Title 39, Postal ServiceRelease 119-102
§1007 Seniority for Employees in Rural Service
Title 39 › PART II — PERSONNEL › CHAPTER 10 — EMPLOYMENT WITHIN THE POSTAL SERVICE › § 1007
Summary
Postal Service must keep rural carriers' seniority under chapter 12. Seniority starts on their first day on a rural delivery job or the day they begin another rural route. New hires start on the worst route; better routes, promotions, and assignments go by ability then seniority.
Full Legal Text
Title 39, §1007
Postal Service, Source: USLM XML via OLRC
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.
Legislative History
Notes & Related Subsidiaries
Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries
Effective Date
Section effective July 1, 1971, pursuant to Resolution No. 71–9 of the Board of Governors. See section 15(a) of Pub. L. 91–375, set out as a note preceding section 101 of this title.
Reference
Citations & Metadata
Citation
39 U.S.C. § 1007
Title 39, Postal Service
Last Updated
Aug 21, 2026
Release point: 119-102