Step 4 Settlement Agreement: Article 19; Handbooks and Manuals (1985)

The issue in this grievance involves management requiring employees to complete PS Forms 3971 at the Postal Service Data Site prior to obtaining their time badges following unexpected absences from duty. After reviewing this matter, we mutually agreed that no national interpretive issue is fairly presented in this case. This is a local dispute suitable for regional determination by application of Part 513.332 of the ELM as well as Part 333.3 of the F-21 Handbook to the fact circumstances. The parties at this level agree that the completion of a Form 3971 “upon/after return to duty” means while the employee is on-the-clock. Accordingly, we agreed to remand this case to the parties at Step 3 for application of the above understanding to the fact circumstances.