Item 1…………………..Wash-up

Item 2………………..…Regular Work Week

Item 3………………….Emergency Conditions

Item 4………………….Formulation of Local Leave Program

Item 5…...…………….Choice Vacation Period(s)

Item 6…………………Beginning of Employee’s Vacation Period

Item 7……..…………..Number of Vacation Selections Permitted

Item 8……....................Whether Jury/Conventions Charges to Choice Vacation

Item 9…………………Percentage of Employees Allowed Leave

Item 10……………….Notice of Approved Vacation

Item 11……………….Dates and Notification of Leave Years

Item 12…….………....Incidental Leave Submission Procedures

Item 13……………....Holiday Pecking Order

Item 14………………Overtime Desired Lists

Item 15……………....Light Duty Application

Item 16……………....Light Duty Assignments

Item 17……………....Light Duty Work

Item 18………………Sections

Item 19……………....Employee Parking

Item 20……………....Union Activities

Item 21………………Other Items

Item 22…...………….Seniority, Reassignments and Posting

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 1.

Additional or longer wash-up periods.

Clerical employees shall be granted a reasonable amount of wash up time, not to exceed five (5) minutes, when needed.

Maintenance craft employees shall be granted a reasonable wash up time when needed.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 2.

The establishment of a regular work week of five (5) days with either fixed or rotating days off.

The regular work week for full time employees shall consist of five (5) consecutive days, as far as practicable. However, upon mutual consent, vacant or newly created positions may be posted with rotating days off.

ARTICLE 30. 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.

Postal operations shall be curtailed or suspended when the safety of employees is in jeopardy and emergency conditions are proclaimed by the installation head. Upon determination of emergency conditions, the installation head shall implement such action by the most expeditious method as is indicated to protect employees and to permit them to attend to the safety of their families and property.  This may include curtailment or suspension of postal operations. The affected craft representatives shall be notified of such action as soon as possible.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 4.

Formulation of Local Leave Program.

A.  The granting of annual leave will be by seniority within the craft sections during the Choice Leave Selection Period. The craft sections are mutually designated as listed in Item 4.G. Maintenance sections are by installation seniority. The vacation sign up sheet will be circulated in order of seniority within each section.

B. No later than November 15, schedules and calendars shall be posted showing the seniority of each employee in each section for the purpose of choice leave scheduling. Employees, by seniority will be contacted and provided the option of making their, up to two selections as provided in Item 7 of this LMOU. Each employee shall be permitted no more than three (3) calendar days to complete their selection(s), counting the date the original contact is made. At the time of selection, the employee will submit form 3971 in duplicate. Failure to complete selection(s) within the three (3) day time frame shall not disqualify the employee from a choice vacation selection, but limits their selections among those remaining on the vacation schedule after the completion of the choice selection process.

C. As soon as an employee has completed their selection(s), they shall contact their steward and/or supervisor. Employees shall be contacted who are on leave or at off site training. The entire selection process must be completed by December 20th. During the initial round, once an employee has signed their selection(s) there shall be no additions or deletions. There shall be no trading of choice vacation selection(s) permitted at any time. On December 20th, the leave calendars will be posted in each section showing all filled dates and all available dates.

D. Employees whose choice leave requests have been disapproved due to the leave percentages being filled shall have their names listed on the leave calendar in a different color of ink. Should those dates become available, due to canceled leave requests, those employees who had previously been denied leave on those dates shall have the first choice for those dates. Employees may cancel their leave selections provided they submit a written notice to their supervisor at least one week before the schedule of that leave week is posted. Leave canceled after the one week time limit must be mutually approved by  the supervisor and union representative. The supervisor will keep the posted leave calendar in the section at all times. Should an employee cancel a previously granted leave request the supervisor will update the posted leave calendar and will keep it current by the end of each tour.

E. Application for military leave should be submitted as soon as possible, when the dates are known. Employees who belong to a unit called to training during their choice vacation selection will not have this leave charged as their vacation choice selection and will be allowed to select another available selection.

F. A master copy of the initial choice vacation selections shall be compiled and kept in a secure place by the employer with copies provided to the local union president no later than December 31st.    

G. For the purpose of leave planning, sections are defined as follows:

    Plant Sections

    Tour 1   2000 - 0400

A. Mail processors — automation

B. Mail processors — AFSM 100

C. Mail Processors — manual

    Tour 2  0400 - 1200

A. Mail processors — automation

B. Mail processors — AFSM 100

C. Mail processors — manual

    Tour 3 1200 - 2000

A. Mail processors — automation

B. Mail processors — manual

Maintenance craft employees shall have leave sections established by tour, office and occupational groups.

Maintenance

A.  Electronic Technician — by tour

B.  Building Equipment Mechanic — office wide. If more than four (4) by tour.

C.  MPE Mechanic — by tour

D.  Maintenance Mechanic — by tour

E.  Custodian — by tour (P & DC)

F.  Custodian — (Stations/Branches)

Customer Service Main Office

A.  Window

B.  BMEU

C.  Delivery

D.  Administrative

E.  Limited duty personnel                                                                                          

Stations and Branches

A.  Window*

B.  Distribution*

C.  Administrative

D.  Limited duty personnel

* Indicates jobs shall be placed in the section where the greater portion of the work is performed.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 5.

The duration of the choice vacation period(s).

The duration of the choice vacation period shall be from December 25th through November 30th.

Customer service sections are the same, excluding weeks one (1) and two (2) of the month of January.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 6.

The determination of the beginning day of an employee's vacation period.

The beginning of an employees vacation period shall normally be the first scheduled off day of their basic work week.

Maintenance craft employee’s holding relief assignments by bid will have their  vacation selections on the tour their original bid is based.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 7.

Whether employees at their option may request two selections during the choice vacation period, in units of either 5 or 10 days.

Employees at their option, may request one or two selections during the choice vacation period in increments of five (5) days, the total not to exceed ten (10) or  fifteen (15) days as provided in the national agreement.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 8.

Whether jury duty and attendance at National or State Conventions shall be charged to the choice vacation period.

Jury duty and attendance at National or State Conventions shall not be charged to the choice vacation period.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 9.

Determination of the maximum number of employees who shall receive leave each week during the Choice Vacation Period.

The maximum number of employee’s receiving leave each week during the choice  vacation period shall be as many as management determines possible. A minimum of 10% of each Item four (4.G) section shall be granted annual leave from December 25th through March 31st. A minimum of 16% shall be granted annual leave from April 1st through May 31st and September 1st through November 30th. A minimum of 18% shall be granted leave from June 1st through August 31st. All percentages will be rounded to the next whole number. At least one (1) employee per section shall be granted annual leave.

Customer service sections are the same, excluding weeks one (1) and two (2) of the month of January. These dates are not included in the choice vacation period for customer service sections.

ARTICLE 30. ITEM 10.

The issuance of official notices to each employee of the vacation schedule approved for such employee.

The supervisor will confirm whether the dates are available, approve or disapprove, sign, and provide a copy to the employee.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 11.

Determination of the date and means of notifying employees of the beginning of the new leave year.

No later than November 1, a notice will be posted on the bulletin board advising employees of the beginning of the new leave year and advising them of the maximum accumulation of annual leave.

Each leave year begins with the first day of the first complete pay period in a calendar year and ending on the day before the first day of the first complete pay period in the following calendar year.

Leave years for the purposes of this LMOU are as follows:

Leave Year                          Begins                                           Ends   

2007             PP02:2007Jan 06, 2007     PP01: 2008  Jan 04, 2008

2008            PP02: 2008 Jan05,2008    PP01: 2009  Jan 02, 2009

2009            PP02: 2009 Jan 03, 2009  PP01: 2010  Jan 01, 2010

2010           PP02: 2010 Jan 02, 2010  PP01: 2011  Dec 31, 2010

2011           PP02: 2011 Jan 01, 2011  PP02: 2012  Jan 13, 2012

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 12.

The procedures for submission of applications for annual leave during other than the choice vacation period (Incidental Leave):

A.  Employees shall be granted five (5) additional leave selections, the total not to exceed forty (40) hours. These additional selections shall be submitted for all employees  beginning December 20th through December 31st and shall be granted on a first-come first-serve basis for the number of leave vacancies remaining available by Item 4.G sections in accordance with Item 9 percentages. If more than one request is received on the same service day, for the same date(s), then seniority shall prevail as the tiebreaker.

B. After December 31st all other leave requests will be granted on a first-come first-serve basis for the number of leave vacancies available by Item 4.G sections in accordance with Item 9 percentages, providing that the leave request is submitted before the schedule is posted for the service week in which the leave is being requested during the choice period as described in Item 5. Leave requests submitted after the schedule is posted must not be used as a means to automatically disapprove leave.  When practicable, leave shall be approved.

C. Disapproval of any request for annual leave must be explained to the employee in writing on Form 3971 by the disapproving supervisor by stating the specific business reason. Reasons, such as, quota full and needs of the service are not acceptable.

D. Management shall approve or disapprove leave within forty eight (48) hours or leave is automatically granted, provided the request is submitted in triplicate. The supervisor will sign and date notified block on Form 3971with a copy returned to the employee.

E.  No leave requests for the non-choice period (December 1st through December 24th) will be accepted more than thirty (30) days in advance of December 1st. The forty-eight (48) hour approval/disapproval provision will not apply to these request.

F.  Any advance approved leave shall be void if/when an employee’s annual leave request exceeds their balance. Employee’s may submit a LWOP request in place of that portion not covered, subject to management’s approval. 

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 13.

The method of selecting employees to work on a holiday.

Holiday scheduling shall be in accord with Article XI of the National Agreement. The holiday scheduling process shall encompass a three-day period; the holiday and the day before and after.

For the purpose of the holiday pecking order, the sections are the same as those defined in Item #4.G. with exception of customer service limited duty sections. These employee’s shall be categorized based on which section they perform the greater portion of work. The  following priorities shall be used in formulating holiday work schedules after necessary assignments have been determined.

A.  Qualified full-time and part-time regular employees, by seniority, within the section, who have volunteered to work on the holiday, or the day designated as their holiday.       

B.  Qualified part-time flexible employees shall be assigned beginning with the junior employee, within the section, even if overtime is necessary.    

C. Casuals.

D. Full-time regular employees, by seniority, within the section, who have volunteered to work their non-scheduled day(s).

E.  Part-time regular employees, by seniority, within the section, who have volunteered to work their non-scheduled day(s).

F.   If there are still not enough volunteers, qualified full-time and part-time regular employees shall be assigned beginning with the junior employee within the section.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 14.

Whether "Overtime Desired" lists in Article 8 shall be by section and/or tour.

Overtime desired lists shall be by section and tour. For the purpose of Item 14, sections and  tour hours are defined by Item 4.G. with exception of customer service limited duty personnel sections. These employee’s shall be part of the section where they perform the greater portion of work. Nothing prohibits a limited duty employee from working

overtime, if it is within their medical restrictions.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 15.

The number of light duty assignments within each craft or occupational group to be reserved for temporary or permanent light duty assignment.

No specific duties or assignments shall be designated as a light duty assignment. Every effort will be made to reassign an employee within the employee’s present assignment area, consistent with the employee’s medical restrictions and limitations. Temporary light duty assignments must be approved by the Installation Head and will be for a maximum of thirty (30) days with the understanding that extensions can be granted for thirty (30) day periods. Light duty assignments must be medically documented to certify the need of the light duty detail. The union will be provided a copy of all light duty assignments consisting of any APWU craft work assignments.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 16.

The method to be used in reserving light duty assignments so that no regularly assigned member of the regular workforce will be adversely affected.

Management will make every effort to provide light duty assignments so that no other employees’ regular bid assignment will be adversely affected. Employee’s on light duty will remain on their bid tour when possible.

ARTICLE 30.  ITEM 17.