BRANCH 56 NEWS
NALC statement on reported executive order attacking Postal Service
NALC President Brian L. Renfroe released the following statement regarding reports from The Washington Post that President Donald Trump plans to issue an executive order firing the members of the Postal Board of Governors and placing the agency under the control of the Commerce Department:
The 295,000 active and retired members of the National Association of Letter Carriers have a message to deliver to the White House: Hands off the Postal Service.
Every day, 200,000 active city letter carriers uphold the Postal Service’s constitutionally mandated universal service obligation, delivering 376 million pieces of mail and packages to nearly 169 million delivery points nationwide. USPS is central to a $1.92 trillion mailing industry. U.S. letter carriers deliver 44 percent of the world’s mail.
No private shipper guarantees or offers this unmatched universal service. Without our work, 51.5 million households and businesses in rural communities would have no guaranteed deliveries of medications, checks, ballots, and other essential mail and packages.
The reported executive order jeopardizes the jobs of 640,000 postal employees, more than 73,000 of whom are veterans, and would affect the 7.9 million people employed in the mailing industry. While the potential consequences are deeply alarming, these proposals are also unconstitutional and illegal.
The Postal Service is older than our country and is enshrined in the Constitution. It is a service for the public good funded by postage and stamp sales, not taxpayer dollars.
The Constitution, carefully crafted by our nation’s founders, gives Congress, not the president, a key role in setting postal policy. In fact, the Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 removed the Post Office Department from the president’s Cabinet and created USPS as the independent agency that exists today.
Americans should see this reported executive order for what it is: a direct attack on USPS employees, our universal service, and every citizen who relies on the Postal Service.
The public consistently ranks the Postal Service as one of the most trusted government agencies. That’s because Americans can count on their letter carrier in every community nationwide.
We are fighting like hell against any privatization efforts or reorganizational mandates. We will do everything in our power to ensure we continue upholding our universal service obligation that Americans depend on through a strong and public Postal Service.
MDA Deliver the Cure
Parcel Delivery
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Here are instructions from USPS Handbooks on how to deliver parcels:
Handbook M-39 says:
“ 125.7 Parcel Delivery
Carriers ordinarily must deliver parcels at the same time other mail is delivered since separate delivery of parcels would necessitate traveling the route twice. However, if parcels cannot be carried with other mail in the shoulder satchel, or satchel cart where authorized, instruct the carrier regarding delivery of parcels using one of the methods outlined below:
a. Parcels Too Heavy or Large for Satchel. Bypass the stop until the loop is completed, then drive to the delivery point to deliver the parcel and
other mail at the same time. Use this method when the mailer or
addressee has authorized the carrier to leave the parcel.
b. Delivery of Parcel After Completing Loop. The carrier may park in the usual location and deliver the letter and flat mail first. However, when delivering the letters determine if the parcel is deliverable. If no one is available to receive the parcel but the carrier knows that someone is usually available, the carrier does not leave Form 3849, Delivery Notice/Reminder/Receipt. The parcel is returned to the office for a
second attempt on the next delivery day. In this situation, a notice is left
if the parcel cannot be delivered after the second attempt. If no one is available to receive the parcel and the carrier knows that no one is
usually available, the carrier completes and leaves Form 3849 after the
first attempt and returns the parcel to the delivery unit. If the carrier
does not know if someone is usually available to receive parcels, a
notice is left after the first attempt.”
Handbook M-41 says for park and loop routes:
“323.3 Parcel Post
For heavy parcels, the following systems may be used:
a. Begin the loop at the point of the parcel delivery.
b. Bypass the stop until the loop is complete, then drive to the delivery
point with both the mail and the parcel.
c. If a parcel is heavy, will not fit into your satchel, or requires a signed
receipt, determine if someone is available at the address by ringing the
doorbell or knocking on the door at the time of delivery of the rest of the
mail. If no answer, follow the procedures in 322.311 and 322.312 (basically, leave in a safe place or leave a notice- ed.). If someone is available to receive the parcel, return with it after completing the loop.”
Note that Handbook M-41 gives an additional option for parcel delivery on park and loop routes. For mounted routes, deliver parcels in the normal sequence of the route. Dismount if the parcel is too large for the mail receptacle.
A reminder: never leave parcels where they may be exposed to possible theft or inclement weather unless the mailer has opted for the carrier release program. If in doubt leave a notice (PS3849). Also, when estimating overtime on Form PS3996, give a rough count of the parcels you will be delivering that day.
Proper delivery of parcels will improve customer satisfaction and ensure proper credit for the time necessary to complete your assignment.