Workplace issues

Materials Reference System (MRS)

Use the box above to find an M-numbered document.

The Materials Reference System or MRS is a collection of contract administration materials assembled by the NALC Headquarters’ Contract Administration Unit. It has been designed to assist all NALC representatives who enforce and administer the National Agreement. The MRS should be used as a supplement to the Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM) which is authoritative and controlling in the case of any ambiguities or contradictions.

The MRS contains summaries and, in some cases, the full text of many important national-level materials, including settlements of Step 4 Settlement, grievances, national-level Pre-arbitration settlements, Memorandums, USPS policy statements, NALC publications and more. The MRS also contains cross-references to significant national-level arbitration awards.

The MRS has been updated and has a new look and format. This will allow the NALC to continuously update the publication, and provides an easier search experience.

Click here for the Materials Reference System (MRS) Index and Summaries

MRS documents

Below are summaries of the latest MRS documents. Click a link to view the PDF document online, or right-click and choose “Save target as…” or “Save link as…” to download.

• M-02009 – May 27, 2025 – The national parties have issued a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to resolve outstanding issues from Arbitrator Nolan’s award, which set the terms of the 2023-2026 National Agreement (issued March 21, 2025).  Provisions to Article 8 in the 2023-2026 National Agreement, which modified the language of the 2019-2023 National Agreement, shall be implemented on July 1, 2025.  Additionally, the MOU Re: New Employee Experience, Retention and Mentoring Program shall also be implemented on July 1, 2025.
• M-02008 – April 17, 2025 – National-level agreement for grievance 6X19N-6X-C 23546250. The NALC and USPS  have reached an agreement addressing the use of the large capacity hampers (blue hampers) at an S&DC.  In accordance with Article 15, a review of a possible interpretive issue was initiated on May 10, 2024.  The parties agreed that no interpretive issue was found.  Additionally, the Job Safety Analysis (JSA), Carriers Using Large Capacity Hampers, July 18, 2024, should be utilized for the use of these hampers in S&DCs and other delivery units.
• M-02007 – September 30, 2024 – The national parties agree to a joint process establishing guidelines to the evaluation and adjustment process related to Memorandum of Understanding Re: Alternate Route Adjustment Process – Sorting and Delivery Centers (ARAP-S&DC) (M-02006).  
• M-02006 – September 30, 2024 – Memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding an alternate route adjustment process to evaluate city letter carrier routes that have been relocated to a sorting and delivery center (S&DC). With this MOU, the national parties agree to amend Item #11 of the January 13, 2023, MOU Re: Movement of City Letter Carrier Assignments from an Independent Installation to a Sorting and Delivery Center (M-01990). This agreement applies to city letter carrier routes impacted by the establishment of, or relocation into, an S&DC on or after June 1, 2024. All other terms of M-01990 will remain in effect.
• M-02005 - September 9, 2024 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed that Holiday Carrier Assistants may be hired prior to the start of the four-week December period solely for the purpose of training.
• M-02004 – July 11, 2024 - Time limit waiver for all grievances due to NALC’s 73rd Biennial Convention. The 31-day moratorium on the time limits for the processing of all grievances at the local, regional, and national levels begins Saturday, July 27 and concludes Monday, Aug. 26.  
• M-02003 - July 1, 2024 – Memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining the agreed upon procedures to be followed for specific delivery zones being moved from the Lynnwood, WA Installation to the Everett, WA Sorting and Delivery Center (S&DC).
• M-02002 – June 21, 2024 - Memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the agreement of the national parties to allow regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NALC National Agreement to carry over 520 hours of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2024 to leave year 2025.  Provisions in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) regarding payment of accumulated leave are not changed because of this MOU, which expires with the conclusion of the 2025 Leave Year.
• M-02001 – March 1, 2024 – National-level interpretive step settlement for grievance number Q06N-4Q-C 12180373. The national parties agreed that the expiration of the October 22, 2008, MOU Re: Assignment of City Delivery, coincides with Arbitrator Das’ Interest Arbitration Award dated January 10, 2013. It was agreed that any new delivery growth which was improperly assigned during the timeframe in question, November 20, 2011, through January 10, 2013, will be properly reassigned.
• M-02000 – March 1, 2024 – National-level interpretive step settlement for grievance number Q06N-4Q-C 11377406. The parties agreed the Casers/Deliverers test has concluded and that the data collection and testing did not involve or result in any changes to current work measurement systems, work, or time standards. The test also did not result in any permanent changes to the route structure or route evaluation and/or adjustment process in the city letter carrier craft. As a result, it was agreed to close this case without prejudice to the position of either party in this or any other matter. Additionally, any remailing issues will be subsequently resolved in accordance with the collective bargaining agreement.
• M-01998 – December 29, 2023 – Memorandum of understanding (MOU) in which the parties agreed to an extension of MOU Re: Technology Integrated Alternate Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process (TIAREAP) 2022-2023 (M-01982). The joint process to evaluate and adjust city delivery routes is extended until May 31, 2024.
• M-01997 – November 29, 2023 – Memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining the agreed upon guidelines for the implementation of a Modified Delivery Unit Optimization (MDOU) process when moving city carriers from the Corte Madera, CA Installation into the Mill Valley, CA Installation.
• M-01996 – November 29, 2023 – Memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining the agreed upon guidelines for the implementation of a Modified Delivery Unit Optimization (MDOU) process when moving city carriers from the Corte Madera, CA Installation into the San Rafael, CA Installation.
• M-01995 - July 10, 2018 – Memorandum of agreement in which the national parties agree that Step B teams are prohibited from citing or quoting regular panel arbitration awards in any decision, unless the award is from the installation where the grievance arose and is relevant to the subject matter at issue. This policy shall continue until the national parties agree otherwise.
• M-01994 – June 2, 2023 – Letter from USPS to NALC acknowledging the bidding procedures outlined in Article 12.3.A of the National Agreement, are renewed effective May 21, 2023.  Employees are allowed to continue bidding during the period of ongoing contract negotiations and/or in the event of an impasse.  Successful bids subsequent to May 21, 2023, will be counted toward the maximum bids established in the next agreement.
• M-01993 – April 24, 2023 - Memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the agreement of the national parties to allow regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NALC National Agreement to carry over 520 hours of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2023 to leave year 2024.  Provisions in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) regarding payment of accumulated leave are not changed as a result of this MOU, which expires December 31, 2024.
• M-01992 - April 12, 2023 – Memorandum of understanding (MOU) outlining agreed upon procedures and rules specific to the USPS installations being housed within the Utica, NY and Bryan, TX Sorting and Delivery Centers (S&DC).
• M-01991 – January 13, 2023 – Memorandum of understanding (MOU) concerning the agreed upon procedures to be followed regarding local memorandums of understanding (LMOUs) when all city letter carrier assignments are permanently moved from an independent installation to a sorting and delivery center (S&DC).  The process outlined in this MOU does not apply when an installation is discontinued and/or consolidated, or when a station or branch is transferred or made independent in accordance with Articles 12.5.C.1, 12.5.C.2, and/or 12.5.C.3 of the National Agreement.
• M-01990 – January 13, 2023 – Memorandum of understanding (MOU) regarding the movement of city letter carrier assignments from an independent installation to a sorting and delivery center (S&DC). The MOU contains the agreed upon procedures to follow when all city letter carrier assignments are permanently moved from an independent installation to a S&DC. The process outlined in this MOU does not apply when an installation is discontinued and/or consolidated, or when a station or branch is transferred or made independent in accordance with Articles 12.5.C.1, 12.5.C.2, and/or 12.5.C.3 of the National Agreement. Item #11 has been amended to provide the mutual understanding of the national parties on the process of evaluating and adjusting routes (M-02006). Additionally, guidelines have been developed so that parties at every level apply the terms of the Alternate Route Adjustment Process – Sorting and Delivery Centers (ARAP-S&DC) (M-02007).
• M-01989 – Sept. 23, 2022 – NALC and the Postal Service agree that Holiday Carrier Assistants may be hired prior to the start of the four-week December period solely for the purpose of training.
• M-01988 – April 3, 2025 – Several memorandums agreed upon by NALC and USPS pursuant to the May 24, 2022, Memorandum of Understanding Re: City Delivery Staffing Adjustment – Hiring Part-Time Flexible City Letter Carriers (M-01986), providing installations in which the Postal Service will convert all city carrier assistants to part-time flexible (PTF) career status as well as hire new PTF city letter carriers in these installations in order to reach and maintain an identified number of PTF city letter carriers on the rolls for each installation. The Postal Service is required to convert all city carrier assistants in the identified installations to part-time flexible career status as soon as practicable, but no later than the first day of the second full pay period following the date of the respective agreement. Additionally, identified installations where the staffing level has been reached and maintained for four consecutive pay periods will return to hiring city carrier assistants after a 30-day notification period. A coversheet to M-01988 has been created to identify installations currently hiring PTF city letter carriers.
• M-01986 – May 24, 2022 – the agreement requires conversion of all CCAs to PTF career status and moves the 22 installations included in the agreement to an all-career workforce. All CCAs currently on the rolls in the listed offices will be converted to part-time flexible career status no later than 60 days from the date of the agreement (May 24, 2022).  After these conversions have taken place, the Postal Service will hire new city letter carriers as PTFs until the number of PTFs listed for each installation has been reached and maintained.
• M-01985 – May 24, 2022 – the parties agree to a one-time conversion of CCAs and PTFs working in offices identified in the agreement. The agreement includes conversion of part-time flexible (PTF) letter carriers to full-time regular (FTR) career status and conversion of CCAs to FTR career status in select 200 workyear installations as well as the conversion of CCAs to PTF career status.  The attachment to the MOU identifies the number and classification for conversion in each installation included in the agreement. All conversions must take place no later than 90 days from the signing of this agreement on May 24, 2022. 
• M-01984 – May 10, 2022 – Memorandum of understanding Re: Alternate Evaluation and Adjustment Processes to allow local parties to jointly submit a locally developed alternate route evaluation and adjustment process to the NALC National President and the Postal Service Vice President, Labor Relations. A submitted proposal must include a cover letter signed by the NALC Branch President and the Postal Service Installation Head and must provide a detailed explanation of the process. If the proposal is jointly agreed to by the national parties, the local parties will be notified regarding implementation. This agreement expires December 31, 2023. 
• M-01983 – May 10, 2022 – This supplemental document provides the mutual understanding of the parties on issues related to the memorandum of understanding, Re: Technology Integrated Alternate Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process 2022-2023 (M-01982). It is intended for use by the parties at all levels in properly applying the terms of the Technology Integrated Alternate Route Evaluate and Adjustment Process.
• M-01982 – May 10, 2022 – Memorandum of understanding Re: Technology Integrated Alternate Route Evaluation and Adjustment Process 2022 – 2023 regarding the agreement by the national parties to implement a process to evaluate and adjust city delivery routes with information made available using Digital Street Review (DSR) technology as the primary means. 
• M-01981 – May 6, 2022 – Memorandum of understanding regarding the expiration of Temporary Time Limit Extension on Step B Arbitration Appeals (M-01977), which extended the time limits for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure, and appeals to arbitration, for a period of 30 days beyond those specified in the National Agreement expires May 6, 2022. Absent agreement otherwise at the Formal A or regional/area levels, May 7, 2022, will serve as day 1 of the existing contractual time limits for such appeals to Step B and arbitration that remain timely on the May 6, 2022.
• M-01980 – April 20, 2022 – Settlement of national-level case 6X 19N-6X-C 22098723 concerning the proper method of calculating overtime, penalty overtime, Sunday premiums, cost of living adjustments (COLAs), and general wage increases for Part-time Flexible (PTF) employees in Step AA. After reviewing the matter, the parties mutually agree the PTF Step AA hourly basic rate is equal to Step A of the Full-time/Part-time Regular employees’ hourly basic rate in Table Two. Additionally, the overtime, penalty overtime and Sunday premium rates for PTF Step AA employees will be calculated to equal those increases for Full-time/Part-time Regulars in Table Two Step A. PTFs who were, or are currently in, Step AA will have their pay adjusted retroactively for all time spent in Step AA. Affected employees will be notified in writing that their pay will be adjusted consistent with this grievance resolution.
• M-01979 – March 24, 2022 - Memorandum of understanding regarding the agreement of the national parties to allow regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NALC National Agreement to carry over 520 hours of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2022 to leave year 2023.  Provisions in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) regarding payment of accumulated leave are not changed as a result of this MOU, which expires December 31, 2023.
• M-01978 – March 24, 2022 – Due to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on staffing levels, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed the local parties may mutually elect to develop a sign-up process for full-time employees who did not, for whatever reason, sign the overtime lists during the two-week period for doing so as outlined in Article 8.5.A of the National Agreement. This MOU will expire May 6, 2022.
• M-01977 – March 24, 2022 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed that absent agreement otherwise at the Formal A level or regional/area level, time limits for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure and appeals to arbitration will be extended for a period of 30 days beyond those specified in the National Agreement. This additional time period will be effective on April 9, 2022, upon the expiration date of the current time limit extension agreement and will continue until May 6, 2022.
• M-01976 – March 24, 2022 – As a result of the continued effects of the COVID-pandemic, five previous Memorandums of Understanding (M-01910, M-01913, M-01915, M-01916 and M-01965) agreed upon by NALC and USPS have been extended through May 6, 2022.
• M-01975 – February 9, 2022 – Memorandum of Understanding in which NALC and USPS agree to establish a pilot program that includes alternate parcel delivery to evaluate the operational feasibility and composition of full-time parcel delivery assignments and/or full-time combination assignments that include parcel delivery. The pilot sites will be jointly selected and will include parcel delivery outside of normal delivery windows, the use of parcel post assignments, and any other concept mutually agreed to by the national parties. The agreement expires on April 30, 2022.
• M-01974 – February 3, 2022 – Due to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on staffing levels, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed the local parties may mutually elect to develop a sign-up process for full-time employees who did not, for whatever reason, sign the overtime lists during the two-week period for doing so as outlined in Article 8.5.A of the National Agreement. This MOU will expire April 8, 2022.
• M-01973 – February 3, 2022 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed that absent agreement otherwise at the Formal A level or regional/area level, time limits for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure and appeals to arbitration will be extended for a period of 30 days beyond those specified in the National Agreement. This additional time period will be effective on January 1, 2022, upon the expiration date of the current time limit extension agreement and will continue until April 8, 2022.
• M-01972 – February 3, 2022 – As a result of the continued effects of the COVID-pandemic, five previous Memorandums of Understanding (M-01910, M-01913, M-01915, M-01916 and M-01965) agreed upon by NALC and USPS have been extended through April 8, 2022.
• M-01971 – December 20, 2021 – Due to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on staffing levels, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed the local parties may mutually elect to develop a sign-up process for full-time employees who did not, for whatever reason, sign the overtime lists during the two-week period for doing so as outlined in Article 8.5.A of the National Agreement. This MOU will expire February 11, 2022.
• M-01970 – December 20, 2021 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed that absent agreement otherwise at the Formal A level or regional/area level, time limits for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure and appeals to arbitration will be extended for a period of 30 days beyond those specified in the National Agreement. This additional time period will be effective on January 1, 2022, upon the expiration date of the current time limit extension agreement and will continue until February 11, 2022.
• M-01969 – December 21, 2021 – As a result of the continued effects of the COVID-pandemic, five previous Memorandums of Understanding (M-01910, M-01913, M-01915, M-01916 and M-01965) agreed upon by NALC and USPS have been extended through February 11, 2022.
• M-01968 – November 1, 2021 – Memorandum of Understanding in which NALC and USPS agree to temporarily detail city letter carriers to installations other than their own on a voluntary basis. The parties recognize that staffing issues may be temporarily addressed by the voluntary detail of city letter carriers to different installations while long-term solutions are being developed or implemented.
• M-01967 – October 18, 2021 – On July 26, 2021, a federal district court in Washington, DC held that (1) the legal doctrine of “sovereign immunity” does not shield USPS from punitive remedies in arbitration awards, and (2) arbitrators do not exceed their authority under the National Agreement by issuing punitive remedies against USPS. See USPS v. NALC, Case No. 19-3685 (TSC) (D.D.C.)
• M-01966 – September 30, 2021 – As a result of the continued effects of the COVID-pandemic, five previous Memorandums of Understanding (M-01910, M-01911, M-01913, M-01915, and M-01916) agreed upon by NALC and USPS have been extended through December 31, 2021.
• M-01965 – September 30, 2021 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) reinstating M-01911 Re: Temporary Additional Paid Leave for CCAs and it will be administered as if it had been in effect without interruption since the original effective date of March 18, 2020. With the signing of M-01976, this MOU was extended through May 6, 2022.
• M-01964 – September 30, 2021 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed that, absent agreement otherwise at the Formal A level or regional/area level, time limits for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure, and appeals to arbitration, will be extended for a period of 30 days beyond those specified in the National Agreement. This additional time period will be effective on September 30, 2021, the expiration date of the current time limit extension agreement and will continue until December 31, 2021.
• M-01963 – September 30, 2021 – Due to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on staffing levels, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed the local parties may mutually elect to develop a sign-up process for full-time employees who did not, for whatever reason, sign the overtime lists during the two week period for doing so as outlined in Article 8.5.A of the National Agreement. This MOU will expire December 31, 2021.
• M-01962 – September 21, 2021 – Memorandum of understanding in which NALC and USPS agree to guidelines regarding the temporary implementation and use of the 2 into 1 casing process to reclaim floor space to accommodate peak season delivery volumes. The 2 into 1 casing process is a system in which two city delivery routes with different start times will share carrier casing equipment to prepare mail for delivery. The parties agree the 2 into 1 casing process will only be implemented in sites jointly selected by the national parties, will begin no earlier than October 30, 2021, and will conclude no later than January 22, 2022.
• M-01961 – August 23, 2021 – Memorandum of Understanding in which NALC and USPS agree to pilot a jointly developed mentoring program (“New Employee Mentoring Program”) for newly hired city letter carriers in 38 USPS installations throughout the country. The purpose of this pilot program is to provide newly hired city letter carriers the opportunity to have mentoring relationships with experienced city carriers through which feedback, coaching, and positive reinforcement can be shared. An addendum to this MOU, as well as to M-01949, was signed on June 30, 2022.  That addendum has been added to this document.
• M-01960 – August 3, 2021 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed that, absent agreement otherwise at the Formal A level or regional/area level, time limits for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure, and appeals to arbitration, will be extended for a period of 30 days beyond those specified in the National Agreement. This additional time period will be effective on August 6, 2021, the expiration date of the current time limit extension agreement and will continue until September 30, 2021.
• M-01959 – August 3, 2021 – Due to the potential effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on staffing levels, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed the local parties may mutually elect to develop a sign-up process for full-time employees who did not, for whatever reason, sign the overtime lists during the two week period for doing so as outlined in Article 8.5.A of the National Agreement. This MOU will expire September 30, 2021.
• M-01958 – August 2, 2021 – As a result of the continued effects of the COVID-pandemic, five previous Memorandums of Understanding (M-01910, M-01913, M-01915, M-01916, and M-01941) agreed upon by NALC and USPS have been extended through September 30, 2021.

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