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The U.S. Postal Service has finalized a new labeling requirement for Bound Printed Matter machinable parcels based on this year’s deployment of upgraded package sorters.

The rule takes effect July 6 but mailers are encouraged to comply as soon as possible. Bound Printed Matter is Package Services mail (typically catalogs, books and other printed material) that weighs up to 15 pounds and meets specific eligibility standards.

Under the rule, published in yesterday’s Federal Register, when a BPM machinable parcel consists of multiple pieces for a single address secured with transparent shrinkwrap

This year, 74 of these APPS next-generation package sorters will be deployed in the postal service’s network. APPS uses optical character and barcode readers to improve distribution productivity. APPS is replacing many of the older-technology small parcel bundle sorters and is driving the need for 100 percent readable and accurate package barcodes.

see information on Automated Package Processing System (APPS)

APWU Web News , Feb. 14, 2006

The USPS has assigned craft jurisdiction for staffing on the Automated Flat Sorting Machine 100 (AFSM-100) with Automated Induction (AI) and Automatic Tray Handling (ATHS) system enhancements, awarding most of the positions to the Mail Handler Craft.

The APWU believes that the duties associated with AI and ATHS enhancements on the AFSM 100s are Clerk Craft duties, and has filed a national-level dispute claiming jurisdiction over this work.

In a letter dated Feb. 8, 2006, the USPS wrote that of the 534 AFSM-100s currently in operation, it is anticipated that 184 AFSM-100s will remain without either AI or ATHS enhancements; 144 will have ATHS but no AI, and 206 will have AI and ATHS enhancement.

For AFSM-100 machines without enhancement, staffing will remain at five Clerk Craft employees.

For those with AI and ATHS, management designated primary jurisdiction of the Feed Station to the Clerk Craft. The Mail Handler Craft was identified as the primary craft for employees working at the Load Station, Prep Station, and for operating the ATHS. The Feed Station and Load station will be occupied by a single employee; the Prep Station will be staffed by up to four employees.

On non-AI AFSM 100s with ATHS, staffing will be four Clerk Craft employees. Three clerks will manually induct mail and one clerk will operate the ATHS. This will allow for a rotation of clerks on the non-AI AFSM 100s, to accommodate ergonomic relief.

What Locals Should Do

The APWU contends that the duties associated with AI and ATHS are mail processing duties related to distribution of mail, and therefore properly belong to the Clerk Craft. Locals where AI and ATHS enhancements have been installed should take the following steps:

1. Locals should file a dispute with their Local Dispute Resolution Committee (LDRC) making the claim of jurisdiction.
2. Locals should meet with the LDRC and seek agreement in writing to hold the dispute at the LDRC level pending the outcome of the national dispute. Once the national-level dispute is settled, the LDRC will apply the national decision.
3. If the parties at the LDRC level cannot agree to hold the dispute at the LDRC level, the local union should appeal the dispute to the Regional Dispute Resolution Committee (RDRC). The RDRC will enter into an agreement either to hold the dispute at its level pending the outcome of the national dispute or remand the dispute to the LDRC level where it will be held pending the outcome of the national dispute.
4. Please direct any questions to your RDRC member listed below:

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