Regular carriers may observe, if they wish, the mail count on their relief days or on days they are in a leave status. Regular carriers who are observing in a non-duty status may not participate in office work. In the event the primary leave replacement is unavailable on the regular carrier s relief day, management must offer the work assignment in accordance with Article 30.2.D . All types of mail handled by each rural carrier must be counted each day of the count period. Mail must be counted in the facility where the carrier cases the mail.
Mail is credited on the day it is cased.
Mail flow procedures during the count period must be the same as the rest of the year. On the day preceding the count period, all mail available up to the normal cut-off time must be delivered on that day. All mail available up to the normal cut-off time on the last day is included in the count and delivered. In Expedited Preferential Mail System offices, available mail would be cased but not counted upon returning to the office from the route on the day prior to the start of the count. Conversely, in EPM offices on the last day of the count, available mail would be cased and entered on PS Form 4239 for that day.