This is from the analysis of changes 95-99 extension (contract which introduced formula offices)
5. Relief Days
Formerly subsection C.6., this subsection has been rearranged for clarity and inclusion
of new language. The language in subsection C.5.b. was created to provide a process
for changing the relief day of one or more K routes when an office has a shortage of
leave replacements. This process may be utilized only when two conditions are
met. First, there is a shortage of leave replacements in the office and second,
regular rural carriers are working the relief days on more than infrequent
occasions. If an office has an available leave replacement assigned to each regular
route in the office, i.e., full coverage, then this process will not be utilized. A formula is
provided to ascertain the maximum number of routes that may be assigned a non-
Saturday relief day, if the Employer determines it is necessary to change the relief day of
one or more routes. Following is an example of applying the formula:
· An office has 13 regular routes (12 K routes and 1 J route) and 2 auxiliary routes.
· The office has a total of 10 available leave replacements.
· The formula requires that you start with the total number of leave replacements
assigned and working in the office and subtract the number of auxiliary routes:
10 – 2 = 8
· Then divide by the total number of regular routes authorized a relief day:
8 ¸ 13 = .615
· Then subtract .10, a pre-determined flexibility factor:
.615 - .10 = .515
· Then multiply this factor by the total number of routes authorized a relief day and
round down to the next whole number. This number is the minimum number of
routes on which management must authorize a Saturday relief day:
.515 x 13 = 6.7 rounded down to 6 (routes)
· Subtract this number of routes from the total number of routes authorized a relief
day. This final result is the maximum number of K routes on which management
may require a non-Saturday relief day:
13 – 6 = 7
In this example, management may require no more than 7 K routes have a non-Saturday
relief day.
In all cases, J routes will retain a Saturday relief day. Only K routes will have non-
Saturday relief days. Should a K route with a non-Saturday relief day change to a J
route as a result of a substantial service change or option election, the relief day will be
changed to Saturday and if available, a K route may be moved to the non-Saturday relief
day. The K route will move from the Saturday relief day in accordance with subsection
C.5.d. If a PTF is assigned to a K route that changes classification to a J route and has