Employees

ELM REVISION

Light Duty Assignments

Part 355 of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual, (ELM) was mistakenly omitted from Issue 17, dated July 2002. Effective July 2002, the ELM is revised to add Part 355.

We will incorporate Part 355 into the online version of ELM 17 and into the printed version of ELM 18.

Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)

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3 Employment and Placement

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350 Assignment, Reassignment, and Promotion

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[Add Part 355 to read as follows:]

355 Light Duty Assignments

355.1 Voluntary Requests

355.11 Circumstances

Any full-time regular or part-time flexible employee recuperating from a serious illness or injury and temporarily unable to perform the assigned duties may voluntarily submit a written request to the installation head for temporary assignment to a light duty assignment.

Any ill or injured full-time regular or part-time flexible employee having a minimum of 5 years of postal service, or any full-time regular or part-time flexible employee who sustained injury on duty while performing the assigned duties, regardless of years of service, can submit a voluntary request to the installation head for permanent reassignment to a light duty assignment.

355.12 Method

Voluntary requests are made in accordance with the applicable collective bargaining agreement.

355.13 Response

The light duty provisions of the various collective bargaining agreements between the Postal Service and the postal unions require that installation heads show the greatest consideration for full-time regular or part-time flexible employees requiring light duty or other assignments, giving each request careful attention, and reassign such employees to the extent possible in the employee's office.

355.14 No Guarantee

The light duty provisions of the various collective bargaining agreements between the U.S. Postal Service and the postal unions do not guarantee any employee who is on a light duty assignment any number of hours of work per day or per week.

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- Selection, Evaluation, and Recognition,
Employee Resource Management, 2-6-03

Create Your Own Birthday and Holiday Cards

Just in time for Valentine's Day, discounted greeting cards are available online for Postal Service employees and customers. Remember friends and family with a personalized greeting card just for them. You can create your own cards online on the Postal Service Web site at www.usps.com/netpost/cardstore/pconnect.htm.

For Employees

Through February 14th, Postal Service employees are entitled to a special discount for 5 x 7 folded greeting cards. The cards cost only $1.50 each, including postage, and can be mailed directly to people on your mailing list or boxed and shipped to you with preaddressed stamped envelopes. You can pick the mail date up to 1 year in advance - great for sending birthday cards, so you don't forget! Choose from among thousands of images available on the site or personalize your greeting cards by uploading a unique image for a custom look.

To take advantage of this offer, go to the address listed above and use the special promotion code EMPLOYEE at checkout.

For Our Customers

Postal Service customers get 20 percent off the production of their cards through February 14th. Spread the word! Customers can take advantage of this offer by going to the address listed above and using the special promotion code SAVE20 at checkout.

- eCommerce, Product Development, 2-6-03

[D-Link]

Finance

NOTICE

Reissue of Travel Cards That Expire February 2003

During the first 2 weeks of February, Citibank will mail replacement travel cards to employees with cards that expire February 2003. Employees may continue to use their cards through the end of the month (February 28).

Employees who do not receive a new card by February 21 should (1) call Citibank customer service (at the telephone number listed on the back of their card) to confirm that their mailing address is correct and, if necessary, (2) request that a replacement card be sent.

Trip Manager Users

When the new card is activated, employees who use Trip Manager must update the expiration date to ensure that charges to the account may be authorized.

To update the expiration date in Trip Manager, follow the steps below:

1. Log on to Trip Manager.

2. Click on Profiles.

3. Under Traveler Information, select Credit Card.

4. Highlight the card record to be updated.

5. Select Edit Card.

6. Type the new expiration date.

7. Click the Submit button.

- National Accounting,
Finance, 2-6-03

International Mail

ICM UPDATES

International Customized Mail

On January 7, 2003, 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: January 1, 2003, through December 31, 2003.

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

c. Destination countries: Australia and Japan.

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

1. Furnish the Mailer with the postal equipment and postal supplies required for the use of Qualifying Mail.

2. Provide the Mailer with any training necessary to prepare mail shipments in conformity with the requirements of Qualifying Mail.

3. Perform on-call and scheduled pick up service.

4. Arrange with carriers to transport Qualifying Mail to international destinations for delivery by the appropriate authority.

5. Provide a system which includes a computer workstation, in-line scale, printers, and manifesting software.

6. Provide the mailer with an Express Mail Corporate Account Mailing Statement at the end of each Postal Accounting Period.

e. Minimum revenue commitment: The Mailer has agreed to meet a minimum volume commitment of at least 1,000 pieces of Qualifying Mail.

f. Worksharing: The Mailer has agreed to:

1. Pay postage to the Postal Service, either directly or through a mailing agent(s), for Global Express Mail (EMS), through an Express Mail Corporate Account (EMCA) accounting to the terms of DMM P500.2.

2. Include a manifest with each mailing.

3. Properly label and apply a Customs form to each mail piece.

4. Tender qualifying mail at the Mailer's plant in accordance with instructions the Postal Service provides.

5. Provide the Postal Service with a schedule of mailings, including the date of tender, weight, volume, and location where mail will originate in accordance with Postal Service instructions.

g. Rates: The Mailer will receive a ten (10) percent discount off non-discounted published rates in effect on the date of mailing for EMS Qualifying Mail. In the event that the costs the Postal Service incurs in the fulfillment of this Agreement increase in excess of five (5) percent the Postal Service shall modify the discount upon giving the Mailer a sixty (60) day notification.

- International Business, 2-6-03

REMINDER

International Mail - Inquiry Process for Global Express Mail

This article is a reminder about how to properly initiate an inquiry and file a claim for Global Express MailTM (EMS).

Only the sender may submit an inquiry regarding an EMS item. To request the status of an EMS item, the sender must call the Postal Service's EMS Inquiry Center at 800-222-1811 and must provide the relevant mailing information. The EMS Inquiry Center will then contact the delivery agent in the country of destination to request information on the disposition of the item. Upon receiving a response, the EMS Inquiry Center will call and advise the sender of the results of the inquiry. If the item is lost, damaged, or rifled, the EMS Inquiry Center will mail to the sender a claim packet that includes the following:

• PS Form 2861, Express Mail International Service Inquiry, which the EMS Inquiry Center generates and completes and which contains the relevant information about the disposition of the inquiry.

• PS Form 2855, Claim for Indemnity - International Registered, Insured, and Express Mail.

• A letter of instruction regarding the claim process. In order to file a claim, the sender must complete PS Form 2855 and submit it along with PS Form 2861 to the New York International Claims and Inquiries Office (ICIO).

Note: Only the EMS Inquiry Center can generate PS Form 2861. Facilities that have copies of PS Form 2861 with an edition date of 1989 (or any edition date prior to 2002) must recycle/discard those forms because they are obsolete.

For more information regarding EMS inquiries, see the applicable passages in International Mail Manual (IMM) 921 through 924, including the following:

• Who Can Inquire: As noted in IMM 921.22 and 924.2, only the sender (not the addressee) can initiate inquiries pertaining to the disposition of an EMS item.

• How to Inquire: As noted in IMM 921.22 and 922.31, the sender must call the EMS Inquiry Center at 800-222-1811 to initiate an inquiry about an EMS item and must provide the agent with the relevant mailing information.

• When to Inquire: As noted in IMM 922.1 and 922.31, the sender must initiate an inquiry about an EMS item within 90 days from the date of mailing. (But as noted in IMM 922.2, the sender must wait at least 3 days from the date of mailing before initiating an inquiry.)

• Hearing Results: As noted in IMM 922.32, the EMS Inquiry Center will advise the sender of the results of the inquiry and, if necessary, will mail to the sender a claim packet.

• Initiating a Claim: As noted in IMM 924.2, a sender cannot file a claim until after the EMS Inquiry Center has completed an inquiry. If the inquiry determines that a claim is warranted, the sender must complete PS Form 2855 (which the EMS Inquiry Center includes in the claim packet it mails to senders), and must submit both PS Form 2855 and PS Form 2861 (which the EMS Inquiry Center generates, completes, and includes in the claim packet) to the ICIO.

• Foreign Origin EMS: As noted in IMM 922.33, a person who sent an EMS item to the United States from a foreign country must initiate an inquiry through the country of origin.

The IMM is available in a printed version from the Material Distribution Center (MDC) and is also accessible online via Postal Explorer at http://pe.usps.gov.

- Customer Solutions,
International Business, 2-6-03

Licensing

NOTICE

Heroes of 2001 Merchandise for Sale

Use of the Heroes of 2001 stamp image remains highly restricted. The Postal Service has been granted the right to use the image on limited merchandise, such as mugs, key chains, pins, framed art, that has undergone product review by the Postal Service and the other rights holders: The Record (Bergen County, NJ) and the firefighters who are featured in the photograph.

These products may be used as giveaway items for employees and customers and for resale at Postal Service events.

You can order Heroes of 2001 products using authorized Postal Service purchasing methods from the following list of official licensees. Only the companies listed below have been authorized to use this restricted image within their grant of rights; therefore, purchase products only from the list of licensed vendors below.

If you have questions on pricing, quantity, or any other purchasing information, please contact the vendors listed below.

- Licensing,
Public Affairs and Communications, 2-6-03

UPDATE

USPS Official Licensed Product Manufacturers and Distributors

The following list contains all current USPS Official Licensed Product manufacturers and distributors. Changes and additions are in bold. Employees may use this information to purchase products for personal use or as premiums and giveaway items. These products are not for resale.

Products for Postal Service retail stores are available through the Official Licensed Retail Product (OLRP) program. For further information regarding the OLRP program, please contact your area or district retail manager.

USPS Promotional Products

USPS Corporate Apparel

Commercial Apparel and Jewelry

Posters and Enlargements

Toys and Games

Commercial Novelty