handsomprisoner11
New member
Can anyone give me the run down on the difference between the two? Im aware PTF is better just unsure of the exact differences....thanks!.
Sub & PTF
- Thread starter handsomprisoner11
- Start date
PTF is a career position(meaning benefits, sick/annual, TSP, etc.), RCA is a non-career position
PTF pays more than an RCA(I dont recall the exact amounts but back when I went from RCA to PTF if was over a $2/hr raise
Senior PTF has to take the vacant route when the go up for bidding, where as an RCA doesn't have to bid if they dont want to.
PTF's are assigned as the primary on 2 or more K routes, RCA's are assigned only as the primary on 1 route.
There may be some other differences I am forgetting
PTF pays more than an RCA(I dont recall the exact amounts but back when I went from RCA to PTF if was over a $2/hr raise
Senior PTF has to take the vacant route when the go up for bidding, where as an RCA doesn't have to bid if they dont want to.
PTF's are assigned as the primary on 2 or more K routes, RCA's are assigned only as the primary on 1 route.
There may be some other differences I am forgetting
handsomprisoner11
New member
Ok thanks, I've been and RCA for about 3 months now, 7th on the line of succession, and a close by office posted two PTF positions. That would be the obvious next step for me correct?
Applesauce
Active member
Are you sure they're not PTF clerk positions?
handsomprisoner11
New member
Nope, PTF rural carrier. Maybe I can figure out how to attach a pic.
handsomprisoner11
New member
handsomprioner11 -- "Can anyone give me the rundown on the difference between [ a sub & a PTF ]."
-- PTF:
- career employee - earns annual + sick leave
- position filled by bidding ( must have completed the probationary period of 90 work-days or 1 calendar year )
- hourly pay rates found at the bottom of the pay schedules
- step increases in pay
- COLA payments per the contract
- time served as a PTF counts toward retirement
- can not decline conversion to regular carrier status. depending on circumstances, may not even have to submit a bid!
- when becoming a regular, starting step pay will depend on RCA hire date and PTF step
- Designation 76
- Works a "string" of at least 2 but no more than 5 K-routes
- When not working a "string" route, can be utilized just about anywhere else, usually before a non-career ( RCA ) employee
- Matrix: not listed on it ( anyone?? )
- Office transfer = by mutual transfer with another regular carrier. Actually just swapping offices, not routes.
-- RCA:
- non-career employee
- primary route assigned by management
- hourly pay found on Table THREE or FOUR
- no step increases in pay
- COLA payments used to be made AFTER a contract had expired. RCA's hired after 11 AUG 2012 will get an hourly increase instead.
- time served as an RCA does not count towards retirement
- will have to bid to become a regular carrier ( bid "all" is the usual advice and must have 1 year of continuous service to bid )
- when becoming a regular, starting step pay will be "A". Table ONE or Table TWO will depend on RCA hiring date
- Designation - Article 7, Section 2 -- several depending on date of hiring as well as current position
- 74: serves full time on a vacant route or in the absence of a regular carrier for more than 90 calendar days ( earns annual + sick leave while serving on assigned route )
- 79: appointed after being assigned to an Auxiliary route for more than 90 calendar days ( earns annual + sick leave while serving the AUX )
- 78: rural carrier associates selected from a hiring list or reassigned from rural carrier relief or auxiliary carrier positions, on or after April 11, 1987, without time limitations
- Matrix: appears on Primary, Secondary and Tertiary route slots
- Office transfer = by written request AFTER completing probationary period of 90 work-days or 1 calendar year. Provided an RCA position is vacant at the other office.
-- RCA + PTF -- be sure to understand the ebidding process in order to bid successfully!!
-- Good luck.
-- PTF:
- career employee - earns annual + sick leave
- position filled by bidding ( must have completed the probationary period of 90 work-days or 1 calendar year )
- hourly pay rates found at the bottom of the pay schedules
- step increases in pay
- COLA payments per the contract
- time served as a PTF counts toward retirement
- can not decline conversion to regular carrier status. depending on circumstances, may not even have to submit a bid!
- when becoming a regular, starting step pay will depend on RCA hire date and PTF step
- Designation 76
- Works a "string" of at least 2 but no more than 5 K-routes
- When not working a "string" route, can be utilized just about anywhere else, usually before a non-career ( RCA ) employee
- Matrix: not listed on it ( anyone?? )
- Office transfer = by mutual transfer with another regular carrier. Actually just swapping offices, not routes.
-- RCA:
- non-career employee
- primary route assigned by management
- hourly pay found on Table THREE or FOUR
- no step increases in pay
- COLA payments used to be made AFTER a contract had expired. RCA's hired after 11 AUG 2012 will get an hourly increase instead.
- time served as an RCA does not count towards retirement
- will have to bid to become a regular carrier ( bid "all" is the usual advice and must have 1 year of continuous service to bid )
- when becoming a regular, starting step pay will be "A". Table ONE or Table TWO will depend on RCA hiring date
- Designation - Article 7, Section 2 -- several depending on date of hiring as well as current position
- 74: serves full time on a vacant route or in the absence of a regular carrier for more than 90 calendar days ( earns annual + sick leave while serving on assigned route )
- 79: appointed after being assigned to an Auxiliary route for more than 90 calendar days ( earns annual + sick leave while serving the AUX )
- 78: rural carrier associates selected from a hiring list or reassigned from rural carrier relief or auxiliary carrier positions, on or after April 11, 1987, without time limitations
- Matrix: appears on Primary, Secondary and Tertiary route slots
- Office transfer = by written request AFTER completing probationary period of 90 work-days or 1 calendar year. Provided an RCA position is vacant at the other office.
-- RCA + PTF -- be sure to understand the ebidding process in order to bid successfully!!
-- Good luck.
handsomprisoner11
New member
Ok, thanks, and how does one "know" they are off the probationary period? Also is this just something I bid on on Liteblue or do I talk to a super first?
handsomprisoner11 -- " how does one "know" they are off the probationary period?"
-- Keep a log ( at home ) listing any days you have worked - could be on your primary route, doing another route, assisting carrying part of a regular route, assisting by carrying parcels for your primary or any other route.
-- When you hit 90 work days, then the next day you will have completed your probationary period. ( usually best to keep it to yourself as manglement most likely will not be keeping track. as an instant "benefit", once you complete your probationary period, the union ( NRLCA ) can represent you. )
-- If in an office well stocked with RCA's, it might take the one calendar year to compete the probationary period.
-- Please note that anytime during your probationary period, manglement can fire you for whatever reason they may come up with. So do your job by the book. Don't make it easy for manglement to fire you.
-- In most cases manglement may threaten you with a firing, but with the shortage of subs these days probably won't -- unless it is a major mess up on your part. But then again, don't count on not being fired.
-- Back in 2015 ( more or less ) the Post Master General put out an "edict" to "retain RCA's at all costs!". Some members of manglement adhere to it even though the person should be fired, but that is something for another time.
-- You have a long way to go before becoming concerned with bidding or transferring, so for now, learn as much as you can about your primary route and some of the in's and out's of the postal service.
-- Observe the methods other carriers use to get the job done and if you see something that works better that what you are doing, incorporate it into your "system".
-- Don't be afraid to ask questions. The postal system uses numerous handbooks, manuals, and publications as well as acronyms so be like a sponge and soak it all up -- it will take time, lots of time. Hopefully in several months, things will just "click" and make sense. Just don't be like a blotter and soak it up, but get it backwards.
-- Keep a log ( at home ) listing any days you have worked - could be on your primary route, doing another route, assisting carrying part of a regular route, assisting by carrying parcels for your primary or any other route.
-- When you hit 90 work days, then the next day you will have completed your probationary period. ( usually best to keep it to yourself as manglement most likely will not be keeping track. as an instant "benefit", once you complete your probationary period, the union ( NRLCA ) can represent you. )
-- If in an office well stocked with RCA's, it might take the one calendar year to compete the probationary period.
-- Please note that anytime during your probationary period, manglement can fire you for whatever reason they may come up with. So do your job by the book. Don't make it easy for manglement to fire you.
-- In most cases manglement may threaten you with a firing, but with the shortage of subs these days probably won't -- unless it is a major mess up on your part. But then again, don't count on not being fired.
-- Back in 2015 ( more or less ) the Post Master General put out an "edict" to "retain RCA's at all costs!". Some members of manglement adhere to it even though the person should be fired, but that is something for another time.
-- You have a long way to go before becoming concerned with bidding or transferring, so for now, learn as much as you can about your primary route and some of the in's and out's of the postal service.
-- Observe the methods other carriers use to get the job done and if you see something that works better that what you are doing, incorporate it into your "system".
-- Don't be afraid to ask questions. The postal system uses numerous handbooks, manuals, and publications as well as acronyms so be like a sponge and soak it all up -- it will take time, lots of time. Hopefully in several months, things will just "click" and make sense. Just don't be like a blotter and soak it up, but get it backwards.
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handsomprisoner11
New member
Thanks for the advice!
BigGreenie
Well-known member
As an longtime RCA I can offer some insight on this. PTF, as far as I can recall, is an Appointed position, not a bid for position. Even if that rule has changed, being that you are a newer RCA only having 3 months in, you will not be able to bid on it, since you need to meet the 90-day probationary period's end or have worked 1 full year from your hire in date. The bidding system simply won't allow you to bid on any job postings until you have met those requirements.
gotstamps
Well-known member
Incorrect. PTF is a BID position & has been for many years.
It is also possible for an RCA to have their 90 day probation completed in 3 months. Depends on if they worked every day or not. Many RCAs have gotten assigned to a route & suddenly the Regular falls ill, gets injured, or becomes a 204b. Now they are working 6 days a week on the route. Add Amazon Sundays to the mix, it’s not that difficult.
A “BID” position will not be shown in Liteblue for a Carrier that isn’t eligible to bid if I recall correctly. A Regular cannot see a PTF Bid position online nor will they see their own route available for bidding on a Regular In-office Route Bid.
Any RCA that can see a Bid on liteblue should BID. Once an RCA wins a bid to PTF, they will automatically go Regular the next chance that comes if they’re the Senior. An RCA could become a Regular Carrier in 6 months if the Stars aligned just right ?
BigGreenie
Well-known member
Gotstamps, I stand corrected.
It's most definitely an improvement with the accrued time off in particular... the trick is actually being able to use the time you accrue, because you're still just a sub. Your standing with management and regulars will not improve, you're still their doormat despite being "career".
handsomprisoner11
New member
So if I'm understanding correctly, if I'm able to see the PTF bid on Liteblue I am eligible to bid? And its recommended that I bid? Do I speak to a super first or just bid?
Also I have been working 6 days a week but I definitely haven't reached my 90 days yet, I went over a calendar and I'm about halfway there but does that mean if I bid I will get automatically denied because of the probation? Thanks!
Also I have been working 6 days a week but I definitely haven't reached my 90 days yet, I went over a calendar and I'm about halfway there but does that mean if I bid I will get automatically denied because of the probation? Thanks!
Deer Smearer
Well-known member
Just bid. If you can, it will let you.
If manglement has a pet they want to have the position they could lie to you and say you're not eligible to bid even if you are.
Trust NOBODY when it comes to bidding.
handsomprisoner11
New member
Ok, it IS with a different office though. Do I call and speak to the PO first? or literally just trust no one and bid?
Deer Smearer
Well-known member
If you would like the job, bid.
If you're eligible to bid, and do bid, the WORST that can happen is you don't win the bid.
If you're eligible to bid, and don't bid, the BEST that can happen is you don't win the bid.
Skierstmoritz
Well-known member
And bid all!
Voglio-il mio
Well-known member
If bid has now gone outside the office that means that everyone either didn't want the route or bid incorrectly and are now not eligible. Now by seniority all Regular Carriers, PTF's and finally RCA's outside that office, having interest will be eligible to bid on open route. Highest ranking most senior employee that bids correctly will win that position!
