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Employees

ELM REVISION

Work Clothes and Uniforms

Effective July 11, 2002, the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) is revised to reflect a revision from the wording "window" operations to "retail" operations. In addition, uniform requirements have been updated.

We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the ELM and also into the next update of the online version accessible on the Postal Service PolicyNet web site at http://blue.usps.gov/cpim;click on Manuals.

Employee and Labor Relations Manual

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9 Labor Relations

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930 Work Clothes and Uniforms

931 Uniforms

931.1 Entitlement and Allowances

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931.13 Types of Clothing

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[Revise item b by deleting the word "window" to read as follows:]

b. Type 2 - employees assigned to retail operations.

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931.2 Purpose and Scope

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931.26 Responsibility of Employees

931.261 Appearance

[Add the following sentence to the end of 931.261:]

* * *Jeans, shorts, sleeveless tops, tee shirts, sweats, spandex, etc., are not appropriate attire for employees working at a retail counter. This list is not meant to be exhaustive.

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932 Uniform Requirements

932.1 Employees Required to Wear Uniforms and Work Clothes

932.11 Regular Uniforms

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[Add new item h. Re-letter existing items h through k as new items i through l.]

h. Retail classroom instructors and retail coaches who qualify for uniform allowances.

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932.2 Uniforms Not Required

932.21 New, Part-Time, and Casual Employees

[Revise the first sentence of 932.21 to read as follows:]

Unless uniforms have been provided to them, the following employees are not required to wear uniforms:

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932.3 Specifications and Quality Control Certification

932.31 Specifications

[Delete the words "at Natick, MA" from 932.31 to read as follows:]

The Postal Service Uniform Quality Control Office issues specifications for items of uniform dress for the guidance of uniform manufacturers and retailers.

932.32 Quality Control Certification

[Delete the words "U.S. Army Natick Laboratories, Natick, MA" from the first sentence of 932.32 to read as follows:]

Payment is made only for purchases of authorized uniform items manufactured in accordance with specifications issued by the Postal Service Uniform Quality Control Office. * * *

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933 Authorized Uniform Items and Combinations

933.1 Type 1 Uniforms

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933.12 Type 1 Combinations

Male Combinations

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[In footnote 6 of the table, replace the word "window" with "retail" to read as follows:]

6 Delivery personnel may not purchase or wear the retail service personnel sweater.

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Female Combinations

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[In footnote 6 of the table, replace the word "window" with "retail" to read as follows:]

6 Delivery personnel may not purchase or wear the retail service personnel sweater.

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933.2 Type 2 Uniforms

933.21 Type 2 Items

[Revise the introductory sentence, table, and footnotes to read as follows:]

Type 2 uniforms are worn by employees assigned to retail operations.

Items for Men
Shirt Long- or short-sleeve, dress style. Blue-gray stripe button-down collar. Reinforced name badge eyelets on right side. Also available in maternity style.
Trousers Dress style, all-season-weight fabric, with waistband in postal navy blue and heather gray.
Tie Two patterns available with choice of four in-hand or clip-on style and regular or extra-long lengths; USPS logo in navy with red pin-dot style or red, white, and blue stripes.
Sweater Cardigan, buttoned, unisex V-neck design with reverse jersey logo on front, solid blue uncut buttonhole eyelets for name badge; sleeveless unisex V-neck pullover vest, reverse jersey logo on front, solid blue with uncut buttonhole eyelets for name badge.
Accessories Leather belt, black with gold buckle; leather belt, black with silver logo buckle; name badge; silver logo tie bar.
Optional items Butcher-style apron, with vertical corporate emblem, navy blue;1 regulation shoes bearing SR/USA tag, black.2
1 The apron is nonreimbursable, although some offices may choose to provide retail service employees with aprons to protect their uniforms when working away from the retail counter. These aprons are not to be worn while working at the retail counter or in the lobby.
2 Footwear is reimbursable after the employee has completed at least 2 years of eligibility in the retail uniform program.
Items for Women
Shirt Long- or short-sleeve, dress style. Blue/gray stripe hidden placket button-down blouse with sports collar. Reinforced name badge eyelets on right side.
Skirt, skort, slacks Dress style, all-season-weight fabric, with waistband in postal navy blue and heather gray. Also available in maternity style.1
Jumper V-neck, all-season-weight fabric, with vertical corporate emblem, worn with or without coordinated fabric belt with gold buckle, postal navy blue. Also available in maternity style.
Tie Knotted loop patterns with extender piece. USPS logo in navy with red pin-dot style or red, white, and blue stars and stripes.
Sweater Cardigan, buttoned, unisex V-neck design with reverse jersey logo on front, solid blue with uncut buttonhole eyelets for name badge with vertical corporate emblem, navy blue with red and white stripe trim; sleeveless V-neck pullover vest, reverse jersey logo on front, solid blue with uncut buttonhole eyelets for name badge with vertical corporate emblem, navy blue with red and white stripe trim.
Accessories Leather belt, black with gold buckle; leather belt, black with silver logo buckle; fabric belt, fabric coordinated for wear with jumper, skirt, or slacks, navy blue with gold buckle; and name badge; silver logo button cover. 2
Optional items Butcher-style apron, with vertical corporate emblem, navy blue;3 regulation shoes bearing SR/USA tag, black.4
1 Skirts are to be no shorter than top of knee cap.
2 Silver logo button cover is worn in lieu of other ladies' neckware.
3 The apron is nonreimbursable, although some offices may choose to provide retail service employees with aprons to protect their uniforms when working away from the retail counter. These aprons are not to be worn while working at the retail counter or in the lobby.
4 Footwear is reimbursable after the employee has completed at least 2 years of eligibility in the retail uniform program.

933.22 Type 2 Combinations

[Revise the table and footnotes to read as follows:]

Male Combination Female Combinations
Option No. 1 Option No. 2
Shirt (long- or short-sleeve)1 Shirt (long or short sleeve) Shirt or maternity blouse (long or short sleeve)
Tie and tie bar2 Tie or button cover2 Tie or button cover2
Trousers Slacks Skirt or skort (unbelted), or jumper (with fabric belt)3
Black belt Black belt Fabric belt
Optional Item
Vest Vest Vest
Sweater (emblem attached)4 Sweater (emblem attached)4 Sweater (emblem attached)4
USPS certified shoes USPS certified shoes USPS certified shoes
1 Men must wear shirts tucked into pants.
2 Tie design and color choice is at the discretion of the employee.
3 Women must wear hosiery with skirts and jumpers. Hosiery may be in natural skin tones or navy blue.
4 Retail personnel may not purchase or wear the delivery personnel sweater.

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933.7 Insignia

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933.72 Other Insignia

[Replace the word "window" with "retail" in the second sentence of 932.72 to read as follows:]

Except as indicated below, other insignia may not be worn with the uniform. Officially authorized name badges are worn by retail service personnel as prescribed. * * *

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934 Wearing of Uniform Items

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[Revise the title of 934.2 to read as follows:]

934.2 Cold Weather Items (Does not apply to Type 2 Uniforms)

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[Revise the title of 934.3 to read as follows:]

934.3 Warm Weather Items (Does not apply to Type 2 Uniforms)

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934.4 Seasonal Changes of Uniform

[Revise 934.4 to read as follows:]

The head of an installation determines when seasonal changes of uniforms take place with the exception of retail employees.

934.5 Employees in Nonuniform Categories

[Revise 934.5 to read as follows:]

Employees not eligible for the retail service uniform allowance, but who have contact with the public and wish to identify themselves with the Postal Service, may purchase the retail uniform though reimbursement will not be provided. Uniform items obtained under these provisions may only be purchased at the option of the employees at no cost to the Postal Service, and may be worn only when performing retail duties.

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- Labor Relations Policies and Programs,
Labor Relations, 7-11-02

RURAL CARRIERS

Equipment Maintenance Allowance Schedule for Rural Routes

In accordance with provisions of Article 9, Section 2.J.3 of the Rural Carrier National Agreement, effective July 13, 2002 (pay period 16-02), the equipment maintenance allowance (EMA) will increase from 38.0 cents per mile to 39.0 cents per mile.

The EMA is 39.0 cents per mile, or a minimum of $15.60 per day, whichever is greater.

Auxiliary Rural Carriers, Rural Carrier Reliefs, Rural Carrier Associates, Rural Carrier Part-time Flexibles, and Auxiliary Assistance

Employees providing auxiliary assistance or serving auxiliary routes under provisions of Article 9, Section 2.J.5, receive an EMA of 39.0 cents per mile or $4.50 per hour, whichever is greater. This EMA should not exceed the amount provided in the special EMA for the route stops and miles.

EMA Rate Schedule

The EMA rate schedule on pages 4-5 supersedes all previously published EMA schedules for employees receiving EMA.

- Collective Bargaining and Arbitration,Labor Relations, 7-11-02

NOTICE

RIF Competitive Areas for the Postal Service

Office of Personnel Management requires agencies covered by reduction-in-force (RIF) procedures to establish Competitive Areas and to publish them for their employees. Competitive Areas are organizational units under separate management authority within which preference-eligible employees compete during a RIF. Listed below are the Competitive Areas for the Postal Service as of July 11, 2002.

Organization Office Competitive Area
Headquarters Office of the Postmaster General/Chief Executive Officer Separate
Office of the Chief Operating Officer/Executive Vice President Separate
Office of the Deputy Postmaster General Separate
Office of the Chief Postal Inspector Separate
Office of the General Counsel/vice president Separate
Offices of Senior Vice Presidents Separate
Each vice president's organization Separate
Headquarters-Related
Organization - Organizational Type
Each accounting service center Separate
Each communications service center1 Separate
Each facilities service office Separate
Each field counsel unit1 Separate
Each forensic lab1 Separate
Each information technology site Separate
Each Inspection Service division Separate
Each Inspection Service operation support unit Separate
Each mail recovery center Separate
Each purchasing service office Separate
Each rates and classification service center Separate
Each statistical programs service center1 Separate
Unique Organization - Separate Competitive Area Address management, Memphis, TN Separate
Capitol Metro Area Operations, Gaithersburg, MD Separate
Center for Employee Development, Norman, OK Separate
Engineering, Merrifield, VA Separate
Facilities, Arlington, VA Separate
Indianapolis HASP, Indianapolis, IN Separate
International Business Information Technology, Jamaica, NY Separate
Kansas Stamp Services Center, Kansas City, MO Separate
Maintenance Technical Support Center, Norman, OK Separate
Nonprofit Service Center, Memphis, TN Separate
Sales, Arlington, VA Separate
Topeka Purchasing and Material Center, Topeka, KS Separate
Unique Organization - Part of Another Competitive Area Automation Purchasing, Merrifield, VA Supply Management,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
Career Development (Inspection Service), Potomac, MD Inspection Service,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
Dulles Stamp Distribution Network, Dulles, VA Public Affairs and
Communications,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
Field Counsel - Capital Metro, Washington, DC General Counsel,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
HQ Facilities Services, HQ, Washington, DC Facilities, Arlington, VA
IP Delivery and Retail, Merrifield, VA Chief Technology
Officer, National HQ,
Washington, DC
IP Network Operations, Merrifield, VA Chief Technology
Officer, National HQ,
Washington, DC
Unique Organization - Part of Another Competitive Area (continued) Mail Equipment Shop, Washington, DC Supply Management,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
Major Facilities Purchasing, Arlington, VA Supply Management,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
Mid-Atlantic Communications Service Center, Columbia, MD Public Affairs and
Communications,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
National Test Administration Center, Merrifield, VA Employee Resource
Management,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
Technical service and electronic evidence units Inspection Service,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
William F. Bolger Center for Leadership Development, Potomac, MD Employee Resource
Management,
National HQ,
Washington, DC
Each air mail center Separate
Each air mail facility Separate
Each area office Separate
Each bulk mail center Separate
Each district office (including its vehicle maintenance facilities) Separate
Each independent delivery distribution center Separate
Each independent mail transfer center Separate
Each international satellite facility Separate
Each international service center Separate
Each mail equipment facility Separate
Each Post Office Separate
Each priority mail center Separate
Each processing and distribution center Separate
Each processing and distribution facility Separate
Each remote encoding center Separate
Each senior processing and distribution center Separate

1 The units located in the Washington, DC, commute area are part of the parent national Headquarters organization Competitive Area.

- Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition,
Employee Resource Management, 7-11-02

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Finance

CORRECTION

Exhibit 213, AIC Amount Multiples

In the article "Handbook F-1 Revision: Update to Exhibit 213, AIC Amount Multiples," in Postal Bulletin 22079 (6-27-02, page 15), we omitted the "Disbursements" columns, which contained an AIC code change. The correct information is printed here.

Handbook F-1, Post Office Accounting Procedures

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2 Financial Reporting Procedures

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Exhibit 213 AIC Amount Multiples

[Replace Exhibit 213 with the following:]

Receipts Disbursements
AIC Amount AIC Amount
010 15.00 407 1.00
084 0.05 491 15.00
087 0.05 502 15.00
091 15.00 511 15.00
101 0.05 520 15.00
103 0.25 534 0.50
112 1.00 586 0.05
115 0.10 806 15.00
116 475.00 blank blank
117 150.00 blank blank
118 150.00 blank blank
134 150.00 blank blank
138 150.00 blank blank
139 5.00 blank blank
140 150.00 blank blank
141 150.00 blank blank
142 150.00 blank blank
155 475.00 blank blank
158 0.10 blank blank
172 150.00 blank blank
197 150.00 blank blank
264 15.00 blank blank

* * * * *

- Revenue and Field Accounting,
Finance, 7-11-02


International Mail

ICM UPDATES

International Customized Mail

We have combined ICM updates into one Postal Bulletin article to save space and paper. Ten ICM updates appear here.

On May 30, 2002, the Postal Service entered into an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement with a qualifying mailer. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service now makes public the following information concerning the Agreement:

a. Term: July 1, 2002, through June 30, 2003.

b. Type of mail: Global Express Mail (EMS). Every item must conform to the mailing requirements set forth in the IMM for Qualifying Mail.

c. Destination country: Japan.

d. Service provided by the Postal Service: The Postal Service has agreed to:

1. Furnish the Mailer, or mailing agent(s), with the postal equipment and postal supplies necessary to prepare Qualifying Mail.

2. Provide the mailer, or mailing agent(s), with the training necessary to prepare Qualifying Mail in conformity with Postal Service requirements.

3. Pick up mailings at the Mailer's plant.

4. Arrange with carriers for transport of Qualifying Mail to Japan where the proper authority will effect delivery.

5. Loan the Mailer a manifesting software application and hardware system for the duration of the Agreement.

6. Support and maintain the software application.

7. Provide the Mailer with a corporate accounting mailing statement at the end of each postal accounting period, showing a beginning balance, deposits, a listing of each shipment mailed and date, label numbers, office of mailing, number of shipments, postage and fees, and the ending balance in the account.

e. Minimum volume commitment: The mailer has agreed to tender an annualized minimum of 50,000 pieces of Qualifying Mail.

f. Worksharing: The mailer has agreed to:

1. Pay postage for Qualifying Mail in accordance with payment methods as referenced in IMM 222.21, IMM 222.22, and Domestic Mail Manual (DMM) P500 for EMS.

2. Use a dedicated Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA) for payment of all qualifying EMS shipments under the ICM agreement.

3. Support and maintain the manifesting hardware.

4. Use an EMCA number on all EMS shipments in lieu of affixing postage.

5. Present mailings to the Postal Service at the Mailer's plant.

g. Rates: The Mailer agrees to pay postage for EMS shipments to Japan at a discount of twenty percent (20%) off the nondiscounted published rates for EMS in effect on the date of mailing.

On May 30, 2002, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement dated May 14, 2001. The Agreement was published in Postal Bulletin 22076 (5-16-02, page 75). The Amendment modifies the term of the existing Agreement. In accordance with International Mail Manual (IMM) 297.4, the Postal Service previously announced entering into an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement with this Qualifying Mailer and now makes public the following information:

a. Term: April 26, 2002, to May 30, 2002.

b. Type of mail: Other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

c. Destination countries: Other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

d. Service provided by the Postal Service: Other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

e. Minimum volume commitments: Other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

f. Worksharing: Other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

g. Rates: Other provisions of the Agreement shall remain in force.

On June 4, 2002, the Postal Service amended an International Customized Mail (ICM) Service Agreement dated