Employees

ELM REVISION

Reductions in Grade — Correction

In the article "ELM Revision: Reductions in Grade" in Postal Bulletin 22170 (12-22-05, pages 41-42) we published changes to the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) 422.125, Reductions in Grade, to be effective June 10, 2006 (Pay Period 13-2006). The article revised 422.125b, Step and Next Step Date Assignment, by including new wording for subsections (1) and (2). However, the article did not indicate clearly that the existing subsection (3) would be deleted. The new text for 422.125b is published below with a revised editorial line.

Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)

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4 Pay Administration

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420 Wage Administration Policy for Bargaining Unit Employees

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422 Salary Schedules Covered by Specific Agreements

422.1 Postal Service and Mail Equipment Shops/Material Distribution Center Salary Schedules

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422.12 Change Action Pay Rules

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422.125 Reductions in Grade

[Revise 422.125b(1) and b(2) as follows:]

b. Step and Next Step Date Assignment. Assignments are made as follows:

(1) Step. The employee's current salary is moved to the lower grade. If the current salary falls between two steps in the lower grade, the salary is set at the higher of the two steps. The salary may not be set below the minimum or above the maximum of the lower grade.

(2) Next Step Date. Creditable service in the former position is maintained toward the next step increase, with the following exceptions:

(a) If the employee's salary is increased by at least one most prevalent step in the former grade, a new step waiting period begins on the effective date of the reduction in grade (see 421.45c).

(b) If the waiting period time already served equals or exceeds that required to advance to the next step following the reduction in grade, the employee is advanced one additional step and a new step waiting period begins on the effective date of the reduction in grade.

[Delete 422.125b(3).]

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We will incorporate these revisions into the next printed version of the ELM and also into the online update, available on the Postal ServiceTM PolicyNet Web site:

• Go to http://blue.usps.gov.

• Under "Essential Links" in the left-hand column, click on References.

• Under "References" in the right-hand column, under "Policies," click on PolicyNet.

• Click on Manuals.

(The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet Web site is http://blue.usps.gov./cpim.)

It is also available on the Postal Service Internet:

• Go to www.usps.com.

• Click on About USPS & News, then Forms & Publications, then Postal Periodicals and Publications, and then Manuals.

— Compensation,
Human Resources, 3-16-06

NOTICE

RIF Competitive Areas for the Postal Service

The 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 an RIF. Listed below are the Competitive Areas for the Postal ServiceTM as of March 16, 2006.

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

— Complement, Staffing, and Field Policy, Human Resources, 3-16-06