What I didn't have?

dhoward541 · Feb 25, 2018

You know what I didn't have:

many upside down dps, dps for other cities and routes, 4 1/2 trays to dps I had to combine down to 2, BACKWARDS dps,

besides the other obvious missing mail.

but here's the thing that really gets me, they're always looking for things we do differently during count; but look at the things the USPS does differently just for count.

MiddleOfNowhere · Feb 25, 2018

1 had 1 inverted letter in 3 trays saturday. not worth much anyway , but less than 4 equals zero. 2 weeks ago it was 20-25 percent inverted.

Rt2mailman · Feb 25, 2018

Extra clean DPS has always been a concern during count, but never outside of count, in our area. This year to track/catch management at that game our steward requested and obtained the total # of DPS pieces and hours all DPS machines operated in the past 2 weeks. He will again get this information for the 2 weeks of count, for a comparison. Figuring out the pieces/hour the machines ran will tell if our DPS is being re-run a second time to get that "extra clean" count look. If this happens it will be a class action grievance for every rural carrier being counted. I'm pretty proud of our steward.

btdtret · Feb 25, 2018

Rt2mailman et al -- " This year to track/catch management at that game our steward requested and obtained the total # of DPS pieces and hours all DPS machines operated in the past 2 weeks."

-- "Pristine" DPS was the norm during my last few counts. Always suspected the letter sorting machines were run at a slower ( more accurate ) speed, but never had proof.

-- You can safely bet that small catalogs, such as BJ's coupon booklet, won't be showing up during count. Our supervisor confirmed that the only way to run the coupon booklet and other such items is to run them inverted ( because of the 3 places the booklets are taped shut ). Sort of flies in the face of Step 4 ( A-100 ) - in part: Management MUST ensure that employees use the proper method of feeding letters in an upright position into mail processing equipment. Manglement members probably figured it would be better to make the "numbers". Better a call from a local supervisor about inverted pieces every once in a while than get a call from an immediate higher-up about not making the "numbers". ( of course, IMHO )

-- Besides, one DPS credit for every 4 inverted pieces is rarely worth the time and effort to bother with, unless one hit the jackpot of having a large number of inverted pieces - and during count - good luck there.

Rt2mailman · Feb 25, 2018

In our area the problem we have with the DPS is not getting all DPSable pieces into DPS, but ending up with them in our flats, which is fine for count, not outside of count. The machines can't run things that are like booklets, because the wheel and "stripper" that separates the letters from each other, would normally rip the covers off. They can run thin stuff, but don't like to because they tend to wrap around the rubber wheels and tear up.

The DPS machines run at one speed,fast (30,000 to 40,000/hour), and the only way to make it "cleaner" is to make another pass (more time on the machine). You can usually notice on the tray tags, if you have been checking them, or keeping one from everyday as I did, and notice the time that tray was processed. The closer the time is to you receiving it, the more likely it had 2 passes instead of one.

D.B.Cooper · Feb 25, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">btdtret said 
...
-- Besides, one DPS credit for every 4 inverted pieces is rarely worth the time and effort to bother with, unless one hit the jackpot of having a large number of inverted pieces - and during count - good luck there. </blockquote>
And that's exactly why mgt is ALWAYS talking about those inverted pieces... it's just a diversion, trying to get people to chase stuff that yields no time anyways... rather than looking at how they're screwing us by turning parcels (30 seconds) in to flats (6 seconds) or even letters (~ 2 seconds)... <img title="Confused" alt="Confused" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-confused.gif" />

What's it take to get a minute out of inverted DPS?? Like 170 pieces??? <img title="Frown" alt="Frown" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-frown.gif" />

Again, good luck with that... <img title="Embarassed" alt="Embarassed" src="https://www.ruralmailtalk.ruralinfo.net/wp-content/sp-resources/forum-smileys/sf-embarassed.gif" />

faceindawind · Feb 25, 2018

I didn't have any stress or somebody counting my mail. But then again, I opted out. I plan to enjoy viewing the live action crime scene going on for the next 2 weeks.

First day DPS #'s way down by a tray or more based on after Christmas volume delivery. 800-900 for all big routes. Baby AUX @12+ had 294, 17 parcels.

Also noticed on Friday, office got their weekly subscription mags. Normally we get them Saturday.

OutHereSomewhere · Feb 25, 2018

Now that all of those plants have been consolidated, why can't the union put people into those plants to observe? Back when there were 7 or 8 plants it would've been difficult to do. Now we're down to 2. Surely there are 2 stewards somewhere in this state who would volunteer to go watch and see if they're cheating us...which we all know they are.

oi veh. · Feb 25, 2018

That's what they are supposed to be doing.

Our DR and ADRs go to the plants every day during count.

Shafted · Feb 25, 2018

I worked in mail processing for 5 years on DBCS machines. Rt2mailman is absolutely correct at seeing the run time on your second pass of dps. Realize that the times printed on tags is PRIOR o the processing, as the sortplan is loaded for the routes, then the tags are printed, and the pie racks with the empty trays are then tagged up. It would also be wise to take one day the first week, and actually count a run if mgt will let you because if they don’t properly sweep the end stickers of all the kicked out shit, and it ends up in your DPS you are more than likely not getting credit for it. Easiest way to check is go to your last delivery, and if it’s not the last piece of dps, and the end of your tray is full of crap, they didn’t pull the end stackers on the DBCS machine when they pulled your DPS for your route. I doubt mgt will let that happen but it does happen. This whole situation is rigged with count. Ya do what you gotta do to survive.

OutHereSomewhere · Feb 25, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">Oi veh. said 
That's what they are supposed to be doing.
Our DR and ADRs go to the plants every day during count. </blockquote>
Which is going to prove what? They need to be going there both BEFORE, during, and AFTER the counts in order to verify that procedures haven't changed.

oi veh. · Feb 25, 2018

<blockquote class="spPostEmbedQuote">OutHereSomewhere said 

Which is going to prove what? They need to be going there both BEFORE, during, and AFTER the counts in order to verify that procedures haven't changed. </blockquote>
To make sure that everything is being pushed out to us. I know in times past, they have gone before and after. I'll ask what they did for this count at the spring meeting.

Rt2mailman · Feb 25, 2018

Outtheresomewhere, The steward I mentioned, is doing exactly that, and that is why he was able to get all those end-of-the-run reports. He will be back at the end of count to make sure nothing was held back (no mail or parcels left after dispatch unless dated bulk) and to re-check the EOR reports. As far as I know every plant in the country had a union official doing a plant inspection last Friday and will do one again on the last day of count. That would be a question to ask at your next union meeting. Who went? What did they see? Was there any difference?