Effective October 14, 2017, the Postal Service™ will revise the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), sections 422.2 and 422.3, to update the promotional basic rules specific to City Carrier Schedule 2 employees and Mail Handlers Schedule 2 employees.
Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM)
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4 Pay Administration
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422 Salary Schedules Covered by Specific Agreements
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422.2 City Carrier Schedule
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422.21 Salary System
422.211 Salary Schedule
[Revise the text of 422.211 to read as follows:]
The City Carrier (CC) Schedule consists of two rate schedules, each with Grades 1 and 2. Schedule 1 (RSC Q) is applicable to city carriers with a career appointment date (CAD) before January 12, 2013. Schedule 2 (RSC Q7) is applicable to city carriers with a CAD on or after January 12, 2013.
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422.223 Promotion Rules
[Revise the text of 422.223 to read as follows:]
Note: See 421.43a and 421.44i for definition of promotion, and consult Exhibit 418.1, Equivalent Grades, to determine whether or not a personnel action represents a promotion.
Rules are as follows:
a. Basic Rules. The basic rules are as follows:
(1) Promotion Within Schedule 1. For this promotion:
The Grade 1 employee receives a promotional increase equal to two times the most prevalent step in the former Grade 1 for a promotion to Grade 2. Add this increase to the employee’s former basic wage and slot the employee to the closest step in Grade 2. If the increased salary falls between two steps of Grade 2, place the employee at the next higher step. A new step waiting period begins unless the employee is promoted to a bargaining unit grade previously held (i.e., repromotion), in which case, see 422.123a4.
(2) Promotion Within Schedule 2. For this promotion:
The Grade 1 employee receives a promotional increase that brings the salary to the same step in Grade 2. The promoted employee will retain the waiting period step credit that had been earned prior to the promotion in calculating the next step increase date. If this is a repromotion, see 422.123a4.
(3) Promotion To These Schedules From Other Rate Schedules. For this promotion:
(a) From EAS (RSC E) and Part-Time Postmasters (RSC F), and to the current full-time salary, add 5 percent. Advance this amount to the next higher salary step in the new grade if the calculated amount falls between two steps. A new step waiting period begins unless the employee is promoted to a bargaining unit grade previously held (i.e., repromotion), in which case, see 422.123a4.
(b) From PNS (RSC G), OSD (RSC K), MH, (RSC M), IT/ASC (RSC N), PS (RSC P) or MESC (RSC C), RC (RSC R), and PPO (RSC Y), to the current full-time salary, add two times the most prevalent step increment of the current grade (add three times for a promotion of three or more grades). Advance this amount to the next higher salary step in the new grade if the calculated amount falls between the two steps. A new step waiting period begins unless the employee is promoted to a bargaining unit grade previously held (i.e., repromotion), in which case, see 422.123a4.
(4) Promotion From These Schedules to Other Rate Schedules. For this promotion:
(a) To IT/ASC (RSC N), to the current full-time salary, add two times the most prevalent step increment of the current grade (add three times for a promotion of three or more grades). Advance this amount to the next higher salary step in the new grade if the calculated amount falls between the two steps. A new step waiting period begins unless the employee is promoted to a bargaining unit grade previously held (i.e., repromotion), in which case, see 422.123a4.
(b) To EAS (RSC E), Pay Band (RSC V), and Attorney (RSC U) to the current full-time salary, see 413.22.
(c) To PS, OSD, or MESC Schedule 2 (RSC P & C), assign the proper step by referring to Exhibit 422.123a. A new step waiting period begins on the effective date of the promotion.
(d) To RC (RSC R), see 422.422a2.
Note: See also Exhibit 421.82.
(5) Promotion Pay Anomaly. No employee is at any time compensated less as a consequence of a promotion than that employee would have been if the employee had not been promoted but, instead, advanced in step increments in the lower grade by fulfilling the waiting time requirements necessary for step increases. This rule includes employees who were promoted to a higher grade and subsequently reassigned to their former grade. If, during any pay period following the promotion, the employee’s basic wage is less than the employee would have received for that pay period if the employee had not been promoted, the difference is paid to the employee in a lump sum payment.
b. Supplemental Rules. See 422.123b.
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422.225 Reductions in Grade
[Revise the introductory text of item b. to read as follows:]
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b. Step and Next Step Date Assignment for Bargaining Unit to Bargaining Unit Reductions in Grade Within or Into the City Carrier Rate Schedule (RSC Q and Q7). Assignments are made as follows:
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422.3 Mail Handlers Schedule
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422.311 Salary Schedule.
[Revise the text of 422.311 to read as follows:]
The Mail Handler (MH) Schedule consists of two rate schedules. Schedule 1 (RSC M) has Grades 4 through 6, and is applicable to mail handlers with a career appointment date (CAD) before February 15, 2013. Schedule 2 (RSC M7) has Grades 4 and 5, and is applicable to mail handlers with a CAD on or after February 15, 2013.
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422.323 Promotion Rules
[Revise the text of 422.323 to read as follows:]
Note: See 421.43a and 421.44i for definition of promotion, and consult Exhibit 418.1, Equivalent Grades, to determine whether or not a personnel action represents a promotion.
Rules are as follows:
a. Basic Rules. The basic rules are as follows:
(1) Promotion Within Schedule 1. For this promotion:
The employee receives a promotional increase equal to two times the most prevalent step in the former grade for a promotion of one or two grades (three times for a promotion of three or more grades). Add this increase to the employee’s former basic wage and slot the employee to the closest step in the new grade. If the increased salary falls between two steps of the new grade, place the employee at the next higher step. A new step waiting period begins unless the employee is promoted to a bargaining unit grade previously held (i.e., repromotion), in which case, see 422.123a4.
(2) Promotion Within Schedule 2. For this promotion:
The Grade 4 employee receives a promotional increase that brings the salary to the same step in Grade 5. The promoted employee will retain the waiting period step credit that had been earned prior to the promotion in calculating the next step increase date. If this is a repromotion, see 422.123a4.
(3) Promotion To These Schedules From Other Rate Schedules. For this promotion:
(a) From EAS (RSC E) and Part-Time Postmasters (RSC F), to the current full-time salary, add 5 percent. Advance this amount to the next higher salary step in the new grade if the calculated amount falls between two steps. A new step waiting period begins unless the employee is promoted to a bargaining unit grade previously held (i.e., repromotion), in which case, see 422.123a4.
(b) From PNS (RSC G), OSD (RSC K), IT/ASC (RSC N), PS (RSC P) or MESC (RSC C), RC (RSC R), and PPO (RSC Y), to the current full-time salary, add two times the most prevalent step increment of the current grade (add three times for a promotion of three or more grades). Advance this amount to the next higher salary step in the new grade if the calculated amount falls between the two steps. A new step waiting period begins unless the employee is promoted to a bargaining unit grade previously held (i.e., repromotion), in which case, see 422.123a4.
(4) Promotion From These Schedules To Other Rate Schedules. For this promotion:
(a) To PNS (RSC G), OSD (RSC K), CC (RSC Q), IT/ASC (RSC N), and PPO (RSC Y), to the current full-time salary, add two times the most prevalent step increment of the current grade (add three times for a promotion of three or more grades). Advance this amount to the next higher salary step in the new grade if the calculated amount falls between the two steps. A new step waiting period begins unless the employee is promoted to a bargaining unit grade previously held (i.e., repromotion), in which case, see 422.123a4.
(b) To EAS (RSC E), Pay Band (RSC V), and Attorney (RSC U) to the current full-time salary, see 413.22.
(c) To PS (RSC P) or MESC (RSC C) Schedule 2, assign the proper step by referring to Exhibit 422.123a. A new step waiting period begins on the effective date of the promotion.
(d) To RC (RSC R), see 422.422a2.
Note: See also Exhibit 421.82.
(5) Promotion Pay Anomaly. No employee is at any time compensated less as a consequence of a promotion than that employee would have been if the employee had not been promoted but, instead, advanced in step increments in the lower grade by fulfilling the waiting time requirements necessary for step increases. This rule includes employees who were promoted to a higher grade and subsequently reassigned to their former grade. If, during any pay period following the promotion, the employee’s basic wage is less than the employee would have received for that pay period if the employee had not been promoted, the difference is paid to the employee in a lump sum payment.
b. Supplemental Rules. See 422.123b.
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422.325 Reductions in Grade
[Revise the introductory text of item b. to read as follows:
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b. Step and Next Step Date Assignment for Bargaining Unit to Bargaining Unit Reductions in Grade Within or Into the Mail Handler Rate Schedule (RSC M and M7). Assignments are made as follows:
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[Add new 422.33 to read as follows:]
422.33 Step Increases
[Renumber current 422.326-422.329 as new 422.331-422.334.]
[Renumber current 422.33 as new 422.34.]
[Renumber current 422.331-422.335 as new 422.341-422.345.]
[Renumber current 422.34 and 422.35 as new 422.35 and 422.36.]
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We will incorporate these revisions into the next online update of the ELM, which is available on the Postal Service PolicyNet website:
n Go to blue.usps.gov.
n In the left-hand column under “Essential Links,” click PolicyNet.
n Click Manuals.
The direct URL for the Postal Service PolicyNet website is blue.usps.gov/cpim.
— Pay and Performance Programs,
Compensation and Benefits, 10-12-17
