Rural letter carrier history and organization

Rural letter carriers have a long and fascinating history. They have been serving rural communities since the 19th century, with the first rural routes established in the United States in 1845.

Rural letter carriers are organized under the United States Postal Service (USPS), which is an independent agency of the federal government. The USPS is responsible for providing postal services to the entire country, including rural areas.

Rural letter carriers are employed by the USPS and are responsible for delivering mail to rural addresses. They often travel long distances and face unique challenges, such as inclement weather and limited access to roads.

The USPS has a network of rural routes and post offices that provide essential services to rural communities. These services include mail delivery, package delivery, and access to postal services such as money orders and passport applications.

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Letter carriers are the backbone of rural mail delivery, responsible for traversing rugged terrain to reach remote communities.

They often walk up to 12 miles a day, sometimes in extreme weather conditions.

Their routes can be as long as 50 miles, requiring them to navigate through dense forests, across rivers, and over steep hills.

Letter carriers must be physically fit and able to handle heavy mailbags and equipment.

In rural areas, mail delivery is often a solitary experience, with carriers working independently for long periods of time.

Despite the challenges, many letter carriers take pride in their work, enjoying the opportunity to connect with the people and communities they serve.

The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, the nation's oldest agricultural organization, was a key supporter of the nationwide rural mail delivery service. They advocated for equal consideration for rural residents after free mail delivery began in American cities in 1863.

Rural free delivery (RFD) was first suggested by Postmaster General John Wanamaker in his annual report for fiscal year 1891. The Post Office Department experimented with RFD on October 1, 1891, starting with five routes covering ten miles in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

The first routes to receive RFD during its experimental phase were in Jefferson County, West Virginia, near Charles Town, Halltown, and Uvilla. After five years of controversy, RFD finally became an official service in 1896 under President Grover Cleveland.

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The history of rural mail delivery in the United States is a fascinating story that spans over a century.

Much support for the introduction of a nationwide rural mail delivery service came from The National Grange of the Order of Patrons of Husbandry, the nation's oldest agricultural organization.

Formerly, residents of rural areas had to either travel to a distant post office to pick up their mail, or else pay for delivery by a private carrier. This was a significant inconvenience, especially for those living in remote areas.

The Post Office Department first experimented with the idea of rural mail delivery on October 1, 1891, to determine the viability of RFD. They began with five routes covering ten miles.

The first routes to receive RFD during its experimental phase were in Jefferson County, West Virginia, near Charles Town, Halltown, and Uvilla. This marked the beginning of a new era in rural mail delivery.

After five years of controversy, RFD finally became an official service in 1896 under President Grover Cleveland. That year, 82 rural routes were put into operation.

The service has grown steadily over the years, with the mileage increasing to over 100,000 by 1901 and the cost reaching $1,750,321. By 1910, the mileage had increased to 993,068 and the cost was $36,915,000.

The introduction of parcel post delivery in 1913 caused another boom in rural deliveries. Parcel post service allowed the distribution of national newspapers and magazines, and was responsible for millions of dollars of sales in mail-order merchandise to customers in rural areas.

In 1930, there were 43,278 rural routes serving about 6,875,321 families. The cost was $106,338,341.

Today, the rural delivery service uses a network of rural routes traveled by carriers to deliver and pick up mail to and from roadside mailboxes.

Assistant roles in the organization have evolved over time to provide support and coverage for rural routes.

Substitute rural carriers, appointed via Form 50, serve full-time on a vacant regular route or in the absence of a regular carrier for more than 90 calendar days. They are designated with a code of 72.

Rural carrier associates, also appointed via Form 50, serve full-time on a vacant route or in the absence of the regular carrier for more than 90 calendar days. Designation codes for these associates vary depending on their hiring date.

Assistant Rural Carriers (ARCs), designated with codes 70-5, were added to the contract in 2016. They primarily assist with package delivery on weekends and holidays, but can also perform standard route duties on Saturdays.

Here's a breakdown of some key Assistant roles:

As a rural letter carrier, you might be interested in exploring part-time flexible options, which fall under Code 76.

You can expect to work a minimum of 20 hours per week, but no more than 30 hours, with a maximum of 5 hours per day.

Rural letter carriers in part-time flexible positions often work irregular schedules, including evenings, weekends, and holidays.

You'll typically be assigned a specific route or set of duties, and you'll be responsible for delivering mail to rural areas.

Part-time flexible positions can be a great option for those who want to balance work with other responsibilities, such as family or education commitments.

You'll still be required to work during inclement weather, such as snowstorms or extreme heatwaves, and you'll need to be prepared to adapt to changing circumstances.

The NRLCA is a labor union that represents rural carriers in the United States. The union was formed in 1903 and has been working to promote and protect the interests of rural carriers ever since.

The NRLCA negotiates labor agreements with the USPS, including salaries, and represents rural carriers in the grievance procedure. Only the NRLCA can provide protection in disciplinary actions for rural carrier craft members.

Rural carriers are considered bargaining unit employees in the USPS, which means there is a contract between the Postal Service and the NRLCA. The contract includes provisions for salaries, fringe benefits, and collective bargaining rights.

Decertification, a process that can be both a blessing and a curse for unions. Decertification occurs when a majority of employees in a bargaining unit choose to remove their union's certification, effectively ending the union's ability to bargain on their behalf.

The National Labor Relations Act (NLRA) governs the decertification process, which can be initiated by the union or by a petition from a group of employees. According to the NLRA, a union can be decertified if a majority of employees in the bargaining unit vote against the union's certification.

Decertification can happen for a variety of reasons, including a union's failure to adequately represent its members, mismanagement of union funds, or a change in the workplace's needs and priorities. In some cases, employees may choose to decertify a union if they feel it's no longer serving their interests.

A union can be decertified through a petition filed with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB), which will then conduct an election to determine whether a majority of employees want to remove the union's certification.

The USPS contract is a crucial aspect of the National Rural Letter Carriers' Association (NRLCA) and its relationship with the United States Postal Service (USPS). The NRLCA negotiates all labor agreements for the rural carrier craft with the USPS, including salaries.

Rural carriers are considered bargaining unit employees in the USPS, which means there's a contract between the Postal Service and the NRLCA. Only the NRLCA can represent members of the rural carrier craft in the grievance procedure, including providing protection in disciplinary actions.

In 1962, the NRLCA and USPS established their first national agreement on a contract for rural carriers, known as the Heavy Duty Agreement. This agreement established the Evaluated Pay System, where rural carriers are paid a salary based on an evaluation of their particular route.

The NRLCA became a union with collective bargaining rights for wages and fringe benefits after the Postal Reorganization Act was signed by President Richard Nixon in 1970. This marked a significant shift in the NRLCA's role and influence within the USPS.

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The NRLCA has negotiated several contracts with the USPS over the years, including a new contract imposed by arbitrator Jack Clarke in 2012. This contract ran through 2015 and included concessions by the NRLCA, such as a two-year wage freeze and increased health care costs.

In 2016, the NRLCA and USPS signed a new national agreement that ran through 2018. This was the first negotiated agreement between the two parties in over 20 years that did not go to arbitration. NRLCA members ratified the agreement with 83% of votes cast in favor.

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The NRLCA Constitution has a rich history. It was ratified on September 12, 1903, at the organization's first national convention in Chicago, Illinois.

The NRLCA's first constitution was a result of careful planning and discussion, with Henry Haven Windsor presenting the Constitution & Bylaws Committee's report and leading the discussion on each article.

Union dues were a topic of negotiation, with the NRLCA originally seeking one dollar a year from its members, but ultimately settling on fifty cents a year.

The constitution underwent changes over the years, with dues being raised to 75 cents per year in 1910, only to be reduced back down to 50 cents a year in 1911.

It took until 1919 for the NRLCA to reach its original goal of one dollar a year in union dues.

In 2007, the NRLCA Constitution underwent significant changes, with bylaws being eliminated and incorporated into the constitution.

The NRLCA Constitution was ratified again in 2011, with the implementation of a national steward system.

The NRLCA Presidents have played a crucial role in shaping the organization's direction over the years. F. H. Cunningham was the first president, serving from 1903 to 1904.

The NRLCA has had a total of 35 presidents since its inception. Here are some notable presidents and their terms: