DPS Reviews	Early Outs	EMA Increase
FSS Update	New on Ruralinfo	Other USPS News
Personnel Records	Postal News	Return Parcels/Carrier Pickup
Rural Carrier Polls	Rural Corner	Rural Reach Update
Used LLVs/Rural Routes	USPS Reorganization	USPS Legislative Update

As I write this, there is word that the USPS is waiting on approval from OPM to offer early outs to craft and supervisory positions.  There has been a lot of talk going on lately on the future of the USPS.  People are nervous.  Volume is down and the USPS is saying it probably will not return.  They have submitted their Network Plan to Congress which outlines the steps they intend to take to keep the USPS viable in the future.  This plan includes closing and consolidating plants, airport mail centers, and bulk mail centers.  It also mentions reducing the workforce through early retirements and attrition.     I believe there is a lot of change coming in the USPS.  I also believe that we, as a craft have to be willing to change with it.  If we continue to have our evaluations defined by mail volume, I believe there will be many pay cuts ahead.  I believe we have seen the glory days of the evaluated craft as it is now.   The USPS is no longer willing to recognize the value of the evaluated system, and they are working hard to destroy it.  I do not claim to know that hourly is the answer.  But can enough improvement be made to the rural craft to make it viable for the future?  My belief is that we will never get back what we have lost.  Time standards will not increase, and the USPS will not simply back off because we scream and yell that this system started as an incentive system.  Simply put, the USPS no longer believes it is.     My message is simply that we must be willing to at least look at changes that can be made in our craft to protect ourselves from the ever changing USPS.    Change is coming for us and it will probably be big.  The question is are we ready to face the reality of it? | I want to send out kudos to NRLCA  for sending out the latest news update by email.  We have been asking for this for a long time and it has finally materialized.  Thank you EMA Increase The Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) has released the May 2008 CPI-W Private Transportation Index. Based on this release, the Equipment Maintenance Allowance (EMA) will increase by 5.0 cents to 62.0 cents per mile.   EMA Increase         New EMA Charts   USPS PO603 Revision on DPS Reviews On June 16, 2008, the NRLCA was given final notification by the Postal Service that it intends to implement changes to Sections 535 and 541 of Handbook PO-603, Rural Carrier Duties and Responsibilities. In addition the Postal Service also plans to unilaterally implement a standardized DPS Letter Mail Formal Review Procedure effective June 28, 2008.   PO603 Revision    Appealed to Arbitration    Important Information    Unfair Labor Charges Filed Parcel and Merchandise Return added to Carrier Pick Up The NRLCA was notified recently that, effective July 14, 2008, Merchandise Return Service (MRS) and Parcel Return Service (PRS) items will be added to the current list of qualifiers (Express Mail, Priority Mail and International Mail) for carrier pickup.  PRS/MRS Carrier Pickup Early Outs Coming for Rural Carriers? The USPS is currently waiting for OPM approval to offer early outs to craft employees and Supervisors. Proposed VER date for clerks, mailhandlers, and supervisors will be Dec. 31, 2008. City Carriers, Rural Carriers and Maintenance will follow..    Early Outs Used City LLVs Coming to rural routes soon City carriers will be getting 1352 new 2008 LHD Chrysler Grand Caravans and their old LLV's will be deployed to rural routes.  Used City LLVs FSS Update Letter Carrier sounds off on FSS   2008 FSS Symposium Rural Revenue~Rural Reach Since the kick-off in late April, Rural Reach has a total of $1.27 million in estimated annualized revenue from more than 1,700 leads. More | USPS Reorganization WASHINGTON, DC— In a dramatic realignment of several of its core functions, the Postal Service today moved to position the organization to capitalize on new competitive opportunities and significantly enhance the vision of its customer outreach.   Reorganization  More USPS Legislative Update USPS Submits Network Plan to Congress The USPS submits to Congress this Network Plan which addresses the establishment of performance goals; describes the changes to the Postal Service’s processing, transportation, and retail networks necessary to allow it to meet those performance goals; summarizes the Postal Service’s vision for rationalizing its infrastructure and workforce; discusses policies governing reemployment within the agency and early retirement for employees who may be displaced as a result of network rationalization; and explains the future role of various alternative postal retail service access channels.   USPS Network Plan House Appropriations Committee Approves Amendment to study 5 day mail delivery The House Appropriations Committee today approved an amendment offered by Congressman Jack Kingston (R/GA-1) that would require the United States Postal Service to study the cost-effectiveness and fuel consumption of a five-day delivery system and consumer demand of Saturday postal delivery.   Ending Saturday Delivery PRC Hearings on Universal Service Obligation The Postal Accountability and Enhancement Act (PAEA) requires the Commission to submit a report to the President and Congress on universal postal service and the postal monopoly in the United States, including the monopoly on the delivery of mail and on access to mailboxes. The report is to be submitted not later than December 19, 2008.   PRC Hearings Other USPS News New Notice Left and Return Guidelines New EEO Policy Statement USPS & NALC Extend CDS Moratorium PDF USPS Employee Personnel Records Online They now let us access our personnel records from Lite Blue. I checked mine, but it is not on there yet, but some other rurals found theirs.  They are anticipating having all records online by the end of this year.  You have to have your Employee ID# and USPS Pin to log on.  Also, I had trouble accessing it with Firefox, but IE did just fine..     To access your record go to  Lite Blue  and sign in.  From the Home page, scroll down to eOPF.  It is directly under ecareer and ebidding.  | New on Ruralinfo Rate the NRLCA Candidates State Information Gateway I have started an interactive site for the individual states.  This is just a way for individual members to add information from their state.  This is for others to add information and work on.  I will not be updating individual state pages, except for my own.  You can request access if you want to work on your state page.   State Information Gateway | This is a new section to the newsletter.  Each month I am going to put out an article on something pertaining to the rural craft.  If there is anything special you would like to see in this part of the newsletter, let me know. What is Bank Time? "Bank Time" is a term used to define the time accumulated on a route as a result of adding new boxes, miles, etc. to the route.  This time is accumulated each time a PS Form 4003 is submitted with new data.  This accumulated time is printed on the bottom of the PS Form 4241-A until the route accumulates an additional one hour of time.  At that time an interim adjustment is triggered in the route's evaluation.  The "bank" disappears each time an interim adjustment becomes effective, or when the route undergoes a mail count. | This month's editorial selection is "Confessions of former station managers"  Although this is geared towards city carriers, it is still very interesting to read their thoughts.. Confessions of former station managers |