Is it really worth it?

[Jmdw52]

Ok... I’ve been an rca for almost six years now... I want some honest thoughts here. I’m in a small office so hours can sometimes be scarce...I’ve been able to manage despite this. Ive got two ahead of me and in the current situation... my best estimate short of special circumstances is probably another eight to ten years wait... probably can be on aux in 2-3 though.

I’ve reseached as much as I can about what my wages, benefits etc.... for when I do go reg. I am prepared to brave the table two wages and wait it out... however... my concern is with benefits. I am well aware of the hit they take out of the pay... how some of you (and probably me) will receive a smaller take home as a reg.

In my office we have two carriers beyond retirement age... they won’t go for whatever personal reasons. I’ve seen this in other offices as well locally. It’s fine by me if they like the job, or maybe didn’t prepare as well as they shoulda. My main concern is if there is something wrong with the retirement situation.... between FERS at 4.4% (probably more soon enough) and a 5% tsp, it’s a lot to trust the po with.... sure I’ve got more control over tsp... but, realistically.... if there’s a problem now... it’ll be worse by the time I’m able to go....

Does anyone have any good experience or information with this?

Thing is... the advantages of going career at all pretty well dissolves if the benefits get mucked with.... especially with the looming larger issues the PO has.

The opportunity cost of sticking it out is tremendous.... at the moment, I just don’t know where else to go.... (not to many employers are looking for ambidextrous drivers...lol). I feel trapped.... thought about applying as a pse or cca if one comes up, but am concerned, because the attitude among PMs around here seems to be if there’s a capable rca around... why switch them?

I do enjoy being a rural carrier... in terms of what the job is, it might be the best I’ve had. As for the situation.... it’s probably the worst. I feel I really need some guidance...

Serious responses only please... not looking for the ‘run while you can’ thing.....

 

[wamailmom]

I would have stuck around if I'd been in smaller office where my hours could be more scarce.... I couldn't do 60-70 hour weeks and neglecting my family any longer.... I did enjoy and miss the work. I hope you get some good responses in terms of whether the retirement benefits are worthwhile, and whether it is likely they would be stripped away in the future... I can tell you that at least at this point, none of your time in service will count toward your time in service for benefits once you make regular.

 

[DB.Cooper]

Knew a RCA... a real go-getter... worked at NUMEROUS PO's... was always booked up somewhere... even worked cross-craft as PSE, etc... anyways... they had about 10 years as an RCA, and wanted more... took the PSE test... had to resign as RCA... went to PSE... within 6 month they were a PTF Clerk (career)... and then they went to a 6 hour RMPO as a NTFT (Nifty) Clerk (full time career) within the 1st year... they went out to some offices as OIC to build their resume... and then got a EAS Level 17 Supervisor job within 2 years of leaving the rural craft... career EAS making around $60K... obviously your results may vary...

Rural craft takes a LONG time to make career in many smaller PO's... I was an RCA for 12 years... I know of peeps who were RCAs for over 20 years... just sayin'...

 

[Skierstmoritz]

I was an rca for @ 7 years. Went regular 2 years ago. My original plan was to stay regular for 5 years and take health care with me. That's the only reason I went regular. I regret that decision because I believe the po is going to put retirees on Medicare. I could have stayed rca and done that. As a regular on a 40k route, I took a big hit in take home pay after all the deductions. My salary , step 2 table 2 is @ 41,000.. I take home a little over $850/Pay period after deductions and contributions. That is chump change where I live. The primary benefit is the paid time off: sl, al and vacation. That is priceless . In our area rcas are working 6-7 days a week. Since I was hired in early 2011 I was making over $21/hr as an rca, plus overtime after 40 hrs. As a regular, , I make a tad over$20/hr.

Your situation seems a bit different in that it doesn't appear you get a lot of hours. So going regular may help you immensely. The benefits are good, but you are right to question if they will stiil be there in a few years. Personally, i have little faith in our union doing the right thing for us. Im rambling, but I still love my job once I'm out of the office. Most people are genuinely glad to see you on a daily basis and seem to appreciate what we do. In that, we are blessed. For whatever reason, just seeing the mailperson plugging away, brings out the best in people, for the most part. Maybe it's the routine, the sense of stability/normality, the positive face of the govt, that causes people to feel comfortable. I have a good route, I'm in a good (6 route) office, and my co-workers are great. Im lucky. Could be part of the reason I went regular. All situations are different.
In summation (of this ramble) , I have had 4 distinct careers of which the po is the latest incarnation. The most important factor of those careers, imho, is liking/loving your job and positive interactions with your co-workers/customers. You can't beat that! Having said all that, I'm sticking it out for 5 years and crossing my fingers that the benefits stay. Bottom line, I like my customers and coworkers

 

[C$$]

I went reg at a small PO relatively quickly. If you look around and are willing to move you can find something sooner than 8 years. Especially right now; RCAs are in demand.

Even at a small PO, the CCA's get worked like dogs. And then you've got to put up with the LLVs. Thanks but no, I'll stick with my POV.

Where I live table two money is still good pay.

TSP is the same thing as a 401k. That is your cash. If the PO disappears, or you leave the PO, you get to keep your TSP. I wouldn't worry about that money. The matching percentage could change, but if anything, I expect it would go up. A 401k is relatively cheap for employers. They give you a little cash now instead of setting aside a big ol' lump of cash for 30+ years after you retire.

I'm a looooong way from retirement, so someone please correct me if I have this wrong. Under FERS there is a "basic annuity" which is a monthly check, essentially a pension. There is also the Federal Employee Health Benefits (FEHB, ie medical insurance). If it is a while before you retire, I wouldn't count on the basic annuity or the FEHB. It is not hard to imagine them being drastically changed, or gone altogether, in the next 20'ish years. The same applies to social security. But I don't think this is unique to the PO; pensions and health benefits are going the way of the dodo.

If you like the work then stick it out. There are too many crappy jobs out there to give up on one you like.

 

[Jmdw52]

I guess the things brought up here kinda emphasize what I’m asking.... I’ve been aware about my time as an rca not counting... and my office has its share of 15-20 years as rca guys (most regs).... that said, I’ll be the first table two’er in my office....

What evidence is there suggesting the po will put retirees on Medicare?

My real question involves what I see happening.... guys who are beyond retirement age simply not leaving... one is a civil conversion... so his might be a little messy... but the fact I see these people seemily unable to leave makes me wary that there is more going on than meets the eye...

I watched another rca jump POs to try getting in sooner... PM flat out lied about the situation to lure him in to an office without a future position opening up... he was working multiple offices and was a steward... quit about a year ago...

Another rca I knew of changed offices because the reg in that office (single route office) promised her that they’d be retiring in two years... well it ended up more like six years....they weren’t happy... they did get reg though..

On paper the whole situation doesn’t look horrible.... my intuition nags at me constantly though... I can’t shake the feeling that something is just wrong with the whole thing...

 

[DB.Cooper]

When I went Reg, I had to wait around on a Reg that wouldn't retire when they had 30 years in at 62... they ended up FINALLY retiring when they turned 67... just no tellin' what peeps might do, or what motivates them...

 

[btdtret]

Jmdw52 -- [ wait it out or get out ]

-- Small office, long wait to make regular or get an AUX -- certainly creates a vacuum.

-- Any part-time or even full time jobs available in your area? Just remember - the post office is your first responsibility.

-- Unfortunately, in a small office, making regular is like getting promoted in the Coast Guard -- someone has to retire or die.

-- Just you or do you have a family to support?

-- With 6 years in, you should have a good handle on the job. Any near by post offices where you could "farm" yourself out if not scheduled in your office?

-- Time to personally visit post offices within a "reasonable" distance to check out their "sub" situation. Requesting a transfer is an option. If accepted at the new office, the worst your present post office can do is hold you for 30 days.

-- Considered resigning and taking the test for the clerk or city side? On the up-side, both seem to make regular faster. On the down-side, say good-bye to seniority.

-- If manglement says they can get you into a clerk or city carrier position -- get it in writing! And even then, it might not be worth the paper it is written on! There is some truth to the postal saying that if manglement's lips are moving.....

-- At least the Table TWO of the city side is on a par with Table ONE at the highest step. The NRLCA is supposedly addressing it ( chirp ).

-- Future retirement benefits? Might as well look at a bowling ball instead of a crystal ball! No telling what congress or the next arbitrator will do to or for postal employees.

-- Toss a dollar at the state lottery every once in a while -- just in case. The odds of winning are only slightly better if you do have a ticket.

-- To expand on "C$$'s" posting - Currently:

- To carry FEBH into retirement, one must have been enrolled in it for 5 years prior to retirement.
- The "3-legged" retirement package for FERS personnel is: SS / TSP / Postal Retirement ( which comes from the Office of Personnel Management )

-- Bottom line, it will be your decision on what to do.

 

[C$$]

Carriers in my office have fallen into two groups. Either they retire as soon as they are able, or they carry until they are unable.

The ones that carry after retirement age do so because they genuinely enjoy the work. They've grown up and old with the people on their route, and they enjoy driving around and seeing everybody. Doesn't have anything to do with retirement benefits.

 

[MrMagoo]

What evidence is there suggesting the po will put retirees on Medicare?

I can’t shake the feeling that something is just wrong with the whole thing...

Former Post Master General Donahoe proposed to Congress ALL Postal Retirees be forced onto Medicare upon eligibility portraying it as a benefit because we pay Medicare taxes, At the time the NRLCA made statements seeming to endorse the change.

Recently in an oversight hearing before Congress The current Post Master General again endorsed the idea of ALL Postal employees being forced to take Medicare upon eligibility. She further stated around 80% of retirees are on Medicare ( I believe that was the figure she gave)

President Trump has proposed to change current Annual Leave and sick leave rule to combine them into (less) paid time off.

And there are always proposals to eliminate THE PENSION for at least new hires in all Budjet Negotiations.

You are right to be suspicios about the future.

It never hurts to look at other options as you continue at your present job

 

[EthelAnne]

If you want to make career quickly, the easiest way to do so is to switch crafts. You can keep your ear to the ground and hope you find out when you hear about a vacancy in another office that doesn't have any RCAs, but that's a crapshoot. If you need the flexibility of being an RCA (though that varies depending on how much of a jerk your supervisor is) and want to make more money (if you can handle the OT) and don't need the benefits of the career position, keep plugging away as an RCA.

Probably the only reason why I went regular was for the retirement benefits. If there had been an easy way to contribute to a retirement plan as an RCA (and yeah, I probably could have found some private plan to contribute to had I made that effort), I would have stayed an RCA.

 

[EthelAnne]

When I went Reg, I had to wait around on a Reg that wouldn't retire when they had 30 years in at 62... they ended up FINALLY retiring when they turned 67... just no tellin' what peeps might do, or what motivates them...

Yep. Two years ago, I was the youngest carrier in my office by about 25 years. Only one carrier was even talking about retirement seriously. Suddenly, one carrier retires at 57. We were all shocked. Then they all dropped like flies: the one who had planning to retire all along at a certain date, then right after her, three more quite suddenly. Within two years, they were all gone. Life circumstances change. Anyway, the upshot is, now I'm the oldest carrier in my office, surrounded by a bunch of 20 year olds.

 

[Skierstmoritz]

Yep. Two years ago, I was the youngest carrier in my office by about 25 years. Only one carrier was even talking about retirement seriously. Suddenly, one carrier retires at 57. We were all shocked. Then they all dropped like flies: the one who had planning to retire all along at a certain date, then right after her, three more quite suddenly. Within two years, they were all gone. Life circumstances change. Anyway, the upshot is, now I'm the oldest carrier in my office, surrounded by a bunch of 20 year olds.

Think Amazon had anything to do with the sudden retirements?

 

[eomr]

At 65 everyone gets put on Medicare Part A and it's free. You should enroll in Part B. If you don't there are penalties. Plan A covers hospital stays. Plan B covers doctor's visits. You have to pay for Part B and it's best to get a Medicare Advantage plan to pick up any extra expenses. I'm deciding between that or staying with a FEHB plan that would cover this. I'm looking at the costs between the two. You will have your pension, Thrift Savings and Social Security to fund your retirement.
A friend asked me to help get her son into the Post Office. I asked the Postmaster what he thought and he said to become a CCA. That was the fastest way to become a regular. You have some decisions to make but it seems like you're doing your homework. If you get into a office with good working conditions this can be an enjoyable job. Good luck with your decision.

 

[DB.Cooper]

Yep. Two years ago, I was the youngest carrier in my office by about 25 years. Only one carrier was even talking about retirement seriously. Suddenly, one carrier retires at 57. We were all shocked. Then they all dropped like flies: the one who had planning to retire all along at a certain date, then right after her, three more quite suddenly. Within two years, they were all gone. Life circumstances change. Anyway, the upshot is, now I'm the oldest carrier in my office, surrounded by a bunch of 20 year olds.

We haven't had any retirements for several years now... but I could see that we may have quite a few in the next couple of years...

I'd hate to be a 20-something year old rural regular in the PO nowadays... I think they have a dismal future... hopefully it'll turn out better for them than I am seeing in my crystal ball... ?

I agree with eomr... CCA would be better for making Reg faster, and their Table 2 pay catches up with Table 1 at the top step... so over the long haul, you'll probably be better off as a city-side carrier... jmho...

 

[EthelAnne]

We haven't had any retirements for several years now... but I could see that we may have quite a few in the next couple of years...

I'd hate to be a 20-something year old rural regular in the PO nowadays... I think they have a dismal future... hopefully it'll turn out better for them then I am seeing in my crystal ball... ?

Not to derail this thread, but what are the other opportunities out there for kids without college degrees? The options for kids WITH college degrees aren't that great, and they're saddled with a ton of debt. People bitch and moan about the "dismal future" of the USPS, but there are no guarantees of future employment in the private sector (though to hear some people on this board talk you would think there were . . .)

 

[EthelAnne]

Think Amazon had anything to do with the sudden retirements?

I think there were multiple factors, but I really think the biggest one was seeing that first carrier walk out the door. It was absolutely STUNNING how quickly the rest followed. The carrier who worked next to me came in one day and said, out of the blue, "I'm going to try to retire this year." She made a few phone calls and she was literally gone five weeks later.

 

[gerl2]

Not to derail this thread, but what are the other opportunities out there for kids without college degrees? The options for kids WITH college degrees aren't that great, and they're saddled with a ton of debt. People bitch and moan about the "dismal future" of the USPS, but there are no guarantees of future employment in the private sector (though to hear some people on this board talk you would think there were . . .)

I would encourage all parents whose children are not certain if they want to go to college to enroll them as an RCA and guarantee in two years they will be signing up for college. We have had 3 in the last two years, they started out loving the job and for some reason near 1 or 2 years into the job and they are headed back to college.

 

[callofthewild]

^^^^^^funny^^^^^^.......my Son....who thought he was going to play at the lake all summer after high school.....well.....Mom cut the purse strings and Son had to find a job......................he had no plans for college in the fall..........he was going to wing it...........well Son had to find a job and his USPS RCA type job was a hay field.........it was hard to watch as a parent.......it was a long hot summer for everyone..........but it worked and he was enrolled in college in the fall.....never a good academic student in high school.....he excelled at college (after that long hot summer).........I credit the hay fields for the part they played in motivating my Son to a very good career working for AT&T.

So maybe we should all be recommending a job as a RCA to young people..........not as a career choice but as a motivator......

 

[eomr]

Not to derail this thread, but what are the other opportunities out there for kids without college degrees? The options for kids WITH college degrees aren't that great, and they're saddled with a ton of debt. People bitch and moan about the "dismal future" of the USPS, but there are no guarantees of future employment in the private sector (though to hear some people on this board talk you would think there were . . .)

Go into the trades. Learn how to repair or build. Nobody wants to do that anymore. I worked on telephone switching equipment when I was in the service. Loved it, but it took too long to get a job offer from Bell Telephone when I got out. By the time that I did, I was making twice what they offered in the local industry. After that came the Postal Service. It wasn't what I was looking for, but I'm glad that I found it. It paid a lot of bills around my house and allowed me to retire with a pension. Good luck to the young ones. I made it and so will most of them.