Although nominally this release is described as being for web merits,
in fact it has a broader scope and affects our ongoing MVS PPS activities.

R1589 consists of two functional changes that respond to new step structures
implemented in recent union contracts.  It must be implemented for all sites.

- The limit on number of steps is being increased to 99 in a stored procedure
   used by the web merit system (PPCTCTSP2) to access pay rates on the TRR
table.
   This limit has already been increased in the Corporate Title Code System.

- The edit program (PPCTTSBE) used when processing update transactions
   for the TSB staff rate set table is modified.  Prior to r1589, Staff
Step/Scale
   Exception Flag values were edited in add transactions, but not changes.  Now
   changes will be edited as well.  In addition, a new legal value of 'W'
is being
   added.

There is one table update transaction, a change to the text of message
01-325 to reflect the new exception flag value.

IMPLEMENTATION

   R1589 is date mandated to be installed prior to processing RX/TX TCT update
transactions due in mid-July.  These transactions will use the new 'W' value,
and if the release is not installed first, they will reject.  ASUCLA and
Hastings
use non-standard title codes and do not receive transactions from the Corporate
Title Code System, nor do they have RX or TX contracts, thus there is no
urgency
for them, though the release must still be installed.

May we have your ok to install?

   bvb