NALC National Update – Oct 2, 2026

Here is today’s national update for letter carriers. One material development since yesterday: NALC posted Handbook M-41 revisions tied to Arrow Keys and closed a related national interpretive dispute.

Handbook M-41 Arrow Key revisions; M-02022 closes MDD-TR scan dispute

On Oct 2, NALC reported that after Article 19 talks, USPS provided final revisions (Sep 24) to Handbook M-41, City Delivery Carriers Duties and Responsibilities—Sections 261.2 (Receipting for Accountable Items) and 431 (Keys)—to reflect current Arrow Key assignment processes. The same day the parties closed a national interpretive dispute as moot under M-02022: the dispute over directing city letter carriers to scan assigned Arrow Keys in and out on the MDD-TR is over because of those M-41 changes. Held grievances return to normal Article 15 processing. Stewards should review M-02022 in the MRS and confirm local Arrow Key / MDD-TR practice matches the revised handbook.

NALC Updates: Handbook M-41 revisions and interpretive issue settlement

M-02022 (PDF)

Sources: nalc.org NALC Updates (Oct 2, 2026); MRS M-02022.