Proper Recording of Office and Street Time
Lately I’ve been finding in some of my offices that I cover that Management has improperly instructed carriers to move to the wrong code when they are providing auxiliary assistance to routes. In some situations, the Supervisor instructs the City Carrier Assistant (CCA) or Part Time Flexible (PTF) to deliver parcels for an overburdened or open route. Management is instructing these carriers to record on Labor Distribution Codes (LDC) 23. You might say to yourself that the time is being recorded and the parcels are being delivered so what’s the problem? The problem is the parcel delivery isn’t being recorded for the route itself. The improper instruction takes valuable time away from the assignment and can be a factor in determining if a route is a full-time assignment, overburdened or less than 8 hours.
Proper recording of work hours is very important for a couple of reasons. First, it allows the Postal Service to determine the true cost of the delivery of the various items assigned to the route. Second, it accounts for the time spent casing and delivering the route. It also accounts that Letter carriers are properly credited for the work associated to their assignment, even when they are receiving auxiliary assistance. This is especially important for future Route Count and Inspections or if the National Parties bring back the TIAREAP inspection process. It is vital now more than ever to make sure you are in the right code to protect your assignment. If in the fall, we undergo any type of inspection process the teams will review the assignments. They are going to rely on the data recorded on the scanners and this necessary time will not be recorded to the route. This improper coding could have a major impact on the route’s evaluation. The auxiliary assistance the route received that is coded under the wrong LDC will not reflect the true representation of the time worked on the route, therefore, resulting in a negative effect on the evaluation.
LDC 21 and 22 times have not changed; however, the guidelines clarify that LDC 23 should be only used for time spent delivering a dedicated parcel post route, time spent performing the duties of a relay route or combination route or time spent by a Letter Carrier transporting mail from one office to another. This code should also be used when a carrier is delivering Priority Mail Express.
LDC 23 SHOULD NEVER BE USED WHEN A ROUTE IS RECEIVING AUXILLARY ASSISTANCE VIA PAREL HELP, EVEN IF THE ASSISTANCE IS BEING PROVIDED BY A CARRIER WHO NORMALLY PERFORMS THE DUTIES OF A PARCCEL POST ROUTE. The guidelines state in part:
Parcel Post Time spent on Office functions by bid carriers or their replacements on routes designated as Parcel Post Routes should be transferred to Operation Number 7340 in LDC 23. Time spent loading and delivering the parcels on these routes should be attributed to Operation Number 7330 in LDC 23.
Auxiliary assistance given to city delivery routes by dedicated Parcel Post Routes, even if the assistance given was to relieve the route by delivering parcels, is not part of LDC 23. That assistance is still part of the carrier’s street time and is part of the carrier’s route time. It must, therefore, be attributed to LDC 22.
The same goes for any other carrier who is providing auxiliary assistance to a route by delivering parcels. The Letter Carrier providing this assistance should record this time on LDC 22. This is important so that the time spent delivering these parcels is properly recorded.
While there is a relationship between LDC’s and Operation Codes that are entered into the Time and Attendance Control System (TACS) on the badge reader, it is important not to confuse the two. When a carrier enters an operation number into the reader and swipes their badge, the TACS code entered determines which LDC the work will be assigned to.
For example, if a carrier on a residential motorized route needs auxiliary assistance and Management has another carrier deliver the parcels, thus providing that assistance, that assisting carrier clocks to TACS operation code 721 on that route. This time would then be coded under LDC 22, which is the correct code and means the time spent by the assisting carrier would be credited to the correct route. However, if the assisting carrier clocks to, or is moved by Management to, a TACS code that is covered under LDC 23 the time would not be credited to the correct route.
If Management instructs you to use code LDC 23 in the scenario I have listed above, then you must inform your Shop Steward so he/ she can get this corrected or if need be, to file a grievance. It is essential now more than ever to protect the route(s) and make sure you are in the right code when performing office and street duties. For your convenience I have listed LDC 22 codes for you to review to make sure you are on the correct code for street delivery. You may also go on the NALC website to review code LDC 23 functions. Look under Workplace Resources where you will find Material Reference System (MRS) type in M-1885 and hit “Submit” to review the complete agreement on this issue.
LDC Operation Number Description
22 715 2- Trip Business - Street
22 717 1- Trip Business - Street
22 719 Residential Foot – Street
22 721 Residential Motor-Street
22 723 2-Trip Mixed Foot- Street
22 725 2-Trip Mixed Motor-Street
22 727 1-Trip Mixed Foot -Street
22 729 1-Trip Mixed Motor-Street
Enjoy the summer, be safe and don’t forget to drink plenty of fluids and wear sunscreen to protect yourself.
