LETTER CARRIER PERFECT - BRANCH 38

1 LETTER CARRIER PERFECTA Guide for TheProfessional LETTER CarrierNational Association of LETTER CarriersPacific Northwest Region 2 Paul PriceNational Business AgentOctober, 2006 Dear Brothers and Sisters,The LETTER CARRIER PERFECT Guide was first developed in1997 to further enhance the professionalism of LetterCarriers within our Region. Since that time, it has under-gone several revisions and updates to stay in line withcurrent Postal Service rules and procedures. This mostrecent version is the work of Julie Todich, BRANCH 3932 Vernal UT and was one of her projects at the NALCL eadership purpose here is to better ensure that LETTER Carriersare aware of certain rights and responsibilities related tosafety, service, and security of the mail that is entrusted wish you all a long and successful PriceNational Business Agent, NALC Region 2 OFFICE DUTIES .. 1 Ring In .. 1 Inspecting 2 Expanded Vehicle Safety Check.

2 2 Reporting Defects .. 3 CARRIER Route Book .. 4 Casing Letters .. 4 Flats and SPRs .. 5 Samples .. 5 Using Stools .. 7 Casing 7 Undeliverable Mail .. 8 Form 8 Address 9 Change of Address Orders .. 9 Parcel Reminder .. 10 Misthrows .. 10 Sequenced 10 Fourth 10 Maintain Satchel .. 11 Unable to Complete Duties .. 11 Report Undelivered 12 Hampers .. 13 Check Cases .. 13 Personal Needs .. 13 Obligation to Employees .. 13 Safety Talks .. 14 Breaks .. 14 Mutual Respect 14 Violence and Behavior in the Workplace .. 14 STREET 15 Loading CARRIER Vehicles .. 15 Lines of Travel .. 15 Curbside Delivery .. 16 Postal Security .. 16 Report Deficiencies .. 17 Fingering Mail While Driving .. 17 Flat Mail on Arm .. 17 Flat Mail in 17 Fingering Mail While 18 CARRIER Satchel .. 18 Lawn Crossing .. 18 Chemically Treated Lawns .. 19 Walking Pace .. 19 Special Services Mail .. 19 Postage Due .. 20 Parcel Post .. 20 Park and 22 Loss or Damage.

3 22 Curbline Delivery .. 23 Motorized Routes .. 23 Government Checks and 23 Delivery on Street .. 23 Canceling Stamps .. 23 Breaks .. 24 Comfort Stops .. 24 Breaks for PTFs .. 24 Breaks .. 25 Six Hours of Work .. 25 SAFETY .. 26 Safety Policy .. 26 Drive Safely .. 26 Observe Laws .. 26 Crosswalks .. 26 Seat Belts .. 27 Vehicle Doors .. 27 Sorting While 27 Obstruction of View .. 28 Animal Interference .. 28 Hazardous 28 Accident Reporting .. 29 Injured While Working Forms .. 29 Choice of Physician .. 29 Emergency Treatment .. 29 Dog Bites .. 30 Contact of Physician .. 30 Motor Vehicle Accidents .. 30 Loading and Unloading Vehicles .. 31 Frequently Used Forms .. 31PM OFFICE .. 32 Registered and Certified .. 32 BENEFITS .. 33 Annual Leave 33 Accumulated 33 Emergency Annual 34 Annual Leave in December .. 34 Illness .. 34 Leave Donation Program .. 34 Sick Leave Earned .. 34 Medical Documentation .. 35 Advanced Sick Leave.

4 35 Dependent Care .. 35 Family Medical Leave Act .. 35 Light Duty .. 36 Requests .. 36 Bidding .. 36 Overtime .. 37 Life Insurance .. 37 Policy 37 Option B- .. 37 Employee Assistance Program .. 37 Flexible Spending 38 Employee Claims .. 38 UNION MEMBERSHIP .. 39E-Activist .. 40 PHONE 41 DRT 41 Grievance Time 41 Weingarten Rights .. 41 Postal 41 Garrity Warning .. 42 Kalkines 421 City carriers perform an important function in the Uni-ted States Postal Service. They serve millions of fami-lies and business firms carriers are highly respected by the Americanpublic. This respect has been earned by many years ofdedicated service, especially during national and localemergencies, including prolonged periods of extremeweather are now a member of this group of faithful anddedicated employees. This handbook will help you givea high quality service that you will be proud of. Studythis information carefully; ask your postmaster or man-ager to explain any points that are not clear to M-41, TL-4, 03-01-98 Handbook M-41 is part of the LETTER CARRIER s routebook.

5 All changes in the Handbook provisions shouldappropriately be posted by the LETTER carriers in orderthat they are familiar with all changes concerning 11/14/77 OFFICE DUTIESRing InSupervisors shall not require, nor permit, employees towork off the VehiclePerform an Expanded Vehicle Safety Check as de-scribed on Notice 76 for deficiencies, body damage, orinoperable items and mail or equipment which mayhave been left by previous 832 Expanded Vehicle Safety under body for oil and water two front tires for inflation and hood front for left side forbody left door for rear all rear tiresfor inflation rear for body Check rear door Check right side for body Check right door Open door and move into driving Start engine. (If in enclosed area, wait until step21.)15. With assistance -adjust pot-lid and left front With assistance-check headlights, tail lights, brakelights, 4-way flashers, and directional signals, frontand Adjust right side rear view Adjust center rear view Check steering wheel Check accident report Check window Check windshield wipers and Check Check gauges (gas gauge requires 30 seconds for warm-up ).

6 25. Check foot brake (no more than 2 inches free play).26. Check hand Check seat belt and : This check list has been programmed to take thedriver in a logical sequence around the RHD vehiclewith a minimum of lost motion. For LHD vehicles work from right side to rear to left side beginning atItem 5. Items 15 and 16 if no assistance readily avail-able, handle 76 Reporting DefectsDrivers must report all mechanical defects or failuresand major body damage on Form 4565, Vehicle RepairTag as soon as Route BookCheck form 1564A, Route Instruction, to find the loca-tion of collection boxes, relay points, park and looplocations, route schedule, lines of travel and the autho-rized lunch 251-252 Casing LettersPick up a solid handful of mail with the left hand. Sincethe stamps are down and facing to the right, the mailwill be in the proper reading position when picked case LETTER mail, the CARRIER stands a few inches backfrom the center of the case where labels can be easilyread and LETTER separations reached without moving thefeet.

7 The CARRIER picks up 2 or more inches of mail withthe left to one side letters for streets and block num-bers of streets which do not appear on the case. Theseare probably intended for other routes but have missorts to the distribution case before leav-ing on any trip and as far in advance of leavingtime as , misthrows that can be handed to a nearbycarrier should not be returned for distribution. M-41 and SPRs When casing flats and small parcels and rolls (SPRs),the CARRIER stands directly in front of the flat case hold-ing approximately 50 pieces (6 inches) in the left armwhile distributing with the right hand. The CARRIER willnot pick up pieces individually from the case ledge. M-39 management determines what is, or is not, a thinflat and whether a CARRIER will fold thin flats andplace them in the LETTER 11/15/77 Samples Observe following procedures in handling address cardsreceived for delivery of merchandise Carriers1) Separate address cards to normal number ofrelay points, removing undeliverable cards,and notify unit manager of the total number ofdeliverable address ) After unit manager determines the total num-ber of cards to be delivered on individualroutes each day, remove from relay stacks thequantity of cards for delivery so that each relaywill have approximately the same number ) Route the selected address cards in the properletter case ) Withdraw the cards with other cased LETTER -sizemail, making no attempt to keep address ) Repeat steps 2), 3), and 4) until all cards andsamples are Carriers1)

8 After unit manager determines the number ofcards to be delivered on individual routes eachday, route the same number of cards in theletter case separations, removing undeliverablecards. Notify manager of the number of deliv-erable ) Withdraw cards with other cased LETTER -sizemail, making no attempt to keep address ) Continue this procedure until all cards andsamples are StoolsThe CARRIER may usestools while casing mailand performing otheroffice duties, providedthe use of stools does notinterfere with or affectefficiency and standardjob StandardsManagement may not charge or impose discipline upona CARRIER merely for failing to meet the 18 and 8 cas-ing 7/11/77 DUVRSD elivery Unit Volume Recording System provides thesupervisor with an estimate of a LETTER CARRIER s normaldaily work-load. DUVRS evaluations should not be thebasis for a discussion concerning the LETTER CARRIER s effi-ciency held pursuant to Article 16, Section 2, since theefficiency of a LETTER CARRIER can more appropriately bedetermined by a mail count pursuant to , 3/28/84 AccountablesCheck name and address on each article to determine ifit is for an addressee who has moved or who lives onanother addressee has moved, supply the new address.

9 If foranother route, return article to registered number appearing on article withentry on Form (surname and initial) Form 3867 opposite entries ifcorrect. Multiple entries may be bracketed and a singlesignature entered. Individual responsibility is assumedby the CARRIER upon Undeliverable MailReturn to the accountable clerk and explain why it isundeliverable. Under no circumstances should this typeof mail be obtained from, or returned to, the account-able clerk without establishing proper 3849 Use PS Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/ Receipt,for each accountable piece and numbered insured par-cel. (Minimum fee unnumbered insured parcels aredelivered the same as ordinary mail no receipt isneeded.) Usually prepare PS Form 3849 as you makedelivery. However, enter the address in the Deliverysection on the barcoded side of the form, for identifica-tion, in the office at the time articles are Form 3849 in proper separation case as a registered articles in the pocket of the satchel.

10 DONOT PLACE REGISTERS IN CARRIER CASEWITH OTHER MAIL, OR IN insured parcels loose in satchel or in relay not tape PS Form 3849 to mail 262 Address ChangesIt is your responsibility to record Form 3575, Change ofAddress Order, to Form 3982, Changes of of Address OrdersVerify 3982 label for correctness and affix it on thisform for permanent (18 months) and temporary needed, transcribe Forms 3546 or 3575-Z infor-mation before submitting the form to generate a 3982label. Upon receipt of 3982 label, affix it over the tran-scribed information. Discontinue sending mail for for-ward processing at the end of 18 months for permanentchanges and after the expiration date for temporarychanges. X out permanent entries within 5 days afterthe end of the sixth full month. X out temporary en-tries on the expiration all spaces on Form 3982 have been used, turn theform over to the markup clerk who will retain it forreference after Delivery Unit Training 6/06 MLNAWhen a customer moves and does not leave a forward-ing order, the CARRIER must hold the customer s mail forup to 10 days, pending receipt of a change of address.