Pub. Law 91-375 - 10 August 12, 1970 “§ 604. Seizing and detaining letters "An officer or employee of the Postal Service performing duties related to the inspection of postal matters, a customs officer, or United States marshal or his deputy, may seize at any time, letters and bags, packets, or parcels containing letters which are being carried contrary to law on board any vessel or on any post road. The officer or employee who makes the seizure shall convey the articles seized to the nearest post office, or, by direction of the Postal Service or the Secretary of the Treasury, he may detain them until 2 months after the final determination of all suits and proceedings which may be brought within 6 months after the seizure against any person for sending or carrying the letters. "S 605. Searching vessels for letters An officer or employce of the Postal Service performing duties related to the inspection of postal matters, when instructed by the Postal Service to make examinations and seizures, and any customs officer without special instructions shall search vessels for letters which may be on board, or which may have been conveyed contrary to law. "§ 606. Disposition of seized mail "Every package or parcel seized by an officer or employee of the Postal Service performing duties related to the inspection of postal matters, a customs officer, or United States marshal or his deputies, in which a letter is unlawfully concealed, shall be forfeited to the United States. The same proceedings may be used to enforce forfei tures as are authorized in respect of goods, wares, and merchandise forfeited for violation of the revenue laws. Laws for the benefit and protection of customs officers making seizures for violating revenue laws apply to officers and employees making seizures for violating the postal laws. "CHAPTER "PART II-PERSONNEL "1006. Right of transfer. "1007. Seniority for employees in rural service. "1008. Temporary employees or carriers. "1009. Personnel not to receive fees. "1010. Administration of oaths related to postal inspection matters. "§ 1001. Appointment and status Sec. 1001 1201 "(a) Except as otherwise provided in this title, the Postal Service shall appoint all officers and employees of the Postal Service. "(b) Officers and employees of the Postal Service (other than those individuals appointed under sections 202, 204, and 1001 (c) of this title) shall be in the postal career service, which shall be a part of the civil service. Such appointments and promotions shall be in accordance with the procedures established by the Postal Service. The Postal Service shall establish procedures, in accordance with this title, to assure its officers and employees meaningful opportunities for promotion and career development and to assure its officers and employees full protection of their employment rights by guaranteeing them an opportunity for a fair hearing on adverse actions, with representatives of their own choosing. "(c) The Postal Service may hire individuals as executives under employment contracts for periods not in excess of 5 years. Notwithstanding any such contract, the Postal Service may at its discretion and at any time remove any such individual without prejudice to his contract rights. 84 STAT. 729 (d) Notwithstanding section 5533, 5535, or 5536 of title 5, or any 80 Stat. 483, other provision of law, any officer or employee of the Government of 484. the United States is eligible to serve and receive pay concurrently as an officer or employee of the Postal Service (other than as a member of the Board or of the Postal Rate Commission) and as an officer or employee of any other department, agency, or establishment of the Government of the United States. "(e) The Postal Service shall have the right, consistent with section 1003 and chapter 12 of this title and applicable laws, regulations, and Post, p. 733. collective-bargaining agreements "(1) to direct officers and employees of the Postal Service in the performance of official duties; “(2) to hire, promote, transfer, assign, and retain officers and employees in positions within the Postal Service, and to suspend, demote, discharge, or take other disciplinary action against such officers and employees; (3) to relieve officers and employees from duties because of lack of work or for other legitimate reasons; “(4) to maintain the efficiency of the operations entrusted to it; “(5) to determine the methods, means, and personnel by which such operations are to be conducted; (6) to prescribe a uniform dress to be worn by letter carriers and other designated employees; and "(7) to take whatever actions may be necessary to carry out its mission in emergency situations. "§ 1002. Political recommendations “(a) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, each appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation, interim or otherwise, of an officer or employee in the Postal Service (except a Governor or member of the Postal Rate Commission) shall be made without regard to any recommendation or statement, oral or written, with respect to any person who requests or is under consideration for such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation, made by "(1) any Member of the Senate or House of Representatives (including the Resident Commissioner from Puerto Rico); "(2) any elected official of the government of any State (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico) or of any county, city, or other political subdivision of such State or Commonwealth; "(3) any official of a national political party or of a political party of any State (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico), county, city, or other subdivision of such State or Commonwealth; or "(4) any other individual or organization. "(b) Except as provided in subsection (e) of this section, a person or organization referred to in clause (1), (2), (3), or (4) of subsection (a) of this section is prohibited from making or transmitting to the Postal Service, or to any other officer or employee of the Government of the United States, any recommendation or statement, oral or written, with respect to any person who requests or is under consideration for any such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation. The Postal Service and any officer or employee of the 8C Stat. 523. Ante, p. 720. Government of the United States, subject to subsection (e) of this section "(1) shall not solicit, request, consider, or accept any such recommendation or statement; and "(2) shall return any such written recommendation or statement received by him, appropriately marked as in violation of this section, to the person or organization making or transmitting the same. (c) A person who requests or is under consideration for any such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation is prohibited from requesting or soliciting any such recommendation or statement from any person or organization except a statement of the type referred to in subsection (e) (2) of this section. (d) Each employment form of the Postal Service used in connection with any such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation shall contain appropriate language in boldface type informing all persons concerned of the provisions of this section. During the time any such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation is under consideration, appropriate notice of the provisions of this section printed in boldface type shall be posted in the post office concerned. "(e) The Postal Service or any authorized officer or employee of the Government of the United States may solicit, accept, and consider, and any other individual or organization may furnish or transmit to the Postal Service or such authorized officer or employee, any statement with respect to a person who requests or is under consideration for such appointment, promotion, assignment, transfer, or designation, if "(1) the statement is furnished pursuant to a request or requirement of the Postal Service and consists solely of an evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, and general qualifications of such person; **(2) the statement relates solely to the character and residence of such person; (3) the statement is furnished pursuant to a request made by an authorized representative of the Government of the United States solely in order to determine whether such person meets the loyalty, suitability, and character requirements for employment with the Government of the United States; or "(4) the statement is furnished by a former employer of such person pursuant to a request of the Postal Service, and consists solely of an evaluation of the work performance, ability, aptitude, and general qualifications of such person during his employment with such former employer. "(f) The Postal Service shall take any action it determines necessary and proper, including but not limited to suspension, removal from office, or disqualification from the Postal Service, to enforce the provisions of this section. (g) The provisions of this section shall not affect the right of an officer or employee of the Postal Service to petition Congress as authorized by section 7102 of title 5. "§ 1003. Employment policy (a) Except as provided under chapters 2 and 12 of this title or other provision of law, the Postal Service shall classify and fix the compensation and benefits of all officers and employees in the Postal Service. It shall be the policy of the Postal Service to maintain compensation and benefits for all officers and employees on a standard of comparability to the compensation and benefits paid for comparable levels of work in the private sector of the economy. No August 12, 1970 - 13 Pub. Law 91-375 84 STAT. 731 officer or employee shall be paid compensation at a rate in excess of the rate for level I of the Executive Schedule under section 5312 of title 5. (b) The Postal Service shall follow an employment policy designed, without compromising the policy of section 101(a) of this title, to extend opportunity to the disadvantaged and the handicapped. "§ 1004. Supervisory and other managerial organizations (a) It shall be the policy of the Postal Service to provide compensation, working conditions, and career opportunities that will assure the attraction and retention of qualified and capable supervisory and other managerial personnel; to provide adequate and reasonable differentials in rates of pay between employees in the clerk and carrier grades in the line work force and supervisory and other managerial personnel; to establish and maintain continuously a program for all such personnel that reflects the essential importance of a well-trained and well-motivated force to improve the effectiveness of postal operations; and to promote the leadership status of such personnel with respect to rank-and-file employees, recognizing that the role of such personnel in primary level management is particularly vital to the rocess of converting general postal policies into successful postal operations. 80 Stat. 460; 83 Stat. 864. "(b) The Postal Service shall provide a program for consultation with recognized organizations of supervisory and other managerial personnel who are not subject to collective-bargaining agreements under chapter 12 of this title. Upon presentation of evidence satis- Post, p. 733. factory to the Postal Service that a supervisory organization represents a majority of supervisors, or that a managerial organization (other than an organization representing supervisors) represents a substantial percentage of managerial employees, such organization or organizations shall be entitled to participate directly in the planning and development of pay policies and schedules, fringe benefit programs, and other programs relating to supervisory and other managerial employees. "S 1005. Applicability of laws relating to Federal employees “(a) (1) Except as otherwise provided in this subsection, the provisions of chapter 75 of title 5 shall apply to officers and employees of the Postal Service except to the extent of any inconsistency with "(A) the provisions of any collective-bargaining agreement negotiated on behalf of and applicable to them; or "(B) procedures established by the Postal Service and approved by the Civil Service Commission. "(2) The provisions of title 5 relating to a preference eligible (as 80 Stat. 527. that term is defined under section 2108 (3) of such title) shall apply to 80 Stat. 410; an applicant for appointment and any officer or employee of the 81 Stat. 196. Postal Service in the same manner and under the same conditions as if the applicant, officer, or employee were subject to the competitive service under such title. The provisions of this paragraph shall not be modified by any program developed under section 1004 of this title or any collective-bargaining agreement entered into under chapter 12 of this title. “(3) The provisions of this subsection shall not apply to those individuals appointed under sections 202, 204, and 1001 (e) of this title. (b) Section 5941 of title 5 shall apply to the Postal Service. For 80 Stat. 512. purposes of such section, the pay of officers and employees of the Postal Service shall be considered to be fixed by statute, and the basic pay of an employee shall be the pay (but not any allowance or benefit) of that officer or employee established in accordance with the provisions of this title. Pub. Law 91-375 84 STAT. 732 80 Stat. 532. 5 USC 8101. 80 Stat. 556; 83 Stat. 136. 5 USC 8301. 5 USC 8501, 8701, 8901. "(c) Officers and employees of the Postal Service shall be covered by subchapter I of chapter 81 of title 5, relating to compensation for · work injuries. (d) Officers and employees of the Postal Service (other than the Governors) shall be covered by chapter 83 of title 5 relating to civil service retirement. The Postal Service shall withhold from pay and shall pay into the Civil Service Retirement and Disability Fund the amounts specified in such chapter. The Postal Service, upon request of the Civil Service Commission, but not less frequently than annually, shall pay to the Civil Service Commission the costs reasonably related to the administration of Fund activities for officers and employees of the Postal Service. (e) Sick and annual leave, and compensatory time of officers and employees of the Postal Service, whether accrued prior to or after commencement of operations of the Postal Service, shall be obligations of the Postal Service under the provisions of this chapter. "(f) Compensation, benefits, and other terms and conditions of employment in effect immediately prior to the effective date of this section, whether provided by statute or by rules and regulations of the former Post Office Department or the executive branch of the Government of the United States, shall continue to apply to officers and employees of the Postal Service, until changed by the Postal Service in accordance with this chapter and chapter 12 of this title. Subject to the provisions of this chapter and chapter 12 of this title, the provisions of subchapter I of chapter 85 and chapters 87 and 89 of title 5 shall apply to officers and employees of the Postal Service, unless varied, added to, or substituted for, under this subsection. No variation, addition, or substitution with respect to fringe benefits shall result in a program of fringe benefits which on the whole is less favorable to the officers and employees than fringe benefits in effect on the effective date of this section, and as to officers and employees for whom there is a collective-bargaining representative, no such variation, addition, or substitution shall be made except by agreement between the collective-bargaining representative and the Postal Service. "S 1006. Right of transfer "Officers and employees in the postal career service of the Postal Service shall be eligible for promotion or transfer to any other position in the Postal Service or the executive branch of the Government of the United States for which they are qualified. The authority given by this section shall be used to provide a maximum degree of career promotion opportunities for officers and employees and to insure continued improvement of postal services. ❝g 1007. Seniority for employees in rural service "Subject to agreements made under chapter 12 of this title, the seniority of an employee of the Postal Service occupying a position whose regular duty involves the collection and delivery of mail on a rural route shall be preserved. Seniority for such employee shall commence on the first day of his service in such a position, or, in the event such an employee transfers to another such position, on the day he enters duty in the other position. Upon initial assignment, such an employee shall be assigned to the least desirable route and shall attain assignment to more desirable routes by seniority. Promotions and assignments for such an employee in such position shall be based on seniority and ability. If ability be sufficient, seniority shall govern. "§ 1008. Temporary employees or carriers "(a) A person temporarily employed to deliver mail is deemed an employee of the Postal Service and is subject to the provisions of |