POSTAL UNIFORMS PROGRAM NEWS

Recent News About Postal Uniforms

National Dog Bite Prevention Week
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22258 on 5/7/09. Most people think children and dogs go together naturally, and they often do, but it may shock you to learn that children are the most common victims of dog bites. You can use the following talk and the enclosed handout to alert schoolchildren to two important points in preventing dog bites... For the complete article, click here.

Uniform and Work Clothes Program Allowances Under the USPS-NALC National Agreement
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22247 on 12/4/08. Employees covered under the 2006–2010 United States Postal Service®–National Association of Letter Carriers (USPS-NALC) national agreement who are eligible to receive annual clothing allowances, as specified in Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), section 932.1, are entitled to an annual uniform allowance increase effective on the employee’s allowance anniversary dates... For the complete article, click here.

Uniform and Work Clothes Program Allowances Under the USPS-APWU National Agreement
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22247 on 12/4/08. Employees covered under the 2006–2010 United States Postal Service®–American Postal Workers Union (USPS-APWU) national agreement who are eligible to receive annual clothing allowances, as specified in Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), section 932.1, are entitled to an annual uniform allowance increase effective on the employee’s allowance anniversary dates... For the complete article, click here.

Uniform and Work Clothes Program Allowances Under the USPS-NPMHU National Agreement
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22246 on 11/20/08. Employees covered under the 2006–2011 United States Postal Service®–National Postal Mail Handlers Union (USPS-NPMHU) national agreement who are eligible to receive annual clothing allowances, as specified in Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), section 932.1, are entitled to an annual uniform allowance increase effective on the employee’s allowance anniversary dates... For the complete article, click here.

The Hatch Act — Permitted and Prohibited Activities for Employees
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22239 on 8/14/08. The Hatch Act is a federal law that restricts the political activity of federal and Postal Service employees while on duty, on government property, wearing an official uniform, or using a government vehicle. For the complete article, click here.

New Employee and Labor Relations Manual: Issue 19
Issue 19 of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) is now available. Section 930 deals with postal uniforms and work clothes. For the complete manual, click here.

Postal Uniform History

Check this out! The USPS has posted an interesting history of postal uniforms, including Letter Carrier uniforms, patchwork, craft tabs, accessories and equipment. Click the link below:

History of Uniforms and Equipment

Have you ever visited the Smithsonian National Postal Museum? If not, click the link below:

Smithsonian National Postal Museum

Embracing the Future

The President's Commission on the USPS delivered its final report to the President. Click here to view the multimedia presentation. If you prefer to view the printed report, click here (pdf).

How will postal uniforms be affected by new technology? Can you say RFID? See the interesting documents below:

See Page 2 (pdf)

Old News

ELM Revision: Work Clothes and Uniforms
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22235 on 6/19/08. The Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) 933.4 is revised to add the mock turtleneck and the baseball cap to type 4 uniform items, which are worn by security force police officers. For the complete article, click here.

ELM Revision: Work Clothes and Uniforms
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22232 on 5/8/08. Sections 933.111 and 933.12 of the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) are revised to add the sun hat to type 1a uniforms. In addition, 933.111 is revised to correct a reference: 932.11h should be 932.11i. For the complete article, click here.

ELM Revision: Work Clothes and Uniforms
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22221 on 12/6/07. Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) sections 933.21–933.3, are revised to add a belt (leather, black, with gold buckle or silver buckle) to the Type 3 uniform and socks (calf-length, crew style, and quarter-length black, white, blue-gray, and white with blue stripes) to the Type 2 and Type 3 uniforms. Note 3, 933.22, is revised to add: “Socks or hosiery can be worn with the skort.” For the complete article, click here.

Increase in Postal Uniforms Allowance
Uniform and Work Clothes Program Allowances for 2006–2007 Under the USPS-APWU National Agreement
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22205 on 4/26/07. Employees covered under the 2006–2011 United States Postal Service-American Postal Workers Union (USPS-APWU) National Agreement who are eligible to receive annual clothing allowances, as specified in Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) section 932.1, are entitled to an annual allowance increase effective on allowance anniversary dates occurring on or after November 21, 2006... For the complete article, click here.

Increase in Postal Uniforms Allowance
Uniform and Work Clothes Program Allowances for 2006–2007 Under the USPS-NPMHU National Agreement
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22205 on 4/26/07. Employees covered under the 2006–2011 United States Postal Service-National Postal Mail Handlers Union (USPS-NPMHU) National Agreement who are eligible to receive annual clothing allowances, as specified in Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) section 932.1, are entitled to an annual allowance increase effective on allowance anniversary dates occurring on or after November 21, 2006... For the complete article, click here.

ELM Revision - Work Clothes and Uniforms
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22204 on 4/12/07. Effective April 12, 2007, the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM), 933.21, is revised to add footnote 1 addressing proper attire for the Retail Operations knit shirt in the Type 2 uniform. For the complete article, click here.

Postal Uniforms Update - Work Clothes and Uniforms
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22195 on 12/7/06. Type 2 uniforms have been expanded to include the knit polo shirt. Type 2 uniforms are worn by employees assigned to Retail Operations. For the complete article, click here.

Postal Uniforms Update - Work Clothes and Uniforms
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22190 on 9/28/06. Type 3 uniforms have been expanded to include 100 percent cotton denim, knit, and tee shirts. Type 3 uniforms are worn by vehicle maintenance, custodial maintenance, mail handler, business mail entry unit (BMEU), and clerical employees eligible under ELM 932.12 and 932.13. For the complete article, click here.

Postal Uniforms Update - Retail Clerk Polo Shirts
Reported by APWU in 18th Biennial Convention News Bulletin #1 on August 15, 2006. Several APWU members made fashion statements at the Clerk Craft Conference, modeling new polo shirts that window clerks will be able to wear starting on November 18. The long and short-sleeved shirts have been the subject of long and short discussions, tests, and reviews since 2003. Vendors will begin taking orders on these shirts early in October. For the complete article, click here.

Change to Uniform Program Allowance, 2006-2007
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22187 on 8/17/06. Bargaining unit occupational health nurse employees covered by the 1999-2004 USPS-NPPN National Agreement who are eligible to receive annual clothing allowances ... are entitled to an increase in their annual uniform allowance. The increase is effective on or after August 19, 2006 ... For the complete article, click here.

Off the Clock? You might be but your postal uniform never is.
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22180 on 5/11/06. Two new safety posters were mailed out beginning May 8 to all postal facilities on the “Safety Depends on Me” distribution list. The posters also are included on pages 61 and 73 of this issue of the Postal Bulletin. One poster deals with drinking and your uniform: “Off the clock? You might be, but your postal uniform never is. Don’t give anyone the wrong impression. Don’t drink in uniform.” For the complete article, click here.

Postal Uniforms Update - All Weather Gear
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22163 on 9/15/05. Effective September 15, 2005, the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) is revised to reflect an addition to the requirements for Type 1 uniforms ... For the complete article, click here.

Postal Uniforms Update - Quarter Length Socks
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22159 on 7/21/05. Effective July 21, 2005, the Employee and Labor Relations Manual (ELM) 933 is revised to reflect an addition to the requirements for Type 1 uniforms ... For the complete article, click here.

A Postal Service Thank You
Reported by USPS in Postal Bulletin 22166. USPS has expressed its thanks to postal uniform manufacturers and distributors across the country - Ames Uniforms, Arslan Uniforms, Brocato Uniforms, Brookfield Uniforms, Elbeco, Fechheimer Brothers and Muscatello Uniforms - who donated postal uniforms to our offices and employees... For the complete article, click here.

Uniformly Generous - Employees and Suppliers Donate USPS Uniforms
Reported by USPS News Link on October 5, 2005. While it pales in comparison to losing a home, hundreds of Gulf Coast region employees also lost postal uniforms in ... The postal family, never short on generosity - sprang into action - and a facility at the Gulfport, MS, Larkin Smith Post Office now is a temporary postal uniform supply center. For the complete article, click here.

Postal Uniforms Donated To Postal Workers ...
Reported by 9News and web produced by Neil Relyea on September 20, 2005. ... can keep postal employees from their appointed rounds. And that's why help is on the way from a Cincinnati firm. Arslan Uniforms is sending 1,000 postal shirts and postal pants to the postal service in Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas and Alabama. Unions representing postal workers contacted the Northside firm and its suppliers for help and the shipment went out Tuesday by express mail.

Postal Uniforms Get "Redesign"
On February 3, 2005, Melissa Campanelli from DMNews.com reported that U.S. Postal Service uniforms underwent a transformation as part of "Project Runway," a reality TV program on Bravo that gives aspiring designers a chance to break into the fashion world.

USPS Goes Fashion Forward With "Project Runway"
On February 2, 2005, a press release was published at PRNewswire.com regarding the participation of the USPS with the Bravo Network to produce an episode of "Project Runway" in which postal service employees assist aspiring designers in redesigning postal uniforms, one of the world's most recognizable uniforms.

Brookfield / Cintas
On August 27, 2004 UNITE HERE announced wage increases, benefit improvements and collective bargaining rights at Cintas.

Z-Coil
On March 28, 2004 Dan Mayfield of the Albuquerque Tribune reported that the USPS has rejected the Z-Coil shoe. The Postal Service evaluated the shoe last year and says the heel is too high and there is a risk of slipping. It says it won't reconsider the decision despite complaints from Z-Coil. "Based on the height of the heel and the way it's constructed, and their (Z-Coil's) own literature that says it can cause a slipping hazard, it was deemed unacceptable," said Cesta Ayers, a Postal Service spokesman in Dallas.

Brookfield / Cintas
On March 3, 2004 Randolph Heaster of KansasCity.com reported that union workers held a rally while contract talks with the management of Brookfield Uniforms continued. According to Mr. Heaster, Cintas Corp. has been embroiled in a battle with a national union trying to organize its employees while a Cintas subsidiary in North Kansas City, Brookfield Uniforms is facing a frustrated group of union employees seeking a new contract.

NALC / Bioterrorism
On February 18, 2004 the NALC reported that Letter Carriers may be called upon to deliver medicine to American homes in the case of bioterrorist attack. The Postal Service is working closely with the NALC on the issue. According to NALC Director of Safety & Health Al Ferranto, "participation in such an effort would be voluntary." For the more information, click here.

Magnum USA
On January 26, 2004 Magnum USA announced in a press release that it had been granted United States Postal Service certification from the United States Navy Clothing & Textile Research Facility (NCTRF) to make Made in the USA footwear for Postal employees. According to the announcement, as the first company in 4 years to receive this unique certification, Magnum has crossed a major milestone in footwear history. After a lengthy application and product development process, and a waiting period of 4 years, NCTRF officially certified Magnum's Postal Collection on January 25, 2004. Effective immediately, Magnum USA will manufacture postal-approved footwear. All styles will be Made in the USA. Three new styles will be offered, in men's and women's versions.

Made in USA
On April 22, 2003 U.S. Rep John Tanner of Tennessee reported that he had secured a promise from the USPS to change it's uniform policy such that only manufacturing plants in the United States will be certified to manufacture postal uniforms. For the complete press release, click here.

Postal Bulletins

Listed below are recent Postal Bulletins which contain information regarding postal uniforms. To view, click on the bulletin number.

Employee and Labor Relations Manual

The USPS Uniform Program is explained in great detail in the Employee and Labor Relations Manual, or ELM. Of course, the ELM covers many non-uniform issues as well. The section dealing with uniforms is Section 930 (especially 933). Because the ELM is freqently revised, make sure you are reading the latest revision. The latest revision is Employee and Labor Relations Manual, Issue 19 April, 2008. We have provided a convenient link below.

NALC-USPS Tentative National Agreement 2006-2011

APWU Collective Bargaining Agreement 2006-2010

NPMHU National Agreement 2000 Extension

NRLCA National Agreement 2000-2004 Extension