So, what would happen, if?

[Mt.Carrier]

Hello everyone! So, been wondering, since the Peak season is coming up, and this happens every year at some of the neighboring offices I’ve helped at after finishing my 5-hour Aux, what would happen if I just “STOPPED” working at the 12-hour mark (8:00pm) and brought all undelivered mail and packages back to said offices?
Asking because I’m on a 6-0, 5-hour aux, and during the peak season in the past years I’ve been sent to several neighboring offices to help out. Most aren’t that bad to work for, but there’s a couple, which I’m asking about here particularly, that I feel there’s no teamwork. At these office I’ve seen countless times, in and out of Peak season, that I’ll go to help out at, and I’m there till as late as 11:45pm some nights, while their own RCA’s or Aux carrier is off work by 8:00.
Obviously this doesn’t sit well with me, and I’ve had arguments with management over it at said offices, but now I’m thinking “Screw it”, I’ll just bring back everything at 8:00pm and they can deal with it next day.
Has anyone ever brought back undelivered mail and packages at the 12-hour mark?
I’ve always prided myself on finishing the job, no matter how late, but if their RCA’s, Aux carrier, and management all goes home at or before 8:00pm, and I’m left out there till close to midnight, only to lock up after all is done, then I’ll just start being back everything around 8:00pm for next day.
Any thoughts and suggestions on this is greatly appreciated!

 

[Gotrope]

Please contact your DR. They should be aware of this and grievances should have been filed over the 12 hour limit.

 

[Old Fart]

Please contact your DR. They should be aware of this and grievances should have been filed over the 12 hour limit.

I'd contact the DR now. Let them know of what happened last year and what you expect. You'll get advice as to how to move forward.

 

[Link]

You should contact your Union rep asap so they are informed of what's been going on in the past, and a plan of what you'll be doing if it continues in the future. Grievances should absolutely be filed each time you're being told to work over 12 hours.

In our office when this happens, its normal that the subs are usually back around the 11.5hr mark to give them a half hour to clean things up so its not as much of a mess the following day. Although i understand this is not how it would fly everywhere.

 

[Rt2mailman]

To keep you out past 12 hours is not only a contractual infraction, it's a federal law that you must be back and off the clock by 12 hours. Tell that pm if you are ever out past 12 hours, you won't just be filing a grievance, but also a national labor charge against him specifically.
Technically, you shouldn't even be helping in another office because you were scheduled in your home office already, and rcas can not be worked in other offices when already scheduled in their home office

 

[Link]

Technically, you shouldn't even be helping in another office because you were scheduled in your home office already, and rcas can not be worked in other offices when already scheduled in their home office

The language in the national agreement states that this only pertains to subs being scheduled to Regular routes in their home office not Auxiliary routes, which @Mt.Carrier is assigned to in this scenario. Therefore they can be helping in another office after they complete their aux for the day sadly

 

[neciat]

This might be of help.

 

[Deer Smearer]

The Onion just signed ANOTHER step four stating 12 hours MAXIMUM for RCAs including lunch.

I guess the first three saying the exact same thing had the ink fall off the page.

On another note… NALC just settled that if a City carrier works over 12 hours it’s paid at 250%.

 

[gotstamps]

To keep you out past 12 hours is not only a contractual infraction, it's a federal law that you must be back and off the clock by 12 hours. Tell that pm if you are ever out past 12 hours, you won't just be filing a grievance, but also a national labor charge against him specifically.
Technically, you shouldn't even be helping in another office because you were scheduled in your home office already, and rcas can not be worked in other offices when already scheduled in their home office

There’s no “Federal Law” against working over 12 hours.
The 12-hour rule applies to Leave Replacements as there’s no way to pay them OT for the overage.
Regular Carriers do not fall under the 12-hour rule since we have language in the Contract for payment over 12 hours.

Also, an RCA scheduled on an Aux route CAN be utilized in other offices AFTER completing their route. The rule “no other office” rule only applies to Leave Replacements that are scheduled ON A REGULAR ROUTE that day. If a sub is scheduled to run parcels or serve an Auxiliary, mgmt can send them up tp 50 miles away to assist another office.

 

[jaymacgthree]

Roll the dice and find out. You have to stand up for yourself. I don't know anyone in any office personally that would put up that nonsense. 11:45 is ridiculously late and it's in the dark, you can't even see the packs of dogs coming before you get bit. Cite safety! Management doesn't get to tell you if you feel safe, you decide that.

 

[Rt2mailman]

Please read what Neciat posted above. It states that rcas scheduled on regular routes, or aux carriers that work 6 days/week, can NOT be required to work outside of their office.

 

[Rt2mailman]

There’s no “Federal Law” against working over 12 hours.
The 12-hour rule applies to Leave Replacements as there’s no way to pay them OT for the overage.
Regular Carriers do not fall under the 12-hour rule since we have language in the Contract for payment over 12 hours.

Also, an RCA scheduled on an Aux route CAN be utilized in other offices AFTER completing their route. The rule “no other office” rule only applies to Leave Replacements that are scheduled ON A REGULAR ROUTE that day. If a sub is scheduled to run parcels or serve an Auxiliary, mgmt can send them up tp 50 miles away to assist another office.

There is a federal law for FLSA a (hourly) carriers (which are rcas) that requires no work beyond 12 hours. FLSA b carriers (Regulars) can be required to work beyond 12 hours.

 

[gotstamps]

There is a federal law for FLSA a (hourly) carriers (which are rcas) that requires no work beyond 12 hours. FLSA b carriers (Regulars) can be required to work beyond 12 hours.

Not a federal law on 12-hours. It is a rule in the ELM, though.
Many hourly workers pull double shifts which is typically 16 hours.
There was a law that hourly could not work over 16 hours without an 8 hour break back when I worked in the private sector.

 

[gotstamps]

Please read what Neciat posted above. It states that rcas scheduled on regular routes, or aux carriers that work 6 days/week, can NOT be required to work outside of their office.

That is no longer listed for reference on the Union Website since Article 30.2.D.5 states clearly that “if a leave replacement is scheduled to case and carry a regular rural route in his or her assigned office, the leave replacement is considered unavailable to work in another office.” This allows an RCA assigned for the day to an Auxiliary to be utilized in any office after the Aux is completed.
Also, Article 30.2.G.5 makes no stipulation that the utilization of an Auxiliary RCA after completion of their route is only required to work routes in the assigned office. It is left open to being “utilized on any other auxiliary route or may provide auxiliary assistance on any regular route.” This allows mgmt to utilize Des 79 RCAs to be utilized from other offices when needed.
The only limits are the 12-hour rule and the 50-mile rule.

 

[blue_goose1348]

You report to your home office and do your work. They now send you to another office. You are on the clock driving to and returning from the other office as well as get mileage both ways. if they argue, grievance time.

 

[Old Fart]

Not a federal law on 12-hours. It is a rule in the ELM, though.
Many hourly workers pull double shifts which is typically 16 hours.
There was a law that hourly could not work over 16 hours without an 8 hour break back when I worked in the private sector.

As an RCA I AVERAGED over 12 hours per day for over an entire year! When I worked over 40 hours overtime in a week a paper check had to be issued to ensure there was no fraud involved. It COULD have been illegal, or against USPS policy, but both rural and city were so short handed several RCA's worked same as I did.

 

[gotstamps]

Sorry to hear that. Why no grievance? Penalty payments for repeated offenses?

 

[Pween]

Yea at a certain point it's your own fault for letting them walk all over you. You could stop hours before that and theyd have nothing to use against you. I would stop and bring it back and leave it for them to deal with. With any luck after enough times of you closing up shop with a pumpkin overflowing with failed packages they may just stop asking for you and find a less wise newbie to do their jobs.

 

[Beanut]

Technically, you shouldn't even be helping in another office because you were scheduled in your home office already, and rcas can not be worked in other offices when already scheduled in their home office

This is not true, you can’t be sent to another office if you are covering a FT route. But if you are running an AUX route you can.

You can also be used for assistance after a FT route completion in your own office, or office in your cluster. But not another office outside your office cluster.

 

[Rt2mailman]

This is not true, you can’t be sent to another office if you are covering a FT route. But if you are running an AUX route you can.

You can also be used for assistance after a FT route completion in your own office, or office in your cluster. But not another office outside your office cluster.

But the carrier asking was a 6 day aux rt carrier. I believe they can NOT be asked to work outside their office