RCA retirement

Cow chaser · Mar 10, 2019

Currently an RCA. I have no desire to carry full time. I’m a cow/calf guy and quite frankly I’m an RCA because the PO literally couldn’t find anyone else. But see many RCA that basically put there life on hold for 5 years to try to get a full time route. Has there ever been any consideration for some sort of retirement benefit for the RCA. I’m not saying it has to be what full timers get. But wouldn’t some sort of pension for the RCA be fair. Has union ever brought this up? Thoughts welcome. I really enjoy reading the site.

callofthewild · Mar 11, 2019

There is fair and then there is Postal fair. I to, have always thought a time credit towards retirement should count during the time spent as a RCA ......the Postal Service will not even credit RCA time towards retirement, so retirement as a RCA will never happen. The RCA job would be a little more attractive if giving the time served as a RCA was credited towards retirement. If the Postal Service would let Regulars buy back their RCA time, it would benefit everyone....more jobs opened up for RCA's and the Postal Service would get rid of a lot of Table 1 step 12 Rurals....at least one that I know of....ha ha.

The only benefit that has come out during the last contract was health insurance for the RCA position; but the RCAs' paid a huge price in the two tier pay scale and a lower wage....so once again the Postal Service give up a little and gained a bunch.

DB.Cooper · Mar 11, 2019

Health ins for RCAs has more to do with compliance with ACA than any negotiating done by the NRLCA...

Morty · Mar 11, 2019

There were many RCAs who made over 100k last year in my district. 7 days a week/ 12 hour days. My last year as RCA, i made 60k...something i may never see on table 2.

When you're making 60k more than a regular, i think you can afford the insurance and fully fund a roth and put away 10s of thousands in investments. Then maybe do something meaningful with your life or continue on.

Honestly, the pension is 1% per year you served. So 20% of table 2 is about 8 grand a year. Yeah, great benefits ?

Windindaface · Mar 11, 2019

60K is decent money to earn with another wage earner in house contributing to expenses in order to live the Dream. As a solo on higher pay table trying to live the Dream it's a struggle in a low price area of home ownership cost with high State taxes.

My step grandfather back in the 50s 60's as a solo City wage earner in the MACHINE raised 2 kids through college and supported a non working wife.

Looking at my pay stub now as a higher table earner weeks away from step 12... Machine retirement contribution, 5k and some change.

Crispcracker · Mar 11, 2019

DB.Cooper said:
Health ins for RCAs has more to do with compliance with ACA than any negotiating done by the NRLCA...

Yes. Yet they still caved. Interesting.

Crispcracker · Mar 11, 2019

Windindaface said:
60K is decent money to earn with another wage earner in house contributing to expenses in order to live the Dream. As a solo on higher pay table trying to live the Dream it's a struggle in a low price area of home ownership cost with high State taxes.

My step grandfather back in the 50s 60's as a solo City wage earner in the MACHINE raised 2 kids through college and supported a non working wife.

Looking at my pay stub now as a higher table earner weeks away from step 12... Machine retirement contribution, 5k and some change.

That s right. Livin the dream.

Voglio-il mio · Mar 13, 2019

RCA earning retirement credit would be a great perk for all involved. RCA's would have incentive to stay and develop into future Rural Carriers. Rural Carriers would be able to credit this time towards their retirement allowing them to retire earlier. The USPS would be able to reduce payroll by using lower paid carriers to cover all the rural routes across the country.

As an example of how this would work, I would take all the hours that an RCA has worked throughout their career and divide that total by 40 (a standard work week). The result would be the total number of weeks that would be applied towards retirement. In my case as an example: my almost 10 years of employment as an RCA would translate into 7 years & 24 weeks towards my retirement.

EthelAnne · Mar 15, 2019

Morty said:
Honestly, the pension is 1% per year you served. So 20% of table 2 is about 8 grand a year. Yeah, great benefits ?

It's not much, I agree, but what other employer is providing a defined benefit pension? It's all 401ks now, with us gambling mostly our own money in the stock market.

Morty · Mar 15, 2019

EthelAnne said:
It's not much, I agree, but what other employer is providing a defined benefit pension? It's all 401ks now, with us gambling mostly our own money in the stock market.

Because it's a pension. The new report says the USPS has 3 years before becoming completely unsaveable. Bankruptcy = cut pensions....much like many large municipalities have erased pensions. GM...

And then the govt tsp...you don't think they'll rob that as well?

stillfirstclass · Mar 15, 2019

Morty said:
Because it's a pension. The new report says the USPS has 3 years before becoming completely unsaveable. Bankruptcy = cut pensions....much like many large municipalities have erased pensions. GM...

And then the govt tsp...you don't think they'll rob that as well?

there is some left?