CUPW and Canada Post have finished their joint study into letter carrier carts under Appendix AA of the collective agreement.

The study, which began in November 2007, aimed to identify the most suitable carts for letter carriers while minimizing health and safety concerns and addressing cost and security concerns.

CUPW and CPC tested four carts during the study including the current C46, the USPS cart, the PT200 model from Germany and a newly designed prototype, the BOB Cargo.

Thirty-five randomly-selected letter carriers from seven depots in three cities across Canada & Quebec volunteered to receive training, to use the carts, and to provide their observations and comments through daily questionnaires and one-day feedback sessions.

Under the direction of the Appendix AA National Joint Work Group, engineers and an ergonomist conducted a series of on-route observations and lab tests including winter and rain conditions and with various mail volume scenarios.

CART FINDINGS

Cart use will vary due to extreme weather conditions, different route types and fluctuating volumes of addressed mail and unaddressed admail. The C-46 fulfills most of the letter carrier needs but some basic characteristics limit its use.

Some letter carriers find it challenging to keep the cart in balance at times because the two wheel design requires the user to support a portion of the load of the cart while keeping the cart balanced.

CUPW believes that the different health challenges, mail volumes, climates and route types that letter carriers face demand alternatives to traditional mail delivery with a satchel; alternatives that include choices in addition to the C46 cart.

Although the study did not evaluate the impact of carrying mail with a satchel, most participating letter carriers reported that using a cart “lightens the load” of carrying mail compared to using a satchel, reduces soreness and fatigue and would decrease the risk of injury.

On May 13, 2009 the final draft report of the Letter Carrier Cart Study was presented to the CUPW-CPC Appendix AA Steering Committee.

The Appendix AA Steering Committee has approved the continued use and deployment of the current stock of C-46 carts and recommends the following improvements:

• adding anti-slip, protective tips to the front support legs;
• upgrading the mail container/satchel to better protect the mail from the elements;
• adding an improved means to secure the mail and the cart when the letter carrier is away from it.

The Steering Committee also recommend that an analysis be undertaken to determine the feasibility and cost of making the BOB Cargo a practical alternative to the C46 by:

• raising the bottom and reducing the size of the main container;
• adding adjustable separators to reduce jostling the mail;
• waterproofing the material, reinforcing the grommets and improving the lid zipper;
• making the handle adjustable to accommodate people shorter than 164 cm;
• modifying the lid to be angled upward so the water runs off; and
• adding a lock to the lid.

CUPW also proposed:

• implementing the USPS cart as it provides a viable alternative to the C-46 and is used extensively by other postal administrations; and
• introducing the PT200 to routes that walk-out of a depot or where the cart can be stored in a mailroom or a secure location on the route.

CPC does not recommend either of these carts.

With the completion of the Appendix AA study, CUPW is moving the discussion on letter carrier carts to the National Joint Health & Safety Committee (NJHSC).

CUPW suggests that an awareness campaign be undertaken to promote the benefits of using a cart as an assistive tool to deliver mail, and is pressing CPC to fulfill its obligations under Appendix K1 to provide classroom and practical training on the benefits of carts to all new letter carriers.

On behalf of CUPW, the Appendix AA Committee wishes to thank those CUPW members who participated in this study. Their knowledge and input helps the Union gain improved working conditions for all members.

CARTS ARE NOW AVAILABLE UPON REQUEST WITHOUT ANY RESRITCTION AS PER APPENDIX K2 OF THE URBAN COLLECTIVE AGREEMENT.