special count drop huge

[cowgirlcarrier]

Our office started dps letters in august. the result of my special count was from a K45 to a K40, thats a huge amount of money to me. Is this normal? Should I look further into the matter? Also I was only able to work for 3 or 4 days during count because my mother became ill and passed away during this time. Can I request a recount or should I? Im almost afraid to take the chance if I could. Please advise if available.

[Hudson Valley Rural]

 I can't remember exactly when our office first got DPS. 5,6,7, years ago.maybe, but the first mailcount results afterward were awful! We all dropped, maybe a hair or two less than you, but the volume has also dropped further, which made your results a bit worse. Now when a mailcount occurs you really have to fight for every letter and every second you can remotely fight for.
 Sorry about your results.

[bob1]

Back in the 1990's when DPS first came about, the "average" loss was 2 to 3 hours and more per route, and that was when mail was heavy and the percentage of mail processed on DPS machines was much less than is processed today.  My route lost about 3.5 hours per week back then.  If you run your numbers on a mail count calculator you can usually see the impact DPS had.

If you were a "low" 45K and dropped to a "high" 40K, I would say that is about normal, especially with mail volumes as they are, although the volume seemed higher now than in Feb/March.

The contract and the PO dictate when mail counts are held, there is little you can do other than filing a grievance in a timely manner if the count was not conducted properly.

Did you attend a mail count training prior to this count?

Sorry for the loss of your mother, that is never easy.

[Vax]

   Had a carrier off in my office feb count had two weeks military, went from a 45 j to a 42h, could not get count dropped, you wont be able to eather, we Just had FSS count in my area about 500 hundred office all but 6, had huge losses, most small h routes with lots of mail, in fss, and that was at 27 a min, Po wants us to get it now for 69 a min, if that happens we are screwed to the wall, we ll have to pay PO to come to work!!!

[gjtrisa]

That is a fairly normal drop when DPS is implemented.  You will count again 2/27 - 3/12/2010.  I am so sorry for the loss of pay and wish I could give you better news.  I would go through all of the paper work to make sure errors were not made and all of the columns we added correctly.


-----Original Message-----
From: cowgirlcarrier [via RURAL MAIL TALK] [hidden email]

Sent: Mon, Oct 26, 2009 10:21 pm
Subject: special count drop huge

Our office started dps letters in august. the result of my special count was from a K45 to a K40, thats a huge amount of money to me. Is this normal? Should I look further into the matter? Also I was only able to work for 3 or 4 days during count because my mother became ill and passed away during this time. Can I request a recount or should I? Im almost afraid to take the chance if I could. Please advise if available.

[west of nowhere]

The difference between raw and DPS letters is roughly 9 minutes per full tray per day. That should help you see how much of the hit to your time was due to the DPS.I doubt you would get a recount. Sorry about your mother.

[RCASSP]

Go over all the amounts in each colum. My RC checked and found the supervisor only credited our route for 6 ceritified per week and it was supposed to be 36. They are human and make mistakes, so check. Sorry about your mother.

[Casca]

Take the weekly DPS letter volume and multiply that by .052 minutes.  That will tell you how much DPS affected your count.

There is a provision to build back into the routes the time that converting to DPS dropped the evaluation.  It's usually done by taking from an AUX route if there is one in your office.  Contact your state steward and ask about the "Automation Impact Buffers - Overburdened Routes" letter dated July 10, 1995.  It explains about route build backs.  Our state had several offices convert to DPS in August and we were counted on the special count.  2 routes in our office lost and are pulling from the AUX route once District tells the PM how much time to adjust on each route.

[wormburner]

In our office we had no routes counting.  Our mail (and I'm anal over my own mail volume with detailed records for three years) did not slow any, twice the flats than the spring count and letter volume at record levels.  The junk parcels were low though, and the do not bends, that would be where they held them in the junk hampers til after count.  It is a shame and a crime, our association is responsible to see that a fair count is obtained, which they can not or will not do.  

I don't think that the PO is going to elect to count this spring.  We were so well set up in this year's count and volume is returning to the point that they know they will have a hard time saving anything.  We'll see.  

[vax]

   The PO already has stats on the volume of mail for any area for the next 6 months, they have the stats now, if they count us its because of huge FSS drops on our routes or the volume low on their stats!   Its a done deal by them eather way already!  Knew folks in postal operations that gather these facts!

[idontlikerocks]

after the last count,    a 40 k   result would be one of the highest routes.   look on the bright side,  you still get a day off.