sinister minister et al -- "There is an auxiliary route in my office. That route has always had to be counted in September. My understanding is that auxiliary routes, routes receiving DPS for the first time, are to be counted. This year, the PM says that it only needs to be done every other year."
-- As usual, ask for the PM reference.
-- The 2018-2021 National Agreement provides for ZERO counts, aside from the USPS's option to declare a National Mail Count over the last 12 working days of ANY September. Special Counts are conducted over the last 12 working days of September per Article 9.2.C.11.b.
-- Things probably have changed, but it used to be AUX and vacant routes were counted during a National Mail Count.
-- The 2019 September Count is for routes that qualify for Special Count criteria.
-- Apparently the USPS and the NRCLA have chosen to over look or just plain ignore the Special Count criteria listed in the M-38 ( Management of Rural Delivery Services ) and go strictly with the criteria listed in the national agreement.
Section 527.1.
Special Counts will be conducted only under the following three circumstances:
- substantial route adjustments involving a service change of four hours or more.
- routes changed by the addition or deletion of territory as a result of consolidation.
- when unusual circumstantces have negated the validity of the annual count ( i.e., implementation of CMU, etc. [ must be the avalanche of Amazon parcels did not negate the validity of the annual count ]
Section 527.20 - .23 Special Count - Coverage and Count Periods. (lists numerous optional periods besides the last 12 working days of September)
"There has been no preparation or pre-count conference."
-- RI published the "Important Dates" list for the 2019 Special Count.
- AUG 31, SAT -- Pre-count conferences MUST be completed by COB ( Close Of Business ) [ ooops! ]
-- IF the office has routes that qualify for a Special Count and no prep or pre-count conference has been made, manglement CAN NOT change any operational methods imployed in the office. If manglement does change methods for a count, then grieve.
-- Contact your Assistant District Representative if the office has routes that qualify for the Special Count.
-- With the count beginning on 17 September, your manglement might have some scrambling to do to prepare for it.
