STAND-UP TALK

Presort Labels Are Changing

Please read this stand-up talk to all employees. Show them the accompanying poster. Post both on official bulletin boards.

The Postal ServiceTM is changing the design of the five stick-on labels that mailers use to identify the presort level on their packages of mail. Take a look at the accompanying poster on page 6.)

Two changes are being made. First, the new labels have barcodes on them. These barcodes will allow us to process packages of mail faster and more efficiently on the new Automated Package Processing System (APPS) being installed in major mail processing and distribution centers starting next year.

Second, the code letters on two of the labels have changed.

• The tan label "MXD" for "mixed or working mail" is now simply "X" to allow room for the barcode.

• The red label "D" now uses the numeral "5" for five- digit mail.

The colors remain the same for all five labels.

The new labels will be available soon. Customers can request the new labels through their local Post OfficeTM or their business mail entry unit (BMEU).

Any questions?

- Implementation and Outlook,
Pricing and Classification, 10-30-03

Annual Leave Exchange Option

The Annual Leave Exchange Program provides an option for eligible employees to receive a lump sum payment in exchange for a portion of the annual leave that would otherwise be advanced at the beginning of the 2004 leave year.

Note: Annual leave earned and accumulated through the 2003 leave year, which ends January 9, 2004, cannot be exchanged for cash.

Eligible Employees

Employees eligible for the Annual Leave Exchange Program include the following:

• Career nonbargaining employees from Rate Schedule Codes (RSCs) E, F, J, S, and U who have an annual leave balance of at least 160 hours at the end of the leave year.

• Bargaining employees from the following RSCs who have an annual leave balance of at least 440 hours at the end of the leave year and have used less than 75 hours of sick leave during the leave year:

- National Postal Mail Handlers Union - RSC M.

- International Association of Machinists - RSC T.

- American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO - RSCs C, N, and P.

- Operating Services Division Agreement - RSC K.

- Fraternal Order of Police, National Labor Council, USPS No. 2 - RSC Y.

Letter Soon Mailed to Eligible Employees

The Eagan Accounting Service Center (ASC) will mail a letter providing details of the eligibility criteria and instructions for using PostalEASE to make annual leave exchange elections to eligible employees at their address of record during November 2003. Undeliverable letters will be returned to the personnel office, which should ensure that they are forwarded to the employee's work location along with PS Form 1216, Employee's Current Mailing Address. Employees who have access to either the Employee Change of Address feature on the intranet (go to http://blue.usps.gov; under "Employee Resources," click on Employee Change of Address) or to an employee Self-Service kiosk (available at some facilities) should use those methods rather than completing PS Form 1216.

PostalEASE Elections

Employees who meet the eligibility criteria and want to exercise that option must use PostalEASE to make elections. For the election to be considered timely, employees must complete their entries in PostalEASE by midnight, Central Time, December 15, 2003.

Employees who are unable to use PostalEASE to complete their elections should contact their local personnel office before December 15, 2003, for assistance.

We will not distribute forms for the November 15, 2003, to December 15, 2003, election period.

Payment by Lump Sum

Payment under the Annual Leave Exchange Program will be a lump sum calculated on the employee's base salary as of the first day of the 2004 leave year (January 10, 2004). Paychecks dated January 30, 2004, will include the 2004 lump sum payment.

- Compensation,
Employee Resource Management, 10-30-03

PLEASE POST ON ALL BULLETIN BOARDS THROUGH DECEMBER 15, 2003.

FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFITS
OPEN SEASON
NOVEMBER 10 TO 5:00 CENTRAL TIME DECEMBER 9, 2003

HEALTH BENEFITS OPEN
SEASON ON POSTALEASE
NEW THIS YEAR!

FOR THE FIRST TIME, HEALTH BENEFITS OPEN SEASON CHANGES WILL BE DONE USING PostalEASE. THE SF 2809, HEALTH BENEFITS ELECTION FORM WILL NO LONGER BE USED. THE 2004 GUIDE TO FEDERAL EMPLOYEES HEALTH BENEFIT PLANS WITH NEW INFORMATION IS BEING MAILED TO ALL ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES AND CONTAINS THE HEALTH BENEFITS WORKSHEET.

DURING THIS OPEN SEASON ELIGIBLE EMPLOYEES MAY MAKE ANY ONE, OR A COMBINATION OF, THE FOLLOWING CHANGES USING POSTALEASE:

• Enroll if not enrolled.

• Cancel enrollment.

• Change from one plan to another plan.

• Change from one option to another option.

• Change from Self Only to Self and Family.

• Change from Self and Family to Self Only.

Enrollment changes and new enrollments made during the 2003 open season will be effective January 10, 2004 (Pay Period 03-04). New premium payments will be reflected in paycheck dated January 30, 2004.

- Compensation,
Employee Resource Management, 10-30-03

PLEASE POST ON ALL BULLETIN BOARDS THROUGH DECEMBER 9, 2003.

®

This office will be CLOSED

Tuesday,
November 11, 2003,

Veterans Day.

Need Postal Service information? Call 800-ASK-USPS, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Or visit our Web site, www.usps.com, for information, stamps, and so much more.

®

This office will be CLOSED

Thursday,
November 27, 2003,

Thanksgiving Day.