NALC Branch 181 Austin TX

NALC/USPS 2006

JOINT LOCAL MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING ADMINISTRATION

This Memorandum of Understanding is entered into at Austin, Texas between the representatives of the United States Postal Service and the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 181 pursuant to the Local Implementation Provision of the 2006 National Agreement. Any item referred to arbitration and won will become part of this agreement. This Memorandum of Understanding constitutes the entire agreement on matters relating to local conditions of employment. For the purpose of this agreement. it is understood the term stations, sections and units are interchangeable.

The wording inset in italics following certain portions of this document reflects the parties' current interpretation of the agreed upon language found in this Local Memorandum of Understanding.

ARTICLE 1

UNION RECOGNITION

A. This Memorandum of Understanding covers all employees of the Austin, Texas Post Offices and their facilities for which the National Association of Letter Carriers, AFL- CIO, has been recognized as the exclusive bargaining representative at the national level with respect to wages, hours of employment and other terms and conditions of employment.

B. The following employees in the unit represented herein are not covered by this Memorandum of Understanding:

Those management personnel and employees specified in Article 1, Section 2, of the National Agreement.

ARTICLE 7

EMPLOYEE CLASSIFICATIONS

Employee and Work Assignments

The President, Branch 181, NALC, shall be notified promptly of the hiring and/or assignment of employees by the Employer when such assignments or hiring involves the carrier craft.

ARTICLE 8 - LMOU Items #1, #2, #14 HOURS OF WORK

A. Procedure for Assignments for Non-Work Day

1. Units Defined

 

g. 

a.          Balcones Station

b.         Bluebonnet Station

c.          Central Park Station

d.         Chimney Corners Station

e.          Davis Springs

f.      Downtown Station

h.         East Austin Station

i.           General Mail Facility

I.        Mockingbird Station

j.      North Austin Station

k.   Northeast Station

I.      Northcross Station

m.       South Congress Station

n.         Southeast Station

o.         University Station

p.         Westlake Station

q.   Any future stations where city carriers are domiciled

2. The off days of full-time letter carriers shall be on a rotating basis (except as per number 3 below). (LMOU Item # 2 - The establishment of a regular work week of five days with either fixed or rotating days off.)

3. After consultation between Austin Postmaster or designee, and local Union President, a determination shall be made whether fixed or rotating days-off shall be assigned on business routes, collection routes and other routes which have no significant Saturday activity.

4. Trading non-work days may be permitted when requested by an employee through the timely submission to management of a properly completed PS Form 3189 - Request for Temporary Schedule Change for Personal Convenience. Approval or disapproval will be at the sole discretion of the supervisor.

A properly completed Form 3189 bears the signatures of requestor and shop steward before presentation to management. Additionally, if two carriers wish to trade with each other, both Forms 3189 should be submitted at the same time. Trading non-work days not result in straight-time scheduling of six days in a work week or more than two SOOs per work week (Saturday through Friday).

5. Normally, employees, including employees on the Overtime Desired list, who have annual leave, including incidental annual leave, immediately preceding and/or following non~ scheduled days will not be required to work overtime on the non-scheduled days. The intent of the parties is to allow employees to make advance plans for non-scheduled days. It is not the intent of the parties to create a means to circumvent the scheduling provisions of Article 8. Employees on the OOL, if they desire, may advise their supervisor in writing of their availability to work on a non-scheduled day that is in conjunction with approved annual leave.

 

 

The parties incorporate the above passage from the Joint Contract Administration Manual into this LMOU. This passage is understood to provide that carriers who have scheduled annual leave immediately before OR after their non-scheduled day ("day off") will not be forced to work their non­scheduled day when their non-scheduled day DOES NOT occur on a holiday or day designated as a holiday. (Note: See Article 11 - Holiday Scheduling for information on the pecking order to be followed in scheduling carriers with annual leave on a holiday schedule.)

B. Overtime Assignments

1. Overtime lists established in accordance with Article 8, Section 5B, will be by station:

(See LMOU Article 8.A.1 - Units Defined)

(LMOU Item #14 - Whether an .overtime desired" lists in Article 8 shall be by section and/or tour.)

2. The overtime-desired lists will be established of full-time regular employees of the carrier craft. Carriers converted to regular status during the quarter may place their name on the overtime-desired list for the remainder of the quarter.

3. When carriers transfer, bid (and are awarded the position), or are reassigned to another station, the carriers may (at their option) place their name on the Overtime Desired List (DOL) or Work Assignment (WA) list at the new station. The carrier must exercise this option within the first three (3) working days at the new Location. The equability of overtime will be computed from the date following the employee's sign-up date.

C. Overtime Work

1. Except in emergencies, each carrier scheduled to work on their non-work day shall be verbally notified by management at least one day prior to the assignment.

Unlike some LMOUs, this one has previously been silent on the subject of carrier technicians being displaced by a regular worked overtime or on a holiday schedule. Therefore on holidays, designated holidays, or scheduled days off (800) an overtime desired list carrier may be assigned their own route provided there are one or more open routes in the carrier technician's string (or group). A carrier on a temporary vacancy (mini-bid or hold-down) on a regularly scheduled day under the provisions of Article 41 or 25 does not constitute an open assignment. On an SDO, holiday or designated holiday, non-DOL carriers will be assigned (worked) on their own assignments provided that 1) there are one or more open assignments in the carrier technician's string and 2) they are not themselves on a mini-bid or hold-down. It is not proper to work a carrier technician outside of the string if no open routes exist.

2. The Overtime Desired List Tracking System (1990 LMOU re: Article 8) presently in place in Austin will be continued for the duration of the contract. Management and the Union can mutually agree to implement changes to the tracking system if necessary.

In accordance with this language, the parties have agreed that the report "Overtime Alert^ll is acceptable for purposes of complying with the agreement that provides that all overtime must be tracked (including non-OOL carriers) and posted on a weekly basis. This report, when posted weekly, is sufficient.

D. Working Off the Clock

No employee shall perform any duties unless they are on official time.

E. Wash-up Time (LMOU Item #1 - Additional or longer wash-up periods.)

The parties incorporate the language in the national agreement on this issue:                  Installation

heads shall grant reasonable wash-up time to those employees who perform dirty work or work with toxic materials. The amount of wash-up time granted to each employee shall be subject to the grievance procedure.

ARTICLE 10 - LMOU Items #4, #6, #6, #7, #8, #9, #10, #12, #20, #21

A. Annual leave will be scheduled Monday through Saturday.

(LMOU Item #6 - The determination of the beginning day of an employee's vacation period.)

B. Leave Not in the Choice Vacation Period (LMOU Item #4 - Formulation of the Local Leave Program)

1. This leave will be the week following the full week that contains December 31 and end with the week that contains May 31.

2. Supervisors will consult with the unit representative(s) of the carrier craft as soon as practical after November 1 of each year. A 12% quota of leave absences (rounding rule applied) for each week, excluding sick leave, will be established and remain available on a first come, first served basis.

3. A vacation board will be posted at each unit by December 1 of each year. Requests for these slots will be made on a PS Form 3971 no earlier than December 1 and no later than one (1) week before the weekly schedule is posted on Wednesday ( or on Tuesday if it is a holiday schedule). (LMOU Item #12 - The procedures for submission of applications for annual leave during other than the choice vacation period.)

Forms 3971 should be submitted in person. Each station should announce the earliest time on December 1 that forms will be accepted and the manner that employees must use to determine the order of submission.

C. Choice Vacation Period

(Item #5 - The duration of the choice vacation period.)

The choice vacation period for the city letter carrier craft will begin with the first full week of June and end with the week that contains December 31 .

 

1. Supervisors will consult with the representative(s) of the carrier craft as soon as practical after November 1 of each year. A 12% quota of leave absences (rounding rule applied) for each week, excluding sick leave, will be established. (LMOU Item #9 - Determination of the maximum number of employees who shall receive leave each week during the choice vacation period.)

2. Carriers may, at their option, request one or two selections during the choice vacation period in units of either five, ten, or fifteen working days, the total not to exceed the ten or fifteen days for which they are eligible. «(tern #7 - Whether employees at their option may request two selections during the choice vacation period, in units of either 5 or 10 days.)

This passage means you cannot be approved for three separate weeks on the board during this phase of the selection process. Provided you earn that much leave per year, you may be approved for up to three weeks in a row, one week and two weeks, or one week and one week.

3. An employee who is called for jury duty during this scheduled choice of vacation period or who attends a State or National Convention (assembly) during the choice vacation period is eligible for another available period. (LMOU Item # 8 - Whether jury duty and attendance at National or State conventions shall be charged to the choice vacation period.)

4. Delegates to the State and National Conventions will be granted annual leave prior to other annual leave scheduling and in addition to their requests during the choice vacation period, provided management is made aware of any National or State Conventions before February 14 of each year. Management should be notified prior to posting of the weekly schedule of all delegates attending district or local training schools. These delegates must be given priority over other leave. It shall be the responsibility of the delegate to request this leave from his immediate supervisor. (Item #20 - The determination as to whether annual leave to attend union activities requested prior to determination of the choice vacation schedule is to be part of the total choice vacation plan.)

5 A carrier ordered to military duty shall be eligible for his quota of annual leave during the choice vacation period in addition to the military leave.

6. As early as possible and no later than February 14 (or first workday thereafter) the shop steward or other designee (administrator) will begin to circulate copies of the leave board to each carrier based upon their seniority. Each carrier will be given a minimum of 48 hours to indicate their selections (see 8.2 above) on their copy and return to the administrator. It will be the responsibility of the supervisor to determine if the carrier has sufficient leave to hold the slots or weeks selected.

7. Selections may be submitted in any written format by a carrier who is absent from the workplace during the time the board is circulated. Such a carrier may leave contact information with the administrator and/or a written selection. In the event of non-response or failure to submit a selection for any reason the administrator may by-pass a carrier after an additional 24 hours and notification to the Branch 181 president and station manager.

8 No later than May 1, the board will reflect carriers' approved leave. PS Form 3971 should be prepared in duplicate by each carrier. When the carrier's request has been approved,

copy of said form will be signed by the supervisor and returned to the carrier. Open slots will remain available and will be granted on a first come, first served basis. Requests for open slots will be submitted on PS Form 3971 no later than one week before the weekly schedule is posted on Wednesday (Tuesday of a holiday week.).

Carriers whose annual/eave balance falls below the minimum necessary to cover their selections risk having their selections re-posted unless they have a signed, approved Form 3971. In the event re-posting is necessary for some or all of the leave the carrier will be allowed to select the leave that s/he wishes to keep.

9. Any carrier transferring from one station to another station shall be granted their annual leave as previously chosen in the station from which they transferred. The slot which was vacated by the transferring carrier is not required to be posted.

D. Miscellaneous -Items #11, #21

(LMOU Item #21 - Those other items which are subject to local negotiations as provided in the craft provisions of this agreement.

1. Units Defined

(See LMOU Article RA.1)

Carriers will compete for scheduled leave periods with other carriers assigned to the same unit, except for carrier(s)at the University Station. Annual leave for carrier(s) at the University Station will be covered by the Manager, North Austin Station, and such carrier(s) will compete with carriers at the North Austin Station. This is for annual leave only and not to be considered for selection of non-work days.

2. Once the weekly schedule has been posted and a carrier has been granted annual leave, they must take the leave. There will be no trading between carriers for a full week or part of a week of annual leave.

3. Prior to but not earlier than four (4) weeks before the posting of the weekly schedule, a carrier may apply for one (1 ) or more work days of annual leave where vacancies occur on the annual leave board. The Form 3971 should be submitted in duplicate and the leave will be approved on a first come, first served basis provided the carrier has sufficient annual leave for the request. After a PS Form 3971 has been submitted and approved, the supervisor shall post the approved leave on the annual leave board.

It shall be the responsibility of the supervisor addressing the Form 3971 to determine if the carrier has sufficient annual leave to approve the request (the leave applied for AND any leave already on the board.)

a. The cut-off time for submitting the 3971 shall be noon Tuesday (noon Monday preceding a holiday week) prior to the posting of the weekly schedule.

b. An employee's leave of Jess than forty (40) hours in a leave week shall not close out an entire block of incidental leave on the leave board.

c. Only approved full day annual leave will be annotated on the annual leave board.

5. For the purpose of leave requested after the posting of the schedule, an Easy-Off list shall be maintained at each unit and carriers shall be allowed to sign the list on a first-come first-served basis anytime within seven (7) days prior to the start of the leave requested. Easy-Off annual leave will be granted in the following order:

a. A full day shall have precedence over a part day. A full day will be eight (8) hours. If the full day cannot be granted, request will revert to carriers' position on the Easy-Off listing.

b. Special consideration shall be given to delegates to Union training schools, graduations, birthdays and anniversaries (in that order). These days shall have preference over other requests on the Easy-Off list. Such leave will be requested on a PS Form 3971 (annotating any special circumstances) as well as annotating the Easy-Off List and will be granted on a first-come, first-served basis.

c. If a carrier is to be granted Easy-Off annual leave on a Saturday, a carrier(s) with one or more weeks of approved annual leave following that Saturday who has their name on the Easy-Off list and submits a PS Form 3971 will be given preference over other carriers on the Easy-Off list (except for those covered by paragraph b. above). Cases of more than one request will be granted by seniority.

d. All leave granted under this provision will be scheduled leave.

6. Carriers may revert a part or a whole week of annual leave for which they have been approved but may not do so on more than five occasions in the course of one leave year. The scheduled annual leave must be reverted at least one (1 ) week prior to the posting of the weekly schedule.

If a carrier is on the board for one or more consecutive weeks and reverts the entire period, that counts as one reversion. Reverting all but one day in each of the three weeks would be considered three reversions. Continuous leave of more than one day would be considered one reversion (e.g. leave from Wednesday to Wednesday). Carriers desiring annual leave of less than a week may still compete for open slots on the board in accordance with Number 3 above.

7. The reverted leave will be posted for bid on a seniority basis and awarded at the conclusion of the posting period. The leave will be posted for 14 calendar days provided it is reverted more than 30 days before the week that contains the first day of the reverted leave. Leave that is reverted within 30 days prior to the week that contains the first day of the reverted leave will be posted for 7 calendar days.

The leave is to be awarded by seniority. A senior carrier's request of only one day of the reverted leave will be approved prior to a junior carrier's request of the entire reverted leave. Carriers who wish to be approved for any part or all

of the reverted leave should annotate their Forms 3971 and indicate that preference.

8. Employees called for jury duty will only have their schedules changed with the employee's consent. Carriers may temporarily change their work schedule to conform to the days and hours they are called to serve on jury duty or make a court appearance. If a schedule is changed, the employee will notify the proper court.

9. Postal employees may be excused for that period of time deemed reasonably necessary to cover any. absence from regular tours of duty to make voluntary blood donations without remuneration. This policy is not applicable to those employees who participate in this program on their own time. Every effort will be made by the managers to have blood donations for such employees scheduled near the end of their tour of duty. Leave for blood donation may be granted during an employee's regular tour of duty.

9. The employer shall no later than November 1st, post in a conspicuous manner on each unit's bulletin board the beginning date of the new annual leave year. (LMOU Item #11 ­Determination of the date and means of notifying employees of the beginning of the new leave year.)

ARTICLE 11 - LMOU Item #13

(LMOU Item # 13 - The method for selecting employees to work on a holiday.)

HOLIDAYS

Holiday Assignments

In establishing and posting schedules for holidays and days designated as holidays, the following priorities will be followed:

1. Part-time flexible employees who volunteer and casuals (if applicable) are utilized to the maximum extent possible, even if the payment of overtime is required.

2. Part-time flexible employees who do not volunteer are utilized to the maximum extent possible, even if the payment of overtime is required.

3. All full-time and part-time regulars (who possess the necessary skills) who volunteer to work on their holiday or designated holiday by seniority.

4. All full-time and part-time regulars who volunteer to work on their non-scheduled day by seniority.

5. Transitional employees.

6. Full-time regulars on the Overtime Desired List who do not volunteer and whose day off it is by inverse seniority.

7. Full-time regulars on the Overtime Desired List who do not volunteer and whose holiday or designated holiday it is by inverse seniority.

8. Full-time regulars not on the Overtime Desired List whose non-scheduled day it is by inverse seniority on a rotating basis.

9. Full-time and part-time regulars who do not volunteer whose holiday or designated holiday it is by inverse seniority on a rotating basis.

10. Full-time and part-time regulars who do not volunteer whose non-scheduled day it is and who have approved annual leave immediately preceding or following their non-scheduled day.

The above applies to carriers who have annual/eave of less than one week. Carriers with a week on the annual leave board will not be forced to work their SDO immediately prior to or following this annual/eave.

11. Full-time and part-time regulars who do not volunteer whose holiday or designated holiday it is and who have approved annual leave immediately preceding or following their non-scheduled day.

The above applies to carriers who have annual leave of less than one week. Carriers with a week on the annual leave board will not be forced to work their holiday immediately prior to or following this annual/eave.

ARTICLE 12 - Items #18, #22

(local implementation of this Agreement relating to seniority, reassignments and posting.)

PRINCIPLES OF SENORITY, REASSIGNMENTS AND POSTINGS

A. Reassignments

For the purpose of reassignments within an installation of employees excess to the needs of a section, a section shall be identified as:

(LMOU 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.)

((See LMOU Article 8. A. 1 )

This passage Identifies the stations as the sections. Accordingly, a carrier declared excess to the needs of a section will have retreat rights back to the station from which they were excessed in accordance with NWA Article 12,

a.Posting

1. Full-time vacancies, whether the result of newly created assignments, resignation, retirement, reassignment of successful bidders, or other reason; will be posted for not less than 10 days.

The parties' agreement at the national level to extend a different portion of the bid process necessitated this change.

2. Bidding for vacant assignments will be restricted to letter carriers of the installation in which the vacancy occurs with senior qualified as the determining factor.

 

3. In instances where several assignments are posted, a Letter carrier may bid for as many assignments as are posted on the City Carrier Vacancy Bulletin.

4. The parties agree that where telephone bidding is an alternative form of bidding, bids may be submitted by telephone. When computerized and telephone bidding are available to all employees in an installation, telephone and computerized bidding is mandatory.

The above language was agreed to by the parties at the national level. We no longer have a personnel office or a means by which to submit the obsolete hard copy POD Form 1717. Carriers must use the currently accepted method of bidding through Shared Services.

5. Successful bidders for posted vacant assignments shall accept the non-work days that accompany the new assignment.

6. Two copies of the City Carrier Award Bulletin (notice of successful bidder) shall be sent to the President, Branch 181, NALC.

7. No assignment will be reposted due to any changes mentioned in Article 41, Section 1 A 3 and 4.

8. When a letter carrier route or full-time assignment, other than the letter carrier route(s) of full-time duty assignments(s) of the junior employee(s), is abolished at a delivery unit as a result of, but not limited to, route adjustments, highways, housing projects, all routes and full­time 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. The provisions of this section will apply to the following delivery units:

(See LMOU Article 8.A.1)

This language and the parties' past practice provides that re-bidding under the provisions of NWA Article 41.3.0 will be done by station rather than installation wide.

9. Hold down assignments of five (5) days or more duration, arising for any reason other than regularly scheduled vacation, will be posted in close proximity to the annual leave board upon notification of vacancy, station wide. The bids will be on a seniority basis and must be submitted by close of business on Tuesday before the schedule is posted for the first work week of the vacancy. Bids must be submitted by close of business on Monday of a holiday week schedule.

10.If there is no bid on the vacancy the first week, bids may be turned in by each Tuesday (Monday as applicable) before the schedule is posted, as long as there is a vacancy of five (5) or more days remaining.

ARTICLE 13 -LMOU Items #15, #16, #17

ASSIGNMENT OF ILL OR INJURED REGULAR WORK FORCE EMPLOYEES

 

 After consulting with the branch president or designee, management will provide a light duty assignment for any carrier who qualifies for such duty, if such an assignment is available.

B. When it is not possible to assign an ill or injured employee covered under Article 13 in a temporary (of two or more days) or permanent light duty assignment within the letter carrier craft, it is agreed that the Employee shall consult with the designated representative of the employee's own craft, prior to effecting the assignment. The representative of the Letter carrier craft shall be the Branch President or his designee. When it is necessary to assign to the carrier craft an employee from another craft, the applicable provisions of the National Working Agreement and Joint Contract Administration Manual will apply. (LMOU Item # 16­The method to be used in reserving fight duty assignments so that no regularly assigned member of the regular work force will be adversely affected.)

C. Light duty assignments will be provided whenever possible by making an adjustment in the employee's normal assignment. Depending upon employee's physical capacity and his or her doctors' limitations, he or she may be given such duties as, but not limited to these examples (LMOU Item # 17 - The identification of assignments that are to be considered light duty within each craft represented in the office.):

a.     Casing mail on routes with curtailed mail

b.     Handling "clean up mail"

c.     Making entries on Form 1564, and related forms

d.     Counting mail during route inspections

e.     Reviewing Forms 3982

f. Stocking in carrier section

g.     Filing forms

h.Labeling apartment, collection or NDCBU mailboxes L Answering customer inquiries regarding mail service j. Customer Connect or similar carrier initiative duties

k. Delivering express, priority, parcels, or other mail on routes or between stations l. Performing services within restrictions on auxiliary routes

m. Street duties that do not require the use of a pouch to carry the mail

n.   Street duties limited to delivery of apartments, NDCBUs, or similar territory

o.   Any other duties in the carrier craft within restrictions

p.   Duties not exclusive to the carrier craft that do not constitute a contractual violation

D. At least one (1) light duty assignment will be provided and reserved at each station for letter carriers assigned to such station. (LMOU Item # 15 - The number of light duty assignments within each crafty or occupational group to be reserved for temporary or light permanent light duty assignment.)

ARTICLE 14 - LMOU Item #3

SAFETY AND HEALTH

A. Cooperation

1. No vehicle shall be placed in service or permitted to be operated if it is known to be in an unsafe condition. Insofar as it is feasible, a replacement vehicle of the same type shall be

assigned to the employee until it has been determined that the alleged unsafe vehicle is safe. No employee shall be required to work with unsafe equipment.

2. Under no circumstance will any carrier be allowed to drive a vehicle which is known to be unsafe. Carriers are required to report to their immediate supervisor any unsafe conditions of their vehicle. Prompt repair shall be made to any deficient part and each newly repaired vehicle must be carefully examined to ascertain its complete safety.

3. Carriers will be responsible for tagging vehicles for defects and the Vehicle Maintenance Facility Manager or other designated supervisor shall be responsible for repair of reported defects. Supervisors shall initial Form 4565 and return driver's copy immediately upon submission.

4. Management shall be responsible for taking necessary action involving the maintenance and cleanliness of workroom floors, drinking fountains, swingrooms, lavatories and carrier cases, and to insure adequate light, heat and cooling in all units. Local management will abide by Article 14, Section 1 and 2 of the National Agreement.

5. No letter carrier shall be required to deliver mail where dogs or other animals interfere with delivery.

6. The name of doctors and medical facilities where a carrier can report in the event of an accident, injury, or dog bite shall be posted in a prominent place in all stations and the letter carrier shall go to the doctor or medical facility of the carrier's choice for emergency treatment.

7. Recognizing that safety should be a priority for all, the Employer is concerned with the employees' safety; therefore, no carrier will be required to perform a duty which will compromise their safety.

8. Postal vehicles should be cleaned inside and out every 14 days if necessary.

9. Local management should listen to and take every action deemed advisable as a result of Civil Defense, local military authority, local police and weather bureau advisories on hazardous conditions such as, but not limited to, the following: sleet, snow and ice, riots, thunder and electrical storms, bomb threats, hail, wind storms, and floods. Letter carriers will not be required to perform any duties which will threaten their safety and health. (LMOU Item # 3 - Guidelines for the curtailment or termination of postal operations to conform to orders of local authorities or as local conditions warrant because of emergency conditions.)

B. Safety Committee

1. An Austin, Texas Joint Labor-Management Safety and Health Committee shall be established, as provided for in Article 14 of the National Agreement. The President of Branch 181 or designee shall serve as a committee member and must be furnished minutes of all safety and health meetings.

2. The President of Branch 181 shall select a carrier at each principal carrier unit to serve as a safety captain on matters of health and safety. The safety captains will consult with their immediate supervisors on safety and health matters as it relates to their particular unit.

Previous passages establish that the terms "section," "unit," and "station" may be used interchangeably. A principal carrier unit is a station in which the majority of craft employees are carriers.

ARTICLE 16

DISCIPLINE PROCEDURE

A. Customer Complaint

1. Supervisors must use the utmost discretion in handling anonymous complaints to insure that no employee is unjustly accused. No disciplinary action will be taken against an employee on the unsupported basis of an anonymous complaint.

2. Copies of letters to customers relating to customer complaints about carrier service will be sent to the appropriate unit for discussion with carrier involved.

B. Responsibility

1. The Employer, without relinquishing to any degree his responsibility as outlined in Article 16 of the National Agreement, agrees that any time an employee seeks the aid of the Employer in obtaining professional guidance which appears to be required as a result of any behavioral problem, the Employer shall to the fullest of his resources, assist the employee in obtaining such guidance.

ARTICLE 17

REPRESENTATION

A. Rights of Stewards

1. Designated stewards shall be afforded prompt, proper and due recognition by all management officials at all stations in the Austin, Texas Post Office in carrying out their duties, responsibilities and obligations under this Memorandum of Understanding and the National Agreement

2. Upon appropriate notification to the appropriate supervisor, the steward shall be permitted to enter appropriate work locations subject to business conditions, to investigate a grievance. Such attempts at resolution may be conducted on-the-clock during a steward's regularly scheduled work day.

3. Supervisors shall cooperate to the fullest extent with stewards in furthering the good of the service and the employees' welfare by keeping employees currently informed of any

changes in policy or procedures by the method of periodic discussions on the workroom floor. Employees will be on the clock for the time necessary.

4. Union officials and stewards will be permitted, subject to business conditions, to use Postal Service telephones in any station for administering the National Agreement.

B. labor-Management Committee Meeting

1. It is understood that the National Agreement and Local Memorandum of Understanding are subject to variation of understanding. Employer and Union shall meet at least quarterly at a time and date mutually agreed upon to discuss interpretations.

The italicized portions of this document may be amended as a result of the aforementioned meetings. Language contained in the non-italicized portions of this document may be changed only during a local negotiations period.

2. Additionally, the Employer and Union will meet no less frequently than monthly to discuss items of current concern. It is agreed that the agenda items for discussion at the meeting shall be exchanged by the President of Branch 181 or designee and the Postmaster or designee at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting. Hems not submitted for the agenda shall be discussed only by mutual consent of the parties.

3. Minutes of the aforementioned meetings will be prepared by management. These minutes will reflect all agenda items presented and action taken or agreed upon. A copy of these minutes will be sent to the President, Branch 181 for review within five (5) days after the meeting. Any dispute over the content of the minutes will be addressed prior to any distribution of the minutes.

4. Before implementation of the Christmas operation, representatives of management and of Branch 181 shall meet for the purpose of consultation on the policies to be established in the local Christmas operation.

C. Communications

1. The President, Branch 181 will be consulted prior to the appointment of employees to all local committees concerning the carrier craft. Letter carrier members of all committees where the Union has representation shall be designated by the President of Branch 181. Committee meetings shall be held on the clock.

2. The President of Branch 181 shall be given two copies of statements listing all personnel actions concerning members of the letter carrier craft, showing names, addresses, and all other pertinent information. Such information shall include such subjects as appointments, reassignments, promotions and separations.

3. Management will consider all requests of carriers to use the public address system for announcements of interest to the carrier craft.

ARTICLE 20 - LMOU Item #19

PARKING

Local management will make every effort to improve the parking problem at existing facilities, find suitable off street parking for carriers at all units and provide adequate parking at new facilities.

When management calls a member and/or members of the carrier craft to the GMF on official business. a space will be designated for parking during the course of the official business. If more than one is called from the same unit, only one parking space shall be designated for their use. (LMOU Item # 19 - The assignment of employee parking spaces.)

ARTICLE 46

MISCELLANEOUS

A. Carrier Training

All new carriers will be trained in accordance with the current training instructions, as prescribed by the U.S. Postal Service at the time they are employed.

Since this passage was written, the parties at the national level have entered into an agreement concerning orientation and training of new employees.

B. Request for Transfer from Station

An unassigned carrier who has completed his or her probationary period may request in writing to Manager, Customer Services Operations (or equivalent manager), to be reassigned to another station. If more than one carrier from a unit makes such request and if such reassignment is to be made from that unit, the senior carrier making the request will be reassigned.

C. Uniformity

Employer shall make every attempt to administer the provisions of the National Agreement and Local Memorandum of Understanding with uniformity and consistency at all carrier units of the installation.

D. Uniforms and Personal Appearance

Carriers will be expected to present a total appearance of neatness and decorum which should result in an increase in personal pride and which will be acceptable to the general public. This total appearance will include a clean and neat uniform and requires that beards, mustaches, and sideburns, if worn, be neatly trimmed. Hair must be neatly styled.

 

 

This Memorandum of Understanding is entered into on November 13, 2007 at Austin, Texas, between the representatives of the United States Postal Service, and the designated agent of the National Association of Letter Carriers, Branch 181, pursuant to the Local Implementation Provision of the 2006 National Agreement

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Manager. Customer Services Operations U.S. Postal Service

 

 

Emre Edwards President, Branch 181 NALC