Workplace issues

Materials Reference System (MRS)

2014 Materials Reference System (MRS) Index and Summaries

The NALC’s Materials Reference System (MRS) Index and Summaries has been updated and contains summaries of key contractual documents and direct links to M-number documents (through M-01838) as well as C-numbered arbitrations. It also includes Defenses to Discipline. The July 2014 MRS is a prime resource for national business agents, regional administrative assistants, NALC branch officers and shop stewards in their duties of enforcing the collective bargaining agreement.

NALC members may access the 2014 MRS Index by clicking on the image at right, or you may save it by right-clicking this link and choosing Save.

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

Key MRS documents

Here are summaries of MRS materials numbered M-01709 and higher. Click a link to view the PDF document online, or right-click and choose “Save target as…” or “Save link as…” to download.

• M-01926 – July 13, 2020 – 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 25, 2020.

• M-01925 – July 13, 2020 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a time limit extension for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure, as well as to arbitration, beyond those time periods specified in the National Agreement. The additional time period will be effective July 15, 2020, and will continue until September 25, 2020. The parties at the local level are encouraged to discuss the potential need for any time limit extension for appeals to Informal Step A and Formal Step A, depending on their specific situation.

• M-01924 – July 8, 2020 – 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 September 25, 2020.

• M-01923 – June 3, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q16N-4Q-C 19225372 concerning the Postal Service’s unilateral testing of Consolidated Casing.  As a result, half of the 62 test sites will be returned to their original route structure by July 31, 2020.  The remaining 31 test sites will continue through November 27, 2020.  The task force established by the memorandum of understanding, Re: City Delivery Task Force will begin analyzing data from the test sites by July 20, 2020, to determine its application to future testing. Absent joint agreement by the parties to either continue the test or to jointly conduct alternative testing in these sites, the test sites will be returned to their original route structure by January 22, 2021. Additionally, it is agreed there will be no further expansion of this Case Consolidation Test. 

• M-01922 – May 19, 2020 – 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 July 17, 2020.
• M-01921 – May 19, 2020 – 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 July 15, 2020.
• M-01920 – May 19, 2020 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a time limit extension for appealing grievances to Step B of the grievance-arbitration procedure, as well as to arbitration, beyond those time periods specified in the National Agreement. The additional time period will be effective May 20, 2020, and will continue until July 15, 2020. The parties at the local level are encouraged to discuss the potential need for any time limit extension for appeals to Informal Step A and Formal Step A, depending on their specific situation.
• M-01919 – April 20, 2020 – Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the parties agree that beginning on February 29, 2020, COVID-19 related absences will not be considered when reviewing the attendance record of employees requesting reassignment under the Transfers MOU.
• M-01918 – April 17, 2020 – 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.  Any process agreed upon under the terms of this agreement does not terminate any local procedures agreed upon pursuant to the terms of several previous and current Memoranda of Understanding Re: Signing Overtime Lists. Additionally, any process agreed upon under the terms of this agreement will automatically be terminated upon the expiration of this MOU.
• M-01917 – April 15, 2020 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to an additional 30-day temporary time limit extension on Step B and arbitration appeals beyond the period agreed upon in M-01912. The parties agree that 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 agreement is effective April 20, 2020. The parties will revisit this issue immediately prior to May 20, 2020, to determine if an extension is appropriate.

• M-01916 – March 30, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) which allows the Postal Service to employ Temporary Carrier Assistants (TCA’s) during the period between March 30, 2020, and May 27, 2020, as operationally necessary to replace city letter carriers absent due to COVID-19. The MOU includes restrictions about when TCA’s can be utilized in regard to current CCA’s and ODL employees.  The Postal Service will provide NALC with reports on the number of temporary carrier assistants hired. With the signing of M-01924, this MOU was extended through September 25, 2020.

• M-01915 – March 30, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) implementing temporary workplace changes to promote social distancing amongst city letter carriers. The MOU commits the parties to limiting individuals to working in their employing facilities to the extent possible. The MOU also directs the local parties to immediately discuss potential scheduling and office setup changes such as staggered start times, scheduling letter carriers to begin tours in groups of 10 or less, the manner in which stand-up talks are given, break locations and times, etc. With the signing of M-01924, this MOU was extended through September 25, 2020.
• M-01914 – March 23, 2020 – Letter from Postal Service Vice President, Labor Relations Doug Tulino to the management in the field regarding recent agreements, leave policy and approval of requests for changes of schedule due to childcare needs related to the COVID-19 pandemic.

• M-01913 – March 23, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) instituting the use of Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) Section 432.53, City Letter Carriers (7:01 Rule). A city letter carrier who actually works more than 7 hours but less than 8 hours of a regular scheduled day will, upon his/her request, be officially excused from the completion of the 8-hour tour and still credited with 8 hours of work time for pay purposes. Any hours not worked between the seventh and eighth hour of a regular scheduled day pursuant to ELM 432.53 are included in an employee's regular rate of pay pursuant to ELM 443.212.g. With the signing of M-01924, this MOU was extended through September 25, 2020.

• M-01912 – March 20, 2020 – Due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a temporary time limit extension on Step B and arbitration appeals. The parties agree that 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 time limit extension only applies to grievances that would have been timely filed or appealed on or after the signature date of this agreement. The agreement expires on April 19, 2020, however the parties will revisit this issue immediately prior to that date to determine if an extension is appropriate.

• M-01911 – March 18, 2020 - NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) providing temporary additional paid leave for City Carrier Assistants (CCAs) affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. For 60 days beginning March 18, 2020, CCAs will be permitted to use up to 80 hours of paid leave for use in certain circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic. Leave used for the purposes described in detail in the MOU will be coded as TACS Code 086, Other Paid Leave. With the signing of M-01924, this MOU was extended through September 25, 2020.

• M-01910 –March 18, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing a temporary expansion of sick leave for dependent care due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For 60 days beginning March 18, 2020, employees may use sick leave for dependent care in the event they must care for a child as a result of daycare closures, school (Pre-K through Grade 12) closures, or the unavailability of a child’s primary caregiver as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. The MOU does not change the 80-hour-limit for this category of leave that may be used in any leave year. With the signing of M-01924, this MOU was extended through September 25, 2020.

• M-01909 – March 18, 2020 - The parties agree to convert city carrier assistants to part-time flexible career status and hire additional part-time flexible letter carriers in Aspen, CO. CCAs converted to PTF status under this agreement will not serve a probationary period provided the employee completed the 90 workday or 120 calendar day evaluation period as a CCA.

• M-01908 – February 19, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have mutually agreed to postpone interpretive grievance Q16N-4Q-C 19234222 regarding the delay in implementing Arbitrator Goldberg’s Award in Case No. Q15C-4Q-C 17697250 which was issued August 6, 2018.
• M-01907 - February 10, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have mutually agreed to close national interpretive grievance Q11N-4Q-C 13212958 concerning the conversion of CCAs to career status under the 2011-2016 National Agreement. Any grievance(s) held for this case has been resolved.
• M-01906 - January 22, 2020 – NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q16N-4Q-C 19225551 concerning the Postal Service hiring CCA employees above the contractual caps. This settlement provides that all city carrier assistants in all size offices with 30 months of relative standing on February 15, 2020, will be converted to career status within 60 days from the signing of the agreement on January 22, 2018.  Select USPS districts are required to make additional conversions to career status as identified in the settlement.
• M-01904 - June 27, 2019 - The parties agree to convert city carrier assistants to part-time flexible career status and hire additional part-time flexible letter carriers in the identified installations in the San Francisco and Bay Valley Districts. The MOA also calls for the creation of additional full-time positions when certain circumstances are met in the installations covered by the agreement.
• M-01903 - April 3, 2019 - Re: Buras, LA 70041 – USPS, NALC and NRLCA recognize that the devastation from Hurricane Katrina in the area serviced by the Buras, LA, post office resulted in a significant reduction in delivery points and the reassignment of the city letter carrier to another installation. The parties agree that the remaining city delivery points in Buras, which currently number approximately 314 deliveries (and any former city delivery points that return), will be serviced temporarily by the rural letter carrier craft. This temporary agreement expires April 3, 2020, at which time the parties will review conditions in Buras and determine if renewal of the agreement is warranted.
• M-01902 - January 31, 2019 - The parties agree to convert city carrier assistants to part-time flexible career status and hire additional part-time flexible letter carriers in Aspen, CO.
• M-01901 – January 5, 2019 – USPS releases updated Wounded Warriors Leave guidelines.  Effective January 2019, eligible military veterans will now receive up to 104 hours of Wounded Warriors Leave each leave year going forward.  This document is the updated Management Instruction regarding Wounded Warriors Leave.
• M-01900 – November 21, 2018 – NALC and the Postal Service have mutually agreed to close national interpretive grievance Q16N-4Q-C 18034111 concerning the Work Year calculation for the 2016 National Agreement. Any grievance(s) held for this case will be closed.
• M-01899 – November 19, 2018 – 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-01897 – October 22, 2018 – NALC and the Postal Service have closed national interpretive grievance Q01N-4Q-C 07136663 concerning the assignment of inter-station runs prior to the 2006 National Agreement. Any grievances held pending the outcome of this case should be processed in accordance with Article 15 of the National Agreement.
• M-01896 – July 27, 2018 – Due to errors with the original calculations, USPS has agreed to recalculate the TE step credit for eligible employees for applying the provisions of the MOU Re: Step Credit for Former Transitional Employees.
• M-01895 – July 27, 2018 – NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q16N-4Q-C 18204108 concerning the delay in retroactive pay adjustments for former city carrier assistants who were converted to career status during the retroactive payment period of the 2016-2019 collective bargaining agreement. The affected former CCAs will receive a lump sum payment determined by the length of time the employee worked as a CCA during the backpay period.
• M-01894 – July 27, 2018 – NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q16N-4Q-C 17638150 concerning the effective date of the City Carrier Assistant (CCA) holiday provisions of Article 11.8 of the 2016 collective bargaining agreement. Employees who remain on the rolls as either a CCA or career letter carrier who were on the rolls as a CCA on Christmas Day 2016, New Year’s Day 2017, Memorial Day 2017, and Independence Day 2017 will be paid for these holidays.
• M-01893 – July 27, 2018 – NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level cases Q16N-4Q-C 17638188 and Q16N-4Q-C 18025517 concerning revisions to promotion pay rule for letter carriers contained in the Employee and Labor Relation Manual (ELM) Section 422.2 and the “Hold in Place” rule that was applied to Rate Schedule Code Q7 (Table 2) city letter carriers who were promoted prior to the revisions.
• M-01892 – July 27, 2018 – NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q16N-4Q-C 18034102 concerning the postal service hiring CCA above the contractual caps. This settlement provides that all city carrier assistants in all size offices with 30 months of relative standing on September 1, 2018 will be converted to career status within 60 days from the signing of the agreement on July 27, 2018.
• M-01891 – May 17, 2018 – Time limit waiver for all grievances due to the National Convention. Thirty-one day moratorium on the time limits for the processing of all grievances at the local, regional, and national levels due to the NALC’s 71th Biennial Convention.
• M-01890 – April 24, 2018 – Re: 2016-2019 National Agreement – The NALC and USPS agreed to several non-substantive changes to the Proposed 2016-2019 National Agreement that was used during the ratification process.
• M-01889 – March 14, 2018 – Re: Buras, LA 70041 – USPS, NALC and NRLCA recognize that the devastation from Hurricane Katrina in the area serviced by the Buras, LA, post office resulted in a significant reduction in delivery points and the reassignment of the city letter carrier to another installation. The parties agree that the remaining city delivery points in Buras, which currently number approximately 302 deliveries (and any former city delivery points that return), will be serviced temporarily by the rural letter carrier craft. This temporary agreement expires March 14, 2019, at which time the parties will review conditions in Buras and determine if renewal of the agreement is warranted.
• M-01888 – Sept. 7, 2017 – NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q11N-4Q-C 14289728 concerning the application of Article 17.2.B. Based on the clarified language contained in the 2016-2019 National Agreement, the parties agreed to close this case without prejudice to the position of either party. The parties also agreed to remand any grievance held for this case to Formal Step A of the grievance procedure for full discussion and possible resolution using the clarified language of Article 17.2.B in the 2016-2019 National Agreement and the accompanying Letter of Intent, which will be placed in next Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM).
• M-01887 – Sept. 7, 2017 – NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q11N-4Q-C 15005929 concerning the potential enrollment of city carrier assistants (CCAs) in NALC’s Consumer Driven Health Plan. Based on the new language in Section 3.F of Appendix B in the 2016-2019 National Agreement, the parties agreed to close this case without prejudice to the position of either party.
• M-01886 – August 28, 2017 – Re: Article 8.5.C.2 Overtime Assignments (Revised Language) – NALC and USPS agree that absent local agreement to apply the new provisions of Article 8.5.C.2.e and 8.5.C.2.f of the 2016-2019 National Agreement earlier than Oct. 1, 2017, these provisions will be effective Oct. 1, 2017.
• M-01885 – May 8, 2017 – The Postal Service has developed a document entitled “Guidelines for the Use of LDC 23 and LDC 24.” The guidelines reflect the re-establishment of Labor Distribution Code (LDC) 24, used to record workhours associated with delivery initiatives such as Sunday parcel and grocery delivery. LDC 23 continues to be used for recording workhours associated with normal parcel delivery on parcel, relay and combination routes. Of significant importance, however, the document clarifies that auxiliary assistance given to city delivery routes by these types of routes, even if the assistance given was to relieve the route by delivering parcels, is not part of LDC 23. That assistance is still part of the carrier’s street time and part of the carrier’s route and therefore must be attributed to LDC 22.
• M-01884 – May 25, 2017 – NALC and USPS agree that the addition of part-time flexible city letter carriers in specific installations may be authorized by mutual agreement of the national parties.
• M-01883 – Feb. 7, 2017 – Re: Buras, LA 70041 – USPS, NALC and NRLCA recognize that the devastation from Hurricane Katrina in the area serviced by the Buras, LA, post office resulted in a significant reduction in delivery points and the reassignment of the city letter carrier to another installation. The parties agree that the remaining city delivery points in Buras, which currently number approximately 274 deliveries (and any former city delivery points that return), will be serviced temporarily by the rural letter carrier craft. This temporary agreement expires Feb. 7, 2018, at which time the parties will review conditions in Buras and determine if renewal of the agreement is warranted.
• M-01881 – November 16, 2016 – This document is the amended Management Instruction regarding the new Wounded Warriors leave category.
• M-01879 – June 2, 2016 – NALC and USPS signed a joint letter that establishes carrier academies in all USPS districts, an alternate dispute resolution process for any issues regarding the city carrier academies, and that each USPS district will provide a list of prospective city letter carriers to the appropriate NALC national business agent(s) as early as administratively practicable.
• M-01878 – May 20, 2016 – The parties agree to continue to allow the installation head and branch president or their designees to mutually elect to develop a process that allows employees who transfer from another installation, or part-time flexibles and city carrier assistants (CCAs) converted to full-time status after the two-week period for signing the overtime desired lists, to place their names on either the overtime desired list or work assignment list.
• M-01877 – May 20, 2016 – The parties agree to renew the terms of the April 1, 2015, Memorandum of Understanding Re: Sunday Delivery - City Carrier Assistant Staffing (M-01857) through the effective date of the 2016 collective-bargaining agreement. Pursuant to this agreement, city carrier assistants (CCAs) who served a cumulative 360 days as a city carrier assistant directly before being converted to full-time career status will not serve a probationary period during the term of this MOU. The parties also agree to continue jointly monitoring on a weekly basis at the national level the necessary CCA resources during the implementation of the MOU Re: Full-time Regular Opportunities – City Letter Carrier Craft (M-01876) and the Sunday parcel delivery test.
• M-01876 – May 20, 2016 – The parties agree to extend the April 1, 2015, Memorandum of Understanding Re: Full-time Regular Opportunities - City Letter Carrier Craft (M-01856) through the effective date of the 2016 collective-bargaining agreement. The extension includes changes to accelerate the process that are effective July 1, 2016.
• M-01875 – April 4, 2016 – The NALC and the Postal Service agreed to revise PS Form 8190, “USPS-NALC Joint Step A Grievance Form.” The revised form, dated March 2016, simply updates the instructions section on Page 2 in order to reflect the language from the first paragraph on page 15-4 of the July 2014 NALC-USPS Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM).
• M-01874 – March 16, 2016 – Time limit waiver for all grievances due to the National Convention. Thirty-one day moratorium on the time limits for the processing of all grievances at the local, regional, and national levels due to the NALC’s 70th Biennial Convention.
• M-01872 – March 16, 2016 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national level case Q06N-4Q-C 12219976 concerning the use of bicycle helmets for letter carriers who ride bicycles as part of their official duties.
• M-01871 – March 16, 2016 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national level case Q06N-4Q-C 81135613 with the service agreeing that it cannot excess an employee into the letter carrier craft until after they pass any required driving test.
• M-01870 - March 16, 2016 – This jointly-developed document provides the mutual understanding of the national parties on issues related to the 2011 USPS/NALC National Agreement. It is separated in two sections: the first concerning city carrier assistants (CCAs) and the second section addresses other contractual provisions. This document fully replaces the March 6, 2014, Questions and Answers, 2011 USPS/NALC National Agreement (M-01833). New questions and responses are identified by underscoring. This document may be updated if agreement is reached on additional matters concerning the collective-bargaining agreement.
• M-01869 – Feb. 23, 2016 – Re: Buras, LA 70041 - USPS, NALC and NRLCA recognize that the devastation from Hurricane Katrina in the area serviced by the Buras, LA post office resulted in a significant reduction in delivery points and the reassignment of the city letter carrier to another installation. The parties agree that the remaining city delivery points in Buras, which currently number approximately 274 deliveries (and any former city delivery points that return), will be serviced temporarily by the rural letter carrier craft. This temporary agreement expires Feb. 23, 2017, at which time the parties will review conditions in Buras and determine if renewal of the agreement is warranted.
• M-01868 – January 7, 2016 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q06N-4Q-C-09106125 concerning the excessing rules when employees from other crafts are excessed into the letter carrier craft outside of their original installation.
• M-01867 – January 7, 2016 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q11N-4Q-C 15037141 concerning the effective date that coverage begins after selecting a health benefits plan following a conversion from non-career status to career status.
• M-01866 – November 24, 2015 – The national parties have reached agreement on a jointly-developed summary overview of the Family and Medical Leave Act of 1993 (FMLA).  This document provides the mutual understanding of the national parties on issues related to leave covered by the FMLA.  It fully replaces and updates the FMLA language agreed upon and contained in previous editions of the NALC-USPS Joint Contract Administration Manual (JCAM).
• M-01864 – Oct. 1, 2015 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q06N-4Q-C 12217367 concerning revisions to Section 936 the Employee and Labor Relations Manual regarding payment and employee disputes for uniform purchases. This settlement outlines the current payment and dispute practice for city letter carriers who receive a Uniform Allowance Purchase Card. This settlement complements our rights under Article 26 of the National Agreement.
• M-01863 – Sept. 10, 2015 - The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q06N-4Q-C 13106070 by agreeing that there is no interpretive issue presented. We further agreed to remand the original grievance to Formal Step A for further processing.
• M-01862 – Sept. 4, 2015 - The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q06N-4Q-C 12288947 concerning two forms that explain employee rights and responsibilities and are issued to letter carriers who are injured on the job. This settlement corrects several inconsistencies between the information on the forms and current Postal Service and Office of Workers’ Compensation (OWCP) policies and programs.
• M-01861 – June 17, 2015 - The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q06N-4Q-C 09106352 concerning the application of the settlement of case Q98N-4Q-C 01045570 (M-01663). This settlement clarifies how to determine if a presequenced addressed mailing meets the coverage criteria to be handled as a third bundle on park and loop or foot deliveries.
• M-01860 – May 20, 2015 – MOU creating a heat abatement program in the Independence, MO, installation. The terms of this agreement address the Oct. 24, 2014, final decision and order of the Occupational Health and Safety Review Commission upholding the Occupational Health and Safety Administration’s citation dated Dec, 22, 2012.
• M-01859 – May 8, 2015 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q06N-4Q-C 09240093 concerning the time credit assigned to relays when a route is adjusted in the Carrier Optimal Routing (COR) program. The parties agreed that if a relay remains unchanged, the actual relay time from the PS Form 3999 would be used and lays out a process for addressing the time credit for all other relays created by the COR program.
• M-01858 – April 1, 2015 – The parties agree to continue to allow the installation head and branch president or their designees to mutually elect to develop a process that allows employees who transfer from another installation, or part-time flexibles and city carrier assistants (CCAs) converted to full-time status after the two-week period for signing the overtime desired lists, to place their names on either the overtime desired list or work assignment list.
• M-01857 – April 1, 2015 - NALC and the Postal Service agree that city carrier assistants (CCAs) who served a cumulative 360 days as a city carrier assistant directly before being converted to full-time career status will not serve a probationary period during the term of this MOU, which is effective through May 20, 2016. The parties also agree to continue jointly monitoring on a weekly basis at the national level the necessary CCA resources during the implementation of the MOU Re: Full-time Regular Opportunities – City Letter Carrier Craft (M-01856) and the Sunday parcel delivery test.
• M-01856 – April 1, 2015 – The parties agree to renew the terms of the March 31, 2014, Memorandum of Understanding Re: Full-time Regular Opportunities – City Letter Carrier Craft (M-01834) through May 20, 2016.
• M-01855 – March 13, 2015 – The NALC and USPS have agreed to extend the ongoing Article 8 equitability test until June 30, 2015, in the 22 districts currently participating (M-01855). The test was established by a June 3, 2013 agreement (M-01820) resulting from the National Article 8 Task Force. The test was previously extended until December 31, 2014 (M-01848) and March 31, 2015 (M-01850).
• M-01854 – Feb. 4, 2015 - The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national-level case Q11N-4Q-C 14278874 concerning the compensability of time spent and costs incurred by city carrier assistants (CCAs) when obtaining fingerprints for the background investigation required for conversion to full-time career status by agreeing that reasonable and necessary time spent by CCAs obtaining fingerprints necessary for a background investigation under the subject circumstance is compensable time. Additionally, the Postal Service is responsible for any direct costs for fingerprinting.
• M-01853 – Jan. 12, 2015 – Re: Buras, LA 70041 - The USPS, NALC, and the NRLCA recognize that the devastation from Hurricane Katrina in the area serviced by the Buras, Louisiana Post Office resulted in a significant reduction in delivery points and the reassignment of the city letter carrier to another installation. The parties agree that the remaining city delivery points in Buras, which currently number approximately 253 deliveries (and any former city delivery points that return), will be serviced temporarily by the rural letter carrier craft. This temporary agreement expires January 12, 2016, at which time the parties will review conditions in Buras and determine if renewal of the agreement is warranted.
• M-01852 - Jan. 22, 2015 - The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national level case Q06N-4Q-C 11084998 concerning whether the maximization provisions of the MOU Re: Maximization/Full-time Flexible – NALC apply when an installation is under Article 12 withholding.
• M-01851 – Dec. 30, 2014 – CDRAAP 2014-2015 Review Request Form: This form is to be used to by local office contacts requesting a route adjustment review under the City Delivery Route Alternative Adjustment Process 2014-2015.
• M-01850 – The NALC and USPS have agreed to extend the ongoing Article 8 equitability test until March 31, 2015, in the twenty-two districts currently participating (M-01850). The test was established by a June 3, 2013 agreement (M-01820) resulting from the National Article 8 Task Force. The test was previously extended until December 31, 2014 (M-01848).
• M-01849 – Oct. 14, 2014 – Extension of zone selection period for CDRAAP 2014-2015 until Nov. 21, 2014.
• M-01848 – Sept. 25, 2014 – Article 8 Equitability Test Extension - The parties agreed to extend the Article 8 equitability test until December 31, 2014, in the twenty-two districts participating (M-01848). The test was established by a June 3, 2013, agreement (M-01820) resulting from the National Article 8 Task Force.
• M-01847 – Sept. 23, 2014 – MOU Re: Alternative Evaluation and Adjustment Processes – MOU on locally developed joint route adjustment processes during the term of the CDRAAP 2014-2015.
• M-01846 - Oct. 1, 2014 - This jointly-developed document provides the mutual understanding of the national parties on issues related to the Memorandum of Understanding Re: City Delivery Route Alternative Adjustment Process - 2014-2015. It is intended for use by the parties at all levels in properly applying the terms of the City Delivery Route Alternative Adjustment Process.
• M-01845 – Sept. 23, 2014 – MOU Re: City Delivery Route Alternative Adjustment Process – 2014-2015 – MOU establishing the CDRAAP for 2014-2015.
• M-01844 – Sept. 23, 2014 – MOU Re: Holiday Carrier Assistants – 2014 - The parties agree that, effective the date of this agreement, the Postal Service may hire annuitants to serve as holiday carrier assistants during the December 2014 period. However, such employees shall not perform city letter carrier craft work prior to the four week December period in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding Re: Additional Resources - Holiday Carrier Assistant.
• M-01843 – March 12, 2012 – OSHA Memorandum Re: Employer Safety Incentive and Disincentive Policies and Practices. This memorandum provides guidance regarding what kind of employer practices may be in violation of 29 CFR 1904.36 – Prohibition Against Discrimination. These practices include issuing discipline associated with the reporting of on-the-job injuries and incentive programs that discourage the reporting of injuries.
• M-01842 – Sept. 10, 2014 – The NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to resolve grievance case number Q98N-4Q-C 00132007. The issue in this case was whether the national agreement was violated when NALC was not notified of the rescheduling of a regular arbitration hearing between the USPS and the APWU after the NALC intervened at the initial arbitration hearing and then referred the case to Step 4 of the USPS/APWU grievance-arbitration procedure.
• M-01841 – Aug. 13, 2014 – MOU Re: Article 12.1 – Probationary Period – Bidding – The parties agreed that full-time career city letter carriers who are serving a probationary period pursuant to Article 12.1 of the National Agreement and applicable memoranda of understanding are eligible to bid for vacant duty assignments in accordance with Article 41.1 of the National Agreement.
• M-01840 – July 2, 2014 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled National case number Q06N-4Q-C 09012746. The issue in this case was whether Step B decisions were final and binding.
• M-01839 – July 2, 2014 – MOU Re: Article 12 – Reversion to Part-time Flexible Status – The parties agree that any full-time letter carrier who chooses to revert to PTF status instead of being excessed in accordance with Article 12 will be counted as a full-time carrier for application of the provisions of Article 7 of the National Agreement.
• M-01838 – May 8, 2014 – Time-limit waiver for all grievances due to the National Convention. Thirty-one day moratorium on the time limits for the processing of all grievances at the local, regional, and national levels due to the NALC’s 69th Biennial Convention.
• M-01837 – March 31, 2014 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national level case Q06N-4Q-C 10151541 concerning whether the maximization provision of Article 7.3.C apply to time spent by a PTF working on an unoccupied assignment. This settlement is similar to (M-01475) which dealt with time spent on an occupied assignment.
• M-01836 – March 31, 2014 – The parties agree to continue to allow the installation head and branch president or their designees to mutually elect to develop a process that allows employees who transfer from another installation or part-time flexibles and CCAs converted to full-time status after the two week period for signing the overtime desired lists to place their names on either the overtime desired list or work assignment list.
• M-01835 – March 31, 2014 - NALC and the Postal Service agreed that city carrier assistants who served as city carrier TEs directly before their initial CCA appointment will not serve a probationary period when converted to full-time career status during the term of this MOU, which is effective through March 31, 2015. The parties also agreed to continue jointly monitoring on a weekly basis at the national level the necessary CCA resources during the implementation of the MOU Re: Residual Vacancies - City Letter Carrier Craft (M-01824), the MOU Re: Full-time Regular Opportunities – City Letter Carrier Craft (M-01834) and the Sunday parcel delivery test.
• M-01834 – March 31, 2014 – The parties agree to extend the August 30, 2013 Memorandum of Understanding Re: Residual Vacancies - City Letter Carrier Craft (M-01824) through May 31, 2014. Effective June 1, 2014, the parties agree to a modified process for filling full-time regular opportunities in the city letter carrier craft by a number of steps including assignment of unassigned regulars, part-time flexible conversions to full-time status, acceptance of transfers from part-time flexible city letter carriers, then conversions of city carrier assistants to full-time career status and acceptance of transfers from all other qualified employees, limited to a ratio.
• M-01833 – March 6, 2014 – This jointly-developed document provides the mutual understanding of the national parties on issues related to the 2011 USPS/NALC National Agreement. It is separated in two sections: the first concerning city carrier assistants (CCAs) and the second section addresses other contractual provisions. This document fully replaces the May 22, 2013, Questions and Answers, 2011 USPS/NALC National Agreement (M-01819). New questions and responses are identified by underscoring. This document may be updated if agreement is reached on additional matters concerning the collective-bargaining agreement.
• M-01832 – Feb 25, 2014 – The NALC and the Postal Service have settled national level case Q06N-4Q-C 12217402 concerning the creation of Handbook F-15-C, Relocation Policy – Bargaining Employees. The Postal Service created the F-15-C to replace portions of the old F-12 Handbook. The settlement only concerns the advance round trip and temporary quarters portions of relocation expenses.
• M-01831 – Jan. 9, 2014 – The NALC and USPS have settled the interpretive dispute regarding the application of the MOU Re: FSS Implementation (M-01643). The settlement (M-01831) addresses three issues. It should be noted that the third issue, adjustments after the 60-day review, was resolved when the parties wrote their position papers.
• M-01829 – December 23, 2013 – National-level settlement on whether the Postal Service is required to provide individual retirement counseling prior to a Voluntary Early Retirement (VER) decision irrevocability date when counseling is requested by a VER-eligible city letter carrier. The settlement requires the Postal Service to comply with the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) provisions regarding retirement counseling when it offers a VER, and that requested counseling will be provided prior to an irrevocability date. The settlement further provides for a national level expedited process for dealing with any unanticipated failures to provide requested VER counseling in advance of a VER irrevocability date, including expedited national level arbitration scheduling, if necessary.
• M-01828 – December 4, 2013 – The parties agree that the installation head and branch president or their designees may mutually elect to develop a process that allows employees who transfer from another installation, or part-time flexibles and CCAs converted to full-time status after the two week period for signing the lists, to place their names on either the overtime desired list or work assignment list.
• M-01827 – December 5, 2013 – MOU Re: City Carrier Assistants – Temporary Assignments to Other Post Offices defines the process for temporarily assigning city carrier assistants (CCAs) to other post offices.
• M-01826 - October 22, 2013 - NALC and the Postal Service agreed that city carrier assistants who served as city carrier TEs directly before their initial CCA appointment will not serve a probationary period when converted to full-time career status during the term of this MOU, which is effective through March 31, 2014. The parties also agreed to jointly monitor on a weekly basis at the national level the necessary CCA resources during the implementation of the MOU Re: Residual Vacancies - City Letter Carrier Craft (M-01824) and the Sunday parcel delivery test. Additionally, to assist with the significant increase of parcel volume expected over the holiday season, holiday carrier assistants, which were an option beginning in 2014 per the 2011 National Agreement, will now be available during December 2013.
• M-01825 - September 25, 2013 - For the purposes of clarity, the national parties agree to make changes to language in the January 10, 2013, Interest Arbitration Award. The revised language has been incorporated into the final version of the USPS/NALC 2011 collective-bargaining agreement.
• M-01824 - August 30, 2013 - Memorandum of Understanding Re: Residual Vacancies - City Letter Carrier Craft - The parties agree to establish a process for filling residual vacancies in the city letter carrier craft. Vacancies will be filled by a number of steps including assignment of unassigned regulars, part-time flexible conversions to full-time status, acceptance of transfers and conversions of city carrier assistants to full-time career status.
• M-01823 - June 12, 201 3 - The parties agreed to restore language in the EL-804 which states “Provide 3 days (24 hours) of orientation and training when a new employee arrives at the duty station.” See Handbook EL-804, Safe Driver Program, June 2013 for this language located in Section 136.1 of this handbook.
• M-01822 – May 22, 2013 – “City Carrier Assistants-Annual Uniform Allowance.” This Postal Service document provides details on the annual uniform allowance for CCA employees. This document sent to USPS Managers and Human Resources provides information on the procedures, instructions and a sample letter from the USPS to authorized uniform vendors.
• M-01821 – June 11, 2013 - The parties agreed to refer to the National Joint Labor-Management Safety Committee the issue of what impact the mandatory use of bicycle helmets has on the ability of city letter carrier to employ uniform items to protect exposed skin from the sun. In the event the issue is not resolved, this case will be returned to its current status at arbitration.
• M-01820 – June 3, 2013 - Members of the Article 8 Task Force established by the Das interest arbitration award reached agreement on testing a new way of determining equitable overtime distribution. This test begin Oct. 1, 2013, and continues for one year in 22 districts across the country. To read more about the test, to see a list of the districts included and district NALC contacts, see the City Delivery article and Contract Talk section from the July 2013 Postal Record. If you have any questions regarding the test, please contact your branch president or the NALC person listed in the Contract Talk section for your district.
• M-01819 - May 22, 2013 - “Questions and Answers—2011 NALC-USPS National Agreement:” This jointly-developed document (M-01819) provides the updated mutual understanding of the national parties on issues related to 2011 NALC-USPS National Agreement. It is separated in two sections: the first concerns city carrier assistants (CCAs) and the second addresses other contractual provisions. This document fully replaces the April 12, 2013, Questions and Answers, 2011 NALC/USPS National Agreement (M-01810). New questions and responses are identified by underscoring. New questions and answers are included that explain the uniform program for CCAs. This document may be updated if agreement is reached on additional matters concerning the new collective bargaining agreement.
• M-01818 – 5/16/2013 –The parties agreed to change the IVR system so that when an employee calls the IVR system for unscheduled leave and is unable to successfully negotiate the prompts, it will direct the employee to contact his or her supervisor.
• M-01817 – 5/16/2013 – The parties agreed that employees may now use the NALC FMLA forms for FMLA protection. Link to FMLA page
• M-01816 – 5/08/2013 – The postal service created an electronic form that combined information from the PS Form 1769 and OSHA Form 301. The electronic form required supervisors to obtain information shielded by the Privacy Act. The postal service agreed to modify the system through a Service Change Request; which no longer solicits information the union believed violated the Privacy Act.
• M-01815 – 5/08/2013 – The parties agreed that the subject suspension of bidding did not modify or alter the posting and bidding provisions of Article 41.1 of the National Agreement. Any case held pending resolution of this national case shall be processed pursuant to the provisions of the National Agreement.
• M-01814 - May 10, 2013 - NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of agreement (M-01814) to extend the March 19, 2013, Memorandum of Understanding Re: Part-time Flexible Opportunities (M-01808) until May 24, 2013.
• M-01813 – 5/08/2013 – The parties agreed that the TE classification was phased out on 4/10/2013 for a new employee classification, City Carrier Assistants (CCAs). In accordance with Article 7.1.C.3 of the 2011-2016 National Agreement, CCAs are hired for terms of 360 calendar days.
• M-01812 – 4/24/2013 – The postal service agreed to change the language in section 515 of the ELM to allow employees to use another format other than Department of Labor forms to certify FMLA protection. Link to FMLA page
• M-01811 - 4/23/2013 – The NALC and the USPS have agreed to a national level settlement on an interpretive dispute regarding a letter carrier that was promoted to Grade 2 from Grade 1, subsequently returned to Grade 1 and had his Step increase delayed by 48 weeks. Employees returning to a former lower grade must be assigned to the step and the next step increase date as if service had been uninterrupted in the lower grade.
• M-01809 - April 11, 2013 - NALC and the Postal Service have agreed to a memorandum of agreement (M-01809) to extend the March 19, 2013, Memorandum of Understanding Re: Part-time Flexible Opportunities (M-01808) until May 10, 2013.
• M-01808 - March 19, 2013 - The parties agree to establish a work group at the national level for the purpose of developing and implementing a process to place part-time flexible city letter carriers into full-time city carrier residual vacancies that are not subject to a proper withholding order. The intent is to help facilitate the elimination of the part-time flexible city letter carrier classification through conversion and/or voluntary reassignment to full-time duty assignments and the establishment of the city carrier assistant classification during the transitional employee phase out period. Details on the process are coming soon.
• M-01807 - March 19, 2012 - Letter from USPS Chief Operating Officer and Executive Vice President Megan J. Brennan instructing USPS Area Vice Presidents not to work disabled employees outside their medical restrictions nor to discipline them for being unable to complete their routes.
• M-01801 - February 4, 2013 - Re: Buras, LA 70041 - The USPS, NALC, and the NRLCA recognize that the devastation from Hurricane Katrina resulted in a significant reduction in delivery points and the reassignment of the city letter carrier to another installation. The parties agree that the remaining city delivery points in Buras, which currently number approximately 210 deliveries (and any former city delivery points that return), will be serviced temporarily by the rural letter carrier craft. This temporary agreement expires January 29, 2014, at which time the parties will review conditions in Buras and determine if renewal of the agreement is warranted.
• M-01800 – January 31, 2013 – The parties have agreed that transitional employees who are hired as City Carrier Assistants (CCA) on or before April 11, 2013, will be given a one-day break between appointments. This break will occur on the first Sunday of a pay period and allow these employees to work the day before (Saturday) and the day after (Monday). The one-day break will not impact employees' eligibility for health benefits or any other right or entitlement under the National Agreement. The MOU also sets the length of initial CCA appointments for such employees to be for the balance of the 360-day appointment, which is equivalent to the total period from beginning of the transitional employee appointment until the conclusion of the initial CCA appointment, which will be 360 days. In addition, it requires that transitional employees hired as CCAs will be paid at their transitional employee rate through April 19, 2013. Finally, the MOU makes clear that all other CCA appointments made pursuant to Article 7.1.C.1 or Article 7.1.C.2 of the National Agreement will be for 360-day terms.
• M-01799 – January 29, 2013 – The parties have agreed that time transitional employees spend taking Exam 473 will be on the clock, including necessary travel time. Transitional employees will select the testing site closest to their work location to minimize necessary travel time. Please note that this agreement is prospective. It is effective from Jan. 29, 2013 onward. It does not apply to any time that transitional employees have spent taking the 473 Exam prior to January 29, 2013.
• M-01797 – October 9, 2012 – The NALC and USPS have entered into a Memorandum of Understanding which will alleviate some of the staffing issues in many delivery units by providing for a) the conversion of over 6,000 part-time flexible city letter carriers to full-time regular, b) the filling of vacant residual CC-01 and CC-02 positions that are not withheld for Article 12, and c) the limited authorization to hire an additional 3,400 bargaining unit transitional employees.
• M-01796 – October 5, 2012 - National level settlement on the issue of whether a vacant letter carrier assignment for a full-time route may be reverted without current route inspection data. The parties agree that the determination of whether an established route is full-time will be made using one of the following procedures:
  
  1. A six day mail count and inspection in accordance with the provisions of Handbook M-39
  2. A route adjustment pursuant to Section 141 of Handbook M-39 (provided the data used is reasonably current and from the regular carrier assigned to the route)
  3. Evaluation through a national jointly agreed upon route evaluation process
  4. Evaluation through an authorized locally developed joint route evaluation process
• M-01785 – May 18, 2012 - The parties agree to a jointly revised PS Form 8190, USPS-NALC Joint Step A Grievance Form (April 2012).
• M-01784 – May 17, 2012 – National Convention time waiver. Thirty-one day moratorium on the time limits for the processing of all grievances at the local, regional, and national levels due to the NALC’s 68th Biennial Convention.
• M-01783 –USPS-NALC Intervention Process. When data reflects one of the seven indicators are present, the NBA, AMLR or designees are responsible to determine the cause and jointly work to respond to the issue(s) prompting the intervention.
• M-01782– April 24, 2012 - Interpretive Step Grievance on Scanning Delivery Unit Saturation Mail Resolved. NALC and USPS have resolved a grievance at the Interpretive Step involving the scanning process used for Delivery Unit Saturation Mail. The settlement states that this scanning process is an internal measurement system used to verify the date a saturation mailing is scheduled for delivery. This settlement also makes clear that by scanning the mailing, the letter carrier is not verifying that he or she delivered the mailing. The scan only verifies that the mailing is scheduled to be delivered on that day.
• M-01778 – April 9, 2012 - Clarifies the intent of the previous DUO agreements as they pertain to the limited circumstance where letter carrier(s) have active retreat rights back to any installation involved in DUO. This MOU requires such retreat rights for letter carriers to be carried forward to the gaining installation.