Things A Carrier Should Know Heading into an RCI

				BEFORE THE INSPECTION

1) Management must have completed a Route and Unit Review
	
	a) Results must be shared with each carrier prior to proceeding with the RCI.
	    (M-39 Section 211.1)

b) If results are not shared with each carrier prior to the RCI, contact a 
   steward about a grievance.

2) Management must give advance notice before conducting the RCI
	
a)  5 days before start of RCI, management must post notice giving the 
    schedule for count week and the day/date of inspection for each route.
	    (M-39 Section 215.1 and M-41 Section 913)

	b)  1 day advance notice if day of inspection is changed.
	    (M-39 Section 215.1 and M-41 Section 913)

c)  If no advance notice of the changed inspection date is given, or if more 
    than 1 day of inspection is scheduled, contact a steward about a grievance.

d)  Not later than the Wednesday preceeding the count week, carrier 
    schedules shall be posted for routes requiring an earlier start time to count 
    mail. (M-39 Section 215.2 and M-41 Section 921.23)

3) A "dry run" must be conducted within 21 days prior to the start of the RCI

a)	All carriers must participate in the dry run.

b)	The dry run is a shortened process and is intended only for practice purposes. 	 this day will not be used in any part of the evaluation of the route.

c)	The dry run count items, forms, and the completion instructions must be 	 	    furnished to each carrier prior to the practice session.

d)	An instruction period is to be given to carriers after issuance of count materials, 	    but before the dry run.

e)	Carriers will fill out a Form 1838-C Worksheet by being given a sample list of 	 	    mail count items and time used item.

f)  Management must review the forms for accuracy, errors or omissions, 
   and discuss any issues with that carrier. If necessary, management may 
   require a carrier to complete a second form.

				WEEK OF COUNT AND INSPECTION

	Management conducts the RCI for a period of:
		* 6 consecutive delivery days on one-trip routes
		* 5 consecutive days excluding Saturday on two-trip routes or one-trip 		 	  	  routes with abbreviated or no Saturday delivery

1) Who does what:

a)	Case and deliver your route as usual. Carriers will count every piece of mail 	
and complete a Form 1838-C Worksheet every day except the day of 	 	  	   inspection.

b)	On the carriers inspection day, the route examiner will conduct the mail count 	 and fill out the Form 1838-C Worksheet.

c)	Upon request, carriers have the right to verify the inspectors count. Carriers 	 	     are strongly encouraged to insist to verify the count. This includes DPS, S999, 	 and any machine counted mail.

	d)  On the day of inspection, an examiner will follow the carrier in the office and on 	 	    the street.

2) Key issues for the week of inspection

a)	Perform your job as usual!! Perform your duties and travel your route in 	 	    precisely the same manner as you normally do. (M-41 Section 915)

b)	The regular carrier for the route should make every effort to be present during 	 the week of count. Normally, absences for other than emergencies will not be 	 granted during the count week. (M-39 Section 211.4 and M-41 Section 914)

c)	All advance Annual Leave commitments must be honored except in serious 	 	    emergency situations. Management may block out vacation time, provided that 	 it is done prior to vacation selection. (M-39 Section 211.4 and M-01105)

	d)  Overtime provisions of Article 8 remain in full effect during the count week with 	 	    the exceptions of:
		* On the day of inspection when accompanied by an examiner, 			 	  	  management may require the carrier to work overtime on their own route 	 	  	  in order to allow for the completion of inspection, even if the carrier is not 		 	  on the OTDL or WA.
		* On other days during the week of count, management may require the 		 	  	  carrier to work overtime on their own route for the amount of time used to 	 	  	  count the mail. (M-39 Section 221.137)

e)  All operational changes affecting the entire unit should be put in effect no 
    later than the dry run. Any changes made should remain in effect through the 
    week of count and thereafter until conditions require further modifications.

		* No changes to normal distribution procedures or clerical schedules are 		 	   	  to be made during the week of count. The normal cut-off time for 	 	 	 	  distribution remains as it is. (M-39 Section 221.133)

f)  All mail that is distributed to the carriers’ route up to the normal cut-off time 
   must be delivered every day of the week of count. No curtailment of mail on 
   the last day preceeding the week of count and no curtailment of mail on the 
   last day of the week of count. 
	  (M-39 Sections 221.133, 221.134, 221.136 and M-41 Sections 921.11, 921.13)

g)  The examiner must not set the pace for the carrier, nor forbid any rest 
    or comfort stops. Also, they are not allowed to discuss mail volume or 
    any evaluations of the route with you. The carrier should contact a steward 
    if they feel the examiner's conduct goes beyond what is allowed. 
    (M-39 Section 232)

3) Street Time

a)	The carrier should deliver the route as usual.

b)	The examiner is to "observe, not supervise".

* They should not tell the carrier to change the way they deliver their route.

* They should not tell the carrier to ignore the rules regarding employees 		 	  who perform curbside deliveries. USPS policy on curbside deliveries are 	 	  found in the following Step 4 agreements: M-00341 and M-00994

c)	There is no standard pace to walk and they cannot set the pace for the carrier.

d)	There should be no discussion of mail volume or evaluation of the route.

e)	The carrier should contact a steward if the examiner exhibits any of the 	 	 conduct that was discussed above.

f)	Do not finger mail at any time it would create a safety hazard to the carrier or 	 	    the public. (M-41 Section 133.2)

g)  The carrier should cross lawns only if there is, in the carriers opinion, no 
    safety hazard such as a dog, slippery surface, snow, uneven terrain, or 
    unusual obstacles, and only if there is no objection from the patron.
	    (JCAM Article 41.3.N)

h)	Take Your Break(s)!!

i)	Take your full 30 minute lunch at one of the authorized locations recorded on 	 the 1564-A in the carriers route book. 

j)  Make a record of any undelivered registered/COD mail items that are 
   left prior to going to lunch. When returning from lunch, check to ensure that 
   no pieces are missing. (M-41 Section 131.13)

k)  The carrier may take any comfort stops that are reasonably necessary 
    during the course of performing their street duties. Reasonable comfort 
    stops will not be deducted from the carriers actual time (M-39 Section 
    242.341). The examiner may not suggest or forbid any rest or comfort 
    stops. (M-39 Section 232)

4) Form 3999

a)	The first page has 26 questions that the examiner answers by checking a 	 	    "Yes" or "No" box. Only purpose for these answers is to make any 	 	  	    recommendations to management based on these answers/comments.

* These are only for inspection and adjustment process. They are NOT a 	 		  valid basis for any discipline. If management attempts to, contact a 			  steward for a grievance.

b)	No deductions are to be made to the carriers street time without specific 	 	    documentation. They cannot use the answers to the 26 questions or the 	 	    comments on the first page mentioned above for making deductions, as they 		    are not specific enough to justify any deduction.

c)	The reverse side of the 3999 should show all notes on every block delivered on 	      the route.

	d)  The purpose of the 3999 is:

		* To observe street functions

		* To transfer territory

				AFTER THE COUNT AND INSPECTION

1) Data Analysis

	a) Form 1838 Management Summary

	 	* Management takes the information from each 1838-C and transfers it to 		 	  a different form, the 1838 Management Summary. Actual office time, 	 	 	   	  standard office time, and actual street time are calculated on this form.

	b) Form 1840-B - 8 week analysis

		* This is the form that records the analysis of the carriers office and street 		   	  times. Their average street time is calculated from 7 randomly selected 	 	 	   	  weeks and the week "after" the RCI week.

c) Form 1840 - Summary of Count and Inspection

		* This is used to consolidate and completing the evaluation data that was 	 		   	  recorded on 1838s, 1840-B, and the 3999. The examiner, who inspected 	 	   	  the route, or designee, analyzes the form and makes appropriate 	 		   	  comments and recommendations.

2) Adjustment

	a) Office time - Actual vs Standard

		* Actual is the office time used by the carrier during the 8 weeks

		* Standard is the "18 & 8" casing standard plus several other time 		 		   	  standards for handling accountables, strapping out, and so forth.

		* The office time selected is the lower of the two.

	b) Street time - Inspection Period average or 8 week average

		* Management must justify which period it uses.

		* Selection of which street time allowance it uses cannot be based on the 		 	  sole criterion that the time selected was the lower of the two.
		   (M-39 Section 242.322)

		* Street time calculations for the regular carrier must include all auxiliary 			   	  assistance they receive on the street.

3) Consultation(s)

a)	Management must consult with the regular carrier regarding the evaluation and 	     possible adjustment of the carriers’ route.
	
b)	Management is not allowed to simply meet with the carrier and tell them what 	 they came up with as far as their office and street times and what adjustment 	 they intend to make. To "consult" means to seek an opinion as a guide to ones
    own judgement.

c)	Don't allow management to pretend to consult, with a wink and a nod, and 		    simply go through the motions.

d)	Postal regulations require management to do all of the following:

		* They must place adjustments into effect within 52 calendar days of the 			   	  completion of the count (M-39 Section 211.3). All consultations must be 		         completed within that same 52 day period in a manner that 				   	  allows full consideration of the carriers comments and suggestions 			         concerning the evaluation and adjustment of the route.

		* They must give the carrier the following documents in advance of the 			   	  consultation regarding evaluation of the route:

1)	Completed copies of all 1838-C at least 5 days prior to 
consultation. (M-39 Section 241.4 and M-41 Section 923.1)

2)	Completed copy of 1840 at least 1 day prior to consultation. This completed copy must contain 
(M-39 Section 241.4 and M-41 Section 923.1):

a)	Totals/Averages from 1838

b)	Day of Inspection data

c)	Examiners comments

d)	Analysis of office work functions

e) Time recordings

3)	Partially completed copy of reverse of 1840 or attachments, 
at least 1 day prior to consultation. It must contain all time 
disallowances and related comments.

		* Management is required to discuss certain matters of:

1)	Evaluation Consultation

				a) mail volume (M-39 Section 232.1c)

				b) evaluation of route (M-39 Section 232.1c)

				c) any time adjustment to evaluated street time based on 					    	   alleged improper practices or operational changes. 
				   (M-39 Section 242.345)

				d) any adjustment of evaluated street time based on a 					    	   claim that conditions during the 8 week time card period 					   or count week were not normal so as to justify not 					    	   including such day(s) in base street time computation.
				   (M-39 Section 243.346)

			2) Adjustment Consultation - if any relief/addition to the route
			    (M-39 Section 243.11)

a)	proposed relief/addition

b)	reason for proposed adjustment

c)	whether the carrier agrees or disagrees

d)	reason the carrier agrees or disagrees

				e) comments/recommendations of the carrier

		* Record your comments and recommendations - management must 			  	  enter the following on the 1840 (M-39 Section 243.11):

1)	comments

2)	recommendations

3)	whether the carrier agrees or disagrees

4)	reasons the carrier agrees or disagrees

		* Management is not allowed to require the carrier to sign a statement 			  	  during the consultation(s) (M-39 Section 243.11a)

		* Management must hold a second consultation if an adjustment is 			         proposed (M-39 Section 243.11a)

		* Management must consider the suggestions from carrier serving the 			         route (M-39 Section 243.11c)

* If management attempts to adjust the carriers’ street times during the 8 			 week analysis, they must document it on the reverse of the 1840 and 			 discuss it with the carrier during the evaluation consultation. If they fail 
 To document their justification, the carrier has a right to note the absence 
 of documentation by writing a notation on, and initialing and dating, the 1840 		 (M-39 Section 242.345, 242.346)

		* If a notation of the absence of documentation supporting a management 			  time disallowance, management has 1 week to supply such 				  	  documentation to the carrier. If management fails to do so within 1 week, 		  	  the time adjustment shall be disallowed (M-39 Section 242.345, 				  242.346)

		* If the carrier requests that the reverse of their 1840 be completed, the 			  	  carrier must immediately give the copy to the manager for completion 			         and return no later than 7 calendar days (M-39 Section 243.11a)

		* Make an effort to show all of your documentation to your NALC 				         representative prior to consultation(s).

		***Remember:

1)	Completed 1838 - 5 days in advance of consultation

2)	Completed front of 1840 - 1 day in advance of consultation

3)  Partially completed reverse of 1840 - 1 day in advance of 
    consultation

4)  Full discussion at consultation

5)  Management writes your comments on the 1840

6)  No requirement for you to sign

7)  Note absence of documentation on 1840

8)  Request completed copy of 1840

			9)  Management has 7 days to return documentation and 1840

4) After Consultation

		* Contact a steward if management violates any of the procedures 			   	  explained above.

		* Also contact a steward if the carrier feels:

1)	The adjustment is unfair or incorrect

			2)  Management uses COR

			3)  If any adjustment is not implemented within 52 days after the 				    	    RCI period concludes. An exception to this must be granted 
    by the District Manager. Exceptions must be for valid opera-
    tional circumstances, substantiated by a detailed written 
    statement, and submitted to the local union within 7 days of 
    the grant of the exception. The union has the right to grieve 
    the exception. 
			    (M-39 Section 211.3 and M-01072)

4)  Management is required to evaluate the adjustment. The 
    evaluation includes analysis of data generated after 
    implementation of the adjustment, including volume data, time
    records, etc.

			5)  Management is required to complete a 3999 after adjustments 				    are implemented to reflect the new authorized route pattern and 				    schedule. (M-39 section 243.613)