MEMORANDUM OF UNDERSTANDING
BETWEEN THE
UNITED STATES POSTAL SERVICE
AND THE
AMERICAN POSTAL WORKERS UNION, AFL-CIO
Re: Temporary Additional Paid Leave for PSEs
For the 60-day duration of this Memorandum of Understanding , Postal Support Employees
(PSEs) will be permitted to use up to 80 hours of paid leave for use in conjunction with the
COVID-19 pandemic in the following circumstances:
The employee has contracted COVID-19 or has been directly exposed to someone with
COVID-19;
The employee has visited any country identified by the Centers for Disease Control
(CDC) as a level-3 country (currently China , South Korea, Iran, Italy, and most other
European countries) within 14 days of the employee returning to work ;
The employee returns from a trip on a cruise ship in which an identified case of COVID-
19 was detected on board the ship ;
The employee is experiencing symptoms generally associated with COVID-19; or
Consistent with the MOU Re: Temporary Expanded Sick Leave for Dependent Care
During COVID-19.
Leave used for the above purpose will be coded as TAGS Code 086, Other Paid Leave.
Except for emergencies, paid leave for the circumstances listed above must be requested on
PS Form 3971, Request for or Notification of Absence, and approved in advance by the
appropriate supervisor . Employees should designate the reason for the absence as "Other" and
write "LC19" in the space provided .
An exception to the advance approval requirement is made for emergencies and unexpected
illness; however, in these situations , the PSE must notify the appropriate postal authorities as
soon as possible as to the emergency or illness and the expected duration of the absence. As
soon as possible after return to duty, PSEs must submit PS Form 3971 and explain the reason
for the emergency or illness to their supervisor. Supervisors approve or disapprove the leave
request.
The supervisor is responsible for approving or disapproving the application for paid leave by
signing PS Form 3971, a copy of which is given to the PSE. If a supervisor does not approve an
application for leave, the disapproved block on PS Form 3971 is checked and the reasons must
be noted in writing in the space provided .
The total 80-hour allotment will not be increased due to a PSE's break in service during the 60-
day period. Any remaining leave balance at the end of the 60-day period is forfeited.
The parties will revisit this issue immediately prior to this MOU's expiration to determine if
extension is appropriate.
This MOU will expire May 17, 2020.
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Vice President, Labor Relations
United States Postal Service
Mark Dimondstein
President
American Postal Workers Union, AFL-CIO