I'm on table 2 paying 4.4% into fers and 5% into tsp. As an RCA on the lower pay scale I made much more money and struggle now because of deductions. They cut my route an hour during the special count and I fought it but they still took it away. My DR said he didn't want to pursue it, to which I think it bull$_-+. I thought I would feel better about my job after going regular but I do feel worse. I think they will try to take some of my mileage away after this gps study and route inspections too. I feel trapped in this job. My mother retired as a rural carrier a few years ago and my grandfather's brother was also a retired rural carrier. It's not the same post office, I know things change over time.
I should have more pride but mostly feel depressed. Knowing that I make so much less, pay more for the same retirement benefit and feel like I'm stuck on this crappy route really gets into my head day after day. I think someone should write a book or start a podcast to out this information. Everyone I know thinks we have such a great job outside of the PO, rumors of great pay and retirement but that's not exactly true to how I feel. After health insurance and everything else I'm bringing home about $13/hour. It's hard to support a family and pay my obligations on that. This is pretty close to what I posted on Facebook a while back in regards to fers and got bombarded by other regulars saying that the problem with my generation is that millennials think they are owed everything, well I'm indeed a millennial but I'm also in my 30s have a wife and 3 children. I work the same job as my mother did, in fact in the same office alongside my mother for 2 years doing the same job.
Something needs to be done for table 2 regulars before too many feel like me and find something else. Believe me, I think about other options daily. I also wonder about the future of the PO. Bottom line is, the majority of the people working here, are here for the money and security of the job, what if both of those are constantly up for debate? I've seen what they were trying to do to the clerks union. It probably won't be better for us or improve in the future. Please don't be disrespectful and tell me "the door swings both ways", I've heard that before and it's not funny.
