The NRLCA and USPS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) agreeing that for leave year 2022, regular work force career employees covered by the USPS-NRLCA Agreement may carry over 520 hours of accumulated annual leave from leave year 2021 to leave year 2022. In all other respects, the ELM provisions for payment of accumulated leave are not changed because of this Memorandum. This MOU will expire December 31, 2022.
Your National Board and NSS representative(s) have received numerous concerns pertaining to carriers working in close proximity in offices across the country. Your National Board agrees that the social distancing recommendations of the Centers of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) are important measures which should be practiced as much as possible to slow the spread of the coronavirus (COVID-19). Some of those social distancing recommendations for the workplace include increasing physical space between workers, staggering work schedules, limiting large work-related gatherings and reducing or eliminating travel. With that in mind, the NRLCA and the USPS have agreed to a MOU with temporary changes to promote social distancing. The terms of this MOU will minimize the possibility of exposure to the coronavirus or the possibility of unknowingly spreading the coronavirus to a larger portion of the workforce.
The changes are limited to those listed in the MOU. There should be no other contractual or work rule changes associated with this MOU. It is important that the local parties (i.e., district representatives, local stewards and postmasters, or their designees), immediately discuss potential scheduling and office set up changes which would create a work environment that promotes social distancing. It is imperative that if staggering work schedules are considered, the lower evaluated routes, i.e., auxiliary routes be scheduled later in the morning. Communication with the carrier(s) is important prior to changing reporting times to keep from disrupting their personal situations such as day care or other time sensitive responsibilities to the extent possible.
To read the MOU in its entirety please visit NRLCA.org. If you have questions or your office intends to implement any of these changes please notify your local steward, Assistant District Representative or District Representative.
It is the responsibility of each post office, station, and/or branch to provide adequate disinfectant cleaning supplies (including disinfectant wipes) gloves, masks and hand sanitizer. If your office is failing to provide you with the above mentioned items please send an email to your district representative.