CPC is planning on doing away with the 120 points of call Mail Volume Index applied during volume counts done after June 2009. The Union disagrees with this employer initiative. We have forced management to move away from the City Mail Volume Index and now they are planning on implementing the Automated Mail Volume Index (AMVI) that resembles the old process.

The Index is needed because volume counts are done year round except for the months of July, August and December. No one can predict what the volumes of mail will be like during the counts. Will we get a lot of mail or very little mail during the volume count? This is where the MVI comes in. The Index, which is captured for a year prior to the volume count, is used to average out the total volumes counted during the volume count based on the average weekly volumes received by the 120 points of calls used in the MVI (for more detailed information see chapter 2 of the Letter Carrier Route Measurement Manual).

We now have an MVI at the depot level as per the Price Waterhouse recommendations. These recommendations were the result of a joint study done under appendix Y of the 1992 collective agreement.  We have a process over which we have control, input and membership involvement. If CPC goes back to a machine count they will have full control over a part of the LCRMS that is crucial in having the evaluation of our routes better reflect reality.

What we need to do when CPC approaches us about the new AMVI, is to tell them we disagree with the process. We need to notify them immediately that they must send us the AMVI on a quarterly basis as per clause 47.23. More importantly we need to go to the work floor and tell the members what is happening. We need to randomly select 120 points of calls in depots where volume counts are coming up. Remember we need the MVI to be in place at least 1 year prior to the volume count. It is a good ideal to put the MVI in place 13 months prior to the volume count so we can get the members used to the data capture process. This will allow us to challenge the AMVI and ensure we have a proper index when we prove CPC’s process is flawed. Remember the 120 points of calls must represent the commercial versus residential (including apartments) points of calls, break down, of the postal station that will be volume counted. Also, remember that the volume of mail going to the 120 points of calls must be counted every day for a 1 year period.

The MVI directly impacts our inside values and the percentage of coverage.