"I'm Back"

I need to take you on my route today. as you are most aware the USPS notified the NRLCA that effective July 14, 2008 there will be " ADDITIONAL QUALIFIERS FOR CARRIER PICKUP SERVICE " These are Merchandise Return Service (MRS) and Parcel Return Service (PRS). These are to be an enhancement to the carrier pick ups we already were exposed to in the last mail count from the
                                     Step 4 decision Q00R-4Q-C 08030088 Article 34.
Which states " A route will be credited 90 seconds for each carrier pickup request completed during the mail count and 9 seconds for each carrier pickup item received ( Express Mail, Priority Mail or International Mail).
Prepaid ordinary and insured parcels accepted or letters and flats collected in conjunction with the carrier pickup items will not be included in the new standard. At this time, letters and flats collected and ordinary and insured parcels accepted continue to receive the appropriate credit as outlined in Sections 535.12.n and 535.12.o of handbook PO 603.

                                                   Herein lays the problem.

We know that there has been no attempt to compensate us for these new duties or we would have heard this from the National Office news release issued on 07/03/2008. We are to absorb these new duties and then appreciate those gains in the next mail count. Today I received my first (MRS) and began to realize the errors of our Associations ways, first my pick up request was on a piece of paper in the mail box asking me to come to the door. Not knowing for what I did as requested and was promptly handed the (MRS) and the information that the USPS told this individual that they could hand this item to me. I took the parcel and returned to my vehicle when I realized what had just happened. I will during a mail count be only credited with a piece count for this item as it was to be returned as Standard Mail.

This is a issue that most assuredly need be looked at because of these issues that I will elaborate on.

First there was no official pickup request attributed to the mail piece ergo no "90 seconds", also being returned as Standard Mail I won't receive the time of 9 seconds per piece, then the reality that if it is not over 2 pounds I wouldn't even get the parcel count for this item. WOW needless to say after realizing this fact and knowing that this has only begun, and that " 25% of all packages are returned" that even with a mail count, I could and very likely will be giving this service for FREE. No wonder the USPS wants this business for an entire craft will be or could very capably be doing this service for nothing.

I was shocked by disbelief as I returned to the Office and began to wonder, am I the only Rural Carrier to see this and if so do we have time for our National Office to file a Step 4 in order to correct this issue, or even if they care.
I would hope they would care as this is a reality that we are facing and the effective date is 07/14/2008.
Certainly the NRLCA had thought about this, they must realize that the potential for loss to you and I could substantially change the evaluation on routes being impacted by this 25%. Our leaders must know that once again the USPS is making changes that will have a negative impact on it's members and they have failed to react or have chosen not to, thus leaving it to those of us in the field to fight for our chances in trying to get Management to give us that credit, just like we did during the last mail count.

Once again it seems as though the NRLCA has taken what the USPS has given without a word and the membership be damned. We have taken enough losses to be given more without even a fight or better yet clarification.
Our Association had better wake up as the USPS is pretending to be our friend again and that scares me.

And That The Way Jay Sees It

Edit this page (if you have permission) |

Google Docs -- Web word processing, presentations and spreadsheets.