Windindaface et al -- "
I think the wording for yearly counts changed when we went from assured SEPT counts to the Spring counts."
-- The Wells' award changed "regular" counts from September to the FEB-MAR time frame.
-- Counts: 2002 = 12 days / 2003 = 24 days / 2004 = 18 days
-- Between 2005 and 2010, counts alternated between 24 and 12 days.
-- During the time of extensions, 2011 = 12 days, FEB-MAR 2012 = 18 days, SEP 2012 = 12 days
-- The Clarke award ( 2010-2015 ) incorporated the NRCLA recommendation for the FEB-MAR count time frame and alternating 12- and 18-day counts. As a bonus, a count was scheduled for 2016, even though the contract would expire!
-- The voted-in 2015-2018 contract some how omitted a 2017 count! ( which would have been an 18-day count (imaging that! ))
-- And it certainly does not look good for a 2019 count. ( you guessed it - another 18-day count that ( probably ) won't happen - anyone see a pattern developing? )
-- Special Counts have, per the contract's Article 9.2.C.11, been the last 12 working days in September as a result of ONE of the following conditions:
1 - when circumstances have negated the validity of the latest count and evaluation ( wink, wink )
2 - whenever a 120-minute or more salary adjustment is made on a route whether due to a SUBSTANTIAL SERVICE CHANGE ( wink, wink ), or a route adjustment AND the density of the route has increased or decreased ( regarding 12 boxes per mile ).
-- Back in the 1995-1999 contract, Special Counts could be conducted for 6 reasons.
-- Some interesting wording has gotten changed / lost since then: ...and shall be taken at the initiative of the Employer OR in response to a justifiable request FROM THE CARRIER on the affected route. ( wonder what the NRLCA got for giving up that -- you know the mantra: have to give up something to get something )
-- And the USPS has reserved the right to conduct a national count of mail for all rural routes during the last 12 days in September of any year.
( With 30 days notice to the union ) ( current contract's Article 9.2.C.a.(3)) It has been that way since the 1995-1999 contract ( and probably before that -- anyone?? )
As a bonus:
-- MOU #1 also seems to be neglected / ignored too: It is the understanding of the parties that a national mail count MAY BE initiated where rural delivery has been IMPACTED on a NATIONAL level. Examples of such change would be a reduction in delivery days, a SUBSTANTIAL CHANGE IN MAIL VOLUME, etc. ( either the avalanche of Amazon parcels did not happen nation wide, or parcels are not considered "mail".
-- Another problem with MOU #1 -- it doesn't specify WHO could INITIATE a national mail count.