NRLCA: Step 4 Settlement on Proper Credit for Mail That Cannot Be Processed in Delivery Order

The issue in this grievance concerns the proper credit provided during a mail count for letter mail with addresses that cannot be processed in Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) order, such as apartment or high rise buildings.

After reviewing this matter, we mutually agree no national interpretive issue is fairly presented in this case. There is no dispute that during the implementation of DPS letter mail or when assigned to a new route, rural carriers have one opportunity to notify management whether letter mail with addresses that cannot be processed in Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) order should be included with DPS letter mail.

During a mail count, credit for this mail will be provided as follows:

• When a rural carrier chooses to receive letter mail with addresses that cannot be processed in Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) order with DPS letter mail; credit is provided in Column 2, Sector/Segment Letters and is deducted from Column 3, OPS Letters.
• When a rural carrier chooses to receive letter mail with addresses that cannot be processed in Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) order separately, credit is provided in Column 2, Sector/Segment Letters, and there is no deduction from Column 3, OPS Letters.
• When a rural carrier chooses to receive letter mail with addresses that cannot be processed in Delivery Point Sequence (DPS) order separately from DPS letter mail and the mail is still provided with the DPS letter mail, credit will be provided in Column 1, Random Letters with no deduction from Column 3, DPS Letters.

Whether the mail that cannot be processed in DPS order is withheld from the DPS sort plan via station input is the choice of the regular carrier. Once the choice is made, management should abide by the choice and the mail should be credited during mail count according to the agreement above. The method of processing and crediting the mail is also a proper discussion for pre-count conferences.

 

Click here to view the Step 4 settlement letter