including his/her own, and any other office duties of the carrier craft in his/her facility.
      
      
   2. Auxiliary routes, including his/her own, DPS work related to the Carrier craft and any other office duties of the Carrier craft in his/her facility providing such work is available and within the carrier's physical/medical limitations.
      
      

ITEM 18: THE IDENTIFICATION OF ASSIGNMENTS COMPRISING A SECTION, WHEN IT IS PROPOSED TO REASSIGN WITHIN AN INSTALLATION EMPLOYEES EXCESS TO THE NEEDS OF A SECTION

When it becomes necessary to reassign within the installation employees excess to the need of a section, a section shall be defined as a Carrier Unit within an individual zip code.

ITEM 19: THE ASSIGNMENT OF EMPLOYEE PARKING SPACES

1. All available craft employee parking in the area of the Main Post Office will be assigned to craft employees on a first come first serve basis.
   
   
2. Employee parking spaces for the handicapped employees will be designated as those spaces closest to the installation.
   
   
3. At the Main Post Office the NALC will have two (2) reserved spaces which will be designated as: "NALC Official Business" and "President-NALC".
   
   

ITEM 21: THOSE OTHER ITEMS WHICH ARE SUBJECT TO LOCAL NEGOTIATIONS AS PROVIDED IN THE CRAFT PROVISIONS OF THIS AGREEMENT

1. POSTING
   
   Regular letter carriers making application for an advertised vacant regular route shall apply for the assignment utilizing the Phone Bidding procedure or P.S. Form 1717A (duplicate 1717A is optional). Regular letter carriers may request a round date for the 1717A. Regular letter carriers are responsible for submission of their bid to Human Resources. The word "BID" and the announcement number shall be placed on the front of the envelope when submitting bids by mail. If requested, management shall provide a penalty envelope. The date and day off for the week of the posting will be included on the route advertisement.
   
   
2. ARTICLE 41.3.0
   
   "When a letter carrier route or full-time duty assignment, 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, highway, 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 assignment(s) was abolished shall be posted for bid in accordance with the posting procedures in this Article."
   
   For purposes of bidding under this provision, the posting/bidding shall be by zip code.
   
   
3. UNIFORM AND WORK CLOTHES
   
   Items of uniform dress appropriate for the winter season shall be worn during the months of December, January, February and March.
   
   Items of uniform dress appropriate for the summer season shall be worn during the months of June, July, August and September.
   
   During the months of April, May, October and November, the optional uniform shall be worn.
   
   
4. USE OF PUBLIC ADDRESS SYSTEMS
   
   Representatives of Branch #78, NALC may use the public address systems at all Carrier Units, with the approval of the Unit Supervisor, including the subject and content of the announcement.
   
   
5. INSPECTION OF PERSONNEL JACKETS
   
   At reasonable intervals, a letter carrier shall be granted the opportunity, upon timely request, to inspect his/her personnel jacket (except highly confidential items) in the presence of a management representative, provided such inspection occurs off the clock.
   
   
6. CHRISTMAS OPERATIONS
   
   The policies to be established by management for the Christmas operations will be the subject of discussion at a timely regularly Joint Labor-Management Committee meeting.
   
   
7. JOINT LABOR-MANAGEMENT MEETINGS
   
   

   Joint labor-management committee meetings shall be scheduled once a month, provided agenda items are submitted.

   Agenda items must be exchanged at least 72 hours prior to such meentings.

   Meetings shall be held on the 2nd Thursday of each month, unless the parties agree to another date.

   Where agenda items do not warrant a regularly scheduled meeting, discussions may take place by mutual agreement in lieu thereof.

8. VEHICLE ASSIGNMENT
   
   

   The employer will make a reasonable effort to assign the same full-time route each day if operational requirements permit. Management may interchange vehicles to equalize mileage and to reflect the mail volume for the various routes. It is the employer's intent that vehicles be maintained in an acceptable state of cleanliness, including periodic washes.

MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE COLUMBUS OHIO AND BRANCH 78 OF THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF LETTER CARRIERS

RE: Item 4 of the Local Memorandum of Understanding

It is the intent of item 4 of the LMOU that all carriers will have the opportunity to select their yearly earned Vacation within the rounds of selection. Every effort will be made to accomplish this task by the specified time of Feb 15th of each year by both Craft and Management. If a second round has begun prior to Feb 15 then carriers authorized a second round will have the opportunity to complete the second round.

This memorandum of Understanding is entered into on March 2, 1996 at Columbus, Ohio, between the representatives of the United States Postal Service, and the designated agents of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 78, NALC pursuant to the Local Implementation Provisions of the 1994 National Agreement with the National Association of Letter Carriers.

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